General Discussion

applegrove

(118,767 posts) Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:14 PM Aug 2014

What the Hell Just Happened in Texas, and Why Was Rick Perry Just Indicted?

What the Hell Just Happened in Texas, and Why Was Rick Perry Just Indicted?

the Daily Beast

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/15/what-the-hell-just-happened-in-texas-and-why-was-rick-perry-just-indicted.html

"SNIP...............................

Texas Governor Rick Perry was indicted Friday on charges of abuse of power—a first degree felony—and coercion—a third degree felony. The charges stem from a 2013 scandal that has been quietly rumbling in the Lone Star State as Perry has been floated as a viable contender for the Republican nomination in 2016.

This is a complex case, which might be why it has not made national headlines the way other recent, state-level scandals (like Bridgegate, in New Jersey) have. Below, I have outlined a somewhat confusing short version of events, and a longer, more colorful explanation that involves alcohol, police, and masks.

The short version is this: A Democrat refused to resign from her position as District Attorney, where she controlled the state’s Public Integrity Unit, an entity which investigates ethics violations of elected officials. The likely reason why is that Perry, a Republican, would have almost certainly installed another Republican. One of the few positions in control of a Democrat under Perry’s watch would’ve vanished—a big deal, given the power of the Public Integrity Unit.

Perry, as a means of intimidating the DA into resigning, publicly threatened to veto the Public Integrity Unit’s budget. And when she didn’t step down, he made good on his tough talk, gutting all of its funding ($8 million) for two years.

................................SNIP"

26 replies

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Highlight:

What the Hell Just Happened in Texas, and Why Was Rick Perry Just Indicted? (Original Post) applegrove Aug 2014 OP

Rick Perry now rethinking Texas death penalty law. JaneyVee Aug 2014 #1

Yes. He took away her budget. Avalux Aug 2014 #2

It's more than that--there is possible bribery of state officials. TexasTowelie Aug 2014 #3

Thanks for the additonal info, TT. Be nice if Perry got convicted and it made people think twice Cha Aug 2014 #12

Looks like a requirement to run for president in the GOP ia a little crime in your pocket. Thinkingabout Aug 2014 #4

Perry forgot he was supposed to pretend to be elected to office and not the dictator of Texas. OOPS! liberal N proud Aug 2014 #5

\../ L0oniX Aug 2014 #6

That is *creepy* nt Tree-Hugger Aug 2014 #13

I hope he goes to jail, but I fear that the charges will be reduced or outright dismissed. npk Aug 2014 #7

If the outcome of Tom Delay's conviction is any indication Zambero Aug 2014 #26

I don't know, but I just got home after 5 hours of no access to the Internet... conservaphobe Aug 2014 #8

"I'M A VICTIM OF POLITICAL PERSA-CUE-SHUN!! SEND ME MONEY!1!" bullwinkle428 Aug 2014 #9

Perry's a sociopath like Christie.. Actively criminal as governors while prancing about Cha Aug 2014 #10

I can just see all the yesmen/women around him encouraging him applegrove Aug 2014 #11

Exactly apple.. Their Power has corrupted Absolutely.. I'm just shocked Cha Aug 2014 #14

Wow that's what happens a lot here in Illinois. Lots of our govs are in prison. mucifer Aug 2014 #15

I just now jumped over to DU because I saw this on the news. C Moon Aug 2014 #16

Please God let him go to prison! N/T nirvana555 Aug 2014 #18

:) I'm happy for all my Texas friends tonight. I know quite a few people in Austin who are smiling. C Moon Aug 2014 #20

It's obvious what the motive is.... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #17

She was a drunk driver who could have killed someone. former9thward Aug 2014 #21

What's with all the "Are you okay with that?" rudeness? Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #22

I see you deflected the questions. former9thward Aug 2014 #23

I called them out for what they were.... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2014 #24

Why did she plea guilty? former9thward Aug 2014 #25

it's the usual GOP thuggery Skittles Aug 2014 #19

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)

1. Rick Perry now rethinking Texas death penalty law.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:15 PM

Aug 2014

Avalux

(35,015 posts)

2. Yes. He took away her budget.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:16 PM

Aug 2014

If she didn't step down as he demanded, he wouldn't fund her department and they wouldn't be able to do their jobs.

Bad decision, Ricky.

TexasTowelie

(112,390 posts)

3. It's more than that--there is possible bribery of state officials.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:19 PM

Aug 2014

In a separate matter, The Dallas Morning News reported last month that more than $13 million in CPRIT funds went to companies run by Dallas businessman David Shanahan after he and several of his associates contributed $90,000 to the campaigns of Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov David Dewhurst.

http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/cprits-executive-director-resigns.html/

Note: CPRIT is the state cancer research agency that had to suspend operations when it awarded contracts without the proper oversight. In addition, AG Greg Abbott (the gubernatorial candidate) was a board member of CPRIT and never attended any board meetings.

Cha

(297,574 posts)

12. Thanks for the additonal info, TT. Be nice if Perry got convicted and it made people think twice

Reply to TexasTowelie (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:48 PM

Aug 2014

about voting for Abbott.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)

4. Looks like a requirement to run for president in the GOP ia a little crime in your pocket.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:20 PM

Aug 2014

liberal N proud

(60,340 posts)

5. Perry forgot he was supposed to pretend to be elected to office and not the dictator of Texas. OOPS!

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:35 PM

Aug 2014

He thought he could cut off the funding for those who invesgate corrupt politicians.

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)

6. \../

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:37 PM

Aug 2014

Tree-Hugger

(3,370 posts)

13. That is *creepy* nt

Reply to L0oniX (Reply #6)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:52 PM

Aug 2014

npk

(3,660 posts)

7. I hope he goes to jail, but I fear that the charges will be reduced or outright dismissed.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:39 PM

Aug 2014

Let him run for president from behind bars.

Zambero

(8,965 posts)

26. If the outcome of Tom Delay's conviction is any indication

Reply to npk (Reply #7)

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 10:02 AM

Aug 2014

then you're probably correct. Whatever the crime, high ranking Texas GOP politicians eventually get off Scott free.

conservaphobe

(1,284 posts)

8. I don't know, but I just got home after 5 hours of no access to the Internet...

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:40 PM

Aug 2014

AND IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING

bullwinkle428

(20,630 posts)

9. "I'M A VICTIM OF POLITICAL PERSA-CUE-SHUN!! SEND ME MONEY!1!"

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:40 PM

Aug 2014

Cha

(297,574 posts)

10. Perry's a sociopath like Christie.. Actively criminal as governors while prancing about

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:44 PM

Aug 2014

trying to win their goteaparty's nom for 2016 Prez.

applegrove

(118,767 posts)

11. I can just see all the yesmen/women around him encouraging him

Reply to Cha (Reply #10)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:48 PM

Aug 2014

to attack and destroy. No grownup in the room to say - "ah guys this is illegal". It is like the GOP has erased all institutional knowledge of how to follow the law. Don't know enough to say Perry is a sociopath but the environment these GOP are in certainly is. They follow no rules of decency.

Cha

(297,574 posts)

14. Exactly apple.. Their Power has corrupted Absolutely.. I'm just shocked

Reply to applegrove (Reply #11)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 10:55 PM

Aug 2014

he was indicted!

mucifer

(23,561 posts)

15. Wow that's what happens a lot here in Illinois. Lots of our govs are in prison.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2014, 11:04 PM

Aug 2014

Glad it happened to rick.

C Moon

(12,221 posts)

16. I just now jumped over to DU because I saw this on the news.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 01:02 AM

Aug 2014

Doesn't the GOP seem stuck in 1980's when choosing their candidates for president?
McCain was a joke, Romney was a laugh, and they are still putting up guys like Perry as possible contenders?
I think they are still living in a Reagan dream, and just can't wake themselves up.

nirvana555

(448 posts)

18. Please God let him go to prison! N/T

Reply to C Moon (Reply #16)

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 01:08 AM

Aug 2014

C Moon

(12,221 posts)

20. :) I'm happy for all my Texas friends tonight. I know quite a few people in Austin who are smiling.

Reply to nirvana555 (Reply #18)

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 01:14 AM

Aug 2014

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)

17. It's obvious what the motive is....

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 01:07 AM

Aug 2014

My big question would be the details of the Democrat being pulled over.

Why do I picture a couple of State Troopers under orders from Perry staking out Rosemary Lehmberg as she attended some event and then pulling her over to do a sobriety test?

Okay, so maybe Perry is not the "mastermind" that would do this but would you believe Tom Delay or Karl Rove?

former9thward

(32,069 posts)

21. She was a drunk driver who could have killed someone.

Reply to Spitfire of ATJ (Reply #17)

Sat Aug 16, 2014, 01:29 AM

Aug 2014

Are you ok with that? Her alcohol level was three times the legal limit. Are you ok with that? She attacked staff at the jail. Are you ok with that? Are she is supposed to be investigating public integrity. Disgusting any progressive would defend her.