Posts from — July 2008

This CNN story suggests that maybe there is a place for Barack Obama on the world’s political stage, a place for him to “seize the moment” and try out some of his risky ideas in an effort to save women and children — a place that has far less to lose than the United States of America.

The people of Kenya could use a guy like Barack Obama. With his family and political ties to Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, he should fit right in. And if he goes, he can take Texas CPS with him. Because they need CPS far more in Kenya than they do in the United States. And before any Obama supporter starts to shout “lies,” show us the money. Point out a single material misrepresentation in any of the linked posts — and show us where Obama has denied it — and I’ll buy you a drink the next time I’m in town.

The National Enquirer has been hammering away at John Edwards (pic right, courtesy of National Enquirer), accusing him of keeping a “mistress” on the side, arranging hush money to keep her quite, and setting up an elaborate cover-up in which an Edwards campaign worker holds himself out as the father of Edwards’ love child.

The story raises a host of questions, some of which may send readers running for the exits.  Oh, well.  [Read more →]

Under Texas law, an indictment must repeat the phrase “against the peace and dignity of the State”.  Readers interested in examining the indictments in the Eldorado case can find them, for now, here.  [CAUTION: For mature readers only!] Henceforth, to avoid unfairly associating a religious brand with the calumny repeated in these indictments, I will refer to this case by the place where the crimes alleged in the indictments are alleged to have taken place, Eldorado.  I can offer, on reliable authority, that Ray Jessop’s indictment is not connected to Teresa Jeffs. [Read more →]

I’ve speculated that Judge Walther and Charles Childress must have coordinated or communicated on the Order severing the FLDS cases and staying discovery. Many have wondered how and why the Childress motion that led to the order was distributed by the Court without Exhibit A.

No one to my knowledge — except Childress and Judge Walther — yet knows what is in Exhibit A or why the Judge removed it from the Motion before electronically distributing the Motion and Order last Friday. Today, however, a District Court insider has shed additional light on the process that produced the Order. It solidifies my belief that the Order was produced through prohibited ex parte interaction between Walther and Childress. However, I am willing to be persuaded otherwise. [Read more →]

Without revving up the conspiracy theory engines to much . . .  Last Friday, when the  51st District Court electronically circulated Charles Childress’ Motion for Severance and Stay of Discovery to case attorneys, Exhibit A (which Childress pointed to — see Motion excerpt below — as “an example of a Discovery Control Plan Order”) was missing.

One source tells me that Vicki Vines, Court Clerk, said over the phone that she left off Judge Walther removed Exhibit A because Judge Walther told her to do so prior to its transmission.  At this point, there is no indication why Judge Walther would have removed the Exhibit.  I have e-mailed the question to Vines.  Developing . . .

Gary Naler has written a fascinating, in-depth account of the relationship between two former members of the FLDS Church, Val and Laureen Jessop and their long conflict with Flora Jessop.  Gary’s article, Escape From Flora Jessop: The Story of Val and Laurene Jessop, helps counterbalance some of the sensationalism circulating since the Texas indictments.

Kevin Hassett argues that expanding oil drilling here in the U.S., now, can exert immediate downward pressure on oil & gas prices even though the product of the drilling doesn’t come “on-line” for several years: [Read more →]

In an e-mail late last night (July 28), Natalie Malonis responded to an earlier post on this blog that suggested she may have been behind the leak several days ago of a CASA report that contained confidential information about her client, Teresa Jeffs, and that she waited too long to file a motion to seal the Report:

“The CASA report did not come from me, and I am not the one who sent it around to the media.  I do not even have a complete copy of it with attachments myself. If I had filed it, I would have filed it under seal.  I did what I could do as quickly as I could.” [Read more →]

Natalie Malonis did her best today to get on the phone with me. I was otherwise occupied, in between responses to readers, some of whom are apparently in a “no quarter” frame of mind.

I started out the day channeling John Adams and now I’m finishing that way. I’m trying to model behavior that was lacking among certain individuals — all around the country — at the sorry beginning of this mess. I’m willing to hear her out and hope some of you are, as well. [Read more →]

Speaking of therapeutic courts, Charles G. Childress — now Texas CPS top gun in San Angelo — had this to say in a May 2008 article in the ABA’s GP Solo mag: [Read more →]