Outsiders and Insiders

Recently Pepe understandably wondered whether bringing "outsiders" into D.C. mattered. Of course, it matters quite a bit. Here's a local story that took place this morning, and perhaps it can shed some light on why it's necessary to keep people moving through the various levels of government: get in, be a Public Servant, and then get out. The story below:

It'll go down in the Burleigh County [North Dakota] Top Ten for Quickest Removal of a Jurist: something about knowing and being intimate friends with the Defense Attorney's family for the last 15 years. Fucking trumped up gibberish if you ask me.

When the defense attorney and I greeted each other when he first entered the court (Burleigh County Court Room 303), I figured the other Jurists were on to us. I thought, "I wonder how long this is gonna last..." I heard someone in the hall way say, "Yeah, he's close friends with the defense attorney's kids. Both attorneys agree that there's no sense in keeping him here any longer..." Two seconds later a lady entered the room and called out my name. I said, "Yup," got up, and walked out.

There's a Good Old Boy Network in the Dakotas, but nothing like it is in D.C. It's good to see Burleigh County does what they can to filter it, if not a bit.

Here's to my Civic Duty with The Criminal Justice System.