Enron Toll Widens with Death of Former Executive

Reuters ^ | 1/25/02 | C. Bryson Hull

[hopespringseternal]

But another reason is I've always suspected it's a lot like the Mafia in terms of the corruption involved.

It isn't, and corruption is not rampant.

Mafia types are destroyers, corporate types are builders. Business isn't like crime and business types think differently than criminals.

Hollywood is a bunch of socialists and they love to paint businessmen as criminals, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Now, this certainly could be a suicide. But the fact that this guy took steps early on to distance himself from the corruption makes it somewhat less likely.

[cascademountaineer]

'course even though the Enron thing began a couple months ago, the fit really hit the shan in the last couple months. This is probably exactly what it is- a suicide. I doubt there is foul play involved. You never know, but I tend to doubt it.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Baxter, who left Enron last May for the same official reasons Jeff Skilling did in August — "to spend more time with his family" — had complained internally to fellow execs about the company's risky accounting practices, and was mentioned prominently in Sherron Watkins' fiery letter to then-CEO Ken Lay. In other words, it's likely Baxter not only knew about Enron's bad bookkeeping habits, but whose idea they were, who kept them hidden and who, by extension, might deserve to go to jail when Congress, the SEC and the Justice Department finish their scrutiny of the affair.

[El Gato]

He left a note;

Well somebody left one there. In this case corner has ordered autopsy, which he was not originally going to do, since suicide was so "obvious".

[Archaeus]

Agreed. This sounds like a pro-hit. No one questions a clean suicide.

[Dog Gone]

Two things help in this case. Sugar Land is NOT Houston. They have different cops and different attitudes.

Sugar Land is Tom DeLay. Houston is Sheila Jackson-Hyphen.

And this case is going to attract national scrutiny. The right questions will be asked and answered.

The idea that Enron somehow arranged a hit on Baxter and that Sugar Land police would cover that up would be absurd. There is no local sentiment in the area in favor of Enron management.

If anything, there would be local sentiment for shooting Enron management.

[LadyJD]

You are so right about the fact that our government and the multinationals are the same fearful master. Our masters cultivate socialism among the non-producers and the liberals and, at the same time dupe conservative producers into believing that the socialists are the threat. As bad as socioalism is, the REAL problem in America is that the socilistic structure enforced and funded by the IRS and the Income Tax applies only to the rank and file. The guys at the top (High-ranking gov't officials and the wealthy indivduals who own & control most of the wealth and the media via the Multinational corporations) thrive above the system. The true socialists are not really the threat. We need to wake up and realize that our failure as a people to protect and defend the Constitution is the root cause of our woes. Throwing out the international bankers and restoring limited constitutional government is probably only dream now. I don't see how it will ever happen, as much as I wish it could.

[concerned about politics]

If the article is correct that he left last April because of the shenanigans,

AND, why would he still carry Enron identification????

This is the second "suspected" suicide from a gun shot wound to the head.

The first was James Daniel Watkins, lying on his back in a van, partially covered with a sheet,. .380 caliber still in his hand ? It happened last week.
He was telecommunications for Arther Anderson. He always called home if he was going to be late. A devout family man.

Officials say the death was "suspicious".

Arkansaside, anyone? Remember, Enron was a big money maker for Clinton.

[DJ88]

Hmm. I'll be interested to find out where in the head he was shot. Is he left or right handed? Did he own a gun? Surely he must have had it registered.

I'm not sure what it is at this point, but I will tell you ONE THING....I watched CNN Talkback Live today, and THIS WAS THE HOTTEST SUBJECT. Let me tell you what else I learned from there....the MEDIA is even wanting this dog to hunt, because THEY thinks it's strange, and someone out there already has the spinmeisters out there telling us and the MEDIA (of all people) how the REPUBLICANS are going to say this is ANOTHER Ron Brown/Vince Foster....but even CNN wasn't buying that story. ????? Why are they already jumping to that conclusion if they don't think something's weird?

Democrats always show their true colors: attack first, ask questions later. Typical of them...so their reaction in itself makes me suspicious.

[alrea]

Just looked it up. Enron's president was on that trip with Ron Brown, but somehow missed being on the plane for that leg of the trip.

wow, this one blew my tin foil hat right off. guess i shouldn't be so paranoid.

[grania]

It's a shame.

I agree. People lost money, and their dreams. But if the ones with a conscience who tried to do something take this route, well, it stinks.

I hope anyone who has friends who might be tainted by the Enron scandal is there to give them support.

[Dog Gone]

AND, why would he still carry Enron identification????

Because he reportedly was still a consultant to them, and identification is needed to enter the building.

[cascademountaineer]

s bad as socioalism is, the REAL problem in America is that the socilistic structure enforced and funded by the IRS and the Income Tax applies only to the rank and file.

I tend to agree. The Gvt. to some extent greater or lesser does act like the mob in some senses, with IRS Auditors playing the role of "enforcers"

[DJ88]

"Sugar Land police officers and a Fort Bend County constable gather outside the Sugar Land, Texas home of former Enron vice chairman J. Clifford Baxter Friday, Jan. 25, 2002. Baxter was discovered shot to death in a car parked on a median not far from his home, an apparent suicide, authorities said. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Oh, it makes much more sense now...snort...if I were going to kill myself, I would DEFINITELY park my car on a median right near my house and shoot myself in the head, LEAVE A NOTE, and a smoking gun. /sarcasm. What, did he just decide to pull over and shoot himself while driving back from the golf course???? Uh-huh. Sure.

[concerned about politics]

Just looked it up. Enron's president was on that trip with Ron Brown, but somehow missed being on the plane for that leg of the trip. (If) there is any government corruption involved with enron, this would be the area to look.

that was the Enron/Clinton/India deal that got Clinton a $100,000.00 kick back. They set up a deal between Enron and India for power plants.

[cascademountaineer]

Though its still to early to call from what Ive read. I agree, it is kind of fishy.

If anything, if that was the case, I suspect he might have been encouraged to do this by other business associates.

Sort of a corporate version of the "honourable way out" you know the story "heres the bottle of bourbon, heres a gun, you know what to do *hint*hint*...

[DJ88]

"``We've got to hold on,'' Jackson said. ``In the darkest hours the stars shine most clearly.''

That's gotta be one of the stupidest things he's ever said, and he's said alot of them. Of course the stars shine the most clearly in the darkest hours..you can't see them during the day.

And like you, I must ask: WHAT'S JJ DOING HERE?

[concerned about politics]

In case anyone missed this....It has not hit the main stream press. This was an article from The Rocky Mountain News, Denver.

This is the second "suspected" suicide from a gun shot wound to the head. The first was James Daniel Watkins, lying on his back in a van, partially covered with a sheet,. .380 caliber still in his hand ? It happened last week. He was telecommunications for Arther Anderson. He always called home if he was going to be late. A devout family man. Officials say the death was "suspicious". Arkansaside, anyone? Remember, Enron was a big money maker for Clinton.

[El Gato]

Did he own a gun? Surely he must have had it registered.

In Texas?? Hah! No requirement to register anything (legal) that goes bang. Anyone, who can pass a NICS check, with a few hundred bucks can walk into a store and walk out with a firearm. The only "registration" will be the the yellow form that the seller keeps (Federal requirement) and the record of the NICS check on the Federal computer. If you bought the gun before the Brady Act passed and went "instant check" the only record would be that yellow form. Now they can check rather quickly if the gun they found was bought by him. First they go to (actually call) the manufacturer or importer with the model and serial number. He finds what wholesaler he shipped to. Then you go to the wholesaler to find the retailer. Then you go to the retailer to examine the form. That system has been in place (with record keeping mandatory, since 1968, IIRC. None of this works it he bought the gun from a classifed ad in the paper or otherwise from a private seller as opposed to a dealer.