It’s one thing to hide it. We’re used to that and pretty much expect it. But there just ain’t nothin’ like the theater of a politician exposing his and his fellow pol’s corruption on live TV.
When Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, apologized to BP chief executive Tony Hayward on Thursday and accused the Obama administration of conducting a “shakedown” of the oil giant, he drew quick denunciations from members of both parties.
Barton, under pressure from fellow Republicans, retracted his remarks hours later.
But the statement, while politically indelicate, is not a far aberration from the pro-industry positions that Barton has pursued in his 25 years in Congress.
“The attitude behind the remark is not a surprise,” said Jim Schermbeck, a North Texas clean-air advocate who has long clashed with Barton. “That he actually said it out loud gives me pause about his political radar these days.”
Clancy==I agree being involved in a lawsuit can be very discouraging. The problem, as I constantly post, is devising a different system?
It would make a nice experiment to charge lawyers with actually being “an officer of the court” and require them (how?) to present only credible arguments they actually competently believe?
I think penalizing the lawyer PERSONALLY for bad arguments would be one way to do this.
As with any system, there would be pro’s and con’s, winners and losers. But I agree “justice” and not the game is the goal.
Yes, I think some changes could be made==doesn’t appear to be any real interest in doing so however.