Thought for the day - November 5, 2000

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 04:51 PM

Thank you everyone. Your words and caring mean a lot to me.

It was a little bit more difficult than I thought. She called my sisters on Friday night, telling them how bad it was going to be for her, that she could go to prison (which they already knew), and wanting to know what I said to the press. Really, scared person. We found out she has also had credit card fraud charges filed against her for failure to pay.

Kendall, you asked if she was doing a good job. Depends on what your agenda is. In my estimation, no, as she was part of the "Good Ole' Pals" party of Wyoming which is always running counter to what anyone else believes in or wants done. I suspect she will resign, if elected, and that they already have someone else ready to be appointed. Her opponent in the primary reannounced his candidacy on sat. obviously hoping to take her place.

Bartholomew, it gets worse when one finds out that she supposedly has a BA, MA, and a degree in Jurisprudence!!

"best laid plans of mice and (wo)men, eh?"

Thanks, again to you all,

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:28 PM

Good job, Kat. Once again, a politician rolled the dice and lost the gamble. This was a deliberate lie told to circumvent the law. You did what had to be done. The consequences, though harsh, were known to her when she did what she did.

Bart

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: Matt_R
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:17 PM

"You look so tired, unhappy...bring down the government--they don't, they don't speak for us..."

--Radiohead

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:09 PM

wow. That must have been really ahrd! hope you can be comforted by having done the right thing even though it hurts.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 02:04 PM

Kat,
You never cease to amaze. That took a lot of courage. I admire you for it.
Mary

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: kendall
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 08:23 AM

Is she doing a good job? if yes, leave it lay. If she is doing a lousy job, talk to her. Ask her some very tough questions, and maybe she will resign. 20 years? that seems harsh.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: Allan C.
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 07:55 AM

"Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure."

-Joseph Sugarman

Thanks for being a strong force, kat.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: Micca
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 07:38 AM

" for Evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing" I am proud of you Kat.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 07:25 AM

A public office is a public trust. It's an old and trite saying but it is true. I work for the Feds and recognize the need for trust and honesty in my dealings with the public. There are times when that is all I can bring to the negotiating table.

You and the landlord could not be the only ones who knew what you knew. But you did have the courage to speak out. In doing so you have protected society from someone whose judgment has become questionable. If they lied in this what else have they lied to you, the public, about?

Good job. And thank you for doing it.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 06:59 AM

Kat, darling, courage is doing what you have to do, whether or not you feel brave. Bless you for standing on your principles; you will feel stronger and better for having done it, (think how you'd feel if you'd kept silent!). Sledge is right; politicians are supposed to uphold the laws of the land, not pick and choose which ones suit them!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: sledge
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 04:30 AM

Kat, you did the right thing difficult as it may have been.
Many still expect politicians to have high standards. However when they start with one little lie whats next.
She must have known the rules governing the elective process now let her take the consequences.
Sorry if this is a bit blunt but I believe that if someone puts themselves forward for public office they should stick to the same sets of rules the rest of us do.

Sledge

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: CarolC
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 04:08 AM

That must have been, and must still be, very tough. It's a bit of a rock and a hard place situation, isn't it?

Sorry you had to go through that.

Carol

Subject: Thought for the day - November 5, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 01:13 AM

Yesterday, I had to make a very important phone call, one that could help in bringing down a state politician. It was a difficult thing to do, but necessary. I had direct evidence, involving a couple of my siblings, that she had lied about where she lived when she swore on oath in order to be put on the ballot for her city district.

It has been a bitter and contentious campaign between her and her opponent. There's been plenty of mudslinging which nobody was happy about. But, she swore to the county clerk that she lived with my siblings for two years when she never lived with them at all, all so that she could run for reelection in her district. Unbeknownst to us, she apparently swore this for the previous campaign in 1998, too. This came as a complete surprise to all of my family.

I talked with the reporter many times, yesterday. We knew the implications of my phone call and the subsequent conversations he had with my sisters' former landlord, who confirmed what I'd said when acting as spokesperson for my siblings who no longer live here. The penalties could mean a prison term of 20 years and 20,000 dollars. He was heartsick, as was I. In the end, he did a superb job of presenting a very non-sensational, balanced report of facts.

A new kind of responsibility on my shoulders. Years ago I would have been wickedly zealous and righteous in my outrage at her lies and manipulation. With a few years of mellowing, I just found myself feeling sad for a woman who has obviously lost control and good judgement.

The reporter spoke to me of "my courage" in coming forward, but I didn't feel courageous as it wasn't costing me anything. I had nothing to lose; while she is looking at a possible complete and drastic change to her entire life.

I have had a lot of partisan thoughts about it, as she is of the majority party in Wyoming, while I am in the minority, but in trying to be humanitarian about this whole thing, they stayed below the surface. Who could be gleeful about something so tragic and sad? About someone who had been a friend to their siblings?

Lots of heavy thoughts on this one, phoaks. Thanks for listening.

kat