The confirmation of Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley as chairman of the state Forensic Science Commission appears to be in deep trouble, as two Senate Republicans confirmed today that they will vote no.
That would leave Bradley four votes short of the required 21 needed to bring his name up for a Senate vote.
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“At this point, his nomination not going anywhere,” said Nominations Committee Chairman Bob Deuell, R-Greenville. “Unless something changes, it’s over.”
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Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, said he is against Bradley’s nomination because of his controversial tenure as chairman of the commission. The exchange with [Sen. Rodney] Ellis is “only the latest example,” he said.
“This is no longer about him, it’s about the need for a change,” Eltife said. “Once a situation becomes this volatile, sometimes you need to make a change. That’s what I think the commission needs.”
Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, said he also opposes Bradley’s nomination, and has no intention of changing his mind.
“I watched his disrespect for members of the Legislature on this and many other occasions, and based on that issue alone I will vote no,” he said. “His sheer dismissive attitude toward questions, toward the Legislature, that he has demonstrated time and time again, cannot be overlooked.”
Bradley’s Republican supporters said they hoped to persuade Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, to vote for the nomination. But Lucio said he is not switching.
“I don’t like the way he treated me on my life-without-parole bill last session, the way he talked down to me and treated me during that discussion,” Lucio said. “He was the biggest opponent of that bill . . . There was no common courtesy.”
I’m not sure which is my favorite part, the fact that he’s going down or the fact that he has no one to blame for it but himself and his arrogant, obnoxious attitude. The only bad news in this is that as the story notes Bradley would still be chairing the Commission on April 15, when it next meets to possibly take action on the Willingham case. As such, Bradley would have one last chance to fulfill the mission he was given by Gov. Perry, to permanently undermine any effort to examine and fix what went wrong in that case and set standards for arson investigations in the state. If he had any honor, he’s recognize the position he’s in and step down now, so that someone who could be confirmed can be nominated. But then if he had any honor he wouldn’t be in the position he’s in.
Another great example of poor leadership and I don’t mean Mr. Bradley.
Bradley can be arrogant, dismissive, and disrespectful to his fellow FSC Commissioners, the media, and the public, but toward members of the State Senate? No way.
Senators exhibiting real leadership would objectively determine that Bradley is not fit to lead a group of scientists, tasked with the goal of ensuring that accurate, objective forensic science is used in our criminal justice system.
Instead, their feelings are hurt so they withhold their vote for confirmation. I’m glad Bradley will be gone soon, but don’t fault me if I don’t give our Senate a pat on the back.
Texas Governor Rick Perry is as corrupt as any politician you will find in India! John Bradley is as crooked and as corrupt as any corrupt policeman you will find on the streets in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Now, Texas and Louisiana are the main reasons that the US has fallen below developing countries such as Rwanda and Botswana regarding bribes received and below Barbados and Qatar in corruption. I am sure Rick Perry and John Bradley are very proud of it!
http://politic365.com/2010/10/26/u-s-ranks-below-top-20-highly-clean-governments-on-corruption-index/