What Ken Allows

Harris County District Attorney Ken Magidson has asked the state's top lawyer if he can legally stop his assistants from taking handguns into courtrooms despite a new law removing most restrictions on where prosecutors with gun licenses can carry their weapons.

I've worked many jobs over the years. I've never wanted one badly enough that I would trade in my self-respect for it. You can get another job. Once you hand in your dignity, especially if you allow yourself to be cowed into making a habit of it, it's almost impossible to get it back.

It's my permanent eyes staring back at me in the mirror, not my temporary employer's. My sons depend on me to show them how to be men. My greatest fear is that I'll let them down on that, and that's my greatest motivator not to.

Once things cross the line from professional to personal, I take it that way and react accordingly. I have been known to tell bosses throwing tantrums that their tone doesn't work with me--that they'd better go home and practice it on their dog some more until they get it right.

What could be more personal than being told by some arrogant usurper that I must come to him for permission to be a man?

Why anyone would tell this control freak anything other than the numerous ways he can go stuff himself is beyond me. But think about how dangerous broken prosecutors working for him on such a leash would be to those they had power over.

Offhand, I'd say we're witnessing a manifestation of fear.

They say most bullies are picked on themselves. It's telling how many gravitate toward government jobs.

Oh, and one other thing, Magidson: You aren't the employer. But representing yourself that way is at least consistent with the presumptuous arrogance with which you define yourself.

[Via Lane]