The Cover-Up
It’s not hard to figure out why Governor Perry removed the chairman and two members of the Texas Forensic Science Commission just before its scheduled meeting: He was about to be embarrassed, and not just in Texas but nationally. The commission was going to hear a report from an arson expert that the investigation leading to the conviction and execution of Cameron Willingham for the murder of his three daughters was flawed. The case has received national attention because of the possibility that Texas executed an innocent man on Perry’s watch. The removal of the three members forced the cancellation of the meeting and prevented the report from being heard.
Perry dug a hole for himself on a recent trip to Washington by blustering his way through a meeting with reporters. From the Dallas Morning News story:
Governor Rick Perry today strenuously defended the execution of a Corsicana man whose conviction for killing his daughters in a house fire hinged on an arson finding that top experts call junk science.
“I’m familiar with the latter-day supposed experts on the arson side of it,” Perry said, making quotation marks with his fingers to underscore his skepticism.
Even without proof that the fire was arson, he added, the court records he reviewed before the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham in 2004 showed “clear and compelling, overwhelming evidence that he was in fact the murderer of his children.”
That image of Perry mocking the investigation of his own commission, making quotation marks in the air, is such inappropriate behavior for the subject matter. Couldn’t he just say that a special commission is taking steps to review the case and he intends to see that the evidence will get a full and complete hearing? It’s the same personality trait that we saw on the videotape about the recession.
Let’s call this what it is: a cover-up. The new chairman, Williamson County district attorney John Bradley, is a political ally of Perry’s (see below) who famously tough on crime. It would be a conversion of mythic proportions if he were to agree with the investigators’ criticism. He now controls when the commission will meet, and you can bet that the report will not be heard or discussed in a public forum before the March 2 primary.
This example of Bradley at work is from “Grits for Breakfast,” the excellent criminal justice blog, in 2005:
During the hearing Thursday on HB 2193, which would strengthen Texas’ probation system, the Statesman’s Mike Ward reports that aides to Governor Perry proposed gutting amendments to the bill. The proposals were apparently supplied by Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, the only bill opponent who spoke at the hearing.
Is it likely that the Willingham case will be an issue in the governor’s race? I doubt it. Most Texans, including me, favor capital punishment. They don’t favor executing innocent people, though. The Hutchison campaign’s usually hard-hitting morning blast tread very lightly on this issue:
Rick Perry’s removal of three appointees on the Texas Forensic Science Commission on the eve of a critical hearing is the dominating story this morning. Rick Perry will probably be forced to explain his actions at today’s press event. As for today’s schedule ….
What we’ve been seeing lately is a succession of unfavorable stories about Perry. He had to explain his joke about the recession with a public statement. Now he is going to have to explain his musical chairmen. It is never good for a politician to have to explain. Sometimes it’s hard to know if the public is paying attention, especially this far in advance of an election, but the accumulation of unfavorable stories eventually adds up.
Tagged: arson, cameron willingham, john bradley, rick perry, texas forensic science commission.
M. Kelton says:
ANYBODY but goodhair for Govenor!
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Anonymous says:
Paul,
good post, you’ve accurately captured the governor’s personality trait that could likely be his downfall. With the ‘recession,’ that can be argued; executing an innocent man cannot. It makes me sick to think of that man and his tormented death. The Governor should show as much concern and compassion for the innocents in the system and potentially on death row as the innocents in the womb.
thank you
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louis miller ny Reply:
October 13th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
everyone should boycott texas products, tourism, and services to protest the execution of Cameron Willingham an innocent man an economic boycott is the only thing death penalty states willunderstand whenpeople stand for the rights of others by taking together govt listens LETS DO IT BOYCOTT TOGETHER UNTIL DEATH PENALTY IS ABOLISHED
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Emeyekaye says:
I guess Perry does know a lot about arson… you’re only an expert if you get away with it.
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truth hurts says:
How can anyone be “pro-life” and then piss all over this man’s life with politics, flippant remarks, cover-ups on top of cover-ups, and, ultimately, contempt for the due diligence that makes for a competent system of justice?
Texas’ system of justice is broken, broken, broken — from family courts to criminal courts. Yet, Perry seems content with half-a**sing everything and then distorting facts to spin some illusory victory. Perry and the shameless consultants that prop him are a disservice to the good people of our state.
He many not fear the ballot box, but he ought to fear his final judgment. The God I believe in doesn’t have a place in Heaven for smiling fools like Rick Perry.
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Hubert Wilson says:
Retribution Against Truth?
Retribution against truth?
Invalidate findings of a noted forensic sleuth?
Cover-up the execution of an innocent man?
Key to the plan of a most pathetic, immoral political man?
Yank from public view?
Panel in only facts seeking to pursue?
Exploit three daughters’ arson deaths?
Railroaded Father proclaimed his innocence with his dying breaths?
Ricky fears the unbiased expert’s report?
Yearning to know why verity he does not support?
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death panel says:
What Perry desires, apparently, is a death panel. Perry enacts this cover-up and, as you point out, will probably get away with it. There just seems no way to shock the inhabitants of this apathetic, complacent, and yet deeply hurting state. If the execution of an innocent man doesn’t wake people up, what will?
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Mary says:
What? Does Perry have an Obama complex?
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Anonymous Forever Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
At least there are term limits for our president/ Your comparison fails on so many more levels, too.
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Anonymous says:
This most recent junk science finding is only the latest in a review by many of the leading fire experts in the US. There is no question anymore that the conviction was based on junk science. Perry, however, put all his faith in his aides’ non-review of the junk science findings offered to him with a clemency request. Their knee-jerk refusal to consider that our system could get it wrong, and his arrogant insistance that prosecutors could not make a mistake of this magnitude, is typical Perry. He wants us to ignore science when it makes us uncomfortable or is politically inconvenient.
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Pat Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Anon @ 1:22pm-
Your argument assumes that Rick Perry actually believes in science. All evidence points to the contrary.
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Garvin Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Great point, Anon! For a guy who is pro life/pro death penalty, anti-evolution and appoints those who refuse minorities rightful place in history books, Old Rick has it going!
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Anonymous says:
News coverage said that John Bradley, Perry’s new forensic fixer, “didn’t seek the position.” Of course, Bradley didn’t mention the fact that the governor is required by law to pick someone off a short list provided by the prosecutors’ association, of which Bradley is a board member and arguably the most powerful person in the organization. “Gee, I don’t know how lil ol’ me got picked.” What crap.
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The Other Sarah Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
anon @ October 1st, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Shades of Cheney being the best candidate for the VP?
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General Sam Houston says:
Where is the Perry Blog Management team today? They must be in class, or perhaps hustling up new “Perry supporters” at $20 a head.
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twice as nice Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Rimshot. Good one. And, so true, hello, campaign Blog commenters that are so obvious cuz you just throw up lame talking points, where are you??
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Anonymous says:
“That image of Perry mocking the investigation of his own commission, making quotation marks in the air, is such inappropriate behavior for the subject matter…. It’s the same personality trait that we saw on the videotape about the recession.” — and the same trait we saw in the presidency for 8 years, and in the current governor’s predecessor. What I don’t get, Paul, is how you can see Perry for who he is but not Bush. They’re virtually identical twins, all the way down to their inappropriate, physical mannerisms.
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Harry Doghiney (D-TX) says:
I think you summed it up nicely Paul:
Even supporters of capital punishment oppose the execution of the innocent.
Except Rick Perry.
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Brown Bess says:
Nicely put Paul.
One can hope that all the tea-partiers who heretofore supported Perry have second thoughts over this case, an example of the most horrible abuse of government power there is.
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Dallasite says:
I would rather see someone described as “pro prosecutor” instead of “tough on crime.”
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Pancho Villa says:
This guy has the amazing ability to survive shooting himself in his own foot while that same foot is wedged in his mouth.
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JRD says:
Perry has a complete and total mistrust of government except on this issue he has blind trust. How do you reconcile that?
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Anonymous says:
this makes me positively ill. i thought we only saw this sort of thing in 3rd world dictatorships? is this whats next, not justice but state sanctioned murder?
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Anonymous says:
Paul – I think your title is irresponsible. You have no idea what is happening yet you post a headline that will be used in commercials and direct mail under “Texas Monthly”… How long did it take you to think of this line “Let’s call this what it is: a cover-up” knowing full well it will be in a commercial during early voting with you name as the author. Have you taped a mirror under the bill of your hat so you can see yourself all the time?
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Garvin Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I disagree. Perry obviously made attempts to confuse or hide the situation. That is a cover up.
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Briscoe Democrat says:
Burka, is ego and arrogance what brought down then-Governor Dolph Briscoe (D), when he and his cronies refused to work with the State AG’s office during his 6 years in office ?
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
Briscoe lost because he was a do-nothing governor from rural Texas who was out of touch with the evolution of Texas into an urban state. His appointment of a dead man to a key position (and his personal physician to the UT Board of Regents) seemed to sum up his governorship. He was not arrogant or egotistical, and he remains a good and decent man to this day. I don’t have any personal knowledge of any difficulties Briscoe may have had with then-AG John Hill. I do know that Hill’s contemporaries found him difficult to work with. Hill had a reputation for asking for support, but then when others asked him (Charlie Wilson, for instance), finding an excuse why he couldn’t give it. Hill, too, got better as he got older. He was a trial lawyer who became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and recognized that the trial-lawyer majority on the Court had gotten out of control.
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anonymous from FTW says:
Typical Perry. Junk science isn’t good enough in tort cases but perfectly fine when deciding whether or not someone gets the death penalty. Similarly, juries can’t be trusted in civil cases because they might grant an excessive award but they’re good enough to decide whether someone ought to live or die. It’s all politics. Perry and his ilk have absolutely no principles whatsoever as illustrated by their inconsistent approaches to the civil and criminal justice systems based solely on what suits them politically.
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Anon says:
What JRD said.
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Briscoe Democrat Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 5:36 pm
That’s like Obama calling Kayne West a “Jackass” and not getting heat over that.
Burka, this gaffe or whatever you call it will FADE very fast and folks will be focusing on the President’s imploding popularity (which Perry is taking advantage of a WEAK president).
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Marsha Hobratschk Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Uh-oh, Obama’s approval rating jumps!
An Associated Press-GfK poll says 56 percent of those surveyed in the past week approve of Obama’s job performance, up from 50 percent in September. It’s the first time since he took office in January that his rating has gone up.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910070006
Doesn’t sound like President’s popularity imploding! But I bet Perry popularity is imploding!
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knightlaw says:
To Paul Burka, Here’s a quote from your piece, “Most Texans, including me, favor capital punishment. They don’t favor executing innocent people, though.” First, I don’t know that either of those sentences is factually accurate. (Personally I see that way too many Texans would prefer to kill em first and ask questions later.) But my main point is, you can not rationally be in favor of the death penalty and against executing innocent people unless you actually believe that the criminal justice system is perfect. Now I know you don’t really believe that, no human endeavor is perfect. So when the death penalty is used, some innocent people will die. Period. No way around it.
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:14 am
We live in an imperfect world. Judges make mistakes. Juries make mistakes. Anyone who favors capital punishment should acknowledge that the system is not perfect and that an innocent person may be executed. I so acknowledge. The possibility of a mistake is a strong argument against capital punishment. There are equally strong arguments for it.
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John McSame says:
Hey Briscoe “Democrat”–
Executing an innocent man is now a “gaffe?” I hate to think what would be considered a real mistake in your book.
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Harry Doghiney (D-TX) Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I hope s/he means that Perry’s gaffe is the removal of three commissioners right before the hearing.
I hope that’s what s/he means.
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Anonymous says:
yawn….can’t wait for another joke on tape, now that was good.
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Mark in Austin says:
So it’s not a deterrent. It’s not cheap. It’s not moral. And to top it off we have screwed it up so bad, we execute innocent people.
How pathetic is my Democratic Party that we will finish 15-points behind this guy in 13 months?
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Anonymous Forever says:
This governor should be impeached.
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mtntexas says:
I hadn’t realizrd that Yexas Monthly was on-line. I stopped buying the magazine after 10 years because I’ve never seen so much got damned advertising in my whole life. Takes you 20 minutes to find an article amid the advertisements. When’s Perry gonna be indicted for that mansion fire?
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Pancho Villa Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 am
There’re articles in there? I thought TM was just a glossy Greensheet…
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
mtntexas — try reading the table of contents.
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Socrates' Hemlock Juice says:
How can’t this be a campaign issue over the interim. With all of the moral hand-wringing that goes on over the death penalty, its supporters typically emphasize the use of necessary safeguards to ensure that anyone who may be innocent (or not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt) does not get killed. Now we have a compelling case where the evidence used to convict Willingham was nothing more than applied quackery. When presented with the scientific study categorically refuting the original investigation’s claims, the Governor didn’t lift a finger to stop the execution. Judging from the New Yorker’s coverage, I doubt that they even read the study identifying the flawed arson investigation claims. And now Perry acts with brazen insouciance to the Willingham matter, air quotes and all, as if he were a George W. Bush-mold “decider” who, once having made a decision, doesn’t believe that there is any obligation to critically re-evaluate the basis for that decision. The implication is clear: Rick Perry doesn’t care if an innocent man died under his watch. Judging from the turn of events earlier this week, he not only doesn’t care, he prefers to block any formal inquiry into the reasonable proposition that Willingham was innocent. This is a gross deriliction of duty in as much as it’s a cynical exercise of executive power. How can’t it be a campaign issue? I think this matter will haunt Perry over the next six or twelve months as much as Judge Keller’s “we close at five” quip did to her.
-SHJ
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Pauls other inbox (retired) says:
Paul, you’re so wrong in many ways. Your hatred of all things right of center clouds your judgment. You know of no facts of which you write in this and in many of your postings. It’s so sad that great entertaining institutions like Texas Monthly are declining before our collective eyes. The lack of folk’s blindly supporting magazines and newspapers like their parents did has begun, ushering in a new era of information processing. Your postings just move the decline onto a steep downward trend.
You don’t know what Perry said in DC., You have never once pointed out the TX Gov only power is a one time 30 day reprieve. You have never pointed out the courts refused to allow the submission of the so called new information while the case was on appeal. you have never looked at any of the facts in this case. You have never once reported at to what is the mission of the commission. You read what others have written and spew it back like some golden revelation. Honestly you make a mockery out of a once proud institution. Maybe that why laziness is a sin.
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Dr J Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am
The governor’s reprieve power and the actions of the federal courts are not at issue here. Only one thing is: the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which was created to provide another level of review of the science that is used to convict and sometimes execute people accused of crimes, was set to review the process that ended in the execution of Mr. Willingham, but Gov. Perry short-circuited that process.
That’s the FSC’s mission. Perry has prevented the commission from carrying it out.
Perry is certainly within his rights to replace members of the commission when their terms expire, but he is also obliged to do so in a way that allows the commissioners to do their work. He hasn’t done that here. Instead, he has tainted the processes of a commission that would otherwise have been able to approach its work in a non-partisan fashion. His motivations couldn’t possibly be more transparent, so he comes off looking like Tricky Rick.
If I’m wrong about that and the governor’s motives are pure, he can prove it by demanding that the commissioners meet within 60 days to consider Beyler’s report and all the other evidence, and let the chips fall where they may.
I would advise you not to hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 am
To “Paul’s other inbox (retired)” (I hope)
In case you have missed my saying this before:
This is a blog.
It is not the New York Times.
I am under no compulsion to write about the governor’s clemency powers, or what happened in the appellate courts. In a Texas Monthly story that offered a complete examination of the case, these subjects would have been covered in due course. We were going to write about the case, until we learned that the New Yorker was already far along with their story.
In any event, what happened in the rubber-stamp Court of Criminal Appeals, or in the rubber-stamp clemency process have no relevance to the way Perry acted in Washington, or on his decision to eviscerate the commission to avoid further embarrassment.
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Anonymous says:
If Texas executed an innocent man, that’s you and me. Personally, I’d like to know if our Governor was derelict in his responsibility to keep that from happening. His behavior in trying to hide the truth is truly Nixonian in proportions. It’s so bad, in fact, that politics isn’t even worthy of being discussed in the same post. Our Governor looks to be an accomplice to murder, and now he’s using the power of his elected office to cover it up.
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Anonymous says:
Why is KBH so muted in her response? An example of why her campaign sucks and why she’s no more worthy to be governor than Perry.
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
Why was she muted? Because of a venerable political guideline: never interrupt your enemy’s suicide.
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Harry Doghiney (D-TX) says:
Why is KBH so muted in her response?
She’s wracking her brain trying to figure out whether it’s worse to look “weak on crime” or to oppose capital punishment of the innocent.
Maybe she should focus group it.
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el_longhorn Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Ha! Good one. This campaign is gonna be a disaster for the Republicans, not because they are going to beat each other up but because it is going to highlight the complete and total absence of any good ideas or real leadership.
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Rojas says:
If we, as Texans, let this snake oil salesman get away with this we all deserve to burn in hell.
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Anonymous says:
Looks like Perry may very well have violated federal law: http://www.dogcanyon.org/2009/10/02/perrys-crime/ Hopefully the federal prosecutor starts an investigation immediately.
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Anonymous says:
Ever read “The Innocent Man,” by John Grisham? It ain’t like this can’t happen or has never happened before.
Perry’s political ambitions have resulted in a major misstep…a potential crime…in an effort to sweep his negligence under the rug.
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Anonymous says:
Let me get this straight – an innocent man was executed and Perry didn’t stop the execution? Now that is a story…didn’t realize that.
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 am
Was Cameron Willingham innocent? I don’t know that we can say that with certainty. What we can say is that several arson experts have concluded that the evidence was significantly flawed, and that Rick Perry has treated their findings with mockery and contempt. Only God knows the truth.
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Rollie the JBC operator says:
The Olympics aren’t coming to Chicago? WHAT?! I thought Obama was going to fix that like he’s fixed everything else thus far. I’m really upset about this.
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paulburka Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Five yard penalty for delay of game. Hey, Rollie, there is a thread here. Try to follow it.
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Brisoce Democrat says:
Perry does have one good thing coming out of this: the majority of Texans (including myself) STRONGLY support capital punishment.
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John McSame Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Sad to say, but you’re probably right, Briscoe “Democrat.” They support it so much they are probably more than willing to look the other way when an innocent man is executed.
Yeehaw.
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Anonymous says:
I especially like the execution of the innocent…that really is cool(as long as it isn’t someone I know).
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Rog says:
It would be a lot cheaper and quicker if Perry just hired Bush to look into their soul and find out if they’re guilty or not.
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Briscoe Democrat Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Rog, in case Burka has forgotten Bush Jr., executed LOTS of folks too, maybe even innocent people during his 5 years in the governor’s mansion as well.
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John Johnson says:
The bottomline … neither Perry nor KBH should be Governor of Texas, but the fact remains that there is no viable Dem candidate that will broadcast an agenda that might give them a chance.
It appears that they all want to stick to the same old, same old … a far left liberal platform. Education will not get them elected; Perry’s slimey modes of operation might not be enough to get him unseated. Are we stupid, or what?!?
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truth hurts says:
JJ, the answer is: we’re stupid.
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Anonymous Forever says:
Johnson, I never voted for him. We need term limits. I’m not sure what Democrat you are talking about. Democrats aren’t Republicans. Even though you seem to be a bit over-the-top in describing Texas Democrats, I’m not suprised by that. Question: Is Fox News on your viewing schedule every day? (I really do want to know.)
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Brisoce Democrat Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Anonymous Forever, the good old boys will NEVER
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Anonymous says:
Does it bother no one who is rushing to the conclusion this man was innocent that he had no burn marks or scratches from at least trying to save three children all under the age of two? I can’t defend the removal of board members so close to this particular hearing, but I am far from thinking this guy is innocent.
I think there are just a lot of folks who oppose capital punishment on this blog taking advantage of the gov’s decision this week to push their agenda without even really caring to look at the facts as to whether this guy is likely innocent/guilty.
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paulburka Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Anonymous: Where did you get your information that he had no burn marks or scratches? This is contradicted by other commenters. If you are going to post on this blog, at least have the integrity to be factual.
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John McSame says:
Oh, OK. So he should have gotten 3rd degree burns to prove his innocence?
I’ll be sure to remember that if my house ever catches on fire and kills my family. If I don’t want to get the needle, then I better be a crispy critter!
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Anonymous Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:15 am
It seems to me if you are trying to kill your family you would get out before any harm. If you love your family, and precious children under the age of two, you do everything possible to get them out including risking your life.
What a shameful, callous response on your part.
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Anonymous Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
No. You are shameful and callous, thinking you can judge the guilt or innocence of someone based on the absence of burns and scratches. You have no idea what it was like at the time and neither do I. I’m not necessarily against the Death Penalty, but I am against execution of the innocent.
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Anonymous Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I was not making a claim of guilt or innocence: I was responding to those who have rushed to a judgment of innocence when it is, coincidentally (uhhm) and opportunity to attack a governor they hate and in many cases a penalty they despise.
I was simply making the point be careful who you make a poster child out of when this guy is nowhere near proven innocent.
John McSame says:
I think “shameful” and “callous” best describes your man, Gov. Goodhair, in this case, Anon at 11:15.
And to echo what Anon at 11:25, neither you nor anyone here knows what happened to a sufficient degree to be able to leap to the conclusion that this man killed his family.
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DTC says:
anonymous 10:08…article from the New Yorker about the case
“Buffie Barbee, who was eleven years old and lived two houses down, was playing in her back yard when she smelled the smoke. She ran inside and told her mother, Diane, and they hurried up the street; that’s when they saw the smoldering house and Cameron Todd Willingham standing on the front porch, wearing only a pair of jeans, his chest blackened with soot, his hair and eyelids singed. He was screaming, “My babies are burning up!” His children—Karmon and Kameron, who were one-year-old twin girls, and two-year-old Amber—were trapped inside.”
and theres more where that came from, including that one of the officers at the scene received a black eye restraining willingham from re-entering the house.
it may not be the third degree burns you were requesting, but it sounds like he did try to go into the blaze.
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Anonymous Forever Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Thank you for that DTC.
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Anonymous Forever says:
Link to the 17-page story by David Grann in the New Yorker, “Trial by Fire.”
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MadDawgg says:
Two quotes from Dr. Samuel Johnson apply here–
“Nothing focuses the mind like a hanging,”and, “what we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.”
Capital punishment is the ultimate application of the state power, and state’s obligation is to establish and maintain justice. The guilty must be punished, but an innocent man should never be executed. In other words, we have to get it right before we put the needle in.
What would happen if an honest re-examination of the case were undertaken by the forensic science commission and found that Beyer’s conclusions were correct, thereby posthumously exonerating Willingham?
I’d hope that the Governor would act like the strong leader we all know him to be, stand up, and admit that the justice system failed. I’d hope that he would take responsibility for signing off on the execution of a man now known to be innocent, and promise to support measures to ensure that it never happens again. Even the staunchest death penalty proponents would blanch if the state had in effect committed homicide. Then, maybe, we’d have a more open debate about the consequence to society of such an act and how to keep it from reoccurring. But no one would fault him for taking it on the chin by admitting the state’s failure, and in fact, he’d be admired for his candor.
It is Governor Perry’s fault that the initial investigation was flawed? Is it his fault that a jury found Willingham guilty based on that flawed evidence? Of course not.
Is firing his own appointees to the Forensic Science Commission immediately before they were to undertake an honest re-examination of the facts the honest act of a courageous and honest leader, or is it merely the sort of reflexive scramble for political cover that we’ve all come to expect from our elected leaders when their job security is threatened? Of course it’s the latter.
While the FSC members all serve at the Governor’s pleasure, and while their terms had indeed expired, the long established practice is that appointees continue to serve until the Governor has someone to replace them. So why did he fire them when he fired them?
I really hope that Senator Whitmire can shine a bright light on on this in his upcoming hearing.
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Anonymous Forever Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
So, what you are saying is that Rick Perry executes with the greatest of ease?
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Dudley Sharp says:
It would seem an obvious rule that you must wait for rebuttals and a more thorough understanding, before reaching conclusions.
Many – way too many in the media – have just blindly accepted one side of this discussion, without waiting for a reply, to reach conclusions. Barry Scheck proclaims, with Willingham, we now have absolute proof of an innocent executed. Is it true? Of course not.
The media, as others, have been burned so many times (1) with the false innocence claims in death penalty cases, that you would think they would be much more thorough in their fact checking, more critical in their assessments and more contemplative in their conclusions.
Yet, many aren’t. Why is that?
Part of the answer is that many in the media are so excited about finding the elusive innocent executed that they are wishing it to be true – solid journalism be damned.
As every baby journalist knows, it has long been the unfortunate standard that one great expert can be 100% certain of their findings, just as another great expert can be 100% certain that the opposite is true.
So why is, nearly, every media outlet anointing Craig Beyler’s report as definitive? For the same reason they annointed David Grann’s “Trial By Fire” as brilliant, objective reporting – they WANT it to be true and for no other reason. (2)
Even a critical review by a layman, can, easily, see problems with the Beyler report. Although, limited, the criticism against Beyler, within the Corsicana Fire Department review (), s3hows how blatant and problematic Beyler’s gaffs are. It is easy to anticipate that the Texas Fire Marshall’s report will attempt to lay waste to Beyler. Preliminarily, the Fire Marshall’s office has stated that they stand by their investigator’s, Vasquez’, conclusions of the Willingham fire – the same conclusions blasted by Beyler.
1) http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/08/the-innocent-executed-deception–death-penalty-opponents–draft.aspx
2) “Cameron Todd Willingham: Media Meltdown & the Death Penalty”:
“Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man?”, by David Grann
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/04/cameron-todd-willingham-media-meltdown–the-death-penalty.aspx
This was written and released prior to the Corsicana Fire Marshall’s report, below:
3a) EXCLUSIVE: City report on arson probe:
State panel asks for city response in Willingham case
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/local_story_276222736.html
3b) No Doubts
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/thewillinghamfiles/local_story_250180658.html
4) The Texas Fire Marshall’s office has already stated that they will stand by their fire expert, Vasquez. This means that the TFM report will be extremely critical of Beyler, as Beyler was very critical of Vasquez. Although the Corsicana report was very critical of Beyler, on a number of obvious points, undoubtedly, the TFM report will be much more thorough than was Corsicana.
5) Trial Transcripts. There is one official “report” to which, it appears, few have paid attention. It is rather important because, at least five persons, who were involved with the trial, the prosecutor, defense attorney, two surviving fire investigators and a juror have all voiced support for the verdict, still, in the light of the criticism of the arson forensics.
It is important to note that one of those original fire investigators, Hensley, is, now, an active certified arson expert.
For a collection of articles, go to:
Corsicana Daily Sun, The Willingham Files
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/thewillinghamfiles
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