Molly Ivins On Some of the Latest Moves by the Republican Machine

In her November 23 syndicated column, Molly Ivins lists several of the most egregious recent moves by the Republicans that already have her worried about the next four years. She lists not only the moves by Bush to ensure that his cabinet is filled with loyal people rather than competent ones, but also the most recent moves by the Republicans in the House and Senate to add pork items and agenda items to the last-minute omnibus budget bill.

The most interesting comments, however, she saves for the Republican attack dogs. Specifically, those Republicans who are going after the Texas District Attorney responsible for indicting House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for his illegal election practices. I'll quote the signficant paragraphs below, but you can read the entire column here. (The column is available several other places, including your local newspaper.)

It's really fascinating to watch the Republican slime machine at work on Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. Earle is one of the longest-serving district attorneys in the entire country. His constituents have been re-electing him since 1976. He was one of the first prosecutors in Texas to create a victim assistance program and helped start the Austin Children's Advocacy Center to help abused kids.

He's pretty much a local hero around here, and no D.A. gets that way by being "soft on crime." Earle is a death penalty advocate. He is also noted for going after corrupt Democratic politicians in this state, even though he's a Democrat himself. He was willing not only to take on the slam-dunk cases, but also some tough ones just to remind everybody that the law is to be obeyed.

Earle is such a careful craftsman of prosecution that Time magazine selected him as their main example for a major 2003 article to explain how DAs like Earle might bring some resolution to the death penalty debate. Earle has experienced both the good and bad of the death penalty -- consequently, he has a special review procedure for cases on which his office seeks capital punishment.

He is widely admired among his peers, and his innovations are often copied. This is the guy the Republicans are blithely dismissing as a "crackpot." Since Earle has been in office almost 30 years and has a fine national reputation, it's ludicrous to dismiss him as a "runaway district attorney." Does anyone at Fox News ever do any research?

[Just a personal comment in answer to that last question---uh, NO!!!! Duh!!]