The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V37
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each other, why should I? T.C.***
*************April 24, 2000*************
Before continuing critique of the Garrett Deposition, there have
been interesting developments in the Llano County Criminal Justice
Center, the Elian Gonzalez case, and the Governor's campaign for the
Presidency. Commenting a year after the Columbine massacre, Mr. Bush
interestingly called for federal funding of "character" education in
the schools.
Stunning coming from a Republican, isn't it? After all, Republicans
have supposedly championed "personal responsibility", states' rights,
local control of education, and "getting the federal government out of
our lives". Is that right, Governor? Really? Wouldn't "character"
education allow even FURTHER federal intrusion into local issues, sir?
Once again, we have a Republican sounding remarkably similar to a
Democrat, engaging in oversimplistic analysis of an enormously
difficult problem: juvenile violence. Worse yet, he offers an overly
simplistic solution. As discussed in two earlier editions this month,
domestic and juvenile violence issues are extremely complex and require
far more than knee-jerk political solutions.
Sadly, there is little difference between both major political
parties, -- just the rhetoric. Although, generally speaking,
Republicans have associated themselves with the fascist Right and
Democrats with the socialist Left, the end result when in office is
remarkably similar: more mindless repressive laws, higher taxes,
ever-increasing government intrusion, and continuing egregious waste.
Conveniently, NEITHER party, however, has done anything regarding the
bloated federal bureaucracy. Absolutely nothing.
Now, we have a Republican governor who wants to expand federal
spending on "education". Think those funds will go directly to the
schools and NOT further support an outrageously corpulent federal
bureaucracy? Should these funds reach our schools intact, whose
"character" principles will be taught?
Republican "principles' espoused by Richard Nixon during Watergate?
... Or those of Ronald Reagan and his successor George Bush who both
lied like hell during Iran-Contra? Are Democratic "principles" indeed
any better? Doesn't Bill Clinton have an outrageous history of lying to
the public? What about Al Gore's Buddhist temple fundraising fiasco?
Think his "principles" are suitable? Does either party have ANY idea
what "character" and ethics mean?
Aren't their "principles" based on little more than political
expediency and self-interest? What ever happened to term limits, and
the effort to get rid of corrupt and abusive incumbents who essentially
"own" their positions? "Funny", isn't it, how "proponents" of term
limits quickly forget campaign promises once on the government teat?
As citizens, we can't even agree on the necessity of sex education
and what will or won't be taught. ... Despite absolutely NO evidence
that sex education increases sexual activity among adolescents.
Absolutely none. -- Just propaganda coming from the fascist Right.
Somehow, though, we'll all agree on "character" principles? Right?
Think so? Think again.
More pointedly, Governor, "character" education is taught in our
churches, -- and already informally in our schools. Isn't this a
parental responsibility anyway, sir? Wouldn't want to infringe on
parental rights, would you?
Our illustrious President and U.S. Attorney General certainly
wouldn't, would they? After all, we all "know" children "belong" and
are "owned" by their parents in this country, don't we? Mr. Clinton and
Ms. Reno certainly think so, -- along with the vast majority of
Americans.
Regarding the "rescue" of Elian, are citizens indeed proud of
heavily armed government agents breaking down the doors of the Gonzalez
family in the wee hours of the morning? Was there indeed a proper,
lawful, constitutional court order authorizing the raid? Good question.
At the time of this writing, the INS claimed to have had a "search
warrant". By whose authority? How could any judge constitutionally sign
a "search warrant" authorizing a "rescue" when the Gonzalez family had
NOT even had its day in court, and was indeed awaiting a hearing before
an appeals court regarding asylum?
Apparently, INS enjoys a dispensation from Fourth Amendment guaranties
and requirements. Regarding the aggressive tactics used by agents,
weren't they more appropriately a part of the Gestapo repertoire in
Nazi Germany?
Now, due to a failed "drug war", Americans are subject to the same
abusive tactics. Outrageously, police tactics have indeed grown
increasingly militaristic and violent. Yet, there is NO outrage. The
Fourth Amendment has been eviscerated and bastardized by corrupt and
abusive law enforcement, their handlers, and the courts, and what has
public reaction been? Deafening, cowardly silence. ...Adolph and Benito
would have been proud, and must be smiling from their fiery perches in
Hell.
Most pointedly, the issues of custody and asylum should have been
settled in the courts, not in the middle of the night by armed
government thugs. Again, the Gonzalez family had not even been afforded
its day in court on the issue of asylum before the raid. Worse yet, how
can the issue of custody be resolved when the boy hasn't even been to
state court? What we're seeing here is another classical example of
kangaroo justice and government doubletalk. Rule of law? What the hell
is that? ... The government conveniently shops around until it finds a
"judge" willing to do its bidding.
Unlike Wounded Knee, Ruby Ridge, and Waco, however, government
goons killed no one this time. Aren't we lucky? The fascist Right
remains cowardly silent since they believe parents "own" their
children. The socialist Left is jubilant since it supports and condones
communist regimes. Equally pointedly, the Left thinks the state
ultimately "owns" children and "knows" what's best.
Lost in the process is the best interests of the child. Of course,
that no longer matters in the United States. Parental rights indeed
come first. Our corrupt and abusive courts as well as the President and
U.S. Attorney General have now confirmed this through their display and
employment of Gestapo police tactics in the cowardly "rescue" of Elian.
Laughably, Miami Gonzalez family members decried government
duplicity in a raid executed while negotiations were continuing. What
the hell did they expect? Sadly, government ALWAYS lies when it's to
its advantage. ALWAYS. Government officials wouldn't know truth,
honesty, and candor if it bit them hard on the ass. This is precisely
why the Founders wisely provided a Constitution and Bill of Rights, --
now routinely ignored by our corrupt officials with the growing
blessing and approval of the governed. Damned pitiful and gutless. The
aggressively stupid among us willingly and foolishly forfeit freedom
for "security", -- winding up with neither. Wake up.
Sadly, the lying and duplicity of government never ends. Taxpayers
were duped approximately $37 million (including financing charges) for
unneeded new school facilities. The Commissioners' Court has repeatedly
misrepresented the supposed need for a new jail, while conveniently
ignoring the deliberate overloading and egregious mismanagement of the
current facility. Worse yet, the County Judge and his cronies on the
Court continue to mislead the public on the reason for, and outcome of,
the jail-rape lawsuit filed by Tina Wisdom. Yet, the people have their
heads cowardly, conveniently, and securely lodged in a bodily orifice
that seldom sees the light of day.
Knowing this egregious boondoggle would have been voted down had a
bond election been held, our cowardly Commissioners and County Judge
have chosen instead to issue certificates of obligation, thus cleverly
bypassing the electorate. ... At a time no less when there are auditing
problems with County books. District Attorney Sam Oatman and County
Attorney Cheryll Mabray have apparently conducted no criminal
investigation of our illustrious officials. Why? Clearly, both are part
of the problem and are apparently outrageously protecting the dolts
currently in power.
Although the Texas Open Records Act is sadly lacking, repeated requests
for information will be filed with the County Judge regarding this
egregiously wasteful boondoggle. While the Act protects and coddles
corrupt officials to some extent with exceptions to disclosure, each
and every time it happens will be a reflection on our officials and
their duplicity. As promised in earlier editions, the money trail will
be very carefully scrutinized starting with the following open records
request:
**********************************
County Judge J.P. Dodgen
Llano County Courthouse
Llano, Tx. 78643
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
RE: Open Records Request
April 22, 2000
Dear Judge:
Under the Texas Open Records Act, Ch. 552, Gov't Code, Public
Information, access to the following documents is respectfully
requested:
1. All Llano County-Huckabee & Associates correspondence,
invoices, proposals, memos, e-mail messages, faxes, and telephone logs
regarding construction of the proposed Llano County Criminal Justice
Center.
2. All Llano County-Morgan Stanley Dean Witter correspondence,
invoices, proposals, memos, e-mail messages, faxes, and telephone logs
regarding issuance of certificates of obligation for the proposed Llano
County Criminal Justice Center.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
cc: File
*************************************
Continuing critique of the Garrett Deposition, Ms. Jones had
peppered the Sheriff with repeated questions regarding whether or not
prisoner trustys, were properly supervised. Mr. Garrett disingenuously
weaved, dodged, bobbed, interrupted, conveniently didn't "recall", and
didn't even understand the questions: "A. I don't understand what
you're saying. What are you asking me?" P.65. Finally, however, the
attorney nailed him:
(Page 67)
Q. Since you've been sheriff, have you ever --
A. Since I've been sheriff.
Q. -- made a determination that your inmate trustees in your jail
had not been properly supervised at any time? I'm not talking about
anybody in particular. Since you've been sheriff, have you ever made
that determination?
A. I don't recall.
Q. Did you ever make a determination that Johnny Pesina had not been properly supervised?
A. Yes.
Q. And when did you make that determination?
A. After this alleged assault came up, I felt like that he needed to be more supervised.
Did you, Sheriff? Did you, really? The Sheriff is not stupid. He
had to have known and understood the questioning. Although not
surprising, the obfuscation under oath is nonetheless stunning, isn't
it? On Page 71, Mr. Garrett responded with an answer that is simply not
true:
Q. Do you have any policies or procedures to ensure that your jail cells are properly locked?
A. Yes.
Q. And what are those policies and procedures?
A. Every one is locked down.
Untrue. Every one is NOT locked down. By his own admission
elsewhere in his deposition, as well as in depositions by others,
trustys were NOT locked down. They had free run of the jail both in and
outside the facility AT LEAST until the jail-rape. During my
examination of the booking records last fall, I SAW trustys walking
unescorted within the facility.
The critique of the Garrett Deposition will continue next edition.
The Ligon Deposition is nearly completely posted. The Lawson Deposition
comes next. Not surprisingly, all posted material will be fully
critiqued in future Newsletter editions.
The visitor count stands in excess of 13,800. Another excellent
week. Yet, there has been egregiously little financial support to date.
Nearly all of you have been quite willing to COWARDLY allow this writer
to take the risk, do all the work, put up with the harassment, and
swing in the wind. Mighty neighborly, don't you think?
Despite an explosively expanding readership, businesses are too
afraid to advertise. As repeatedly asserted, the banner and pop-up ads
belong to Maxpages and pay for the website. _The Ledger receives no
income from either, and remains non-profit. If you want desperately
needed change in our community, financially support this publication.
Regardless, _The Llano Ledger panders to NO ONE, and will remain
unbeholden. If you don't give a damn about the community, each other,
or this publication, why the hell are you reading this? Find something
better to do. Want feel-good fluff and propaganda? Read another
publication.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:20pm EDT