Friday, August 10, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Bad bunch: why our leaders' projects must be repeatedly rejected, knocked down, they need reminding who's boss and what's really important
10.09.06
Bad bunch
The sort most often elected here virtually demand aginers. They're seldom bad persons, but politics requires money and time, meaning that most are rich kids. Never having had to work, though they might've been attorneys or managers shoving people around like objects, they could always just party with their exclusive cliques.
Thus, with little grasp of having to work, they don't encourage such solid enterprises as manufacturing, preferring shaky tourist and entertainment businesses. Never having worried about expenses, they see taxes as daddy's inexhaustible gift and not others' hard gained necessity.
Always a notch above others, they tend to discount poor and middle class people. They'll try to get around ordinary people's needs while imposing the fads and fancies of their own social class.
This is all why our leaders' projects must be repeatedly rejected, knocked down, picked apart and revised. They need reminding who's boss and what's really important. Mainly, they must be kept from ruining local distinctiveness, imposing impossible taxes, and recreating here the polluted, crime ridden resorts where they vacation and excluded citizens struggle.
David C. Morrow
Larry Cox Jr.: There are so many rules in his court, but they do not seem to always pertain to him
Change needed
Oct 9, 2006
There are many important races being decided this year other than the races for governor, representative, etc. One very important position that needs new leadership is justice of the peace in Precinct No. 2, Place 2.
Larry Cox should be replaced. We need an effective and sound person in this position. I have seen Judge Cox treat people like he is Judge Judy on TV, and this is the true people's court. It is not his personal reward.
There are so many rules in his court, but they do not seem to always pertain to him. Once he reminded everyone that cell phones must be turned off, etc., and in the middle of a case he was hearing - his cell phone went off.
Both sides have been known to appear in his court expecting a case to be heard (since this is what the paper work from his own office stated), and find that he was not prepared to hear the case that he had scheduled.
Every person must be treated with total respect, and this is just not being done. We need moral leadership and clarity in this position, and that means a vote for Carolyn Moon.
There are times to forget the Republican or Democrat label and vote for change. This is one office that demands a change.
Mark Salmon
Fair judge
Ref: letter, Oct. 9, by Mark Salmon, "Change needed."
Mr. Mark Salmon, in his unjust criticism of Judge Larry Cox, failed to disclose to readers that he was an unsuccessful litigant in the judge's court last November, despite Judge Cox going out of his way to give Mr. Salmon a fair and impartial trial.
Mr. Salmon filed suit against a local veterinarian for alleged malpractice to Mr. Salmon's pet dachshund, seeking to recover approximately $5,000. After spending approximately eight hours over the course of two separate days at the expense of Nueces County taxpayers, Mr. Salmon was unable to prove his case, and Judge Cox appropriately so ruled.
I was present in the courtroom and was the lawyer who represented the local veterinarian. Judge Cox was respectful, patient, attentive and followed the law. His cell phone was on because the death of his father-in-law was imminent, but instead of taking time off, Judge Cox felt he had an obligation to work to keep his docket current. Judge Cox excused himself from the bench and took the call, and learned that his father-in-law had, in fact, died.
Readers deserve a judge with this kind of integrity and work ethic.
Keith B. O'Connell
(San Antonio)
Outgunned
In response to Keith B. O' Connell's letter of Oct. 17:
He mentioned that my wife and I were unsuccessful litigants in Cox's court last year. We stood up against the insurance company's lawyer and, according to Judge Cox, "It was a close call."
We are not lawyers and lost every objection made by the San Antonio lawyer. In fact, Judge Cox admitted he had to go to the Internet to make his decision. I did not think this was ethical. The case should be decided on facts presented and then applied against the law.
Our case was heard over three days and several months because Cox's office had confused the paperwork. Other observations were based on spending time in his court watching how others were treated.
When lawyers from out-of-town insurance companies are paid and get involved in our local politics, it is time for a change.
Mark E. Salmon
Outgunned: When lawyers from out-of-town insurance companies are paid and get involved in our local politics, it is time for a change.
Outgunned
In response to Keith B. O' Connell's letter of Oct. 17:
He mentioned that my wife and I were unsuccessful litigants in Cox's court last year. We stood up against the insurance company's lawyer and, according to Judge Cox, "It was a close call."
We are not lawyers and lost every objection made by the San Antonio lawyer. In fact, Judge Cox admitted he had to go to the Internet to make his decision. I did not think this was ethical. The case should be decided on facts presented and then applied against the law.
Our case was heard over three days and several months because Cox's office had confused the paperwork. Other observations were based on spending time in his court watching how others were treated.
When lawyers from out-of-town insurance companies are paid and get involved in our local politics, it is time for a change.
Mark E. Salmon
Monday, August 6, 2007
Corpus Christi Daily Digital: Mike Hummel: "I don't know anything about whats going on at the Caller Times".
Corpus Christi Daily Digital: Mike Hummel: "I don't know anything about whats going on at the Caller Times".
Corpus Christi Caller Times: After we finish with (this issue), Mr Mike Hummel will always remember to read the local internet and to give credit where credit is due.
This morning I got a call that took me out on the streets. I needed a little punch so I put it on a Classic Rock Station expecting maybe some Hair of the Dog or War Pigs or maybe even Lovin You Sunday Morning or Proud Mary but it wasn't to be. I hear the end of a discussion with our Corpus Christi City Council Member stuck smack dab in the middle of that damn river.
WATT River?...........
Some begin to ponder, while there are others who know exactly where I am going with this River issue; after we finish with (this issue), Mr Mike Hummel will always remember to read the local internet and to give credit where credit is due.
You know with the Memorial Coliseum I have not the sentimentality or passion like many of you guys possess and concurrently I dont believe it needs to be torn down. I was against anything that TRT wanted to bring to this town in light of what they left us upon departure.
Some events and it might even be many events; cannot afford to use ABC Center; so it is not
really a public arena like the Memorial Coliseum operated. Heck, many of us cannot afford to attend an event that is held in the ABC Center. So, tell us Mr. Hummel, Mr Burns and Mr Solis, will you make it affordable at least for our Local Goodwill Organizations like the Shriners to hold an event?
Currently, the ABC Center is out of our Local Goodwill Organizations reach because of price?
Now the Point at hand,
The discussion was about the Memorial Coliseum and specifically about the hiring of a consultant and if the City of Corpus Christi is going to follow WATT ever the Consultant recommended.
Corpus Christi City Councilman Hummel answered that the people have been included in the rounds of community input and public meetings.
The host asked if the Corpus Christi City Council was going to ask the consultant to include the input or if it will factor in.
Corpus Christi City Councilman Hummel quickly affirmed that the community's input has already been included.
The host then connected like Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and the Great Bambino Himself; he asked Hummel if the Corpus Christi City Council is considering the input from all of the people at the Caller Times on the Coliseum issue?
Mike Hummel answers "I don't know anything about whats going on at the Caller Times".
The host says you dont know, you haven't read the article at the Caller Times about the Memorial Coliseum and the internet input and suggestions from the public, you arent going to consider that input?
Hummel studdered 3 or 4 times and then a couple more times and then he said we got, we got people, we got other people on that, I think, I'm not a computer guy , but I think they are calling them something like blogs, Im not a computer guy, or something like that. Then continued the D NILE of the POWER OF THE INTERNET and the reality that the People are beginning to Engage themselves in the Formulation of Public Policy. Since you cant hear us Mr Hummel, let me yell a little louder and maybe everyone else will as well.
Mr Hummel, that River's name; we call it D Nile, get out of it. In fact a big part of your electability came from the web community. Power of the Pen Mr Hummel. When coupled with facts only an idiot would be so ignorant to be unaware of what some people are calling blogs. The credibility (or not) is right there in black and white for everyone to read. Do you still want to claim that you havent tread the input at the Caller Times Community Input Forum? Although censored slightly it can give there are many souls participating. They are already pissed off and to think that our City Council is trying to act like they are unaware of our presence. That is unbelievable Mr Hummel.
Nothing Personal MR Hummel, but I do believe you have a little bit of homework to do.
"Engaging the average citizen in the formulation of Public Policy" is our mission @ Kenedeno & Associates. "The Net is a powerful force for change -- and a dynamic tool for citizen education and action. Read the latest research on citizen participation (ENGAGEMENT) online, the stories and experiences of coalitions, corporate clients, and others working in the cyber trenches, and discover the potential to become an active participant in online democracy.
Corpus Christi Caller Times: After we finish with (this issue), Mr Mike Hummel will always remember to read the local internet and to give credit where credit is due.
This morning I got a call that took me out on the streets. I needed a little punch so I put it on a Classic Rock Station expecting maybe some Hair of the Dog or War Pigs or maybe even Lovin You Sunday Morning or Proud Mary but it wasn't to be. I hear the end of a discussion with our Corpus Christi City Council Member stuck smack dab in the middle of that damn river.
WATT River?...........
Some begin to ponder, while there are others who know exactly where I am going with this River issue; after we finish with (this issue), Mr Mike Hummel will always remember to read the local internet and to give credit where credit is due.
You know with the Memorial Coliseum I have not the sentimentality or passion like many of you guys possess and concurrently I dont believe it needs to be torn down. I was against anything that TRT wanted to bring to this town in light of what they left us upon departure.
Some events and it might even be many events; cannot afford to use ABC Center; so it is not
really a public arena like the Memorial Coliseum operated. Heck, many of us cannot afford to attend an event that is held in the ABC Center. So, tell us Mr. Hummel, Mr Burns and Mr Solis, will you make it affordable at least for our Local Goodwill Organizations like the Shriners to hold an event?
Currently, the ABC Center is out of our Local Goodwill Organizations reach because of price?
Now the Point at hand,
The discussion was about the Memorial Coliseum and specifically about the hiring of a consultant and if the City of Corpus Christi is going to follow WATT ever the Consultant recommended.
Corpus Christi City Councilman Hummel answered that the people have been included in the rounds of community input and public meetings.
The host asked if the Corpus Christi City Council was going to ask the consultant to include the input or if it will factor in.
Corpus Christi City Councilman Hummel quickly affirmed that the community's input has already been included.
The host then connected like Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and the Great Bambino Himself; he asked Hummel if the Corpus Christi City Council is considering the input from all of the people at the Caller Times on the Coliseum issue?
Mike Hummel answers "I don't know anything about whats going on at the Caller Times".
The host says you dont know, you haven't read the article at the Caller Times about the Memorial Coliseum and the internet input and suggestions from the public, you arent going to consider that input?
Hummel studdered 3 or 4 times and then a couple more times and then he said we got, we got people, we got other people on that, I think, I'm not a computer guy , but I think they are calling them something like blogs, Im not a computer guy, or something like that. Then continued the D NILE of the POWER OF THE INTERNET and the reality that the People are beginning to Engage themselves in the Formulation of Public Policy. Since you cant hear us Mr Hummel, let me yell a little louder and maybe everyone else will as well.
Mr Hummel, that River's name; we call it D Nile, get out of it. In fact a big part of your electability came from the web community. Power of the Pen Mr Hummel. When coupled with facts only an idiot would be so ignorant to be unaware of what some people are calling blogs. The credibility (or not) is right there in black and white for everyone to read. Do you still want to claim that you havent tread the input at the Caller Times Community Input Forum? Although censored slightly it can give there are many souls participating. They are already pissed off and to think that our City Council is trying to act like they are unaware of our presence. That is unbelievable Mr Hummel.
Nothing Personal MR Hummel, but I do believe you have a little bit of homework to do.
"Engaging the average citizen in the formulation of Public Policy" is our mission @ Kenedeno & Associates. "The Net is a powerful force for change -- and a dynamic tool for citizen education and action. Read the latest research on citizen participation (ENGAGEMENT) online, the stories and experiences of coalitions, corporate clients, and others working in the cyber trenches, and discover the potential to become an active participant in online democracy.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
Corpus Christi Watchdog Authority: "nobody knows Mikal Watts better than Corpus Christi." But does Mikal Watts know us (the people of Corpus Christi)?
Corpus Christi Watchdog Authority: "nobody knows Mikal Watts better than Corpus Christi." But does Mikal Watts know us (the people of Corpus Christi)?
The Kenedy Pasture Company: A Civil Action in the Making?
2007-07-02
A Civil Action in the Making?
Why must we flex our muscles?
Nueces County, CCISD, 105th Judicial District Attorney; how many kids were locked up without an attorney?
- There is no excuse for violating the basic human rights afforded under the United States Constitution.
- How many kids were locked up by a court of nonrecord?
- Not even with a parent's consent unless the parent has been given the opportunity to consult with counsel.
- How many children taken into custody were advised of their Miranda Rights?
- Oh yeah, Plaisted and every CCISD kid for whom, he provided service
What do we want?
Go do some homework, we want responsive representation with transparent operation.
We want to not be railroaded for tardies or for absences when the District does not practice due diligence in interdicting but is very diligent in recording the events and adamantly prosecutes and collects half of the fine. When the people cant pay the kids are picked up from class and taken in handcuffs to the court of nonrecord. The Parent is contacted and ordered to appear immediately. When the Parent arrives he or she is told to pay or your kid goes to jail and sometimes the parent is threatened and / or locked up as well. I have never seen a kid who has been provided counsel but I have witnessed many a kid go to jail.
And this from non responsive legislators who have enabled the School Administration to blame the parent when they allow children in their custody to roam at large unaccounted for and the District in coordination with the Courts of non record get paid (profit) from it.
2007-07-01
"Court Appointed Rolodex's". Nanotechnology and "Confessing Error" in a dog and pony show who operate like they are in a Kangaroo Court.
Nanotechnology at work right before our eyes finally an acknowledgment of what has been going on for quite a while now. The information in those "Court Appointed Rolodex's", there is gold in them hills. And this is going to start becoming available when? and for who? We have came to a narrowing of the road here in this alligning of energy fields. I can see it now we got Mikal who who is the adversary of my adversary John Cornyn. We also have the Honorable Judge Manuel Banales who needs to align with Mr Watts and vice versa. Does he want to run for mayor unopposed? I would rather see him correct the errors and run for Governor or Ascend to the Texas Supreme Court. Now, John Cornyn has "Confessed Error" and I assure you it wasn't out of fairness but in the essence of knocking the checkers off of the Table because he was going to lose. And Carlos Valdez & John Hubert "Confess Error" on appeal from the 105th. Hubert & Valdez "confess error" so they can conceal Mary Cano. And that is as painless as it gets.
Anton
CCCT Political PulseMikal Watts seeks to round up list of Democrats for self, others
By Jaime PowellA Monday noontime fundraiser at Vietnam restaurant for U.S. Senate hopeful Mikal Watts was a who's who of the local bar association and judiciary, including five district judges. Watts, who is living in San Antonio, told the crowd that "nobody knows Mikal Watts better than Corpus Christi."
Watts, a Democrat, who is seeking the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn, asked the gathering to dig through their Rolodexes and e-mail address lists because he hopes to compile a statewide database to reach Democratic voters that can be used by all Texas Democrats.
"That way, when Judge (J. Manuel) Bañales runs for mayor he can use it," Watts joked, to uproarious laughter from the crowd and a big grin from Bañales, who was sitting on the front row.
2007-06-30
If you need an attorney.....if he is any good he will tell you watt an "Ander's Appeal" is? If he tells you not to worry about it.........FIRE HIM !!!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
The Bilderberg Club
Bilderberg 2007: Welcome to the Lunatic Fringe
21-05-2007In 1954, the most powerful men in the world met for the first time under the auspices of the Dutch royal crown and the Rockefeller family in the luxurious Hotel Bilderberg of the small Dutch town of Oosterbeck. For an entire weekend they debated the future of the world. When it was over, they decided to meet once every year to exchange ideas and analyze international affairs. They named themselves the Bilderberg Club. Since then, they have gathered yearly in a luxurious hotel somewhere in the world to decide the future of humanity.
In more than fifty years of meetings that brings together unprecedented power and money in the same time and place, never has any information been leaked as to what subjects were debated during the Bilderberg Club meetings. Bilderberg, one of the world’s most powerful secret organizations is run out of an 18m2 offices, staffed by one person, using one telephone line and a single fax number. There is no web page and no brass name plate on the door. The independent press has never been allowed in, and no statements have ever been released on the attendees’ conclusions nor has any agenda for a Bilderberg meeting been made public. How, in God’s name, can this be possible when Bilderberg´s elite membership list includes all of the most powerful individuals who run the Planet?
Leaders of the Bilderberg Club argue that this discretion is necessary to allow participants in the debates to speak freely without being on the record or reported publicly. Otherwise, Bilderbergers state, they would be forced to speak in the language of a press release. Doubtlessly, this discretion allows the Bilderberg Club to deliberate more freely, but that does not respond to the fundamental question: What do the world’s most powerful people talk about in these meetings?
Any modern democratic system protects the right to privacy, but doesn’t the public have a right to know what their political leaders are talking about when they meet the wealthiest business leaders of their respective countries?
What guarantees do citizens have that the Bilderberg Club isn’t a centre for influence trafficking and lobbying if they aren’t allowed to know what their representatives talk about at the Club’s secret gatherings?
Why are the Davos World Economic Forum and G8 meetings carried in every newspaper, given front page coverage, with thousands of journalists in attendance, while no one covers Bilderberg Club meetings even though they are annually attended by Presidents of the International Monetary Fund, The World Bank, Federal Reserve, chairmen of 100 most powerful corporations in the world such as DaimlerChrysler, Coca Cola, British Petroleum, Chase Manhattan Bank, American Express, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Vice Presidents of the United States, Directors of the CIA and the FBI, General Secretaries of NATO, American Senators and members of Congress, European Prime Ministers and leaders of opposition parties, top editors and CEOs of the leading newspapers in the world. It is surprising that no mainstream corporate media outlets consider a gathering of such figures, whose wealth far exceeds the combined wealth of all United States citizens, to be newsworthy when a trip by any one of them on their own makes headline news on TV.
The delegates at Bilderberg 2007: Istanbul, Turkey May 31-June 3
This year’s delegation will once again include all of the most important politicians, businessmen, central bankers, European Commissioners and executives of the western corporate press. They will be joined at the table by leading representatives of the European Royalty, led by Queen Beatrix, the daughter of the Bilderberg founder, former Nazi, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and Bilderberger President, Etienne Davignon, Vice Chairman, Suez-Tractebel from Belgium. According to Bilderberg Steering Committee list which this author had access to, the following names have now been confirmed as official Bilderberg attendees for this year’s conference (In alphabetical order):
George Alogoskoufis, Minister of Economy and Finance (Greece); Ali Babacan, Minister of Economic Affairs (Turkey); Edward Balls, Economic Secretary to the Treasury (UK); Francisco Pinto Balsemão, Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA, S.G.P.S.; Former Prime Minister (Portugal); José M. Durão Barroso, President, European Commission (Portugal/International); Franco Bernabé, Vice Chariman, Rothschild Europe (Italy); Nicolas Beytout, Editor-in-Chief, Le Figaro (France); Carl Bildt, Former Prime Minister (Sweden); Hubert Burda, Publisher and CEO, Hubert Burda Media Holding (Belgium); Philippe Camus, CEO, EADS (France); Henri de Castries, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, AXA (France); Juan Luis Cebrian, Grupo PRISA media group (Spain); Kenneth Clark, Member of Parliament (UK); Timothy C. Collins, Senior Managing Director and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC (USA); Bertrand Collomb, Chairman, Lafarge (France); George A. David, Chairman, Coca-Cola H.B.C. S.A. (USA); Kemal Dervis, Administrator, UNDP (Turkey); Anders Eldrup, President, DONG A/S (Denmark); John Elkann, Vice Chairman, Fiat S.p.A (Italy); Martin S. Feldstein, President and CEO, National Bureau of Economic Research (USA); Timothy F. Geithner, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of New York (USA); Paul A. Gigot, Editor of the Editorial Page, The Wall Street Journal (USA); Dermot Gleeson, Chairman, AIB Group (Ireland); Donald E. Graham, Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company (USA); Victor Halberstadt, Professor of Economics, Leiden University; Former Honorary Secretary General of Bilderberg Meetings (the Netherlands); Jean-Pierre Hansen, CEO, Suez-Tractebel S.A. (Belgium); Richard N. Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations (USA); Richard C. Holbrooke, Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC (USA); Jaap G. Hoop de Scheffer, Secretary General, NATO (the Netherlands/International); Allan B. Hubbard, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, Director National Economic Council (USA); Josef Joffe, Publisher-Editor, Die Zeit (Germany); James A. Johnson, Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC (USA); Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Senior Managing Director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC (USA); Anatole Kaletsky, Editor at Large, The Times (UK); John Kerr of Kinlochard, Deputy Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc (the Netherlands); Henry A. Kissinger, Chairman, Kissinger Associates (USA); Mustafa V. Koç, Chariman, Koç Holding A.S. (Turkey); Fehmi Koru, Senior Writer, Yeni Safek (Turkey); Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign Affairs (France); Henry R. Kravis, Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (USA); Marie-Josée Kravis, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Inc. (USA); Neelie Kroes, Commissioner, European Commission (the Netherlands/International); Ed Kronenburg, Director of the Private Office, NATO Headquarters (International); William J. Luti, Special Assistant to the President for Defense Policy and Strategy, National Security Council (USA); Jessica T. Mathews, President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (USA); Frank McKenna, Ambassador to the US, member Carlyle Group (Canada); Thierry de Montbrial, President, French Institute for International Relations (France); Mario Monti, President, Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi (Italy); Craig J. Mundie, Chief Technical Officer Advanced Strategies and Policy, Microsoft Corporation (USA); Egil Myklebust, Chairman of the Board of Directors SAS, Norsk Hydro ASA (Norway); Matthias Nass, Deputy Editor, Die Zeit (Germany); Adnrzej Olechowski, Leader Civic Platform (Poland); Jorma Ollila, Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc/Nokia (Finland); George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (UK); Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, Minister of Finance (Italy); Richard N. Perle, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (USA); Heather Reisman, Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc. (Canada); David Rockefeller (USA); MatÃas Rodriguez Inciarte, Executive Vice Chairman, Grupo Santander Bank, (Spain); Dennis B. Ross, Director, Washington Institute for Near East Policy (USA); Otto Schily, Former Minister of Interior Affairs; Member of Parliament; Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Germany); Jürgen E. Schrempp, Former Chairman of the Board of Management, DaimlerChrysler AG (Germany); Tøger Seidenfaden, Executive Editor-in-Chief, Politiken (Denmark); Peter D. Sutherland, Chairman, BP plc and Chairman, Goldman Sachs International (Ireland); Giulio Tremonti, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies (Italy); Jean-Claude Trichet, Governor, European Central Bank (France/International); John Vinocur, Senior Correspondent, International Herald Tribune (USA); Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman, Investor AB (Sweden); Martin H. Wolf, Associate Editor and Economics Commentator, The Financial Times (UK); James D. Wolfensohn, Special Envoy for the Gaza Disengagement (USA); Robert B. Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of State (USA); Klaus Zumwinkel, Chairman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Post AG (USA); Adrian D. Wooldridge, Foreign Correspondent, The Economist.
Amongst the names appearing on the initial list of invitees which this journalist had access to in January 2007 stand out the names of the now disgraced John Browne, British Petroleum’s Chief Executive Officer and the disgraced and fired former chief of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz. It will be interesting to see if either of these men makes an appearance at Bilderberg 2007. The Bilderbergers have no trouble accepting criminals into the fold as long as their misdeeds are conducted away from public spotlight and scrutiny. Once exposed, the culprits are generally discarded. Lord Conrad Black, former chief executive of Hollinger media group is a case in point.
Two others names on the original January 2007 list should raise a few eyebrows. One of them is Bernard Kouchner, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the right wing Nicolas Sarkozy government in France. Kouchner is a former founder of ONG Doctors without Borders. He was absent from Bilderberg 2006 in Ottawa, Canada. Could his government position been arranged prior to the French national elections? For my money, the surprise appearance of year award should go to Mahmood Sariolghalam, Associate Professor of International Relations, School of Economic and Political Sciences, National University of Iran. What is an Iranian doing at a NATO alliance controlled Bilderberg conference? We will know soon enough. Bilderberg 2007 is indeed a good time to look behind the scenes.
What will be discussed at Bilderberg 2007?
Aside from the Irak quagmire, energy problems continue to dominate Bilderberger discussions. Oil and natural gas are finite, non-renewable resources. That’s because once used up it cannot be replenished. As the world turns, and as oil and natural gas supplies dwindle while demand soars dramatically, especially with Indian and Chinese booming economies who want all the trinkets and privileges of an American way of life, we, as the Planet, have crossed the midpoint of oil production and discovery. From now on, the only sure thing is that supply will continue to diminish and prices will continue to increase. In these conditions world conflict is a physical certainty. End of oil means end of world’s financial system, something which has already been acknowledged by Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, two full time members of the Bilderberger inner circle. Goldman Sachs oil report, [another full time member of the Bilderberger elite] published on March 30, 2005 increased the oil price range for the year 2005-6 from $55-$80 per barrel to $55-$105. During 2006 meeting, Bilderbergers have confirmed that their short range price estimate for oil for the 2007-08 continues to hover around US$105-150/barrel. No wonder Jose Barroso, President of the European Commission, announced several months ago during the unveiling of the new European energy policy that the time has come for a “post-industrial age.” To bring the world into the post industrial age, you first need to destroy the world´s economic base and create another Great Depression. When people are poor, they don´t spend money, they don´t travel, and they don´t consume.
As the economic impact sinks in, and as the after effects of Peak Oil become evident in the face of breakdown of civilization, the United States will be forced to challenge Europe, Russia and China for the hegemony of control and the ever depleting hydrocarbon, non-renewable reserves most of which are contained in the Middle East. That will be point number two on the Bilderberg 2007 agenda.
Third item on the agenda is European relations with Russia not only in Europe but also in Central Asia. With Moscow making a deal with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan over the transport of gas to Europe, the US geo-strategic goal of driving a wedge between the Central Asian countries and Russia lies in shambles. While the US says this is "not good for Europe", the Europeans are divided. Iran, overnight has become America’s last hope in the energy war.
Iran war, after two years of huffing and puffing by the Bush government is definitely off the table. Furthermore, with France, Russia, Japan and China investing heavily in Iran, the world has drawn a line in the sand and the U.S. will be told at the conference not to cross it. There is blood in the water, and blood in the water usually leads to a good fight.
That notwithstanding, the United States needs to control the region, not only for its oil reserves but, most importantly to help it sustain world economic hegemony. Under this strategic design, regional states will be turned to weak domains of sectarian sheikhs with little or no sovereignty and, by implications, a pathetic agenda of their economic development. Regional chaos favours the spread of Islamic fundamentalism, which in turn reinforces the process of political and social disintegration supported by the Bilderbergers.
With Blair leaving, the UK will be told yet again, that they must, at all cost, do what is necessary to integrate the country into the European Community.
Finally, with Wolfowitz resigning from the World Bank, Bilderberg luminaries will try to come to a consensus on how best to overhaul not only the bank but its sister organization, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by a Spaniard, Rodrigo Rato. Wolfowitz became entangled in controversy seven weeks ago after World Bank whistleblowers leaked to the Washington-based non-governmental organization Government Accountability Project (GAP) documents that showed Wolfowitz pushing a high pay raise in a secondment deal to the US State Department for his girlfriend.
We, as a society, are at a crossroads. In almost every corner of the planet, stress points are beginning to fracture. The roads we take from here will determine the very future of humanity. It was former British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who stated that “the world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes.”
It is not up to God to bring us back from the “New Dark Age” planned for us. IT IS UP TO US. Whether we go into the next century as an electronic global police state or as free human beings depends on the action we take now. Forewarned is forearmed. We will never find the right answers if we don’t ask the proper questions.
Friday, June 8, 2007
essenceofpinocchio: Is there really a Texas Solicitor General? Why does the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Ignore SCOTUS?
essenceofpinocchio: Is there really a Texas Solicitor General? Why does the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Ignore SCOTUS?
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CONFESSING ERROR
By EDWARD LAZARUS
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----CONFESSING ERROR
By EDWARD LAZARUS
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Friday, Jun. 16, 2000
Earlier this month, Vincent Saldano, one of the 468 inmates on Texas' death row, had his death sentence vacated. This development was duly reported in the press. But accounts of Saldano's good fortune uniformly failed to appreciate what makes his reprieve truly newsworthy and potentially a landmark.
Saving Saldano: Texas Confesses Error
![[Illustration]](http://writ.news.findlaw.com/images/illustrations/e-chair_cropped.jpg) | |
Saldano was not freed from the prospect of execution by the actions of a court or even, as occasionally happens, by the clemency of a governor. His death sentence was erased because Texas, through its newly created office of the solicitor general, "confessed error" in his case -- that is, it admitted, despite defeating Saldano's initial appeals in court, that his death sentence was illegally obtained. Quite simply, this never happens, either in Texas or in the dozens of other states with active death penalty laws. It is thus worth pausing to consider the value and potential implications of Saldano's case as well as the notion of confessing error.
Saldano had received a death sentence in part due to profoundly troubling testimony by a state expert witness at the sentencing phase of his trial. The expert, a clinical psychologist named Walter Quijano, suggested that Saldano should be executed because, as an Hispanic, he posed a special risk of future dangerousness to society. To support this astonishing conclusion, the expert pointed out that Hispanics make up a disproportionately large amount of Texas' prison population.It does not take a tenured professor of constitutional law to realize that linking racial identity with a propensity for violence was not only bizarre but also a violation of the equal protection clause. Indeed, that it should take a confession of error by the state to correct this problem highlights at least two problems in the current administration of the death penalty. First, in seeking the death penalty, prosecutors sometimes overlook glaring illegalities. The same flaw identified in Saldano's case infects at least seven other Texas capital cases. Second (and perhaps even more distressing), courts, especially state courts, are too often willing to overlook even obvious constitutional flaws when reviewing death penalty cases. After all, before the state's confession of error, Saldano had lost all of his appeals.
Under these circumstances, one might think that confessions of error would be, if not commonplace, at least occasional. On average, the Solicitor General of the United States confesses error in two or three criminal cases every year -- even though it is a safe bet that federal prosecutions, conducted by better trained lawyers with greater supervision, are less likely to contain obvious legal errors than their state counterparts. As the Supreme Court recognized when endorsing the practice in 1942, "the public trust reposed in the law enforcement officers of the Government requires that they be quick to confess error, when, in their opinion, a miscarriage of justice may result from their remaining silent." But as a practical matter, states never confess error in death penalty cases (even though courts overturn roughly two-thirds of all death sentences as legally infirm) -- and some states candidly admit that their policy is never to confess error.
Mutual Distrust
Why? One crucial and usually overlooked factor is the deep antagonism that has grown up over time between state death penalty prosecutors and the death penalty abolitionist lawyers who seek to foil them in every case. The abolitionists, prosecutors know all too well, never concede that their clients deserve the death penalty or that the death penalty was legally imposed -- no matter how flimsy their arguments in a given case. Rather, they use every procedural and substantive trick in the book to delay executions.
There can be no denying that such abolitionist tactics have angered and frustrated state prosecutors. And one response to these understandable emotions has been for prosecutors to mirror the fight-to-the-bitter-end approach of their opponents.
The problem with this reciprocation, however, is simply that the ethical duties of prosecutors and defense attorneys are vastly different. Defense attorneys are duty-bound to scratch and claw to win for their clients. Prosecutors, by contrast, despite striking hard blows, must never lose sight of their ultimate obligation to do justice in every case.
That may sound trite and perhaps overly idealistic, but it has a practical side as well. Prosecutorial confessions of error -- knowing when to fold them, as it is known -- establish credibility. They create trust in the system, a sense that someone is being careful and exercising sound judgment, that extends far beyond any single case. And that can make a world of difference for someone like me, who is not morally opposed to the death penalty but skeptical of how it is imposed.
Death Penalty Politics
In addition, the reluctance of state prosecutors to confess error is a clear reflection of how politics affects the death penalty. Up until now, anyway, undoing a death sentence was akin to political suicide for an elected district attorney or state attorney general, or for any state official with ambitions for re-election or higher office. And yet the willingness of Texas' new solicitor general to confess error in the Saldano case suggests a possible turning point. With the current groundswell of death penalty opposition based on the possibility of executing an innocent person, elected officials may now find some advantage in approaching capital cases (even those where innocence is not an issue) with a greater degree of care and honesty.
case will start a broad trend. But there is reason to believe that the tide is indeed turning. On June 9, Texas Attorney General John Cornyn announced the results of an investigation into other death penalty cases involving testimony by state expert Walter Quijano. Cornyn acknowledged that Dr. Quijano had provided testimony in six other death penalty cases similar to his improper testimony in the Saldano case. Cornyn's staff has advised defense lawyers for the six inmates now on death row that his office will not oppose efforts to overturn their sentences based on Quijano's testimony. In response, a pessimist might note that Texas is appealing a ruling in another capital case that the defendant received inadequate counsel -- when, indisputably, his lawyer slept through much of the trial. But doing the right thing has a contagious quality to it. Or at least so we can hope. Edward Lazarus, a former federal prosecutor, is the legal correspondent for Talk Magazine and the author of Closed Chambers: The Rise, Fall, and Future of the Modern Supreme Court.Thursday, June 7, 2007
The next election will be the true test as it will speak a great deal about the voters if they vote to send him back.
Here are some comments from the Article: Ortiz Tidies Up After Another Gaffe?
I say GAFF
Post Your Comments
Posted by no on June 6, 2007 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ortiz is such a joke! Guess he finnally learned that it's the public he should listen to, not the puppet-master. Oh well, hopefully he's a one-term wonder....sure definitely seems to be on track to be one.
Posted by guest on June 6, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Makes you wonder if something spooked then into backing out on the bill, time will tell. Looking forward to the Caller Times in keeping us informed.
Posted by stff on June 6, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He's your boy Caller Times. You endorsed him. But like you always endorse his daddy after it's been revealed he's been involved in funny stuff, you'll continue to endorse Jr. The editorial board's interest is preserving the Democrat Party in Nueces County, not open and honest government as it likes everyone to believe.
Posted by mychbelle on June 6, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is what happens when registered voters make uneducated decisions and vote for a name rather than considering a candidate's true qualifications for the job in which he seeks. Now we're stuck with an imbecile representative who can't even pretend to know what he's doing. He rode his father's coattails all the way to the statehouse and now we're paying for it. We can only hope and pray that he'll do relatively little damage the rest of his term in office, and maybe more intelligent voters'll stand up next time.
Posted by truthincc on June 6, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The next election will be the true test as it will speak a great deal about the voters if they vote to send him back.
Posted by mondosurf77 on June 6, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
At least he is backing off these pieces of legislation when the public expresses that they do not approve of them. I'd rather have an official who does that than the smartest man/woman in the world that does not listen to the people. Overall, it would be nice to have an intelligent, experienced person who listens to the people...but you are only limited to the candidates that run for office, right?
Posted by cwaller on June 6, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, the boy backed off the legislation, which makes him look silly, but shows that he will change when there is public disapproval. At least the guy listens to the public and acts on it.
Posted by mike.carter on June 6, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for Rep. Ortiz. He makes a mistake and admits it and does something about it. Wish we could say the same for the President of the United States.
Posted by df61743 on June 6, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The jerks that sent him up there are the same jerks that kept sending his useless daddy back, and they will send him back again. Apparently they aren't smart enough to read about what he's doing. The name is all they need to know!
Posted by dthompson on June 6, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The CCCT seems to only report the 'bad' things that Rep. Ortiz is doing. If and when they ever post anything good he's done, it's a small blurp on a back page. The CCCT receives the same press releases that Ortiz's constituents and supporters are able to receive. If the Caller Times were to report on all of his accomplishments within his first 6 months in office then they'd really be keeping us informed.
Posted by browardjoe on June 6, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its a joke and he is a joke of a legislator. There are state reps that go decades without screw ups like this and he did this in his first session. Unbelievable. His father can do this stuff and never get called on it and this newspaper continues to endorse him...another joke. Anyone ever figure out that there has been a senior congressman, a county judge, a county commissioner, and now a state rep hail from Robstown since 1982 and it still looks like a third world country over there? When our citizens are going to wake up is beyond me. Hes trying to do 'under the table,' shoddy deals like his dad, but thank goodness he is too stupid to even pull them off.
Posted by usaf7191 on June 6, 2007 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Carter,
It appears to me that Representative Ortiz did not admit to making a mistake until after the public raised and eyebrow or two about his actions. Both this time and also when he accepted a bill from his uncle and submitted it without even reading it to the legislature for consideration.
Who in his right mind would introduce a bill giving (tax dollar paid)benefits to people who volunteered to be RTA Board Members.
Last time I checked Volunteer meant to perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will without expecting to be compensated.
Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone should look into other deals that the RTA has done?
I read that they each have a personal expense accounts for travel to conventions and other "informational" seminars. Is that "on the job training" or "vacation time" at taxpayer expense?
What is really going on at the RTA that the public is unaware of?
Let's get some true volunteers who believe in public service at the RTA.
I remember that political ad portraying Ortiz Jr. as a puppet. At the time I thought it to be very mean spirited, however now one has to wonder just how many strings really tied to Jr.? I'm very disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCXYGsChu...
Posted by nick.wetegrove on June 6, 2007 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The real joke is the Caller-Times. Had the newspaper had any interest in reporting the real news they would have noted the needle exchange legislation that Rep. Ortiz got passed that will protect our police officers from contracting HIV. Also, don't worry about mentioning his work on the CHIP bill to get thousands of more Texas children insured.
Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The bill you are referring to is only one of 13 bills that died. Only 3 bills were passed by Representative Ortiz in 5 months. The RTA bill, a county pay raise bill, and a access to records bill. My niece showed me how to find this information and she is 16.
I would think that you would take the time to check your facts. Let me assist you in your endeavor to educate yourself.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/Bi...
Posted by nick.wetegrove on June 6, 2007 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for your kind offering. As you are probably unfamiliar with the true workings of the legislative process let me assist you. The Republican opposition to any form of needle exchange bill was very intense this legislative session. Had you investigated further you would have noticed that HB 1846 was referred to the Public Health Committee which is chaired by Rep. Diane Delisi, who was a 2001 Texas Eagle Forum Freedom and Family Award winner. Additional inquiry would have led you to realize that the Eagle Forum is a group affiliated with Phyllis Schlafly, a woman that wrote a book against the Equal Rights Amendment, and encourages "conservative participation in public policy". Certainly Rep. Delisi could not go back to her constituents and tell them she voted for a bill that would give intravenous drug users access to needles. That certainly does not sound deserving of the Freedom and Family Award. But wait -- Rep. Delisi never had a chance to vote on the bill because as chair of the committee she ultimately decides which bills her committee will hear and she did not want to hear this one. Maybe your niece should have informed you of that. Furthermore, a true detective like yourself I am sure would have watched the debate on SB 10, you would have noticed that it was amended to create a pilot needle exchange program in Bexar county. Rep. Ortiz and his staff's work towards this compromise is also something else you won't read in the Caller. The other bill I assume you are cross referencing with me is HB 710. Rep. Ortiz filed this bill in conjunction with at least 15 other members. Despite opposition, this bill passed in a different form (HB 109 I believe) and as a result 127,000 more children are now insured. Next time you should probably consult someone other than your niece or your government textbook. Maybe then you would realize there are dozens of different ways for great ideas like this from Rep. Ortiz to make it into law. That is what it's all about right? Helping the people of Texas. Good job Rep. Ortiz.
Best wishes during your endeavor to educate yourself on the realities of politics and government.
Posted by raquel.premier on June 6, 2007 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Rep.Ortiz, is doing a fantasic job....There will be tons of issues that we the public will not agree on, we don't realize that he has given alot of his time and energy for the citizens here and has given up more than he will probably ever gain... He has accomplished alot and I am an glad he represents CC...Once again we are talking about people in corpus that dont get involved and are the first to have a negative comment...
Keep up the good work Rep.Ortiz!!!
Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That was a round about way of saying that he had a bill which became and amendment of which he doesn't even have his name on but it supposably was passed in to law BY HIM? 18 amendments and I didn't see Ortiz listed.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLooku...
The statement was that "needle exchange legislation that Rep. Ortiz got passed " where does it say he passed it?
I never read that he was an author or co-author in the house.
And where did protection of law enforcement come into play? Was that just your interpretation?
I applaud anyone who is a public servant including teachers but don't make a statement that something was accomplished or passed when it simply is not the case. 3 bills were passed by Ortiz the RTA, the County, the notification bill
If you can provide the link where it shows where he provided that amendment we would certainly like to read that. And will gladly admit that I made a mistake. I'm only a teacher but research is not that difficult.
Posted by el_longhorn on June 6, 2007 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey marybelltx, Ortiz is a CO-AUTHOR of HB 109, the CHIP bill that restores health insurance to thousands of kids in Texas and that you like so much. In addition to his 3 bills, Ortiz also passed 3 amendments and sponsored one senate bill...pretty good for a freshman who is in the minority party and voted against Speaker Craddick! Look it all up. Compare his accomplishments to any freshman Democrat. He did very well.
On needle exchange, why don't you ask the ACLU or the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation what they think about Ortiz's efforts on legalizing needle exchange programs? By the way, law enforcement supports needle exchange because they don't want to get stuck with a dirty needle when patting someone down.
Posted by miguelmba1 on June 7, 2007 at 1:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another example of the corrupt politics of Nueces County. We need to cut the Puppet's strings!
Posted by marybelltx on June 7, 2007 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My issue is not with Ortiz but with the RTA.
If I was Ortiz my concern is who is hurting him and/or who is helping him. The people who put him in this position must have another motive. No idiot would not think of what the fallout would be. RIGHT?
TO me Ortiz Jr. is the victim of people may have intentionally manipulated him in order to put him in that position to be at the minimum vulnerable to defeat in the upcoming election.
Since you are primarily concerned with Ortiz and cannot see beyond that. Answer a question for me
OF THE 16 BILLS THAT HE AUTHORED HOW MANY WERE PASSED?
OF THE BILLS THAT WERE PASSED HOW MANY WERE SPECIAL INTEREST BILLS AND/OR FILED RELATED TO A FAMILY MEMBER?
Question
Why wouldn't he pass a county bill to another member of the delegation to avoid the perception of impropriety.
I guess he would rather do it "in" the taxpayers "face" than try and hide it.
To my little people aka "the minority"
When did it become about the one and not the many?
Politics is about building bridges and helping the people who deserve helped and truly deserve help.
It was said earlier that Rep. Oriz made a mistake and he corrected it. And for that I understand. I feel that the Caller deserves the same respect in that it endorsed the Congressman's son and in MY opionion the CALLER should be extended the same courtesy and rescind it's endorsement of Ortiz, Jr. for... well doing absolutely nothing.
WE VOTED YOU IN AND I VOTED FOR YOU. WHAT DID YOU DO? FOR CORPUS? TELL US PLEASE.
RTA
Why cant the Caller tell us what these RTA people really do and what the qualifications are?
I would like to have a travel expense account, a title, be able to vote on millions of dollars of taxpayer money and NOT HAVE TO BE ELECTED. Wait it's "our" tax money they are spending.
NOW HOW DO I BECOME ONE OF THESE CHIEFTAINS?
I say GAFF
Post Your Comments
Posted by no on June 6, 2007 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ortiz is such a joke! Guess he finnally learned that it's the public he should listen to, not the puppet-master. Oh well, hopefully he's a one-term wonder....sure definitely seems to be on track to be one.
Posted by guest on June 6, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Makes you wonder if something spooked then into backing out on the bill, time will tell. Looking forward to the Caller Times in keeping us informed.
Posted by stff on June 6, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He's your boy Caller Times. You endorsed him. But like you always endorse his daddy after it's been revealed he's been involved in funny stuff, you'll continue to endorse Jr. The editorial board's interest is preserving the Democrat Party in Nueces County, not open and honest government as it likes everyone to believe.
Posted by mychbelle on June 6, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is what happens when registered voters make uneducated decisions and vote for a name rather than considering a candidate's true qualifications for the job in which he seeks. Now we're stuck with an imbecile representative who can't even pretend to know what he's doing. He rode his father's coattails all the way to the statehouse and now we're paying for it. We can only hope and pray that he'll do relatively little damage the rest of his term in office, and maybe more intelligent voters'll stand up next time.
Posted by truthincc on June 6, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The next election will be the true test as it will speak a great deal about the voters if they vote to send him back.
Posted by mondosurf77 on June 6, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
At least he is backing off these pieces of legislation when the public expresses that they do not approve of them. I'd rather have an official who does that than the smartest man/woman in the world that does not listen to the people. Overall, it would be nice to have an intelligent, experienced person who listens to the people...but you are only limited to the candidates that run for office, right?
Posted by cwaller on June 6, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, the boy backed off the legislation, which makes him look silly, but shows that he will change when there is public disapproval. At least the guy listens to the public and acts on it.
Posted by mike.carter on June 6, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for Rep. Ortiz. He makes a mistake and admits it and does something about it. Wish we could say the same for the President of the United States.
Posted by df61743 on June 6, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The jerks that sent him up there are the same jerks that kept sending his useless daddy back, and they will send him back again. Apparently they aren't smart enough to read about what he's doing. The name is all they need to know!
Posted by dthompson on June 6, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The CCCT seems to only report the 'bad' things that Rep. Ortiz is doing. If and when they ever post anything good he's done, it's a small blurp on a back page. The CCCT receives the same press releases that Ortiz's constituents and supporters are able to receive. If the Caller Times were to report on all of his accomplishments within his first 6 months in office then they'd really be keeping us informed.
Posted by browardjoe on June 6, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its a joke and he is a joke of a legislator. There are state reps that go decades without screw ups like this and he did this in his first session. Unbelievable. His father can do this stuff and never get called on it and this newspaper continues to endorse him...another joke. Anyone ever figure out that there has been a senior congressman, a county judge, a county commissioner, and now a state rep hail from Robstown since 1982 and it still looks like a third world country over there? When our citizens are going to wake up is beyond me. Hes trying to do 'under the table,' shoddy deals like his dad, but thank goodness he is too stupid to even pull them off.
Posted by usaf7191 on June 6, 2007 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Carter,
It appears to me that Representative Ortiz did not admit to making a mistake until after the public raised and eyebrow or two about his actions. Both this time and also when he accepted a bill from his uncle and submitted it without even reading it to the legislature for consideration.
Who in his right mind would introduce a bill giving (tax dollar paid)benefits to people who volunteered to be RTA Board Members.
Last time I checked Volunteer meant to perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will without expecting to be compensated.
Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone should look into other deals that the RTA has done?
I read that they each have a personal expense accounts for travel to conventions and other "informational" seminars. Is that "on the job training" or "vacation time" at taxpayer expense?
What is really going on at the RTA that the public is unaware of?
Let's get some true volunteers who believe in public service at the RTA.
I remember that political ad portraying Ortiz Jr. as a puppet. At the time I thought it to be very mean spirited, however now one has to wonder just how many strings really tied to Jr.? I'm very disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCXYGsChu...
Posted by nick.wetegrove on June 6, 2007 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The real joke is the Caller-Times. Had the newspaper had any interest in reporting the real news they would have noted the needle exchange legislation that Rep. Ortiz got passed that will protect our police officers from contracting HIV. Also, don't worry about mentioning his work on the CHIP bill to get thousands of more Texas children insured.
Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The bill you are referring to is only one of 13 bills that died. Only 3 bills were passed by Representative Ortiz in 5 months. The RTA bill, a county pay raise bill, and a access to records bill. My niece showed me how to find this information and she is 16.
I would think that you would take the time to check your facts. Let me assist you in your endeavor to educate yourself.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/Bi...
Posted by nick.wetegrove on June 6, 2007 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for your kind offering. As you are probably unfamiliar with the true workings of the legislative process let me assist you. The Republican opposition to any form of needle exchange bill was very intense this legislative session. Had you investigated further you would have noticed that HB 1846 was referred to the Public Health Committee which is chaired by Rep. Diane Delisi, who was a 2001 Texas Eagle Forum Freedom and Family Award winner. Additional inquiry would have led you to realize that the Eagle Forum is a group affiliated with Phyllis Schlafly, a woman that wrote a book against the Equal Rights Amendment, and encourages "conservative participation in public policy". Certainly Rep. Delisi could not go back to her constituents and tell them she voted for a bill that would give intravenous drug users access to needles. That certainly does not sound deserving of the Freedom and Family Award. But wait -- Rep. Delisi never had a chance to vote on the bill because as chair of the committee she ultimately decides which bills her committee will hear and she did not want to hear this one. Maybe your niece should have informed you of that. Furthermore, a true detective like yourself I am sure would have watched the debate on SB 10, you would have noticed that it was amended to create a pilot needle exchange program in Bexar county. Rep. Ortiz and his staff's work towards this compromise is also something else you won't read in the Caller. The other bill I assume you are cross referencing with me is HB 710. Rep. Ortiz filed this bill in conjunction with at least 15 other members. Despite opposition, this bill passed in a different form (HB 109 I believe) and as a result 127,000 more children are now insured. Next time you should probably consult someone other than your niece or your government textbook. Maybe then you would realize there are dozens of different ways for great ideas like this from Rep. Ortiz to make it into law. That is what it's all about right? Helping the people of Texas. Good job Rep. Ortiz.
Best wishes during your endeavor to educate yourself on the realities of politics and government.
Posted by raquel.premier on June 6, 2007 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Rep.Ortiz, is doing a fantasic job....There will be tons of issues that we the public will not agree on, we don't realize that he has given alot of his time and energy for the citizens here and has given up more than he will probably ever gain... He has accomplished alot and I am an glad he represents CC...Once again we are talking about people in corpus that dont get involved and are the first to have a negative comment...
Keep up the good work Rep.Ortiz!!!
Posted by marybelltx on June 6, 2007 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That was a round about way of saying that he had a bill which became and amendment of which he doesn't even have his name on but it supposably was passed in to law BY HIM? 18 amendments and I didn't see Ortiz listed.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLooku...
The statement was that "needle exchange legislation that Rep. Ortiz got passed " where does it say he passed it?
I never read that he was an author or co-author in the house.
And where did protection of law enforcement come into play? Was that just your interpretation?
I applaud anyone who is a public servant including teachers but don't make a statement that something was accomplished or passed when it simply is not the case. 3 bills were passed by Ortiz the RTA, the County, the notification bill
If you can provide the link where it shows where he provided that amendment we would certainly like to read that. And will gladly admit that I made a mistake. I'm only a teacher but research is not that difficult.
Posted by el_longhorn on June 6, 2007 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey marybelltx, Ortiz is a CO-AUTHOR of HB 109, the CHIP bill that restores health insurance to thousands of kids in Texas and that you like so much. In addition to his 3 bills, Ortiz also passed 3 amendments and sponsored one senate bill...pretty good for a freshman who is in the minority party and voted against Speaker Craddick! Look it all up. Compare his accomplishments to any freshman Democrat. He did very well.
On needle exchange, why don't you ask the ACLU or the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation what they think about Ortiz's efforts on legalizing needle exchange programs? By the way, law enforcement supports needle exchange because they don't want to get stuck with a dirty needle when patting someone down.
Posted by miguelmba1 on June 7, 2007 at 1:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another example of the corrupt politics of Nueces County. We need to cut the Puppet's strings!
Posted by marybelltx on June 7, 2007 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My issue is not with Ortiz but with the RTA.
If I was Ortiz my concern is who is hurting him and/or who is helping him. The people who put him in this position must have another motive. No idiot would not think of what the fallout would be. RIGHT?
TO me Ortiz Jr. is the victim of people may have intentionally manipulated him in order to put him in that position to be at the minimum vulnerable to defeat in the upcoming election.
Since you are primarily concerned with Ortiz and cannot see beyond that. Answer a question for me
OF THE 16 BILLS THAT HE AUTHORED HOW MANY WERE PASSED?
OF THE BILLS THAT WERE PASSED HOW MANY WERE SPECIAL INTEREST BILLS AND/OR FILED RELATED TO A FAMILY MEMBER?
Question
Why wouldn't he pass a county bill to another member of the delegation to avoid the perception of impropriety.
I guess he would rather do it "in" the taxpayers "face" than try and hide it.
To my little people aka "the minority"
When did it become about the one and not the many?
Politics is about building bridges and helping the people who deserve helped and truly deserve help.
It was said earlier that Rep. Oriz made a mistake and he corrected it. And for that I understand. I feel that the Caller deserves the same respect in that it endorsed the Congressman's son and in MY opionion the CALLER should be extended the same courtesy and rescind it's endorsement of Ortiz, Jr. for... well doing absolutely nothing.
WE VOTED YOU IN AND I VOTED FOR YOU. WHAT DID YOU DO? FOR CORPUS? TELL US PLEASE.
RTA
Why cant the Caller tell us what these RTA people really do and what the qualifications are?
I would like to have a travel expense account, a title, be able to vote on millions of dollars of taxpayer money and NOT HAVE TO BE ELECTED. Wait it's "our" tax money they are spending.
NOW HOW DO I BECOME ONE OF THESE CHIEFTAINS?
Friday, May 25, 2007
CCISD: Why are CCISD Students allowed to run at large during school day hours?
CCISD: Why are CCISD Students allowed to run at large during school day hours?
Education is for our Children, our Youth, our Future. Children and Youth need constant redirection and set boundaries at home and at school as well. When a minor is allowed to run at large during the school day hours whether it is in the halls, leaving or returning a closed campus or simply unaccounted for is irresponsible of the caretaker whose custody in which he / she is placed.
Kenedeno
Education is for our Children, our Youth, our Future. Children and Youth need constant redirection and set boundaries at home and at school as well. When a minor is allowed to run at large during the school day hours whether it is in the halls, leaving or returning a closed campus or simply unaccounted for is irresponsible of the caretaker whose custody in which he / she is placed.
Kenedeno
An absent student is one who does not arrive at school in the morning and is absent for the WHOLE Day. The student was never on campus. The Parent is responsible for the student getting to school (requiring the student to attend school). If the student does not get to school it is the Parent’s responsibility not necessarily the Parent’s fault. There are circumstances where the student will walk in the front door and out the back door without attending a single class. This is where the attendance officers need to improve their due diligence like the old days.
Once the student is counted present in the morning; the Parent has required the student (child) to attend school. Once the student is verified in attendance at the beginning of the school day the student is in the custody of the School.
If the student is tardy or skips class (on campus or off campus) this happens on the watch of the school. The Parent if informed should cooperate and communicate with the School Counselors Administrators and the Attendance Officer to correct the behavior. The Security and Attendance officer should take notice and tighten the belt. This is a security issue as well; there is no excuse for students coming and going outside of the lunch period and it is imperative that attendance irregularities be dealt with within 24 hours. This is easily done with our modern technology.
Texas Public Education Watchdog Authority
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Driscoll's New Mayor Mike Perez bashed the aggressive police impound policy, "I'm totally against..
that."
Swearing in of new mayor & commissioner brings little political peace
The city of Driscoll swore in a new mayor and a new commissioner Wednesday night, but did little to quell the political drama that has shrouded the town for several years.
Mayor Mike Perez took his oath of office as more than 60 people watched inside the Nueces County Senior Community Center on 6th Street, replacing the man he defeated in a city election May 12th, Ted Ozuna.
Also sworn in, was Commissioner John Aguilar.
But, changing the political climate in Driscoll, will take time, and the resolution of some major questions. Among them, an ongoing civil Federal Lawsuit against former mayor Rolando Padilla, who has been accused of refurbishing the homes of city employees with public money, and not collecting past due water bills from supporters, in exchange for votes.
There are also ongoing questions about an aggressive police policy of impounding vehicles, apparently for profit, and rumors Perez plans to "clean house," and will terminate a number of city employees.
Wednesday, Perez denied the claim aired on a Corpus Christi TV station the night before, related to the rumored firings. Hinting of political payback, Perez said his accusor has never mentioned any such plans to him personally, and denied he planned on making wide-ranging changes. He also reiterated, "I didn't promise anything to anyone."
Perez also bashed the aggressive police impound policy, saying, "as far as pursuing and chasing down these people (the drivers frequently stopped on Highway 77 whose vehicles are impounded for infractions like driving without a license, proof of insurance, or violations of "in tow" regulations) , I'm totally against that." Perez also stated he would sit down with Police Chief Ben Zapata, to discuss his expectations for the department, and it's policies.
Aguilar offered no comment to 3-News Wednesday, and neither he nor Perez could speak about several ongoing lawsuits the city is involved, citing the advice of the city's attorneys on those cases.
But outgoing mayor Ted Ozuna did speak, saying the best way for the city to come together and move forward, was to bring those suits before a judge and jury.
Still, it did not appear Wednesday that the political bickering that has divided Driscoll would end anytime soon.
Supporters of Ozuna claimed Perez received a substantial amount of support and backing from Padilla, claims Perez dismissed. Perez told 3-News Padilla did assist him in printing signs for his campaign, but said that was the extent of any linkage between himself and the mayor whom Ozuna replaced.
There was also word from some in the crowd Wednesday, that a recall effort may begin against Perez almost immediately. A small group claimed his and Aguilar's election had been aided by voting irregularities, that voters who did not live in Driscoll took part in the May 12th election, and that other votes were cast by voters who had died before election day - claims 3-News has not yet been able to investigate.
http://www.kiiitv.com/home/7660497.html
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Corpus Christi's own Mel Klein looks at the largest proposed leveraged buyout in history with the practiced eye of an insider.
TXU courtship stirs investor's memories
By Elvia Aguilar Caller-Times
May 13, 2007
Local investor and entrepreneur Mel Klein looks at the largest proposed leveraged buyout in history with the practiced eye of an insider.
He knows that with the strength of the current financial market, buyouts of giant companies such as TXU will continue.
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), a private equity firm that has completed record buyouts and transactions, and TPG, another private equity firm, are pursuing purchase of TXU for a record $45 billion. Klein calls KKR "dean of the leveraged buyout business." Many an analyst would say the same, but his insight is personal. In 1976, over dinner at Rose & Joe's Italian Bakery in New York, Henry Kravis invited Klein to become a partner in KKR. They've kept in touch in the intervening years.
The present buyout bonanza is a convergence of a number of factors, Klein said.
"It's an extraordinary time in the financial history of the world. There is tremendous liquidity. There is a lot of money all around the world and relatively low interest rates," he said. "Private equity firms have been quite successful with a good return on their investments so people are eager to invest in them.
"Effectively, almost every public company is for sale."
For months and years now, people have been waiting for this cycle to end, but it hasn't happened, Klein said.
"There has been terrorist action, interest rates moving up significantly, a slowing housing economy and other factors, but it hasn't stopped the financial markets," he said. "In fact, the market is at record highs. Things are going well with the market."
Klein and H. Swint Friday, associate professor of finance at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said leveraged buyouts are extremely profitable for investment bankers as well as company managers and CEOs.
"Some of these people think the valuation of their stock and company is below where it should be," Friday said. "They do their best to maximize the value of the company, but sometimes managers recognize a value that Wall Street does not see. The job of the investment banker is to find these under-valued companies and find investors to buy them. If they obtain cooperation from senior management and make an offer that no one can top, they buy it. "
Friday said one of the primary benefits of a private equity leveraged buyout for a company is that company officials no longer have to answer to the shareholders.
"They can take the company private and no longer have to do the annual reports and don't have to answer to the public about quarterly earnings," Friday said. "The thing with management and stakeholders is that everyone works in their own best interest, so you do have to wonder if sometimes these managers intentionally bring down the value of a company for their own financial gain."
The future of leveraged buyouts can be unlimited because the size and scale have grown exponentially in recent times, Klein said.
"If they continue to work, there's no reason why they shouldn't continue," he said. "If some start to have problems that may require some changes in certain ways, that doesn't mean that legislation won't alter some aspects of the way these deals operate. But I don't see anything on the horizon that would significantly impact the way these companies do business or change the financial landscape."
And just because the company goes private, doesn't mean it can't go public again.
"Investors buy these undervalued companies to make money and then as soon as they can, they will sell it or bring it back public," Klein said.
Looking back on that day 31 years ago when he was invited to join KKR, Klein realizes how his life would've been much different had he accepted. But the reason he said no - his wife Annette of 31 years - was well worth it.
"It was a five-hour dinner and Henry and I agreed on everything except where I would be living," Klein said. "I had just asked Annette to marry me and I had agreed to stay with her here in Corpus Christi."
Jerome Kohlberg, Jr., and cousins Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts, former Bear Stearns employees, founded KKR later that year. They had met Klein as a young investor on Wall Street during his tenure at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, an investment bank founded by William H. Donaldson, Dan Lufkin and Richard Jenrette in 1959. Klein and the KKR founders are among the pioneers of leveraged buyouts and private equity funds.
Klein went on to create his own list of accomplishments as founder of Melvyn N. Klein Interests, managing general partner of GKH Partners and president of JAKK Holding Corp.
"No, I don't regret it," he said of not joining KKR. "Had I done it, I would've spent all my time dealing with some of the issues that I imagine Henry and the others are having to go through. On some levels, it would've been nice, but it has been a wonderful 31 years with my wife."
The most recent action on the KKR and TPG transaction includes filing to the Public Utility Commission, Texas' public utilities regulator, detailing plans for TXU if the takeover deal goes ahead. KKR has completed more than 150 transactions with an enterprise value of more than $279 billion. As of Dec. 31, KKR's equity investments were valued at more than $74 billion on more than $30 billion of invested capital.
TXU's reputation has suffered in recent months, before and after the buyout offer was announced. Its plans to build new coal-fired plants, before the buyout proposal was known, had the backing of the governor but attracted opposition from disparate groups including environmentalists, business leaders and officials in major Texas cities. State investigators recently accused the company of manipulating prices upward during the summer of 2005, prompting legislators to call for stricter regulation of the electric market.
KKR, meanwhile, said many of the things that TXU's detractors - from the floor of the Legislature to the city halls of those major cities - wanted to hear. KKR promised a drastic cut in the coal expansion plan - from 11 plants to three - and more emphasis on clean, renewable sources. When TXU sought to use its generating capacity as leverage against the state's investigation, KKR repudiated it and TXU quickly backed down, saying it was a misunderstanding.
Klein said KKR is the perfect company to take over TXU.
"Henry Kravis is a man of tremendous integrity, ability and a person with outstanding values," Klein said. "These are people driven to apply the highest standards to everything they do and they do these things well. Putting aside financial success, I have respect for them as people and for maintaining their high standards and maintaining them all these years."
Klein said BECAUSE Kravis is from Tulsa, Okla., and Roberts is from Houston, the two partners have an understanding of the Southwest and probably have researched TXU thoroughly.
KKR has offices in New York, Menlo Park, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Leveraged buyout:
The acquisition of another company using a significant amount of borrowed money (bonds or loans) to meet the cost of acquisition. Often, the assets of the company being acquired are used as collateral for the loans in addition to the assets of the acquiring company. The purpose of leveraged buyouts is to allow companies to make large acquisitions without having to commit a lot of capital.
Source: Investopedia.com
Some of KKR's largest leveraged buyouts
# The first billion-dollar buyout transaction, Wometco Enterprises, 1984
# Several of the largest global buyout transactions, HCA, 2006 for $33B;
Capmark, 2006 for $16.7B;
SunGard, 2005 for $12B;
RJR Nabisco, 1989 for $31.4B;
Beatrice, 1986 for $8.7B
# The first buyout of a public company by tender offer, Malone & Hyde, 1984
# The largest leveraged buyout in Singapore, Avago Technologies, Inc., 2005, $2.8B
# The largest leveraged buyout in India, Aricent, 2006, $900 million
Source: KKR.com
Contact Elvia Aguilar at 886-3678 or aguilare@ caller.com.
By Elvia Aguilar Caller-Times
May 13, 2007
Local investor and entrepreneur Mel Klein looks at the largest proposed leveraged buyout in history with the practiced eye of an insider.
He knows that with the strength of the current financial market, buyouts of giant companies such as TXU will continue.
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), a private equity firm that has completed record buyouts and transactions, and TPG, another private equity firm, are pursuing purchase of TXU for a record $45 billion. Klein calls KKR "dean of the leveraged buyout business." Many an analyst would say the same, but his insight is personal. In 1976, over dinner at Rose & Joe's Italian Bakery in New York, Henry Kravis invited Klein to become a partner in KKR. They've kept in touch in the intervening years.
The present buyout bonanza is a convergence of a number of factors, Klein said.
"It's an extraordinary time in the financial history of the world. There is tremendous liquidity. There is a lot of money all around the world and relatively low interest rates," he said. "Private equity firms have been quite successful with a good return on their investments so people are eager to invest in them.
"Effectively, almost every public company is for sale."
For months and years now, people have been waiting for this cycle to end, but it hasn't happened, Klein said.
"There has been terrorist action, interest rates moving up significantly, a slowing housing economy and other factors, but it hasn't stopped the financial markets," he said. "In fact, the market is at record highs. Things are going well with the market."
Klein and H. Swint Friday, associate professor of finance at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said leveraged buyouts are extremely profitable for investment bankers as well as company managers and CEOs.
"Some of these people think the valuation of their stock and company is below where it should be," Friday said. "They do their best to maximize the value of the company, but sometimes managers recognize a value that Wall Street does not see. The job of the investment banker is to find these under-valued companies and find investors to buy them. If they obtain cooperation from senior management and make an offer that no one can top, they buy it. "
Friday said one of the primary benefits of a private equity leveraged buyout for a company is that company officials no longer have to answer to the shareholders.
"They can take the company private and no longer have to do the annual reports and don't have to answer to the public about quarterly earnings," Friday said. "The thing with management and stakeholders is that everyone works in their own best interest, so you do have to wonder if sometimes these managers intentionally bring down the value of a company for their own financial gain."
The future of leveraged buyouts can be unlimited because the size and scale have grown exponentially in recent times, Klein said.
"If they continue to work, there's no reason why they shouldn't continue," he said. "If some start to have problems that may require some changes in certain ways, that doesn't mean that legislation won't alter some aspects of the way these deals operate. But I don't see anything on the horizon that would significantly impact the way these companies do business or change the financial landscape."
And just because the company goes private, doesn't mean it can't go public again.
"Investors buy these undervalued companies to make money and then as soon as they can, they will sell it or bring it back public," Klein said.
Looking back on that day 31 years ago when he was invited to join KKR, Klein realizes how his life would've been much different had he accepted. But the reason he said no - his wife Annette of 31 years - was well worth it.
"It was a five-hour dinner and Henry and I agreed on everything except where I would be living," Klein said. "I had just asked Annette to marry me and I had agreed to stay with her here in Corpus Christi."
Jerome Kohlberg, Jr., and cousins Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts, former Bear Stearns employees, founded KKR later that year. They had met Klein as a young investor on Wall Street during his tenure at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, an investment bank founded by William H. Donaldson, Dan Lufkin and Richard Jenrette in 1959. Klein and the KKR founders are among the pioneers of leveraged buyouts and private equity funds.
Klein went on to create his own list of accomplishments as founder of Melvyn N. Klein Interests, managing general partner of GKH Partners and president of JAKK Holding Corp.
"No, I don't regret it," he said of not joining KKR. "Had I done it, I would've spent all my time dealing with some of the issues that I imagine Henry and the others are having to go through. On some levels, it would've been nice, but it has been a wonderful 31 years with my wife."
The most recent action on the KKR and TPG transaction includes filing to the Public Utility Commission, Texas' public utilities regulator, detailing plans for TXU if the takeover deal goes ahead. KKR has completed more than 150 transactions with an enterprise value of more than $279 billion. As of Dec. 31, KKR's equity investments were valued at more than $74 billion on more than $30 billion of invested capital.
TXU's reputation has suffered in recent months, before and after the buyout offer was announced. Its plans to build new coal-fired plants, before the buyout proposal was known, had the backing of the governor but attracted opposition from disparate groups including environmentalists, business leaders and officials in major Texas cities. State investigators recently accused the company of manipulating prices upward during the summer of 2005, prompting legislators to call for stricter regulation of the electric market.
KKR, meanwhile, said many of the things that TXU's detractors - from the floor of the Legislature to the city halls of those major cities - wanted to hear. KKR promised a drastic cut in the coal expansion plan - from 11 plants to three - and more emphasis on clean, renewable sources. When TXU sought to use its generating capacity as leverage against the state's investigation, KKR repudiated it and TXU quickly backed down, saying it was a misunderstanding.
Klein said KKR is the perfect company to take over TXU.
"Henry Kravis is a man of tremendous integrity, ability and a person with outstanding values," Klein said. "These are people driven to apply the highest standards to everything they do and they do these things well. Putting aside financial success, I have respect for them as people and for maintaining their high standards and maintaining them all these years."
Klein said BECAUSE Kravis is from Tulsa, Okla., and Roberts is from Houston, the two partners have an understanding of the Southwest and probably have researched TXU thoroughly.
KKR has offices in New York, Menlo Park, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Leveraged buyout:
The acquisition of another company using a significant amount of borrowed money (bonds or loans) to meet the cost of acquisition. Often, the assets of the company being acquired are used as collateral for the loans in addition to the assets of the acquiring company. The purpose of leveraged buyouts is to allow companies to make large acquisitions without having to commit a lot of capital.
Source: Investopedia.com
Some of KKR's largest leveraged buyouts
# The first billion-dollar buyout transaction, Wometco Enterprises, 1984
# Several of the largest global buyout transactions, HCA, 2006 for $33B;
Capmark, 2006 for $16.7B;
SunGard, 2005 for $12B;
RJR Nabisco, 1989 for $31.4B;
Beatrice, 1986 for $8.7B
# The first buyout of a public company by tender offer, Malone & Hyde, 1984
# The largest leveraged buyout in Singapore, Avago Technologies, Inc., 2005, $2.8B
# The largest leveraged buyout in India, Aricent, 2006, $900 million
Source: KKR.com
Contact Elvia Aguilar at 886-3678 or aguilare@ caller.com.
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August 2, 2007