Why the Travis Co. DA's Race Matters

Have you ever met Mindy? (3.00 / 1)

Her dad is a Democrat.

Mindy is a Democrat.

She's worked in the Public Integrity Unit.

I've worked with her in the Lege and to portray her as a Republican Trojan Horse is friggin' stupid.

She's got the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, do you think she would have received that if they didn't think she would uphold Democratic ideals?

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by: Jobu @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 16:25:18 PM CST

Richard Morrison, You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself (3.00 / 1)

I doubt you would remember, but at various times I have stood next to you - first, at the Democratic State convention and then I remember standing on the floor of the National Convention with you in Boston.

If this is the kind of politics you practice, not only will you not find me standing next to you any time soon, I hope you refrain from ever running for public office again because I expect more of Democrats who seek to hold the public's trust.

A couple Sundays ago, I ran across the posting on Capitol Annex attacking Mindy Montford for raising money in a political campaign.

That posting contained so much conjecture and so many baseless attacks, that I privately wrote Vince an exceedingly angry email after which he pulled the posting from that site and Burnt Orange.

He reposted a much softer version later, but just so you know, Richard, here is a picture he used on the posting you quote - this is what you are choosing to become a part of:  

Essentially, the logic you are following with this attack is this:  One candidate may be raising money from interests which include business interests, therefore if that candidate is elected, he or she will be soft on those interests, and some of those interests may include Tom Delay.

Richard, when I was growing up in Odessa, Texas, I remember sitting barefoot in my grandmother's backyard in the summer and seeing box turtles roaming around in the rain from the sprinklers.  I regularly heard my grandmother holler from the porch, "Watch your toes or those turtles will snap on and won't let go!"

So today, Richard, I'll suggest that you stepped barefoot into a backyard full of snapping turtles in a manner which really makes me question your judgment and integrity.

You know that web site you linked for Rose Lehmberg?  Go ahead and follow that link and there among her supporters you will find Tom Craddick's lawyer.  Come on, Richard, if one candidate is disqualified due to associations of people might give her money in a Democratic Primary, shouldn't your candidate's supporter's associations be just as strongly questioned?

Or, go to the website of another of the candidates and you will find Tom Delay's lawyer himself!!!  (I will not provide said link because I will not participate in your childish games.)

Why aren't you attacking the candidate who is supported by Tom Delay's lawyer?  Or better yet, upon whose direction are you attacking Mindy Montford?

Why are you perpetuating a baseless attack which uses Photoshop smears on a middle school level of maturity?  Were you so stung by your defeat that you have resorted to Rove-style tactics?

When I saw Vince's attack last week I had had no contact with anyone in any DA race campaign in Austin, but you and he have pulled me into this.  Your pathetic parroting of this attack has inspired my involvement and I suspect will severely backfire on your candidate.

I have heard directly from Mindy Montford's mouth that she will continue the investigation she worked on in the Travis County District Attorney's office.  Who is your source?

I expected more from you, Richard.  You really should think before you take advice from whomever is advising you.

David Holmes
Democratic National Committee, Texas

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by: david.holmes @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 18:24:49 PM CST

Who put you up to this David? (1.00 / 1)

Your boss Dawnna Dukes or did the marching orders come directly from Tom Craddick.
I find it hilarious that so many Craddick D's are on the DNC. Say "Hi" to Al Edwards for me.  

My comments reflect my own personal opinion and not those of any client or colleague, current, former or future.

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by: Texas Nate @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 19:50:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

disclaimer (0.00 / 0)

Who are you working for in this race, Nate?

I'm working for Rick Reed but not blogging about him or attacking his opponents. See how disclosure works?

Haven't you had this problem in the past? Attacking a certain judicial candidate whose opponent your firm represents???

To my knowledge, David Holmes doesn't work for Dawnna Dukes.

Irregardless, I've known David since the mid 90s when being a Dem wasn't the most popular thing in the state.

The attacks on good Dems are crazy. I'll put David's Dem credentials up against your credentials any day.

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by: colin @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:34:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Let's be literate here (0.00 / 0)

   colin, there is no such word as "irregardless."  

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by: Buck Smith @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 08:30:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

finally (0.00 / 0)

is petty a word?

you lack any legitimate argument or fact-based rebuttal for virtually every big issue discussed on BOR.

i'm not at all surprised that this is yhour most meaningful contribution of the last few days.

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by: colin @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 09:44:16 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Nathan Wilcox... (0.00 / 0)

I have known you for years and I am very surprised that you would attack me personally while leaving unchallenged any fact I stated.

You say that I am tainted by people for whom I have worked, yet you told me privately for whom you worked for five years.  How are you not tainted by your employer when everyone else is?

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by: david.holmes @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 21:00:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I Don't Appreciate Being Misrepresented, David (0.00 / 0)

David,

I don't appreciate your misrepresenting Capitol Annex, or using my copyrighted work without permission.

You noted:

That posting contained so much conjecture and so many baseless attacks, that I privately wrote Vince an exceedingly angry email after which he pulled the posting from that site and Burnt Orange.

He reposted a much softer version later, but just so you know, Richard, here is a picture he used on the posting you quote -

You know that this is untrue. I did not, in fact, post a "much softer version" of the story. All I did was make the story more clear. The only reason I pulled it from BOR was to make slight revisions. I simply neglected to repost it.

Furthermore, none of my statements about Mindy Montford were "baseless," as you'll no doubt see when her campaign finance reports come out.

And, the only reason the photo was pulled from Capitol Annex was because it was taking too long to load as I had just changed the theme of the site and was having difficulty integrating the image into that.

Further, I don't appreciate that you have taken copyrighted works from my website--in particular that digital political cartoon--and reproduced it somewhere else. Kindly remove it, as you have no rights to its use in any way, shape, or form.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 19:59:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Rep. David Leibowitz (0.00 / 0)

Your uncle has taken money from AT&T and other corporate lobbyists.  

Yet he still is a progressive that voted against Tom Craddick.

Donations do not necessarily indicate that a candidate does the bidding of the contributor.

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by: Jobu @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:23:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Leave My Family Out Of This (0.00 / 0)

John,

How DARE you bring my family into this. I cannot believe you would stoop to this level.

Furthermore, comparing a state rep race to a DA's race in this instance is a little different. Neither Rep. Leibowitz nor any other member of the Texas House of Representatives is running for the position which is in charge of a prosecution in which AT&T plays a large role.

What Rep. Leibowitz or any other member of the Texas House of Representatives does has no bearing on this situation.

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:35:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

it is the principle (0.00 / 0)

I don't agree with throwing someone's family out there...but Mindy Montford is someone's family.  They're both in the public domain. I think David made himself a public before Jobu did.

Your glass house alert should be in full effect, Vince. You offer suppositions about someone's daughter and pose her as a whore. Then you get all outraged when a non-insulting fact is posted about your relative? Come on.

If corporate money is wrong...it is wrong.

You can't pick and choose which office it is wrong for.

Moral relativism doesn't work.

If x is wrong, then x is wrong. Everytime.

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by: colin @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:41:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This isn't your fight, Colin... (0.00 / 0)

...so I suggest you stay out of it unless you want to be scattered with collateral damage.  

Furthermore, the effect of the item above is as a political cartoon. Montford is not portrayed as a "whore" in general, but rather (since you seem to need an explanation) as a whore to corporate lobbyist AT&T.

I never said that corporate money is wrong, Colin. You are putting words in my mouth. I said that corporate money FROM AT&T is wrong in Montford's race given the circumstances of the DeLay case. It is a conflict of interest for her.

That isn't "moral relativism" that's just common sense. It's a situation similar to the Supreme Court justices here in Texas taking money from the litigants who have cases before them.

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:56:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

truth and justice are my fight, Vince!! (0.00 / 0)

Up, up and awaaayyyyy!!

You have to be joking threatening me. I could care less, go for it, attack away. Don't make this a war. It is a disagreement on one issue.

Or make this a war. I've got the time. You've got a long wait...there were lots of people who disliked me in line before you. But, be patient and I'll get to you.

If corporate money from ATT is wrong, corporate money from ATT is wrong. It is either moral relativism or hypocrisy and I don't consider you a hypocrite in any way.

You most certainly portrayed her as a whore. At least man up about it.

The DA's race is more impacted by ATT money than the Lege? You may very well be the only person in Texas who believes that.

Who the hell is defending conflict of interest money like the Sup Ct? I think it is unwise--in the Sup Ct or ANY OTHER elected office. See how that works?

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by: colin @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 21:10:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

both of you (5.00 / 1)

chill. Don't make me give Treaty Oak a call.  

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 21:33:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I laugh. (0.00 / 0)

Truth and justice are your fight? Who are your clients again?

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 22:23:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

i laugh harder (0.00 / 0)

everyone knows who my clients are.

who are yours?

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by: colin @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 22:45:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I love to laugh (3.00 / 1)

Loud and long and clear.

/Mary Poppins

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 00:01:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Nobody in this race. (0.00 / 0)

Aside from that, I do work for one of your clients' (Art Hall) opponent, Dale Henry, and some web design work for a few other candidates here and there unrelated to this race.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 11:56:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The Photo (0.00 / 0)

Vince, if you are referring to it being in the comment here at BOR, only an admin would be able to delete the comment (they can't be edited by anyone). Though I'm now thinking you may be referring to the photobucket page in which case, I'll step out of this one as that is a different issue.  

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:23:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

really? (0.00 / 0)

you're entire site is based on the usage of other people's copyrighted work.

not like he's selling t-shirts. get over yourself a little, vince.

i didn't agree with that post, but thought the pic was funny. you have a great site, be flattered.

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by: colin @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 20:28:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Vince... (0.00 / 0)

Everything you quoted was my opinion and I laid out my logic for my opinion.

As far as the picture goes, you posted it; I reposted it with your attribution intact - it has the name of your blog right on the picture.  Are you embarrassed by it?  You should be.

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by: david.holmes @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 21:04:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Outside view (0.00 / 0)

I do not know any of these people, but I do vote.  There is a difference between receiving a contribution from AT and T and lobbying for AT and T.  We all know that AT and T is spying on the good people of Texas.  Some do not care.  I would never vote for the offspring of an AT and T lobbyist unless they clearly and repeatedly spoke out against AT and T and the activities of their parent.

Also, the political photo is quite clear.  It does not imply Mindy Montford is a whore.  It implies that Mindy Montford is a whore for AT and T.  I would never vote for her.

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by: rustysands @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 04:30:14 AM CST

I find it very disturbing about the contributions, but... (0.00 / 0)

You guys should not be starting flame wars on each other.  I have made my choice and will stand by my statement.  Please attack me if you want, but stop hammering each other.
Fight on!
Richard Morrison

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by: Richard Morrison @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 07:01:16 AM CST

eep (5.00 / 1)

/backs slowly out of thread

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by: George @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 08:38:31 AM CST

Mark and Keith Stama (0.00 / 0)

Can we trust Rep. Mark Strama on issues like tort reform, alcohol laws, renewable energy and the travel industry?

Maybe we can't since his brother Keith represents TLR, the Wholesale Beer Distrubutors, Exxon and the Travel Agents Association.

By the arguments in this discussion, if any of those clients give Mark Strama any money, he is not to be trusted and should be considered a whore for those industries.

The arguments of the original poster and the two other blogs he links to are the weakest I've ever seen on this blog.

It comes close to Black Helicopter conspiracy theory.

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by: Jobu @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 10:36:01 AM CST