Author Topic: Just Who Are They Protecting And Serving?  (Read 663 times)

Offline rpm

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Just Who Are They Protecting And Serving?
« on: September 25, 2007, 12:32:02 AM »
Apparently, it's not the people of Texas.

Link



On the morning of May 23, 2005, the Texas State Capitol was rife with rumors that multimillionaire James Leininger was in the hall behind the House chambers pressuring lawmakers to vote for his pet project, school vouchers. The Texas Department of Public Safety has now spent more than two years and almost $166,000 in outside lawyer fees fighting a Texas Observer request to release the surveillance tapes to the Observer. The state attorney general and a state district judge believe should the tapes should clearly be made public. The Observer has obtained invoices from law firms defending DPS and we’ve taken the liberty of putting them on our Web site.

What in the world could be on those tapes that has the DPS in such a tither? You don't think a fine upstanding Republican supporter was running around handing out wads of cash in the State Capitol building? Naaa, Texas Republicans would NEVER do anything like that.
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Offline lazs2

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« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2007, 08:35:13 AM »
"rife with rumor that.."

That what?  someone was "pressuring"??  isn't that called lobbying?   doesn't the brady bunch "pressure" democrats into voting for gun control bills?  even contribute to them?   and... it isn't even a rumor... love to see those tapes too.

Soooo some guy lobbies to allow... vouchers (horror of horrors!!) in your state...

He lobbies to give parents a choice besides socialism and you are upset?   you want to see the tapes?

If you see those then you should want to see the tapes of every converstation any lobbiest has with an elected official.    Not sure it works that way.


the only people getting screwed is every one of us who pays for inferior socialist school systems and of course... the poor parents and kids who don't get any choice.

lazs

Offline SkyRock

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« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2007, 09:06:22 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
"rife with rumor that.."

That what?  someone was "pressuring"??  isn't that called lobbying?   doesn't the brady bunch "pressure" democrats into voting for gun control bills?  even contribute to them?   and... it isn't even a rumor... love to see those tapes too.

Soooo some guy lobbies to allow... vouchers (horror of horrors!!) in your state...

He lobbies to give parents a choice besides socialism and you are upset?   you want to see the tapes?

If you see those then you should want to see the tapes of every converstation any lobbiest has with an elected official.    Not sure it works that way.


the only people getting screwed is every one of us who pays for inferior socialist school systems and of course... the poor parents and kids who don't get any choice.

lazs

you're so stuck up ur parties rear end, you can't even see the light of day.  I don't care which party is breaking the law, if there is evidence of wrong doing, then the truth should be opened up to the public.  But, if I were a republican, or democrat for that matter, I'dwant to be hush hush about lobby monies........:rolleyes:

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Offline lazs2

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« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2007, 09:11:07 AM »
I am not married to republicans except as the only viable and electable alternative to socialist democrat rule which is to be avoided at ALL costs.

I am by nature more libertarian but I am also pragmatic.

I am having trouble seeing what laws were broken.   I am having trouble seeing why some lobbiests have to have their conversations taped and those tapes published but not others.

I am also a fan of vouchers...  something that socialist democrats hate worse than satan... choice is for free people so they oppose it.

lazs

Offline SkyRock

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« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2007, 11:12:46 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
I am having trouble seeing what laws were broken.   I am having trouble seeing why some lobbiests have to have their conversations taped and those tapes published but not others.
  If no laws were broken, then they should hand over the tapes like the courts suggest(has a nixon ring to it).  At any rate, J. Leininger has had his hands in so many pies, you can bet they're dirty.  Amazing how one man has affected Texas law so much!  I'm sure you would love for his agenda to be law.:rolleyes:

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Offline Holden McGroin

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Just Who Are They Protecting And Serving?
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2007, 01:51:13 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by SkyRock
If no laws were broken, then they should hand over the tapes like the courts suggest(has a nixon ring to it).


Great logic Skyrock:  If you are not hiding anything illegal, I suppose you would not have a problem with a FBI wiretap of your private phone line.
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Offline SkyRock

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« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2007, 02:02:37 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Holden McGroin
Great logic Skyrock:  If you are not hiding anything illegal, I suppose you would not have a problem with a FBI wiretap of your private phone line.

Too bad you couldn't stretch this statement:rolleyes:

Public servants are just that.....public!  Never, ever, ever should information reguarding meetings with lobbyist's be held from the public if a court has decided it's not endangering america's safety.

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Offline lazs2

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« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2007, 02:10:18 PM »
fine skyrock... then let's make it illegal for any public figure to have a private conversation with a lobbiest.   make it so that all conversations have to be taped and that the tapes be made public record.

lazs

Offline Holden McGroin

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« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2007, 02:11:49 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by SkyRock
Too bad you couldn't stretch this statement:rolleyes:

Public servants are just that.....public!  Never, ever, ever should information reguarding meetings with lobbyist's be held from the public if a court has decided it's not endangering america's safety.


Never ever? Does a meeting with someone where information was discussed, that if made public might effect financial markets.... does that endanger America's safety? Or is that just money?  Seemes to me there are plenty of topics that could be discussed that might be better off if not on the front page.

It seems to me you are a little simplistic about your statements in this thread.

When one stretches his thoughts, one can approach enlightenment.  Perhaps you should try it.
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Offline rpm

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« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2007, 03:25:58 PM »
Public building, public servants, surveillence video. It's not like there is an undercover reporter with a camera and mic in the guys face. It's a freaking surveillence tape.

Why would the police be trying so hard to keep the tape from the public? Why would the police ignore a district judges ruling? Why would they ignore the State Attorney General?

Many questions, few answers.
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Offline Trell

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« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2007, 03:39:59 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
fine skyrock... then let's make it illegal for any public figure to have a private conversation with a lobbiest.   make it so that all conversations have to be taped and that the tapes be made public record.

lazs


Hey i like that idea

Offline Dago

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« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2007, 06:44:08 PM »
Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!!!
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Offline rpm

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« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2007, 08:51:57 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Dago
Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!!!
More like politicians, payoffs and crooked cops... oh my!
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Offline Dago

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« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2007, 08:56:31 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by rpm
More like politicians, payoffs and crooked cops... oh my!


You're making assumptions and accusations based on evidence that you haven't seen.  That isn't right.  Dan Rather would be proud.
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Offline lazs2

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« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2007, 08:44:33 AM »
In local government our council and mayor and city manager meet with people.... contractors and engineers and such in public offices and buildings all the time and the info is not for the public.

You like public schools so much... did you know that they have private meetings that you are not allowed to attend?   You can't get transcripts either.

do you think the democrats meetings with the teachers union should be broadcast?

I am just having a hard time figuring out why you think this incident should be cherry picked out of all the other secrecy.

If it is.. it will simply mean that they (the politicians) will not meet where they can be taped.

lazs