DeLay flunked attitude test? Harsh penalty could be linked to lack of remorse: experts

Houston Chronicle ^ | January 11, 2011 | R.G. RATCLIFFE, Austin Bureau

[Cincinatus' Wife]

AUSTIN — The three-year prison sentence meted out to former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in a political money laundering case is far harsher than sentences recommended for two other public offenders recently convicted in Central Texas.

.. likelihood that DeLay's case will be overturned on appeal before he ever sees the inside of a prison cell, according to several criminal defense lawyers. DeLay's sentence may reflect more on his remorseless attitude before visiting District Judge Pat Priest than on the seriousness of the crime, ..

"Maybe DeLay flunked the attitude test in front of Pat Priest," William Allison, a criminal law professor at the University of Texas, said Tuesday. "It's likely he copped a pretty bad attitude."

DeLay was convicted last November and sentenced Monday on felony charges of conspiracy and money laundering in a scheme to give $190,000 in corporate money illegally to seven Republican state House candidates in 2002. Priest gave Delay three years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 10 years of probation on the money laundering charge.

[snip]

DeGuerin said he feels certain the case will be overturned on appeal. He said he will challenge the state law banning corporate contributions on constitutional grounds. He also noted that the 3rd Court of Appeals, which will first hear DeLay's appeal, issued an informal opinion in 2008 that the money laundering statute did not apply to money moved by checks in 2002 when DeLay's committee swapped money with the Republican National Committee by check.

Dix said that ruling gives DeLay some hope on appeal, but he also noted that two of the three judges who wrote it no longer are on the court.

"Very few criminal defendants have even that much indication that an appeal will be successful. So it's better than average," Dix said.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ronnie Earle stumping – and looking groovy doing it – in 1976

Ron Earle the man who went after Tom DeLay.

["For over two years, Earle and eight separate grand juries investigated possible violations of Texas campaign finance law in the 2002 state legislative election. Earle denies that his pursuit of Delay was part of a "fishing expedition." His investigation of two political action committees that spent a combined $3.4 million on 22 Republican Texas House races focused on a political action committee founded by DeLay, (Texans for a Republican Majority PAC). During the investigation, DeLay charged that Earle was a "runaway district attorney" with "a long history of being vindictive and partisan".]

Ron Earle the man who went after Kay Bailey Hutchison.

["Earle filed charges against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, then Texas State Treasurer, for allegedly misusing state telephones and allegedly assaulting a staffer. Earle attempted to drop the charges on the first day in court — in fact, at the pre-trial hearing — after the judge in the case questioned the admissibility of his evidence. The judge refused to allow it, instructing the jury to return a "not guilty" verdict so the charge could not be brought against her again."]

This site was founded by Democratic activists–both Netroots activists and traditional “bricks and mortar” Democratic Party activists–to encourage Ronnie Earle to run for governor --- 2010: Draft Ronnie Earle For Texas Governor

....Ron Earle

Asked to elaborate on justice in the context of prosecution, he says: "I even have a definition for justice, even though the law does not provide one. I have puzzled over this for 30, well, more than 30 years, because I was puzzling over this even before I ran. ... I have come, finally, to a place where I have a vague idea of what justice might be. And it is the fairness and balance that come from healthy relationships. And so that, of course, raises the question: What is a healthy relationship? And that is one that shares joy, pain, and power."

[Elle Bee]

ACORN leader avoids prison for voter fraud conspiracy

.

[Cincinatus]

Earle is a mental case. Only in Austin could this guy be pursuing a normal life (or what passes for one there).

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Things are turned on their head Elle Bee.

[Hardastarboard]

Of course he had an attitude. He was watching his life be ruined by a kangaroo court because of his political beliefs. Who wouldn't have an attitude?

But then again, I seem to have heard that the judge is a liberal. We all know how that was going to play out.

[denydenydeny]

If DeLay isn’t a political prisoner, the term has no meaning.

[ltc8k6]

Attitude? Remorse?

Rangel is going to get life then, right?

[2harddrive]

Tom DeLay’s remorselessness may reflect his INNOCENCE!!!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

They never forgave him for being effective, redistricting and for smiling on his booking photo.

October 21, 2005 -- Smiling DeLay photo no help to Democrats Police mugshot won’t make for attack ad in future campaigns

WASHINGTON — Why is Tom DeLay smiling? After all, he’s been indicted. Forced out of his job as House majority leader. And called into court for fingerprinting and a mugshot like a common criminal.

Answer: A photo of DeLay grinning from ear to ear doesn’t pack quite the punch in a Democratic attack ad as one that looks more like the mugshot of, say, actor Hugh Grant, after his arrest in 1995 for picking up a prostitute.

Note the House of Representatives security pin on DeLay’s lapel.

He looks in the photo like a proud member of Congress who might just have won the lottery, not one indicted on charges of money laundering. The photo looks like it could have been taken anywhere.

And that was just the point.

Democrats nationally are already sounding as if they’ll make DeLay the poster boy for bad Republican behavior in next year’s elections, when every House seat and a third of those in the Senate are up for grabs.

DeLay, an 11-term Texas congressman and former pest exterminator famous for enforcing GOP loyalty, faced a tough reelection campaign even before the indictment.

In the 2004 elections, DeLay won 55 percent of the vote, a relatively weak showing for a veteran House leader. His challenger next year is expected to be former Rep. Nick Lampson, who lost his seat in 2004 after he was forced to run in a new district under a redistricting plan pushed by DeLay.

For his mandatory booking Thursday, which caused him to miss voting on a gun industry bill popular in his home state, DeLay did everything he could to prevent images of the event from being committed to film.........MSNBC

[Stosh]

Attitude test?

What the heck is the US justice system - Cool Hand Tom vs. Judge Ratched?

[6SJ7]

And I thought only China and the former USSR had political prisoners. I guess the U.S. is now in that prestigious ‘club’.

[rockinqsranch]

Wondering why a guy that didn’t do anything wrong in the first place would show remorse unless he was a Democrat phony.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

They also wanted payback for Jim Wright, elected to Congress in 1954 from Texas's 12th congressional district; 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives - January 6, 1987 – June 6, 1989.

"Wright became the target of an inquiry by the House Ethics Committee. Their report in early 1989 implied that he had used bulk purchases of his book, Reflections of a Public Man, to earn speaking fees in excess of the allowed maximum, and that his wife, Betty, was given a job and perks to avoid the limit on gifts. Faced with an increasing loss of effectiveness, he resigned as Speaker on May 31, 1989, effective upon the selection of a successor. On June 6, the Democratic Caucus brought his Speakership to an end by selecting his replacement, Tom Foley of Washington, and on June 30 he resigned his seat in Congress." Source

[Arrowhead1952]

Remember this episode from 2007 about ronnie earle???

[FR thread] Ronnie Earle, Travis Co. (TX) DA, Dances Naked With Other Men While Beating Cooked Chickens

[Condor51]

Your posting the Pics of political hack and moron, Ronnie Earle, made me think of an oldie but goody song...

My Name Is Earl, by the 'Dixie Dicks' (YouTube)

Its a 'response song' to the Dixie Chicks, 'My Name is Earl' song.
The lyrics are funny: 'Hell hath no fury like a woman Armed'.
And the Pics in the Music Video are a hoot too. (Ann Coulter is one)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you Condor51.

I saw Charlton Heston there at the end.
I bet he’d have a few choice words about current events.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

((Shaking my head))

(((Shaking my head)))

[Arrowhead1952]

The problem about that was - FR was just about the only media that ever had that article.

[Condor51]

You're welcome.
That song is soooo old I found it way back when all mp3's were FREE to download and the Dixie Chicks were still 'cool'. This song didn't didn't even have a Video way back then.

IMHO, whomever made the graphics for this Video did a pretty good job matching them to the words. And having Chuck Heston at the end is just so right :-)

(and its still free to download, I did it with my Real Player)

[Paleo Conservative]

Anyone want to bet DeLay won’t spend one day in prison? This case will be appealed.