Melder's Musings

Ameriquest Field in Arlington, Texas. Was this a dry run for President Bush and the Supreme Court?

President George W. Bush got a lot of practice for his current job while he was Governor of Texas. One skill he had before entering the Governor's mansion, though, was using government to seize private property only to turn it into more expensive private property.

With 7 of its 9 justices appointed by Republicans, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last Friday that local governments could seize private property for private development.

This brings back memories for Texans. I'll provide the rest of you a brief civics and history lesson:

Back in Texas, George W. Bush was once a managing partner in the Texas Rangers baseball club. The team (or at least its owners) wanted a new stadium. They used government to get it.

In Texas, many governmental functions are vested in what we call special taxing districts. We have such districts for all sorts of projects, including schools, hospitals, urban development, economic development, water preservation, soil conservation, and much more. These are government entities with publicly elected boards (unless otherwise chartered) and the power to levy taxes and seize private property through condemnation. After making a few phone calls, Bush talked the legislature into creating the Arlington Sports Authority.

After the charter was granted, the ASA attempted to buy property near the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park. Six Flags had already bid millions of dollars on the property, and the landowners were prepared to sell so the park could expand. The ASA could not (or did not) want to get in a bidding war, so they had the property condemned and seized it. Ameriquest Field (f.k.a. The Ballpark at Arlington) was constructed, and the taxpayers of Arlington are still paying off the bonds.

Shortly after using government to seize property, Bush ran for Governor on a platform of limited government and property rights. That was the first time I heard the now all-too-familiar sound of the Republican Hypocrisy Express.

You can read a more thorough history, from which this paragraph is taken:

While on paper the Arlington Sports Facilities Development Authority was a public entity, in practice it was merely a puppet for Bush and his partners. According to documents obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, the owners would identify the land they wanted to acquire. A Rangers owner, Mike Reilly, a Realtor, would then offer to buy the parcels for prices he set, which in several cases were well below what the owners believed their property was worth. If the landowners refused to sell to the Rangers at the offered price, the Arlington Sports Facilities Development Authority could take possession of their land and leave the price to be determined in court.

All of this led to a noteworthy exchange in Friday's White House press briefing between W.H. Press Secretary Scott McClellan and WorldNetDaily White House correspondent Les Kinsolving.

At today's White House news briefing, WND asked presidential press secretary Scott McClellan about the landmark Supreme Court decision yesterday allowing local government to seize a home or business against the owner's will for the purpose of private development. McClellan's first statement on the issue came in response to KGO radio reporter Sarah Scott.

KGO: Scott, does the president plan to introduce legislation to counter the Supreme Court's decision on eminent domain? Isn't a man's home his castle?

McCLELLAN: First of all, on the Supreme Court decision from yesterday, we were not a party to that case. The president has always been a strong supporter of private property rights. Obviously, we have to respect the decisions of the Supreme Court, and we do. Later in the briefing, WND asked McClellan:

WND: Suppose McLennan County, Texas, decides that a center for slot machines would bring in much more revenue than the Bush ranch. Would the president try to fight the eminent domain, as now legalized by five members of the Supreme Court, by means of the Aderholt-Shelby bill, or how?

McCLELLAN: You know, I don't know of any attempt by McLennan County to do such a thing, first of all. And, second of all, if they did, it's a matter for McLennan County to deal with. But I know of no such effort.

WND: He would fight it, wouldn't he?

McCLELLAN: Les, I think the president has made his views clear when it comes to private property rights. In terms of Supreme Court decisions, we obviously have to respect the decisions of the Supreme Court.

WND: Does the president feel as strongly about that lady in New London, Conn., who will be forced out of her home where she was born and has lived for 87 years [as a result of the high-court decision], does he feel as strong as Justice O'Connor feels, and does he believe this decision will help with his nomination of new justices?

McCLELLAN: Les, we just haven't talked about it, but the president is always concerned about the American people and their well being.

WND: He really is concerned about this lady, isn't he?