I’ll be voting for Kim Ogg in the race for Harris County District Attorney. Unlike the race for Sheriff or Tax Assessor Collector, this wasn’t a clear and easy choice. In fact, it is the hardest choice that I face on the ballot this November.
Why Kim Ogg?
So why would a solid Republican voter, as can be demonstrated by the fact that I have voted in every Republican primary and I am a Republican Precinct Chair, vote for a Democrat? Especially given that current Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson is (a) a solid, long time Republican, (b) a very good political candidate from a consultant’s point of view and (c) a law and order DA in a law and order county.
Justice.
A simple word, with seemingly a simple definition. But it means so much more than “law and order”.
I’m sorry but the facts simply do not support our Republican candidate when it comes to justice. I won’t be condescending and list them all – if you read BJP, you are by definition an informed voter. You know the facts. You know the truth. And the plain truth is that our candidate is not the best choice in this specific race if you define it in terms of justice.
A different philosophy
Ms. Ogg represents a change in philosophy. Ms. Anderson represents the status quo. Ms. Ogg says that we must approach the job of District Attorney and by definition Assistant District Attorney differently. Her vision is that the office and all ADA’s seek justice for victims while protecting the rights of the accused. Ms. Anderson’s vision is that if it takes throwing a victim of a violent rape in jail to obtain a conviction, then that is acceptable. Even if that victim gets further abused while incarcerated. Victims have no rights, they are simply pawns in Ms. Anderson’s universe, pawns to be used to further her prosecutors’ conviction rates.
I reject that. And I hope that you do as well.
Helping people restore their lives
As you know, over the course of two campaigns, Ms. Ogg has been the driver in ideas. Whenever she has suggested a program to improve the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Anderson has copied it, albeit in a watered down fashion. Don’t you think it is time for the originator of the ideas to get a chance to implement them in a non-watered down version?
I’m not exactly certain when Ms. Ogg started holding workshops for innocent people who have been through the wringer of the criminal justice system in Harris County. The earliest email still in my InBox was from February. These workshops enable these people to get their lives back.
“CLEAN UP YOUR LIFE DAY”
OGG WAGES CAMPAIGN TO HELP THE INNOCENT
Even after you are found innocent of a crime, you will still face the stain on your criminal history. These criminal records can keep you from getting a job or housing.
It isn’t fair.
Kim Ogg believes the Harris County District Attorney’s office should help innocent Houstonians clean up their criminal arrest record. Ogg is not waiting until she gets elected in November to make it happen.
This Saturday, the news media is invited to join Ogg’s team of pro bono lawyers at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church between 10am and 2pm.
Ogg and a team of volunteer lawyers will be on hand to review the criminal records of Houstonians who were wrongfully arrested, or who successfully completed their probations. Those with eligible cases will be referred to partnering law school clinics at U of H, South Texas College of Law, and TSU for additional help.
The best news is this legal help is free, courtesy of the Ogg campaign for Harris County District Attorney.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church is located at 3826 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, Texas 77004.
“People with criminal records have trouble getting jobs, housing and education. When the government gets it wrong, and it hurts somebody, then the government needs to make it right. We can start right now by helping people clean up their records,” said Ogg.
And lest you think this was a one off, political manuever, there were many more and there will be still another workshop on Saturday, October 29th:
I think that I saw Anderson’s campaign do something similar a couple of months ago. It reminded me of a popular refrain, do you want the real thing or an imitation? I
But, but she’s a lesbian!
It made me shake my head in disgust when Don Hooper published the emails being passed around Republican circles about Ms. Ogg’s sexual orientation. I thought that we had handled that in 2014 and gotten beyond it. Besides, it wasn’t Devon Anderson or her campaign saying it, so it was just a few holdovers from another generation saying it. Right?
No, not right. This is coming straight from Devon Anderson because she knows that she is down in the polls and is desperate to hold on to power. Don’t believe me? Will you believe Devon Anderson? In her own voice and words?
That clip comes from Vlad Daviduik’s American Chronicle’s podcast with Ms. Anderson. Really Ms. Anderson?
Let’s make a change
Look, I know it is hard for most of you reading this to accept that the Democratic candidate is actually, really, truly better. I get it. Republican principles used to be the high road in every race. But, in this specific race, the Democratic candidate has the high road.
I’ll be voting for Kim Ogg. Let the chips fall where they may.
It doesn’t bother you that George Soros is helping fund Kim Ogg’s campaign? He has paid for $500,000 worth of advertising for her campaign. The same George Soros who is funds the likes of Black Lives Matter, MoveOn.org, Media Matters and funds anarchists to help burn cities down and destroy property during riots and as it turns out helps pay for creating chaos at Trump rallies. The same George Soror who would love to see America destroyed. Amazing, but then again you’re voting for Gary Johnson, so I guess I couldn’t expect anything different than that you would also vote for Kim Ogg, another George Soros minion.
Janet,
No, it doesn’t bother me that Soros is giving money to Ogg. You are using a tactic that the left uses – criticize the giver of money instead of focusing on the race. How many times have you heard the left using your same scare argument but substituting Koch brothers for Soros?
DJ
I agree. I highly doubt there’s any quid pro quo between Soros and Ogg. He simply sees this as a race in a major city that’s worth putting money toward because it’s bound to be close.
This race has garnered national attention because of Anderson throwing a rape victim in prison who ended up being made a victim a second time. That’s just unacceptable. We, as a Houston community, are better than that.
Additionally, this isn’t a race with an extremely qualified candidate and one who is only on the ballot because no one else ran; these are two very talented, dedicated attorneys.
Koch Brothers giving to congressional campaigns can be seen as them trying to get favorable legislation (whether they do or not isn’t worthy of discussion here). Soros may never set foot in Houston in the next two years.
Bob,
George Soros, the Koch brothers, Arnold Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation are all funding candidates, and research dealing with criminal justice reform. Devon Anderson will go on and on about the MacArthur grant she just received.
I wholeheartedly disagree with you on this. We need to vote straight ticket Republican, period. I know Devon and I am confident in her. You should talk to her. We haven’t had a Democrat DA in Harris County in what-30 years? Don’t give up seats. Democrats can NOT be trusted. If you ever doubted that, I have one word for you-Obamacare. I know you are as educated as anyone about the creepy Soros money, that little red flag doesn’t bother you? Kim Ogg is also sending the nastiest hate mailers I’ve seen in a while with her Soros money-I get one every day and I always hate nasty Democrat politics. I agree with you the majority of the time. You are dead wrong on this one. Ogg is bad for Harris County. Don’t trust Democrats, you know better than this.
Chris,
Thanks for reading, I don’t remember conversing with you before. I used to be a “vote straight ticket Republican, period” person too. Until I started meeting the Republican candidates. I admit that I still vote for the R if I don’t know anything about either candidate. If anyone tells you that they have personally researched each and every candidate on the ballot, run from their advice because they are not being truthful. No one can possibly research candidate and make an informed choice.
As I stated to Janet above, no, Soros’ money doesn’t bother me in the least. Did you know that he gave her primary opponent $100k?
I haven’t received a mailer from Ogg or Anderson, so I cannot comment on that.
Kim Ogg represents, in my view, a needed change at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. As such, I’ll vote for her.
DJ
I agree with David here. I’m pretty hard right, and I solidly vote in GOP primaries in Harris County, but I have really had enough of Devon Anderson. Kim Ogg is the criminal justice reform candidate, so I was leaning her way, and then Anderson gave us her “vote for me because Kim’s a lesbian” moment. Really? Devon Anderson had to go there? So today I voted for a Democrat candidate for DA for the first time in my life.
I applaud your convictions. I am not sure that I will be voting Ogg but I dang sure know Anderson isn’t getting this conservative’s vote. Anderson deliberately twisted the law to help the HPD chief harass gun owners giving her blessings to violate the 4th amendment and knowingly said things that are verifiably false as a matter of law. I have no problem leaving her out in cold.
Chris and Janet,
Do you think George Soros secretly paid Devon Anderson to indict pro-life activists, jail rape victims, subordinate prosecutorial misconduct by her office, no bill Douglas Karpen, not disclose evidence was destroyed to defendants, and the list goes on and on.
Or, did she do it all on her own?
Don, I’m not a fan of Devon Anderson for the reasons you list, but we can look around the country and see what Democrat DA’s have done and I’ll take my chances with Devon again.
The problem is the “Republican” DA acts little different from what we would expect from a Democrat DA. If Anderson hadn’t timed the prosecution of the pro life activists until after the filing deadline for the primaries I doubt she would even be the R nominee. To support a Democrat DA in word and deed solely because she is supposed to be one of us when she has been hostile to conservatives makes no sense to me.
Janet,
That is an interesting argument. Why do you think Devon criticizes Kim for running as a Republican and voting in the 2008 Republican primary? Listening to Devon Anderson you get the idea she does not like Republicans? Devon does not like Lesbians either except when she hires Belinda to be her first assistant and Ann Johnson to be in charge of human trafficking. Devon seems confused.
I do not have any respect for. Anderson she hurts people d a office turns your statements around to suit them. People get robbed and she makes really stupid deals lets the serve probation so they can seak the vi tim out again
I usually respect your opinions because they are well researched and fact-based but whole heartedly DISAGREE with you on this one! New innovative Pre Trial diversion programs have been instituted by Devon Anderson: FIRST Chance, SAFE Court, DWI. It is NOT the status quo at the DAs office. The current DA has a Victim division and cares about victims (the rape victim case have many missing facts that will soon be known). The Clean Up your Life in a day was NOT a Kim Ogg idea…Devon Anderson calls it The Make It Right! Program and has been having it now for over a year, Please research these facts, call the DAs office for clarification and make your informed decision (like you usually do). I do think you will change your mind.
UN-Informed,
“Please research” – Okay, I did your work for you. Devon Anderson announced her “Make it Right” program on June 1, 2016, at a minimum four months after Ogg held one of her events. Also, Ogg has held multiple events. See “HARRIS CO. AUTHORITIES HAVE NEW PROGRAM TO HELP LOW-LEVEL CRIMINALS STAY OUT OF JAIL”, dated June 1, 2016 on ABC13. http://abc13.com/news/program-aims-to-help-low-level-criminals/1366260/
BTW, you used to be way better than that.
DJ
Informed,
Mike and Devon Anderson claimed the DIVERT program was illegal and campaigned against Pat Lykos on the issue. DIVERT was designed for first time DWI offenders. Now you are informed.
Devon Anderson’s Make It Right Program! is very extensive., it has District Clerks, Public Defenders, Judges to process the cases completely on site. As expected ,it takes months to plan, Hundreds of people have been helped. Funny thing is that Kim Ogg plans her copy cat programs on the same day. Who is copying who?
UN-informed, you crack me up. Ogg led the way on this, Anderson created a cheap imitation. I’ve already given you the facts. The fact that Anderson is already in office and can direct government resources doesn’t make up for the lack of leadership on this.
DJ
OK great, it sounds like the program would continue under either of them. So whether or not Anderson took the idea from Ogg it really isn’t an argument to keep her because the program will continue or most likely get better.
What’s her stance on Houston being a sanctuary city? Will she work to get the illegals sent home?
George Soros contributes $1 million to the Ogg campaign.
George Soros is a very strong proponent and advocate for open borders.
Do the math and connect the dots.
Enforcing Federal immigration laws is not the job of the County DA. If the Feds choose not to deport, there’s nothing the DA can do about it.
In SF, the Feds asked the sheriff to hold an illegal immigrant for deportation. The SF sheriff refused, and a woman was murdered by the illegal immigrant. So, yes, the county DA can have skin in the game.
That was the Sheriff, not the DA. There’s a difference.
Not so much. A local official refused a federal request and a woman was murdered as a result. I’m inclined to believe that Ogg would act in a similar manner.
Warren,
So Ross proves that you are wrong and you don’t much care because you don’t like Ogg. Got it.
Ah, logic. Sweet logic. Where did you go?
Ross didn’t prove anything. There could be a scenario in which the Feds request assistance with an illegal immigrant prosecution. My contention is that Ogg won’t do it.. It’s not that I don’t like Ogg – it’s who she will answer to that concerns me. I guess you don’t care if Harris Co. and, eventually, Texas turns blue.
And when you don;t agree with a post, you become snarky. Is this blog supposed to be an echo chamber?
Warren, the idea that this is an echo chamber is laughable. Goodness.
It’s amusing to me how the Harris County District Attorney’s race has all of a sudden evolved into a race to determine who can be the most soft on crime. The incident involving the jailing of the rape victim is a complete red herring. Didn’t the rapist get life in prison? He’s not longer free to victimize other women, is he? Granted that the situation should have been handled better but once a jury gets selected and the choice becomes one of dismissing a case against a violent sexual predator and allowing an uncooperative victim to decide whether she’ll come to court or not, the prosecutor has very few options. At the end of the day, once the jury is selected the victim is ultimately just another witness that has to make it to court. Period. If there’s any doubt about whether this will happen, then jail is the only realistic option.
Rest assured, George Soros didn’t donate half a million to Kim Ogg because he thinks she’s going to be tough on crime. He’s looking for someone who will be forgiving on drug cases, soft on DWI’s and will be unlikely to seek the death penalty. He wants someone who will be pro-“Black Lives Matter” and more likely to prosecute police officers in use of force cases. If you believe there’s not a quid pro quo between him and Ogg after that hefty donation, you are delusional. Moreover, you should be plum ashamed to call yourself a Republican.
Willie, most of your argument is ridiculous but one thing is probably true: “ashamed to call yourself a Republican”.
Yes, looking at the top of the ticket, both nationally and locally that is probably true.
Willie,
If Devon Anderson’s only solution to deal with a traumatized, sick, mentally ill rape victim is to throw them in jail for a month, the she has neither the compassion or the brains to be District Attorney. At the end of the day the victim is the victim. And, especially in cases such as this, she deserves to be treated with care and compassion, not callous disregard.
Of all the things that Ms. Anderson has done that make her a horrible choice for DA, this one strikes me as being the most heinous and soulless. And, according to reports, it’s not an isolated incident! Apparently Ms. Anderson and her team have jailed a number of victims for periods of up to 2 months. How despicable!
If your attitude is representative of the Republican party as a whole, then yes, I would absolutely be ashamed to call myself a Republican.
Regarding the money….. Soros put money in key cities, not specifically into Kim Ogg’s campaign. Soros didn’t really have to put any money into Houston if he wanted to further the liberal agenda….Devon Anderson is doing that all by herself!
How soon people forget that Devon Anderson is the one who provided helpful information to Planned Parenthood and stifled freedom of information in regards to the grand jury. If it wasn’t for the determination of Don Hooper,we may never have found out the truth. Under Devon Anderson”s watch, Dr. Karpen got away with murderin babies and Planned Parenthood got away with selling body parts. Which of these two actions do the readers consider conservative and worthwhile of saving?
For me, standing for life comes before voting Republican – especially when the Republican is, apparently, Republican in name only.
Let’s get past titles stand for true convictions.
I also voted for Kim Ogg, I personally worked with her when I set up the Gang Unit. Her Law Firm was contracted to set the first Gang Injuction at the Haverstock Apartments. She is a hard driven person and truly cares about work product!
David,
You rarely, if ever, concede a point in a difference of opinion. I get the impression that you and Don prefer to engage with people that are in agreement with you.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Why didn’t Anderson have a challenger in the primary? I would have voted for that candidate.
2. Are you OK with Harris County and the state turning blue?
Warren,
Nothing to concede when I’m right. And when I’m wrong, I’m quick to admit it. So I disagree with your thesis and will not concede the point. 😉
1. Mostly because of the way that the HCRP works. Incumbents are rarely challenged. It does happen (Lykos and Sumners come to mind) but it takes a lot of resources and the support of the ‘establishment’. Note also that Anderson deliberately delayed the PP announcement until the filing period was over.
2. No. What I hope happens is that Republicans start voting for better candidates and that those candidates start governing using traditional Republican tenets. After the election, we are going to focus on that.
DJ
You always seem to think that you’re right.
Seems that, if Anderson is as terrible as you believe, it would have been worth backing a challenger.
Unfortunately, an Ogg victory will put us on the road to the blue.
Warren,
Again I’ll have to disagree. An Ogg victory is an effect of the HCRP having a poor quality candidate.
It ‘might’ put us on the road to becoming blue but only if Ogg performs. If not, well, there’s always another election.
If incumbents are hard to beat, that means we would likely be stuck with Ogg for at least a couple of terms. Case in point – Vince Ryan.
I would respect your position more if you were not voting for either candidate. I get that you think Anderson is a flawed candidate, but I don’t believe that Ogg will represent conservative philosophy.
For what it’s worth, I’ve read a lot of your postings going back to the Lone Star Times days. Somewhere you took a left turn.
P.S. Sorry for the double post. Please feel to delete the duplicate.
Warren, the discussion about incumbents was specific to the HCRP primary.
BTW, Vince Ryan is a great example of R’s supporting a D for convenience. Bet you haven’t heard a bunch of support for Jim Lietner from the HCRP.
As for a left turn, I suppose that in today’s climate asking Republicans to find better candidates would be considered a move to the left.
Uh oh, snark alert!
Yes. but if Ogg is elected, she will be very difficult, if not impossible, to replace. That was my point. You missed an opportunity to replace Anderson in the primary.
The snark alert comment was out of bounds. Your point is correct, except that, once the general election is on, you work with what you got. You don’t go to the other side.
Your response is why so many of us who are the great unwashed are voting for Trump..
We, the great unwashed, have had enough of you “inside baseball” guys.
You always seem to think that you’re right.
Seems that, if Anderson is as terrible as you believe, it would have been worth backing a challenge.
Warren:
First of all, much of what rational people find objectionable about Ms. Anderson didn’t come to light until after the deadline had passed. It’s not as easy as you might think.
Second (and far more important) the fact that you don’t find the actions of Ms. Anderson objectionable speaks volumes about your own set of moral values.
Fat Albert,
DJ and Hooper were chirping about Anderson in 2014. They had plenty of time to find an alternate candidate to challenge Anderson in the primary.
Your comment about my moral values is way out of line. Personal attacks seem to be the norm on this site.
Warren,
Why is it that it’s always somebody else’s job to find the alternative. If you find Anderson repugnant, why didn’t YOU find an alternative? If, instead, you are content with Anderson’s actions and exhibited values, well then. . . . .
DJ and Hooper have the biggest problem with her. Instead of backing a Republican challenger, they opted to support the Democrat.
I guess you think that Paul Bettencourt and other Republican leaders who are encouraging straight ticket voting have low morals too.
Warren,
I am curious if you know anything about the Criminal Justice Center or do you just like bad candidates? Seems to me with many Republicans voting against Anderson and you have Hotze and TxRighttoLife debating just how awful Devon is David and I are in pretty good company. Partisan hacks and people like Chuck Rosenthal support Devon, so what’s your motivation, I am curious? Jailing multiple rape victims is not something I would look as a reeding quality in a DA candidate? Seriously?
My main concern is keeping Harris County and Texas out of Democrat control. Paul Bettencourt and other leading Republicans agree.
You should have handled your issues with Anderson in the primary.
I am convinced that Ogg will do things that we won’t like, particularly since she’s now in George Soros’ pocket.
So you have no knowledge of the courthouse, DA’s office, criminal justice, you just want the person attacked by every Presiential candidate on the Republican side? It’s a theory, go with it.
Trump attacked Anderson? That’s news to me.
Actually only by saying the Harris County DA. I am pretty sure your girl is a Clinton supporter. Anderson has openly refused to support Trump. Anderson is very liberal, much more liberal than Kim Ogg, ask David Daleiden.
I re-read your previous post, and I’m not sure of the point that you were trying to make.
As for this post, Anderson isn’t “my girl,” which an insulting characterization, by the way. I don’t think that Ogg will be more conservative because Democrats NEVER are.
I voted straight Republican ticket. I think that keeping Harris County and the State of Texas Republican is priority one, as does Paul Bettencourt and other leading Republicans.