Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Good Old American Political Corruption . . .

Jury of His Peers
An Already Hung Jury?
(Image from Wikipedia)

I sometimes think that America has the most colorful corrupt politicians, and after reading Albert R. Hunt's column for the International Herald Tribune, "In politics, it's theater of the absurd" (June 21, 2010), I believe that my opinion is possibly well-grounded:
In Louisiana, even after the departure of Huey (Kingfish) Long and his brother "Uncle Earl," there was Governor Edwin Edwards, who once declared he would lose his job only if he was "found in bed with a dead girl or live boy." After he was acquitted in one criminal trial, it was revealed that some members of the jury had stolen towels from the hotel where it had been sequestered. Mr. Edwards concluded that he had been judged by a "jury of my peers." He now resides at a federal correctional institution.
And well he should reside there, even if he wasn't "found in bed with a dead girl or live boy," for he was judged guilty -- perhaps not by his peers -- of 'dubious' financial transactions.

Edwards was known to be something of a Lothario, in addition to his financial peccadillos, but he was also notable as an early supporter of civil rights for African-Americans, and when he ran against former Ku Klux Klan member David Duke in 1991, I recall him quipping, "The only thing we have in common is that we both have been wizards beneath the sheets." Let the reader understand.

If you want to read more about Edwards, there's of course some 'information' at Wikipedia, but if you've heard enough of him and prefer to read a quick and amusing account of other canny and corrupt American politicians, you can find Mr. Hunt's column online at The New York Times, albeit under a different, though perhaps even more fitting, headline: "Kooky Politics Make for Entertaining Races" (June 20, 2010).

Mr. Hunt puts some of the current crop of kooky politicians into a context wherein they can be correctly judged . . . by a jury of their peers, apparently.

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6 Comments:

At 1:32 AM, Blogger Hathor said...

He would probably still had his job if he hadn't gone to prison. A jury and the voters are different species.

We have had politicians re-elected after being in prison.

 
At 4:41 AM, Blogger Horace Jeffery Hodges said...

Yeah, some folks are just damned lucky . . . and others damned unlucky (see my blog post for today, June 23rd).

Jeffery Hodges

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At 3:55 AM, Anonymous Toronto Homes For Sale said...

I totally agree

 
At 7:12 AM, Blogger Horace Jeffery Hodges said...

But your job consists in being agreeable, or you wouldn't sell homes.

The question is . . . with what are you agreeing so unreservedly?

(And why do you leave off the period?)

Jeffery Hodges

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At 11:11 AM, Blogger Neil said...

These power leaches (American Government) do nothing but dismantle the American Constitution, ultimately for corporate agenda, at the cost of the hardworking American citizens, I'm not even American I'm Canadian, and we Canadians see your political corruption as clear as day, why can't the American society? Federal Reserve Bank, are you kidding me, talk about economic rape, they charge you to print your countries money. (Didn't Abe Lincoln die for the cause of having America print Americas money) (At no interest actually) Not pocket change but billions annually on interest alone, lets reduce healtcare due to lack of funding, but build 800 fastfood restoraunts not to mention billions at war with the terrorist. (Which is anybody who doesn't agree with corporate political ageda) Wake up, the worlds laughing at you. I do realise it's not directly the citizens fault because your governments insane propaganda machice, and terrible education system (Soon they'll be charging you to go to public school if they are not already) but it is the citizens fault for taking it. Words to live by...If it doesn't make sense its not true, and if you wanna find the truth find who had the most to gain they are one in the same. I have a grade 10 education, but Im smarter then most, simply by following logic. Follow your logic and take back what's yours, your country. One last thing how can the C/O of Goldman Sacks earn $49 000 000 last year, and your country not be able to afford healthcare. Here's the kicker Goldman Sacks C/O made $49 000 000 last year but Goldman Sacks as a company only paid $15 000 000 in taxes, where's the logics in that? Ask your Congress Rep. that and watch'em sweat, Who do you think covered the rest...You did!!! If you continue to take they'll continue to do it to you... A word from the wise.

 
At 2:41 PM, Blogger Horace Jeffery Hodges said...

Neil, thanks for the complex comment. I can see that you've given a lot of thought to the issue of corrupt government.

Jeffery Hodges

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