BREAKING: DeLay’s Lawyer Lies About MoveOn
BREAKING: DeLay’s Lawyer Lies About MoveOn
Tom DeLay’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin, claims that the judge presiding over DeLay’s criminal case in Texas, Bob Perkins, should be disqualified. A central part of his claim is that an organization that Perkins has donated to in the past, MoveOn, is selling t-shirts with Tom DeLay’s mug shot:
DEGUERIN: The latest thing on MoveOn.org’s website, they are trying to raise money by selling t-shirts with Tom DeLay’s mug shot on the t-shirts. And I just don’t think that it looks right for the judge sitting on Congressman DeLay’s case to have contributed to an organization such as that.
According to MoveOn’s Washington director Tom Mattzie, this claim is false. Mattzie told ThinkProgress this morning that MoveOn has “never sold any t-shirts with Tom DeLay’s mug shot” on their website or otherwise. You can go to their website and see that he’s right.
Nevertheless, the media is already picking it up DeGuerin’s comments as if they were true. From the Associated Press:
The judge, Bob Perkins, has been a contributor to Democratic causes. DeLay’s attorney pointed out Friday that those causes include MoveOn.org, which is now selling a T-shirt with DeLay’s picture on it.
Dick DeGuerin wasn’t immediately available for comment. We’ll update you if he gets back to us.
UPDATE: DeGuerin made a similar false statement in the courtroom:
I noticed yesterday Moveon.org, to which you have contributed, was selling T-shirts with Mr. Delay’s mugshot on it to raise money.
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They might not be, but http://www.cafepress.com/thewhitehouse/866007 This person is! It’s not even the real mugshot, it’s more like what I thought it would look like.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:13 amIt’s not MoveOn, it’s another PAC… I got an email for pre-ordering the shirt before the photos were even published… unfortunately Tom’s mugshot looks like it might have been taken from his church newsletter… which was the intended effect, I’m sure…
October 21st, 2005 at 11:15 amWhere have all the fact checkers gone?
October 21st, 2005 at 11:16 amLies coming from the Delay camp??? Who’da thunkit?
Best part about this is that by putting an outright lie into a court filing, Deguerin opens himself up to being sanctioned at least by the court, if not by the Texas Bar. Someone should file a Bar complaint against him — that might keep him busy for a while…any takers?
October 21st, 2005 at 11:16 amCan the judge sue for Libel/slander? Not that I am litigious by nature but when people tell such bald face lies for their own convenience perhaps one should make them pay.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:18 amthis is another example of how the right operates…lie, lie, and lie again…it doesn’t even matter if they know it to be a lie – and they often do know – the media will pick it up and spread it around and get the job done for them…it now seems that “MoveOn” has become a catch-all phrase for anything the right wants to demonize…
October 21st, 2005 at 11:19 amThe AP would “welcome your feedback” according to their website if you get no joy from DeGuerin. info@ap.org
October 21st, 2005 at 11:25 amUm, there are two major political parties in this country, and judges in Texas are elected. Doesn’t that kind of render it impossible to ever have a judge that is a member of a party that is the opposite of the defense AND the prosecution.
Sorry, Dick, try again.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:29 amI think they are confusing MoveOn with Public Campaign Action Fund (http://www.pcactionfund.org/tshirt/). This is a good sign. If DeGuerin can’t even get this simple fact right, or decided he would just lie to the judge, Tommy is in for a bumpy ride.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:29 am#1
Progressives need to push the fake mug shots in defense of the accusation.
We need to get the FAKE ONES OUT TO MSM!!!!
Hilarious!!!
October 21st, 2005 at 11:29 amAnd I presume DeGuerin would lobby for a “fair and balanced” Republican judge who has contributed to the right cause(s)?
October 21st, 2005 at 11:31 amLooks like this is part of the strategy.
It usually works since:
1) The wing-nut talking heads will never correct
the mistake and will recycle this for daya.
2) The MSM will quietly correct on page E273
3) The laywer will quietly say oops to the judge
to avoid sanctions but will already have the next
lie ready AND will use all the collected lies as
reasons why the judge cannot hear the case even if
they are all proven as lies.
4) They will get a change in venue because of
pre-trial publicity.
All this should be expected, probably in
October 21st, 2005 at 11:32 amany high-profile case.
It might work, it might not.
See groklaw for the machinations of
TSCO v. IBM in the linux case.
It’s more of same ole lies. Delay thinks smiling like a chessy monkey, and telling big whoppers will mask his underhanded low-life actions. NOT! We’re wise to you shiny face, you’ve had it.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:33 amKevin Bacon gave to MoveOn a couple years back, so if we play 6 degrees Of Kevin Bacon, Bob Perkins is tied to the t-shirt sales and MoveOn via K.B. somehow/someway. Pathetic.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:34 amCan they make DELay’s mom the judge? She does not need qualifications these days.
The mainstream media should never have fired all their fact-checkers…
October 21st, 2005 at 11:34 amWhere has the support for Delay gone?
October 21st, 2005 at 11:36 amYou silly liberals! You really think you can stop the Hammer? There’s no chance in hell! I have legions of Murka-loving, librul-hating supporters that will crush you bastards! Once we topple the liberal media and exterminate the Democrats we will unleash the Glorious Christian Cultural Revolution…and then you will all suffer the wrath of the Lord.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:37 amOh, that “liberal” media again.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:37 amSo there’s no link to cafepress on moveon’s website?
And let me get this straight – you have no objection to a judge who contributed money to folks who hate, hate, HATE Delay judging this case…you just object to DeGuerin misspeaking about exactly where these t-shirts are being sold and you think he (DeGuerin) should be sued / sanctioned for this statement?
Oh and speaking of “..how the right operates…lie, lie, and lie again…” – you DO know that that image is not the real mugshot, don’t you? IOW, it’s a lie.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:42 amYou gots some funny s*it, Tom Delay.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:42 amscrew the lawyer – he’s going to spin. Nail the idiots at AP who didn’t check the fact before they published. They are the ones who dropped the ball.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:42 amOh good move, piss off the judge, tom your such a fool. Now turn around, put you hands behind your back, ‘you have the right to remain…..ha ha ha
October 21st, 2005 at 11:43 amThe lawyer may very well be lying as set forth in the headline. He may also have relied upon his lying client and as a result made an inaccurate statement. His client may have picked up erroneous information and passed it on as true, without ever lying to the lawyer. The client and/or lawyer may be incredibly negligent without having lied.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:44 amI really like this web page, but it’s credibility suffers with me from time to time when it sets for a conclusion in its headline, as if the evidence for that were unassailable. If the story that is posted is the extent of the evidence about lying, then I can’t draw the conclusion that the lawyer lied. If there’s more evidence it should be set forth. This smacks of Drudge like “reporting” where the first to make the headlines wins, regardless of accuracy. The repubs do that all the time, the dems shouldn’t follow suit.
comments can be made directly to the Texas Bar Assoc regarding the Deguerin errors here:
http://www.texasbar.com/
October 21st, 2005 at 11:48 amTom DePlague…
October 21st, 2005 at 11:48 amI’m no lawyer, but does the state bar in whatever state has licensed DeGuerin have any sort of clause in its code of conduct about lying in the process of publically making a motion befoe the court? He said this in the process of being questioned about his motion for a change of judge.
As for the funny comment by “Tom Delay” above, I realize that you’re just joking, but some folks in this country really do think that BushCo, including DeLay, are really Christians. It’s funny and sad at the same time.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:49 amyup, tomaig, we’ve been waiting for the real mugshot to show up…have been discussing that since his glamour shot arrived yesterday:
October 21st, 2005 at 11:49 amhttp://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/20/smile-delay-booked/#comments
what, Dick, do all us liberal look alike to you???
October 21st, 2005 at 11:54 amthis man is the perfect target for a chair.
softball is over kids, now throw the f’ing chairs
October 21st, 2005 at 11:54 amwe were making progress,
there was a brief DeLay.
we’ll be back up and running momentarily.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:56 amWhy doesn’t Delay’s “mug shot” look anything like an actual mug shot? Are we sure this actually is a mug shot? Where’s the numbers? Where’s the matching profile?
Why is it in such crisp color? Isn’t anybody questioning this? I’ve been scouring the net and cannot find a single Tom Delay “mug shot” with the numbers or the profile.
What’s up?
October 21st, 2005 at 11:58 amIsn’t lying in court perjury? Ronnie Earle get’s a new target!
October 21st, 2005 at 12:00 pmIf Perkins even donated to MoveOn, as DeGuerin claimed, it was less than $200. He’s not listed on either Open Secrets or the FEC website of donors.
His only contributions on those sites were to John Kerry and the DNC.
Gee, are the Republicans trying to make it illegal to be a member of the Democratic party?
October 21st, 2005 at 12:00 pmI’d be interested in buying the real mug shot on a mug.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:05 pmthe t-shirts with Delays arrest warrant are being sold on AmericaBlog.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:05 pmGod! The Republicans have now drawn the Democrats into their spin. DeGuerin ought to be stripped of his democratic status–if he’s going to act like a Republican he might as well be one. It is interesting, however, that Tommy Boy didn’t trust a Republican to defend him.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:06 pmAnd I hope the public remembers all of this sidestepping of the truth and whitewashing lies that the media has been doing for the past 5 years. Someday, the tables will turn and I want no *&%$@# conservative ever whining to me again about a “liberal” media.
Ho hum. Another bomb threat…
October 21st, 2005 at 12:06 pmOh it gets worse baby, you won’t believe this: Today on EWM: DeLay Releases “Earle’s Gone Wild†Video
October 21st, 2005 at 12:06 pmtomaig, you’re about as dumb a person as i’ve ever encountered on the internets. congratulations.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:08 pmYOUR ALL GAY
October 21st, 2005 at 12:09 pmWait a second. He said that to the judge and wasn’t immediately found in contempt? WTF kind of courts do y’all have down there in Texas, anyway?
October 21st, 2005 at 12:10 pm#34 Of course they are. If they had their way they would round up every card carrying member and ship them to Gitmo.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:10 pmNazi Republican SCUM all of ‘em! Republicans are a cander on our nation. They must be removed before they destroy America.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:10 pmcander = CANCER
as in
REPUBLICANS are a CANCER on our nation!
October 21st, 2005 at 12:11 pm“So there’s no link to cafepress on moveon’s website?”
So it’s your assertion that a contributor to a website is responsible for all that site’s links?
“…you have no objection to a judge who contributed money to folks who hate, hate, HATE Delay judging this case…”
All judges have opinions. They’re supposed to put those aside while judging and only form opinions for that case, from evidence of that case. Like someone pointed out before, how are you going to get a judge that doesn’t appear biased in some way to either the Prosecution or Defense in political cases?
October 21st, 2005 at 12:11 pm#19:
Your characterization of MoveOn as an organization that “hate, hate, HATES DeLay” is inaccurate. They disagree with him on many issues and find his non-chalance about breaking the law unbefitting an elected official. “Hate” doesn’t come into it at all.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:15 pmHow funny! Lots of people must be making shirts with this guy’s mug shot on them- not only is it an obvious idea, but the photo is unencumbered by copyright. I made a Delay mugshot T-shirt last night. What do you think of it?
October 21st, 2005 at 12:15 pmAP has revised their story.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051021/ap_on_go_co/delay_indictment;_ylt=AvA3×97u1WJZWu3mXGrJffCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ–
In respectful tones, DeGuerin noted that Perkins had donated money to MoveOn.org, a liberal organization [b]that he said[/b] has been “selling T-shirts with Mr. DeLay’s mug shot on it.”
“Let me just say I haven’t ever seen that T-shirt, number one. Number two, I haven’t bought it. Number three, the last time I contributed to MoveOn that I know of was prior to the November election last year, when they were primarily helping Sen. Kerry,” responded the judge.
[b]MoveOn.org denied it was selling any such shirts, and issued a statement that said, “DeGuerin has either bad information or lied in court.”[/b]
October 21st, 2005 at 12:16 pmDeGuerin’s contact info was easily obtained on the U of T at Austin’s Faculty profile: http://www.utexas.edu/law/faculty/contact.php?id=DD256
October 21st, 2005 at 12:17 pmPhone: (713) 223-5959
Fax: (713) 223-9231
E-mail: DDEGUERIN@AOL.COM
This is his office contact info.
#23
October 21st, 2005 at 12:22 pmIf what you postulate is true, then both the lawyer and DeLay are too incompetent to enter into a courtroom to begin with. Since the statement is so easily proved false, surely they are not both so ignorant as to speak untruths to the judge without realizing they are speaking untruthfully.
NYTimes Washington bureau reporters Philip Shenon and David Stout quote DeGuerin in an article that just hit their website. Unlike AP they don’t make the claim themselves but they also don’t fact check(when are these guys gonna learn!). I called Shenon at the bureau (202-862-0300) and gave him DeGuerin’s contact info(see my post above) and implored him to FACT CHECK.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:29 pm#49 – ok …those statements were made during the court proceedings, and then degeurin STILL made his comments, as on this page’s heading, to the press afterwards??? w o w…
October 21st, 2005 at 12:30 pmYou probably cannot be sanctioned by the SBOT for making a statement like Deguerin made re MoveOn and t-shirts in oral presentation. We make mistakes all the time. I agree the AP should have pointed out in their story that the fact was wrong.
However, just so y’all know, Dick Deguerin and his wife are quite liberal and have been supporters of Planned Parenthood in Houston in the past. He’s representing his client and will do a very good job, unfortunately. Personally, I wouldn’t take that sort of client, but I don’t do criminal law. Happily, some of the dough that Deguerin will rake in on this gig, will go to some good causes.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:31 pmYeah, DeGuerin lied in court–that’s what comes of spending too much time with Republicans. When you run with wolves, you’re gonna howl!
October 21st, 2005 at 12:32 pmIt seems that the Bushies want it both ways: DeLay wants a new judge because the his political contributions indicate a potential bias but Bush wantasa new judge (Miers) although her statements (not merely a contribution long ago) indicate a potential bias. Get your fallacies straight, sez I.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:35 pmLook on the bright side…..think of all the hits moveon.com will get!!!!
Great advertising, especially if moveon has a very visible statement of fact!!!!
Just gotta keep it simple….Like linking a whole series of stories to read before they get to news that moveon had nothing to do with the t shirts……another repuglican lie….go figger!
October 21st, 2005 at 12:38 pmtomaig..
First, the site IS the point.. can’t you see that? If he donted to “victoria secret” and “white youths for amerikkka” sold shirts about molesting dogs, should the Judge be pointed at and told “you bought underwear!”? Um, NO? To say “you donated here” and “here does X” when X is NOT done there isn’t about “a mistake”, it’s about trying to show some kind of conflict of interest… if MoveOn (the guys he donated to) doesn’t sell the shirts, why bring up the shirts? It was on PURPOSE, you twit..
Oh, and I know LOTS of Republicans who hate DeLay just as much (or more, since that shit-bag is hurting his party) as Dems (and all the people who refuse to play the totally broken “party game”)..
Get a clue. get a life. your boy finally got nailed and now they are trying all the rich-boy tactics (i.e. bad logic, smear, lies, etc) to try and slip him out of his noose. With a little justice, he’ll swing (if he’s guilty of the charges.. I don’t doubt he is given all the things I’ve been reading.. now is the time for facts, not burrying the case)
October 21st, 2005 at 12:39 pmIf the judge’s donation is not listed on the FEC website, then where did DeLiar’s lawyer get that information?
October 21st, 2005 at 12:41 pmDear Associated Press:
I have become aware that you people have happily and enthusiastically repeated the lie spread by the lawyer for the criminal corporatist Tom DeLay, that the patriotic organization MoveOn is printing t-shirts with DeLay’s mug shot.
Because you are a virtual monopoly, you have an obligation to print the truth. You people need to immediately provide a retraction, and recommend to the corporate media outlets for which you provide content to print the retraction.
I realize that such an act of integrity runs counter to the corporate political agenda which it is your mission to promote. However, each lie that you amplify, each bit of truth that you suppress, each line of disinformation that you spread undercuts the perceived integrity of the corporate media outlets that you people provide for.
As more and more of the public becomes aware of the unreliability of corporate media outlets, the more of the corporate print outlets go out of business because of lack of readership. Each outlet that goes under brings the Associated Press closer to bankruptcy and dissolution.
Rest assured that I am working every day to cause your demise. It’s easy. All I have to do is point out to the people around me the lies that you people spread, and eventually they understand.
So I ask you to tell the truth. But, since I live in a reality based mode of existence, I understand that you people can no more tell the truth than flap your arms and fly. Thus, all I can say is, if you want to lie, then go ahead. Bring ‘em on.
-Daniel Van Riper
October 21st, 2005 at 12:44 pmSent to AP 10/21/05
Rob Connell, here’s the point.. Lawyers are SUPPOSED to KNOW the FACTS they are PRESENTING in COURT.. See, if you just pop off at the mouth with “bad information”, how can justice be served? The entire POINT of court is to get the ‘facts’ out.
If you ask me, if he “swallowed the bad information” and didn’t have someone check it before court, he’s a shitty lawyer (or at least, intent on behaving shittily in an attempt to save someone he knows is guilty). Facts.. designed to either prove or dis-prove charges. Lies have no place in court, even if they are accidental.. period, EVER.. Lies and bad information undo the entire premise of the legal system.. simple as that.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:50 pmI prefer my mugshot of DeLay to that of MoveOn.org’s http://catciao.blogspot.com – scroll down 3-4 posts. :)
October 21st, 2005 at 12:51 pmI find it odd that Abramoff, Safavian, even Flaningan all charged with the (similiar) same indictments..along with DeLay in the same scandal don’t feel the need to scream “partisan witch hunt” could they actually be slightly more honorable than DeLay….? What a despicable little worm….and what of Ney and Reed..? They are also (implicated) involved up to their greedy necks..? Has the MSM turned over a new leaf? Did they learn anything from the Judy Miller/Times Iraq propaganda B.S…it appears not.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:52 pmWell, the multi-million (or more?) dollar campaign to smear Earle didn’t really pan out, so they are going after the judge. Its just the same tactic. Again, he is doing noting to promote his innocence except attack those prosecuting him. How about a stack of evidence showing you’re not guilty as charged Mr. DeLay? Or do you not really have any such evidence? Our justice system does not allow you to select a judge – if he is on the bench then he is a legal judge capable of trying the cases brought before him, regardless of whatever his personal beliefs are. Or should we make a law that the judge in every case (and you can’t have a special case just for DeLay, or else it would not be justice) is philisophically sympathetic to the defendant? You get who you get.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:53 pm“Isn’t lying in court perjury?”
Not necessarily. For the lie to rise to the level of a statute violation, the information must be, in some way, integral to the case.
While DeGuerin may be a disgusting pig whose only defense of his client is to repeatedly smear the court and try to poison the jury pool by running false and misleading ads, the crap about the judge’s phantom bias is not central to the case itself. The judge, if he’s pissed off enough, though, has other options he can turn to. Let’s hope he does.
October 21st, 2005 at 12:59 pmThis is howlingly funny. Talk about a desperate rat that’s been cornered! Regardless of whether the judge presiding over this has donated to moveon or not; the donation took place before this allegation which is false took place anyway and should have no bearing. Secondly; even if it were true it should have no bearing as it is called “Freedom of expression” to print such a t-shirt. The icing on the cake of this would be if Delay got his way and had a republican judge preside over the case and was found guilty anyway. After all his howling about how the librul’s are out to get him; wouldn’t that be a hoot!
October 21st, 2005 at 1:01 pmSo whose fault is it next? It’s mesmerizing to watch this play out. Instead of keeping his fat mouth shut, he goes on the uber offensive. Good, it puts him in an ever worse light. He is proving that he is the type that would lie and cheat. Keep blabbing bugman. I suppose the bailiff and the court reporter are dems and after him too. Paranoid freak or common criminal.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:02 pmHas anyone from move on taken the appropriate steps. Please say yes….contact Tx judicial system–AP whoever –shout jump up and down call Chris Matthews I don’t care who do something.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:06 pmYou want to talk about lies? Why does Think Progress post the following?
The American Progress Action Fund is a nonpartisan organization. With the blog, APAF seeks to provide a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies.
Its obviously just a hack for the democratic party. Just admit it!
October 21st, 2005 at 1:12 pmThat post is not from Ryan Neat. Troll alert. I could have sworn that Judd was gonna whack the pee pee of anyone who is using somebody else’s screen name.
Judd, start whacking.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:17 pmLois H:
October 21st, 2005 at 1:17 pmScroll up to comment #50.
you have no objection to a judge who contributed money to folks who hate, hate, HATE Delay judging this case…you just object to DeGuerin misspeaking about exactly where these t-shirts are being sold and you think he (DeGuerin) should be sued / sanctioned for this statement?
He is asking the judge to recuse himself based on erroneous information. The Judge donated to MoveOn. MoveOn is not engaging in the mockery campaign with the defense has claimed. The judge’s political affliations are not on trail. The defense attorney submits that he can put his political leanings aside to do right by his client but that the judge cannot.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:17 pmSuggesting that the judge is incompetent based on his political affiliations is contempt at the least and defamation at worst. MoveOn, however, should feel free to demand an apology/retraction.
Gee, are the Republicans trying to make it illegal to be a member of the Democratic party?
Comment by TheOtherWA
of course, cuz we give aid and comfort to the terrorists, therefore we are terrorists.
democrat/liberal = commie
neo-con = fascist
reichstag burning = 9-11
they hate everything we stand for: truth, freedom, liberty, justice.
they are the most unamerican bunch of people i’ve ever seen!
October 21st, 2005 at 1:19 pm#68 – I think we should let Dick deGoon prattle on.
If he “noticed yesterday” that MoveOn was doing something it wasn’t, he’s either suffering from chronic amnesia, or has the observational skills of a plank. Neither is good news for the Bugman.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:22 pmI’ve been online long enough to know I probably shouldn’t get incolved in this thread, but here goes…
I’m the Managing Editor of NBC13.com, which is the site this post is pointing to.
There are a couple of things I wanted to pass along.
As someone noted above, the AP has updated their story, and the newer version should pop up on our site soon.
I think you might be able to make a good arguement that DeLay’s attorney was stretching the truth, but despite what about 50 or so people have claimed in angry emails to me this morning, I don’t think it’s any indication of some right-wing press conspiracy. I suppose it’s progress that neither side seems to believe what they read.
At least on a local level, we take complaints about our stories very seriously. As soon as I got the first email this morning, I was checking with AP see if there was going to be an update, and passing along my concerns about the story.
That having been said, some of the emails have amused me, particularly the one claiming that I was somehow a willing tool of Fox News.
Anyone who knows the history between Fox News and NBC should know that’s pretty unlikely. And frankly, I doubt I’m important enough for anyone at a national level to even try and recruit me into some right wing news cabal.
Honestly, sometimes reporting is just reporting. There isn’t any conscious agenda, you just do the best you can and correct it if you screw up.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:22 pmi hope DELAY ALL BUSHE,S CROOKS are jailed!!!
October 21st, 2005 at 1:28 pmThe issue, Mr. Ellis, is that the media wants to be ‘instant’.. for ratings which = money.. it’s all about money.. not news. More and more new agencies are just sucking off the “wire” and don’t do any investigating anymore. Did you investigate the “facts” before you posted the story? No, you didn’t .. you just suck up the feed and regurgitate the same crap… You don’t bother coming up with news, you just believe what’s handed to you. your VIEWERS are the ones correcting your news.. that’s a problem, don’t you think?
News outlets should be getting the story, then verifying the facts.. Is it a “lot of extra work”? a “lot of duplicated effort”? Yeah.. and that’s not “business wise”, is it.. but, then again, news shouldn’t be a “business”.. it should be about keeping the masses informed about the world. You want that to be profitable? Get people interested in knowledge, fact, and debate.. Educate the masses.. you want that? get the right-wing out of the government.. their hate-mongering and pandering to the top 10% of our country is -exactly- what has you pubishing lies and deciet.. for profit..
I’d say “journalism in this country is dead”, but luckilly, we have Blogs.. or we’d be reliving Nazi Germany in this country already.. Gotta love technology and it’s ability to constantly beat out over evil!
October 21st, 2005 at 1:30 pm[...] Think Progress has more with video. PermalinkTrackBack [...]
October 21st, 2005 at 1:32 pmI am from the Houston area. Don’t under estimate Dick DeGuerin. I have seen his work. This guy could have gotten Charles Manson parole if he had tried. His only disadvantage is DeLay needs this trial to be over quickly.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:35 pmAn excuse for poor research and parroting.
If someone had confirmed the AP article instead of dutifully passing it along, perhaps NBC13 would’ve been the first with the right info.
He didn’t “stretch the truth” – he lied. A few minutes at MoveOn.org would’ve confirmed that the information was incorrect before the article went out. Retractions, corrections, and “adjustments” aren’t very effective – a shrug and a mea culpa doesn’t cut it any more, not when the correction can be drowned out in partisan screaming and conspiracy claims.
This isn’t progress.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:37 pmIt’s hateful and petty to attack a JUDGE and shows how corrupt Delay and his associates are. Why does Delay attack elected officials? What dog has he brought to this fight?
Add the preceding to any effort you make to correct the Move-On T-shirt lie. The Right wants to limit the debate to pettiness, throw it back in their corrupt faces and go the extra distance to show that corruption.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:38 pmI just got off the phone with David Stout, co-reporter on the NY Times version of this story, and told him both the AP and the Post have “fixed” their articles. He was totally unaware…202-862-0300
October 21st, 2005 at 1:43 pmthe mug shot posted yesterday is the real mug shot. he went to a different county to surrender because it doesn’t do mug shots with the numbers on a plaque in them like most counties do. he also did it to avoid the throngs of reporters waiting for him in the county where the warrant was issued. technically, that qualifies as any peace office in texas was allowed to process his arrest under the terms of the warrant.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:44 pmwhen has lying been a new “item.”
October 21st, 2005 at 1:44 pmHow much is Delay’s investigation costing taxpayers? I want to know why there is no outrage? It seems that during the Clinton years, the left was very concerned about much we were wasting with this type of witchhunts and where are they now?
October 21st, 2005 at 1:45 pmYet another reichwinger posting using my name – wow, at least when people here mock republicans it’s funny… Oh well, republicans don’t seem to have a sense of humor, so I’m not surprised even their efforts at being funny are so hokey.
Anyone, if a posting from me doesn’t sound like me, you can be assured it ISN’T ME!
October 21st, 2005 at 1:52 pmDillHole at #85
Well, we spent $50,000,000 proving he had a blowjob.. Kind of insane.. yet only spent $600,000 burrying the truth of Sept. 11, 2001.. insane.. now you ask an ignorant question like “why are we wasting money prosecuting someone for -real- crimes? stop wasting money and leave my guy alone!”.. Nice arguement.. slither back under your rock, slug..
October 21st, 2005 at 1:55 pmSo now let me respond to MrWrong or whoever posted in my name.
1) This is a TEXAS investigation, not a federal one.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:56 pm2) This is about a CRIMINAL ACT COMMITTED WHEN SCHMUCKIE WAS IN OFFICE. Whitewater was nonsense investigation not even about anything. To compare the two is disengenuous, but it IS republican.
3) Conspiracy to intentionally thwart election laws is a SERIOUS issue.
4) Last I checked the ‘witch hunt’ as you call it has been small, quick and inexpensive. Only Delay’s expense is gonna be expensive – and that’s because his lawyer is thief himself!
Lying to defame the presiding jusdge: what a wonderful way to serve your clients interests! I’m sure this will help Delay’s case once his petition is rejected. It all kind of reminds me of the (I thought) unrealistic, confrontational aproach to client advocacy seen on Boston Legal.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:58 pmJudicial Bias
Let me see if we go back to 2000 and have the Republicans on the Supreme Court recused before the vote turning over the Florida Supreme Court on the election returns then Al Gore wins. Can this be right??? If Judges are unable to put aside their views when making decisions then doesn’t that mean if seated Ms Miers will have to recuse herself on any abortion issue since she is on record as wanting to ban all abortions but she wants us to believe that won’t taint her actions as a judge. Or are democratic judges the only ones who can’t be trusted. I’m so confused as I know the Republicans are trying to be as fair as possible.
October 21st, 2005 at 1:59 pmJust some information to ponder:
My opinion, based on what I’ve read, and some of you may think this is obvious, but for those who don’t…
Delay is simply being punished and is an example as to what happens when you cross Bush (and his cronies) on the war effort (or any other effort for that matter), while at the same time, taking the spotlight off of Rove and Libby.
Much like US District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow, when her husband and mother were murdered in her home while there was around the clock police surveillance on her home, office, and person. Lefkow is a Judge in Chicago, which is where Fitzgerald is investigating the Plame case.
Also, like journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, who killed himself in the middle of a “pleasant conversation with his wife, planning their evening,†while his son was downstairs. He also happened to be privately investigating 9/11 and had told confidants that he had recently uncovered a major lead, implicating the U.S. Government. His son, by the way, said that the shot sounded like a book fell on the floor, which is what a silencer would have sounded like from his distance, yet there was no silencer on the weapon found in the room.
All of these people were shot in the head, from the same distance, point blank.
“States are not moral agents.” -Chomsky
October 21st, 2005 at 2:02 pmThanks for the link at #49, Donna.
“DeLay’s indictment has roiled Republican politics in Washington, where he was forced to step aside as the No. 2 House Republican.”
Don’t worry, Tom. To us you’ll always be No. 2.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:08 pmIts contempt of court for a lawyer to file a motion without making sure that the statements in the motion are to the best of the lawyers knowledge true. The lawyer must conduct some due diligence before a claim is asserted.
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 13
October 21st, 2005 at 2:09 pmMr. Ellis,
Don’t you see the problem that still lies in the “Update” from the Associated Press. The only thing they did was put quotation marks around the sentence “selling T-shirts with Mr. DeLay’s mug shot on it.”
I work in a communications department and I can tell you this doesn’t change anything and the average reader will still come to the same conclusion as they would with the first version of this story.
This is the part that needs correcting. It should state something like “The AP check the MoveOn.org site and found no t-shirts for sale.”
But then you haven’t even updated the NBC13 site with the newer version of the AP story, so why am I bothering with you.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:14 pmThe WP did a proper job by actually quoting moveon’s denial. I have called the arrogant bastards at the Times DC bureau twice and the story remains unchanged on the website.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:16 pm#19,
October 21st, 2005 at 2:20 pmThere are no links from moveon.org.
Hate is a Republican value and you should not project your values onto your enemies or you will lose sight of the argument.
Tommy,
Hate is a republican value, and ignorance is a republican tool. They know most reicwingers will simply ‘have faith’, and not believe their own eyes. They tap into the trained self ignorance that is conservatism.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:22 pmI’m not a lawyer, but I’ve watched enough Law & Order to know that pissing off the judge ain’t exactly the smartest legal defense.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:22 pmAh-haha the wingnuts really think people are going to buy their transparent hatchet job this time?
District Attorney Earle eats dead babies and worships Satan!
Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald has a love child with a black atheist lesbian!
Waaaah! Gibber-hiss-squeal!
3 little words, wingnuts: Rule. Of. Law.
Or do you prefer: First. Degree. Felony. or Life. In. Prison?
Face it, you were played for fools by a two-bit con man, who’s broken the law, gotten caught, and is going to the slammer.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:25 pmIt’s called the smell of justice. And it’s sweet.
#89: “It all kind of reminds me of the (I thought) unrealistic, confrontational aproach to client advocacy seen on Boston Legal.”
One of my favorite shows, and by far my favorite comedy since I can’t even remember when.
This latest edition of ridiculousness reminds me of the comment Denny Crane made in the Canadian Courtroom two weeks ago: “Watch it your honor. You’re talking to a superpower. We’ll have to add you to the axis!” Definitely the laugh of the week.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:29 pmNo, getting MoveOn’s name into the press was a brilliant tactical move, politically speaking. The right sees MoveOn as extremists, so if the judge donated to MoveOn, they can dismiss the whole thing as a politically motivated witch hunt. And DeGuerin can say, Oops, so sorry.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:30 pmHey hey hey! I got a reply from some anonymous drone at the Associated Press (see comment #60 above.) Here it is:
On Oct 21, 2005, at 1:02 PM, info@ap.org wrote:
Thank you for writing the Associated Press.
Perhaps your news provider has not picked up the most recent version of this developing story. Check here for a more recent update:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/21/delay.court.ap/index.html
In the above, the word “developing” was italicized. Here is my reply:
Dear Anonymous AP Employee:
Thank you for your reply.
My “news providers” have indeed picked up the latest responses generated by your amplification of DeLay’s lawyer’s lies.
You people are, of course, using a diversion tactic to deflect critical interest away from the central issue, which is that DeLay is a thief who has stolen millions of dollars. Allegedly, of course.
I just wanted you to know that you are NOT bamboozling everybody. In fact, you are bamboozling fewer and fewer American citizens with every slick trick and shameless lie that you put out on the wire.
You people are not as secure as you think you are.
-Daniel Van Riper
October 21st, 2005 at 2:36 pmEverytime I hear another indiscriminate slam at Move- On, I send them another donation. Everytime I hear someone slam the ACLU indiscriminately, I send them another donation.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:41 pmI also write the news channels and tell them to get their facts straight.
NY Times fixed it! See, one can make a difference if efforts are made.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:51 pmDWCG – Boston Legal is the show to watch on the tube.
I dont watch much TV down here in Mexico, except for sports, Boston Legal and the CSIs. Great shows.
They have asked Judge Perkins to recuse himself. Why?
Because he is a deomocrat. Of course Perkins does not have to recuse himself, and no one can recuse him.
DeGuerin is an alcoholic, just like DeLay. They make a fine due. They both drink their breakfast, lunch and dinner. A friend told me once that DeGuerin is the laughing stock of the areas courts, and that his bar tab runs about $600 per week. That does not include lunches or dinner, which he puts on a credit card.
DeLay is not in the best of hands, so expect lie after lie to come from them.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:52 pmI don’t know if this was in the original version of the story or if they revised it (without comment, natch), but it now says,
In a statement, MoveOn.org said that DeLay’s lawyer “has either bad information or lied in court.”
Still, it’s kind of jacked that they rebutted a claim made by the journalist with a quote from Move On, instead of just pointing out that it’s not true.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:53 pmBrianD,
Journalists (except for faux) never point out the ‘truth’, that’s what got them in trouble for being ‘biased’. All they do is a he said/she said anymore. It’s why journalism is so bogus these days. None of the FACTS tend to get exposed – especially in the real news.
They could have for instance written. “Our reporter reviewed the entire moveon.org website and did not find anything that resembled the claims by Mr. Delay’s attorney. We can only assume he fabricated the story, or someone intentionally gave him incorrect information to smear moveon.org.” That would be what a REAL reported would do.
October 21st, 2005 at 2:56 pmI work for a county that uses color digital pictures for booking photos, without the name and booking number on a plaque in the photo or the height indicator lines.
I wish they wouldn’t. They often get the photos mixed up in some rather comical ways.
October 21st, 2005 at 3:06 pmThese AP articles are getting updated (the one linked here is)
“UPDATED: 1:45 pm CDT October 21, 2005″
Now they are publishing move-ons refutation of that claim.
October 21st, 2005 at 3:10 pmLie Lie Lie…
They can try to hide behind their cooked smiles, but eventually they will be seen for what they are … criminals
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20051021/2005_10_21t120143_450×291_us_politics_delay.jpg?x=380&y=245&sig=ZPkn2gKq9S.m2VjviM5elQ–
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20051021/i/r615494040.jpg?x=380&y=251&sig=QCFoGfOPFoftC9ksrhwymA–
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20051021/i/r2052036274.jpg?x=380&y=248&sig=Sf5a6AGm2UCxWfcXZsEXOA–
October 21st, 2005 at 3:11 pmWorking links:
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20051021/2005_10_21t120143_450×291_us_politics_delay.jpg\
October 21st, 2005 at 3:14 pmhttp://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20051021/i/r615494040.jpg
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20051021/i/r2052036274.jpg
The defense doesn’t want the judge to recuse himself, they want him to consistantly rule in their favor. This is an in your face attempt to get the judge to be lenient with the defense for fear of coming across as partisan.
It’s the same tactic that the Republicans have been using with the media for years now. Accuse them all of be liberal and biased. The media then responds by leaning over backwards to kowtow to the Republicans to prove just how impartial they are.
October 21st, 2005 at 3:15 pmHere’s the number for the AP 1-212-621-1500 I just called called them and complained about there article and asked why they have’nt checked to find out the truth from move on about the t shirts that they don’t sell I suggest that all call and complain about this Lie by the ap as well as the lie by that attorney
October 21st, 2005 at 3:20 pmDeguerin (Delay’s lawyer) is a Democrat, isn’t he? So if it matters what affiliation the judge is, then shouldn’t Delay get a Republican lawyer? The DA should look into who Delay’s lawyer has donated money to.
October 21st, 2005 at 3:21 pmThe judge is the same as anyone who ever bought a Mercedes. At one point, Mercedes was run by and contributed huge funds to the Nazi party. Does that make everyone who ever bought a Mercedes a Nazi? Ok, that’s a bad example, but you get the point…
October 21st, 2005 at 3:22 pmDeGuerin Tells More Untruths?
Shocking, I say!
October 21st, 2005 at 3:24 pmAlso called Deguerin office (1-713-223-5959)and was suprised that i got through to his assitant and was informed that he had just talked to cnn about the mistake and she asked if i wanted to talk to him which was more suprising i told her not to bother
October 21st, 2005 at 3:36 pmI’m no troll but you’re telling me that lying in a court case is grounds for disciplinary action by the Bar? Give me a friggin break. Lawyers lie daily. They are paid to lie; that’s their job and they do it well. Take away the lie and the whole system of adversary justice grinds to a screeching halt.
October 21st, 2005 at 3:38 pmRemember when Ken Starr was stumping for Bob Dole while he was an ‘independent’ prosecutor? These crooks need to be ground into dust.
October 21st, 2005 at 4:06 pmexile, you are ignorant and have been watching too much television. I know many excellent attorneys and judges who speak only truths in court and are after only justice. How narrow minded and naive a post you just wrote. It is offensive and no, they are not paid to lie, FYI.
As with any profession, you’ll always find those who don’t belong.
October 21st, 2005 at 4:17 pm1. Seems Tom Delay has used the “T-Shirt cry-foul” once before.
Friday, May 27, 2005 Posted: 3:03 AM EDT (0703 GMT)
(http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/05/27/delay.law.order/)
WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Majority Leader Tom DeLay reacted angrily Thursday to this week’s episode of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” for what he called a “manipulation of my name” in the show. The controversy centers around Wednesday’s episode in which a police officer investigating a murder of a federal judge suggested putting out an all points bulletin for “somebody in a Tom DeLay T-shirt.”
2. Tom DeLay and his defense team have repeatedly claimed that they want a speedy hearing (while his co-defendants want it to go as slow as it can). Odd, then, that rather than rush to get to court, his defense so far has filed at least four motions which must be argued and decided before moving forward. This includes two motions for having the two indictments thrown out for lack of evidence, a motion to argue whether bank drafts can be considered laundered money (instead of currency and coinage), a motion for a change of venue and (now) a motion for a new judge. Did I miss any?
(I noted elsewhere that a reader did not think that DeGuerin’s lie was punishable since it was not related to the indictments. But, the lie may have been a material argument for making a motion to replace the judge. If DeGuerin holds to this lie as evidence for the argument to replace the judge, in his motion –particularly as it is now clear to him that there is no truth to the allegation — then I suspect he could be in trouble with the court, but more likely the State bar. After all, an officer of the court may not knowingly use falsehoods to advance a motion argument.)
3. And then there’s the issue of moving the venue from the alleged Democratic bastion known as Austin. Forget that it’s perceived to be a liberally biased municipality. That alone cannot corrupt all the jury pool. So what does DeLay and his handlers do? They run $500,000 worth of “attack dog” ads on Austin TV in order to make sure that the issue is as contentious and confused as it could possibly be. I’d call that intentionally contaminating the jury pool in order to argue a venue change. By the time DeLay is done spinning heads with his Austin TV ads he just might have an arguement to get the trial moved to a Republican stronghold.
Very clever, boys!
October 21st, 2005 at 4:19 pm“We can only assume he fabricated the story, or someone intentionally gave him incorrect information to smear moveon.org.†That would be what a REAL reported would do.”
I would have to say that the above sentence should be left out of “journalism” all together.. When reporting on an article, keep it to the facts, not speculation. The -fact- would be “our investigators found nothing on the MoveOn.org’s website to substantiate the claim made by Tom DeLay’s lawyer, we have no information regarding their source”.. or something like that. Don’t speculate.. don’t fudge.. don’t give anyone room to point fingers..
I’m no troll but you’re telling me that lying in a court case is grounds for disciplinary action by the Bar? Give me a friggin break. Lawyers lie daily. They are paid to lie; that’s their job and they do it well. Take away the lie and the whole system of adversary justice grinds to a screeching halt.
Um… no, lying in court is not what lawyers are supposed to do. It’s illegal to lie in court (for testimony). Lawyers aren’t supposed to be “giving testimony”, they are supposed to be presenting a case, which is based on -facts-.. What this twirp did was contemptous.. Found out that the Judge has a political affiliation? so? but then tried to tie that affiliation somehow into the current case (based on bad info or lies)? Just to get a change of venue? That’s contemptuous.. sorry.. and yeah, that lawyer should be censured for that. It’s disrespectful to the legal system. Lying “in a court of law” should -never- be done… Though, I can see why right-wing dipshits think it’s a good idea, it’s how they fight day to day for their party… Lie, spin, distort, distract, disinform.. nice basis for a party..
October 21st, 2005 at 4:20 pmWhat the heck is everyone up in arms about?Its not like anyone with a seat on the right would lie.I’m sure he wouldnot hire a liar to represent him.A lawyer that lied:who would have ever thunk it?
October 21st, 2005 at 4:41 pmTTHE media better wise up or else we are in the throws of a FACSIST movement to total rule by the government..
October 21st, 2005 at 5:05 pmFaux News had it on the screen during an interview with a guy who wrote a book called “They think you’re stupid.”
October 21st, 2005 at 5:08 pmIt said “Delay lawyer: Moveon.org selling t-shirts with Delay’s mug shot.”
This was at 3 p.m. when they certainly knew it wasn’t true.
I’m stunned that Delay would be reaching into that bag of tricks. Considering there are less and less Judges editors, reporters and media owners that are now of the “liberal elite media” I think we can safely say that this judge is the last of a kind if the allegations are true.
October 21st, 2005 at 5:40 pmThe main stream media probably won’t really touch this…but we can at least hope to be pleasently suprised. Who knows- maybe they’ve had it with Delay as well.
I know we here in the “left coast” are ready to see him a few others (Ahhhnold) go DOWN!!!
The Filthy Left would never stoop to such tactics! Oh, wait, I have my t-shirt and coffee mug already on order!
http://www.cafepress.com/thewhitehouse/866007
October 21st, 2005 at 5:52 pmI think it is time to stop calling the propaganda media (main stream media) they are no longer main stream. They are now nothing more than the neocon properganda machine so lets call a spade a spade and a neocon properganda machine a neocon properganda machine. And by the way lets start boycotting who ever pays for ads in the neocon propaganda media.
October 21st, 2005 at 6:18 pmHey moron,
“The Filthy Left would never stoop to such tactics! Oh, wait, I have my t-shirt and coffee mug already on order!”
That shirt and mug are not available from MoveOn.org.
Glad you got your shirt and mug on order though.
October 21st, 2005 at 6:29 pm[...] For more information and video of today’s hearing, check out ThinkProgress. [...]
October 21st, 2005 at 6:40 pmLeslie asked “Where have all the fact checkers gone?”
…truth of the matter is with today’s instantaneous-24/7-news-feeds a wire service like AP’s Austin Bureau (or Reuters or CSPAN or CNN or MSNBC…) doesn’t have time to fact check. As soon as the 5-minute hearing and motion was done AP Reporter Suzanne Gamboa got outside and called in what was said, verbatime.
And boom, it’s on the Web for the entire world to read …. and it’s false.
Was DeGuerin knowingly lying or simply repeating bad or misinterpreted info that he was fed? Unless someone has a bug on him all the time we’ll never know. He’s now saying that apparently MoveOn ‘gave money’ to some companies or groups which did make and sell such shirts…. So, I gave money to McDonald’s — doesn’t mean I’m a beef rancher.
What this and too many instances like it DO indicate is a need to change the news process in this country.
Right now there is no time to fact-check until afterward. That’s wrong. Clearly our journalists (we pay their salaries by buying papers or watching commercials during newscasts) need a few more moments in order to do some fact checking or simply to ask: “Can you show me proof that what you are saying is true?”
October 21st, 2005 at 6:47 pmMizzWrong thinks that a T-Shirt manufacturer is now Moveon.org. If that’s the case then the same cafepress company is also the filthy Nazi NeoCon CONSERVATIVE company
To use her own language Filthy moron is the best way to describe MizzMoron.
http://www.cafepress.com/rightwingstuff
October 21st, 2005 at 6:54 pmThe Lawyer De Guerin said he noticed that t5he web site was selling the t-shirt with delays mug on it. That would be a false statement. could the judge bar him from his court for making false statments?
October 21st, 2005 at 7:33 pmHe could, but then who would defend Delay?
October 21st, 2005 at 7:44 pmTGIF Part Two
Just the fun and games for tonight. Enjoy.
October 21st, 2005 at 9:24 pmI don’t know about in Texas, but up here in PA we have Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. One of those is the “duty of candor toward the tribunal;” that means, no lying to the judge. It also means that you can’t conceal relevant caselaw that’s contrary to your position–although I’ve seen that done (and pointed it out relentlessly).
Another is a duty to make a reasonable investigation of the facts underlying a case or controversy, which is quite recent–it only came into being a couple of years ago. That means I can’t just take my client’s word for something–I have to at least check out enough of it to know it’s not bogus. So I could not make a statement like DeGuerin made in his Motion, then claim that my client told it to me and I didn’t bother to see if it was correct without expecting some kind of sanction (or at least, without expecting to look like a complete idiot).
Yep, I’m an attorney–and I find Dick DeGuerin pathetic. If he outright lied, he should be sanctioned. If he just parroted what DeLay told him without checking, he’s dumber than a doorknob. A good lawyer would *never* accept a statement like that from a client without checking to see if it’s true–because clients will lie. They especially will lie to try and save their asses. That’s plain human nature. But it’s not my job to facilitate my client’s lies. I worked too hard and too long to get my license to throw it away for some bozo who wants me to lie in court.
Of course, violations of these Rules are merely “ethical violations;” to actually get your license yanked in PA you have to pretty much embezzle money from clients, show up drunk to court more than once, or piss off the wrong politically-connected individual. Otherwise, the Rules are hardly observed. Still, I don’t know any credible practitioners who would put statements in a Motion for Recusal without verifying them thoroughly. That’s just asking for trouble.
Trial judges up here have a pretty broad latitude in governing their courtrooms and the proceedings before them. Pissing off the judge is Not A Good Idea ™.
Someone asked about perjury–perjury involves lying under oath during testimony. Lawyers don’t testify in court (unless we’re appearing as witnesses, and here in PA we can’t serve as both attorney trying a case and witness). As for libel and slander, in PA statements made by attorneys during the course of court proceedings are “absolutely privileged”–meaning that we can’t be sued for libel or slander on the basis of what we say *in court*. What we say to the press is another matter, though.
As far as the use of the word “misspoke”–please. Trial lawyers make their living by wordsmithing and eloquence. Getting one word of a sentence wrong might qualify as “misspeaking”–making a blatantly false statement is something else entirely.
October 21st, 2005 at 11:17 pmIt’s WhiteHouse.Org who is selling the Tom DeLay mugshoot T-shirts – it’s a division of the same satirical organization that LandoverBaptistChurch.org is operating under. And yes, they’re liberal and they’re funny as hell, too, if a little bawdy…hehehe.
October 22nd, 2005 at 12:30 amExcuse me, folks – I have typitis tonight – I meant to say “mugshot”, not “mugshoot” – though that would be an option if Texas was still really “Texas”….
October 22nd, 2005 at 12:38 amI hope this backfires in their face. Delay is going down and the RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN are scared.
October 22nd, 2005 at 11:56 amI’ve seen the name Dick DeGuerin somewhere else before. I’m not sure about this, but he may have been part of O.J. Simpson’s Dream Team. Hmmm….
October 22nd, 2005 at 8:29 pmWhat a piece of shit if he was. Regardless, he has certainly sided with a bonafide piece of shit now by agreeing to defend Delay.
Phillip,
Dick DeGuerin defended David Corish. You know the whole ATF/Waco Texas thing?
October 22nd, 2005 at 8:49 pmI deplore this crimilization of politics. We should suspend all rules related to rules makers immediately, and allow any means necessary to stuff a ballot in a box. It seems to work fine in Russia.
October 22nd, 2005 at 9:32 pmAs usual, I love reading every one of the comments, even the “trollish” stuff.
DeGuerin’s statement really did precipitate a storm, and deservedly so. Could this be a cause for his client to fire him?
Anyway, the attack ads I heard were being aired in Austin could just as easily be reworked as parody, with Ken Starr’s image & case superimposed, elsewhere. Sort of a “so, THERE” response. Of course, the stations that would air the anti-Earle (whom, I’ve heard, has prosecuted more Democrats than Republicans & is highly principled), probably wouldn’t touch ads making that point.
I hope that DeLay’s karma has finally caught up with him, and that he finally goes DOWN, like a ton of bricks.
October 22nd, 2005 at 9:50 pmDick Deguerin is a good lawyer. He is even quite liberal for a Texan.
October 23rd, 2005 at 5:16 amThe Filthy Left would never stoop to such tactics! Oh, wait, I have my t-shirt and coffee mug already on order!
http://www.cafepress.com/thewhitehouse/866007
Comment by I-RIGHT-I —
It’s WhiteHouse.Org who is selling the Tom DeLay mugshoot T-shirts – it’s a division of the same satirical organization that LandoverBaptistChurch.org is operating under. And yes, they’re liberal and they’re funny as hell, too, if a little bawdy…hehehe.
Comment by NancyKay — October 22, 2005
They are not partisan at all. They are a parody site and had penty of fun with the Clintons. They have a healthy mistrust of all pols and even the church.
October 23rd, 2005 at 5:22 amA lawyer may make a statement that is undeniably false. Moreover he may make two statements that are clearly in oppositon thus one of the statements must be false. The reason a lawyer may make such false statements before the judge is that the lawyer is not sworn in.
October 23rd, 2005 at 10:58 amWhat a great idea. Tom Delay’s smiling puss on a T-shirt with the caption. “Support Republicans – See Them Smile As They Shove It Up Your Ass” or “See Them Smile All The Way To The Bank.”
October 23rd, 2005 at 1:07 pmSend your captions to Cafe Press – they will have a field day with this mug shot.
Well, when we’re starting from the lie that people actually support Delay Shrub and all the other morons, we’ve got no where to go but up
The MIssing P Project, taking back Resident Bush’s stolen P before it gets stuck on his lie-berry
http://www.geocities.com/themissingPproject
October 23rd, 2005 at 1:30 pmWell, answering the Q why there are no numbers below DeLay’s mugshot, please be advised that the smart lawyer of Tom Delay advised his client to go to a neighboring county for a booking – a county which no longer uses the system of numbers under suspects’ mugshots. Smart, ain’t it? :)
October 23rd, 2005 at 4:48 pmUh media supposed to check story, not just print stuff as fact. Duh
October 24th, 2005 at 2:51 amTo the guy who comments, “So, there’s no link to Cafepress on moveon.org’s website?”, the answer is, “NO.”
October 24th, 2005 at 4:34 pm[...] One of the primary causes of the erosion of Constitutional (and Human) rights over the last few years has been the willingness of the media to spin litigation. If one of the parties in a case gets initiative in the media, then they win, no matter what the actual facts are. This has encouraged both the government and large corporations to devote their immense resources to pre-trial public relations campaigns. Worse, lawyers now engage in the practice of slipping soundbytes into legal filings in the hope that the press will pick it up. They rely on the fact that the courts themselves don’t discourage lawyer from lying: they simply assume the opposing counsel will challenge the lie. The media, however, doesn’t make that distinction: they know that any quote from a legal document will bear a special aura of authority, yet they rarely issue any sort of disclaimer. Nothing grabs an audience like a cardboard-cutout villain, and the media cares more about garnering an audience than defending the Constitutional rights. [...]
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