The country I was born into was a country that had existed steadily, for over two centuries, as a nation in which everyone thought—wherever they were from, whatever their circumstances—that their children would have better lives than they did. I have lived in this county for many, many years and I would say most of us have felt this way about the United States and Texas and Liberty County all of our lives – until recently. That was what has kept people pulling their boots on in the morning after the first weary pause before heading to a long work day: “My kids will have it better”. They'll have it a little better or be a little more educated, they'll have a better job or a better house, they'll take a step up in terms of rank, class or status. America always claimed to be, and meant to be, a nation that made little of class, but a great deal of individual effort. But America is human.
And among us we have elected officials like some that have been mentioned locally who will use their power and their discretion to help their selves and their children at the cost of us all. They will overload the system with their wrongdoing. They will charge their profits and their schemes to the taxpayers mercilessly in one breathe and then they will dispense a perverted type of mercy out to criminals who predictably will harm society again. The system then will have to demand more of its citizens and eventually a vicious cycle of decline will cause us to lose our ability to build a better and better economy and a stronger society.
We see it in the Democratic party’s willingness to allow people to break in line, as immigrants imitate the lawlessness of some of our public officials. They will justify their “rights” by mentioning the names of their children and their desire to improve their lives. The same with the housing bubble. Though much it of it was caused by speculators and rich people over extending themselves as they took advantage of Democrats like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd’s promotion of easy lending practices, much too much of it was done in the name of the poor “so they can afford the American dream too.” As this country starts to falter the poor instead of finding a steady safety net for hard times, they will find a shrinking safety net caused by the overload – and America will then truly have some living in third world-like despair.
Those who love this country can no longer afford politicians or policies that may be defendable legally but they game the system. We must throw people out of office that have built their little kingdoms of power by using our money and our distaste for hard ball political truth. We must start now. Locally. Statewide. And nationally. The United States is in a crisis and we must listen to the good, the bad, and the ugly about those running for office and we must refuse to settle. Who cares whether Charlie Rangel of any of these other people win in court or work a deal, Liberty County needs to be the type place that votes these types out of office. Let them settle their legal problems as defeated candidates.
Feds probe Liberty and Chambers County, indictments begin...
A federal grand jury has indicted Liberty County Sheriff’s Captain, Harry Kelley (Democrat) and Gary Lee, Owner of (Humble) Sportsman Outlet, following an investigation involving the disappearance of approximately 500 firearms from the Cleveland Police Department.
The resulting federal indictments and allegations cast a dark shadow of corruption and illegal activities surrounding Liberty County Sheriff, Henry Patterson (previous Democrat). Also called into question are the activities or lack of... regarding the Liberty County District Attorneys office. Whats even more questionable about Patterson is his decision to keep those under federal investigation working on sensitive cases and investigations within the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. Defense attorneys in Liberty County could now call into question the investigations and any evidence supported by Kelly and Patterson prosecutions.
In unrelated news, federal investigators with Homeland Security have descended down upon Chambers County officials and documents. The Homeland Security investigation centers around the insider trading of contracts, bid rigging (collusion), official misconduct, official oppression, financial fraud, making false statements on government documents, evidence tampering and other allegations against Chambers County Officials and their families.
The resulting federal indictments and allegations cast a dark shadow of corruption and illegal activities surrounding Liberty County Sheriff, Henry Patterson (previous Democrat). Also called into question are the activities or lack of... regarding the Liberty County District Attorneys office. Whats even more questionable about Patterson is his decision to keep those under federal investigation working on sensitive cases and investigations within the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. Defense attorneys in Liberty County could now call into question the investigations and any evidence supported by Kelly and Patterson prosecutions.
In unrelated news, federal investigators with Homeland Security have descended down upon Chambers County officials and documents. The Homeland Security investigation centers around the insider trading of contracts, bid rigging (collusion), official misconduct, official oppression, financial fraud, making false statements on government documents, evidence tampering and other allegations against Chambers County Officials and their families.
Obama Birthday: Barack Obama Turns 49 With Wife And Kids Out Of Town
CHICAGO — Alone on his 49th birthday, President Barack Obama fled the empty White House mansion and headed for a more intimate celebration with longtime friends in his Chicago hometown.
Obama has been living a bachelor's life for the past several days with first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha visiting Spain and daughter Malia spending the month away at an undisclosed camp.
Before leaving Washington on Wednesday afternoon with the family dog, Bo, Obama got a couple of presents he didn't have to unwrap and which the White House described as being the highlight of his day: telephone calls from the women in his life.
Mrs. Obama and Sasha phoned in their happy birthday wishes, followed by a lunchtime call from Malia.
"Needless to say ... both those calls were the highlights of his day," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters who traveled with Obama aboard Air Force One.
Obama's Secret Service detail got him a present, though Gibbs would describe it only as "heartfelt."
As the presidential motorcade pulled closer to his house in Hyde Park, neighbors lined the street to welcome him home with waves and signs, including "Happy 49th Birthday President Barack Obama" and "Happy Birthday Mr. President."
Obama's birthday – though a year short of the milestone 5-0 – also was viewed in this election year as a prime fundraising opportunity for Democrats, who fear losing their hold on both houses of Congress come November. E-mails, house parties and other forms of outreach sought to capitalize on Obama's big day.
Mrs. Obama even joined the act, asking supporters to sign an e-mail birthday card being distributed by Organizing for America, Obama's political organization. More than 1.2 million people had signed it as of Wednesday morning.
The Republican Party marked the occasion with a new website offering 11 different e-cards people can send Obama, including ones mocking the ethics problems of Democratic Reps. Charles Rangel of New York and Maxine Waters of California, and noting key Democratic election losses in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Obama planned to help out with the money-raising on Thursday by headlining separate events in Chicago for the Democratic Party and Alexi Giannoulias, the Democrat eyeing the Senate seat Obama gave up to become president.
The president spoke earlier Wednesday at an AFL-CIO meeting in Washington and joked about not getting a birthday cake from his "good friends" in the labor movement. A cake apparently had been planned, according to union president Richard Trumka, but he said the Secret Service had nixed the idea.
Obama said he'd have a talk with the agents then joked, "They're probably eating it right now."
Election year antics...
The Cleveland Advocate:
"The Liberty County Commissioners Court declared an emergency on July 27 in order to use $265,000 from the fund balance to pay for road repairs and maintenance in Precinct 4.
The emergency was declared due to the condition of the roads and for the safety of school children who ride buses that must travel down the roads, according to Precinct 4 Commissioner Norman Brown.
He said that the roads have to be repaired or shut down soon for safety reasons.
“These roads must be salvaged due to rapid deterioration caused by excess rainfall and heavy trucks,” said Brown in a written statement."
Almost 80 year old Precinct 4 Commissioner, Norman Brown left his rocking chair to answer voluminous complaints about the deteriorated roads in Dayton and surrounding areas. Since Brown has become commissioner, the roads in West Liberty County have deteriorated to an outrageously unsafe level. The worst thing about about road repairs in West Liberty County is... they are repaired by former Stump Grinder, William Randall Bivins. The roads he overlays fall apart almost as fast as he puts them down.
Norman Brown's nickname is "Pothole Brown". As a candidate for reelection in November, Brown is busy fixing roads, the same roads which will deteriorate again after the election.
This, the same ole Brown who signed off (with taxpayer money) on Hurricane Ike debris removal overcharges in Dayton and Kenefick- quid pro quo?
Same ole, same ole Brown.
"The Liberty County Commissioners Court declared an emergency on July 27 in order to use $265,000 from the fund balance to pay for road repairs and maintenance in Precinct 4.
The emergency was declared due to the condition of the roads and for the safety of school children who ride buses that must travel down the roads, according to Precinct 4 Commissioner Norman Brown.
He said that the roads have to be repaired or shut down soon for safety reasons.
“These roads must be salvaged due to rapid deterioration caused by excess rainfall and heavy trucks,” said Brown in a written statement."
Almost 80 year old Precinct 4 Commissioner, Norman Brown left his rocking chair to answer voluminous complaints about the deteriorated roads in Dayton and surrounding areas. Since Brown has become commissioner, the roads in West Liberty County have deteriorated to an outrageously unsafe level. The worst thing about about road repairs in West Liberty County is... they are repaired by former Stump Grinder, William Randall Bivins. The roads he overlays fall apart almost as fast as he puts them down.
Norman Brown's nickname is "Pothole Brown". As a candidate for reelection in November, Brown is busy fixing roads, the same roads which will deteriorate again after the election.
This, the same ole Brown who signed off (with taxpayer money) on Hurricane Ike debris removal overcharges in Dayton and Kenefick- quid pro quo?
Same ole, same ole Brown.
FOLLOWING RUSTY HIGHT’S MONEY AND COURT DECISIONS
As a concerned citizen, as someone who wants our justice system to work, and someone who plans on voting in the next election I want to take a non-lawyer’s view of the most important local race that will be on Liberty County voter’s ballot in November. For the next few weeks, I will be offering information I don’t think most voters are aware of. Information that might affect their view of the way justice is dispensed in our local courthouse and how they intend to direct their energy between now and election day 2010. I intend on offering my opinion, but I also hope to include information that will hopefully cause readers to believe my analysis is fair and balanced – even if they disagree.
Of course all of our elective offices are important, but as far as the order of importance of local offices that are on the ballot in November, most people would agree that the two most important are the race for the District Judge of the 75th and the race for County Judge. I believe the race for 75th is more important, but even if it is not, the race for County Judge seems to be a great deal less competitive with the Democrats choosing to run a candidate who has never even lived here until this year. So I will be looking at the 75th District Court and Judge C.T. “Rusty” Hight.
Rumors about Judge Hight’s business dealings and possible quid pro quo’s have caused us to apply the old “follow the money” tactic in trying to separate fact from political spin. Before delving into the trail of money discovered connected with Judge Hight, let’s make sure we define the term we will be using as our standard. Some define the term quid pro quo as a "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" situation. It is a Latin term and that definition, as opposed to a legal one, will be fine for giving the voters a fair and balanced view of what kind of person Judge Hight is.
For the sake of brevity this article will just cover part one of “following the money” or some might say it just talks about the “quid”. First let me point out that if you have heard a rumor that Judge Hight rents property to lawyers that appear before him that again I hope to answer such questions in a fair and balanced way. Please continue to tune in for future articles that help to complete this story.
I suppose a clever lawyer would say the answer is “no, of course the Honorable Judge is not renting nor does he have any undisclosed business dealings with lawyers who appear before him.” I am no lawyer, but I have a hunch a slick attorney would then read the law chapter and verse and declare the Judge is in no way in violation of the words just read.
But most of us are not only lawyers, we are not jurors in a case against Judge Hight. We are voters. We are the people who cast votes to hire judges etc. We are the protectors of liberty and fairness and justice. So let’s skip the courthouse jargon and the way some that have been jaded by law school have come to judge what is right and what is wrong. In fact to conclude this first look at this race let me just clearly state what some are calling a “quid” and some are denying.
According to documents obtained by Liberty Dispatch on February 25th 2003 “The Trust Agreement For The C.T. Hight Trust” was executed. The document list C.T. Hight as the “settlor” and his two sons, Bryan Luke Hight and Christopher Ladd Hight as the beneficiaries. Liberty Dispatch has confirmed that at a minimum some of the assets in this trust include property near the courthouse. Liberty Dispatch has also confirmed that several of the people leasing those properties from the C.T. Hight Trust appear before 75th District Court Judge C.T. “Rusty” Hight.
A defense lawyer would possibly lean heavily on the fact that these two adult children of Judge Hight no longer live under his roof and therefore their view is that Judge Hight receives no benefit as the trust names his boys as the beneficiaries. Case closed they may argue.
But I am not asking you to judge the Judge simply on the merits of the law – though that is worthy of debate. In fact, I am asking you to withhold judgment for now until the rest of the story is told in the near future. For now just note that Judge C. T. “Rusty” Hight has people appear before him in the 75th District Court who pay a significant amount of money on a monthly basis to the C.T. Hight Trust.
Please continue to follow the money (and the interesting court decisions) with me as we take a look at the most important local race in the November election.
Liberty Dispatch Contributor
Of course all of our elective offices are important, but as far as the order of importance of local offices that are on the ballot in November, most people would agree that the two most important are the race for the District Judge of the 75th and the race for County Judge. I believe the race for 75th is more important, but even if it is not, the race for County Judge seems to be a great deal less competitive with the Democrats choosing to run a candidate who has never even lived here until this year. So I will be looking at the 75th District Court and Judge C.T. “Rusty” Hight.
Rumors about Judge Hight’s business dealings and possible quid pro quo’s have caused us to apply the old “follow the money” tactic in trying to separate fact from political spin. Before delving into the trail of money discovered connected with Judge Hight, let’s make sure we define the term we will be using as our standard. Some define the term quid pro quo as a "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" situation. It is a Latin term and that definition, as opposed to a legal one, will be fine for giving the voters a fair and balanced view of what kind of person Judge Hight is.
For the sake of brevity this article will just cover part one of “following the money” or some might say it just talks about the “quid”. First let me point out that if you have heard a rumor that Judge Hight rents property to lawyers that appear before him that again I hope to answer such questions in a fair and balanced way. Please continue to tune in for future articles that help to complete this story.
I suppose a clever lawyer would say the answer is “no, of course the Honorable Judge is not renting nor does he have any undisclosed business dealings with lawyers who appear before him.” I am no lawyer, but I have a hunch a slick attorney would then read the law chapter and verse and declare the Judge is in no way in violation of the words just read.
But most of us are not only lawyers, we are not jurors in a case against Judge Hight. We are voters. We are the people who cast votes to hire judges etc. We are the protectors of liberty and fairness and justice. So let’s skip the courthouse jargon and the way some that have been jaded by law school have come to judge what is right and what is wrong. In fact to conclude this first look at this race let me just clearly state what some are calling a “quid” and some are denying.
According to documents obtained by Liberty Dispatch on February 25th 2003 “The Trust Agreement For The C.T. Hight Trust” was executed. The document list C.T. Hight as the “settlor” and his two sons, Bryan Luke Hight and Christopher Ladd Hight as the beneficiaries. Liberty Dispatch has confirmed that at a minimum some of the assets in this trust include property near the courthouse. Liberty Dispatch has also confirmed that several of the people leasing those properties from the C.T. Hight Trust appear before 75th District Court Judge C.T. “Rusty” Hight.
A defense lawyer would possibly lean heavily on the fact that these two adult children of Judge Hight no longer live under his roof and therefore their view is that Judge Hight receives no benefit as the trust names his boys as the beneficiaries. Case closed they may argue.
But I am not asking you to judge the Judge simply on the merits of the law – though that is worthy of debate. In fact, I am asking you to withhold judgment for now until the rest of the story is told in the near future. For now just note that Judge C. T. “Rusty” Hight has people appear before him in the 75th District Court who pay a significant amount of money on a monthly basis to the C.T. Hight Trust.
Please continue to follow the money (and the interesting court decisions) with me as we take a look at the most important local race in the November election.
Liberty Dispatch Contributor
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