Under Construction Again!

I'm currently redoing this site, devoted to fact-checking the town idiot, Philip R. Klein and the Southeast Texas Political Review. 

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves about PRK's articles and public statements in the comments section while work continues.

For PRK: Hi Ho, Silver

From the Southeast Texas Record:

Philip Klein's quest to unmask his nemeses ends in defeat

"Who was that masked man?"

Nearly every episode of a long-lived and beloved radio and TV western ended with that question -- and its answer, the name of the title character: "The Lone Ranger."

Of course, "The Lone Ranger" was merely a nom de guerre. No one but Tonto, his faithful Indian companion, knew his real name.

The Lone Ranger was the first of a long line of masked defenders of truth, justice and the American way. The Phantom followed, then Superman, Batman and countless others.

"Why do they conceal their true identities?" "What do they have to hide?" "Are they lawmen or outlaws?"

Those are the questions asked of all costumed crime fighters - the same questions asked of anonymous bloggers, as well.

Why would bloggers want to conceal their true identities? To protect themselves and their loved ones from intimidation, ambush and reprisal is one good reason.

The motives don't really matter because the American legal system has long recognized that our constitutionally-guaranteed right to free speech includes anonymous publication.

Local political blogger Philip Klein is an erratic defender of free speech. He's in favor of it for himself, but not for others.

Klein invoked the First Amendment to defend himself against a defamation suit filed by a public official objecting to posts on Klein's Southeast Texas Political Review blog.

Then Klein went to court to try to get the names of bloggers posting anonymously about him, so he could sue them for defamation.

Fortunately for the bloggers, and for the rest of us, the Supreme Court of Texas affirmed a federal law prohibiting the unauthorized identification of internet service subscribers.

Last month, a local judge denied Klein's petition to take depositions in the case.

So, who were those masked men (or women) posting about him? Philip Klein may never know. And that's the way it should be.

Hi ho, Silver!

This editorial is greatly appreciated, but the real hero is our attorney, Jeffrey Dorrell.

Although Philip and his counsel, John Morgan, tried to make an end run around the First Amendment with some highly unethical legal maneuvers, Jeffrey eloquently argued our constitutional right to ridicule the town idiot anonymously.

As the editors of the Southeast Texas Record noted, our reasons for remaining anonymous are not germane. And this is a fundamental principal upon which the United States was founded.

• Read Jeffrey’s argument before the Texas Supreme Court here.
  
• Read the Texas Supreme Court decision here.

PRK is now memorialized in the Southwest Reporter as In Re Does 1&2, 337 S.W.862, 863. He’s footnoted as an idiot whose world view doesn’t extend past his own ego, and who didn't introduce any evidence to back up his outrageous allegations at his own evidentiary hearing.

Thanks, Jeffrey!

Open Letter to Philip R. Klein

Dear Philip;

You should  add this website to your next lawsuit.  It's hard to argue that you're not a public figure with this kind of exposure.

Sincerely,

Gus