Comments on: Libertarian candidate in Texas target of police harassment

By: JT Barrie

JT Barrie — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:30:50 +0000

I remember Vic Feazell winning election as District Attorney of Mclennan County [home of GW Bush btw] – while being held in Austin jail under indictment for RICO. It seems that he took his position as “peoples’ attorney” too seriously and held police accountable for heavy handedness with low income suspects. Went to a “meet the candidates” forum before Feazell was jailed and asked some simple questions of his opponent. They wanted my name and address [I was visiting from Oregon and just ignored request]. I guess they were trying to intimidate me. I don’t have heavy artillery at home, drink alcohol less than once/month and have been celibate outside of my marriage. Just two clean cut for police intimidation. But the media are shameless in their protection of police authority figures so they would have no loss of credibility for refusing to cover illegal detention.

By: PinkDome

PinkDome — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 14:01:22 +0000

Vote Smart: He’s Out of Jail!…

I know that PinkDome’s huge Libertarian readership has been very concerned about this, so I’m happy to pass along the good news: Phil Smart, the Libertarian candidate for Kip Averitt’s state senate seat, has been released from an Ellis County……

By: disinter

disinter — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 04:15:54 +0000

Two recent articles about Phil Smart:

http://www.lonestaricon.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=698&z=40

http://www.lonestaricon.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=719&z=78

By: paulie

paulie — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:20:42 +0000

Glad to hear he’s out.

By: Justin Randall

Justin Randall — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 04:08:31 +0000

Thanks Joey for the documents!

I want to talk to Phil before I really form any solid opinions over what has transpired since September. Here’s what my gut tells me now, after hearing what people closer to Phil have had to say and after looking at what’s on public record.

This really seems like a lot less than everyone wants to make it out to be. I don’t get the sense that this is a conspiracy to squash opposition to the trans-texas corridor, as Melinda posits, though I do agree with her that getting the word out for Phil is the very best thing we can do right now. There is no democrat opposing Kip, the incumbant opponent.

There is definitely room for speculation as to wether certain elements of the police department are paying extra close attention to Phil, and that perhaps the DA wants to maintain a good working relationship with the police (what DA doesn’t?) by acting on their recommendations for procecution.

By: Michael H. Wilson

Michael H. Wilson — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:35:37 +0000

Good work one and all.
M.H.W.

By: Paul Richard Strange, Sr.

Paul Richard Strange, Sr. — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 02:50:51 +0000

I’m increasingly disturbed about county government here, even though I love Ellis County! I know that the DA & Waxahachie police have failed to even question a man who tied his wife up to keep her from talking about divorce! Weirder by the month. Paul Richard Strange, Sr.

By: Joey Dauben

Joey Dauben — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:45:35 +0000

The picket/vigil will still go forward. This is just one case. There are numerous others of people who have been wronged in this county…

By: Melinda Pillsbury-Foster

Melinda Pillsbury-Foster — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:19:24 +0000

Five minutes ago Philip was released from the Ellis County Jail. He is now on his way to a safe haven and a good meal. Tomorrow we will begin the clean up campaign for Ellis County and the other areas of the United States needing similar attentions. Now we can get started with the real battle for freedom.

By: Joey Dauben

Joey Dauben — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 22:04:14 +0000

Update!

Election Night — Nov. 7 — Downtown Waxahachie — Join independents, Libertarians, Republicans, Democrats and members of the community as we hold a peaceful demonstration and prayer vigil for District 22 State Senate candidate Phil Smart. Ballot boxes won’t be hitting the Elections Dept until 7:30, so activists need to be there early for parking spots. Make banners, signs, etc. Bring candles. Spread the word about this.

Nov. 7 – Downtown Wax. – Directly across from the Elections Dept on Rogers Street. Plan B is to move to the jail, but most people will be in or near the Elections Dept to wait for the vote results. BTW, I just got 32 pages worth of court docs on Phil, and the state has withdrawn its motion to revoke probation – tons more stuff to come!

By: blog.jeffbrock.org » Blog Archive » Amazing Corruption in Texas

blog.jeffbrock.org » Blog Archive » Amazing Corruption in Texas — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:43:26 +0000

[...] Full story is here [...]

By: Melinda Pillsbury-Foster

Melinda Pillsbury-Foster — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:37:52 +0000

Thanks for all the support we are getting for Philip. I know it warms his heart. I just talked to Leon Smith at the Iconoclast and they are doing an article on Philip and Leon believes that because of the growing unpopularity to the incumbent, Kip Averitt, it may be possible to elect Philip even while he languishes in jail. The cheapest way to get the word out is through advertisements in local papers. So we need to raise money to put a quick ad in focused on the prime local issue, which is the Trans-Texas Corridor to which Philip is adamantly opposed and which Kip supports like the weasel he is.
The address to send donations or loans (Philip will most likely insist on repaying these because he has not accepted any donations!) is Real Texans for Smart 4128 Juneberry St., Ft. Worth 76137. Contact me at the.melinda@yahoo.com if you can help! Thanks, Melinda

By: paulie

paulie — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:43:49 +0000

Good luck with this.

There are so many police state outrages like this.

They should be a much bigger part of Libertarian campaigns and focus.

Part of the problem is that most conservatives blindly worship police authority, and Libertarians continue – far past the point of diminishing returns – to court the conservative converts, votes and support.

By: Melinda Pillsbury-Foster

Melinda Pillsbury-Foster — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:22:41 +0000

Just heard from Donna and they are not going to release Phil today. They are obviously trying to CTA, bringing in an investigator from Red Oak named Mr. Santos. This makes the prayer vigil even more important. Call your ministers and ask them to put Phil on their prayer list and also to pray for theose who are persecuting him, to bring them to an understanding of their relationship with Christ.

By: Melinda Pillsbury-Foster

Melinda Pillsbury-Foster — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:51:53 +0000

Anyone who can do down there and help with the protest if they do not let him out today. Phil saw Donna, his girl friend, Saturday, and he is now getting his medication and is feeling better. He met others in the jail who are also being held without being told what charges are filed against them. This is an entirely corrupt group and should be approached with caution. Take tape recorders with you when you intend to have contact, make sure you get all communication on the record. Take notes. We need an exhaustive chronology detailing all contact and actions. Joey and Linda are planning a prayer vigil if Phil is not released today and we can add to that.
If he is not released he may be endorsed by a local paper from jail anyway.

By: Joey Dauben

Joey Dauben — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:03:08 +0000

There is a group of Libertarians and libertarian-leaning Constitutionalists here in Waxahachie wanting to plan/organize a picket outside of the Ellis County jail in support of Phil.

Since I know the organizer personally, I’ll let you guys in the know when I find out more information…

By: michelleshinghal

michelleshinghal — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:06:40 +0000

She said that I could call the court at (she thinks) (972)825-5000. I will call tomorrow.

By: michelleshinghal

michelleshinghal — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:05:11 +0000

I actually called the jail to ask about the Smart charges. I talked to Officer Williams who told me that he was arrested on 10/10 and that his fine was $80. I asked if I came and paid the $80 if he would be released. She said that was the fine for running a SS on 10/19 and that he would not be released b/c of the assault w bodily injury charge from 10/09 that he had not seen a judge on. She then noticed that there was a problem w/the dates of the SS charge as he was in jail the day the report said it happened. She said it was likely a booking error and transferred me to Ms. Stinson in the booking dept. Ms. Stinson could not confirm the dates for the assault charge or SS violation, but said that the assault charge was actually a probation violation and a misdemeanor charge, but that he could not be released until seen by a judge. I asked how long that generally takes and reminded her that it has been nearly 3 weeks- she said that it could take a month or more. (cont.)

By: paulie

paulie — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:56:32 +0000

Typical police state bullshit.

By: Jerri Ward

Jerri Ward — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 02:36:41 +0000

What is his lawyer doing? What about bail?

Perhaps someone should file a complaint based on official oppression with Ronnie Earle’s office–especially given the fact that a Democratic nominee was given seven years for something as ridiculous as altering an inspection sticker as Joey states.

By: Joey Dauben

Joey Dauben — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:23:52 +0000

Guys, on the gun issue, there is a major story that I wrote about on The Ellis County Observer:

Lt. Clint Tims of the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office called Smart up one day (I live 15 minutes from Phil and know him through my articles on him for The Ellis County Press) to ask about buying one of those antique guns; skeptical, Smart wrote up a bill of sale. They were to meet at a local gas station (Phil was not in his trademark SMU CPA-license plated Mustang that night) where Phil drove around the parking lot and spotted an unmarked car with two deputies in it — guys, it was a set up pure and simple.

I’ve been on the Smart case since he ran for commissioner.

Speaking of, the Democratic nominee for the same commissioner’s precinct in eastern Ellis County that Smart ran for, is in the same jail right now waiting on an appeal for his conviction to 7 years prison time for altering an inspection sticker. He blew the whistle on corruption in that part of the county as well.

By: Michael H. Wilson

Michael H. Wilson — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 23:36:16 +0000

Mike we need a press release from the Texas LP to send out. Can we get that?????
I had already started to up date my media list.

If so we can go to work.

M.H.W.

By: robert

robert — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 22:38:42 +0000

Why hasn’t there been an armed resistance to this treatment? This is the reason we have the second amendment. To stop the government from doing exactly what it is doing now.