Rep. Erin Herbig Gets Protection Order Against Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx
- Login to post comments
Domestic Violence is a serious issue in our society and while there are instances of reporting exaggerations or misrepoerting the truth, there are far more times when being able to file a restraining or prtection order truly can save a life. I would hate to see changes to those laws now, however I do feel that there should be a way to prosecute those who use the law in an untruthful manner, maybe fines or jail time if proven to be falsely reporting events or conditions? Thoughts?
Its funny how every DPS worker I have ever met, even the good ones, got into the profession with an axe to grind but Kenny Beck and everyone else is willing to look the other way on that while they are quick to pile on Tom C.
The only axe I have to grind is the heart-breaking cases of abuse to parents I saw while in the Legislature that almost everyone turned a blind eye to because they couldn't be bothered getting their hands dirty.
Now I admit most bad parents wouldn't bring a Legislator into the fray so my segment is skewed but the patience and self-restraint I saw from these parents after the lies and destruction of their homes they endured was nothing short of heroic. Its a testament to the stability of these parents that those who misused them and their children still draw breath.
I do enjoy the irony of the laws dy Houx so gallantly fought for are now being exploited against him. At least in his own mind.
The sad thing is we have gone from domestic abuse needing attention to procedures that can hurt and not protect . The risk of changing them is high.
When I was in the Legislature we had that same bill to take away someone's guns when a TPO was issued, with no due process.
A woman wrote to us and told us her story of how her boyfriend had beaten her, in her own house, and she got the gun her father had bought her and chased him out threatening him to never return.
The guy then got a PTO against her. Had we been dumb enough to pass that law that woman would have been left defenseless. She begged us, in that letter, not to make her a victim.
Luckily, we were not that dumb. Sadly, it appears a later Legislature was.
More gritty details!
du Houx is not suffering from any serious psychological symptoms or syndromes, according to a statement by a psychologist who met with the lawmaker.
Family releases psych evaluation of embattled Brunswick Rep. Cornell du Houx
Great!
Now where's Herbig's psyche evaluation?
BTW: du Houx was dignosed with "Partner Relational Problem not related to a mental disorder" (A professional could review that, I'm guessing V61.10 or V61.81, edification would be appreciated)
Why the CWP? According to du Houx's atty:
"Alex has not owned a firearm of any kind at any time within the last year," he said.
According to his mom:
"He applied for the permit for a reason, and that's because he wants to make it harder to get the permits. He was testing the law."
Yeah, well how do you like the law, now, buddy?
I do feel that there should be a way to prosecute those who use the law in an untruthful manner, maybe fines or jail time if proven to be falsely reporting events or conditions?
That's been discussed ad infinitum, but you have to look at the PURPOSE of the domestic violence laws to understand what is going on there.
20 years and tens of billions of dollars of VAWA spending later and dometic violence, as a crime, hasn't decreased more than social crime in general.
The fact is the domestic violence industry does virtually nothing to reduce domestic violence.
So, why keep doing the same thing over and over if it doesn't work?
Well, who says it doesn't work? What VAWA DOES do, is provide work for hundreds of thousands of women's study majors, judges, lawyers, policemen, generates police grants, state, federal and local funding, gets government involved in all the minutia of families and intimate relationships, as well as throwing out a large portion of the bill of rights.
And it does it very well!
Now, Robert, don't you try to change something that's working perfectly!
People pair up today like trying on clothes. Oops, that one doesn't fit so we throw it away and try another. Where is the responsibility to choose carefully your life partner to last the long haul. Today marriage is meaningless and our society reflects the disaster that are cause by the single parent families that create less than normal young adults. Our society is just a mess with ill adjusted people who look to the nanny state for their every need.
What we need is more people who use their heads in choosing a partner and do so with the commitment that any children will be off with a two parent family that loves them and learns about love and commitment. The try it to see if it fits people just leave so many broken families that have to be cared for just to survive. It appears that at least one, perhaps both of our legislators in this scenario are the result of these broken vows.
Well said Gaffer.
You hit it right on it is the dynamics of relationships today that lead to a lot of these things.
In March, Intro to Women’s Studies students visited the State House in Augusta as part of their “Women and Politics” unit. They were hosted by Representative Erin Herbig. In between her busy voting roster, Erin met with the students to discuss her experience as a woman working in the political domain.
Women’s Studies Class Visits the State House
I wonder if part of the experience she related was: "getting caught up with the sexy, heady, political atmosphere, and cheating on her husband for some leg-tingling, hot hanky-panky with a Marine stud - only to realize that politicians were all self-absorbed, immature narcissists. Exciting for a hookup or two - but lousy partners for long-term relationships."
The students asked great questions!
lol.
Why do I now get the feeling in about a week we're all going to hear about the happy couple and mumsy spin that "they were just testing the system" when she filed the protection order....
Interesting timeline - the relationship began variously early 2011 to late 2011. du Houx attended therapy from Nov to Feb 2012 based on "relationship problems" related to a "serious breach of trust". They were supposedly engaged in Nov or December, (always a great way to fix a troubled relationship) and broke up in February. Herbig's divorce to Josh Povec was finalized December or January, or so.
In February it seems questions about du Houx's stability were raised outside the relationship, and the psyche report was provided then to address those. du Houx's primary admission seems to be cluelessness regarding relationships, and appearing to be "naive and superficial in his understanding of intimate interpersonal dynamics." If that's his main problem, then he's just an average red-blooded American male.
Herbig complained to State House staff about harrassment from February to April, and sought the TRO in April or May.
All good questions raised by Tom C. I also wonder at the release of this pyschological report by sister and Mumsey. Last I knew anyone over age 18 had rights to their own confidential medical reports. Was this realeased at his behest? It sounded otherwise in news reports. Very odd.
My guess is that it was "leaked" with a wink.
Maybe this is part of the therapy for 'shy records retention syndrome.'
It appears that, among other things, that du Houx suffers from overly large ego problems, perhaps created by his "upbringing" and usually manifesting itself via the unwillingness to accept NO for an answer as in a female telling him it is over. There are more than a few males around who suffer this same problem, unwilling to accept when the wife or girlfriend tells them to get lost.
This is no different than what happens everyday all over the country other that in this case the couple took their issues into the statehouse while claiming to be doing the public's business.
PS It is NOT a "loving relationship" when the lady tells you to "bug off".
WC
Last I knew anyone over age 18 had rights to their own confidential medical reports.
Only as against the doctors and the courts. If you let it get into nonconfidential hands, you "waive the privilege". I do not know if this happened here. Actually, I do not "know" much about this case, having heard only what the questionably accurate news reports.
As for the "testing the law" hooey belched out by Mom -- bad idea -- fails miserably to "exhonorate" Alex. Here's why:
The only way he could "test the law" would be to exploit some loophole by being pretty clearly unqualified to carry guns, sharp objects, etc. That'd also make him presumptively a bad witness, a possible abuser, and a bad choice for a state rep. Mom's explanation doesn't withstand logical examination.
PS It is NOT a "loving relationship" when the lady tells you to "bug off".
May or may not be true. Having suffered a decade and a half of middle-age dating, who know what it might have been. People "in love" are crazy by definition.
However, when the lady says it's over, whether or not you believe her, then consider it over. If she's playing games, then let her play them with someone else. Fold all her clothes up neatly, and return them and her personal effects to her politely in a box. If you can avoid a personal meeting by leaving them on her front step, then do that. Hanging onto personal effects shows neediness.
Remove her number from your cell phone. Delete all the emails between the two of you. Throw the pictures away, or at least put them away. Mementos, put them away unless thay have a functional purpose or make you feel good. Do not return emails or phone calls except to ask the person to stop calling so you can get over the relationship cleanly. Find things to do, especially with guys.
Remind yourself that there are other fish in the sea. Promise yourself that you won't get into another relationship for at least a year. Errr.... maybe six months. Don't get drunk and sappy, that's pathetic. Don't sing old sappy pathetic self-pitying love songs. Walk. Get excercize. Spend as much time with friends as they can stand with you (and that will be small doeses when you're in this condition.)
Well said Tom, except you also want to delete them from your Facebook and block, and also block on your cell phone.
It's amazing what people will do for the hairy end of a gut. This is why prostitution should be legal, yer not paying her for the sex, it's to get lost after. The guys a mama's boy and she a spoiled brat so it's a no win, but shouldn't they both resign?
Actually they should but their egos will not permit it I suspect.
If they did choose to do so ,it would be better if there was a formal drumming out ceremony held. Names printed on forehead w/ Sharpie marker etc. while escorted out of Capital.
Film at 12 ,6 11 etc. etc..
One of the things I found most telling about Herbig's complain was her assertion that du Houx said he was going to "use his Marine training to prove his innocence."
Oh, really?
Although innocuous in fact, that suggestion is double-evil in liberal nuanced dog-whistle speak:
1. "Use his Marine training" That alone, without even saying what he was going to use his Marine training FOR (cleaning the yard, making his bed might be situations where Marine training would come in useful on a day-to-day basis) would cause even the boldest bed-wetting moonbat liberal to tremble in fear. (I classify du Houx, himself, as a moonbat liberal. However, I doubt if a bed-wetting one. Herbig, though, may have shown her true colors with this complaint. )
2. "Prove his innocence." A man trying to prove his innocence of domestic violence? What is he, some men's rights loony?
To a liberal, that sounds like a neanderthal relic of the outmoded patriarchy.
Men, when a woman says something - anything - you'd better say: "Yes, ma’am! What color, ma’am?!". Anything else just shows that you're a reactionary sexist who "doesn't get it."
Like Paul LePage has told us: It's up to MEN to stop the evil patriarchy!
Now, duHoux, start rowing - or get off the liberal feminist boat!
Tom wouldn't that hurt mummies' feelings ?
No, mummy wants him to be a dyed-in-the-wool moonbat liberal, not an 80% moonbat liberal. By standing up for his maleness, he is going against the grain. This is a now a world run by people with estrogen poisoning. Give it up, dude!
It's amazing what people will do for the hairy end of a gut.
Snowalker, that has to be the most comical obscene comment I've ever seen.
The guys a mama's boy and she a spoiled brat so it's a no win, but shouldn't they both resign?
I agree with you, absolutely.
Robert Reed:
You pose an interesting problem. Every person has a first amendment right of petition. It is that right that so complicates things. It is almost unthinkable, however, to not have the right.
There is this:
451-453 apply. This applies to false reports to cops.
I think that there oughta' be a right to jury trial if someone is going to be deprived of the right to keep and bear arms for a year. By contrast, a "be anyplace in the world except the plaintiff's home and workplace, and do whatever you want there" shouldn't require as much of a showing.
Interesting. The PPH story linked above, while still working, appears to have been removed from the main news page. Maybe the PPH decided that the psych report being revealed wasn't good for the Democratic party, or the increasing notoriety of du Houx and Herbig.
Naran:
I realize it isn't much of an endorsement, but how is "he's not nuts" bad for the dems?
- Login to post comments
Getting off the subject a little, what kind of name is Alexander Cornell Du Houx? It sounds like he is some kind of liberal artistocrat or something.
Alexander is likely Greek (just like Apollo), after Alexander the Great, Cornell is clearly an English name. Du Houx is French.
Questioning one's name has to rank as one of the most ignorant posts of all time.