REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION: EL DEFENZOR: SHAMSIE AND RENDON'S TROJAN HORSE

SHAMSIE AND RENDON'S TROJAN HORSE
THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG: THE TROJAN HORSE
INVADES ROBSTOWN AND IS LAUNCHED FROM MCKENZIE ROAD

As election seasons go, this shall be one that will not only be memorable for the predicted turnout, but also for the history making event of an African-American and female candidate. Local elections shall be effected by the increased turn out and Texas is a key state in deciding who shall be the most powerful person in the world. Unfortunately, along with the positive and the exciting changes that develop during the political season, the self-serving and those that crave absolute power make themselves known. El Defenzor offers up this opinion-editorial as food for thought for the South Texas voters.


THE TROJAN HORSE OF ROBSTOWN: Whispers have turned into shouts of discontent as the Rendon-Shamsie machine has openly sought to usurp and control all of Robstown and the northwest side. The Hillary Clinton visit was a very clear example. Both Shamsie and Rendon orchestrated the event down Terry Shamsie Boulevard. A little girl from our humble neighborhood of Casablanca in Robstown excitedly and anxiously awaited Senator Clinton’s arrival in order to present her with flowers. This was not to be. According to eyewitnesses and the little girl’s family, in a blatantly political move, Shamsie and his group TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BESTOW FLOWERS UPON SENATOR CLINTON WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE LITTLE GIRL so his daughter could present them to the Senator. Lencho Rendon, a once behind the scenes person for U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz, now is heavy handedly displaying his power and navigated the events, the media coverage and the access to the who, where and why of the Clinton visit(s).

Many in Robstown are beginning to piece together that the Clinton visit was used as a Trojan horse to begin to fully develop the seeds that have been planted during Terry Shamsies one and only term in office where his detractors indicate he was voted in as a Democrat and was clearly a ultra conservative Republican in the way he conducted business. In some areas he cut the Nueces County Budget to the bone and in other areas such as highway work to Dos Logistics and other choice contractors’ jobs were given liberally which has earned Shamsie not only a street named after him in Robstown, but also a new job as an accountant and “consultant” for the huge dollars such as the 20 million dollar school budget. Was Shamsie’s disappearance temporarily from political life a farce to gain even more power? No doubt that is why the Solomonistas, Rendon and Shamsie are lavishing support upon Peggy Banales. It is well-known that Banales awarded Robstown many Nueces County tax dollars over her own constituents on the west side of Corpus Christi and the Calallen area. Lest we not forget Shamsie resides down McKenzie road in Banales’ district and is whispered to have clandestine meetings there to launch the Trojan Horse. It is also known that Ruben Bonilla is angered by the votes that Banales gave on the port location and the large amount of money that Rendon and his newly minted company L.R. Global being managed by a close relative Joseph Ramirez, stand to make off the port business coming from Robstown.

WHERE IS THE MONEY INSIDE THE TROJAN HORSE GOING?
El Defenzor wishes to underline that much of this information is public knowledge and of public record if one only looks deep enough regarding the Trojan Horse. FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL. It would be naïve to think that those in power should not take care of their own, but to use a presidential candidate to push an agenda denigrates the political process and proves the theory that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Trojan horse is not only through Hillary Clinton but also through Bill Clinton. The dollars are definitely flowing to the usual politiceras and their minions who are pushing hard for Hillary Clinton as the dollars flow. Former President Clinton is making yet another visit here in South Texas the day before the election. His visit again is theorized to be pushed by Lencho Rendon. In fact the Caller Times alluded to L.R. Global (Lencho Rendon) coordinating this effort. Many of the “old guard” in the Democratic party such as Jesse Soto of A Plus Printing have openly stated on TV that Hispanics “no vota por un negro” (won’t vote for a negro). Soto is a staunch Solomonista and Lencho Rendon supporter and is known and respected as a long-time politico but many were outraged and Connie Gutierrez on the Lopez family station KTMV was quick to water down Soto’s remark by saying it was experience not skin color was why she was supporting Hillary Clinton. Can we unring the bell? Still more troubling is that older Hispanics seem to be spewing out hate speech against Obama: An elderly Hispanic woman in Dallas echoed the same sentiment and stated that the one thing Obama had against him was that he was black! Are we as Hispanics, once the weakest minority, now being prejudice in turn as we have been discriminated against in the past? Is the oppressed now becoming the oppressor? Clearly, Senator Clinton has denounced these acts on TV but didn’t’ her husband the former president a month ago indicate that race was an issue? The Clinton camp would be wise to truly understand that those they have employed and are associated with have caused seeds of discontent in the Democratic party for years as well as those politiceras who have fractured that very party.


INTIMIDATION OF EL DEFENZOR AND SEEKING OF POWER OVER ROBSTOWN:
When the Defenzor brought out these issues on 104.9 and 93.5 FM on El Defenzor Radio a few days ago, an attempted intimidation tactic was used. Lencho Rendon through intermediaries from the school board and elsewhere used the “carrot and the stick” to attempt to bottle up El Defenzor Radio. All they accomplished was proving that once independent minded people in Robstown including a school board member are on the verge of succumbing to the Trojan horse and are in danger of selling their soul and becoming co-opted.

When individuals like Shamsie and Rendon do not share power or opportunity and attempt to intimidate or co-opt individuals in the Hispanic community, it only saddens me all the more. It reminds me that despite 50 years of struggle for equal rights, all we are doing is replacing one white patron for another. As you may recall, it was Vicente Carranza, a former media heavyweight, who pushed for Shamsie to be elected and “hispanicized” him and inoculated the community with Shamsie in 2001 and 2002. As our readers may also recall sadly and unfortunately, Carranza for years led the Hispanic vote on KUNO and later failed in his attempt to crossover to English media in the now defunct Air America led by ultraliberal John Kelley. Carranza heavily campaigned for Shamsie and remains loyal to him to this day. If asked today many would not even realize that Shamsie was a Muslim and was elected in a time (2002) when Muslims were being seen negatively in the media after 9-11. Shamsie played down his affiliation with Islam and played up his marriage to a popular Hispanic judge Nannette Hassette. He was also helped out by the then “Kingmaker” Rene Rodriguez. It is rumored that he stepped down from power because of Rene Rodiguez’ stepping out of the spotlight after his much publicized battle with Tony Canales and when the fellow Kingmaker Fil Vela went to the Republican party. Without the twin pillars of power he once had, Shamsie knew he had to step down. But now he has come back and is seeking not political but permanent power in Robstown riding shamelessly on the coattails of Lencho Rendon. Some would argue he is doing an impeccable job and has many favors owed to him by Robstown. The question remains how long will the people of Robstown and of Nueces County and all of South Texas stomach this vulgar display of power that has been unleashed through this Trojan horse?

THE POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE EDC AND RENDON/SHAMSIE

As the Trojan Horse is being used to further agendas in Robstown and parts in between, so has the power of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation grown (EDC). Many know of the strong business interests at stake such as the publisher of the Caller Times, heavyweight businessman such as Dusty Durrill and Joe Fulton who have wielded power in South Texas for a long time. Many of the citizens in South Texas do not understand the absolute power that the EDC has in many factions and the disdain they have for the Rendon/Shamsie Trojan horse. It is whispered that the EDC may flex its muscle and usurp the fledgling power that is growing in the Trojan horse. Still others in the EDC and in the know indicate that because the Trojan Horse-Rendon/Shamsie’s powerbase comes from the Solomonistas they are doomed to make the same mistakes as their mentors who have never had a clear media force and have never been inclusive in their power. Their “clica” has always been very stingy with sharing power and has been too closeknit, whereas the EDC have welcomed Hispanics, blacks and business owners from all walks of life in its fold. Some argue that because of this openness the EDC has thrived and has its fingers in many economic pies and has become so powerful that those who challenge the EDC do so at their peril. Be it remember that the EDC finds its roots deep and well nourished from the days of the late and revered Hayden Head, Sr who was the quintessential “gringo patron” who’s power echoes to this day through the EDC and American Bank. From the port to the media the EDC has gained ultimate and conglomerated power in the last several years and has built an invisible steel mesh over all of South Texas that is unbreakable. Some see it as a new world order in South Texas and a microcosm of the military-industrial complex. It remains to be seen if the EDC shall scratch the Trojan horse that itches its hide.

HOW WILL THE TROJAN HORSE-EDC POWER STRUGGLE EFFECT THE ELECTIONS?

One thing is clear: The power struggle within the Democratic party is one in which the Trojan Horse-Shamsie/Rendon machine are attempting to dominate and exercise complete control and whatever power, however temporary they have, they will not share. The support they have for Hillary Clinton may be backfiring: One example is a man in Robstown who wished to remain anonymous who said: “If Shamsie and Rendon are pushing her I will vote for Obama. Look at the money being poured into those people, look at the consultants who are pushing her: The same people who give me a bad taste in my mouth about the Democratic party here and it reminds me of why the Democratic party is always fighting-because of those same people who are just looking to line their pockets and don’t give a damn about who is President or not”. Locally, many democrats are rejecting the past political set up where politiceros praised or blasted someone (depending on who was paying them) and are voting their conscience. Although the Obama turn out was not as packed as the Hillary turnout, there remains many who are confident that Obama will win. The Trojan Horse supported Peggy Banales over Rendon’s former aide de camp Joe Benavides who helped Solomon Ortiz could be a costly mistake. If we remember in the not so distant past, Rendon backed Pete Alvarez in a race which led to humiliation for Rendon and the daughter of Solomon Ortiz when Alvarez endorsed a republican after losing.

Now Rendon and his close relative Joseph Ramirez back Banales over Joe Benavides. Will their help and the close affinity to the Robstown deals affect Banales’ campaign negatively? As her campaign has been rocked by question after question of why she 1) voted for measures such as having taxpayers give her husband Judge Banales an extra $140,000.00 office, 2) why she voted for measures to enrich Robstown’s economic development and helping commissioner Oscar Ortiz and 3) why she voted for nothing but projects in Robstown when her own constituents economic development in Tulosa, Calallen, Annaville and the west side grew less than single digits. Will she be able to survive when she steered her vote against her precinct’s best interests and will it cripple her and cause her to become a one term commissioner? Time will tell.



EL DEFENZOR WILL NOT BE BOTTLED UP BY THE TROJAN HORSE:
Those who speak out against them like the Editor-in-Chief of Defenzor get paid social calls to remind them that either take the carrot (money) or the stick (threats and intimidation). I say NEITHER. Many have accused El Defenzor of taking money for stories. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. The truth of the matter is that machines like the Solomonistas and the TROJAN HORSE do not respect alternative media and are shortsighted in their treatment of humble alternative media. The thinly veiled contempt is masked by the pittance they attempt to throw out for advertising dollars. The hypocrisy in the media is that no one questions the ABSOLUTE POWER that the EDC has over the Caller Times that even Hispanic leaders (Nancy Vera from LULAC) have been used by the Caller Times to endorse the paper. But remember that nothing gets published without the consent of a powerful EDC member who happens to be the publisher of the Caller Times! (Patrick Birmingham). When El Defenzor speaks the truth in blogs, radio, TV and the newspaper it is with a carrot or a stick that we are confronted: IF we take advertising dollars which are the lifeblood of any newspaper in this day and age we are accused falsely of being co-opted, if we refuse we are reactionary. El Defenzor will not bow down to these attacks, or threats or intimidation and if anything, will launch a full investigation on the Trojan Horse’s activities in the past, present and future.

HOMERO VILLARREAL