The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V70

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*************December 18, 2000**************

Before continuing review of LMHS employee "expense reports", a heartfelt "congratulations" to the Governor for having successfully stolen the Presidential election, -- shamelessly. As repeatedly asserted, this writer is a political independent and has taken exquisite pleasure in vigorously excoriating both mainstream candidates.

As a political pundit, however, George "The Tush" Bush is a far easier and more tempting target than Al "The Bore" Gore. The Governor's stunning lack of substance and intellectual vacuousness will conveniently fuel withering political commentary for the next four years.

More disturbingly, Ole' George's glaring lack of character is no more evident than in his willingness and zeal to steal the election. There is no question Gore held the higher ground. Clearly, the Vice President wanted a full and accurate vote count. Not so, the Governor.

After all, Ole' George knew damn well he would have fallen flat on his ass had there been a state-wide hand recount in Florida. -- Certainly why his henchmen fought so hard in state and federal courts to prevent it.

Worse than a stolen election is the glaring politicizing of both the state and federal court systems. "Conservatives" have bitterly, falsely, and disingenuously complained for years jurisprudence is outrageously "liberal". Eager, willing complicity of jurists on the state and federal levels in an effort to aid and abet theft of a Presidential election by a Right-Wing Republican, however, belies a "liberal" judiciary.

Equally pointedly, consider the three most fascist members of the U.S. Supreme Court, -- Rehnquist, Scalia, and Thomas. All three, -- or close family members, have ties with the Republican Party. Yet, not one of them had the integrity and guts to recuse themselves. Not one. Interesting, isn't it? Outrageous as well.

In the years to come, the complicity of the U.S. Supreme Court in the theft of the election will come back to haunt it. Further erosion of confidence in the integrity of the highest court is the price to be paid by jurists more interested in political ideology and party loyalty, than doing the right thing and what is truly in the best interests of this great republic.

Sadly, the five fascists in the majority did not even have the courage to sign the decision. Justice Stevens in a minority opinion, however, courageously blasted the majority and foretold serious long-term consequences.

Whatever the hell happened to the one-man, one-vote principle? Think poor voter turnout will improve considerably after the successful disenfranchisement of thousands of votes in Florida by the Republicans and the courts? Think Democrats will let them forget? The Founders must be turning in their graves. After all, we now have a President-elect whose legitimacy is seriously in doubt.

Most outrageously, the Governor at the end of his "acceptance" speech Wednesday evening alluded to "principle" and Thomas Jefferson. Hey, George. Principle? What the hell's that, sir? ... Like the "principle" of winning at any cost? .. Even to the extent of stealing an election? Nothing quite like Aryan arrogance either, is there?

Equally troubling is the hypocrisy of the Right. They relentlessly decry "liberal activist" courts which supposedly "legislate" rather than embrace a "strict constructionist" interpretation of law and the Constitution. -- While conveniently excusing, encouraging, and supporting the same when it suits their agenda and purposes.

Perfect case in point? The theft of the election by George and his partisan henchmen on the U.S. Supreme Court. Most pointedly, whatever the hell happened to states' rights, impartial judges, and judicial restraint? Conveniently gone, -- when it supports the Right.

The Governor disingenuously refers to himself as a "compassionate conservative". Sadly, the term is an oxymoron, -- a contradiction in terms. Compassion for whom, George? The rich and powerful? Your cronies? Those having it all, needing nothing more, but never having enough?

Contrary to assertions by blow-hards like Rush Limbaugh and others on the Right, there is no "class envy" in the U.S.. -- Just a struggle for class justice and survival by those on the bottom. People clearly looted by greedy employers and their fascist shills not paying a liveable wage or offering healthcare benefits, while laughing their portly asses off all the way to the bank. Every Sunday, they hypocritically get down on their knees and attempt to force their religious views on others.

These fascist S.O.B.'s outrageously complain at the same time they can't "find" decent help willing to work. Really? H-E-L-L-O? Want decent employees? Pay a decent wage. -- Or do the work yourself, instead of getting rich off the backs of people paid a fraction of their true worth.

Think I'm full of crap? Having been self-employed since graduate school, this writer has had first-hand experience and understands problems of both employers and employees. Too bad, the solutions are not as easy. You've been fed a crock by "conservatives", greedily eager to line their own pockets. Sadly, what we have coming from the Right is one-sided and from the perspective of employers alone.

Most pointedly, "compassionate conservatism" is nothing more than the philosophy of "I got mine. Now, you get yours, sucker." -- As Ole' George did, using Daddy's influence and power. A self-made man? A crock.

In fairness to the Governor, however, he seems to be a "nice" man. Is "niceness" enough to successfully run an enormously rich, powerful, and great nation deeply divided by a stolen election and both political extremes?

More ominously, Ole' George has asserted his heroes on the U.S. Supreme Court are Rehnquist, Scalia, and Thomas. The three furthest to the Right. Political pundits have repeatedly asserted, however, the Governor will have to return to the Center if he's to enjoy a successful Presidency. Indeed, wise counsel.

Is Bush truly up to the task? We'll soon see. Regardless and as asserted earlier, he'll always be an easy and tempting target for political writers. The next four years should indeed be interesting, -- and breathtakingly entertaining.

Although an unqualified dolt will replace the incumbent, it will certainly be a relief to see Ole' Bill retire to private life. Eight years of an egregious liar is more than enough. Hyperbole coming from the Right, however, has been relentless for years.

These fascists have repeatedly asserted the Clinton Administration is the most corrupt of all time. Really? Forgotten Reagan and Iran-Contra? What about Nixon and Watergate? Far, far more were prosecuted successfully in both Republican Administrations. "Conservatives", however, seem to have conveniently forgotten this fact.

Of course, when it's a Republican lying, cheating, and abusing power, it's "acceptable" to the Right. ... A "cost of doing business", if you will. After all, the ends justify the means, don't they? -- Right, "Boys"? ... Almost forgot. Got to get those damned commies, don't we? At any price. Even the evisceration of the U.S. Constitution and separation of powers. ... Precisely what Iran-Contra and Watergate were about. Raw abuse of power.

Then again, "conservatives" are conveniently blind. Hey, "Boys". Better get the splinter out of your own eyes before worrying about others suffering the same fate. Nothing quite like hypocrisy. -- Or "symbolism over substance" as repeatedly and phonily asserted by the premier loudmouth in talk radio, -- Rush Limbaugh. ... Hell, Rush... It poignantly and most appropriately applies to you Right-Wing "Boys", doesn't it, sir? After all, you offer nothing more than oversimplistic "analysis" and "solutions" to enormously difficult problems.

Continuing review of LMHS employee "expense reports", readers are reminded orderliness of released documents was found to be seriously lacking. Records are filed alphabetically, apparently in six month lots. The term "apparently" is used because many documents were misfiled and only a relatively small number have been inspected so far.

Regardless, an additional $24,514.49 in employee "expenses" were found dating back as early as June 1999. Inspection of documents for the last 6 months of calendar year 1999, however, is far from complete. The grand total so far, however, is $53,256.49.

At a time when the Hospital is in dire financial difficulty, $1973.04 in tuition expenses were reimbursed for employees. An additional $1113.69 was squandered on seminars. Outrageously, one seminar was scheduled in San Antonio over a weekend. Yet, a physician's assistant stayed overnight on the Hospital's dime. Not only were his lodging and meals picked up, he had the audacity to include alcoholic beverages in the voucher. To the credit of the Chief Financial Officer, however, they were denied.

This same physician's assistant was also reimbursed $200 for dues to the American Academy of Physicians' Assistants. Most pointedly, why the hell didn't this leech pay his own dues?

Another $300 in "Special Needs" grants to employees suffering "hardship" were found. An additional $97.83 was spent on Christmas decorations. -- Apparently, the Hospital doesn't believe in using the same decorations year after year.

Instead of asking a bi-lingual employee to translate 5090 words in documents from English to Spanish, LMHS saw fit to spend $814.40 in consulting services. Apparently, the Hospital was afraid of being sued. ... Why the hell was the voucher in employee "expense reports"? Hanky-panky, or an honest mistake?

In further testament to misfiled records, a cellphone bill for former Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi in the amount of $437.59 was found in the employee "expense reports" rather than the cellphone records. Interesting, isn't it?

The following e-mail was sent to the new Administrator/CEO, December 18, 2000:

Jerry Durr, Administrator/CEO
LMHS
103 West Lampasas St.
Llano, Tx. 78643

Re: Additional Time

December 18, 2000

Dear Mr. Durr:

This is a request for additional time to continue inspection of employee "expense reports" and Hospital cellphone records.

As had your predecessor, why are you dragging your feet on time allotted for records inspection? Aren't you your own man, or are you indeed under the thumb of the former Administrator and his handlers on the Board?

To her credit, Executive Secretary Karen Kinard allowed an additional 15 minutes of inspection over the 1 hr. allotted on December 15. Since the records had already been pulled quite some time ago, why continue stonewalling on inspection time?

After over a year of unrelated LMHS records inspection by this publication and the careful handling and replacement of all documents as found, even the Executive Secretary felt comfortable leaving this writer alone to continue the inspection while she attended to other business.

While the records are indeed unflattering to a Hospital in serious financial difficulties, they are public documents and the people have the right to know in a timely fashion how LMHS funds were spent.

With highly questionable expenditures over at least the last year and a half as reported on The Ledger website, isn't it advisable to place a little distance between you and your predecessor? How better to do that than to allow inspection for more than an hour at a time? -- Or will the status quo of stonewalling be maintained during your interim administration?

Sincerely,

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609

cc: Llano Ledger website
*******************************************

Readers are reminded this website is full. All future editions will be posted on The Llano Ledger 2 website, and can be found by clicking http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2. As strongly asserted in Special Edition V65, the clock is indeed ticking... The visitor count stands in excess of 46,900, -- another excellent week and true testament to the shameless willingness of the readership to "steal" this writer's labor. Certainly, you ought to be proud of yourselves. Nothing quite like character, is there? Readers are advised this writer receives no renumeration from the banner and pop-up advertising. They only pay for the website itself. There is no personal compensation, nor are there desperately needed funds for investigative expenses. Non-profit and outrageously unfunded by the readership it serves due to greed, gut-wrenching fear, and the continuing relentless intimidation of corrupt and abusive Llano County officials, this publication remains as always beholden to NO ONE.

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger



Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com

Page Updated Tue Jun 19, 2001 1:54pm EDT