Letters from our Readers - February 2004

You sound like a real liberal 

After reading your article you sound like what Michael savage calls a red dipper doper baby 

Name Withheld

James Wright Candidate

In responce to the Jan. 9th. edition of the Bulletin. James Wright should be supported by the voters in District 8 because he is the only one who has taken on the Republican Party and won.
The funding given Mr. Brady by corporate money is going to try to keep Brady in office. Being in the legal business over the years has given me an insite as to who would really save the goverment from corporate money. The run away policies of the Bush administration are only destroying the employment base in America.
The WTO supported by Bush must be stopped. This race is the most important race in the country. The outcome would prevent congress from opposing or stopping Wright from passing a respectfull campaign reform bill. And protection of individuals rights.You should look into the cases Wright took to trial. As for me Wright has my vote and support.

J. Jamil, Atty.
Houston, Texas

Can we be Consistent? 

Watching the back and forth of what passes as political discourse is enough to make a person completely lose interest (Oh yea, most people have lost interest and don't vote). Is it too much to BEG for a sliver of intellectual honesty and consistency? What I often see are people who support a candidate or position committing fallacy after fallacy in their presentation ( I do not feel I am the best arbiter on these matters so my letters can slip into the same problems, though I sincerely try not to) by holding the opposing view or candidate to a completely different standard then their own. Two examples, one from each side: 
1. When Democrats rant about WMD's, Iraq war, the military, etc. and conclude Bush lied and even suggest impeachment, while I may disagree with what they say, they could add credibility to themselves and therefore their points by simply including statements about the Clinton administration's perpetrating an even less provoked war in Bosnia, Clinton's repeated statements of condemnation of Saddam including Clinton's belief that Saddam had WMD's as did the entire Democrat Congressional leadership, Clinton's proven lies, etc. etc. And during the Clinton presidency, Republicans were doing exactly the same thing in their attacks on Clinton. Neither side can have it both ways, it contaminates the debate and makes it beneath a schoolyard fistfight. It is a valid topic to discuss the merits of war, and use all the facts at hand to promote one side or the other. But you cannot honestly and so openly apply differing principles to two leaders because you liked one and do not like the other. 
2. From the Republican side, I can assure you that had the Supreme Court ruled in a way that put Gore in the White House, some on the right would be doing exactly the same thing, and bashing Gore even if he was following the exact same Iraq strategy Bush is now following. They would also be crying about a stolen election. 
3. The local issue of Jim Jenkins and the alleged abuse incident. I believe that if a person were to be shown conclusively to have abused wife or child their public service would be over thank you very much. I support Jim. But I read letters of support that won't even acknowledge that if these allegations were 100% true, his leadership should be called to question. When we support a persons ideology so strongly that we cannot even state the hypothetical that if the person did X, Y, or Z, we would pull our support, we completely step off any moral footing we may have had. Further, if in the past the RLC has chosen to attack opponents in personal ways that are similar to this attack on Jenkins then the RLC has committed exactly the same wrong headed indefensible fallacious actions that the mainstream GOP is doing right now. I am new to this local discourse so I do not know the facts of what transpired, in detail, in other recent battles. If you are an RLC supporter (I am as well) and reading these words is upsetting, then you maybe should pause and do a consistency check because I am not diminishing my support for Jenkins or the RLC, whose stated principle is supporting the republican platform. 
It hurts to read about "your" side not being honest or consistent but slow deliberate self searching will tell you if it applies to you. 
A couple other things: 
-Lori King says she stands behind her actions. She claims she researched her facts. I cannot question whether she researched or not. But she would be better off on the intellectual honesty scale if her mistake was incomplete research. Because as it stands she ruined her credibility with the paper she passed out. An honest person would have included the rest of the story, that being that Jenkins was released and charges dropped. She could have gone on and shared more of her exhaustive fact finding and presented a complete set of facts and still attacked Jim. If she could have found someone to quote that enabled her to refute the dismissal of the charges, then she would have been on solid footing. By not doing so she shows herself to have a complete disregard for anything above advancing her agenda. 
-I will not make the statement "it was politically motivated". The Bulletin has it right with the simple answer, "Duh". All of the back and forth is politically motivated, it is the consistency and honesty of it that is either "good" or "bad". 
Applying standards to leaders, all leaders is critical. The GOP has taken decisive control in Montgomery county over the past decades under Wilkerson. But, much like Bush keeps "expanding the tent" under which he seems to think we should sweep just about everyone and call them a republican, are we doing the same thing here in the county? I listened as Wilkerson spoke about how "X years ago that committee was all democrat, now it is all republican". Do we have more true conservatives in place? It is time we state our ideology, not our party affiliation, as our objective. For me is not about which party wins the election. We can wear ridiculous clothing and silly hats and jump up and down on the floor of a convention (kinda looks like the way the Iraqis bob up and down when they are celebrating), having buttons and signs with the winning horse (did I say horse?, I mean't candidate) but have we advanced our beliefs? And finally on Wilkerson, he should have taken a position against the paper distributed about Jenkins, especially since it directly involves his re election. Similarly, if the RLC was personally attacking candidates with flimsy claims in the past, Wilkerson should have spoken out against that as well. The county chair job may NOT include a lot of things as Wilkerson does not hesitate to point out when his feet approach a fire, but it most definitely involves party decorum. 
There are those who claim to "study the candidates on each issue" and vote for the best, feeling as if this gives the appearance of being above the fray, pensive and a deep thinker, not subject to the petty disagreements of party. This attitude is also paper thin. The platforms of the parties take very strong and different positions on major issues (note I do not say the candidates do). If you can be aware of the platform and still say you are looking at both parties there is a huge problem. Either you have no principles whatsoever, or the candidates have blurred together to where we can no longer trust party affiliation. 
The reason I support the RLC is to support the Republican party platform. I am not in favor of a state sponsored religion, nor in favor of the state prohibiting the practice of any religion. I believe that is what the Constitution says. Why must we who simply wish to adhere to the 1st amendment as written and intended be branded as wanting to force Christianity on everyone? The famous "separation" letter in context supports religious protections FROM the state, not protecting the people FROM religion. Read the Constitution and the Jefferson letter and correct me where I am wrong. If the RLC stood for legislating a forced version of Christianity would run fast and far from it. It is not the case. 
I can go back and forth and show example after example of blind inconsistent support on both sides. It is as if people feel that to make any concession of consistency to the other side is to weaken one's position. In fact, honest consistent analysis either critical or supportive, applied to both sides and all candidates, will stand a better chance of advancing the cause of truth. If those of us who are Christians and support the RLC stand on the TRUTH, we will have done what we should do. But if we compromise our principles one bit, even in supporting or opposing something that is clearly, for us "right", we are stained with the same dirt we then claim from the other side of our mouths to be fighting against. 

Chris Lenegar
Magnolia, TX

The Time Is Now

I began my Law-Enforcement career in 1991. Two years later I became a Certified Police Officer by the State of Texas, which I currently hold & am proud of it. I have been employed by an agency outside of Montgomery County. During this tenor I would be approached by many citizens engaging in conversation about the corruptness of the Law-Enforcement profession. Hearing this from the people I took an oath to protect and I would literally lay down my life for was like stabbing a dagger right through my heart. I found it hard to believe that our citizens are still living with the stigma that the Law-Enforcement profession is corrupt. I assumed they would not let go of the past, they were watching too much television about this topic, or they may have had a bad run-in with an officer from way out west Texas somewhere.
After residing in Montgomery County for several years and dealing with the current Sheriff's Department, I have come to understand why the public's opinion of Law-Enforcement is so untrusting and they continue to harbor these feelings. As a child I was taught to always respect the uniform, elders & our parents, as we teach our children today. But it is difficult to respect something that you know is wrong. It is our responsibility as voters, parents, and citizens of this county, to elect an administration & Law-Enforcement community that our fellow citizens & children will respect, trust and be proud of. As a Police Officer, I plea with you to assist me in cleaning up the filth in our own back yard. Help me to clean-up the public's image of Law-Enforcement.
By doing this, our voices must be heard on March 9th. Let's elect an administration that listens to and cares about their citizens, an administration that is concerned about the public's opinion in the Law-Enforcement community, and an administration that is willing to do what is right. By doing this, the door would open for honest, eager officers wanting to work for an agency they can be proud of, and the corrupt officers would fear.
The respect of Law-Enforcement would be gained through professionalism, honesty, and integrity, instead of intimidation. I admire District Attorney Mike McDougal and County Attorney David Walker for endorsing the candidacy of Captain Tommy Gage. They have made an outward sign for an inward commitment. By them doing this, they are telling us that they, too, are ready for change. Let's support and stand behind them for the good of the administration, the citizens of this county, and the Law-Enforcement community. 
I have also discovered certain media sources, in this county, sensor what they print, for whatever reason. This bias action also discredits the media, and all of the persons involved. 
Citizens loose respect for these unreliable sources of the media. Although, we do have some wonderful newspapers in Montgomery County, the choices made by these selected few, impact the public opinion on the media as a whole. 
Therefore, I would like to challenge every newspaper that gets this article, to lay aside your personal opinions, lay aside intimidation from others, and lay aside all excuses for NOT printing this. Just do the right thing, with accuracy, honesty and integrity and you too will see the public's opinion of your newspaper rise with respect. 

Michael A.
Montgomery, TX. 

Democratic Party

The Democratic Presidential debates are truly defining the Democratic Party leadership. As much as the democrats would like to camouflage their ideology, the myriad of odd special interests (remember if they are democrat, they are not special, they are just different) that compose that party are crystallizing into a grotesque angry Euro-utopian creature. At every photo-op I see nothing but alphabet T-shirts, AFL-CIO, NARAL, IUPAT, NOW, PETA, ANSWR, GLAAD, NEA, ATA to mention a few. But these are specifically not special, just different. How trite. 
The Democratic Party leadership can simply be described as a deceitful contradiction, enclosed in a fraudulent deception, wrapped in a repugnant paradox. 
The most blatant contradictory position is, they stand strongly against the death penalty, for there is the possibility ever so infinitesimal that an innocent person could be killed, yet what is more innocent than an unborn child. They have a little trouble accepting that fact. They are much more prone to attribute human characteristics to a furry animal than a fetus. They are the champions of diversity, as long as diversity can include perversity. They preach tolerance, but morality or religiousness are not to be tolerated, those are extreme positions. They love seniors yet they were the first to tax social security and take away some of the comfort seniors have earned. They want our veterans to vote for them, but tried to stop active duty personnel from having their votes counted in the 2000 Presidential Election in Florida. Can you say hypocrite? 
Their deceitful deceptions begin by advocating for minorities, again assuming the role of champions. This is ironically coming from the party of slavery and segregation. There are more minorities represented at higher levels in the despised Republican Party. They declared war on poverty years ago and spent trillions of dollars. Now through their counter productive methods of promoting illegitimacy and enabling indolence we have naught to show for it. They are a “miserable failure”. (Mr. Gephardt) They want education to be free for all, or is it a free for all, since in their world discipline is obsolete. Their concept of education is indoctrination and propaganda. They want our kids to feel remorseful and apologetic for what America has accomplished. This guilt is a tool with which they can produce a generation of hangdogs that can be molded to foster their globalist socialist agenda. They want healthcare for all, but controlled by them. They don’t trust the Americans who create the wonder drugs since they work for corporations and corporations are evil. They trumpet jobs, jobs, jobs. They truly have the capacity to produce millions of jobs. These will be government unionized jobs, paid for by carefully fleecing targeted despised republicans through the tax code. This gives them access to votes and money and they can’t buy the votes without our money.
These alleged benevolent champions of the downtrodden and liberal utopians are really misguided malevolent haters. Study the horrors of the Holocaust and then try to blithely accept the hate speech promulgated by these people as they cavalierly call our President Hitler and Republicans Nazi’s. They seek to be loved by creating someone to hate. Listen well to these divisive debasing debaters. Any shred of civility vanishes when it comes to fellow Americans with differing points of view than theirs, yet they want you to believe that they can meekly reach out to the world community and miraculously bring about peace, harmony and prosperity. They are devoid of creativity and originality, their forte is creating and manipulating searing focused hatred. This is not the party to lead us into the 21st century.

Theodore Pierce
The Woodlands, Texas 

Hospitals' Smoke Free Policy

On Feb. 13, 2004, the following healthcare facilities will become completely tobacco-free: Conroe Regional Medical Center, Conroe Surgery Center, HealthSouth, Lone Star Clinic, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, Sadler Clinic, St. Luke's Community Medical Center-The Woodlands, The Surgery Center of The Woodlands, The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre, PA and The Woodlands Sports Medicine Centre, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. Others are also considering our lead.
We can no longer advise community members on the health hazards of tobacco use and continue to allow its use in our facilities. This decision is long overdue and was made in an effort to protect the health and safety of our friends and neighbors. Smoking, or any tobacco use, will not be allowed anywhere on our properties indoors or outdoors. We are asking visitors to extinguish smoking materials before entering our campuses.
Our relationship with the residents of Montgomery County and surrounding areas is important to us as is the overall health of the community. We appreciate the cooperation of all community members in keeping our campuses tobacco-free.

Jerry Nash
CEO, Conroe Regional Medical Center
Steve Sanders
Vice President & CEO, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital
Teresa Danna
Vice President, St. Luke's Episcopal Health System & CEO, St. Luke's Community Medical Center - The Woodlands

Black History Month

The Institute of Texan Cultures celebrates Black History Month (February) with a festival of films from the "The Tyler, Texas Black Film Collection," a discussion on black filmmaking and the Black History Homework Depot for students.
"The Tyler, Texas Black Film Collection," is a series of films featuring black actors, producers and directors. Buried in a Tyler warehouse and forgotten half a century ago, these feature-length "race films," newsreels and shorts are entertaining and historically significant. Earley B. Teal and Mary Grace Ketner provide insight and context as they co-host screenings of six classics of the 1930s and 40s created by black scriptwriters, directors and actors.
A film festival at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings in February includes:
"The Girl in Room 20," 1946 Thursday, Feb. 5 and Friday, Feb. 20
"Murder in Harlem," 1935 Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 21
"Midnight Shadow," 1939 Saturday, Feb. 7 and Thursday, Feb. 19
"Souls of Sin," 1949 Thursday, Feb. 12 and Friday, Feb. 27
"Where's My Man Tonight?," 1943 Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 28
"Miracle In Harlem," 1948 Saturday, Feb. 14 and Thursday, Feb. 26
The documentary, "A Century of Black Cinema," will be shown each week in February at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
"Fast Forward, Rewind...Focus on Films," will be presented at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21. Carol Adams-Means, UTSA professor of communication, will lead a discussion on the history of black filmmaking. The discussion is included with admission and is free with a come-back coupon from the film series.
Students in grades 1 through 12 can explore ITC's African-American exhibit and utilize the adjoining Black History Homework Depot resource center in February from 3 to 6 p.m., each Tuesday and Wednesday; 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday and noon-5 p.m., Sunday. 
The Homework Depot is an extension of the ITC library which includes Black History vertical files, historical photographs, resource books, Internet connections and a listening center in a work area for student homework assignments, complete with a photocopier and an ITC docent to guide students.
Free tickets can be printed from the Black History issue of the “Crossroads" newsletter at www.texancultures.utsa.edu/crossroads. Students can present the tickets with their teacher's signature at the ITC admissions desk.
All films are included with admission: $6.50, adults; $3, children (3-12 years); $4, seniors (65 years or older); $4, military personnel with ID; and free, members, UTSA students and employees and children 2 years and under.
For more information, call 210-458-2330 or visit www.texancultures.utsa.edu/crossroads.

Tina Luther
UTSA

you 

You must be very anti bush 
The only thing he has done is protect your ass so you can be free to make this type of edditorial. 
Your never going to get it, 
you and yours are just the type of sorts that are goung to be the first ones out there when the next attach occurs, saying that the administration has failed. 
Just what do YOU propose we do!!!!!!!!! A HOLE 

Kelly R. Rogan

you again 

How about you posting that message if you have the guts 
WE ARE AT WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP ,have you ever heared of the good old boys, we are all in this together weather you like it or not, my question to you is what are you going to do when you family is cought in the cross fire? These people HATE you and me ............. 

Kelly R. Rogan

Wake Up Texas 

Why is the City of Galveston, and the State of Texas, suddenly scrambling to put sand on the beaches, and cover those hideous "Beta-tubes"? Is that Jerry Patterson, the Texas Land Commissioner, standing up for public access, including vehicular and A.D.A Approved access? After all these years, do they truly intend to aid the citizens of Texas? Sadly, I think not. Have they, suddenly understood the meaning of the term "public servant"? Not likely. Is it the "Super Bowl", coming to Houston? I don't think so. Could it possibly be the N.O.A.A. coming to Texas, to inspect the progress, and use, of Federal Funds for beach and habitat improvements on March 22nd-26th? I'm only guessing, but I think it is the latter. 
After over ten years of non-compliance, with the Texas Open Beaches Act, the "powers that be", in Galveston politics, have shown an utter disregard for state laws. Strangely, the State General Land Office, after seeing and hearing, of the countless violations, has chosen not to act on them. To the contrary, Jerry Patterson and the Texas G.L.O. have chosen to use "emergency measures", which were passed long ago, (Hurricane Francis?), to justify the placement of foreign soils on our beaches, dunes, and private beachfront properties. This is a direct violation of the Texas Administrative Codes "Beach/Dune Rules", (and, by the way, I think that that particular "emergency" is in our distant past.) Why are they, now, in the process of amending these "rules"? 
The G.L.O. has also, recently, passed a moratorium on the O.B.A., that allows beachfront owners to reestablish property rights, on homes that have been in violation, of state laws, for decades. Who is paying for this sudden ability, to reclaim property, that, long ago, should have been ceded to the public? I am, and you are, my friend. Every land purchase, of near-beach properties in Texas, since 1986, has had a stipulation in it, that involves the owner's responsibility, to remove any structures, which encroach upon the public's property. This is state law. It is the G.L.O.'s responsibility to enforce it. 
I don't seek to make this a partisan issue, as the lack of enforcement has gone on, for many years. I want only those things that are guaranteed me, under the laws of our state. They include: my "historic and presciptive" rights of access, to all Texas beaches, from the "mean low-tide line", to the "line of vegetation", and access to reach them. I am perfectly willing to let the cities, counties, beachfront owners, developers, and the State of Texas, fight over the rest. 
Look around you, are you missing some of YOUR property? Are you paying for it to be taken away? The answer is "YES".

John Beatty
Houston, Texas

Powell and the boob

FCC Chairman Michael Powell has been a very busy man lately. Janet Jackson's breast was clearly more than he could handle. He immediately launched an FCC investigation to discover how a breast found itself bouncing around his airwaves, which are usually reserved for gratuitous acts of violence, and the corporate reconstruction of our reality. How many millions of our tax dollars is Mr Powell going to squander on his hunt for the cause behind the outing of one of Janet's top agents? Maybe he could hire Kenneth Starr to sniff around Janet's drawers for oh, lets say 50 million or so....
Does Mr. Powell really imagine that Americans are depraved enough to see the glimpse of a mammary gland as more dangerous to the welfare of the United States than Mr Powell's own recent efforts to dismantle our First Amendment rights? The damage done to the people by his weakening of the already insufficient limits on media monopolies is far more pernicious than Janet's televised anatomy lesson could ever be. How strange that a human breast can turn Powell into such a raging moralistic tiger, and yet the selling of our airwaves into the hands of a few monster corporations leaves him purring like an overstuffed pussycat.
Mr Powell, we don't want our only windows on the world controlled by the likes of Rupert Murdoch and clearchannel. You and your FCC have blatantly betrayed America's trust in appointing Fox as guardian of the henhouse of America's information. Yes, Janet showed her baby bottle. But it is you Mr. Powell who has disgracefully exposed himself, by shamelessly unzipping your corporate fly and relieving yourself all over our First Amendment. Mr Powell, you are the one who should be investigated - for corruption in using your FCC post to help foster mega-media monopolies, and helping destroy the laws ensuring the People's right to an unabridged free press and free airwaves. 

David Singelyn
Warner Springs, California

National Holiday

If any one single man merits a named holiday, it is George Washington, I humbly submit. (For those of you who may have forgotten or never knew, his birthday is February 22nd.) Despite the heroic efforts of many fine continentals and volunteer combatants, had Washington not been present all would have been lost. For without his character, compassion, wisdom, and uncanny respect that he commanded from his subordinates, the War for Independence would never have ended in victory for a nation conceived in liberty. Without those same traits that he possessed at Philadelphia, neither would the Constitutional Convention have ever produced a document that, heretofore, has withstood the harsh winds of change. These two events paved the way for all we hold dear. To honest, objective, informed Americans, no other single man in our nation's history truly deserves a national holiday save George Washington. 

Joe Davenport 
San Antonio, TX

Black History Month

February is black history month, and many sites in the Texas Forest Trail Region are celebrating the contributions of African-Americans to East Texas. 
Special exhibits honoring African-Americans are on display at the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce in Crockett, Texas. The exhibits feature the story of black cowboys in Texas, historic photographs of Houston County residents, and information on Mary Allen Seminary- a institution of higher learning established in Crockett by the Presbyterian Church in 1885.
The Longview Museum of Art is also commemorating Black History Month with the exhibit “Black Artists from Africa to America.” The exhibit features the works of Arthello Beck, Frank Frazier, Leamon Green, M.C. "5¢" Jones, Nathadis Lucas, Janis Miglavs, Regis Shephard, and Carl Sidle. The exhibit will run through February 21. The Longview Museum of Art is located in downtown Longview and is free to the public.
Atlanta, Texas celebrates native daughter Bessie Coleman. year-round. Coleman was the world's first black pilot. She was born in Atlanta, Texas on January 26, 1892.Ê Finding no one who would teach a black woman to fly, she worked in Chicago to acquire the funds to go to France, learn to fly and earn her international aviation license two years before Amelia Earhart. She was heralded across the United States by African Americans who saw her storming not only barns but racial and gender barriers as well. Her goal of opening a flying school for African American youths was unmet at the time of her unfortunate death, but was later fulfilled by black aviators who followed her example of perseverance. Coleman was included in the Black Heritage Series of commemorative stamps issued by the USPS in 1995. A historical marker in downtown Atlanta commemorates Coleman, and the Atlanta History Center will open in April with a permanent exhibit about her achievements.
The contributions of African Americans to Texas history can be seen across East Texas.
Black Texans founded many communities around East Texas. Some of these communities like Tamina in Montgomery County, struggle to hold on to their heritage as development encroaches. Other communities like Shankleville located in Newton County celebrate their founders during annual homecoming celebrations.
Near -forgotten towns like Tamina and Shankleville are just two examples of communities with a rich African American history. It is important to take time -not just during Black History Month- to remember and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of our state and nation.
In addition to special exhibits around the region, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) is offering a free brochure commemorating the cultural legacies of African American Texans. This colorful booklet guides travelers to statewide heritage attractions and is an educational resource on African American history.
Part of the THC's heritage tourism initiative, the brochure includes a timeline, photos, narratives and special events honoring the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in Texas. 
The guide informs visitors about people, places and events dating from 1528, when the first identified African American explored the region north of the Rio Grande, to the 1973 election of Barbara Jordan to the U.S. House of Representatives. It guides the traveler to historic neighborhoods, black folk art museums and festivals celebrating black culture and heritage. 
To obtain this free guide, download a copy at www.thc.state.tx.us/travel or call 512/463-5853. For more information on the Texas Forest Trail Region visit www.txforesttrail.com or call 1-888-293-8708. 

Chay Runnels
Texas Forest Trail Regional Coordinator

District Attorney Race 

Often time’s statistical information can be invaluable in providing information and help us see tendencies of certain behavior patterns. In the current race for Montgomery County District Attorney, candidate Gary Beauchamp is pointing out a trend regarding the high statistics in favor of offenders by Michael McDougal, the current District Attorney. Often statistics are just numbers unless someone is personally affected by an event. Then regardless of the number, the event has a stronger meaning. Having a high percentage simply increase the number of people that are affected and should send a stronger message. The current escalation of "Family Violence" is one of the main topics of the race for District Attorney, and the lack of attention given this issue by Michael McDougal. An acquaintance of mine, a Registered Nurse in Montgomery County planning to marry purchased a house in the Woodlands with her boyfriend/fiancée. Regretfully, as it happens occasionally, the relationship deteriorated for numerous reasons. The situation eventually progressed to were there were threats and a potential for violence that had my friend frightened enough to seek protection by filing for a "protective order" through the District Attorney’s office. As has been the trend, here request was denied. The justification for denial wasn’t that there was "no evidence" of violence, or that she had failed to prove any threat; the reason for denial had nothing to do with the reason for the request in the first place. Unfortunately this proved fatal for both of them. Shortly after, she fell victim and became one of those statistics for "Family Violence". She was brutally executed by the very person she sought protection from, and he committed suicide in that very house that he had a right to stay in according to Michael McDougal’s office. If this Registered Nurse had been granted her "protective order" she may well be alive today. The District Attorney’s office is tasked with the "protection" of its citizen’s and they should get every benefit of the doubt. Protecting the rights of the accused is the responsibility of the other side of the fence. It is much easier to tell someone you’re sorry for their inconvenience if accusations are unfounded, than it is to tell family members you’re sorry, that their loved one should have been protected. It is time to give the victims the benefit of the doubt. The office of the District Attorney should provide that protection for the people of the county. 
Registered Nurse’s, as healthcare professionals are required by law to report domestic violence. We as healthcare professionals are also required to screen every patient for signs and indications of domestic violence and follow-up with documentation and reporting to appropriate agencies. It is disheartening to see the recent statistics and realize how much our work is done in vain. I strongly encourage the healthcare profession to stand up and take notice in Montgomery County. We need strong leadership from the District Attorneys office. It should be the counties strongest advocate against family violence instead of the weakest link. As a Registered Nurse in Montgomery County I encourage health care professionals to take time to vote March 9th.

C. J. Hart, RN

Not all Republicans are Welcome 

I am a Montgomery County Republican Party Precinct Chair and Election Judge. My husband and I attempted to attend a Rally hosted by the Republican Leadership Council (RLC) at the South County Community Building in The Woodlands on February 8th. We went to see several Republican Party officials and candidates.
Jim Jenkins is the leader of the RLC which is an privately incorporated group that is not affiliated with the county or state Republican Party. The RLC is also the organization behind the "fig leaf" on the David statue at Portifino shopping center. At the rally Jenkins rudely told me and my husband to leave and said we were not welcome at his "Republican" event. Neither of us had done anything to warrant this eviction. 
Jenkins then told a state Republican party elected official and her husband to leave as well and said they were "disrupting the meeting ". This was completely false. They were sitting there quietly and politely listening to the speaker. The only disruptive person was Jenkins. Gina Parker, candidate for Republican Party of Texas State Chairman, witnessed Jenkins telling us to leave. She was embarrassed for Jenkins and apologized to me for his rude behavior. 
Jenkins is running for Montgomery County Republican Chairman. His disrespectful behavior demonstrates why he should not be elected to this position. He would be a divisive county chairman. He would not welcome anyone into the Republican Party who does not agree with his narrow point of view. Jenkins also is anti-women and does not believe that women should serve as precinct chairs. Jenkins told a man he was recruiting to run against me that the number one reason I must be replaced is because I am a woman. Of the 62 precinct chair candidates he has recruited, only one is a woman. 
Our current Republican Party County Chairman, Dr. Wally Wilkerson, is seeking re-election. He deserves our vote because he unites people instead of being divisive. He has made our Republican Party into a winning team and is endorsed by all Montgomery County elected officials. Dr. Wilkerson is a man of character and integrity who shows respect to everyone. Please join me in supporting him and voting for him in the March 9th Primary election. 

Rosemary Roe 
The Woodlands, TX

Censure President Bush 

I ask that our Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, will censure President Bush for misleading us into war.
From his first days in office, President Bush was planning for war with Iraq. That decision having been made, the president ran a campaign of misinformation, hype and hysteria that led America into an unnecessary war. 
Before the war, Bush was repeatedly told there was no definitive evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. He knew Iraq was not a nuclear threat. He knew there was no Iraq connection to 9/11. Iraq posed no imminent danger to the United States. There was no case for a pre-emptive war.
Yet he relentlessly led us into a war that has cost 500 American lives, left 3,000 seriously injured, and wasted tens of billions of dollars. 
Our Senators must act to censure President Bush. 

Tomi G. Phillips
The Woodlands, TX 

Make the Democrats put up or shut up

The democrats are vulnerable right now. They are pretending to be something that they are not. They are strutting around stages in front of a fawning media, flicking limp wristed salutes to anyone who will look their way. Can you believe they are pretending to be militarists? With their history, they have the audacity to pretend to love the military.
Now is the time to take advantage of them. Immediately President Bush should propose a 20% raise, across the board, for all members of the armed forces. Right now he should propose a significant increase in numbers. Let’s shift a million loyal Americans from the unemployment line to our armed forces. If you can prove that you have been unemployed and you have a skill, when you sign up for service you get a $1000 bonus for each month you have been unemployed, with a cap of say $20,000. 
Double the GI education benefits and give college credit for Armed Forces advanced training. Overhaul the Veterans Administration to increase benefits to those who have earned our gratitude. 
What better way to reduce unemployment than to provide patriotic Americans with a good way to help us fight terror. This is a war, its time for action. Now is the time to undo what the Clinton years have done to our military.
Let’s make the democrats put up or shut up. This type of proposal will flush them out, and expose them for the liberal panty-waisted lot that they are. 

Theodore Pierce
The Woodlands, Texas 

Response to Hart, RN 

I have not responded to a "Letter to the Editor" in the 7 years I have been the Montgomery County District Attorney; however, due to the proliferation of misrepresentations stated as "facts," I am compelled to address the issue of the District Attorney's Office not protecting the rights of crime victims, especially in light of C.J. Hart's letter to this editor. 
In the first instance, as with all Mr. Beauchamp's "statistics," Mr./Ms. Hart fails to indicate in what year the District Attorney's Office refused to give his/her friend a "protective order." Without such information, there is no way to determine the accuracy of the claim. Further, prior to January 1, 2001, the County Attorney's Office handled the prosecution of all the county's misdemeanor cases, of which "assault" is one.
Thus, if Mr./Ms. Hart's friend sought prosecution prior to January 1, 2001, the District Attorney's Office would not have been involved. 
Secondly, even after January 1, 2001, the County Attorney's Office still maintained all jurisdiction for issuing "protective orders.” Therefore, the refusal to give Mr./Ms. Hart's friend a "protective order" would have been by that Office, not the District Attorney's Office. 
Lastly, over the 7 years I have had the honor and privilege of representing the citizens of Montgomery County, the District Attorney's Office has grown to include some 30 seasoned attorneys (10 years average experience; myself and 3 others, Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization) and 5 outstanding victim/witness coordinators (3 State-Certified Professionals; 2 National-Certified Professionals; 1 appointed by Governor Perry to the State Crime Victim's Institute Advisory Council). 
We have been instrumental in establishing Childrens' Safe Harbor; we have made presentations to the Montgomery County Womens' Center volunteers at the request of Nancy Harrington, Director; we have received awards from MADD for our prosecution of alcohol-related crimes;we have received letters of commendation from Janice Sager, President and Founder of Texans For Equal Justice; we have made presentations to both the Conroe Police Department's and the Montgomery County Sheriff Department's Citizen Academies. 
If anyone doubts that the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office strongly advocates for all victims of crime, I invite him/her to come to the office and see for himself/herself how our staff operates day in and day out. If you cannot spare the time to make a personal visit, my telephone number at work is 936-539-7906 and at home it is 936-539-2723 (just as it is listed in the Conroe telephone book). 

Michael A. McDougal
Montgomery County District Attorney

District Attorney Race

RN Hart needs to get her facts straight.
Unfortunately, she has probably relied on the false information the Beauchamp camp has been putting out. The District Attorney's Office is not responsible for issuance of protective orders. They are and always have been issued through the County Attorney's Office. It is a shame what happened to her friend. It will be even more of a shame if a fine, qualified man like McDougal is voted out of office because people like her assume what they read and hear are true without checking into the real facts. Do we as Montgomery County residents really want someone like Beauchamp who puts out false and incomplete statistics and information in a position as important as District Attorney. He doesn't have the qualifications to run on so he has had to put out the false, incomplete information and pick on the way McDougal dresses during special occasions to try to sway the voting public. Voters, please be informed, get the fact, the true facts, and vote for the right candidate, who is and always will be Michael A. McDougal. 

April Knudsen

Letter about the RLC

Republicans in Montgomery County must be informed of the lies and deceit that have been spread around the county by Jim Jenkins and his RLC cult followers. The man must be delusional and desperate for votes. He created bogus political groups that claim to endorse him and included these groups on his most recent mailer. Jenkins created them solely for the very purpose of having fictitious endorsements. The average voter would not know this, but if they see how many of these non-existent groups are endorsing him they might think that he has a great following. He has no such following except for the mindless brainwashed members of the RLC. He claims that any true information about him that is brought to people's attention are campaign attacks from his opponent. I can tell you first hand that Dr. Wilkerson had nothing to do with any information being handed out about Jenkin's arrest for assaulting an adult and injury to a child in his home. The information came out by concerned individuals who want the TRUTH to be told about this deceiving man. 
I recently attended a forum where Jenkins avoided answering questions with his smooth talk. He refused to explain why he doesn't want women running for elections. He went off on a tangent about how the Texas Federation of Republican Women doesn't have men in their group. Not only did this answer have nothing to do with explaining why he is so anti-women, but the TFRW is a woman's organization that helps to elect both men and women. 
He claims that he can help lower taxes. In fact, he tells his followers who are running for precinct chair that they can lower taxes. The position of County Chairman and Precinct Chairs does not make any tax law. But if you talk to them you would think they have the power to do so. 
Jenkins stated in public and on his mailer that the tax rate in Montgomery Country went up 13% during the last year. I do not believe that is an accurate figure and would like to know how he arrived at that number. He twists and manipulates facts and people like no other. 
The truth of the matter is, he does not attend regular republican county functions or fundraisers, he does not help out at headquarters, he does not get along with the majority of the republicans in the county, and he encourages his followers to destroy other candidates reputations and campaign signs. I believe it is Jim Jenkins and his bobble heads who resort to extreme antics and it was probably Jim who wrote the letter sent out by his wife praising him as a husband and father. 
He attacks Dr. Wilkerson because of his age. To me this implies that older people have no use or value to the community. Thinking senior citizens attain more wisdom and knowledge with age and can only be a benefit to the Republican party. If Jenkins was a real Republican and worked with the party, he would know that there are many young Republicans in the party who are being mentored by Dr. Wilkerson. Jenkins wants to bring in young republicans who I believe he has brainwashed in some fashion so he can eventually control the county. Voters should be aware that the RLC and Jim Jenkins have a Taliban mentality. The man is all about control. He is so slick in his manipulation that I would consider him a leading candidate for the Anti-Christ! 

Lori King 
Spring, TX 

Lie about an Opponent?

It has become political sport to trash the reputation of opponents in elections, but is it Christian or ethical to twist the truth or tell outright lies? Is winning so important that any means is justified by the end result? For some people it is but their actions do not conform to anything I ever learned in the Bible. 
One example is an email being circulated by Betty Anderson, the ministers wife at Faith Community Church in The Woodlands, to the effect that I have voted 100% with the Democrats on the State Board of Education. Nothing could be further from the truth. There have been Democrats and Republicans on both sides of almost every issue that has come up for a vote. The reference she cites clearly shows that I voted 100% with the Republican Chair or the Republican Vice Chair or both on every vote. 
Apparently, because I did not vote 100% of the time with the four extremist ideologues (Leo, Bradley, McLeroy and Lowe), they have chosen to attack me with lies and innuendo in an effort to get my opponent elected. If they are successful, the SBOE will have another robot to blindly follow those who think the 500 year old statue of David in Shenandoah needs a fig leaf when the original has stood unaided for 500 years. 
The extremist ideologues also voted for an indicted Democrat for Vice Chair and then repeatedly voted to retain substandard money managers on the PSF while at the same time exceeding the budgetary limitations mandated by the Texas Legislature for paying these managers. I expect that the upcoming trials of two indicted board members (Bradley and Bernal) will illuminate my concerns for the antics of the extremists. 
All voters need to be aware of what Betty Anderson, the number one political operative for Jim Jenkins and the RLC is trying to accomplish with her lies in support of my opponent. It is not in the best interest of conservatives, but rather for the political advantage of the extreme far right ideologues. 

Linda Bauer
The Woodlands
SBOE Member District 8

NOTE: You can respond to any of these letters by going to www.thebulletin.com and posting a message on our Bulletin Board.

Editor's Note: We encourage you to send in your Letters to the Editor, but please remember to give your name and town. `Anonymous' letters will no longer be accepted. Direct confidential questions by calling (936)539-2200 or e-mail editor@thebulletin.com.

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