Tuesday, November 25, 2014

First – Corrections to yesterday

The Ohio State University did not play Boston College. They played Indiana as in “Back Home Again in…” Florida State University and Boston College have the same school colors. Ohio State has funny looking leaf stickers on their helmets that resemble plants from Colorado. My apologies for the errors.

First, kill all of the lawyers! OK, you know the quote is from William Shakespeare, but from what work?

I see where Governor-elect, Happy Sue Abbott may file a lawsuit against the Obama administration for the POTUS decision on immigration reform. Well, put on your Gomer Pyle voice and say “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” A description of the incoming governor is “remarkably litigious” to say the least. And I just like to say “remarkably litigious.” His office has filed lawsuits against the Obama Administration somewhere between 24 and 30 times, depending on who is keeping score or what year you are looking at. This has cost the taxpayers of Texas about $2.8 million dollars and growing. He has won 5, lost 8, had 2 dismissed and has 12 pending. Note: That is called State Math. You know it as “Close enough for government work.” Wow, I wonder what the boys and girls in the Texas public school system could do with that chunk of change.

If you have forgotten, were unaware or were out of Texas, let’s remember. From The Texas Observer

“Abbott’s personal story would suggest that he’d be up to that task (of lawsuits). One day in 1984, when Abbott was still in law school, he and a friend were jogging in Houston’s posh River Oaks neighborhood when a giant live oak tree fell on him, damaging his spinal cord and putting him in a wheelchair for life. It was one of those bolt-from-the-blue, life-altering tragedies that could happen to any one of us. “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

Now, Abbott did what many folks would do: He sued the homeowner and a tree company and with the help of a plaintiff’s attorney won a legal bounty. His settlement, paid out over a lifetime, amounts to more than $10 million, tax-free. The tragedy, he has said, helped inspire him to get into politics… where he built a career on making it harder for ordinary people to sue. As a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, he signed onto opinions, for example, limiting non-economic damages such as mental anguish.

As Texas Attorney General, he launched an effort to strike down the portion of the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring equal access to public buildings—something disability activists begged him not to do. At the same time, he said that he was running to “protect the most vulnerable in society—children, the elderly, those who can’t fend for themselves.”

For comparative purposes, the Bush (as in W) administration had three lawsuits filed. I hope there is reconsideration on Happy Sue’s part. After all, he has to plan inaugural festivities. And he has to get ready for The Silly Season that begins in January. Besides, if the Republicans sue against immigration reform, who will clean their houses, and their yards, and take care of their children? Who will cook and serve drinks at the inauguration activities? The quote is from Shakespeare’s Henry VI.