The State Can't Quit You, Baby

A series of embarrassing e-mail exchanges between Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal and his, uh, executive assistant, are revealing to say the least.

When KHOU made several examples public in pdf format, they didn't bother redacting the email addresses.

So we now know that Rosenthal's personal email address at the office is l'etat@dao.hctx.net. "L'etat," as our highly educated readers will recall, is French for "the state." As in, The State vs. Good Taste. Nevermind the hubristic Judge Dredd imagery brought forth by our friendly DA identifying himself personally as "The State," let's move on to the nauseating parts.

In messages to his assistant, Big Bad Chuck shares some of the following examples of romantic eloquence:

"I miss you"
"I still love you"
"This town is nice and green. Everything leading up to it looks like the parts of California you always see on fire." (huh?)
"I miss you dreadfully this [vacation with the family] has not been fun."
"Hopefully sometime this week you'll let me hold you."
"I'll see you as soon as I can."
"With you on the diet" (double "huh"?)
"I always want to see you. You own my heart, whether you want or not."

And the bit about kissing behind the ear is too stupid to reprint.

Now, are we a bit petty in enjoying this public disclosure of very private messages? Yes. Couldn't of happened to a nicer guy. Are we laughing too much at the grim coppertone DA relentlessly pursuing an old flame and current subordinate with depressing efforts at enticement? Yes. Are we amused that a prosecutor who takes great efforts to try cases in the press is now being burned royally by the same process? Yes.

Are we genuinely tickled that he's being given the treatment by a certifiable loose screw like Lloyd "Splashtown" Kelley who certainly knows a thing or two about pursuing female assistants? Yes.

But we're not laughing much at the sheer stupidity of a career prosecutor not knowing better than to put this private stuff on a public server, and we're not laughing much at the damage he's doing to his Republican Party. Chuck, it's been not so great, but it's time to part ways with public office.

Unfortunately, as his emails demonstrate, ol' Chuck just doesn't know when to quit.

Dan? "Chuck, you ignorant slut!"