Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Coming Soon:The Ronnie Earle Movie(prosecutor has let a film crew follow him through the case)
NRO ^ | Byron York

Posted on 09/29/2005 3:31:41 PM PDT by hipaatwo

The DeLay prosecutor has let a film crew follow him through the whole case.

For the last two years, as he pursued the investigation that led to Wednesday's indictment of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Travis County, Texas prosecutor Ronnie Earle has given a film crew "extraordinary access" to make a motion picture about his work on the case.

The resulting film is called The Big Buy, made by Texas filmmakers Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck. "Raymond Chandler meets Willie Nelson on the corner of Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in The Big Buy, a Texas noir political detective story that chronicles what some are calling a 'bloodless coup with corporate cash,'" reads a description of the picture on Birnbaum's website, markbirnbaum.com. The film, according to the description, "follows maverick Austin DA Ronnie Earle's investigation into what really happened when corporate money joined forces with relentless political ambitions to help swing the pivotal 2002 Texas elections, cementing Republican control from Austin to Washington DC."

"We approached him [Earle], and he offered us extraordinary access to him and, to an extent, to his staff," Birnbaum told National Review Online Thursday. "We've been shooting for about two years."

Birnbaum and Schermbeck showed a work-in-progress version of The Big Buy last month at the Dallas Video Festival. At the moment, they do not have a deal for the film to be shown anywhere else. Their last film, Larry v. Lockney, was shown on PBS, and they hope that perhaps a similar arrangement might be made for the new picture. Whoever ends up showing it, the film has so far been funded entirely by its makers. "We tried really hard to get it funded," Birnbaum says, "but we didn't get any takers."

Schermbeck told National Review Online that the film was an irresistible Texas story. "I've been pretty interested in watching Tom DeLay work," Schermbeck says. "I thought he was a fascinating guy, certainly the most powerful Texan to emerge on the national scene in some time, a kind of Republican Sam Rayburn type, with that kind of mastery of the machinery and the will to do it."

But DeLay did not cooperate with the filmmakers, and neither did a number of DeLay allies. Earle, on the other hand, did. "I had known about Ronnie Earle for a very long time," Schermbeck says. "I thought that would be an angle to approach the whole story, telling something about Tom DeLay, even though Tom DeLay wouldn't grant us an interview."

Earle "allowed us behind the scenes when the indictments came down last year, the first wave of indictments," Schermbeck says. "We got to follow him back to his home a couple of times, which I understand he doesn't allow anybody to do." Schermbeck says the film includes interviews with some critics of Earle, as well as lawyers who are representing some of the targets of the investigation.

So far, The Big Buy has received almost no attention in the press. With DeLay's indictment, and increased attention to Earle as well, that situation seems likely to change. (The filmmakers say they will be back at work next week, filming a new ending to the picture.) "We're pretty low on everybody's radar," Schermbeck says. "We kind of took a gamble three years ago. We didn't know what was going to happen. We feel like, as documentary filmmakers, we gambled and it paid off."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: delay; delaybashing; earle; fishingtrip; getdelay; jimschermbeck; markbirnbaum; mediabias; propaganda; propagandista; smearcampaign; sovietsmear; sugarland; texas; thebigbuy; tomdelay; witchhunt; zogbyism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-100101-112 next last

1 posted on 09/29/2005 3:31:42 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

This idiot can't crash his "case" fast enough.


2 posted on 09/29/2005 3:32:43 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Mo1; OXENinFLA

Blood boiling PING!


4 posted on 09/29/2005 3:34:11 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

Unreal. They took a gamble and it paid off?


5 posted on 09/29/2005 3:35:15 PM PDT by andyk (Go Matt Kenseth!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

WOW - on Levin now and author due on now - 3:40 PST.


6 posted on 09/29/2005 3:35:45 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: onyx; BigSkyFreeper

Ping! Sky can you sent this to Rush?


7 posted on 09/29/2005 3:35:45 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

Ronnie Earle is a hack, pure and simple. I don't know why Austin voters keep reelecting him.


8 posted on 09/29/2005 3:36:12 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Jeanine Pirro for Senate, Hillary Clinton for Weight Watchers Spokeswoman)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

Byron York will be on Mark Levin's show on WABC Radio in a few minutes.


9 posted on 09/29/2005 3:36:12 PM PDT by Agent Smith (Fallujah delenda est. (I wish))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
Ronnie Earle spent 2 years on this indictment, letting a film crew follow his every move.

And then came out with a 3 page indictment that 99% of the lawyers in this country are laughing at.

Sounds like a money maker to me. /sarcasm

10 posted on 09/29/2005 3:36:52 PM PDT by rocksblues (I support the war on terror)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Agent Smith

Thanks. I'm listening. I was posting this just before he started reading it..LOL


11 posted on 09/29/2005 3:37:09 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

http://www.wabcradio.com/


12 posted on 09/29/2005 3:37:56 PM PDT by Agent Smith (Fallujah delenda est. (I wish))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

I just heard it too. When it comes to deems - dumb is forever.


13 posted on 09/29/2005 3:39:01 PM PDT by eleni121 ('Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!' (Julian the Apostate))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: All

BTTT


14 posted on 09/29/2005 3:39:17 PM PDT by tiredoflaundry (My tag line is at the dry cleaners.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

I m so furious. This is all about politics and the fact that these democrats can just get away with this has me just fuming. What on earth is happening in this country? We have GOT to stop these evil liberals somehow, and get a hold of the media while we are at it or this country is in more trouble than we know.


15 posted on 09/29/2005 3:39:19 PM PDT by ladyinred (It is all my fault okay?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued
I don't know why Austin voters keep reelecting him.

Same reason they keep voting for Lloyd Doggett. It's Austin.
16 posted on 09/29/2005 3:40:14 PM PDT by andyk (Go Matt Kenseth!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued
I don't know why Austin voters keep reelecting him.

Because Austin (Travis County) is a liberal cesspool in the middle of the Texas.

17 posted on 09/29/2005 3:40:37 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (Cindy Sheehan, Pat Buchanan, John Conyers, and David Duke Are Just Different Sides of the Same Coin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo


Ronnie Earle better wake up and smell the hammer. DeLay & the GOP are comming to reek their havoc on this slimeball and will make Hurricane Katrina look like a fart in a whirlwind.
18 posted on 09/29/2005 3:43:07 PM PDT by demkicker (Life has many choices. Eternity has only two. Which one have you chosen?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dog

over here. This is what Mark and Byron are talking about.


19 posted on 09/29/2005 3:44:16 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

I thought you were joking...


20 posted on 09/29/2005 3:45:34 PM PDT by RDTF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
This Earle dirt-bag is looking more like a Jim Garrison of JFK assassination fame. I guess Oliver Stone was too busy filming his bio glorifying Fidel to do this Lefty propaganda project..
21 posted on 09/29/2005 3:45:54 PM PDT by drpix
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued
"I don't know why Austin voters keep reelecting him."

It's not like we haven't tried to get a conservative elected in Travis county but what with your hard core commie crowd and their useful idiot crowd it's pretty much impossible.

What I don't understand is why the legislature hasn't yanked his jurisdiction. It's nuts to leave this sort of stuff up to the Travis county DA.

22 posted on 09/29/2005 3:46:50 PM PDT by Proud_texan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: COEXERJ145

Madison, Ithica or Berkley Texas style


23 posted on 09/29/2005 3:48:11 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
The DeLay prosecutor has let a film crew follow him through the whole case.

I guess M. Moore was busy on other things?

24 posted on 09/29/2005 3:48:12 PM PDT by JimSEA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
So the left is sticking with their great campaign finance loophole, the documentary?

And what's with this label "maverick" for the corrupt Earle?

25 posted on 09/29/2005 3:49:34 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past ("Let the wicked man forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord" Is 55:7)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freeperfromnj; SE Mom; JFC; sheikdetailfeather; bmwcyle; samadams2000; A Citizen Reporter; ...

PING!


26 posted on 09/29/2005 3:50:54 PM PDT by RDTF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

I suspect that Ronnie Earle will soon find himself facing ethics charges.


27 posted on 09/29/2005 3:55:40 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: tiredoflaundry; onyx; dubyaismypresident; Knitting A Conundrum

PING


28 posted on 09/29/2005 3:57:45 PM PDT by RDTF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

Prosecutorial Misconduct?


29 posted on 09/29/2005 4:00:57 PM PDT by Rosemont
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RDTF
popcorn time!



30 posted on 09/29/2005 4:00:57 PM PDT by tiredoflaundry (My tag line is at the dry cleaners.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: JimSEA
I guess M. Moore was busy on other things?

Nah. Michael Moore was probably put off by Ronnie Earle's sloppiness and recklessness. I mean, even MM has to draw the line somewhere.

31 posted on 09/29/2005 4:01:02 PM PDT by sphinx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

This is incredible!!!


32 posted on 09/29/2005 4:02:18 PM PDT by meema
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

Shocker! The MSM hasn't picked up this story.


33 posted on 09/29/2005 4:03:30 PM PDT by Rosemont
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo; AFPhys; prairiebreeze; onyx; ohioWfan; Texasforever; BigSkyFreeper; Dog; My2Cents; ...

Is this legal considering a Grand Jury was involved??


34 posted on 09/29/2005 4:03:54 PM PDT by Mo1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Mo1

good question..This stinks to high heaven!


35 posted on 09/29/2005 4:04:58 PM PDT by tiredoflaundry (My tag line is at the dry cleaners.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

This case should be tossed now!


36 posted on 09/29/2005 4:09:04 PM PDT by dalebert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

What a scoop hipaatwo - this only got posted on NRO at 6:14 pm ET!


37 posted on 09/29/2005 4:09:11 PM PDT by RDTF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

This has got to end Earle's career.


38 posted on 09/29/2005 4:11:39 PM PDT by Vision (When Hillary Says She's Going To Put The Military On Our Borders...She Becomes Our Next President)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mo1
Is this legal considering a Grand Jury was involved??

Let's see. If you're on the Grand Jury, you know that by voting TO indict DeLay means you will get into a movie. I say this case be thrown OUT due to the incentive given to indict by a jury dazzled by the possibility of being in showbiz.

This STINKS to high heaven!

39 posted on 09/29/2005 4:11:53 PM PDT by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Mo1

Mark Levin just read it on his show. He's furious. Byron will be on Hannity tonight talking about it.


40 posted on 09/29/2005 4:12:19 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: dalebert
This case should be tossed now!

Maybe that's the point. He's got no case but he'll just make it as public as possible. He's doing what he did before, but on a larger scale
41 posted on 09/29/2005 4:12:46 PM PDT by Vision (When Hillary Says She's Going To Put The Military On Our Borders...She Becomes Our Next President)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
Madison, Ithica or Berkley Texas style

Berserkly on the Colorado River.

42 posted on 09/29/2005 4:13:21 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (Cindy Sheehan, Pat Buchanan, John Conyers, and David Duke Are Just Different Sides of the Same Coin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo; Mo1

Last night on Hannity Delay was smiling thru the whole thing - I thought it was just poker playing, but maybe he knew this was coming.


43 posted on 09/29/2005 4:15:04 PM PDT by RDTF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
Beware the land of the burnt orange (aka auStain, Texas).

Ronnie Earl is a thug. If this case goes to trial and there's a summary judgement in favor of the Hammer... Earl and his Travis County goon-lawyers should all be disbared and the film crew sued for slander (because I'm pretty sure there's mallicious intent with no basis).

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88

44 posted on 09/29/2005 4:16:23 PM PDT by Trajan88 (www.bullittclub.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo

BTTT


45 posted on 09/29/2005 4:16:32 PM PDT by aculeus (Ceci n'est pas une tag line.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo; All
Crosslinking:

 
The Persecution of Tom Delay

46 posted on 09/29/2005 4:16:48 PM PDT by backhoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
"We got to follow him back to his home a couple of times, which I understand he doesn't allow anybody to do."

Nope. Wrong.

Ronnie "the Earle of Corruption" personally called to tip off news crews for photo ops to his raids on Republican (now Senator) Kay Bailey Hutchison's records/files (for 3 indictments in row against her that were each tossed out by judge and jury alike).

He's a camera hound (and that's his **best** trait). If a cameraman ever wanted a picture of Ronnie at home, it would have been granted.

47 posted on 09/29/2005 4:17:45 PM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: backhoe

Love ya backhoe!


48 posted on 09/29/2005 4:19:54 PM PDT by hipaatwo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: RDTF

You can't make this #$%^ up. No one would believe this.


49 posted on 09/29/2005 4:22:06 PM PDT by SE Mom (Conservatives: faith-based - Liberals: hate-based)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: hipaatwo
He's furious

He should be

If this isn't illegal ... it is definitely unethical

Ronnie Earle should lose his Law License for all these stunts

50 posted on 09/29/2005 4:22:33 PM PDT by Mo1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-100101-112 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson