Nancy Archer has much more difficult problems than she did in past years when she had to somehow convince voters to re-elect public officials that held public office during a culture of corruption. She has the impossible task of attempting to win horse races with an empty stable.
It seems like an eternity since former Liberty County Republican Party County Chairman Lester Ray Wisegerber bragged that he was talking with Liberty County Democratic Party Chairman Nancy Archer on an almost daily basis. Those must have been hopeful days for the Democratic chairman. In a time when it was all but certain it was the last of the good ole days for Liberty County Democrats, Archer could at least see a glimmer of hope in her Republican counterpart’s naivety and his infamous comments that “it really doesn’t matter whether a person has a “D” or a “R” by their name.
Even four years of dubious leadership by local Republican leadership only slowed down the onslaught of losses local Democrats were destined to experience insure. Now Archer faces what appears to be an insurmountable challenge. Archer not only has very few people willing to run as Democrats, she also has to deal with the uncertainty caused by rumor after rumor of more defections. One can only imagine the conversations she has had with the remaining incumbent Democrats. She has to act like there is no question about their loyalty to the Democratic Party, while she must also try and get a count on what she has left to work with.
Mark McClelland, a close friend of the Archers, retired at the end of the summer. McClelland’s ties to the Archers went beyond the many years of working together in the local Democratic party and included thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of checks he signed paying Archer to collect delinquent taxes. And perhaps because of those close ties, we may see no better act of allegiance to the dying and defeated local Democrat party than McClelland quitting rather than switching political parties.
So who does that leave for Archer to strut out in front of the public and say as she and her husband once said: “We win elections because we have good candidates and they simply never run anyone worthy of the voter’s consideration.” (Paraphrased)
They have two commissioners, Fontenot and Hunt, who continue to behave like tax and spend Democrats though there have been rumors of different dates in the past that one or the other were going to announce they were going to switch parties. I guess Archer could encourage them to switch parties and if somehow Republicans overlook over a decade of them both enslaving the county with their penchant for bond indebtedness and other behaviors closely linked to Democrat politicians, Archer could claim victory.
Or Archer if she really wants to pull off some magic could present Mike Little as either an old fashion conservative Democrat or she could try and pull sheepskin over him and say he is now a Republican – even though he has been on the top of the “needs to be driven from office” list of many Republican activists for years.
What will Nancy Archer do? Will she have candidates to run in all of the races? How will she talk to incumbents if they want to pull a McClelland and quit rather than face the voters? How will the Archers have a power connection in the courthouse if Mike Little retires? Will Nancy Archer sign up to run for another term as chairman?
Answers to all of these questions will be forthcoming sooner than in the past because the sign up period has been moved up to between November 16th and December 16th. Nancy Archer has the worst win-loss record of any Democratic Party chairman in the last 100 years. Her husband John has the second worst.
CITY REVERSES A GOOD DECISION
Some time in the last couple of years the City of Liberty implemented one of the strategies many are predicting will continue to be a popular trend around the country in the future, but more recently they reversed the plan. The City of Liberty lengthening their work hours on Monday thru Thursday in order to close at noon on Friday was both progressive and conservative (if that is possible). It seemed to have been saving money and increasing employees’ job satisfaction.
Around the country leaders are considering ways to shut off air conditioners and lights and save taxpayer money while still offering the same services. Schools and cities and both private and public enterprises across the country are considering and sometimes implementing what the City of Liberty was doing before they changed back to their old schedule. The new strategy being used around the country not only has proved to save money, it also had a great appeal to city workers, school teachers, and others that might consider the two and a half day weekend as part of the trade-off for not being as paid as much as some other jobs.
I am not looking to blame anyone, but I have heard the change was made because of one lone complaint. I would just like the leaders who make these decisions to know that many of us adjusted to the convenience of the longer hours Monday through Thursday and we liked that people in this community who worked for the city seemed to enjoy the new schedule. I would like them to know it is highly likely there is a silent majority who would prefer the city to be open four and half days and save taxpayers money versus staying open Friday afternoon for a few people who refuse to use the telephone or the mail.
Even though I respect anyone’s right to advocate the hours that best fits their personal schedule or their personal preferences, I believe most of us are willing to work within the boundaries of what is practical and efficient. If people knew leadership would set policy because of a single complaint or a handful of complaints rather than setting reasonable and responsible policies, the city library and other places could end up opening much much later for all of the people who don’t want to adjust to the current hours. And one enterprise after another could be yo-yoing their hours to please this person or that group.
I commend the City of Liberty leaders for setting a schedule that balanced the taxpayers’ role as the payer of the bills and the taxpayers’ role as consumer of services and I respectfully ask you to reconsider and go back to the four and half day work week with extended hours Monday through Thursday. If you take a scientific survey and I am in the minority, I will gladly applaud that decision just as I applauded the one I am advocating now. But I believe this community was adjusting to minor inconveniences and we were supportive of your innovation.
Sincerely,
Richard Pegues
Around the country leaders are considering ways to shut off air conditioners and lights and save taxpayer money while still offering the same services. Schools and cities and both private and public enterprises across the country are considering and sometimes implementing what the City of Liberty was doing before they changed back to their old schedule. The new strategy being used around the country not only has proved to save money, it also had a great appeal to city workers, school teachers, and others that might consider the two and a half day weekend as part of the trade-off for not being as paid as much as some other jobs.
I am not looking to blame anyone, but I have heard the change was made because of one lone complaint. I would just like the leaders who make these decisions to know that many of us adjusted to the convenience of the longer hours Monday through Thursday and we liked that people in this community who worked for the city seemed to enjoy the new schedule. I would like them to know it is highly likely there is a silent majority who would prefer the city to be open four and half days and save taxpayers money versus staying open Friday afternoon for a few people who refuse to use the telephone or the mail.
Even though I respect anyone’s right to advocate the hours that best fits their personal schedule or their personal preferences, I believe most of us are willing to work within the boundaries of what is practical and efficient. If people knew leadership would set policy because of a single complaint or a handful of complaints rather than setting reasonable and responsible policies, the city library and other places could end up opening much much later for all of the people who don’t want to adjust to the current hours. And one enterprise after another could be yo-yoing their hours to please this person or that group.
I commend the City of Liberty leaders for setting a schedule that balanced the taxpayers’ role as the payer of the bills and the taxpayers’ role as consumer of services and I respectfully ask you to reconsider and go back to the four and half day work week with extended hours Monday through Thursday. If you take a scientific survey and I am in the minority, I will gladly applaud that decision just as I applauded the one I am advocating now. But I believe this community was adjusting to minor inconveniences and we were supportive of your innovation.
Sincerely,
Richard Pegues
Controversial Liberty County Party Chairman Placed
Coleman is a controversial placement as party chair since he was a previous VP Chair under Lester Ray Wisegerber. People who follow our local Republican Party history will remember that during Coleman’s and Wisegerber’s tenure, Chairman Wisegerber made the infamous R’s and D’s statement- basically saying that it didn’t matter if you had a (R) or a (D) next to your name and if you promoted the Republican Party you were "crazy".
There are those who say this move to place Coleman in as party chair was done to help unscrupulous RINO’s and corrupt Democrat carpetbaggers slip into our party. One clue to the possible further defilement of our local party is the embracing of Coleman by the local democrat/liberal Liberty County media.
Coleman's actions as party chair will be watched closely. It is LD's hope that Coleman acts to protect and strengthen our party, not bring more internal damage.
The battle lines are quickly being drawn… Stay tuned.
The infamous (R's) and (D's) statement by Chairman Lester Ray Wisegerber, Ken Coleman VP.
Cheney says Obama should apologize to Bush administration after al-Awlaki killing
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says that following the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, President Obama owes the George W. Bush administration an apology.
Cheney, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, offered support for the targeted killing by drone strike last week of the Yemeni-American radical cleric al-Awlaki, but he said that Obama now needs to reverse his past criticism of how the Bush administration interrogated suspected terrorists.
The Obama administration "in affect had said that we had walked away from our ideals or taken policy contrary to our ideals when we had enhanced interrogation techniques," the former vice president said. Al-Awlaki's death indicates that members of the Obama administration "clearly have moved in the direction of taking robust action when they feel it's justified," Cheney said.
"You'd like an apology, it sounds like?" host Candy Crowley asked the former vice president.
"Well I would," Cheney responded, "I think that would be a--not for me--but I think for the Bush administration."
"I think it was a very good strike. I think it was justified," Cheney added regarding the strike against al-Awlaki, CNN reports. But Cheney added, "I'm waiting for the administration to go back and correct something they said two years ago when they criticized us for 'overreacting' to the events of 9/11."
The Obama administration has been criticized by civil liberties groups and others, including Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, for authorizing the killing of al-Awlaki. These critics argue that, as an American, al-Awlaki had a right to due process.
The Justice Department reportedly issued approval for the CIA to kill al-Awlaki by concluding in a memo that he was not entitled to due process because he was a war combatant.
AP, Wire
LD and company supports and salutes VP Dick Cheney's resolve and ability to tell it like it is to the liberal scourge that is the Obama administration. Mr. Cheney is not a well man and almost in his dieing breath... he is rebuking the Obama administration for their lies. Mr. Cheney, a real American, keep up the great work!
Ray
Cheney, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, offered support for the targeted killing by drone strike last week of the Yemeni-American radical cleric al-Awlaki, but he said that Obama now needs to reverse his past criticism of how the Bush administration interrogated suspected terrorists.
The Obama administration "in affect had said that we had walked away from our ideals or taken policy contrary to our ideals when we had enhanced interrogation techniques," the former vice president said. Al-Awlaki's death indicates that members of the Obama administration "clearly have moved in the direction of taking robust action when they feel it's justified," Cheney said.
"You'd like an apology, it sounds like?" host Candy Crowley asked the former vice president.
"Well I would," Cheney responded, "I think that would be a--not for me--but I think for the Bush administration."
"I think it was a very good strike. I think it was justified," Cheney added regarding the strike against al-Awlaki, CNN reports. But Cheney added, "I'm waiting for the administration to go back and correct something they said two years ago when they criticized us for 'overreacting' to the events of 9/11."
The Obama administration has been criticized by civil liberties groups and others, including Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, for authorizing the killing of al-Awlaki. These critics argue that, as an American, al-Awlaki had a right to due process.
The Justice Department reportedly issued approval for the CIA to kill al-Awlaki by concluding in a memo that he was not entitled to due process because he was a war combatant.
AP, Wire
LD and company supports and salutes VP Dick Cheney's resolve and ability to tell it like it is to the liberal scourge that is the Obama administration. Mr. Cheney is not a well man and almost in his dieing breath... he is rebuking the Obama administration for their lies. Mr. Cheney, a real American, keep up the great work!
Ray
DISCRETION IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD
Discretion is the power or right to make official decisions using reason and judgment to choose from among acceptable alternatives. Most people realize our system does not work without judicial discretion or prosecutor discretion, but in politics it is very common to criticize or even demonize your opponent’s use of it.
An analysis of Liberty Dispatch is a good example of how evaluating the use of discretion is very important in the way we all evaluate the job our public officials do.
Whether it is District Attorney Mike Little’s and County Attorney Wes Hinch’s decision to use their discretion NOT to prosecute former county officials Lee Groce and Phil Fitzgerald or former District Judge Rusty Hight’s use of discretion to set a two time convicted sex offender off with no jail time, it all effects most people’s opinion of how they do their job. Hearing examples of prosecutors ducking their responsibilities because they don’t want to be criticized or step on their buddies’ toes- or hearing how a judge takes lightly sex crimes involving minors can almost make the word “discretion” seem like a four letter word. The above mentioned corrupt actors in Liberty County abuse discretion time and again for their own personal and maniacal gratification.
From what I know of Justice of the Peace Bobby Rader and the thousands of decisions he has made as a city judge and a JP, he is a great example of how discretion is used properly. I have seen two juveniles in his courtroom that have been found guilty of the same offense. I have seen him use the power we have given him with wisdom and mercy. I remember when the first juvenile came before him to be sentenced and how the kid was defiant and rude and seemed to have no regrets. Through questioning, Judge Rader could tell the kid thought he had nothing to lose. He had no money so his mother would have to pay any fine that was set. He would refuse to go to community service and he had heard nothing else could be done. Judge Rader asked the kid if he had a bike and if he had any video games. When the kid said yes his sentence was to sell them both and pay his fine and 20 days of community service (to be closely monitored by Rader’s office).
When the second juvenile was brought into the court later in the day, he was visibly upset. He was being raised by his mother also, but the entire time he was before Judge Rader you could tell he was more concerned that he had disappointed his mom more than what the courts were going to do to him. He was polite and expressed regret for his behavior. Judge Rader sentenced him to 10 days of community service.
JP’s and City Judges make many rulings in the course of just one year. The use of discretion is vital to their ability to be effective. As a result, Bobby Rader may be seen as a harsh law and order judge to some, while others would say he is wise and merciful. Anyone taking a snapshot of his use of discretion could pick and choose cases and make him look anyway they wanted. But an analysis of all of the ones I have looked at reveals he is a fair, just, and wise judge and a great example of how allowing judges some discretion makes the system work well.
An analysis of Liberty Dispatch is a good example of how evaluating the use of discretion is very important in the way we all evaluate the job our public officials do.
Whether it is District Attorney Mike Little’s and County Attorney Wes Hinch’s decision to use their discretion NOT to prosecute former county officials Lee Groce and Phil Fitzgerald or former District Judge Rusty Hight’s use of discretion to set a two time convicted sex offender off with no jail time, it all effects most people’s opinion of how they do their job. Hearing examples of prosecutors ducking their responsibilities because they don’t want to be criticized or step on their buddies’ toes- or hearing how a judge takes lightly sex crimes involving minors can almost make the word “discretion” seem like a four letter word. The above mentioned corrupt actors in Liberty County abuse discretion time and again for their own personal and maniacal gratification.
From what I know of Justice of the Peace Bobby Rader and the thousands of decisions he has made as a city judge and a JP, he is a great example of how discretion is used properly. I have seen two juveniles in his courtroom that have been found guilty of the same offense. I have seen him use the power we have given him with wisdom and mercy. I remember when the first juvenile came before him to be sentenced and how the kid was defiant and rude and seemed to have no regrets. Through questioning, Judge Rader could tell the kid thought he had nothing to lose. He had no money so his mother would have to pay any fine that was set. He would refuse to go to community service and he had heard nothing else could be done. Judge Rader asked the kid if he had a bike and if he had any video games. When the kid said yes his sentence was to sell them both and pay his fine and 20 days of community service (to be closely monitored by Rader’s office).
When the second juvenile was brought into the court later in the day, he was visibly upset. He was being raised by his mother also, but the entire time he was before Judge Rader you could tell he was more concerned that he had disappointed his mom more than what the courts were going to do to him. He was polite and expressed regret for his behavior. Judge Rader sentenced him to 10 days of community service.
JP’s and City Judges make many rulings in the course of just one year. The use of discretion is vital to their ability to be effective. As a result, Bobby Rader may be seen as a harsh law and order judge to some, while others would say he is wise and merciful. Anyone taking a snapshot of his use of discretion could pick and choose cases and make him look anyway they wanted. But an analysis of all of the ones I have looked at reveals he is a fair, just, and wise judge and a great example of how allowing judges some discretion makes the system work well.
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