Gov. Rick Perry surrenders to Travis County Jail

[bluesguy1952]

Have you even taken a look at Poverty, Hunger, and Inequality in Texas? No, I didn't think so. How convenient of you to overlook the statistics in these important areas of Perry's Texas.

Texas Politics - Poverty in Texas - BETA

Have you ever taken a look at poverty, hunger and inequality in California? At least in Texas when the governor is even alleged to have overstepped his authority he surrenders to jail. When will Der Furhrer Gerry Brown and his reicht surrender to authorities?

Well what other option did he have except to turn himself in as the law demanded he do or get arrested for failure to do so. I just have to shake my head when I hear all of the spin and the spinmeisters who are trying to weave this indictment into something more of a vendetta against Perry designed to drive away the real reason he is in trouble. Had he not said things that he did to Lehmberg no charges would have been brought against him though as far as the poverty, hunger, and inequality that exists in Texas that would obviously continue and we need far better leadership from a governor on those very important things.

I'm curious about whether you believe prosecutors are criminals when they engage in pleas bargaining, the trading of a lower sentence in order to corrupt justice and lessen their workload. An accused is either guilty of a crime or not but prosecutors will threaten to overcharge and use that as a threat or undercharge and use that as a bribe.

The very tactic liberals say Perry used is used by prosecutors in Public Anti-Corruption units - they threaten to prosecute with the maximum of charges unless the target resigns and then they either close the case or pursue lesser charges. The exact same process is in play. This is their modus operandi. Should these prosecutors be charged with crimes for threatening public officials under investigation for corruption?

That is not an employer/employee relationship. A threat to your job is a lot different from a plea bargain.

 

[bluesguy1952]

Why Perry should be convicted

Perry's advisors have him concentrating on defending his constitutional authority to exercise the line item budget veto.

Except that's not what this case is about.

Perry is accused of using his veto authority to coerce a publicly elected official into leaving office. And when the veto threat, and later the actual exercise of the veto didn't work, he may have tried a bit of bribery, which is why he is facing criminal charges.

Not because he exercised his constitutional veto authority.

Some of the media appear to have adopted the Perry narrative that he wanted to get rid of an irresponsible Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg because she had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Perry is arguing he eliminated the $7.5 million dollar budget that Lehmberg managed for the Public Integrity Unit (PIU) because she was no longer responsible enough to run the operation.

But the governor probably had another motive.

The PIU had been investigating the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute (CPRIT), a $3 billion dollar taxpayer funded project that awarded research and investment grants to startups targeting cancer cures.

The entire scientific review team, including Nobel Laureate scientists, resigned because they said millions were handed out through political favoritism. Investigations by Texas newspapers indicated much of the money was ending up in projects proposed by campaign donors and supporters of Governor Perry. In fact, one of the executives of CPRIT was indicted in the PIU investigation for awarding an $11 million dollar grant to a company without the proposal undergoing any type of review.

Perry might have been the next target.

The same cronyism appeared to be at work in two other large taxpayer accounts called the Emerging Technology Fund (ETF), and the Texas Enterprise Fund, (TEF), which were supposed to be used to help technology startups and assist companies wanting to move to Texas. In total, the governor and his appointees had purview over about $19 billion and where they wanted it invested.

Why not make sure your contributors get some of that sweetness?

If Perry were able to get Lehmberg to resign, he'd have the authority to appoint her replacement. We can assume that would have been a Republican, and that any investigations might have stuttered to a halt. The DA, however, refused, and began to field threats from the governor's office that the PIU budget was to be zeroed out via line item veto. But the exercise of the veto is not what got Perry indicted.

First, he used the veto to threaten a public officeholder. This is abuse of the power of his office. Presidents and governors frequently use the possibility of vetoes to change the course of legislation. But that is considerably different than trying to force an elected officeholder to resign. What Perry did, if true, can be politely called blackmail, and, when he sent emissaries to urge Lehmberg to quit even after his veto, he may have indulged in bribery. According to sources close to the grand jury, Perry dispatched two of his staffers and one high-profile Democrat to tell Lehmberg if she left her office the governor would reinstate the PIU budget. One report indicates there may have been a quid pro quo of a new, more lucrative job for the DA, which is why this case has nothing to do with his right to use the veto.

But that's where Perry will focus his public defense.

Of course, he will also continue his argument this is another manifestation of partisan politics in Austin. That claim is as misleading as his veto rhetoric. There wasn't a single Democrat involved in the investigation and indictment. In fact, Perry appointed the presiding judge in the case, Billy Ray Stubblefield of the 3rd Judicial District. Stubblefield named retired Judge Bert Richardson of Bexar County (San Antonio) to handle the grand jury investigation, and Richardson picked Mike McCrum to be the special prosecutor in the case. McCrum, who withdrew his name from consideration for U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, had the support of the two Republican Texas U.S. Senators and the state's Democratic officeholders, which hardly makes him a Democratic Party hack. (A Washington gridlock over the confirmation process in the U.S. Senate caused him to withdraw.)

That all makes it hard to sell the partisan attack narrative that reporters are spreading for Perry.

The idea that he was concerned about Lehmberg's drunk driving is also fatuous nonsense. Two other Texas DAs were arrested for DUI during Perry's tenure in office and he spoke not a discouraging word about their indiscretions. Kaufman County D.A. Rick Harrison drove the wrong way into traffic and was found guilty of drunk driving in 2009 and in 2003 Terry McEachern, DA of Swisher County, was convicted of a DUI. Perry said nothing. Both of those individuals were Republicans and did not oversee an investigative unit responsible for keeping elected officials honest in the capitol.

The indictments, however, have not left the Texas governor chastened. During his six-minute news conference after they were handed down, he threatened retaliation for the people involved in getting him into this mess, which is probably another form of official abuse he has promised to deliver to his fellow Texans. His central complaint was that the legal and grand jury investigative process was being used to settle political differences and that wasn't something we did in America, which is a startling irony for anyone who knows how Rick Perry first won statewide public office in Texas.

 

[Statistikhengst]

notice no whine from Democrats/libs about all that MONEY wasted on useless investigations

and remember when the gop was going to sue Obambam? the wailing and screeching?

What makes this investigation useless? Where are your facts, Stephanie?

 

[Statistikhengst]

I will guess you aren't on the grand jury or the judge or in the prosecutor's office, yet somehow you seem to know that the charges are false. How can you be so sure? Partisanship?

I'm a liberal, I'm no fan of Gov. Perry yet I hope that if he is innocent he is found innocent because justice is more important than partisanship.

Yepp. Agree.

 

[Statistikhengst]

The Special Prosecutor McCrum's party affiliation isn't known but he seems to be a Democrat. There are some reports that make the case look shaky, and the burden of proof for the prosecution seems difficult to make because the prosecution's case hinges on the Gov.'s intent. Could be a political move to knock Perry out of the Presidential race (though not timed well if that is the case). I guess we'll see when the case goes to trial...

In other words, you got no facts at all.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Actually I am, I just have no tolerance for stupid and you seem to be eat up with it.

So, when your logic, if any at all, fails you, you attack the member instead of presenting an idea, eh?

 

[Dot Com]

They took his finger prints dumb ass. Damn you're stupid.

You so sweet and loving, I bet your a blast in person....!! I am glad that he was duly processed...

he comes across as the typical angry old white guy that Lindsay Graham (R) was talking about.

As to the OP, theres an old saying in Texas- you do the crime, you do the time.

 

[Statistikhengst]

their screen name shouldn't be torch. it should political HACK

Hmmm, I think this could help you:

Sure sounds like a case of itchy butthurt to me.

 

[Statistikhengst]

I'm no fan of Gardasil Rick, but this indictment is a farce and may very well backfire on the Democrats.

And your facts to back up this claim of yours?

 

[Statistikhengst]

obama is why stupid people should never be allowed to vote.

True fascist words.

BTW, did you just disqualify yourself from voting?

 

[Statistikhengst]

Have you ever taken a look at poverty, hunger and inequality in California? At least in Texas when the governor is even alleged to have overstepped his authority he surrenders to jail. When will Der Furhrer Gerry Brown and his reicht surrender to authorities?

Ahhh, slipping in a little Godwin, eh?



Actually, it's kind of sad...

 

[JWBooth]

Gov. Rick Perry surrenders to Travis County Jail (KVUE.COM)

Grand jury indicts Gov. Rick Perry on two charges (KVUE.COM)

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UPDATE: Today, Tuesday, according to news reports, Texas Governor Rick Perry turned himself in to Travis County (Austin, Texas) to be fingerprinted and his picture taken. He held a brief press conference before and after the occasion. His lawyers are expected next Friday to go back for his arraignment. Perry may or may not be there. Although he maintains that the charges were politically motivated one just has to wonder if there was true political motivation by the Republican judge that handled his case and the Republican Special Prosecutor who brought the charges against him. They were not Democrats, so many think not. IMHO, the Special Prosecutor would not bring such charges against him only to not have them hold up in court. That would obviously be a big minus for his career and that's what many people are saying. There have been on-going discussions on the radio and television to that effect on this matter.

Perry has hired about five expensive lawyers and news reports brought out that at least one charges around $450.00 an hour for his defense. Texas taxpayers are expected to foot the bill.

On an indictment walking through the booking process is unremarkable. Bond is preset by the grand jury. A pr bond, occasionally referred to as a signature bond, prepared in advance, a set of pics and fingerprints, sign here, and out the door.
Damn the Travis County dimocraps for putting me in the position of siding with governor good hair. They wont win, only with your standard issue Travis County fruit loop grand jury pool could this have happened at all.

 

[JWBooth]

Are there actually ObamaNuts in this thread criticizing a sitting Governor of a state that has created more jobs than any state in the US??? LMAO Your boy King can't even give a speech without a teleprompter and you think your silly spitballs damage Rick Perry???

Have you even taken a look at Poverty, Hunger, and Inequality in Texas? No, I didn't think so. How convenient of you to overlook the statistics in these important areas of Perry's Texas.

Texas Politics - Poverty in Texas - BETA

You dont know dick about Texas, but blovate away retard.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Miss libertard, what the fuck do you know about our laws...., NOT A FUCKING THING ! he was charged for doing official business, NOT something he done on his own time.

get a clue or SHUT THE FUCK UP !!

And you have the power to make her do this?

 

[Moonglow]

Miss libertard, what the fuck do you know about our laws...., NOT A FUCKING THING ! he was charged for doing official business, NOT something he done on his own time.

get a clue or SHUT THE FUCK UP !!

And you have the power to make her do this?

He'll make her Ride the Snake by telepathy...

 

[Coloradomtnman]

The Special Prosecutor McCrum's party affiliation isn't known but he seems to be a Democrat. There are some reports that make the case look shaky, and the burden of proof for the prosecution seems difficult to make because the prosecution's case hinges on the Gov.'s intent. Could be a political move to knock Perry out of the Presidential race (though not timed well if that is the case). I guess we'll see when the case goes to trial...

In other words, you got no facts at all.

All the "facts" I was reading came from the interwebs and so I was unsure any of the were actually facts. I think my post reflected that. Why? Can't a man express his thoughts or opinion on a subject?

 

[Silhouette]

They took his finger prints dumb ass. Damn you're stupid.

You so sweet and loving, I bet your a blast in person....!! I am glad that he was duly processed...

he comes across as the typical angry old white guy that Lindsay Graham (R) was talking about.

As to the OP, theres an old saying in Texas- you do the crime, you do the time.

The GOP is going to get so many more votes now from Perry's "surrender". The dems don't see it. They just don't get the visceral revulsion to fascism those in their middle ranks have.

 

[Statistikhengst]

They took his finger prints dumb ass. Damn you're stupid.

You so sweet and loving, I bet your a blast in person....!! I am glad that he was duly processed...

he comes across as the typical angry old white guy that Lindsay Graham (R) was talking about.

As to the OP, theres an old saying in Texas- you do the crime, you do the time.

The GOP is going to get so many more votes now from Perry's "surrender". The dems don't see it. They just don't get the visceral revulsion to fascism those in their middle ranks have.

Uhuh...

 

[Silhouette]

You're saying a governor surrendering for arrest to a county jail is not going to get air time or noticed? You're just assuming that everyone has drunk the uber left rainbow koolaide in the democratic party. The group in the middle is a whole other kettle of fish and the GOP has figured that out. It's about time the dems did. But maybe they'll have to alienate a few million voters in the next couple of cycles until they figure it out.

 

[Statistikhengst]

You're saying a governor surrendering for arrest to a county jail is not going to get air time or noticed? You're just assuming that everyone has drunk the uber left rainbow koolaide in the democratic party. The group in the middle is a whole other kettle of fish and the GOP has figured that out. It's about time the dems did. But maybe they'll have to alienate a few million voters in the next couple of cycles until they figure it out.

You are assuming the Democratic Party somehow did a number on Gov. Perry.

Nope.

Perry fucked-up all on his own.