Okay, so I'm watching this show right now because of who is on it. I never watch it because David Jones drove me nuts when I was a DA. But Jones is fine. Is Polland always such a jerk? He is totally arrogant and rude towards only Anderson. Does he realize how biased and arrogant he appears? Is he always this way? Jones is actually being the reasonable one this time.
Are you serious? Polland is a Lykos supporter and Jones'sister is a consultant for Lykos. Did she know the questions in advance? Was that a "set up"? Duh. What a farce.
Wow, Polland. Political hack much? Thank god you have no ability to advocate without looking like a total schmuck, hence your near seclusion to the non-advocacy of juvenile. At least Lykos got in all of her taglines regardless of the fact that they were totally irrelevant to the question asked. "Force multiplier" really? And for all those who wondered what the square mileage of Harris County is, well thank god Lykos had those notes in front of her. Funny that Anderson didn't have the answers to Polland's questions printed in front of him. Cmon guys if you're going to load the "debate" like that at least let her write the answers on her palms or in small notes in her mouth, a la "Spies Like Us". Though the most subtle of Polland's bias was shown when he tried to finish Lykos's answer for her after her time ran out. Now that Anderson has entered the lion's den it's only fair that Lykos now agree to a debate moderated by Murray and Ted Oberg. Though, it still wouldn't be nearly as egregiously biased as that.
That was bad....a total ambush. First time we've ever watched the show at my house. My teenaged son, who didn't even appear to be watching as he played on his phone, remarked "are these hosts always such dicks?" Hmmmm, was pretty much what I was thinking, too.
I recorded this and watched it later, with my mouth hanging open the whole time, whats wrong with these moderators? I'm sure all the ADAs appreciated the first topic of trace cases being called the "idea of all the prosecutors who work for me since they just can't prosecute them" by Lykos, my first thought was there was her throwing her people under the bus technique. Also, did you know shes "not seeking the endorsement of police officers" as she says that would be unethical.....HUH? It doesn't matter, they gave their endorsement to Anderson today already. For only a 30 minute debate, you would have thought they would start with more pressing issues like why shes never tried a case, but instead they chose to discuss things they are doing in states such as North Carolina....again, jaw hitting floor, HUH?
Gawd I hate the judicial bypass question and, Gary, you should be ashamed for asking. That law was implemented in 1999--that was LOOONG AFTER Patsy was a judge, so, of course she can say she's never granted on. What a douche to even ask when you know the law expressly, completely forbids disclosing anything about them. As a lawyer, you are a disgrace.
Yes, Polland is always arrogant and manipulative. He cannot be trusted. His smirk looked evil and seemed stuck on his face. Amazingly, Jones, the Democrat, seemed far more professional, unbiased, and fair.
Anon 10:02 p.m., No idea what you are talking about with the closet Democrat thing. I believe I've voted in every Republican primary since I've been 18 years old. I'm not 100 % sure I've made every one of them, but I am sure I've never voted in a Democratic one.
As for those of you think Gary Polland is sleazy and a political hack who threw softballs to Lykos while trying to ambush Anderson, you are, of course, completely accurate.
But what do you expect from the same ninny who endorsed Janice Law and is currently endorsing Lana Shadwick? And who, according to Don Hooper, is recruiting candidates to run against incumbent judges?
I'm in NYC so I haven't been able to see it yet, but did she seriously pull that "I'm not seeking the endorsement of law enforcement" crap again? She did that in 2008 when she sought and failed to get ANY endorsements.
She tries to get a law enforcement endorsement. She fails to get any (despite, ironically, that she is a former police officer). She then claims that she didn't seek them.
The woman would literally rather climb up a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth.
I have left a comment and question here that has not been posted and it was a question that was not out of line. It doesnt take a genius to show how fair and balanced you are Murrey. If you cant play fair ball. dont play at all! All eyes are upon you and your blog.
I have left a comment and question here that has not been posted and it was a question that was not out of line. It doesnt take a genius to show how fair and balanced you are Murrey. If you cant play fair ball. dont play at all! All eyes are upon you and your blog.
I have left a comment and question here that has not been posted and it was a question that was not out of line. .It doesnt take a genius to show how fair and balanced you are Murrey. If you cant play fair Ball, dont play at all! All eyes are upon you and your blog
Thats not the way I see it Murrey. It appears that she told the truth and did a very good job during hte interview. Mike was not very convincing at all.
Thats not the way I see it Murrey. It appears that she told the truth and did a very good job during hte interview. Mike was not very convincing at all.
Uh huh. You posted virtually the same thing back to back to back. I posted one of your comments. Not a big fan of multiple personalities coming from the same computer, so I posted one of them.
Thats because you only post what you want and I try to get my point out to you. Be fair Murrey about what you post. That is all we ask. In reality Mike got his butt kicked tonight and has no ideal what to do.
There now. Feel better? You posted the same thing over and over and over again from your Verizon Cellphone out of Liberty County. You seem to be alone in your opinion that Lykos did well and Judge Anderson didn't.
But now you are done for the night unless you have something different to say.
Random Thoughts about this Polland / Lykos "quickie" campaign add:
1) Mike, the good news is this thing won't mean a thing comparrd to the quality campaign commercials you will pummel her with in the coming month. Strickly professionally speaking - a few thoughts though: MAN! Where were you Mike (I support you100%?) Sir, you have one of the best and most expensive political consultants in the City and one would have expected better preparation. tackfully go back to basic debating and respectfully but firmly OBJECT!
2) I know you are a gentleman but she is not and but for david Jones pulling you out of a thoughtful turned head stupor, Lykos was pulling cheap shots with Polland's full backing;
3) Lykos look like a bag lady; Mike needed Makeup - seriously. Did you see the moderators? Remember Nixon etc.?
4) On the positive side this whole thing won't make one difference in the Primary; Do no more debates unless it is more structured and you have an hour;
5) Mike did (when he got or took the chance) did get a few good points in but to Joe six-pack they were too subtle;
6) Remember - unless you are doing 305 presidential debates, it's not so much WHAT you say but HOW you say it;
7) I JUST KNOW Mike was being diplomatic but Lykos is no lady to be diplomatic with; She's one of the boys;
8) Have more concrete "contract with America type points" and short sound bites for people to remember;
9) Turn to the woman and take her on cross when you have a crutial point to make that you truly feel pationate about;
10) YOU are the only prosecutor in this race. Dig deep and be more of one than a neutral judge - let that fire in your belly show. Tap into WHY you are running and let it be much, much more lofty that disgruntled employees, and trace cases;
11) Turn to her - look her in the face and ask HER some questions when she goes off on her "wrote canned answers" Time sheets etc. were fair game;
12) Let your image be one of people being able to sleep at night because you will take all the money spent on public image consultants and P/R people and you are going to hire prosecutors!
13) No one speaks for you but you and no one speaks for your assistants but them; You trust them to seek justice, why on God’s green earth would you not let them carry their own water with the press, but face consequences if false statements made, AND;
14) any prosecutor taking the 5th in the same or similar situation as Palmer would be fired before the door hit them on the way out of the G.J. Door;
15) You will not hide or shy away from the media - wanting them there when times are good yet hiding like a coward when the going gets tough; Lady, with all due respect - I will be the D.A. that leads from the front - not from the cellar 5 miles from the front lines!
8:41, that's a ridiculously ignorant comment. If you've ever seen the show before, and it appears that you have not, you would know that Polland rarely asks questions--he just makes statements that are loaded with bias. He has that same demeanor in the courthouse, and comes across as a phony.
Jones is always respectful, and is often cut off by Polland who takes jabs at his questions when he thinks he has to respond to Jones to keep a topic from going the wrong way. Polland often sneers at Jones's questions and attempts to veer the topic in his direction.
To assume that Jones would be more biased just because he's a Democrat shows how ignorant you are of the show, and politics in general.
I bet you think Fox News really is fair and balanced?
I hate to say it Murray, but Crazy Robo-Poster from Liberty County is correct in one way: Anderson did not do very well. There was none of his characteristic wit or sharpness. He stumbled all over the trace question when Polland asked him why he didn't speak up the change when he was a judge. I though he should have snappily retorted that he doesn't believe judges should legislate from the bench.
Of course, Polland came across as the giant smug asshole he is, and he kept making Lykos' points for her. I especially liked at the very end how he gave Lykos the last 10 seconds to talk about the massive numbers of DA's that have left the office. Lykos literally forgot her scripted line, so Gary answered it for her "it's just normal rate of attrition.". Thanks, "Moderator."
And Lykos was clearly given the questions ahead of time because she had the documents in her hand for the next question before it was even asked. What a ridiculous farce. Still, Anderson, you are going to need to step it up. I am glad that very few people watch this show.
I know there won't be a "next time" but can you imagine how P.L. would have reacted if Mike had a folder laying in front of him, but within her view with a pack of camel cig's sticking out? Like a finger prick to a vampire....twitching and all...
I'm 10:20 p.m., yes Murray, she did make it very clear how wrong it would be for her to seek a police union endorsement and spent a few minutes on how wrong that would be, it was smug. Obviously to those of us watching because we read this blog (and I'm sure thats all who watched it aside from the few Lykos minions) we know Mike got the endorsement already. He kept silent. I think, as far as I know, this is their first debate or chance to speak publically on the issues in the same forum, so maybe Lykos was trying to gather his stance on issues so she could twist them to sound ugly and use them in future campaigning, I saw Mike being very smart not to reveal anything to her in front of such a small audience at such an early stage. At one point, Jones (I believe) was pushing him to give an answer to his opinion on a written law (I believe it may have been the NC law) and finally Mike told him he wasn't going to answer based on how it was described here, he would like to read it himself before offering a response. Very smart, that could have been a rat trap.
I saw the comments at Big Jolly's site, but I don't want to post there.
Some thoughts:
1) I don't think the Anderson who gave $50 K is related to Mike Anderson. Big Jolly wondered if they are related. The Anderson who gave 50K is a business man who apparently really believes in Judge Anderson.
2) Don't take the fact that no current employees (as far as I know) have given Anderson any money to mean that we don't support him. Most of us do - from what I can tell.
But - to OPENLY support him is career suicide.
This comment might start up the judgmental posts about how if I really believed, I'd be out there, give money, stand-up, etc, etc.
Wish I could - but I've got over 20 years in and kids in college. Besides, I've already worked under several DA's, so I figure I will bide my time until we get someone good in there.
In the meantime - just doing my job and trying to stay out of the drama.
3) Lykos is a very good speaker. She says all the right things. In fact, if you do your homework, you'll see that she says the right thing for the right audience - however, not always the SAME thing.
Like when she made a statement that the BAT vans ought to be taken over by the DPS because they ARE law enforcement. Then, the next month, she went to comm court and announced that the new Forensic Science center should be run by scientists - and NOT law enforcement.
Also - she relies on the fact that we have such poor follow-through with the public and media. So, all she has to BE is a good talker. No one seems to be asking: What happened to the investigation on the 13 year old who committed suicide? HOW MANY people have been helped with the mental health program? She made promises on that they'd have these centers for people AND in her DA-swearing-in speech she said her mental health programs would save some $15 million for the county. How about all these "community liaisons?" She said in an interview with Big Jolly that the most recent hire was also going to write grants. How many has he written yet? Remember, she also hired another media guy (a former Houston Chron reporter)to do PR stuff and write grants - he did not write one single grant. But, he did do PR stuff. She renamed the Victim Witness Division - calling it "Victim Rights" (like that was some big accomplishment) and then let them run way short for at least two years - while she continued to hire her PR people.
4) Here's one of the biggest issues: Under Lykos et al, we have learned not to express our opinions and that we are not free to engage in discourse about how policies and sometimes about cases. This is the FIRST time I've experienced this during my career. Under any other admins, I could argue (sometimes even heatedly) - all the way to the top. We talked things out - we sometimes shouted things out - but we were treated as professionals. Not now - and not ever under this regime. When we can't have honest discussions, we can't come up with the best solutions and ultimately, justice will and has paid.
You guys might want to look at the earlier meeting between Lykos and G/P, it was terrible Lykos never answered Jones' questions. A client of mine remarked how bad it was and I told him (although I was a political junkie) I couldn't stomach that show. Polland doesn't prepare for the show. Funny Bill Buckley took 15 minutes to write some of his columns but Polland is no Bill Buckley. I do like the dye job on his hair though. Jones reminds me of the lemming that used to come out with Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes, or something like that. The guy that would just sit there and take it, the breathing punching bag. I know you'r a Republican Murray and I'm glad you're in an area dominated by Democrats with testosterone, the type you rarely see down here. Yes my happiest thought about Red White and Blue... NO ONE WATCHES IT. I grew up watching Firing Line and John McGlaughlin and Red White and Blue is positively dreadful. It's downright horrible. I refuse to watch it and won't donate to PBS until they bring back McLaughlin.
Richard Anderson is a law school friend of Mike's who worked for Holmes before and during law school and then as an ADA. He is now the CEO of Delta Airlines. Thank you, Richard, for your support.
Richard is supposed to become first assistant if Mike elected.He is a good guy.Very wealthy. All the big money is about to be coming out for both candidates. The 10,000 from Bert means he wants to come back.
Anon 11:52 you obviously don't know either Richard Anderson or Bert Graham. Neither want to come back to the DA's office, they just want a good DA for the citizens of Harris County.
Damn! Harris county would be lucky to get Bert Graham back if only for a limited time. His institutional knowledge in both the business end of running the office and the advocacy end is matchless. If it were certain that Graham would return to help Anderson undo the harm Lie-cos and her crew of pirates have done that would be reason enough to vote for Anderson.
Can we please spend a couple of minutes in each thread, discussing Joe the Investigator, and his cohorts? It's both entertaining, as well as demonstrative of the role chronieism plays in this evil administration. Besides the Cadillac Escalade he drives, does anyone know what they paid him in 2011? Has he solved any mysteries? Filed any charges? Made any arrests? You know...sought any justice?
You know, Joe is actually a nice guy whose only real skill is that of being a photographer. He's good at it which is why Lykos hired him. His job is to take office-related photographs, particularly of Lykos so that she can "look good". When he drives her around, it's because she wants him there to take pictures of her. It's not his fault that she is using taxpayer dollars to pay him very handsomely. Placing him in an Investigator's slot is a travesty but let's make sure we blame Lykos for hiring him. Look at the bright side-she's provided us with more evidence of why she has no business being the elected D.A.
If you request the pay records of the DA's office from the auditor, the investigators names have been withheld because they might be engaged in undercover work. That has never happened under past DA's administrations. It was done simply to hide as much information as possible. Thus you will not find out how much Joe the investigator is being paid to provide photographic services for Lykos. I meant to say, how much the taxpayers are paying for photographic services.
Of course when I saw that entry I tried to figure out which investigator would be so stupid as to use their own name while undercover.
WAYNE.....OH WAYNE.a former constable Pct. 1 doing "piddle work" for the boss possibly. Check those time sheets......My gawd another "driver".Press argent, speech writer, political media types employed on the lean tax payers dime who don't know piss about prosecution yet take up $$$ that could be spent on prosecutors. Would someone PA-lease pull the public info? (I don't know their names I don't work there) regardless of what F * * * * * g Title they have THIS week and get a total on all these people's public income. How many baby prosecutors could they buy? Again, as stated before - No need for this fluff under Holmes or Vance. If you fought a hard fight this was one of the small perks of telling your family - Hey I'm on such and such channel on that Murder case etc., etc. (Better have your facts straight though)
Also, MIKE "helpers" take the last flow chart under the administration that took over from the one after Holmes (should be basically the same) and do a month, by month comparison on how this Organizational "Tree" got hacked into one hell of a cacti AND what "Divisions were created and called, then when were they abolished or never produced but are still on paper? Image, 3 card Monte, perception. Mike, 1) she has no prosecutorial record to run on; 2) She was a horrible Judge, but nonetheless a judge - AJUST LIKE YOU, so hit her where she is the most vulnerable: 3) No management. You at least were a Division and or Chief of a Court and tried cases. To be frank - where she is the strongest is in the image department. Have facts and statistics to show HOW mismanaged that office has been run.
There is such a chilling effect from her management style that - to me - has the appearance of a daily CYA mentality when I deal with prosecutors regarding my clients.
The prosecutors remind me of the stories told of how the Russians fought the battle of Stalingrad after both sides were cut off: one rifle to one man, a few bullets to another, pair them up and if one was shot or either ran - they were shot in the back from the Commissars’.
One of the most important tools of an Investigator is to be able to sign into and utilize the J.I.M.S. computer system. It is used to check criminal records, file charges, research the Justice Management System records for investigations. When Joe was hired, he didn't know his sign-in code and had never used the system. He's never really been a police officer but has expensive photographic equipment and is very good at using it. After Lykos hired him (without the usual application process by senior Investigators to make sure you are qualified)he was assigned to several different divisions of the DA's Office and was completely lost in everyone of them. Not sure where he is officially assigned now, but his primary duties appear to be driving Miss Daisy in a County owned Cadillac Escalade and looking for Kodak moments. Don't know his exact salary, but it exceeds $60,000 per year which is way more than a new prosecutor earns.
TX tribune shows Joe the Investigator makes $65,998 but that wouldn't count the $$ he enjoys as Lie-cos wingman who is always present as she spends her hefty 100K/yr in expenses. I also assume he submits his own expense account that remains secret due to his top secret investigations.
Public records request for Joe the investigator's personnel file. I wonder who has done his evaluations and what they say. Also public records request for his Pct 1 personnel file to find out what he really did while with Pct 1.
Good question. Looks like some posts have already begun answering some of my questions.
I don't know this guy Joe "The Investigator" but after reading this post for a year - there are so many "breadcrumbs" on this guy that a whole loaf of bread should be able to be seen.
Formerly, for an investigator to be hired they went through a screening process by other senior investigators, and typically came from many agencies (majority from HPD Homicide, Robbery, Major Offenders etc) but they also had diversity as to agencies as well as the experience: Pasadena P.D. got hired, Webster got hired, S.O. got hired - but a former photographer from Pct. 1? Does he have to qualify on the shooting range as other “real” investigators? You know: (Ready on the left? Ready on the right? Ready on the firing line?)
My point is this: The hiring of certain "special" high dollar people who never went through any hiring committee (is there even that anymore?) is pure political selfishness and incompetency even if it is just one person with a phony title. Seriously, what Police Agency did this guy come from?
This guy's name has been "out there" so much HERE - that he appears to be a real thorn in his peer's behind because he came from Abercia's Office? (Ahem) and ain't a real cop.
Add him to the others alluded to previously and you got too much political fat and MISMANAGEMENT all to make ONE person look good.
Sure, being a good prosecutor doesn't make one a good manager. But neither does being a self-centered former judge like P.L..
Is Hanna Chow really in charge of management of employees? Hiring and firing? Is this true? What qualifies her for this position other than she and Lykos were saved by the Doll by being taken on board by the former County Judge, just like “Joe the Investigator?” How many cases does he have assigned to him?
There used to be plenty of investigators who took plenty of very nice photos…but then again, those photos would be crime scene related and not Olen Mills.
Joe the investigator is also supposed to pick up medical records, HCSO records, HPD records , and HFD records, etc. Problem is that he loses most of them. He must be putting them on a flat bed trailer and they're blowing off.
Plus, you have Trina the investigator, who got over 400 of training hours last year. Peace officers only have to have 40 hrs. of training every two years. Do you have any idea how how much time that's away from the office?
Hey, Joe "the Investigator" is bad. But Lykos has had plenty of other Joe-the-Investigators" in her short tenure at the DA's Office. How about Francis (was that her name?), the overpaid Misd. chief who was paid twice as much with half as much experience? She helped Lykos get elected, stayed long enough to make everyone mad and resentful (prosecutors, cops, and defense attorneys alike), and then retired with just enough county time to cash out. Or how about Lykos' lobbyist fella? You know, because Harris County is the only county in Texas that needs a full-time paid lobbyist, even though the state-wide organization that represents all of the DA's offices has its own lobbyists that act on behalf of DA's offices. Oh, and did I forget to mention, her lobbyist is a close friend? I'm sure there are plenty of others who are on the county's payroll in a time when the economy is hurting and DA employees are at an all-time low. Well, I should say, some divisions -- like the PR division, which never existed before Lykos took office -- are at an all-time high while others -- the trial division, for example, where the bulk of the work takes place -- are at an all-time low.
Patsy is a dictator. That's all she is. You know at night she dreams of running countries, not counties. She listens to no one, surrounds herself with eunichs, pays her friends more, and doesn't give two cents for what anyone with any sense thinks.
Is it illegal to give some non-ADA friends money to donate to Mike's campaign in their name?
The only thing Joe did in his entire career at Pct 1 was serve Civil citations. He had absolutely NO investigative experience, never made an arrest, and has never filed ANY criminal charges. But he could take very good photographs. Lykos got to know him when he was called on to take photos at Commissioner's Court or other county events.
Since Lykos is ALWAYS planning ahead for how she can promote herself she immediately offered Joe a job as a D.A. Investigator knowing she could put him to good use by photographing her regularly and keep her face in the public. No matter that he couldn't investigate his way out of a paper bag and is absolutely no help to the Assistant D.A.'s in prosecuting cases. A person with Joe's background normally wouldn't even be allowed to fill out an application for Investigator because he didn't meet even basic requirements for the position.
But, he was perfect for Lykos because he would be beholding to her for a huge pay raise and a position he could never have attained on his own. So, he now sits in an office awaiting Lykos' beck and call anytime she needs a ride or needs to "show her good side" to his camera lens.
What's even more egregious is that she has spent THOUSANDS of tax dollars to buy Joe state of the art photography equipment that she uses for her political benefit.
Her official response to this is to claim he is available to take photographs for criminal prosecutions. Not that he has ever done that mind you. Besides, most police or sheriff agencies have crime scene photographers who photograph, catalogue, and supplement the police reports documenting the photographic evidence. Plus, they regularly testify in court about what they photographed. So, if Lykos wants to justify Joe's $65K salary and his high-dollar equipment by claiming he is available to photograph evidence for prosecutors, that is easily refuted. Last, Joe has NEVER filed a charge, never investigated a crime, and never made a report. He and Lykos do have something in common though: She has never prosecuted a criminal case and he's never testified in a criminal case. What does all of this say about our elected D.A. and her hand-picked investigator?
(As far as checking his personnel file for evaluations-that's laughable since evaluations (done every 6 months prior to Lykos) aren't done now but once a year or longer.)
Joe's been doing HC photography for a decade now. He was featured in the Chronicle in 2004 for his steady camera. It seems he was one of Jack Abercia's Precinct 1 constable for many years http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2004_3786319
I,ve met Joe. He REALLY IS a nice guy. Reminds me of a preacher. Soft smile and very affible. Puts people at ease and consequently takes great photos.
HOWEVER: He needs NO firearm nor a place at the D.A.'s office. I agree 100% with the previous post: Don't hold it against this guy but Damn Lykos! A peersonal photographer? Does Mosely still work there? He was in HPD and always took scene photos.
Hell Hawkins always took his OWN scene photos. In this time of budget cuts and hiring freezed conservative tax payers do NOT like their $ being wasted for self promotion.
I could see this guy as a CIVIL process server. He probably gave the people a feeling of comfort after hitting them with papers. But this. This - along with the other PR crap is just that - Crap!
One more thing. Too late in the game for survelence. But IF she had Joe driving her around...sure looks like ripe grounds for another G.J. investigation. One thing Joe won't do I'll bet is take the 5th!
As much as Lykos uses Joe for her political appearances, I bet Joe is almost maxxed out in accumulated overtime. Maybe a grand jury needs to look at how often the county is paying for that.
It's not too late to request Joe's time sheets and see exactly what he is earning compensatory time for. I can't imagine him working on any "cases" after 5 p.m.
On 11-29-2011, six Harris County Police Unions stood together and proclaimed they 'no confidence' in Pat Lykos. Two days before this Pat Lykos and Jared Woodfill met with HPD Union leaders trying to persuade them to endorse Lykos. She was furious when they published their no confidence vote. http://www.chron.com/default/article/Police-union-have-no-confidence-in-Harris-County-2303207.php
Lykos just changes the facts to fit her immediate need. She sat right there on Channel 8 on Jan 20th, 2012 beside Mike Anderson and claimed she had not sought the Police endorsement because it would be a "conflict of interest" for her to do that.
Hello Bat Fans! According to that political hack Gary Polland's web site, his February 3 episode of Red White and Blue will feature Captain Queeg aka our own little Jimmy Lietner and the former Lunar Rendezvous Queen, Rachel Ann Palmer, née Hooper. The topic is listed as "Inside the Grand Jury Investigation of the District Attorney's Office". I swear to God how stupid are they? How are they going to fill up thirty minutes without violating grand jury secrecy? Answer: they can't. And talk about telling the grand jury to kiss her fat ass, Palmer takes the Fifth then runs to Channel 11 and now this. No doubt the conspiracy theories will abound. Mark my words, there will be NO talk of the 232nd grand jury investigation. Unbelievable! This is outrageous!
If everyone contacted Channel 8 and complained about the show and asked that it be taken off the air, maybe the station could find something worthwhile to put in that slot instead.
Re: Feb. 3rd show. Interesting timing - don’t you think?
This will signal Lykos's official start of her campaign - in earnest. Right after the G.J. Investigation that will (I suspect) NOT indicts anyone and their term officially ends. There should still be a G.J. Report released however – to be fair to all sides after so much time and money.
Notice her answer to the question about any connection between Mike's election and the G.J. Investigation: "At this point No" Got to be careful while they are still in session.
Palmer will say what one would expect her to say, with full consent from the top. In any previous administration she would have been fired.
With all due respect to Mark's post regarding "Hatchet Job", the dual nature of the piece will not be alluded to but pretty much everything in that piece will be repeated as to why she took the 5th. And try to paint Mike as some Svengali puppeteer.
Good news: Commercials will win or lose this election.
Personally I think it is ill advised to allow ANYONE to talk about all this in a public venue. Memories fade. But this will be Palmer answering all questions she would have been asked in the G.J. yet without the benefit of being crossed by the prosecutors or facing perjury.
Leitner and Palmer's decision to appear with Polland on Channel 8 on Feb 3rd coincides with the end of the 185th GJ session on Jan 31st.
Lykos is presuming that no indictments will be forth-coming from the 185th and is sending her shills to tout her claim that the Grand Jury was politically motivated and part of a grand conspiracy to unseat her.
Neither Leitner nor Palmer have the ability to feel the shame they should for being a part of the demise of a once great Office under the catastrophic 'leadership' of Pat Lykos. For Palmer to have taken the 5th and now speak publicly on the matter is despicable.
The real reason they are doing this is because they are desperate to keep their jobs and the only way to do that is to sacrifice what's left of their self-respect by helping Lykos get re-elected.
Polland is merely a pimp for Lykos and will slant the questions and presentation to favor Lykos just like he did when Mike Anderson appeared last week.
The voters in Harris County are going to see through all this and judge Lykos for what she has done and failed to do.
So is PBS subject to federal election law. It seems Mike should be getting free time to have a political ally ask him questions for the same amount of time. We all know that show is nothing more than a Pat Lykos re-election show.
So Hooper is posting under his real name over on Jolly's blog. The fact that Big gives him a voice is yet another example of how out of touch Big has become.
I really hate to sound like a broken record, but, the HCAO has their own "Joe the investigator/photographer. Why oh why isn't anyone looking at 1019 Congress?!?!?
Although the Tribune posts the salary of Joe the Investigator as $ 65,998, that is just his BASE salary. He also gets a Law Enforcement Stipend, Longevity pay, and he works Intake shifts at about $50 per hour. Then he has a County car assigned (a Cadillac)and free health insurance as do all county employees. All total, his salary and benefits probably $90K or more. Per the Tribune, Lykos is ACTUALLY paying Joe more than several highly experienced REAL Investigators who have been there longer than Joe. Talk about adding insult to injury...
Now don't get me wrong, you can't blame Joe for taking something offered to him but as a tax payer I'm plenty pissed that Lykos hired someone who is unqualified just to follow her around and take photos of her creating publicity.
I'm sure Lykos and her 'Hey Boys' (Leitner and Bridgwater) are scrambling right now to come up with some imagined duties that Joe performs for the good of law enforcement.
I think you have a certain mindset that does not allow you to see the whole picture. Yes we are all looking from our own perspective. But seriously there are so many things wrong with the Lycos administration that you have to be blind not to see it. Do you think RP pleading the fifth was right? In this office where integrity is so important how can you feel any other way than angry about this highly placed person taking the fifth. What did she have to hide? You are a very intelligent man. Maybe you could try looking at both side fairly. No disrespect intended by this comment.
Big, Anon 5:10 here. No irony intended. Just saying that the fact that a dead beat dad who doesn't have a job and likes to flash his wife's badge is comfortable posting under his real name and allowed to post on your blog with impunity means that maybe I gave you too much credit in the past. Sometimes we are judged by the company we keep. Character counts and your friend Hooper has none in my opinion. Prove me wrong!
I concur with 10:37. Big Jolly: you allowed Hooper to point out his father-in-law, Wes Palmer, gave money to KS's campaign, but removed a previous remark from your site documenting Hooper’s history as a deadbeat dad. It is apparent that you lack family values! As much as I disagree with your posts of Lykos, I can respect your opinion. I have no respect for you when you enable a deadbeat dad to post his BS. If you want respect, you can document how your friend has gone 7 years without paying support to his daughter. Ironically much of it centers around political conspiracy claims, forcing judge recusals AND pleading the FIFTH!
Divorce - like War - is "domestic Hell - depending on the parties and lawyers involved. I've read Harris County is THE most exspensive place in the USA to get a divorce with custody issues involved.
I am a father who has dutifully paid my court ordered child support for two kids for over 15 years - and still paying.
Here is my question: How on God's green earth can any person, man or woman, get away with not paying court ordered child support in Houston Texas? The Attorney General will go after the person and IF they are a high profile movant with $ they should have gone after the person way before now. With all due respect - when a person won't do what they are legally obligated to do under the Family Code there ARE remidies and THEY have a duty to the children to go after that person to collect.
Unless I'm mission something there are remedies out there that have NOTHING to do with complaining on a Blog site - politics asside.
What's the hold up? If he is the father and there is a decree / court order on file then payment must be made or he is put in jail until payment made. Come on - what am I missing here? I am NO fan of Palmer or Lykos and could care less about Jolly. Mother - what is the hold-up? No $ for a lawyer? Even if dad claims he is broke he sits in jail. What is the other side of this story.
This has no place in the D.A.'s race. Deadbeat dad + mother who is lax on pusuing back child support = deadbeat parents!
As far as I know, Don Hooper is not running for office. I fail to understand why people focus so much on him. His personal life is none of my concern, I talk about politics.
If you don't like what I write, then, as the saying goes, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. The last thing I'm going to do is argue with someone that is afraid to put their name on what they write.
Everyone needs to stop fretting about what is written on an obscure blog that almost no one reads and absolutely no one is influenced by. No one would know what was on it if you would quit giving it publicity.
Has anyone actually bothered to listen to what Mike Anderson gave as his reasons for deciding to run for DA? It doesn't matter what venue or what motivations the questioner might have what matters most is what Mike Anderson said and didn't say.
Mr. Jennings: 9:24- It's obvious we will never agree that Rachel's taking the 5th was wrong. We will always be separated by a great gulf on that issue. Hopefully we can agree that it was unprecedented in HCDAO history.
9:28- I also disagree with you that one's personal life is not a consideration in politics. How one conducts his personal life has a great deal to do with how he or she behaves in the political arena. The reason Hooper has been focused on is because of the influence he has tried to exert via multiple identities he has assumed as well as his influence on his wife and how she has conducted herself. I don't think you can just separate the personal from the public as they are quite interwoven.
You make a big point about anonymous commenters yet refuse to acknowledge that people may not be able to risk harming their livelihood and families well-being by publicly identifying themselves by exercising the right of free speech. Most employees of Lykos are not even close to retiring. We all know she will be gone (sooner or later)before we can retire. We are doing the best we can. You shouldn't blame us for expressing our frustration in a "safe environment". I can assure you that if Lykos was doing even a reasonable job, 90% or more of the office wouldn't still detest her after 3 years in office.
The idea of getting the HPD out of science must be changing again. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/DA-s-office-gives-HPD-funds-for-new-2690298.php
I have read your article. I still stand on the ground that RP should have been fired. This is th DAs office and should never give the impression of wrong doing. I am a citizen of Harris County and the appearance of impropriety from the DAs office has left a really bad taste in my mouth, quite franky it stinks.
No matter how many pieces of paper and emails there should not have been a problem in answering the questions. If she just told the truth either time she was in front of them then what the heck is the problem. What did she lie about? What did she have to hide?
Hey BAT fans, the debut of the dynamic duo of Leitner and Palmer is no longer listed on Polland's website as an upcoming episode of Red White and Blue. What gives? Has that interview been cancelled or merely delayed? Anybody know the skinny?
The new technology is EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE OLD TECHNOLOGY!!! The only difference will be that the new instruents serial numbers will not have been tainted by previous discussion about BAT vans.
89 comments:
All my favorite people in one place. Let's pray there is not a lightning storm. Although, Polland is probably protected by his contract with Satan.
What channel is KUHT in New York, Murray?
Don't hold back, tell me how you really feel.
Okay, so I'm watching this show right now because of who is on it. I never watch it because David Jones drove me nuts when I was a DA. But Jones is fine. Is Polland always such a jerk? He is totally arrogant and rude towards only Anderson. Does he realize how biased and arrogant he appears? Is he always this way? Jones is actually being the reasonable one this time.
Seriously? Will this be available online?
My favorite part was when Lykos farted. Classic!
Are you serious? Polland is a Lykos supporter and Jones'sister is a consultant for Lykos. Did she know the questions in advance? Was that a "set up"? Duh. What a farce.
Anderson seems to have Perry's debate techniques - stammer and avoid the question. But, yes, Polland is a completely dishonest jerk.
Wow, Polland. Political hack much? Thank god you have no ability to advocate without looking like a total schmuck, hence your near seclusion to the non-advocacy of juvenile. At least Lykos got in all of her taglines regardless of the fact that they were totally irrelevant to the question asked. "Force multiplier" really? And for all those who wondered what the square mileage of Harris County is, well thank god Lykos had those notes in front of her. Funny that Anderson didn't have the answers to Polland's questions printed in front of him. Cmon guys if you're going to load the "debate" like that at least let her write the answers on her palms or in small notes in her mouth, a la "Spies Like Us". Though the most subtle of Polland's bias was shown when he tried to finish Lykos's answer for her after her time ran out. Now that Anderson has entered the lion's den it's only fair that Lykos now agree to a debate moderated by Murray and Ted Oberg. Though, it still wouldn't be nearly as egregiously biased as that.
How come no one will ask Pat Lykos how many cases she has tried?
Someone needs to challenge her on
this issue,the public needs to know
she has NEVER tried a case.
That was bad....a total ambush. First time we've ever watched the show at my house. My teenaged son, who didn't even appear to be watching as he played on his phone, remarked "are these hosts always such dicks?" Hmmmm, was pretty much what I was thinking, too.
Unfortunately Pat's a good talker.
Fortunately the show has a miniscule audience.
Damm Murry, your so one sided. Are you sure your not a closet democrat.
I recorded this and watched it later, with my mouth hanging open the whole time, whats wrong with these moderators? I'm sure all the ADAs appreciated the first topic of trace cases being called the "idea of all the prosecutors who work for me since they just can't prosecute them" by Lykos, my first thought was there was her throwing her people under the bus technique. Also, did you know shes "not seeking the endorsement of police officers" as she says that would be unethical.....HUH? It doesn't matter, they gave their endorsement to Anderson today already. For only a 30 minute debate, you would have thought they would start with more pressing issues like why shes never tried a case, but instead they chose to discuss things they are doing in states such as North Carolina....again, jaw hitting floor, HUH?
Gawd I hate the judicial bypass question and, Gary, you should be ashamed for asking. That law was implemented in 1999--that was LOOONG AFTER Patsy was a judge, so, of course she can say she's never granted on. What a douche to even ask when you know the law expressly, completely forbids disclosing anything about them. As a lawyer, you are a disgrace.
Yes, Polland is always arrogant and manipulative. He cannot be trusted. His smirk looked evil and seemed stuck on his face. Amazingly, Jones, the Democrat, seemed far more professional, unbiased, and fair.
Anon 10:02 p.m.,
No idea what you are talking about with the closet Democrat thing. I believe I've voted in every Republican primary since I've been 18 years old. I'm not 100 % sure I've made every one of them, but I am sure I've never voted in a Democratic one.
As for those of you think Gary Polland is sleazy and a political hack who threw softballs to Lykos while trying to ambush Anderson, you are, of course, completely accurate.
But what do you expect from the same ninny who endorsed Janice Law and is currently endorsing Lana Shadwick? And who, according to Don Hooper, is recruiting candidates to run against incumbent judges?
Anon 10:20,
I'm in NYC so I haven't been able to see it yet, but did she seriously pull that "I'm not seeking the endorsement of law enforcement" crap again? She did that in 2008 when she sought and failed to get ANY endorsements.
She tries to get a law enforcement endorsement. She fails to get any (despite, ironically, that she is a former police officer). She then claims that she didn't seek them.
The woman would literally rather climb up a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth.
I have left a comment and question here that has not been posted and it was a question that was not out of line. It doesnt take a genius to show how fair and balanced you are Murrey. If you cant play fair ball. dont play at all! All eyes are upon you and your blog.
I have left a comment and question here that has not been posted and it was a question that was not out of line. It doesnt take a genius to show how fair and balanced you are Murrey. If you cant play fair ball. dont play at all! All eyes are upon you and your blog.
I have left a comment and question here that has not been posted and it was a question that was not out of line. .It doesnt take a genius to show how fair and balanced you are Murrey. If you cant play fair Ball, dont play at all! All eyes are upon you and your blog
Thats not the way I see it Murrey. It appears that she told the truth and did a very good job during hte interview. Mike was not very convincing at all.
Thats not the way I see it Murrey. It appears that she told the truth and did a very good job during hte interview. Mike was not very convincing at all.
Uh huh. You posted virtually the same thing back to back to back. I posted one of your comments. Not a big fan of multiple personalities coming from the same computer, so I posted one of them.
Remember, I've got Stat Counter.
Thats because you only post what you want and I try to get my point out to you. Be fair Murrey about what you post. That is all we ask. In reality Mike got his butt kicked tonight and has no ideal what to do.
There now. Feel better? You posted the same thing over and over and over again from your Verizon Cellphone out of Liberty County. You seem to be alone in your opinion that Lykos did well and Judge Anderson didn't.
But now you are done for the night unless you have something different to say.
Random Thoughts about this Polland / Lykos "quickie" campaign add:
1) Mike, the good news is this thing won't mean a thing comparrd to the quality campaign commercials you will pummel her with in the coming month. Strickly professionally speaking - a few thoughts though: MAN! Where were you Mike (I support you100%?) Sir, you have one of the best and most expensive political consultants in the City and one would have expected better preparation. tackfully go back to basic debating and respectfully but firmly OBJECT!
2) I know you are a gentleman but she is not and but for david Jones pulling you out of a thoughtful turned head stupor, Lykos was pulling cheap shots with Polland's full backing;
3) Lykos look like a bag lady; Mike needed Makeup - seriously. Did you see the moderators? Remember Nixon etc.?
4) On the positive side this whole thing won't make one difference in the Primary; Do no more debates unless it is more structured and you have an hour;
5) Mike did (when he got or took the chance) did get a few good points in but to Joe six-pack they were too subtle;
6) Remember - unless you are doing 305 presidential debates, it's not so much WHAT you say but HOW you say it;
7) I JUST KNOW Mike was being diplomatic but Lykos is no lady to be diplomatic with; She's one of the boys;
8) Have more concrete "contract with America type points" and short sound bites for people to remember;
9) Turn to the woman and take her on cross when you have a crutial point to make that you truly feel pationate about;
10) YOU are the only prosecutor in this race. Dig deep and be more of one than a neutral judge - let that fire in your belly show. Tap into WHY you are running and let it be much, much more lofty that disgruntled employees, and trace cases;
11) Turn to her - look her in the face and ask HER some questions when she goes off on her "wrote canned answers" Time sheets etc. were fair game;
12) Let your image be one of people being able to sleep at night because you will take all the money spent on public image consultants and P/R people and you are going to hire prosecutors!
13) No one speaks for you but you and no one speaks for your assistants but them; You trust them to seek justice, why on God’s green earth would you not let them carry their own water with the press, but face consequences if false statements made, AND;
14) any prosecutor taking the 5th in the same or similar situation as Palmer would be fired before the door hit them on the way out of the G.J. Door;
15) You will not hide or shy away from the media - wanting them there when times are good yet hiding like a coward when the going gets tough; Lady, with all due respect - I will be the D.A. that leads from the front - not from the cellar 5 miles from the front lines!
End.
8:41, that's a ridiculously ignorant comment. If you've ever seen the show before, and it appears that you have not, you would know that Polland rarely asks questions--he just makes statements that are loaded with bias. He has that same demeanor in the courthouse, and comes across as a phony.
Jones is always respectful, and is often cut off by Polland who takes jabs at his questions when he thinks he has to respond to Jones to keep a topic from going the wrong way. Polland often sneers at Jones's questions and attempts to veer the topic in his direction.
To assume that Jones would be more biased just because he's a Democrat shows how ignorant you are of the show, and politics in general.
I bet you think Fox News really is fair and balanced?
For those who didn't catch it or are out of town, you can watch it on the PBS Red, White and Blue site. Here is the link:
http://www.houstonpbs.org/shows/localproductions/rwb/harris-county-da-candidates.html
I hate to say it Murray, but Crazy Robo-Poster from Liberty County is correct in one way: Anderson did not do very well. There was none of his characteristic wit or sharpness. He stumbled all over the trace question when Polland asked him why he didn't speak up the change when he was a judge. I though he should have snappily retorted that he doesn't believe judges should legislate from the bench.
Of course, Polland came across as the giant smug asshole he is, and he kept making Lykos' points for her. I especially liked at the very end how he gave Lykos the last 10 seconds to talk about the massive numbers of DA's that have left the office. Lykos literally forgot her scripted line, so Gary answered it for her "it's just normal rate of attrition.". Thanks, "Moderator."
And Lykos was clearly given the questions ahead of time because she had the documents in her hand for the next question before it was even asked. What a ridiculous farce. Still, Anderson, you are going to need to step it up. I am glad that very few people watch this show.
-Angry ADA Seeking Justice
Golly gee. Wonder which Liberty County slug was posting??? Duh....
Suggestion:
I know there won't be a "next time" but can you imagine how P.L. would have reacted if Mike had a folder laying in front of him, but within her view with a pack of camel cig's sticking out? Like a finger prick to a vampire....twitching and all...
I'm 10:20 p.m., yes Murray, she did make it very clear how wrong it would be for her to seek a police union endorsement and spent a few minutes on how wrong that would be, it was smug. Obviously to those of us watching because we read this blog (and I'm sure thats all who watched it aside from the few Lykos minions) we know Mike got the endorsement already. He kept silent. I think, as far as I know, this is their first debate or chance to speak publically on the issues in the same forum, so maybe Lykos was trying to gather his stance on issues so she could twist them to sound ugly and use them in future campaigning, I saw Mike being very smart not to reveal anything to her in front of such a small audience at such an early stage. At one point, Jones (I believe) was pushing him to give an answer to his opinion on a written law (I believe it may have been the NC law) and finally Mike told him he wasn't going to answer based on how it was described here, he would like to read it himself before offering a response. Very smart, that could have been a rat trap.
I saw the comments at Big Jolly's site, but I don't want to post there.
Some thoughts:
1) I don't think the Anderson who gave $50 K is related to Mike Anderson. Big Jolly wondered if they are related. The Anderson who gave 50K is a business man who apparently really believes in Judge Anderson.
2) Don't take the fact that no current employees (as far as I know) have given Anderson any money to mean that we don't support him. Most of us do - from what I can tell.
But - to OPENLY support him is career suicide.
This comment might start up the judgmental posts about how if I really believed, I'd be out there, give money, stand-up, etc, etc.
Wish I could - but I've got over 20 years in and kids in college. Besides, I've already worked under several DA's, so I figure I will bide my time until we get someone good in there.
In the meantime - just doing my job and trying to stay out of the drama.
3) Lykos is a very good speaker. She says all the right things. In fact, if you do your homework, you'll see that she says the right thing for the right audience - however, not always the SAME thing.
Like when she made a statement that the BAT vans ought to be taken over by the DPS because they ARE law enforcement. Then, the next month, she went to comm court and announced that the new Forensic Science center should be run by scientists - and NOT law enforcement.
Also - she relies on the fact that we have such poor follow-through with the public and media. So, all she has to BE is a good talker. No one seems to be asking: What happened to the investigation on the 13 year old who committed suicide? HOW MANY people have been helped with the mental health program? She made promises on that they'd have these centers for people AND in her DA-swearing-in speech she said her mental health programs would save some $15 million for the county. How about all these "community liaisons?" She said in an interview with Big Jolly that the most recent hire was also going to write grants. How many has he written yet? Remember, she also hired another media guy (a former Houston Chron reporter)to do PR stuff and write grants - he did not write one single grant. But, he did do PR stuff. She renamed the Victim Witness Division - calling it "Victim Rights" (like that was some big accomplishment) and then let them run way short for at least two years - while she continued to hire her PR people.
4) Here's one of the biggest issues: Under Lykos et al, we have learned not to express our opinions and that we are not free to engage in discourse about how policies and sometimes about cases. This is the FIRST time I've experienced this during my career. Under any other admins, I could argue (sometimes even heatedly) - all the way to the top. We talked things out - we sometimes shouted things out - but we were treated as professionals. Not now - and not ever under this regime. When we can't have honest discussions, we can't come up with the best solutions and ultimately, justice will and has paid.
Signed,
Quiet, but not Silenced
Great post 3:17. I'm in the same boat.
You guys might want to look at the earlier meeting between Lykos and G/P, it was terrible Lykos never answered Jones' questions. A client of mine remarked how bad it was and I told him (although I was a political junkie) I couldn't stomach that show.
Polland doesn't prepare for the show. Funny Bill Buckley took 15 minutes to write some of his columns but Polland is no Bill Buckley. I do like the dye job on his hair though.
Jones reminds me of the lemming that used to come out with Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes, or something like that. The guy that would just sit there and take it, the breathing punching bag.
I know you'r a Republican Murray and I'm glad you're in an area dominated by Democrats with testosterone, the type you rarely see down here.
Yes my happiest thought about Red White and Blue... NO ONE WATCHES IT.
I grew up watching Firing Line and John McGlaughlin and Red White and Blue is positively dreadful. It's downright horrible. I refuse to watch it and won't donate to PBS until they bring back McLaughlin.
Richard Anderson is a law school friend of Mike's who worked for Holmes before and during law school and then as an ADA. He is now the CEO of Delta Airlines.
Thank you, Richard, for your support.
Looks like I'm flying Delta a whole lot more.
Richard is supposed to become first assistant if Mike elected.He is a good guy.Very wealthy. All the big money is about to be coming out for both candidates. The 10,000 from Bert means he wants to come back.
Anon 9:22,
Okay, seriously? You think the CEO of Delta airlines really aspires to be the First Assistant of Harris County?
Really?
Anon 11:52 you obviously don't know either Richard Anderson or Bert Graham. Neither want to come back to the DA's office, they just want a good DA for the citizens of Harris County.
Go to YouTube to see the debate
Damn! Harris county would be lucky to get Bert Graham back if only for a limited time. His institutional knowledge in both the business end of running the office and the advocacy end is matchless. If it were certain that Graham would return to help Anderson undo the harm Lie-cos and her crew of pirates have done that would be reason enough to vote for Anderson.
Can we please spend a couple of minutes in each thread, discussing Joe the Investigator, and his cohorts? It's both entertaining, as well as demonstrative of the role chronieism plays in this evil administration. Besides the Cadillac Escalade he drives, does anyone know what they paid him in 2011? Has he solved any mysteries? Filed any charges? Made any arrests? You know...sought any justice?
Who is Joe the investigator?
Yeah, what's up with Joe the investigator?
RE: Joe the Investigator
You know, Joe is actually a nice guy whose only real skill is that of being a photographer. He's good at it which is why Lykos hired him. His job is to take office-related photographs, particularly of Lykos so that she can "look good". When he drives her around, it's because she wants him there to take pictures of her. It's not his fault that she is using taxpayer dollars to pay him very handsomely. Placing him in an Investigator's slot is a travesty but let's make sure we blame Lykos for hiring him. Look at the bright side-she's provided us with more evidence of why she has no business being the elected D.A.
If you request the pay records of the DA's office from the auditor, the investigators names have been withheld because they might be engaged in undercover work. That has never happened under past DA's administrations. It was done simply to hide as much information as possible. Thus you will not find out how much Joe the investigator is being paid to provide photographic services for Lykos. I meant to say, how much the taxpayers are paying for photographic services.
Of course when I saw that entry I tried to figure out which investigator would be so stupid as to use their own name while undercover.
Re: : Joe the Investigator
WAYNE.....OH WAYNE.a former constable Pct. 1 doing "piddle work" for the boss possibly. Check those time sheets......My gawd another "driver".Press argent, speech writer, political media types employed on the lean tax payers dime who don't know piss about prosecution yet take up $$$ that could be spent on prosecutors. Would someone PA-lease pull the public info? (I don't know their names I don't work there) regardless of what
F * * * * * g Title they have THIS week and get a total on all these people's public income. How many baby prosecutors could they buy? Again, as stated before - No need for this fluff under Holmes or Vance. If you fought a hard fight this was one of the small perks of telling your family - Hey I'm on such and such channel on that Murder case etc., etc. (Better have your facts straight though)
Also, MIKE "helpers" take the last flow chart under the administration that took over from the one after Holmes (should be basically the same) and do a month, by month comparison on how this Organizational "Tree" got hacked into one hell of a cacti AND what "Divisions were created and called, then when were they abolished or never produced but are still on paper? Image, 3 card Monte, perception. Mike, 1) she has no prosecutorial record to run on; 2) She was a horrible Judge, but nonetheless a judge - AJUST LIKE YOU, so hit her where she is the most vulnerable: 3) No management. You at least were a Division and or Chief of a Court and tried cases. To be frank - where she is the strongest is in the image department. Have facts and statistics to show HOW mismanaged that office has been run.
There is such a chilling effect from her management style that - to me - has the appearance of a daily CYA mentality when I deal with prosecutors regarding my clients.
The prosecutors remind me of the stories told of how the Russians fought the battle of Stalingrad after both sides were cut off: one rifle to one man, a few bullets to another, pair them up and if one was shot or either ran - they were shot in the back from the Commissars’.
Anon 10:45
You kidding me? Is this really true. Surely he does investigate something. How would a person check on what he actually does?
6:49 a.m.-
One of the most important tools of an Investigator is to be able to sign into and utilize the J.I.M.S. computer system. It is used to check criminal records, file charges, research the Justice Management System records for investigations. When Joe was hired, he didn't know his sign-in code and had never used the system. He's never really been a police officer but has expensive photographic equipment and is very good at using it. After Lykos hired him (without the usual application process by senior Investigators to make sure you are qualified)he was assigned to several different divisions of the DA's Office and was completely lost in everyone of them. Not sure where he is officially assigned now, but his primary duties appear to be driving Miss Daisy in a County owned Cadillac Escalade and looking for Kodak moments. Don't know his exact salary, but it exceeds $60,000 per year which is way more than a new prosecutor earns.
TX tribune shows Joe the Investigator makes $65,998 but that wouldn't count the $$ he enjoys as Lie-cos wingman who is always present as she spends her hefty 100K/yr in expenses. I also assume he submits his own expense account that remains secret due to his top secret investigations.
Public records request for Joe the investigator's personnel file. I wonder who has done his evaluations and what they say. Also public records request for his Pct 1 personnel file to find out what he really did while with Pct 1.
Anon 10:45 here to 6:49:
Good question. Looks like some posts have already begun answering some of my questions.
I don't know this guy Joe "The Investigator" but after reading this post for a year - there are so many "breadcrumbs" on this guy that a whole loaf of bread should be able to be seen.
Formerly, for an investigator to be hired they went through a screening process by other senior investigators, and typically came from many agencies (majority from HPD Homicide, Robbery, Major Offenders etc) but they also had diversity as to agencies as well as the experience: Pasadena P.D. got hired, Webster got hired, S.O. got hired - but a former photographer from Pct. 1? Does he have to qualify on the shooting range as other “real” investigators? You know: (Ready on the left? Ready on the right? Ready on the firing line?)
My point is this: The hiring of certain "special" high dollar people who never went through any hiring committee (is there even that anymore?) is pure political selfishness and incompetency even if it is just one person with a phony title. Seriously, what Police Agency did this guy come from?
This guy's name has been "out there" so much HERE - that he appears to be a real thorn in his peer's behind because he came from Abercia's Office? (Ahem) and ain't a real cop.
Add him to the others alluded to previously and you got too much political fat and MISMANAGEMENT all to make ONE person look good.
Sure, being a good prosecutor doesn't make one a good manager. But neither does being a self-centered former judge like P.L..
Is Hanna Chow really in charge of management of employees? Hiring and firing? Is this true? What qualifies her for this position other than she and Lykos were saved by the Doll by being taken on board by the former County Judge, just like “Joe the Investigator?” How many cases does he have assigned to him?
There used to be plenty of investigators who took plenty of very nice photos…but then again, those photos would be crime scene related and not Olen Mills.
Joe the investigator is also supposed to pick up medical records, HCSO records, HPD records , and HFD records, etc. Problem is that he loses most of them. He must be putting them on a flat bed trailer and they're blowing off.
Plus, you have Trina the investigator, who got over 400 of training hours last year. Peace officers only have to have 40 hrs. of training every two years. Do you have any idea how how much time that's away from the office?
Hey, Joe "the Investigator" is bad. But Lykos has had plenty of other Joe-the-Investigators" in her short tenure at the DA's Office. How about Francis (was that her name?), the overpaid Misd. chief who was paid twice as much with half as much experience? She helped Lykos get elected, stayed long enough to make everyone mad and resentful (prosecutors, cops, and defense attorneys alike), and then retired with just enough county time to cash out. Or how about Lykos' lobbyist fella? You know, because Harris County is the only county in Texas that needs a full-time paid lobbyist, even though the state-wide organization that represents all of the DA's offices has its own lobbyists that act on behalf of DA's offices. Oh, and did I forget to mention, her lobbyist is a close friend? I'm sure there are plenty of others who are on the county's payroll in a time when the economy is hurting and DA employees are at an all-time low. Well, I should say, some divisions -- like the PR division, which never existed before Lykos took office -- are at an all-time high while others -- the trial division, for example, where the bulk of the work takes place -- are at an all-time low.
Patsy is a dictator. That's all she is. You know at night she dreams of running countries, not counties. She listens to no one, surrounds herself with eunichs, pays her friends more, and doesn't give two cents for what anyone with any sense thinks.
Is it illegal to give some non-ADA friends money to donate to Mike's campaign in their name?
8:54-
The only thing Joe did in his entire career at Pct 1 was serve Civil citations. He had absolutely NO investigative experience, never made an arrest, and has never filed ANY criminal charges. But he could take very good photographs. Lykos got to know him when he was called on to take photos at Commissioner's Court or other county events.
Since Lykos is ALWAYS planning ahead for how she can promote herself she immediately offered Joe a job as a D.A. Investigator knowing she could put him to good use by photographing her regularly and keep her face in the public. No matter that he couldn't investigate his way out of a paper bag and is absolutely no help to the Assistant D.A.'s in prosecuting cases. A person with Joe's background normally wouldn't even be allowed to fill out an application for Investigator because he didn't meet even basic requirements for the position.
But, he was perfect for Lykos because he would be beholding to her for a huge pay raise and a position he could never have attained on his own. So, he now sits in an office awaiting Lykos' beck and call anytime she needs a ride or needs to "show her good side" to his camera lens.
What's even more egregious is that she has spent THOUSANDS of tax dollars to buy Joe state of the art photography equipment that she uses for her political benefit.
Her official response to this is to claim he is available to take photographs for criminal prosecutions. Not that he has ever done that mind you. Besides, most police or sheriff agencies have crime scene photographers who photograph, catalogue, and supplement the police reports documenting the photographic evidence. Plus, they regularly testify in court about what they photographed. So, if Lykos wants to justify Joe's $65K salary and his high-dollar equipment by claiming he is available to photograph evidence for prosecutors, that is easily refuted. Last, Joe has NEVER filed a charge, never investigated a crime, and never made a report. He and Lykos do have something in common though: She has never prosecuted a criminal case and he's never testified in a criminal case. What does all of this say about our elected D.A. and her hand-picked investigator?
(As far as checking his personnel file for evaluations-that's laughable since evaluations (done every 6 months prior to Lykos) aren't done now but once a year or longer.)
Joe's been doing HC photography for a decade now. He was featured in the Chronicle in 2004 for his steady camera. It seems he was one of Jack Abercia's Precinct 1 constable for many years http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2004_3786319
I,ve met Joe. He REALLY IS a nice guy. Reminds me of a preacher. Soft smile and very affible. Puts people at ease and consequently takes great photos.
HOWEVER: He needs NO firearm nor a place at the D.A.'s office. I agree 100% with the previous post: Don't hold it against this guy but Damn Lykos! A peersonal photographer? Does Mosely still work there? He was in HPD and always took scene photos.
Hell Hawkins always took his OWN scene photos. In this time of budget cuts and hiring freezed conservative tax payers do NOT like their $ being wasted for self promotion.
I could see this guy as a CIVIL process server. He probably gave the people a feeling of comfort after hitting them with papers. But this. This - along with the other PR crap is just that - Crap!
One more thing. Too late in the game for survelence. But IF she had Joe driving her around...sure looks like ripe grounds for another G.J. investigation. One thing Joe won't do I'll bet is take the 5th!
As much as Lykos uses Joe for her political appearances, I bet Joe is almost maxxed out in accumulated overtime. Maybe a grand jury needs to look at how often the county is paying for that.
It's not too late to request Joe's time sheets and see exactly what he is earning compensatory time for. I can't imagine him working on any "cases" after 5 p.m.
re: Murray's post on
January 20, 2012 11:00 PM-
On 11-29-2011, six Harris County Police Unions stood together and proclaimed they 'no confidence' in Pat Lykos. Two days before this Pat Lykos and Jared Woodfill met with HPD Union leaders trying to persuade them to endorse Lykos. She was furious when they published their no confidence vote. http://www.chron.com/default/article/Police-union-have-no-confidence-in-Harris-County-2303207.php
Lykos just changes the facts to fit her immediate need. She sat right there on Channel 8 on Jan 20th, 2012 beside Mike Anderson and claimed she had not sought the Police endorsement because it would be a "conflict of interest" for her to do that.
What a fibber! Sickening.
Hello Bat Fans! According to that political hack Gary Polland's web site, his February 3 episode of Red White and Blue will feature Captain Queeg aka our own little Jimmy Lietner and the former Lunar Rendezvous Queen, Rachel Ann Palmer, née Hooper. The topic is listed as "Inside the Grand Jury Investigation of the District Attorney's Office". I swear to God how stupid are they? How are they going to fill up thirty minutes without violating grand jury secrecy? Answer: they can't. And talk about telling the grand jury to kiss her fat ass, Palmer takes the Fifth then runs to Channel 11 and now this. No doubt the conspiracy theories will abound. Mark my words, there will be NO talk of the 232nd grand jury investigation. Unbelievable! This is outrageous!
If everyone contacted Channel 8 and complained about the show and asked that it be taken off the air, maybe the station could find something worthwhile to put in that slot instead.
Re: Feb. 3rd show. Interesting timing - don’t you think?
This will signal Lykos's official start of her campaign - in earnest. Right after the G.J. Investigation that will (I suspect) NOT indicts anyone and their term officially ends. There should still be a G.J. Report released however – to be fair to all sides after so much time and money.
Notice her answer to the question about any connection between Mike's election and the G.J. Investigation: "At this point No" Got to be careful while they are still in session.
Palmer will say what one would expect her to say, with full consent from the top. In any previous administration she would have been fired.
With all due respect to Mark's post regarding "Hatchet Job", the dual nature of the piece will not be alluded to but pretty much everything in that piece will be repeated as to why she took the
5th. And try to paint Mike as some Svengali puppeteer.
Good news: Commercials will win or lose this election.
Personally I think it is ill advised to allow ANYONE to talk about all this in a public venue. Memories fade. But this will be Palmer answering all questions she would have been asked in the G.J. yet without the benefit of being crossed by the prosecutors or facing perjury.
Leitner and Palmer's decision to appear with Polland on Channel 8 on Feb 3rd coincides with the end of the 185th GJ session on Jan 31st.
Lykos is presuming that no indictments will be forth-coming from the 185th and is sending her shills to tout her claim that the Grand Jury was politically motivated and part of a grand conspiracy to unseat her.
Neither Leitner nor Palmer have the ability to feel the shame they should for being a part of the demise of a once great Office under the catastrophic 'leadership' of Pat Lykos. For Palmer to have taken the 5th and now speak publicly on the matter is despicable.
The real reason they are doing this is because they are desperate to keep their jobs and the only way to do that is to sacrifice what's left of their self-respect by helping Lykos get re-elected.
Polland is merely a pimp for Lykos and will slant the questions and presentation to favor Lykos just like he did when Mike Anderson appeared last week.
The voters in Harris County are going to see through all this and judge Lykos for what she has done and failed to do.
So is PBS subject to federal election law. It seems Mike should be getting free time to have a political ally ask him questions for the same amount of time. We all know that show is nothing more than a Pat Lykos re-election show.
9:26am
I hope you are right about voters being able o see through the Lykos BS. But, dont count on it.
So Hooper is posting under his real name over on Jolly's blog. The fact that Big gives him a voice is yet another example of how out of touch Big has become.
I really hate to sound like a broken record, but, the HCAO has their own "Joe the investigator/photographer. Why oh why isn't anyone looking at 1019 Congress?!?!?
-Jan23rd, 7:44:
Although the Tribune posts the salary of Joe the Investigator as $ 65,998, that is just his BASE salary. He also gets a Law Enforcement Stipend, Longevity pay, and he works Intake shifts at about $50 per hour. Then he has a County car assigned (a Cadillac)and free health insurance as do all county employees. All total, his salary and benefits probably $90K or more. Per the Tribune, Lykos is ACTUALLY paying Joe more than several highly experienced REAL Investigators who have been there longer than Joe. Talk about adding insult to injury...
Now don't get me wrong, you can't blame Joe for taking something offered to him but as a tax payer I'm plenty pissed that Lykos hired someone who is unqualified just to follow her around and take photos of her creating publicity.
I'm sure Lykos and her 'Hey Boys' (Leitner and Bridgwater) are scrambling right now to come up with some imagined duties that Joe performs for the good of law enforcement.
Bottom line is that Lykos is a joke and so are her cronies.
LOL, Anon 5:10 PM
I'm out of touch because a guy you hate posts under his own name on my blog?
Seriously, you need to get a grip. Do you even get the irony of your anonymous comment?
Mr Jennings
I think you have a certain mindset that does not allow you to see the whole picture. Yes we are all looking from our own perspective. But seriously there are so many things wrong with the Lycos administration that you have to be blind not to see it. Do you think RP pleading the fifth was right? In this office where integrity is so important how can you feel any other way than angry about this highly placed person taking the fifth. What did she have to hide? You are a very intelligent man. Maybe you could try looking at both side fairly. No disrespect intended by this comment.
Sue
Big, Anon 5:10 here. No irony intended. Just saying that the fact that a dead beat dad who doesn't have a job and likes to flash his wife's badge is comfortable posting under his real name and allowed to post on your blog with impunity means that maybe I gave you too much credit in the past. Sometimes we are judged by the company we keep. Character counts and your friend Hooper has none in my opinion. Prove me wrong!
I concur with 10:37. Big Jolly: you allowed Hooper to point out his father-in-law, Wes Palmer, gave money to KS's campaign, but removed a previous remark from your site documenting Hooper’s history as a deadbeat dad. It is apparent that you lack family values! As much as I disagree with your posts of Lykos, I can respect your opinion. I have no respect for you when you enable a deadbeat dad to post his BS. If you want respect, you can document how your friend has gone 7 years without paying support to his daughter. Ironically much of it centers around political conspiracy claims, forcing judge recusals AND pleading the FIFTH!
Divorce - like War - is "domestic Hell - depending on the parties and lawyers involved. I've read Harris County is THE most exspensive place in the USA to get a divorce with custody issues involved.
I am a father who has dutifully paid my court ordered child support for two kids for over 15 years - and still paying.
Here is my question: How on God's green earth can any person, man or woman, get away with not paying court ordered child support in Houston Texas? The Attorney General will go after the person and IF they are a high profile movant with $ they should have gone after the person way before now. With all due respect - when a person won't do what they are legally obligated to do under the Family Code there ARE remidies and THEY have a duty to the children to go after that person to collect.
Unless I'm mission something there are remedies out there that have NOTHING to do with complaining on a Blog site - politics asside.
What's the hold up? If he is the father and there is a decree / court order on file then payment must be made or he is put in jail until payment made. Come on - what am I missing here? I am NO fan of Palmer or Lykos and could care less about Jolly. Mother - what is the hold-up? No $ for a lawyer? Even if dad claims he is broke he sits in jail. What is the other side of this story.
This has no place in the D.A.'s race. Deadbeat dad + mother who is lax on pusuing back child support = deadbeat parents!
Sue,
This is what I have said regarding ADA Palmer taking the Fifth:
Once again, to me, ADA Palmer’s stance in taking the Fifth Amendment is entirely reasonable given the entirety of the circumstances.
Anon 10:37pm and 5:13am
As far as I know, Don Hooper is not running for office. I fail to understand why people focus so much on him. His personal life is none of my concern, I talk about politics.
If you don't like what I write, then, as the saying goes, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. The last thing I'm going to do is argue with someone that is afraid to put their name on what they write.
Everyone needs to stop fretting about what is written on an obscure blog that almost no one reads and absolutely no one is influenced by. No one would know what was on it if you would quit giving it publicity.
Has anyone actually bothered to listen to what Mike Anderson gave as his reasons for deciding to run for DA? It doesn't matter what venue or what motivations the questioner might have what matters most is what Mike Anderson said and didn't say.
Mr. Jennings:
9:24- It's obvious we will never agree that Rachel's taking the 5th was wrong. We will always be separated by a great gulf on that issue. Hopefully we can agree that it was unprecedented in HCDAO history.
9:28- I also disagree with you that one's personal life is not a consideration in politics. How one conducts his personal life has a great deal to do with how he or she behaves in the political arena. The reason Hooper has been focused on is because of the influence he has tried to exert via multiple identities he has assumed as well as his influence on his wife and how she has conducted herself. I don't think you can just separate the personal from the public as they are quite interwoven.
You make a big point about anonymous commenters yet refuse to acknowledge that people may not be able to risk harming their livelihood and families well-being by publicly identifying themselves by exercising the right of free speech. Most employees of Lykos are not even close to retiring. We all know she will be gone (sooner or later)before we can retire. We are doing the best we can. You shouldn't blame us for expressing our frustration in a "safe environment". I can assure you that if Lykos was doing even a reasonable job, 90% or more of the office wouldn't still detest her after 3 years in office.
The idea of getting the HPD out of science must be changing again. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/DA-s-office-gives-HPD-funds-for-new-2690298.php
Mr. Jennings
I have read your article. I still stand on the ground that RP should have been fired. This is th DAs office and should never give the impression of wrong doing. I am a citizen of Harris County and the appearance of impropriety from the DAs office has left a really bad taste in my mouth, quite franky it stinks.
No matter how many pieces of paper and emails there should not have been a problem in answering the questions. If she just told the truth either time she was in front of them then what the heck is the problem. What did she lie about? What did she have to hide?
Sue
Hey BAT fans, the debut of the dynamic duo of Leitner and Palmer is no longer listed on Polland's website as an upcoming episode of Red White and Blue. What gives? Has that interview been cancelled or merely delayed? Anybody know the skinny?
re Palmer and Leitner-
Maybe they BOTH decided to take the 5th and not appear on Red White and Blue...
What is the new technology going into the BAT vans ? Nice timing for lycos to spend money?
The new technology is EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE OLD TECHNOLOGY!!! The only difference will be that the new instruents serial numbers will not have been tainted by previous discussion about BAT vans.
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