"Bench press" (March 9) was a great article by Thomas Korosec. I've known John Marshall since I was a freshman at Vanderbilt and have always been impressed with his wit and integrity. The citizens of Dallas County can be proud that John has rendered judgments that have not sat well with attorneys such as Fred Baron. Despite Baron's denial that testimony given by witnesses before John's court was [improperly] "prepped," I for one do not think that Judge Marshall's decision to forward a complaint to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office was ill-advised. I firmly feel that John's integrity would not allow him to do otherwise. Maybe Baron & Budd was innocent, despite the presence of a paralegal's memo. It seems to me that Judge Marshall had no legal choice but to refer it. It's very clear to me that Mr. Baron, in a fit of pique, is attempting to railroad a good judge out of office.
Joseph P. Walker III
Via e-mail
Once you get past the title, the Thomas Korosec piece on Sharon Boyd ("Queen Crank," March 9) leads with three paragraphs that seem accurate to me: the petulant, dismissive Ron Kirk (Mr. 5 Percent, elected by one of 20 registered voters); the use of public funds to enable private profits for the "Hicks-Perot-Belo" (H-P-B) alignment; and the demonstrated largesse -- again of public monies -- of Superintendent Rojas in providing exorbitant salaries for some of his pals from San Fran.
One then expects a good "give 'em hell" piece from the Dallas Observer. Disappointment follows as, I presume under the guise of "balance," the story soon begins to slant, slant some more, and finally just fall down -- to the Right, of course. "...the council's anti-establishment wing"? How about the few members on the Dallas City Council who actually represent the citizens in their districts rather than perform as minions for the H-P-B alignment? "...out of the loop"? Indeed. Thank goodness. Dissent, an integral part of our democracy, is, by definition, "out of the loop." Just to make sure that point is made, Korosec returns to this theme later in the piece by using the phrase "outside the city's power curve."
The piece strains to somehow tag Boyd with the failure of the anti-arena forces to defeat the measure at the polls: "It was the intangibles -- her lack of political charisma -- that hurt." So it wasn't the money? I always thought it was the money, stupid. The story says that the anti-arena forces were outspent 28-1. What a relief. Now I know that questions, subject to the will of the voters, win or lose not on their merits or perceptions molded by expensive media campaigns, but rather on "charisma." Guess you have to be born with it, huh?
Dave T.
Via e-mail
Sharon Boyd is a good woman. Yes, she does gripe and complain about everyone at City Hall, but at least she is getting involved. Who else would devote their time to check into the Dallas political scene? I have been involved in many issues from racism to Al Lipscomb to pornography to DART to the JFK Assassination. I think others should do the same. Way to go, Sharon!
Russ Vandeveerdonk
Via e-mail
I think Sharon Boyd is right on target with her Web site, observations, and comments. As a lifelong Dallas resident, I am pretty disgusted about how things are done downtown with taxpayer money. I prefer straight talk rather than the dysfunctional, "everything is wonderful" doublespeak that emanates from 1500 Marilla. Sharon Boyd's Web site should be considered one of Dallas' principal news sources. Give 'em hell, Sharon!
Anonymous
Via e-mail
You know, I have never been one to want to commend Robert Wilonsky for anything -- except when he rips ASKA (Out Here, February 24). Jee-hee-zus, there have been few worse bands to plague Dallas in the last 10 years. I've been a musician here for a long time, and I can only compare those ASKA boys to some hair band museum piece. I see them in their spandex, caught in some '80s time warp, and it's a harsh reminder of just how far the Dallas scene has not come. Please, please, keep discouraging bands like ASKA and those who, ugh, might want to be like them, Robert. You occasionally do good work -- this is part of it. I thank you, and every respectable musician with an ounce of originality in his soul thanks you.
Chaze
Via e-mail
I realize each person is entitled to his opinion; however, when a reporter writes an article for a newspaper, the reader comes to expect that certain criteria be met. One of these is accuracy. I cannot remember the last time I read an article in a newspaper that had so many glaring mistakes. First, Mr. Corcoran is obviously color-blind, because Patti Scialfa is not a blonde; she has red hair. There is a huge difference. Second, Mr. Corcoran, when writing this article ("The Big Man blows," March 9), didn't even bother to check another simple fact. John (sic) Landau's name is spelled JON, not John. Call it nitpicking if you like, but when a reporter cannot get the basic facts correct, how is the reader to expect that the rest of the article contains any facts at all?
Granted, it's obvious Mr. Corcoran doesn't have a degree in journalism, because a true journalist would not submit an article without checking the basic facts. He has lost all credibility in my eyes.
One last thing: I have read many newspapers in my life, but this was the first time I have seen the word "fuck" in an article. To borrow a word from Mr. Corcoran, what the "fuck" is that about? I am not a prude by any means, but when reading a newspaper, the last word I expect to see in it is "fuck." It makes me question the integrity of your newspaper as a whole and makes me think you do not have: 1. legitimate journalists who work for your paper, or 2. an editor who is doing his job.
Mike
Via e-mail
It's about time somebody in Dallas had the guts to say what they believe about this drug war (Buzz, March 9), which has done far more damage to public health and to our individual rights as human beings than drugs could under a regulated market, where 15-year-olds would not be allowed to sell unregulated, uninspected heroin to other 15-year-olds. Hip hip hooray for Americans Against the Drug War, the true Americans who really care about our children's futures, unlike the politicians in Washington who only pretend to. In their eyes, politics and re-election come first, children's safety second.
Craig Johnson
Via e-mail
