| Texas Gov. defends state's seizure of polygamist sect's kids - |
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gwen
 Posted:
Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:11 pm |
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Texas Gov. defends state's seizure of polygamist sect's kids
05:43 PM CDT on Thursday, June 5, 2008
By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rtgarrett@dallasnews.com
Gov. Rick Perry, accepting personal blame if Texas “stepped across some legal line," strongly defended today its sweep of all youngsters from a polygamist sect's ranch.
“I still think that the state of Texas has an obligation to young women who are forced into marriage and underage sex – to protect them. That's my bottom line on this," Mr. Perry said during a visit to France.
The governor said he hopes state law enforcement officials and prosecutors “continue to send the message" to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that child sexual abuse won't be tolerated.
Mr. Perry warned sect members that “if you are going to conduct yourself that way, we are going to prosecute you. If you don't want to be prosecuted for those activities, then maybe Texas is not the place you need to consider calling home."
Willie Jessop, a Utah-based elder in the sect, called Mr. Perry's remarks shocking – especially, he said, after state courts forced this week's return of 440 sect children because Child Protective Services produced scant evidence the youths were in danger.
“It's an outrage that he would even make such gross and broad allegations," Mr. Jessop said. “He's listening to people that tell lies about the FLDS."
The sect has denied there is any greater prevalence of child abuse in its ranks than in mainstream society. It has accused CPS of religious persecution.
Mr. Perry, speaking in La Baule, France, where he gave the keynote address at a European business conference, acknowledged CPS was rebuked sharply by two state courts. Last week, the Texas Supreme Court agreed with an Austin-based appellate court that CPS had to return the youngsters to the group's Yearning for Zion ranch in Eldorado.
Mr. Perry, asked if he will fire or discipline any state officials because of the way the case was handled, said, “I think that with the knowledge that the CPS had at the time they acted, that they acted with the best interest of those children."
He said he hopes CPS and the sect “work together" to protect any sect children who may be in jeopardy.
“If responsibility needs to be taken for [court edicts] saying that we stepped across some legal line, I'll certainly take that responsibility," Mr. Perry said. “I am substantially less interested in these fine legal lines that we're discussing than I am about these children's welfare, that's where my focus is. That's where CPS' focus is."
Mr. Perry said he wants Texas to enforce its laws, which generally forbid minors under 17 from engaging in sex, especially with partners who are 4 or more years older.
“Forcing a young woman who reaches puberty into a marriage with an older man for whatever reason is not appropriate behavior in the state of Texas," he said.
The governor said investigating the sect has been “incredibly difficult" because of a lack of cooperation by sect parents. While he said “I understand totally reuniting pre-pubescent children with their mothers," he said authorities must focus on “what occurred here and why it occurred here. And that is a clear violation of … social standards and the law."
Mr. Jessop said girls in his fundamentalist Mormon sect aren't in danger. On Monday, the church announced that it would no longer sanction marriage of any female under the age of legal consent in the state where she lives.
Mr. Jessop said Mr. Perry, in calling for criminal prosecutions, showed the same stubbornness as President Bush on the Iraq war.
“Rather than acknowledging we're in there on bad intelligence, we keep fighting the fight," Mr. Jessop said. “I don't know if that's a Texas thing or what that is. But he's in that same mentality – let's continue to justify why we're there rather than acknowledging it wasn't true."
Mr. Jessop also cited a Dallas Morning News review of Mr. Perry's emails, which showed the Republican governor did not receive a full briefing on the FLDS removals until five days after the raid.
“It's an outrage he would even comment on things that he obviously hasn't stayed close enough to, to personally know what he's talking about," Mr. Jessop said.
He said Mr. Perry ought to get his facts straight but has rebuffed a sect invitation to visit the ranch.
Perry spokeswoman Krista Piferrer said the governor used his phone and personal updates from his staff to stay informed about FLDS-related events in early April. She said the governor was engaged but deferred to experts at CPS and the Department of Public Safety to conduct the investigation and do their work.
Ms. Piferrer, asked about the sect's invitation for Mr. Perry to visit the ranch, said, “It would be inappropriate for the governor to go to the home of any child who was removed by CPS because their parents are under a criminal investigation for not protecting them from sexual abuse. This case is no different."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/060608dntexpolygamistsperry.2911ea7.html
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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| tulsad
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:05 am |
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Mr. Jessop said Mr. Perry, in calling for criminal prosecutions, showed the same stubbornness as President Bush on the Iraq war.
“Rather than acknowledging we're in there on bad intelligence, we keep fighting the fight," Mr. Jessop said. “I don't know if that's a Texas thing or what that is. But he's in that same mentality – let's continue to justify why we're there rather than acknowledging it wasn't true."
The FLDS PR campaign is in full swing. Quite the comparison.
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| Tonk
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:58 am |
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| tulsad wrote: | Mr. Jessop said Mr. Perry, in calling for criminal prosecutions, showed the same stubbornness as President Bush on the Iraq war.
“Rather than acknowledging we're in there on bad intelligence, we keep fighting the fight," Mr. Jessop said. “I don't know if that's a Texas thing or what that is. But he's in that same mentality – let's continue to justify why we're there rather than acknowledging it wasn't true."
The FLDS PR campaign is in full swing. Quite the comparison. |
The persecution complex is hard to grasp.
Makes me wonder if Willie is even aware of what "intelligence" is going to be revealed
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Joined: 25 Jul 2006
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| dugo
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:06 am |
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Texas Gov. defends shoot first, ask questions later..
texas..
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Dashing Dutch Dynamo Dude
Joined: 12 Apr 2006
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| PerryPeabody
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:47 am |
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| Tonk wrote: |
The persecution complex is hard to grasp.
Makes me wonder if Willie is even aware of what "intelligence" is going to be revealed |
That's the only thing about this case, to me, that isn't hard to grasp. The story of Short Creek is part of their lore. That lore has been repeated long enough so that these people know (or, at least, think) that they are personae non gratae and viewed with suspicion for being different wherever they settle. That they feel persecuted or feel that they will be persecuted makes perfect sense to me.
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| Black-Tulip
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:07 am |
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| PerryPeabody wrote: |
That's the only thing about this case, to me, that isn't hard to grasp. The story of Short Creek is part of their lore. That lore has been repeated long enough so that these people know (or, at least, think) that they are personae non gratae and viewed with suspicion for being different wherever they settle. That they feel persecuted or feel that they will be persecuted makes perfect sense to me. |
That's part of the brainwashing: everyone is against us, the peaceful minority. The best way to let your followers stick together is to create a common enemy: the ugly society outside the compound.
Don't you agree the so-called persecution is used for propaganda purposes? We the FLDS people, we are just a little different. How unfair to treat us like criminals.
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| pax
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:10 am |
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I agree with that bt. All that 'outrage' propaganda. The question is are they all criminals, or just a few.
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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| PerryPeabody
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:20 am |
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| Black-Tulip wrote: |
That's part of the brainwashing: everyone is against us, the peaceful minority. The best way to let your followers stick together is to create a common enemy: the ugly society outside the compound.
Don't you agree the so-called persecution is used for propaganda purposes? We the FLDS people, we are just a little different. How unfair to treat us like criminals. |
I absolutely agree that FLDS is using it for propaganda purposes (and they're doing it well and skillfully).
I also think that these people really think (rightly or wrongly) that they are a persecuted people.
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Tonk
Posted:
Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:41 pm |
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well I cant believe the throngs of people buying into the persecution bs. anyway .. it aint over and I have a feeling there will be a big shift in public perception when all's said and done. There's plenty of evidence to support what the state did and everything that's been said. It's too bad they couldnt use it when they needed it at the hearing
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| diandra
Posted:
Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:40 am |
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gentile = non-mormon
intrusion by gentile society/gentile gov't
fuels FLDS/LDS propaganda
the amount/degree/frequency
of persecution hardens their resolve ...
strengthens their "testimony" ...
proves in their hearts/minds
that they are the One True Church
each Living Prophet/Seer/Revelator
is succeeded by the next Living Prophet
revelation is rec'd only by the Prophet
(capital P)
succession was originally intended to follow bloodlines:
Joseph Smith Jr had annointed his son Joseph Smith III
as successor but the son was only 11 when Smith died
so his succession was impractical at that time
Brigham Young stepped in/the saints migrated to UT ...
and in 1860 at the age of 28 Joseph Smith III
became president/prophet of a separate branch of LDS
which later became the RLDS (Reformed LDS) ...
currently known as the Community of Christ
when he resigned as president of the FLDS corporation,
Warren Jeffs wrote that he had been unworthy of priesthood
for many years
unworthy re priesthood = unworthy as Prophet
altho he has not specifically addressed that subject
According to a Salt Lake Tribune telephone transcript, there is evidence that when incarcerated, Warren Jeffs made statements naming William E. Jessop, a former first counselor, as his successor or, alternately, that Jeffs had told Jessop on January 24, 2007 that he had never been the rightful leader of the FLDS. Many press accounts have suggested that Merril Jessop, who has been leading the Eldorado, Texas compound, is the de facto leader of the church.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter_Day_Saints
if Jessop rec'd a revelation re raising the age of marriage ...
his announcement was not presented as revelation
but rather as a "change in policy" ...
nor has his postion as the current prophet been verified
very odd ... or perhaps the result of good legal advice:
pin all current/future misdeeds on Jeffs
since he's already behind bars
serving consecutive rather than concurrent terms IIRC
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Tonk
Posted:
Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:46 am |
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I just wonder what the members of the sect think of the announcement. They tend to not question such things ...they have a way of working things out in their minds or rationalizing inconsistencies and events that cannot be squared logically. it is part of their teachings also that it's ok to lie to outsiders to protect the church. They may just assume that is what Willie is doing or that he has gotten instructions from the Prophet, which he may have.
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| Topsider
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:49 am |
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Saw where the Gov's Mansion burned down.
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Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 1972
Location: On Hiatus Beach
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| Tonk
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:57 am |
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| Topsider wrote: | | Saw where the Gov's Mansion burned down. |
I thought you were joking until I read the news:
Fire destroys Texas governor's mansion
3 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas state officials say a four-alarm fire has caused "catastrophic" damage to the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin.
Governor's spokesman Robert Black says said no one was inside the 150-year-old home when the fire began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. He says the cause is not yet known.
The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation and Gov. Rick Perry and his wife had moved out last fall.
Black says the damage to the mansion "is extraordinary, bordering on catastrophic."
He says more than 100 firefighters are at the scene and the roof of the mansion is very unstable.
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Joined: 25 Jul 2006
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| Topsider
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:18 am |
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| Tonk wrote: |
I thought you were joking until I read the news:
Fire destroys Texas governor's mansion
3 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas state officials say a four-alarm fire has caused "catastrophic" damage to the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin.
Governor's spokesman Robert Black says said no one was inside the 150-year-old home when the fire began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. He says the cause is not yet known.
The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation and Gov. Rick Perry and his wife had moved out last fall.
Black says the damage to the mansion "is extraordinary, bordering on catastrophic."
He says more than 100 firefighters are at the scene and the roof of the mansion is very unstable. |
I never joke around. 
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Joined: 08 Dec 2007
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Location: On Hiatus Beach
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| gwen
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:55 am |
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| Tonk wrote: |
I thought you were joking until I read the news:
Fire destroys Texas governor's mansion
3 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas state officials say a four-alarm fire has caused "catastrophic" damage to the Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin.
Governor's spokesman Robert Black says said no one was inside the 150-year-old home when the fire began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. He says the cause is not yet known.
The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation and Gov. Rick Perry and his wife had moved out last fall.
Black says the damage to the mansion "is extraordinary, bordering on catastrophic."
He says more than 100 firefighters are at the scene and the roof of the mansion is very unstable. |
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14327
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| PerryPeabody
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:33 pm |
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. . . ."We have some evidence that indicates that we do have an intentionally set fire," said state Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado. "So we believe that we may be looking at a criminal act here.". . .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25044757/
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| gwen
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:43 pm |
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June 8, 2008, 12:37PM
Fire at Governor's Mansion in Austin ruled arson
AUSTIN — An early morning fire at the Governor's Mansion today was intentionally set, a state fire investigator said.
State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado declined to discuss further details but said there was no indication the fire was intended as a direct threat to Gov. Rick Perry.
No one was in the building, which has been closed several months for renovation, when the fire broke out. The governor has been living in a rented house in suburban Austin since last fall.
He and his wife, Anita, are in Stockholm, Sweden, finishing up a weeklong, trade-related trip to Europe.
The fire, discovered by security officers about 1:45 a.m., was under control by 6:30 a.m., but there were still hot spots in the building. Flames broke through a portion of the roof about 9:30 a.m. but were quickly extinguished.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was assisting the state Fire Marshal's office in the investigation. Maldonado indicated security cameras posted around the building were helpful to investigators.
But officials declined to discuss more details, including how an arsonist could have gone undetected by Department of Public Safety troopers assigned to secure the building and its grounds.
Damage to the 152-year-old historic structure is "extraordinary, bordering on catastrophic,'' including a partially collapsed roof, said Perry spokesman Robert Black.
Millions of dollars worth of antique furnishings, portraits and other heirlooms had been removed from the mansion and placed in storage before renovation began. But Black said it was impossible to calculate the historic value of the building itself.
He said officials hoped the first floor could be structurally salvaged, but there was more uncertainty about saving the second floor.
Ironically, one of the purposes of the renovation project was to install a sprinkler system in the building, which had none. Before work began, the mansion had a fire alarm system on the first floor but none on the second floor, where the governor and his family lived.
Former Gov. Mark White, who lived in the Mansion from 1983-1986 and took office shortly before a fire heavily damaged the state Capitol, said he was devasted by the latest fire.
"We just must rebuild it,'' he said, urging state officials to use the occasion to fully restore the Mansion to its original structure, much as state government did to the Capitol following the 1983 fire.
Security officers staying on the mansion grounds in a carriage house were alerted by a fire alarm triggered by smoke getting into the air conditioning system on the mansion's first floor, Black said.
The fire quickly spread to the second floor and the ceiling. The problem was compounded by old air shafts and new holes and shafts that had been opened up by workers on the renovation project.
About 100 firefighters responded, and none were injured. At the height of the fire, they were pumping 8,000 gallons of water a minute on the roof from four ladder trucks and other equipment, Austin Fire Department spokesperson Dawn Clopton said.
The Perrys moved out of the mansion last fall into a $9,900 a month rental house to allow for the renovation, a project that was expected to be completed next spring and cost about $10 million.
Among other things, outdated plumbing also is being replaced.
Black said the governor was notified of the fire about 2 a.m. Austin time but planned to conclude his European trip before returning to Austin, as scheduled, on Tuesday.
Perry is scheduled to talk about wind energy at an American Chamber of Commerce event in Stockholm on Monday.
The columns in front of the building were heavily charred, and shubbery around the building was singed.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5825658.html
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14327
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| gwen
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:44 pm |
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Interesting timing...
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14327
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| chance
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:59 pm |
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| gwen wrote: | | Interesting timing... |
Yes it was very interesting. This was the first thing I thought when I heard about the arson.
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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Location: Deep in the heart of Texas
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| gwen
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:11 pm |
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| chance wrote: |
Yes it was very interesting. This was the first thing I thought when I heard about the arson. |
Me too, chance...
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 14327
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| tulsad
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:44 pm |
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| gwen wrote: | | Interesting timing... |
Yes. There was a temple that was recently "desecrated," if I recall. Two very significant buildings.
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| Myra Manes
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:21 pm |
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| chance wrote: |
Yes it was very interesting. This was the first thing I thought when I heard about the arson. |
Me too.......
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** Banned **
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Posts: 5742
Location: Puckered Up AssHole
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| Tonk
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:28 pm |
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| PerryPeabody wrote: | . . . ."We have some evidence that indicates that we do have an intentionally set fire," said state Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado. "So we believe that we may be looking at a criminal act here.". . .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25044757/ |
Holy crap. I'm locking my doors.
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| Myra Manes
Posted:
Sun Jun 08, 2008 8:11 pm |
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| Tonk wrote: |
Holy crap. I'm locking my doors. |
Shit, you never know..........you might be on their hit list too! 
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** Banned **
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
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| gwen
Posted:
Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:42 pm |
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Texas Governor's Mansion Fire Maybe Politically Motivated, Fire Marshal Says
Monday, June 16, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — Investigators said Monday that someone angry with the government set the Texas Governor's Mansion on fire this month, and they offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado had said last week that investigators did not believe the blaze was politically motivated, but he changed course Monday.
"It is likely that feelings of anger may have motivated his crime," Maldonado said at a news conference Monday. "He may be known to get angry and express strong opinions about the government, Governor Perry himself, the death penalty, the renovation of the mansion or other political issues."
Maldonado did not say what led investigators to that conclusion. He appealed to the arsonist himself for help solving the case.
"We do feel you had a message and we would like to hear from you. We're not quite sure what that message is, but please contact us," he said.
Maldonado said officials are not ready to release video footage of the alleged arsonist, but said investigators believe they are looking for a white male who was wearing a ball cap, a dark shirt, work-type gloves and blue jeans or cargo-style pants.
The suspect is probably physically fit because he was able to scale an 8-foot chain-link fence to get onto the mansion grounds, he said.
Investigators have said video footage shows a suspect in the early morning hours of June 8, standing in front of the Governor's Mansion, igniting an object and throwing it onto the porch of the historic landmark, creating a fireball and blaze that ravaged the 152-year-old structure.
Department of Public Safety troopers were on guard at the time.
Experts say the historic landmark is salvageable and Gov. Rick Perry has said he's committed to restoring the mansion no matter the cost. Texas first lady Anita Perry will likely lead the restoration effort, he said last week.
The Perrys had moved out of the mansion last fall for a renovation project estimated to cost $10 million. Antique furniture and other relics had been placed in storage.
The two-story Greek Revival-style house was completed in 1856.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,367522,00.html
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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