Dewhurst and the POlice

Mr. Deez

Mr. Deez

Beer Prophet
I'm surprised no one has brought this up.

In defense of Dewhurst, I've heard others say the following. 1.) He specifically asked for the proper procedure to be followed and never asked for a special favor. 2.) He was just calling for a relative, and he has the right to do that. 3.) Government officials frequently intervene with agencies on behalf of constituents. What's the big deal?

Now for the problems with these defenses. First, Dewhurst did ask for proper procedure, but every specific he asked for suggested that he had no intention of following the proper procedure. The proper procedure is to contact a lawyer or a bondsmen and have her bailed out. It doesn't involve calling supervisors, the Sheriff, and the County Judge on their cell phones. There is absolutely no legitimate reason to directly involve them.

Second, it is true that Dewhurst can call for a family member, but why name and title dropping? Why talk about how supportive he is of law enforcement? Why have the director of DPS call to prove "who Dewhurst is?" So what? What's the relevance of any of that except to exert influence? Also, couldn't we find a closer relative than a "step uncle in law" to make this call? Isn't there a parent, a spouse, a sibling around? The only reason to use Dewhurst is because of who he is.

Third, public officials do intervene with agencies, and I did it myself when I worked for the Legislature. However, there is a line. Compelling a state agency to deal with a constituent who is lawfully seeking service - no problem. For example, back when the Attorney General's office was collecting child support from deadbeat dads but never sending the money to the moms and refusing to speak with any of them because of bureaucratic indifference, I went to bat for my boss' constituents. That's proper legislative oversight of the state agencies.

Contacting a local law enforcement agency to try to interfere with a judicial matter? Big problem. Not only is not the right level of government, but it's a separation of powers problem. Once this woman was arrested, it became a matter for the court system, not some arrogant choad with a prominent legislative title.

Todd Staples had it right with his tweet - "Dew's call to Allen PD sounds like Anchorman Ron Burgundy: 'I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me.'"
 
I've watched this play out over the news and while you could see Channel 8 trying to bend over backwards not to embarrass the defendant in this case. She really does come across as a woman having a "'space cadet moment" rather than one who intentionally steals. I can see why Dewhurst was sympathetic and wanted to use the power he could exert to make things easier for her.

Now Dewhurst comes across as the caricature of the arrogant, blustering public official and this poor first grade teacher gets more negative publcity than any shoplifter in the history of Collin County.
 
I really do not know what to make of Dewhurst or this situation. I do not particularly care for him, but thought he was marginally preferable to Cruz. My own view of right wing Republicans is that the sane ones (while distasteful) are preferable to the Tea Party wack jobs that will probably replace them short term. Texas becoming a viable two party state should actually help both sides in the long run because having a legitimate Democratic threat will control the fringe.
 
Or we could all say at this point what difference does any of it make?

hillary-clinton-measures.jpg
 
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Crock, not to play the race baiter, but if this was some black guy or gal whose "step uncle in law" wasn't a lieutenant governor, would people be giving him or her the benefit of the "space cadet" defense? I doubt it.

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I don't see this so much as a race issue as one of class, age, occupation and nature of the cirme. I tend to be sympathetic towards teachers, folks my age having their first arrest and people whose theft items (general groceries) is not the stuff easily hocked. Could it happen to me? Once I was in a hurry at a gas station, ran my card through and pumped gas without noticiing that the card hadn't actually registered at the pump. Later that day reviewing transactions to to check my bank balance I realized that I actually hadn't paid for the gas. The folks at the station had recognized me (face and car, not name) and had not taken it to the police. When i called in they laughed, knew exactly what had happend and took the transaction over the phone.
 
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The issue is the use of political connections to try to get around the normal judicial system.
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I can agree with you there Deez. Dewhurst thowing his weight around didn't do the shoplifter any favors. He embarrassed her and diminished his own reputation and standing. I feel for the shoplifter. Not so much for the lieutenant governor.
 
Mr. Deez tries to keep it substantive, unfortunately it devolves into the usual ad hominem.

In an effort to keep my own post topical, while the abuse of power seems to be an obvious point, I found Deez's comment on social justice unexpected.
 
Germany, eh? My sights are on Berlin. Maybe to live, we'll see. That Wiesbaden/Frankfurt area seems really cool. Enjoy until the forbidden weather rolls in.
 
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