Jim Kouri
DeLay's prosecutor pals with Dan Rather's daughter and Ben Barnes
By Jim Kouri
Travis County, Texas, District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who exploded upon the American scene as a result of a grand jury indictment against Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay, is a known partisan Democrat in Texas. His history of trying to prosecute Republicans such as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson also is widely known in Texas. The Senator Hutchinson case was thrown out when Earle admitted he could not prosecute the case due to insufficient evidence which in legalese means he had no case. His attempt to do the same thing to Bush campaign consultant Bob Bullock also failed when a grand jury refused to indict Bullock.
The tough, tenacious Ronnie Earle often boasts of his close relationship with former Texas Governor Ben Barnes and Robin Rather and they are listed as supporters and contributors to his reelection campaigns. Barnes is the man who on CBS's 60 Minutes told newsman Dan Rather he pulled strings to get President Bush into the National Guard, and Robin Rather is Dan Rather's daughter, a Democrat activist in Texas. The former CBS anchor is suspected of working closely with the Texas Democrat Committee and in fact it was Texas from which the famous Rathergate forged documents emanated. Rather was forced to resign from CBS after bloggers exposed his prima facie evidence against Bush as a fraud. And Dan was a guest speaker at a Democrat fundraiser for none other than Ronnie Earle
Timing is everything with Ronnie Earle and his friends in the TDC. His attempt at convicting Kay Bailey Hutchinson occurred as she prepared to run for the senate. His attempt at indicting Bush political mentor Bob Bullock occurred around the 2000 presidential election cycle. With the 2006 US Senate and House of Representatives election cycle just around the corner, this is the perfect time to indict the man known as The Hammer by political friends and foes alike. The indictment alone neutralizes the powerful conservative since Delay was forced to step down as the House Majority Leader. Democrats never tried to keep it a secret that if Delay was out of the way their prospects for capturing the House of Representative become more likely.
If anyone doubts Earle's partisanship, then perhaps they should read local newspaper reports about his vitriolic speech at a Democrat Party fundraiser last May. Ronnie Earle, speaking at the fundraiser, uttered vicious comments about Delay. Earle went as far as discussing the case with the audience as he told the cheering crowd that he'd get Tom Delay. He also disclosed a supposedly confidential discussion he had with another man whom he tried to indict but failed. In fact, Ronnie Earle's attempts at convicting Republicans are almost laughable.
Even the indictment instrument in the Delay case is in itself suspect. With only six paragraphs, the indictment provides little if any information or evidence of wrongdoing. Legal experts from former judges to former prosecutors and defense attorneys are scratching their heads wondering what kind of indictment has Ronnie Earle secured from a grand jury? How is Delay's legal team supposed to mount a defense against such a vague document?
The indictment for conspiracy doesn't even mention what crime Delay conspired to commit. The campaign finance law prohibits political parties from accepting financial contributions from corporations 60 days before an election. The allegation facing Delay is that he accepted money from a PAC (political action committee). A PAC is not a corporation as stipulated in the campaign finance law, which may be ruled unconstitutional anyway once it reaches the US Supreme Court.
In defending Earle, Democrats point to the fact that he has indicted Democrat politicians, but a look at those indictments strongly suggests they were against Earle's political enemies. In Austin, Texas, he is recognized as the District Attorney for life since few will attempt to run against him for fear they'll be indicted on some trumped up charge. His supporters claim he even indicted himself. But if he felt he violated the law why didn't he have another prosecutor indict him?
Once the mainstream news media stop celebrating the indictment of a powerful Republican, perhaps they will make at least some effort to answer questions for the American people — all the people, not just like-minded Liberals. Here are some questions that need to be answered:
What did the prosecutor say during his speech at a Democrat fundraiser about the Delay case and about the ongoing investigation into Delay's campaign finances? In most states such conduct is an ethics violation punishable by disbarment.
Did the prosecutor contact any Democrat Party bigwigs such as DNC chairman Howard Dean, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid, etc. and discuss the Delay investigation? Did they contact him? Did Earle have contact with state Democrat leaders prior to the indictment? What did he discuss with his friend Ben Barnes, a known Bush hater whose own daughter called him liar on several occasions when he changed his story about Bush's National Guard enlistment?
What conversations about the case, if any, did Earle have with Dan Rather's daughter Robin? Did he discuss the case with Dan who attended a 2000 Democrat Party fundraiser for Earle?
Why did it take so many grand juries before Earle finally got the indictment he wanted? What was the evidence Earle presented to that fifth grand jury that caused them to indict Delay?
In his case against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, it's been alleged that Earle was involved in unlawful and unethical practices during the investigation of the conservative senatorial candidate. What were these questionable activities? Why were they not subject to further investigation?
Why is Earle discussing cases and smearing unindicted Bob Bullock, who was George Bush's political mentor, during a Democrat fundraiser? The grand jury in the Bullock case refused to indict yet Ronnie Earle discussed this case at a partisan event?
Why is the published indictment so short on substantial allegations? Why is there practically no mention of Tom Delay?
As far as media coverage, don't hold your breath for the news media to give this case fair coverage. A recent poll of police commanders overwhelmingly (92%) said they don't believe the news media are fair and balanced in their coverage. Tom Delay has a real fight on his hands. He must do battle with an out-of-control political hack masquerading as an officer of the court; with a deranged political party that is out of power and can only lie, spin the truth and attempt to jail their opponents; and with a news media that often forgets they're not part of the Democrat National Committee.
© Jim Kouri
Travis County, Texas, District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who exploded upon the American scene as a result of a grand jury indictment against Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay, is a known partisan Democrat in Texas. His history of trying to prosecute Republicans such as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson also is widely known in Texas. The Senator Hutchinson case was thrown out when Earle admitted he could not prosecute the case due to insufficient evidence which in legalese means he had no case. His attempt to do the same thing to Bush campaign consultant Bob Bullock also failed when a grand jury refused to indict Bullock.
The tough, tenacious Ronnie Earle often boasts of his close relationship with former Texas Governor Ben Barnes and Robin Rather and they are listed as supporters and contributors to his reelection campaigns. Barnes is the man who on CBS's 60 Minutes told newsman Dan Rather he pulled strings to get President Bush into the National Guard, and Robin Rather is Dan Rather's daughter, a Democrat activist in Texas. The former CBS anchor is suspected of working closely with the Texas Democrat Committee and in fact it was Texas from which the famous Rathergate forged documents emanated. Rather was forced to resign from CBS after bloggers exposed his prima facie evidence against Bush as a fraud. And Dan was a guest speaker at a Democrat fundraiser for none other than Ronnie Earle
Timing is everything with Ronnie Earle and his friends in the TDC. His attempt at convicting Kay Bailey Hutchinson occurred as she prepared to run for the senate. His attempt at indicting Bush political mentor Bob Bullock occurred around the 2000 presidential election cycle. With the 2006 US Senate and House of Representatives election cycle just around the corner, this is the perfect time to indict the man known as The Hammer by political friends and foes alike. The indictment alone neutralizes the powerful conservative since Delay was forced to step down as the House Majority Leader. Democrats never tried to keep it a secret that if Delay was out of the way their prospects for capturing the House of Representative become more likely.
If anyone doubts Earle's partisanship, then perhaps they should read local newspaper reports about his vitriolic speech at a Democrat Party fundraiser last May. Ronnie Earle, speaking at the fundraiser, uttered vicious comments about Delay. Earle went as far as discussing the case with the audience as he told the cheering crowd that he'd get Tom Delay. He also disclosed a supposedly confidential discussion he had with another man whom he tried to indict but failed. In fact, Ronnie Earle's attempts at convicting Republicans are almost laughable.
Even the indictment instrument in the Delay case is in itself suspect. With only six paragraphs, the indictment provides little if any information or evidence of wrongdoing. Legal experts from former judges to former prosecutors and defense attorneys are scratching their heads wondering what kind of indictment has Ronnie Earle secured from a grand jury? How is Delay's legal team supposed to mount a defense against such a vague document?
The indictment for conspiracy doesn't even mention what crime Delay conspired to commit. The campaign finance law prohibits political parties from accepting financial contributions from corporations 60 days before an election. The allegation facing Delay is that he accepted money from a PAC (political action committee). A PAC is not a corporation as stipulated in the campaign finance law, which may be ruled unconstitutional anyway once it reaches the US Supreme Court.
In defending Earle, Democrats point to the fact that he has indicted Democrat politicians, but a look at those indictments strongly suggests they were against Earle's political enemies. In Austin, Texas, he is recognized as the District Attorney for life since few will attempt to run against him for fear they'll be indicted on some trumped up charge. His supporters claim he even indicted himself. But if he felt he violated the law why didn't he have another prosecutor indict him?
Once the mainstream news media stop celebrating the indictment of a powerful Republican, perhaps they will make at least some effort to answer questions for the American people — all the people, not just like-minded Liberals. Here are some questions that need to be answered:
What did the prosecutor say during his speech at a Democrat fundraiser about the Delay case and about the ongoing investigation into Delay's campaign finances? In most states such conduct is an ethics violation punishable by disbarment.
Did the prosecutor contact any Democrat Party bigwigs such as DNC chairman Howard Dean, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid, etc. and discuss the Delay investigation? Did they contact him? Did Earle have contact with state Democrat leaders prior to the indictment? What did he discuss with his friend Ben Barnes, a known Bush hater whose own daughter called him liar on several occasions when he changed his story about Bush's National Guard enlistment?
What conversations about the case, if any, did Earle have with Dan Rather's daughter Robin? Did he discuss the case with Dan who attended a 2000 Democrat Party fundraiser for Earle?
Why did it take so many grand juries before Earle finally got the indictment he wanted? What was the evidence Earle presented to that fifth grand jury that caused them to indict Delay?
In his case against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, it's been alleged that Earle was involved in unlawful and unethical practices during the investigation of the conservative senatorial candidate. What were these questionable activities? Why were they not subject to further investigation?
Why is Earle discussing cases and smearing unindicted Bob Bullock, who was George Bush's political mentor, during a Democrat fundraiser? The grand jury in the Bullock case refused to indict yet Ronnie Earle discussed this case at a partisan event?
Why is the published indictment so short on substantial allegations? Why is there practically no mention of Tom Delay?
As far as media coverage, don't hold your breath for the news media to give this case fair coverage. A recent poll of police commanders overwhelmingly (92%) said they don't believe the news media are fair and balanced in their coverage. Tom Delay has a real fight on his hands. He must do battle with an out-of-control political hack masquerading as an officer of the court; with a deranged political party that is out of power and can only lie, spin the truth and attempt to jail their opponents; and with a news media that often forgets they're not part of the Democrat National Committee.
© Jim Kouri
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