News Sen. Cruz calls Perry indictment 'highly questionable,' as Dems crank up attack

[Grapesoda]

I guess this is just a coincidence after Perry fucked Obama off by defending the counties international border


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...dems-crank-up/

Texas’ junior Sen. Ted Cruz gave his support Saturday to Gov. Rick Perry following his indictment, while other high-profile lawmakers have largely remained silent on the politically-charge issue.

The outspoken first-term senator defended his fellow Republican's integrity. He also called the indictment “highly-questionable” and argued that the Travis County District Attorney's Office that indicted Perry has a “sad history” of engaging in politically-motivated prosecutions.

Perry, a 2012 GOP presidential candidate with potential 2016 aspirations, was indicted Friday for allegedly abusing his veto power during a dispute with a public-corruption prosecutor over her drunken driving arrest.

The indictment claims Perry broke the law when he threatened to veto $7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, after she pleaded guilty to drunken driving in April 2013 and refused to resign.

“Rick Perry is a friend, he's a man of integrity,” said Cruz, who also appears to have 2016 White House aspirations. “I am proud to stand with Rick Perry. The Texas Constitution gives the governor the power to veto legislation. And a criminal indictment predicated on the exercise of his constitutional authority is, on its face, highly suspect.”

Perry vetoed the money after Lehmberg, a Democrat, refused to resign.

Democratic lawmakers appear to be staying out of the dispute, at least for now. But the Democratic National Committee is already on the attack, much like it was when another potential 2016 GOP White House candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was answering questions about his connection to a staff member and political appointees in Sept. 2013 ordering the unannounced closure of toll lanes on the George Washington Bridge, causing traffic jams in Fort Lee, N.J., whose mayor didn’t endorse Christie’s successful re-election bid.

On Saturday, DNC spokeswoman Lily Adams posted on Twitter a picture of a banner newspaper headline that read: “Perry Indicted for Veto Threat” underneath her tweet: “What Perry woke up to.”

The tweet was one of several on the DNC’s Twitter feed regarding the indictment.

The Texas Democratic Party has already called on Perry to resign, calling the situation "unbecoming" of a Texas governor.

"Governor Rick Perry has brought dishonor to his office, his family and the state of Texas. Texans deserve to have leaders that stand up for what is right and work to help families across Texas," party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement.

State GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri of Houston said “a politically motivated prosecution” yielded the indictment.

“It’s not unusual for people in cases involving politics to move forward with an indictment and ultimately … the case doesn’t go anywhere or the person is eventually exonerated,” he said, according to Politico.

Mary Anne Wiley, general counsel for Perry, said late Friday the governor's actions were allowed under the law.

“The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto authority afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution," she said. "We will continue to aggressively defend the governor's lawful and constitutional action, and believe we will ultimately prevail.”

Perry's defense attorney David L. Botsford, whose $450-per hour fees are being paid for by state funds, said he was "outraged and appalled" at the decision.

"This clearly represents political abuse of the court system and there is no legal basis in this decision," he said in a statement.

Several top aides to Perry appeared before grand jurors in Austin, including his deputy chief of staff, legislative director and general counsel. Perry himself wasn't called to testify.

Perry was indicted by an Austin grand jury on felony counts of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant. Maximum punishment on the first charge is five to 99 years in prison, and two to 10 years on the second.

The indictment comes toward the end of Perry’s final term in office. In office since 2000 and already the longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry isn't seeking re-election in November. But he was thought to be weighing a possible presidential run in 2016.

"I took into account the fact that we're talking about a governor of a state — and a governor of the state of Texas, which we all love," said Michael McCrum, the San Antonio-based special prosecutor who got the indictment. "Obviously that carries a lot of importance. But when it gets down to it, the law is the law."

McCrum said he'll meet with Perry's attorney Monday to discuss when he will come to the courthouse to be arraigned. McCrum said he doesn't know when Perry will be booked.

Accusations have flown on both sides in the legal showdown.

Perry originally said Lehmberg, who is based in Austin, should resign after her arrest. A video recording made at the jail showed Lehmberg shouting at staffers to call the sheriff, kicking the door of her cell and sticking out her tongue. Lehmberg faced pressure from other high-profile Republicans in addition to Perry to give up her post. Her blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit for driving.

Lehmberg served about half of her 45-day jail sentence but stayed in office, despite Perry's assertions that her behavior was inappropriate. The jail video led to an investigation of Lehmberg by a separate grand jury, which decided she should not be removed for official misconduct.

Her office is the same office that indicted U.S. Rep. Tom Delay as part of a finance probe.

No one disputes that Perry is allowed to veto measures approved by the Legislature, including part or all of the state budget.

However, the left-leaning Texans for Public Justice government watchdog group filed an ethics complaint accusing the governor of coercion since he threatened to use his veto before actually doing so in an attempt to pressure Lehmberg to quit.

Lehmberg oversees the office's public integrity unit, which investigates statewide allegations of corruption and political wrongdoing. Perry said he wouldn't allow Texas to fund the unit while Lehmberg remained in charge. He used his line-item veto power to remove funding for the unit from the Texas budget.

Perry and his aides say he didn't break any laws.

"The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto power afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution, and we remain ready and willing to assist with this inquiry," spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said in April, after the grand jury was convened in the case.

[Barry-xlovecam]

"What Goes Around... Comes Around"

Grand jurors charged Perry, 64, with abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public servant, a third-degree felony. The first charge carries a punishment of 5-99 years and a fine of up to $10,000. The second charge is punishable by 2-10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

The indictment stems from Perry?s threat last summer to withhold $7.5 million in state money from Lehmberg?s office unless she step down ? a threat he later carried out by vetoing an appropriation in the state budget.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/r...-threat/ng3zF/

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

"What Goes Around... Comes Around"

so the dem in charge of public official corruption investigation, refuses to resign for drunk driving..... and then goes after Perry for not funding her office... yeah I can see that .. you read any thing or just post funny pics?

[Barry-xlovecam]

Tell it to the Judge LMAO

It's just dirty politics ... Texas is big on that.

He's dead for 2016 now and that was the point.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

you read any thing or just post funny pics?

I'll go with post funny pics for $1,000, Alec.

[bronco67]

I don't like Rick Perry, but this all seems pretty thin.

[Biggy]

Originally Posted by Barry-xlovecam

Tell it to the Judge LMAO

It's just dirty politics ... Texas is big on that.

He's dead for 2016 now and that was the point.

Doubt he would've gotten the nod anyways. By the time 2016 comes around he'll be clear, and people will see democrats for being slime the same way a lot of people see crazy conservatives for being slime.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Rob

I'll go with post funny pics for $1,000, Alec.

coooooooooooooooool

[crockett]

Fox News.. Never biased.. That whole article read like a radical wing bats blog post.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by crockett

Fox News.. Never biased.. That whole article read like a radical wing bats blog post.

look we all know you can't tell shit from beans, well about anything and that you will believe ANYTHING dergourtoy about republicans... in fact you are so EXTREMLY biased no one here has any respect for you opinion... just sayin.. you know?

[crockett]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

look we all know you can't tell shit from beans, well about anything and that you will believe ANYTHING dergourtoy about republicans... in fact you are so EXTREMLY biased no one here has any respect for you opinion... just sayin.. you know?

I've never said I wasn't biased about Republicans, I had my right to vote stolen from me during the first Bush election and I watched as many others had their votes thrown away as well. I saw first hand how the election was stolen in FL during the Bush vs Gore race and I've been extremely biased every since. My rights were thrown in the trash can and that is something I will never forgive the Republicans of.

The point being, at least I have a "reason" to dislike them because my constitutionally given right was thrown away by a corruption and not like I'm whining about the right because I don't want to pay my taxes but want all the benefits of doing so, like most of the posters here whom moan and bitch about democrats.

[blackmonsters]

I'm pretty sure Rick Perry was born in Kenya.

.

[SongRider]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

look we all know you can't tell shit from beans, well about anything and that you will believe ANYTHING dergourtoy about republicans... in fact you are so EXTREMLY biased no one here has any respect for you opinion... just sayin.. you know?

Spell check is to a republican is what a black light is to sperm on the bed sheets.

Exposes it every time!

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by crockett

I've never said I wasn't biased about Republicans, I had my right to vote stolen from me during the first Bush election and I watched as many others had their votes thrown away as well. I saw first hand how the election was stolen in FL during the Bush vs Gore race and I've been extremely biased every since. My rights were thrown in the trash can and that is something I will never forgive the Republicans of.

The point being, at least I have a "reason" to dislike them because my constitutionally given right was thrown away by a corruption and not like I'm whining about the right because I don't want to pay my taxes but want all the benefits of doing so, like most of the posters here whom moan and bitch about democrats.

I think both parties have crooks and flakes however I do not believe in hand outs... I believe in giving a hand up, but not out... I see the dems disregarding reality in some of the issues I've seen posted here...

[Sly]

Even liberals are saying it's wonky: http://www.businessinsider.com/liber...ampaign=buffer

Stop crying Fox News so much and think for yourself. I know it's difficult, but I'm positive you can pull it off.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by SongRider

Spell check is to a republican is what a black light is to sperm on the bed sheets.

Exposes it every time!

[kane]

I have a feeling this is one of those cases where both parties hate each other and have been searching for ways to damage the other. That said, if these allegations have any real truth to them Perry is done of 2016...not that I think he had much of a chance even without this.

[crockett]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

I think both parties have crooks and flakes however I do not believe in hand outs... I believe in giving a hand up, but not out... I see the dems disregarding reality in some of the issues I've seen posted here...

Of course both parties have crooks and flakes.. But the republicans have gone bat shit crazy since Clinton was in office and have progressively gotten worse year after year to the point their crazy loons from 20 years ago are today's new normal.

There is very much a difference between the amount of crazy loons on the right vs the left. It's not even a contest. Democrats are not perfect but their fringe has not become the mainstream like it has on the right.

[crockett]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

so the dem in charge of public official corruption investigation, refuses to resign for drunk driving..... and then goes after Perry for not funding her office... yeah I can see that .. you read any thing or just post funny pics?

She is a publicly elected official, it's not up to him to decide if her office should be funded or not, it's up to the voters. As for drinking and driving.. She was in a parked car in a parking lot with a bottle of vodka. It's not like she was pulled over, swerving all over the road. She wasn't actually driving when she got the DUI.

Not excusing what she did away, but she wasn't actually driving while drunk..but it's still considered a DUI.

[Barry-xlovecam]

I want to see if Perry is still mobilizing the National Guard (still in service as the Texas state militia) on the border? That is the real issue here.

If the President calls to federal mobilization the Texas National Guard the state militia would become active federalised US Army -- subject to the Posse Comitatus Act. The US Border Patrol are a federal police force ... Only using the National Guard in a support role for the federal police is permitted by the Posse Comitatus Act.

Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

-Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1385

Rick Perry just stepped in in own shit and will get burned.

[slapass]

Originally Posted by bronco67

I don't like Rick Perry, but this all seems pretty thin.

The guy is a total asshat and this is pretty thin.

[slapass]

Originally Posted by crockett

She is a publicly elected official, it's not up to him to decide if her office should be funded or not, it's up to the voters. As for drinking and driving.. She was in a parked car in a parking lot with a bottle of vodka. It's not like she was pulled over, swerving all over the road. She wasn't actually driving when she got the DUI.

Not excusing what she did away, but she wasn't actually driving while drunk..but it's still considered a DUI.

Do you think with her job title, she was confused as to what she could legally do in the car?

And the bill came to him to sign so yes he can veto it under Texas law.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by crockett

Of course both parties have crooks and flakes.. But the republicans have gone bat shit crazy since Clinton was in office and have progressively gotten worse year after year to the point their crazy loons from 20 years ago are today's new normal.

There is very much a difference between the amount of crazy loons on the right vs the left. It's not even a contest. Democrats are not perfect but their fringe has not become the mainstream like it has on the right.

that may be the case however I do NOT hate America, I do NOT hate America culture, I'm NOT ashamed to be of Northern Europe decent and I'm NOT ashamed to be a man.

I DO believe the American culture has added a great deal of positive influence in the world AND is worth protecting, I DO believe in defending the international borders of America.

these seem to be concepts diametrically opposed to being a democrat from what you continually post

[2MuchMark]

Perry is an asshole, and Cruz is an even bigger asshole.