1. Gromer Jeffers Jr. reports that in 2007, shortly after DA Craig Watkins was elected, Watkins used campaign funds to buy $3,000 worth of fine threads, including a tuxedo. It wasn’t illegal, just dumb. But here’s the thing: if you’ll recall all the hubbub about the various people Watkins was in arrears to back then, the shopping spree makes sense. The guy might not have been able to afford the sort of duds that a district attorney needs to wear. Meanwhile, Watkins and his GOP challenger, Danny Clancy, are going at it over the DA’s conviction rate — which isn’t nearly as much fun as talking about the DA’s clothes.
2. Jimmy Johnson is going to compete on Survivor. Given the frequency that Johnson is already photographed shirtless, I predict another Richard Hatch deal, except, you know, without the gay part.
3. You will find no more casual observer of the Rangers than I. And yet, even I’m thinking it might be time to start paying attention, because it kinda looks like something special might happen this year.
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I will stay out of the “than I” versus “than me” debate. However, I would like to point out that “casual observers” starting to pay attention is the first sign that the wheels are going to come flying off! On the bright side, Cubes may end up owning the team with Nolan remaining as the team’s president. Odds on Nolan giving Cubes a Robin Ventura-like beat down the first time Cubes goes to run on the field are currently 5:1!
Watkins only prosecutes Slam Dunk cases. That’s how he gets his bogus 99.4% conviction rate. What percentage of cases are no billed by the Grand Jury? Why are so many cases plead down to lesser charges? Why are misdemeanors not included in the formula?
If you allow career criminals to plea down to itty bitty little misdemeanors and then let them serve 1 day for 3 in jail, there is no incentive for them to quit being crooks.
I’m still waiting on the story about Watkin’s trip to LA after the election…who paid for it? And why did he choose to go? From D or DMN…
Otherwise, I’m sure Watkins looks fabulous in a tux. Perhaps Eric can move him into French cuffs.
Two things about the “conviction” numbers — they also include plea bargains, so a real question is now many cases are pled out using favorable-to-the-defendant pleas simply to boost the conviction rate? Second, I suspect every challenger to every incumbent DA could make (and probably has made) exactly the same argument, so this issue is not a Watkins issue (unlike his travel and aweome tux!).
Something stinks with this “Survivor” story, and I don’t mean the 18-inch fish at the end of a spear carried by Jimmy Johnson, his shirtless chest glistening as he exits the water.
I mean I don’t think he’ll be on the show. They’ve never had celebrities before and won’t this year. Besides, would FOX let him appear on CBS? Nope.
The tuxedo expense was reported on March 2:
“Among other expenditures: $4,100 paid for commemorative plates after his election, a $4,000 reimbursement to his father for an RV rental for what appears to be Barack Obama’s inauguration and $3,000 spent on the purchase of a tuxedo and shirts in March 2007.”
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/03/family_affair_district_attorney_craig.php
Harummph..
Henry Wade lived around the corner and I don’t recall seeing him in a tux..
Wade had more of a preference for executioner’s masks.