Hightower Lowdown

Over the years, the Texas Observer has been the home of such muckraking editors as Ronnie Dugger, Molly Ivins--and even me. Editors come and go, but the Observer just keeps digging, breaking national stories that big-name media powers miss...or avoid.

Take a recent report by Observerite Melissa del Bosque about the big wall that Homeland Security is erecting across America's southern border with Mexico. Security Czar Michael Chertoff tells us that this 18-foot-high monstrosity is necessary to keep out terrorists and illegal immigrants. His Czarness asserts that border residents must sacrifice their land, homes, businesses, heritage, and peace of mind for the greater good.

But, wait--reporter del Bosque has uncovered curious gaps in the very tall wall. For example, while it will rip through the backyards of low- and modest-income families in Brownsville, Texas, it miraculously stops at the edge of River Bend Resort, a lush golf course. The wall picks up again on the other side of the resort. Excuse me, but won't enterprising border-crossers simply learn to dress up as golfers or caddies and putt right through this gap?

Further up the border, there's another special gap for Sharyland Plantation, a 6,000-acre development of million-dollar homes. Sharyland is owned by billionaire oil heir Ray Hunt of Dallas-who happens to be tight with George W. Ray has donated $35 million to help build Bush's presidential library. So, no wall for him.

For more Texas Observer revelations, go to www.texasobserver.org