Fiasco in Eldorado

From Grits for Breakfast, a comprehensive round-up of stories and issues surrounding CPS' raid on the FLDS compound in Schleicher County. The sheer level of incompetence displayed here by the State continues to flabbergast and enrage me. Who the hell was in charge of planning this disaster? Who signed off on warehousing babies in a 140 year old cavalry fort? Why did no one even bother to check if the guy named in the warrant was even in Texas (he wasn't; he's in prison in Arizona)? Why did CPS let some of the mothers go with their children (almost unheard of in a removal case), then strip them of their cell phones, and now kick them out (after they complained to the Governor) unless they have children under four? Did it not occur to anyone to see if there were even enough lawyers in a five-county radius to represent all these children (there aren't)? Did anyone check to see if it was feasible to have one district judge (responsible for five counties) shut down all her operations just to deal with one case? Once again, Texas state government shows it couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were printed on the heel.

UPDATE: Grits has more from today's hearings, including links to other coverage and other perspectives. Unsurprisingly, several aspects of the story that were conveniently linked to the media (such as accusation of wide-spread "child bride" arrangements) are coming up short of supporting evidence. The tragedy here is that the State's ham-handedness, and the flagrant scramble for publicity (by, among others, Greg Abbott, who really needs to stay off television until he learns at least the basics of the Texas Family Code) is liable to torpedo any criminal prosecutions of child abusers in this case.

*Eyeroll*

Greg Abbott, ladies and gentlemen!
It's a cake topper! Honest!

Greg Abbott's Priorities

Apparently, the Attorney General is more interested in harassing the elderly for partisan purposes than he is in protecting Texas children from sex predators in the TYC.

Greg Abbott Full of Hot (Polluted) Air

Without bothering to check with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Attorney General has filed a brief SUPPORTING the Bush Administration's decision to do nothing to control the emission of greenhouse gases. Had he bothered to check with the TCEQ, they could've patiently explained to him that global warming is, in fact, a bad thing. Particularly if you live in Houston and have grown fond of breathing. Hat tip to Norbizness.