The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V37

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***Publisher's Note: With rare exception, the cowardly failure of the community to financially support this publication is stunningly pitiful and selfish. Worse yet, the sickening defense and excuse of cowardice by some is appalling. If readers care so little for this community and 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