tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post6214122481806342834..comments2024-03-28T00:50:16.901-05:00Comments on Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center: Why the Chronicle is a bunch of B.S.Murray Newmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-14862066272813145292008-03-03T06:34:00.000-06:002008-03-03T06:34:00.000-06:00I don't care about AB, I want to know who Anon C i...I don't care about AB, I want to know who Anon C is.<BR/><BR/>The mystery deepens.Ron in Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496306119920809104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-45159594497414817452008-03-02T20:10:00.000-06:002008-03-02T20:10:00.000-06:00I vote for "lost his mind." In fact, I found Bern...I vote for "lost his mind." In fact, I found Bernstein's posts beyond weird (do we need to do an intervention?). The only person I know that can even come close to Bernstein in bizarre e-mails is, well, Rosenthal.hcresidenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605875021407938354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-84683917397716534452008-03-02T20:06:00.000-06:002008-03-02T20:06:00.000-06:00I think that Bernstein believes that Anon C and I ...I think that Bernstein believes that Anon C and I are the same person. Either that, or he's completely lost his mind.<BR/>I'm starting to think he's that "legalize weed" dude, Dean Becker.Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-15400032963416262372008-03-02T19:55:00.000-06:002008-03-02T19:55:00.000-06:00Okay, I don't get this at all (very confused!), bu...Okay, I don't get this at all (very confused!), but here it is...<BR/><BR/>Subject: English 3: Reading assignment #2, correcting typo<BR/>Date: 3/2/2008 7:36:05 PM Central Standard Time<BR/>From: Alan.Bernstein@chron.com<BR/>To: (deleted by me) <BR/><BR/>"In some cultures judges wore masks for anonymity and to prevent retribution . . . Actually, the Greek word for actor is hypocrites, leading to our English word 'hypocrite' (meaning two-faced), which isn't so surprising as narrators in Greek plays changed masks so they could represent several characters."<BR/> <BR/> -- Pagan's Pride; Honoring the Craft and Culture of Earth and Goddess, by M. Macha NightMare; Citadel Press, 1999anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-49236351049085607522008-03-02T19:45:00.000-06:002008-03-02T19:45:00.000-06:00Can Someone ask Bernstein what the Greek word for ...Can Someone ask Bernstein what the Greek word for "Snookems" would be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-12238308510087547282008-03-02T19:04:00.000-06:002008-03-02T19:04:00.000-06:00More from Bernstein...Subject: English 3: Reading ...More from Bernstein...<BR/><BR/><BR/>Subject: English 3: Reading assignment #2<BR/>Date: 3/2/2008 6:59:41 PM Central Standard Time<BR/>From: Alan.Bernstein@chron.com<BR/>To: (deleted by me) <BR/><BR/>"In some cultures judges wore masks for anonymity and to prevent retribution . . . Actually, the Greek word for actor is hypocrites, leading to our English word 'hypocrite' (meaning two-faced), which isn't so surprising as narrators in Green plays changed masks so they could represent several characters."<BR/><BR/>-- Pagan's Pride; Honoring the Craft and Culture of Earth and Goddess, by M. Macha NightMare; Citadel Press, 1999anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-54689804384851514342008-03-02T18:25:00.000-06:002008-03-02T18:25:00.000-06:00Ron, many people consider prosecutors to be heroes...Ron, many people consider prosecutors to be heroes or heroic because they are fighting the good fight, for pay far below what they would make defending criminals, while serving as advocates for the collective good. I know there are a lot of buzz words in that one but that is the general perception that I've had over the years. The same dynamic applies to firemen, policemen, and a variety of other career paths that most of us do not select, most people acknowledging that no group is free from corrupting influences.<BR/><BR/>Rosenthal was far from perfect but he did a lot of good over the years too. Most ADA's in Harris County that I have come across have been decent people and painting a group for the failings of an individual is indicative of a weak mind all too ready to ignore the realities of modern day employment. Rosenthal sending a few jokes that a handful of people found offensive was in bad taste but hardly grounds for calling him racist or sexist, never mind then applying that standard to the rest of the office.<BR/><BR/>As far as public trust is concerned, consider that the majority of the public do not trust lawyers or the legal system at all, ranking most of those involved in it somewhere slightly above used car salesmen, bill collectors, and politicians. The perception is largely faulty but it is there nonetheless. I venture to say that if you asked most voters EXACTLY what Rosenthal did wrong or is accused of doing wrong, you'd get answers on the same quality level as you get asking children the difference between the two political parties (to be fair, many adults aren't much better).<BR/><BR/>What one finds offensive about the Chronicle these days is that it is becoming exactly what the extremists had accused it of being for years. There is enough diversity on the staff to pay lip service to various community factions but the closer you look, the more you find the truth in the claims of bias. <BR/><BR/>Alan and his ilk can try to explain away some of the points made here (and a LOT of other places online) but either they could use some refresher courses in logic/semantics/reasoning or they really are outclassed by people like our host here on this particular blog. I don't find it surprising that some of the Chronicle staffers make veiled threats though, their frustration that people might actually pay attention to what the paper is selling has grown over the years. Is it any wonder that in a one paper town such as Houston, the Chronicle embraces a bunker mentality, some staffers thinking they are somehow "above it all" or that "the truth hurts" when they are so slavishly tied to deadlines that greatly impact the quality of their reporting (have to scoop the other news outlets after all)???The Phantom Bureaucrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04878395187283116540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-3307270109275374342008-03-02T18:15:00.000-06:002008-03-02T18:15:00.000-06:00Sigh.You’re making some pretty wild leaps in your ...Sigh.<BR/><BR/>You’re making some pretty wild leaps in your logic, my friend. Your argument is a moving target. Exactly what are we talking about here? <BR/><BR/>First of all, I am not an ADA, nor do I work in the office. Therefore, it is not "my" office.<BR/><BR/>What I am saying is that I believe the ADAs to be heroes. And I still say that with complete and utter certitude. That is my belief and, last time I checked, I was entitled to it.<BR/><BR/>Yes, it’s quite true that they surely have flaws, just as we all do. But, as the old Chinese proverb says, “A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect”. <BR/><BR/>We are all fallen creatures and, as a result, each one of us is riddled with flaws of varying degrees. <BR/><BR/>Still, one can most certainly be heroic without being perfect. If that were not the case, we’d have no heroes at all, would we?<BR/><BR/>Now, to PJ…I took great umbrage at her flagrant, careless and baseless attacks on a man that she doesn’t know. In fact, I took great umbrage at most of the things that she typed up here. We disagree. Is that okay with you?<BR/><BR/>Now (inexplicably) to Chuck…he has been heroic and he has flaws. I don’t know much more than that about him.<BR/><BR/>What I do know is that his flaws have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the ADAs. They should, each and every one of them, be judged on their own track records and on their own merits…just as you and I should be. It would be unfair and illogical to do otherwise.<BR/><BR/>The ADAs, in my book, are not heroes because of Chuck, but in spite of Chuck.anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-72216958000207676602008-03-02T14:07:00.000-06:002008-03-02T14:07:00.000-06:00Anon CGranted a little hyperbole, but the point is...Anon C<BR/><BR/>Granted a little hyperbole, but the point is to get you a little uncomfortable with your world view.<BR/><BR/>You want to say that Chuck is Chuck and the rest of the office is not him, but your mode of thinking is no different that his.<BR/><BR/>And that is why people don't trust your office.Ron in Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496306119920809104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-22322935884652691422008-03-02T13:17:00.000-06:002008-03-02T13:17:00.000-06:00“Heroic master race”? “The Holocaust”? Oh, lord!Lo...“Heroic master race”? “The Holocaust”? Oh, lord!<BR/><BR/>Look, Ron. I feel like I’ve already taken up far too much of the comment space on AHCL’s post.<BR/><BR/>I’m embarrassed about that, as it is, because there are so many more real, important and excruciatingly pressing issues going on right now than anonymous me and my lil’ ol’, albeit deeply heartfelt, opinions.<BR/><BR/>Please just see all of my previous comments about this issue.<BR/><BR/>Besides, I need to get to the gym. :-)anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-58562723722610459572008-03-02T12:41:00.000-06:002008-03-02T12:41:00.000-06:00anon cI'm not saying that ADA's don't do some hero...anon c<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying that ADA's don't do some heroic acts. However, doing something heroic does not make one a hero. Example A being Chuck Rosenthal.<BR/><BR/>However, the idea that one is a "hero" is a dangerous idea. You basically told PJ that Rob Freyer was heroic and good and that PJ wasn't near that high and mighty standard.<BR/><BR/>You are tasked with putting people in jail. You put away some really bad dudes, and you also put away some people that are just unlucky enough to have a drug problem. That doesn't make you some heroic master race. The very idea that you are some heroic master race is just the thinking that lead to the holocaust.Ron in Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496306119920809104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-85376902322941662882008-03-02T12:04:00.000-06:002008-03-02T12:04:00.000-06:00Ron,I don’t believe that I gave a reason for my op...Ron,<BR/><BR/>I don’t believe that I gave a reason for my opinion that they are heroic and good. <BR/><BR/>I simply stated that I know (in Rob’s case) or presume (in AHCL’s case) them to be good and heroic human beings.<BR/><BR/>But haven’t we discussed the perceived heroism of prosecutors (in my case) or the perceived lack thereof (in your case) ad infinitum around here?<BR/><BR/>I believe that the ADAs, collectively, are true heroes in this society. I do. <BR/><BR/>They are not social workers, teachers, rehabilitators or priests. They are prosecutors. <BR/><BR/>The onus is on others, Ron, to change society, steer teenagers down a different path, offer counseling or provide absolution.<BR/><BR/>It is when we, very sadly, fail at our efforts that they are there to do the important work of cleaning up the societal mess by providing Justice and they do it well.<BR/><BR/>I believe that the ADAs are definitely under-paid, certainly unappreciated and absolutely fighting on the right side of things. <BR/><BR/>There is simply nothing that you can ever say to change my mind.<BR/><BR/>Can’t we just leave it at that?anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-56358439043567112532008-03-02T11:31:00.000-06:002008-03-02T11:31:00.000-06:00anon cProsecuting criminals does not make one hero...anon c<BR/><BR/>Prosecuting criminals does not make one heroic nor good. It just creates a delusion that you really are that way.<BR/><BR/>Just ask Chuck.Ron in Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496306119920809104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-76088263836573836552008-03-02T11:28:00.000-06:002008-03-02T11:28:00.000-06:00AHCLA "feed reader" takes the RSS feeds from blogs...AHCL<BR/><BR/>A "feed reader" takes the RSS feeds from blogs and combines them in one place.<BR/><BR/>I don't use a feed reader, but use the feed reader feature of Mozilla Firefox to subscribe to your blog.<BR/><BR/>So,I can tell whenever you make a new post because Firefox periodically checks the RSS feed of your site.Ron in Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02496306119920809104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-45487320744774168102008-03-02T11:09:00.000-06:002008-03-02T11:09:00.000-06:00Sorry, AHCL! I responded before realizing that you...Sorry, AHCL! <BR/><BR/>I responded before realizing that you had.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I'm also mystified about why he'll no longer type up here like the rest of us.<BR/><BR/>Good times!anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-41805782248775481922008-03-02T10:58:00.000-06:002008-03-02T10:58:00.000-06:00Kevin,I hate to sound like a dumb ass, but what's ...Kevin,<BR/>I hate to sound like a dumb ass, but what's a feed reader?Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-88101777016040441802008-03-02T10:43:00.000-06:002008-03-02T10:43:00.000-06:00I fear that, in your attempts to draw an analogy b...I fear that, in your attempts to draw an analogy between yourself and Josef K., you have inadvertently revealed your delusions of grandeur.<BR/><BR/>You are no Josef K., Mr. Bernstein. Nor are you even remotely Kafkaesque. <BR/><BR/>K., an arrogant, pompous and morally ambiguous man to begin with, was arrested and “tried” based on no evidence (at least none shown to the reader).<BR/><BR/>You, however, are being neither arrested nor tried. You are being asked some very honest, simple questions in a free society and, quite frankly, the questions are extremely legitimate ones.<BR/><BR/>If you don’t want to answer for your deliberate disregarding of what is obviously news and for your occasionally shady behavior, then don’t.<BR/><BR/>But please spare us your feeble attempts to cloak yourself as “the tragic victim”.<BR/><BR/>The melodrama! Geez!anonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-28416410938207639992008-03-02T10:38:00.000-06:002008-03-02T10:38:00.000-06:00PJ,I guess I am a petty tyrant, but I've just had ...PJ,<BR/>I guess I am a petty tyrant, but I've just had enough. If you want to rationally discuss things, please come back.<BR/><BR/>Anon C,<BR/>Bernstein tends to write by analogy when I hurt his feelings. I find it strange that he replies to you rather than post here in the comments. I'm not real sure what his analogy means this time. It could mean several things. I can't figure if he imagines himself as "K", or me as "K". If I'm the K character, I suppose he's telling me that he's mad and won't ever print the DA side of the story again. Darn, and he'd been giving us such a fair shake lately. If he's K, I guess he's saying that we don't give him a fair shot. Who knows?<BR/><BR/>Patrick,<BR/>That's hysterical. You got me. I'm officially lobbying for you to become editor of the Chronicle.Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-874369891547136282008-03-02T10:24:00.000-06:002008-03-02T10:24:00.000-06:00This is Patrick Brendel from the Chronicle's DC Bu...This is Patrick Brendel from the Chronicle's DC Bureau.<BR/><BR/>Just wanted to make a reply to thwart your expectations.<BR/><BR/><BR/>:)Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05241366690512561239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-21310378315961922732008-03-02T09:31:00.000-06:002008-03-02T09:31:00.000-06:00I can say with complete and utter confidence that ...I can say with complete and utter confidence that you are not even one sixteenth of the heroic and good human being that Rob Freyer and AHCL are, PJ.<BR/><BR/>Good effin’ riddance to you! Go falsely indict “elsewhere”.<BR/><BR/><BR/>And Bernstein responds...<BR/><BR/>Subject: "The Trial" would make good reading in English 3<BR/>Date: 3/1/2008 11:57:42 PM Central Standard Time<BR/>From: Alan.Bernstein@chron.com<BR/>To: (deleted by me) <BR/><BR/>"So," called out K, throwing his arms in the air as if this sudden realisation needed more room, "all of you are working for this organisation, I see now that you are all the very bunch of cheats and liars I've just been speaking about, you've all pressed yourselves in here in order to listen in and snoop on me, you gave the impression of having formed into factions, one of you even applauded me to test me out, and you wanted to learn how to trap an innocent man! Well, I hope you haven't come here for nothing, I hope you've either had some fun from someone who expected you to defend his innocence or else - let go of me or I'll hit you," shouted K. to a quivery old man who had pressed himself especially close to him - "or else that you've actually learned something. And so I wish you good luck in your trade." He briskly took his hat from where it lay on the edge of the table and, surrounded by a silence caused perhaps by the completeness of their surprise, pushed his way to the exit. However, the examining judge seems to have moved even more quickly than K., as he was waiting for him at the doorway. "One moment," he said. K. stood where he was, but looked at the door with his hand already on its handle rather than at the judge. "I merely wanted to draw your attention, " said the judge, "to something you seem not yet to be aware of: today, you have robbed yourself of the advantages that a hearing of this sort always gives to someone who is under arrest." K. laughed towards the door. "You bunch of louts," he called, "you can keep all your hearings as a present from me," then opened the door and hurried down the steps. Behind him, the noise of the assembly rose as it became lively once more and probably began to discuss these events as if making a scientific study of them. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Alan Bernstein<BR/>Houston Chronicle<BR/>713-362-7560<BR/>alan.bernstein@chron.comanonymous chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731987145908903546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-78488105021937725342008-03-02T00:07:00.000-06:002008-03-02T00:07:00.000-06:00Oh, no problem, AHCL. If I had known you were a p...Oh, no problem, AHCL. If I had known you were a petty tyrant, I wouldn't have ever bothered in the first place. I'll gladly take my verbal uprising elsewhere.southern sonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351294344978039569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-62888251833059246012008-03-01T23:37:00.000-06:002008-03-01T23:37:00.000-06:00PJ,You continue to post about things that you don'...PJ,<BR/>You continue to post about things that you don't seem to understand, and you target Rob Freyer without knowing him. I'm tired of it.<BR/>You clearly don't know the people involved with the CJC, and yet you blast them.<BR/>You are welcome to come back if you want to talk rationally about real issues, but you're done posting on my blog about Rob and the "depravity of the office".<BR/>Extreme views like yours don't help anybody with anything, because nobody can listen to anything you say seriously.<BR/>Feel free to go blast me on other blogs, but you're done here.<BR/>Sorry.Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-42030783903295823442008-03-01T23:14:00.000-06:002008-03-01T23:14:00.000-06:00The Chronicle hasn't covered it? I think they hav...The Chronicle hasn't covered it? I think they have covered it to the point that they have painted everyone that works in the courthouse with one huge brush. Depth of depravity? A story runs on a couple of people and The Chron would have you believe that all 250 prosecutors are monolithic. My limited contact with the staff at the DA's Office would lead me to believe that there as many democrats as repulicans working there. Should the staff have to wear a scarlet letter D or R to show their political thoughts? The fact remains that The Chronicle doesn't report the cases that may hurt their deeply held opposition to the death penalty. <BR/><BR/>Here is a thought. If you believe that too many people are becoming criminals, figure out how to change the criminal behavior not the laws. The fact that people like PJ support Leitner is the very reason he will never win.hcresidenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605875021407938354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-34637524875574821502008-03-01T22:47:00.000-06:002008-03-01T22:47:00.000-06:00Why aren't you asking why the Chronicle didn't cov...Why aren't you asking why the Chronicle didn't cover how racism has infected the Harris County DA's office? Why it didn't publish as first page news Rob Freyer's admission that he used the word "Canadian" to describe a juror who he believed was stupid and wouldn't do his bidding?<BR/><BR/>Why isn't the Chronicle covering your blog, which reveals almost every day the depth of the depravity of the office, including voting for none other than Freyer himself as best unsung prosecutor? Why? Why? Why?<BR/><BR/>In short, be careful, you may get what you ask for: A local paper that actually covers things that matter to the average person. You know, those <A HREF="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/02/were-biggest-but-are-we.html" REL="nofollow">"one in 20 adult Texans currently ... under either institutional or community supervision of the criminal justice system."</A> (And that's just <I>currently</I>; it does not include those who have been under such "supervision" <I>in the past</I> or who will be <I>in the future</I>. That should knock it down to about 1 in 4 or 5 or so.)<BR/><BR/>AHCL, don't you want to fight for freedom? And shed your vulgar Republicanism? There's a whole world out here! And we can make it better!southern sonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351294344978039569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-28253890646366256722008-03-01T22:41:00.000-06:002008-03-01T22:41:00.000-06:00Cohen's award is old news. You need to add bH to y...Cohen's award is old news. You need to add bH to your feedreader! :)<BR/><BR/>http://www.bloghouston.net/item/6238<BR/><BR/>As for Kathryn Kase (the correct spelling) -- you are spot on. She makes regular appearances on bH!<BR/><BR/>http://www.bloghouston.net/?query=kathryn+kase&amount=0&blogid=1<BR/><BR/>Mr. Bernstein and others can give that speech about the firewall between editorial and news all they want, but I can counter with all sorts of examples that demonstrate the firewall hasn't exactly been fireproof in recent years.Kevin Whitedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16224281546194611975noreply@blogger.com