Chain, chain chain. Chain of fools! Judge Hale smacks down the sillies!

 

406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr. listens to an argument by local attorney Maria Elena Morales on a temporary restraining order against Webb County Democratic Party Chairman Silverio Martinez on Friday morning. (Photo by Cuate Santos/Laredo Morning Times)

406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr. listens to an argument by local attorney Maria Elena Morales on a temporary restraining order against Webb County Democratic Party Chairman Silverio Martinez on Friday morning. (Photo by Cuate Santos/Laredo Morning Times)

First of all, I want to wish all of you Lizardistas a Happy 2014.  And if you’re interested in the shenanigans, chicanery and tomfoolery that passes for election politics in Laredo, Webb County, Texas, USA, Planet Earth … well, the jury’s still out.

Before we start discussing the actual campaign season (which, by the way, is shaping up to be a pretty tame one, all things considered), let’s talk about what’s REALLY at the core of every Laredo election.

LAWSUITS!

That’s right, amigos.  If you’ve followed election politics for any amount of time, you know that NO election is settled until the lawsuits are.

Two years ago, we saw Fernando Sanchez file motion after motion to try and kick Beckie Palomo off the ballot.  For a few weeks, her future remained in limbo, while Sanchez’s lawyers bashed Palomo in court appearance after court appearance.

At the end of the day, the judges threw his case out.  Palomo was returned to the ballot.  Sanchez was branded a coward and a weak man who was afraid to face a woman in a fair fight.  Palomo, as we all know, thoroughly kicked Sanchez’s ass.  Now, she’s Judge Palomo, a powerful mover and shaker (that’s another topic for another time), and Sanchez is a memory.

Just yesterday, Judge O.J. Hale, the senior district judge in Webb County, threw out a 700 page motion by candidates Jose Valdez Jr., Jaime Montes, Elizabeth Castañeda and Juan Hernandez Jr – all candidates for office – for a temporary restraining order against Webb County Democratic Chair Silverio Martinez that alleged he let a number of opposing candidates amend their filing documents after the deadline passed.

Here’s the story.

What does it mean?  It means that one bunch of fools is trying to use technicalities to get another bunch of fools kicked off the ballot so they won’t have to run against them in the March Primary.  Main target in the suit is Commissioner Jaime Canales, who, not coincidentally, is being opposed by Valdez.

It’s about “dotting I’s” and “crossing T’s.”  The rest is the kind of legal BS that keeps Webb County a paradise for ridiculous lawsuits like this.  (Don’t forget BJ-Gate!) And we see it EVERY DANG ELECTION CYCLE.

It’s also noteworthy that the first bunch of fools – Valdez, et al – is being represented by none other than Maria Elena Morales, a perennial electoral loser who waged a bitter, nasty campaign against DA Chilo Alaniz. If you read the LMT story, it appears that Maria Elena is using this suit as a way back into the public spotlight.  That’s all we need.

Then you have candidates who would rather run their race in the courtroom than before the voters of Webb County.  Valdez, for one, is a notoriously weak campaigner who took a major beating when he ran for mayor against Raul Salinas and is probably down to his last hurrah.  If he can’t beat Canales, then his political future looks dim indeed.

One of the nine candidates who’s filing documents are being challenged is County Treasurer Delia Perales.  Is there any question that Mayor Chubby Cheeks Salinas wouldn’t want her off the ballot?  After all, he’s already admitted he knows nothing about the job and isn’t able to operate his own computer – which ABSOLUTELY qualifies him for a technology-based position.

Morales is going to fight this all the way, she says.  Does it matter to anybody that these shenanigans will drain the county committee’s coffers and strain the court system?  Does it matter to anybody that this silly little game could very easily delay the March 4th Primary … AGAIN?

Lizardistas, if someone’s out there falsifying signatures, openly cheating (which wouldn’t surprise anybody), then I believe the candidate in question should be disqualified.  But this isn’t about that.  And we all know it.  It’s about political maneuvering and infighting designed to rob WE THE PEOPLE of our ability to vote for the candidate of our choice.

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO RUNNING A BETTER CAMPAIGN AND GETTING MORE VOTES THAN YOUR OPPONENT?

As stupid as it all is, folks.  That’s the TRUTH!

Stay tuned.  This one isn’t going away.

 

 

2 thoughts on “Chain, chain chain. Chain of fools! Judge Hale smacks down the sillies!

  1. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    The Lizard

    January 10, 2014 at 4:32am

    Nice story, “Truth.” Of course, here at the Lizard we are always searching for the truth, no matter how stupid it is. What part of that mission statement does your story address? Truth or stupid?

    How does Linda Martinez figure into this story? I’m surprised nobody has taken issue with that “reach” yet. She paid the filing fee, neat and clean, and she doesn’t work for Judge Hale as you allege.

    Keep keeping it real.

    UPDATE: Today, Hale threw the case out of the 406th court once and for all. By the time that pack of ratones appeal it, which they will, and get a ruling, it will be after the election.

    Then what?

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