With the main stream media firmly behind President Obama again and a steady stream of how the elite and the more sophisticated think we all ought to vote, Texans will still go to the polls in November and use common sense and their love and knowledge of the Constitution to assign our electoral votes to a conservative. Texans knew this country could not spend its way out of debt before administration tried it. Now experience will doom further Democrats to the cellar in the Lone Star state.
“Experience!” - is not only what Obama’s re-election team will be hollering and pounding the media about... some of our local candidates will do the same. Perhaps not coincidentally, two candidates that are already touting experience have strong connections to the Democrat party, but perhaps for nothing but the pure practical idea of being able to win, both candidates have chosen the Republican side of the ballot this time.
Yes, Republican primary voters will have all kinds of “experience” to consider. Some they may would rather GOP faithful’s overlook. Looking at two of the most interesting races and thinking about the candidates’ history of party affiliation might help shed light on these races. Henry Patterson ran as a Democrat in 2004, but now advertises himself as a Republican. Patterson is running for re-election. He has chosen to stick with the Republican Party and try and defeat longtime Republican Bobby Rader in the race for Liberty County Sheriff. Logan Pickett’s family has supported Democrats for local office for decades and has as his chief promoter Democrat Mike Little. Pickett is running for District Attorney and is running against Karen McNair, one of the key people in recent years to help build the local Republican Party.
The experience these two candidates are telling people makes them deserve our vote needs examining also. Both the quantity and the quality deserve analysis.
Liberty Dispatch has already analyzed the troubling quality of Sheriff Patterson’s experience ad-nausea. There is no point in re-hashing the whole thing again. He has told the world if he is re-elected, we would get more of the same. He is now launching a negative campaign to try and tarnish his two opponents experience while “tweaking” numbers to nearly triple his 14% success/conviction rate into a shiny 40% plus rate.
Logan Pickett, not to be out done, is trying to make us forget what we already know about his experience. First, we know he is the youngest and least experienced Assistant District Attorney on staff. Second, we know after his most recent loss he is maintaining the worst win-loss record anyone connected with us has been able to find in the history of the Liberty County District Attorney’s office. If further ado is made about his “record” we can go through the losses at the expense of causing the electorate to become even more concerned about Logan Pickett’s current contribution to stopping crime.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS. Liberty County voters have phased out much of the leadership that held office for years based off of it. We are awake and ready to vote against Obama and all politicians, local or national, who try and put lipstick on their proverbial pig-like experience. Gone are the days when politicians are guaranteed victory simply because they come from families who view themselves as elite or simply by saying “I am the incumbent.”
MIKSCH AND DIAZ SCRAPES WITH LAW COULD AFFECT ELECTIONS
Recent developments in the sentencing in the infamous FEMA fraud case and the indictment of the longtime game warden and husband of a JP candidate could infect voters in the upcoming election.
By now most Liberty County residents know that Mark Wayne Miksch, former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald’s brother-in-law, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $5,000 for failure to file a tax return. The fact that actual prison time will be served could prove to be an ominous sign to Fitzgerald and to those who have hoped to keep a lid on “the cover up” that occurred early on in this case. In the upcoming weeks we have been told that some of the very selective ways justice has been applied in Liberty County will be very evident as a result of this trial. Voters stay tuned.
Most citizens have also heard by now that a Liberty County Grand Jury indicted former game warden Danny Diaz last Wednesday on the charge of official oppression for the alleged unlawful detainment of a man named James David McCormick. The charge is in reference to an incident that occurred in November 2011 and is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a maximum fine of $4,000. But this case will undoubtedly have an effect on the upcoming race for Justice of the Peace precinct #1. Diaz’s wife, Darla, is making her second attempt to win that position. After having run for that position as a Democrat years ago, Darla Diaz, is the second most qualified candidate in the Republican primary to be decided on May 29th. (Note: Roy House has judicial experience and years as a Houston detective and is hands down the person who could perform the JP duties from day one.)
Darla Diaz may very well have been able win a spot in what most likely will be a run-off due to the fact there is a crowded field until news of more family problems surfaced with this indictment. Her campaign was not expected to be affected by Diaz’s daughter connection to embattled former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald.
The race for JP now is expected to have three main possibilities when trying to pick a winner. The more experienced and highly regarded but not as connected socially, Roy House, the very capable and well known and liked Liberty City Councilwoman Libby Simonson, and the late to enter but well connected son of John Hebert. (Some say this is Hebert’s first shot at what he hopes to be a ladder-climbing political career).
Note: LD reported on Diaz over a month ago.
By now most Liberty County residents know that Mark Wayne Miksch, former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald’s brother-in-law, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $5,000 for failure to file a tax return. The fact that actual prison time will be served could prove to be an ominous sign to Fitzgerald and to those who have hoped to keep a lid on “the cover up” that occurred early on in this case. In the upcoming weeks we have been told that some of the very selective ways justice has been applied in Liberty County will be very evident as a result of this trial. Voters stay tuned.
Most citizens have also heard by now that a Liberty County Grand Jury indicted former game warden Danny Diaz last Wednesday on the charge of official oppression for the alleged unlawful detainment of a man named James David McCormick. The charge is in reference to an incident that occurred in November 2011 and is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a maximum fine of $4,000. But this case will undoubtedly have an effect on the upcoming race for Justice of the Peace precinct #1. Diaz’s wife, Darla, is making her second attempt to win that position. After having run for that position as a Democrat years ago, Darla Diaz, is the second most qualified candidate in the Republican primary to be decided on May 29th. (Note: Roy House has judicial experience and years as a Houston detective and is hands down the person who could perform the JP duties from day one.)
Darla Diaz may very well have been able win a spot in what most likely will be a run-off due to the fact there is a crowded field until news of more family problems surfaced with this indictment. Her campaign was not expected to be affected by Diaz’s daughter connection to embattled former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald.
The race for JP now is expected to have three main possibilities when trying to pick a winner. The more experienced and highly regarded but not as connected socially, Roy House, the very capable and well known and liked Liberty City Councilwoman Libby Simonson, and the late to enter but well connected son of John Hebert. (Some say this is Hebert’s first shot at what he hopes to be a ladder-climbing political career).
Note: LD reported on Diaz over a month ago.
PART 3: PATTERSON SAYS WITH HIM WE WILL “GET MORE OF THE SAME”
There is a huge difference in the way two of the candidates for local office view themselves and their vision of what the want to do for the county. The incumbent, Henry Patterson admitted in one of the political forums that his re-election bid did not include promises of improving anything, while challenger Bobby Rader’s record of public service has been all about improvement and innovation- two candidates, two different views of the future.
Patterson’s campaign advisers have pointed out that the re-election of their man should be about the only re-election Liberty County voters’ support. They view Patterson and his “more of the same” campaign promise as a great start, but they also believe voters made poor decisions in the last election when they elected three Republican judges. They think cleaning the courthouse out should START now, while for many voters this will be the third election in a row they will vote to replace longtime incumbents.
“Henry Patterson’s re-election and the defeat of all three of the judges and several other people recently elected will happen if things are served up the voters the right way”, campaign adviser to Patterson, Eddie Shauberger said. “We have a couple of the right Pastors and the right businessmen behind our goals and we are unstoppable,” he continued.
Bobby Rader will have strong support from the Christian community, but his analysis of where Liberty County is politically must be very different. Rader was elected JP when there were no Republican elected officials. Democrats courted him, but unlike Patterson’s first run for office, Rader has always run Republican and he has always said his beliefs were better aligned with the GOP’s. That perspective undoubtedly has affected his view of Liberty County politics– he has seen the voters come to the polls the last two elections and agree with him. While Patterson sees the need for change, Rader recognizes the voters have already made many of the changes that were needed.
Rader has not seen the changes he believes need to happen in the Sheriff’s department however. Why else would he be running? When Rader was elect JP he adopted a Ted Poe like style of applying the law. His color blind, innovative, creative way of applying justice to the poor and the rich alike is result oriented. Like Poe, Rader wanted to protect the public and punish lawbreakers, but he also wanted to use the discretion the law gives judges to discourage the unrepentant in your face criminals while judiciously applying mercy to those who show promise of change. He is no pushover and you better not appear before him, but this law and order Republican allows common sense and compassion in the courtroom.
As sheriff, Rader would have a very different job than when he was judge, but rest assured he would make changes. Patterson keeps pointing to a statistic that would appear to mean his leadership has Liberty County’s Sheriff Department shining in the state with a 40% rate of closing their cases. And when Rader says the real figure can be computed by taking the number of cases and the number of successful arrest and convictions, Patterson implies Rader is trying to deny an obvious reason for voters to keep him in office. Patterson says that 40% number comes from the Governor’s office – and wants to know if Rader is calling the Governor a liar. But when Rader points out that the figures the Governor uses come from each sheriff’s office … the argument for any claim to fame by Patterson gets quiet.
While Patterson proudly proclaims if we vote for him we will get “more of the same”, Rader says he will use his knowledge of what kind of evidence is needed to win conviction to train deputies and other needed changes so the Sheriff’s department can start having a real 40% closure rate by convicting criminals rather than playing with numbers.
Voters may discard everything else that is said in this race, but knowing each man’s aspirations and goals is very telling.
Patterson’s campaign advisers have pointed out that the re-election of their man should be about the only re-election Liberty County voters’ support. They view Patterson and his “more of the same” campaign promise as a great start, but they also believe voters made poor decisions in the last election when they elected three Republican judges. They think cleaning the courthouse out should START now, while for many voters this will be the third election in a row they will vote to replace longtime incumbents.
“Henry Patterson’s re-election and the defeat of all three of the judges and several other people recently elected will happen if things are served up the voters the right way”, campaign adviser to Patterson, Eddie Shauberger said. “We have a couple of the right Pastors and the right businessmen behind our goals and we are unstoppable,” he continued.
Bobby Rader will have strong support from the Christian community, but his analysis of where Liberty County is politically must be very different. Rader was elected JP when there were no Republican elected officials. Democrats courted him, but unlike Patterson’s first run for office, Rader has always run Republican and he has always said his beliefs were better aligned with the GOP’s. That perspective undoubtedly has affected his view of Liberty County politics– he has seen the voters come to the polls the last two elections and agree with him. While Patterson sees the need for change, Rader recognizes the voters have already made many of the changes that were needed.
Rader has not seen the changes he believes need to happen in the Sheriff’s department however. Why else would he be running? When Rader was elect JP he adopted a Ted Poe like style of applying the law. His color blind, innovative, creative way of applying justice to the poor and the rich alike is result oriented. Like Poe, Rader wanted to protect the public and punish lawbreakers, but he also wanted to use the discretion the law gives judges to discourage the unrepentant in your face criminals while judiciously applying mercy to those who show promise of change. He is no pushover and you better not appear before him, but this law and order Republican allows common sense and compassion in the courtroom.
As sheriff, Rader would have a very different job than when he was judge, but rest assured he would make changes. Patterson keeps pointing to a statistic that would appear to mean his leadership has Liberty County’s Sheriff Department shining in the state with a 40% rate of closing their cases. And when Rader says the real figure can be computed by taking the number of cases and the number of successful arrest and convictions, Patterson implies Rader is trying to deny an obvious reason for voters to keep him in office. Patterson says that 40% number comes from the Governor’s office – and wants to know if Rader is calling the Governor a liar. But when Rader points out that the figures the Governor uses come from each sheriff’s office … the argument for any claim to fame by Patterson gets quiet.
While Patterson proudly proclaims if we vote for him we will get “more of the same”, Rader says he will use his knowledge of what kind of evidence is needed to win conviction to train deputies and other needed changes so the Sheriff’s department can start having a real 40% closure rate by convicting criminals rather than playing with numbers.
Voters may discard everything else that is said in this race, but knowing each man’s aspirations and goals is very telling.
Open Letter From LD
“Outsiders”
According to you... Liberty County Sheriff Patterson’s new official spokesman, “The Outsiders” and your new writer, Edward Shauberger in place of Robert Valdez- The Outsiders are working with unnamed “State”, “Local” and “Federal” agencies. You have openly, publicly and continually proclaimed your working with these unnamed agencies.
This is an open letter to you... Patterson’s “Outsiders”- Name the agencies you are working with and your point of contact, if you are in-fact telling the truth. As a matter of fact, name ONE “Local” agency you are working with other than the Liberty County Sheriff’s office.
Liberty Dispatch
According to you... Liberty County Sheriff Patterson’s new official spokesman, “The Outsiders” and your new writer, Edward Shauberger in place of Robert Valdez- The Outsiders are working with unnamed “State”, “Local” and “Federal” agencies. You have openly, publicly and continually proclaimed your working with these unnamed agencies.
This is an open letter to you... Patterson’s “Outsiders”- Name the agencies you are working with and your point of contact, if you are in-fact telling the truth. As a matter of fact, name ONE “Local” agency you are working with other than the Liberty County Sheriff’s office.
Liberty Dispatch
Part 2: QUO VADIS- POLITICIANS AND CHAMELEONS
“Quo vadis?” The modern usage of the phrase refers to a Christian tradition regarding Saint Peter. According to the apocryphal book The Acts of Peter, Simon Peter is fleeing from likely crucifixion in Rome at the hands of the government, and along the road outside the city he meets the risen Jesus. Peter asks Jesus "Quo vadis?” to which He replies, "Romam vado iterum crucifigi." ("I am going to Rome to be crucified again"). Peter thereby gains the courage to continue his ministry and returns to the city, to eventually be martyred by being crucified upside-down.
Regardless of whether this account from a book that was not included when the Bible was being canonized, the idea that Peter thought he should be leaving Rome when in fact Jesus wanted him there is a cautionary tale for us all- even those who would be ministers. And especially Christians who are living in a democratic republic where their participation is part of being a good citizen and requires so many decisions to be made in less than perfect circumstances.
The recent political activity by a minister from the Cleveland area shows some of the pitfalls that can come and how Aubrey Vaughn’s certainty about what direction he should go could easily be flawed and the opposite of what he should be doing.
Pastor Vaughn has made many political decisions that people can agree or disagree with. He has no drivers’ license because to get one the state wants to verify citizenship by seeing your social security card and Pastor Vaughn refuses to have a social security number. He has been jailed because he believes if his church doesn’t have to pay taxes, why should he. So he is no stranger to drawing a line in the stand and labeling things “good or evil” like he has Bobby Rader and Henry Patterson, except with this new line most people will view he has involved himself in personal attacks.
His activism in the past leaves us with questions – like does he drive without a license? Or shouldn’t he help society pay for “our common defense”, etc. by paying his taxes? And his actions against Bobby Rader leave us with questions too. Quo vadis, Brother Aubrey?
We realize the political team of the man who you support (Sheriff Patterson), has as a common characteristic “tax dodging” tendencies. We realize also they have bragged that they would send you out into public under the well thought of moniker, “Pastor”, and that they could get you to do whatever they wanted you to do. They have indicated a little anti-government rhetoric and a common belief that Jesus is the Son of God has bound you to them so tightly that you would help villainies’ Henry Patterson’s opponent.
But just as Peter headed one way and came to know he should turn around, we ask the same of you Brother. Not about whom you are voting for, but about you casting your Pastor’s pen into this local Sheriff’s race and claiming some kind of discernment about Bobby Rader and his integrity. Bobby Rader is a very well thought of Christian businessman who has helped so many children and so many adults in this community that it would be difficult to even guess how many lives he has effected. The help he offered to people came long before he ran for a political office. His Ted Poe style of administering justice has just added to opportunities Judge Rader has had to do good works.
The political team you have associated yourself with told us months ago that they predicted the commissioners’ court would want Rader to stay on the bench until after voters selected his replacement. They also threatened/extorted and attempted blackmail through their point man Eddie Shauberger that they would use that decision by the court and political spin on certain cases Judge Rader had ruled on to humiliate and berate – "Unless he pulled out of the race against Patterson". Quo vadis, Brother Aubrey?
Bobby Rader is not just highly revered by those who know him, he is loved. Loved by many who would tell you his walk and his talk about His Lord are solid and sincere. Why would a minister of the Gospel characterize Bobby’s decision to continue his work until a replacement has been chosen? You admit it is lawful, but you act as if is not moral. That makes no sense to many of us – and to be frank, the direction you have headed in on this matter seems wrong headed. You don’t have to disavow Patterson as your candidate of choice, but seriously, are you actually going to allow these people to use your position as the Shepherd of a church flock, to try and ruin the reputation of one of the most well thought of men in the county? Based on your opinion that his work in the courts gives him an unfair media advantage over the incumbent Sheriff? Quo vadis Brother Aubrey?
These people, this political team of Patterson’s… history will record have faithfully been at the same political meetings you have attended – they do their work in secret and they have secret motivations. Pictures of Valdez and Fuddy Williams and others are hard to come by. Are they not deceivers, Pastor? They have been careful to position themselves in their writing as “grateful for the assistance of local authorities”, yet we can not find one local authority, except Henry Patterson, who wants to be associated with them. They have bragged privately that they will unseat every one of the judges the voters have just elected. But their public writing acts like they are here to help WE THE PEOPLE.
Quo vadis, Brother Aubrey? We respect your courage to take a stand, but are you going to ask the rest of us to join you and these political chameleons in the soon to come distortion of Judge Rader’s work on the bench? Judge Rader ran as a Republcian when there were no local Republicans. He refused to go along to get along. His actions as a judge are very similar to that of Ted Poe. Highly energetic, innovative, honest, and the hardest working JP in the county – Bobby Rader deserves better.
Regardless of whether this account from a book that was not included when the Bible was being canonized, the idea that Peter thought he should be leaving Rome when in fact Jesus wanted him there is a cautionary tale for us all- even those who would be ministers. And especially Christians who are living in a democratic republic where their participation is part of being a good citizen and requires so many decisions to be made in less than perfect circumstances.
The recent political activity by a minister from the Cleveland area shows some of the pitfalls that can come and how Aubrey Vaughn’s certainty about what direction he should go could easily be flawed and the opposite of what he should be doing.
Pastor Vaughn has made many political decisions that people can agree or disagree with. He has no drivers’ license because to get one the state wants to verify citizenship by seeing your social security card and Pastor Vaughn refuses to have a social security number. He has been jailed because he believes if his church doesn’t have to pay taxes, why should he. So he is no stranger to drawing a line in the stand and labeling things “good or evil” like he has Bobby Rader and Henry Patterson, except with this new line most people will view he has involved himself in personal attacks.
His activism in the past leaves us with questions – like does he drive without a license? Or shouldn’t he help society pay for “our common defense”, etc. by paying his taxes? And his actions against Bobby Rader leave us with questions too. Quo vadis, Brother Aubrey?
We realize the political team of the man who you support (Sheriff Patterson), has as a common characteristic “tax dodging” tendencies. We realize also they have bragged that they would send you out into public under the well thought of moniker, “Pastor”, and that they could get you to do whatever they wanted you to do. They have indicated a little anti-government rhetoric and a common belief that Jesus is the Son of God has bound you to them so tightly that you would help villainies’ Henry Patterson’s opponent.
But just as Peter headed one way and came to know he should turn around, we ask the same of you Brother. Not about whom you are voting for, but about you casting your Pastor’s pen into this local Sheriff’s race and claiming some kind of discernment about Bobby Rader and his integrity. Bobby Rader is a very well thought of Christian businessman who has helped so many children and so many adults in this community that it would be difficult to even guess how many lives he has effected. The help he offered to people came long before he ran for a political office. His Ted Poe style of administering justice has just added to opportunities Judge Rader has had to do good works.
The political team you have associated yourself with told us months ago that they predicted the commissioners’ court would want Rader to stay on the bench until after voters selected his replacement. They also threatened/extorted and attempted blackmail through their point man Eddie Shauberger that they would use that decision by the court and political spin on certain cases Judge Rader had ruled on to humiliate and berate – "Unless he pulled out of the race against Patterson". Quo vadis, Brother Aubrey?
Bobby Rader is not just highly revered by those who know him, he is loved. Loved by many who would tell you his walk and his talk about His Lord are solid and sincere. Why would a minister of the Gospel characterize Bobby’s decision to continue his work until a replacement has been chosen? You admit it is lawful, but you act as if is not moral. That makes no sense to many of us – and to be frank, the direction you have headed in on this matter seems wrong headed. You don’t have to disavow Patterson as your candidate of choice, but seriously, are you actually going to allow these people to use your position as the Shepherd of a church flock, to try and ruin the reputation of one of the most well thought of men in the county? Based on your opinion that his work in the courts gives him an unfair media advantage over the incumbent Sheriff? Quo vadis Brother Aubrey?
These people, this political team of Patterson’s… history will record have faithfully been at the same political meetings you have attended – they do their work in secret and they have secret motivations. Pictures of Valdez and Fuddy Williams and others are hard to come by. Are they not deceivers, Pastor? They have been careful to position themselves in their writing as “grateful for the assistance of local authorities”, yet we can not find one local authority, except Henry Patterson, who wants to be associated with them. They have bragged privately that they will unseat every one of the judges the voters have just elected. But their public writing acts like they are here to help WE THE PEOPLE.
Quo vadis, Brother Aubrey? We respect your courage to take a stand, but are you going to ask the rest of us to join you and these political chameleons in the soon to come distortion of Judge Rader’s work on the bench? Judge Rader ran as a Republcian when there were no local Republicans. He refused to go along to get along. His actions as a judge are very similar to that of Ted Poe. Highly energetic, innovative, honest, and the hardest working JP in the county – Bobby Rader deserves better.
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