Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Dale Dribble indicted!
**UPDATED. NEW LINK BELOW.**
Thank God for Ronnie Earle.
--ER
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Dale Dribble and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.
Dribble attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, the former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by Dribble, and the head of Dribble's national political committee.
The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by Dribble and three of his political associates.
The grand jury action is expected to have immediate consequences in the House, where Dribble is largely responsible for winning passage of the Republican legislative program. House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts.
It would be up to the rank and file to select an interim replacement. Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., could make a recommendation, whether choosing to elevate another member of the leadership or tapping an alternative to reduce the possibility of a struggle if Dribble were cleared and then sought to reclaim his post.
Lawyers with knowledge of the case said the Dribble defense team was concerned that the Travis County grand jury might consider counts of conspiracy to violate the state election code.
Their concern was triggered when similar charges were handed down two weeks ago in an expanded indictment against two Dribble political associates. The associates were accused of conspiring to violate the state election code by using corporate donations for illegal purposes.
A real story about "Hot Tub Tom" DeLay.
Thank God for Ronnie Earle.
--ER
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Dale Dribble and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, an indictment that could force him to step down as House majority leader.
Dribble attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, the former executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by Dribble, and the head of Dribble's national political committee.
The indictment against the second-ranking, and most assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by Dribble and three of his political associates.
The grand jury action is expected to have immediate consequences in the House, where Dribble is largely responsible for winning passage of the Republican legislative program. House Republican Party rules require leaders who are indicted to temporarily step aside from their leadership posts.
It would be up to the rank and file to select an interim replacement. Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., could make a recommendation, whether choosing to elevate another member of the leadership or tapping an alternative to reduce the possibility of a struggle if Dribble were cleared and then sought to reclaim his post.
Lawyers with knowledge of the case said the Dribble defense team was concerned that the Travis County grand jury might consider counts of conspiracy to violate the state election code.
Their concern was triggered when similar charges were handed down two weeks ago in an expanded indictment against two Dribble political associates. The associates were accused of conspiring to violate the state election code by using corporate donations for illegal purposes.
A real story about "Hot Tub Tom" DeLay.
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More on Dribble, from Wikipedia:
Dribble was born on April 8, 1947 in Laredo, Texas, and lived part of his childhood in Venezuela due to his father's work in the oil and gas industry. Dribble received a biology degree from the University of Houston in 1970, though he had previously been expelled from Baylor University for drinking. Though a strong student, Dribble gained a reputation as a playboy, earning him the nickname, "Double Dog Dale." [1] Dribble also had a successful career as an exterminator.
He was elected to the Texas State House in 1978 where he continued his party antics. By his own admission, Dribble was drinking "8, 10, 12 martinis a night at receptions and fundraisers." [2]
Dribble became a born-again Christian in 1985.
Dribble has declined to comment on a report in the New Yorker that he is estranged from much of his family, including his mother and one of his brothers. [3]
Dribble was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1984, representing the Texas 22nd Congressional District of Sugar Land, after his predecessor, libertarian Republican Ron Paul, stepped down, citing his support for the concept of term limits.
--ER
Dribble was born on April 8, 1947 in Laredo, Texas, and lived part of his childhood in Venezuela due to his father's work in the oil and gas industry. Dribble received a biology degree from the University of Houston in 1970, though he had previously been expelled from Baylor University for drinking. Though a strong student, Dribble gained a reputation as a playboy, earning him the nickname, "Double Dog Dale." [1] Dribble also had a successful career as an exterminator.
He was elected to the Texas State House in 1978 where he continued his party antics. By his own admission, Dribble was drinking "8, 10, 12 martinis a night at receptions and fundraisers." [2]
Dribble became a born-again Christian in 1985.
Dribble has declined to comment on a report in the New Yorker that he is estranged from much of his family, including his mother and one of his brothers. [3]
Dribble was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1984, representing the Texas 22nd Congressional District of Sugar Land, after his predecessor, libertarian Republican Ron Paul, stepped down, citing his support for the concept of term limits.
--ER
I am looking into this thing, ER, not taking the New York Times word for it. Here is the web site that has the entire indictment: I don't know how to insert links in the comments:
http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/delay/delay92805ind.pdf
Now, here is a website that has info indicating it is a trumped up charge:
http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/delay/delay92805ind.pdf
To be fair, tho, I also found a website that says the GOP charges that the DA is a partisan hack is a lie.
I don't know what to think, but it looks like Tom delay is barely mentioned in the indictment, which I read, but I don't understand legalese very well.
Mark Levin says there was no crime at all, that everything that Delay and his friends is charged with is legal in the state of Texas.
Time will tell.
http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/delay/delay92805ind.pdf
Now, here is a website that has info indicating it is a trumped up charge:
http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/delay/delay92805ind.pdf
To be fair, tho, I also found a website that says the GOP charges that the DA is a partisan hack is a lie.
I don't know what to think, but it looks like Tom delay is barely mentioned in the indictment, which I read, but I don't understand legalese very well.
Mark Levin says there was no crime at all, that everything that Delay and his friends is charged with is legal in the state of Texas.
Time will tell.
Sorry. Here is the website I mentioned. that supports Delay:
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004758.php
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/004758.php
Time WILL tell. It's just an indictment.
Beware about buying into the GOP spin on Ronnie Earle. He has gone after more Dems than Repubs in 30-odd years as prosecutor -- and he is said to have filed a charge against himself once for missing a filing deadline with one of his own campaign finance forms.
--ER
Beware about buying into the GOP spin on Ronnie Earle. He has gone after more Dems than Repubs in 30-odd years as prosecutor -- and he is said to have filed a charge against himself once for missing a filing deadline with one of his own campaign finance forms.
--ER
yeah I read that too, ER, ...here is more from
http://archive.jdedman.com/100396.htm.
This states:
Besides his traditional role as prosecutor, Earle, as Travis County D.A., has the unique duty of heading up the state's Public Integrity Unit. His witch hunt against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is representative of his misuse of this duty.
Concerned more about publicity than facts, Earle routinely conferred with the media about the case before informing Hutchison's lawyers. He stacked the Grand Jury with his Democratic cronies and sought to inflate baseless accusations with vague evidence.
On Earle's methods, the Dallas Morning News wrote "the impression of partisan unfairness has certainly been reinforced by the leaks and public comment about Hutchison's case from the District Attorney's office throughout the summer. That the Grand Jury investigation has been conducted with so much fanfare - such as the tip-offs to the new media when key records were seized from the former treasurer's office - has added a darker tone to the cloudy proceedings."
Hutchison wasn't the first political figure Earle persecuted. Earle's vendettas have been bipartisan; he has used his office to go after his political enemies in both parties. Besides Hutchison, Earle "investigated" Jim Mattox, Gib Lewis and others. Earle's tactics earned him the appropriate nickname "Earle of Injustice."
http://archive.jdedman.com/100396.htm.
This states:
Besides his traditional role as prosecutor, Earle, as Travis County D.A., has the unique duty of heading up the state's Public Integrity Unit. His witch hunt against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is representative of his misuse of this duty.
Concerned more about publicity than facts, Earle routinely conferred with the media about the case before informing Hutchison's lawyers. He stacked the Grand Jury with his Democratic cronies and sought to inflate baseless accusations with vague evidence.
On Earle's methods, the Dallas Morning News wrote "the impression of partisan unfairness has certainly been reinforced by the leaks and public comment about Hutchison's case from the District Attorney's office throughout the summer. That the Grand Jury investigation has been conducted with so much fanfare - such as the tip-offs to the new media when key records were seized from the former treasurer's office - has added a darker tone to the cloudy proceedings."
Hutchison wasn't the first political figure Earle persecuted. Earle's vendettas have been bipartisan; he has used his office to go after his political enemies in both parties. Besides Hutchison, Earle "investigated" Jim Mattox, Gib Lewis and others. Earle's tactics earned him the appropriate nickname "Earle of Injustice."
So, Mark, your agreeing that Earle is nonpartisan in his prosecutions?
Anon, guess what? It really *does* matter what your definition of "is" is. Not long after Bubba's brouhaha, I was deposed in a humdrum lawsuit that, among other things, discussed that very thing. Clinton was silly to say so, especially with that grin, but it's true. Fair warning: This thread is about Tom DeLay and Ronnie Earle, not Bill Clinton.
--ER
Anon, guess what? It really *does* matter what your definition of "is" is. Not long after Bubba's brouhaha, I was deposed in a humdrum lawsuit that, among other things, discussed that very thing. Clinton was silly to say so, especially with that grin, but it's true. Fair warning: This thread is about Tom DeLay and Ronnie Earle, not Bill Clinton.
--ER
"he has used his office to go after his political enemies in both parties." being the key phrase and "political enemies" being the key phrase within that phrase.
Yes. That means nonpartisan.
He has political enemies in both parties because both parties have members, and leaders, like DeLay, for whom "public integrity" is something to condemn and avoid.
But, DeLay came close to destroying the Democratic Party in Texas, by miusing power. Don't expect me to insist on a fair trial. A fair hanging is to good for him.
--ER
He has political enemies in both parties because both parties have members, and leaders, like DeLay, for whom "public integrity" is something to condemn and avoid.
But, DeLay came close to destroying the Democratic Party in Texas, by miusing power. Don't expect me to insist on a fair trial. A fair hanging is to good for him.
--ER
Jesus! It wasn't supposed to be unbiased! It came from The Nation? It was not an AP story, for God's sake. As you have to ask of your own detractors sometimes, can you read? :-)
--ER
--ER
I KNOW it's about DeLay, but DeLay said yesterday that the indictment is the most baseless sham ever brought against a public official, or words to that effect.
Here it is: "one of the weakest, most baseless indictments in American history," one that is "a sham, and Mr. Earle knows it."
Just sounded like Clinton on the whole impeachment process.
And I happen to agree with Clinton.
I don't think DeLay is clever enough to understand what I meant about "is," either.
Here it is: "one of the weakest, most baseless indictments in American history," one that is "a sham, and Mr. Earle knows it."
Just sounded like Clinton on the whole impeachment process.
And I happen to agree with Clinton.
I don't think DeLay is clever enough to understand what I meant about "is," either.
# posted by 
: 12:31 PM
: 12:31 PM
I wonder if more House Republicans aren't privately glad to see him go than Democrats. And it really doesn't matter if he is guilty or not, when the sharks in that pond defined by the D.C. Beltway smell blood. they don't ask who's bleedin, they just go in for a meal.
# posted by : 5:55 PM
: 5:55 PM
Now here is a post-day-one-DeLay headline:
"Wamp Plans to Run for Whip"
Would that be before or after DeLay gets his wamp whipped?
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"Wamp Plans to Run for Whip"
Would that be before or after DeLay gets his wamp whipped?
# posted by : 8:05 PM
: 8:05 PM << Home
