Listen, I like a lot of the stuff Dallas County DA Craig Watkins has done. But sometimes, the man just flapjacks/gobsmacks/bewilders/discombobulates me.
Take this whole constable brouhaha. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has offered not once, but twice now to help out with the investigation. And it’s not all that unusual, since the AG’s office also helped out with the whole Constable Mike Dupree thing a few years ago.
But it seems like there is a growing drumbeat for him to do something. And many are asking why he won’t take Abbott up on his offer – after all, it seems like a win for everyone. If the allegations that have surfaced turn out to be true, well, it’s good and government is transparent. If they turn out to be unfounded, well, it’s good and government is transparent.
So really – what gives?
8 comments
I think that Watkins probably has alot to hide too. Allowing Abbott to flip over rocks looking for worms underneath with the constables could open the door to an investigation of Watkins own office. Does Watkins still run a title office and law firm in his spare time? He was accused in the past of working in his private practice on county time. Something the constables are in hot water for. Even the bleeding heart liberals now roll their eyes when Watkins summons the courage to blame Bill Hill for everything that goes wrong.
Abbott is a wingnut and Republican tool.
But M Streeter, he can be both those things and be right in this case, too.
If you read up, you’ll see that a) it’s been done before; b) it’s not that unusual; and c) it’s probably wise because if criminal activity is alleged, there could be a conflict of interest since the county DA also represents the constables in civil matters pertaining to the county.
I enjoyed watching Mayfield get all worked up about it last night on WFAA. City Hall has issues but there not as fun as Dallas County commissioners.
Watkins is a lot of good and a lot of head scratching.
Okay, I got 2 of Republicans on the Court calling in the bigger Republican to try and make a Democrat look bad. And you wonder why he says no. Simple politics — On both sides
And since at least one of those R’s is a wingnut calling in the bigger wingnut
I suspect the tentacles attached to this thing reach pretty far– all the way to Sen. Royce West and John Wiley Price. Those guys won’t go down without a lot of others being dragged along for the ride.
I suspect that is one of the reasons the DMN’s editorial board was so thrilled to get Judge Foster out of office. There a lot of very powerful folks in Dallas County (and the City of Dallas) who benefit from the status quo. Turning a blind eye to all sorts of unsavory activities in South Dallas is part of the devil’s pact made by many in North Dallas who find it necessary from time to time to use these bad actors when it comes time to deliver votes by the truckload and/or political favors for certain pet causes.
Silly question, Bethany! We know “what gives”. For all the good that Watkins does, he is wrapped up with JWP and Royce West so tight his head is about to explode.
He is using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses at his title company office, and to pay his family’s child care center for catering. (wha?!?)
West is the lawyer for Evans, one of the constables causing so much trouble, so do you think Watkins is going to go after him?
I’m sick of everyone whining about the Republicans going after the Democrats on this. It doesn’t matter who is pointing the finger at you, if you are actually doing something wrong. Abbot is a right-wing loon, but that doesn’t mean his staff can’t do their job.
Abbott is a right wingnut? Code for anyone not salivating to feed at the big government teet the chosen one is putting together. Bravo.