tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post2355217700058236137..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Rick Reed top choice in Travis County DA's raceGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77127522398873340182008-03-03T11:44:00.000-06:002008-03-03T11:44:00.000-06:00"The problem to me is that by electing Lehmberg, v..."The problem to me is that by electing Lehmberg, voters would be sending a message that endorses the status quo. "<BR/><BR/>Glad to see you've come around! (From what you told me several weeks ago your pref. was)...and glad to think watching our DA Candidates Forum helped sway you towards Rick. -Deb from CenTexACLU <BR/><BR/>Video of that forum <A HREF="http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4935" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01654599360807767386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89103668336987122262008-03-02T05:34:00.000-06:002008-03-02T05:34:00.000-06:00Whoever said Rick Reed is a one-issue wonder hasn'...Whoever said Rick Reed is a one-issue wonder hasn't been receiving his issues e-mails (which are also posted on his Web site). The other candidates send out fundraising e-mails and "walk we me" e-mails. Among other specifics, Rick Reed addresses the <A HREF="http://www.electrickreed.com/updates/022008.htm" REL="nofollow">Public <BR/>Integrity Unit</A>, <A HREF="http://www.electrickreed.com/updates/022508.htm" REL="nofollow">drug <BR/>diversion court</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.electrickreed.com/updates/022908.htm" REL="nofollow">capital <BR/>punishment</A>. His Web site's <A HREF="http://www.electrickreed.com/newsroom.htm" REL="nofollow">newsroom</A> is filled with meaty, smart information. I like Mindy and Gary, but they lack the depth of experience Rosemary and Rick have. Personally, however, Rosemary is vindictive and can't make decisions except over the simple stuff. It's been extremely frustrating at the court house. Justice in Travis County will be better served by Risk Reed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-52877894060661711492008-02-29T17:18:00.000-06:002008-02-29T17:18:00.000-06:00"To dismiss any of them would be a mistake"I agree..."To dismiss any of them would be a mistake"<BR/><BR/>I agree and I hope I haven't done that. I've said a few times it's a fine crop of candidates.<BR/><BR/>"Mindy is absolutely the totally hottest candidate."<BR/><BR/>Yup, if that were the criteria she'd win hands down. If years of experience were the criteria, Rosemary would win hands down. The intangibles, though, and the most credible message of "change," IMO go to Reed.<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm ... speaking of "hot" candidates, the now-defunct blog Underneath their Robes some years ago had a contest for who were the "hottest" federal judges, male and female - maybe we need to do something like that for TX. It'd have to be the judiciary; unless Mindy wins, most of the TX DAs are ugly as homemade sin. :)Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6898404340216710802008-02-29T15:02:00.000-06:002008-02-29T15:02:00.000-06:00Mindy is absolutely the totally hottest candidate....Mindy is absolutely the totally hottest candidate. No doubt about it. Hot Hot Hot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4158790613880003232008-02-29T11:52:00.000-06:002008-02-29T11:52:00.000-06:00Those 6590 other non-death penalty cases will have...Those 6590 other non-death penalty cases will have more resources available to handle them, if so much time and money is not spent on seeking the death penalty in those few cases where it has been sought in the past in Travis County.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-12624371777048476012008-02-29T11:47:00.000-06:002008-02-29T11:47:00.000-06:00The round of endorsements from organizations that ...The round of endorsements from organizations that occurred mostly in mid January were too premature for a race that had only begun in late December. Very few people knew much about the candidates in January. In other races, the candidates had been on the campaign trail for months. <BR/><BR/>If the endorsements were being made now, many of them would be different and Reed would get more of them because his stands on the issues match the progressive values of voters in Travis County.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36069135499755644042008-02-29T11:40:00.000-06:002008-02-29T11:40:00.000-06:00To clarify again the DA case loads in Travis Count...To clarify again the DA case loads in Travis County:<BR/><BR/>12 people charged with Capital Murder versus around 6590 other felony cases.elvez1975https://www.blogger.com/profile/01422806096899928461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-34546375376977868392008-02-29T11:37:00.000-06:002008-02-29T11:37:00.000-06:00I have looked at other issues and Rick Reed has th...I have looked at other issues and Rick Reed has the most progressive stances on all of them. His election would bring real progress to the Texas criminal justice system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18337913519472733912008-02-29T11:15:00.000-06:002008-02-29T11:15:00.000-06:00AFL-CIO endorsed Montford very early before the ca...AFL-CIO endorsed Montford very early before the candidates had a chance to campaign in public. So after Rick Reed decided to strongly oppose the death penalty it was too late for them to change their endorsement.Hooman Hedayatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13174966445842575829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36072475725117990492008-02-29T11:10:00.000-06:002008-02-29T11:10:00.000-06:00Daily Texan has a circulation of 50,000.Daily Texan has a circulation of 50,000.Hooman Hedayatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13174966445842575829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49162947081223094772008-02-29T10:52:00.000-06:002008-02-29T10:52:00.000-06:00This is all crazy talk.How many times a year does ...This is all crazy talk.<BR/><BR/>How many times a year does the Austin DA have to decide whether to seek death? 3? 5? Out of how many cases? 20,000? 40,000? This is out of whack people!<BR/><BR/>I'm much more interested in a potential DA's policies on issues that will affect the entire community -- drug treatment, rehabilitation, sexual assault, family violence, etc. Mr. Reed may be good on those issues, too, but all I read from him is (1) death penalty and (2) DeLay (again, a once-in-a-lifetime case).<BR/><BR/>If you vote for a candidate based on one issue -- especially an issue that involves less than 1/10th of 1% of that person's job -- you are being foolish! That's like choosing Hillary over Barack solely because she promises to protect the golden-cheeked warbler (or some other minor issue).<BR/><BR/>Please look at the rest of the issues, people!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-51393133632999127062008-02-29T10:50:00.000-06:002008-02-29T10:50:00.000-06:00Last time I checked Montford was endorsed by the A...Last time I checked Montford was endorsed by the Austin Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, University Democrats (University of Texas), the Travis County Sheriffs' Law Enforcement Association, and a host of individuals including the only two living Democratic former Texas governors to name a few.<BR/><BR/>Travis County is fortunate to have a fine selection of candidates for District Attorney; all of whom have excellent minds and experience. To dismiss any of them would be a mistake.As If It Really Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13198888372186803123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-32765254818687261642008-02-29T06:26:00.000-06:002008-02-29T06:26:00.000-06:00I would also add, one "never" I will endorse is th...I would also add, one "never" I will endorse is that a prosecutor should "never" send an innocent person to death row, and it's happened quite a few times.<BR/><BR/>If Charles Chatman had gotten the death penalty in Dallas 27 years ago, the injustice couldn't have been (even belatedly, inadequately) rectified.<BR/><BR/>Can the other candidates say they'll "never" seek the death penalty regarding an actually innocent person? After Christopher Ochoa and the Yogurt Shop mess (where a detective once famously held a gun to the suspect's head during questioning), I don't believe they can in good conscience. Even Cobb admitted, the system makes mistakes. So let's not make irrevocable ones.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70455213386565468332008-02-29T06:20:00.000-06:002008-02-29T06:20:00.000-06:00On the politics of "never":In Travis, if they catc...On the politics of "never":<BR/><BR/>In Travis, if they catch you with a crack pipe you get a Class C paraphernalia charge. In Harris, they send it to a clogged crime lab to scrape residue (while you wait in jail, for those who can't make bond) then charge you with possession of less than a gram, a state jail felony.<BR/><BR/>I'm 100% comfortable with a prosecutor saying as a policy they would "never" make the SJF case on pipe scrapings, even though it's done by Chuck Rosenthal's minions all the time, and is the "tuffer" stance.<BR/><BR/>Similarly, if the policy is to <I>always</I> go for LWOP (which is no small punishment, IMO worse than a death sentence) and avoid millions in extra legal costs and decades-long tribulations for involved families, I think it's fine.<BR/><BR/>We'll know for sure Tuesday night whether this debate matters. Vote people! :)Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77079564737222478772008-02-29T05:57:00.000-06:002008-02-29T05:57:00.000-06:00Agreed mostly with the thread on the DP and with y...Agreed mostly with the thread on the DP and with you, but never is a long, long time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21424320333963439972008-02-29T05:43:00.000-06:002008-02-29T05:43:00.000-06:00"Even though the DP may be flawed, I think the DA ..."Even though the DP may be flawed, I think the DA has to follow the law and consider all punishments."<BR/><BR/>I certainly think he's considered it! <BR/><BR/>The DA's Association had a <A HREF="http://tdcaa.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=347098965&f=157098965&m=4461061061&r=4461061061#4461061061" REL="nofollow">string on this question</A>, and I agree with the prosecutor from Golidad who argued:<BR/><BR/>"there is nothing unethical about anything these candidates have said. A prosecutor is not obliged to seek the maximum sentence in any case, and he can have a policy to that effect. I think the candidates are to be commended for being so frank with the public."<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid he hasn't been on TV enough compared to the others, but I think he's the best candidate. In any event, with four strong contenders I expect a runoff.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-54997497914951314442008-02-28T22:27:00.000-06:002008-02-28T22:27:00.000-06:00The Daily Texan also endorsed Rick Reed. I don't k...The Daily Texan also endorsed Rick Reed. I don't know what their circulation is, but I expect it is 20,000 to 30,000 a day, so their endorsement should get Reed some votes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39484049965106764222008-02-28T22:03:00.000-06:002008-02-28T22:03:00.000-06:00Rick is well respected among his peers. As is Gary...Rick is well respected among his peers. As is Gary Cobb. Both are line trial lawyers who would change alot that needs changing and would be an honest da. Even though the DP may be flawed, I think the DA has to follow the law and consider all punishments. <BR/><BR/>Mindy is respected as well and is a seasoned trial attorney but lets face it, Gary and Rick have nearly twice the experience and they don't come with the contributor baggage that Mindy has. Or the political connections.<BR/><BR/>Nothing against Rose, because she has the experience and the trial cred but there are those who don't think Earle's reign was all that great. Austin should have had open files 20 or more years ago. And she seems to be short on answers as to what needs changing for a 30 year veteran.<BR/><BR/>So you're endorsing Rick. The Statesman endorses Gary. The Chron is endorsing Rose. Who is endorsing Mindy?<BR/><BR/>It is nice to have so many fine, qualified candidates w/o the baggage of the four republican horsemen of Harris County. <BR/><BR/>May the best candidate win!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com