Jim Morrill at the Charlotte Observer has the story:
Former Republican Gov. Jim Martin plans to be among those asking federal officials to move former Democratic House Speaker Jim Black to a prison closer to home or commute his sentence altogether.
What do you think?
Comments
The layers of irony here include...
Locke Foundation lackeys arguing against accounting rules that allow Black's fine to be paid by transfer of an illiquid asset.
The JLFers have been howling for who-knows-how-long to get rid of mark-to-market accounting. Now when FASB finally does (just weeks ago), they howl that want mark-to-market accounting.
John Locke Foundation=Circus of Situational Ethics
Of course, does the O-No! note that inconsistency in their "fair and balanced" coverage? Hell no.
They just regurgitate unquestioned some JLF talking points on their Monday cover story.
You do the crime. You do the
You do the crime. You do the time. how many non-violent drug offenders has laws that Black passed done more than their fair share in jail? Where is the compassion for them?
Black should have thought about his family before he started handing out bribes.
Apparently we are turning into a country of double standards
One for elected officials and one for the rest of us.
Write the DOJ Pardon ATTY about Jim Black
and help make sure Speaker Black pays the measly 5 years he got for years of abuse of his power as an elected official. No leniency or commutation of his sentence!
Ronald L. Rodgers
Pardon Attorney
Department of Justice
1425 New York Ave., Suite 11000
Washington, D.C. 20530
Re: James Boyce Black
Reg. No. 50655-056
I wonder why these folks are whining and sniveling about poor Jim Black? People like Black destroy the legitimacy of government. They corrupt others. It's pandemic. Jim Black was arrogant, dishonest and deserves every minute of his sentence...and more.
Stan Bozarth
All for commuting the sentence ...
... if he cooperates with the ongoing investigation of corruption, and if that information leads to arrests. That should be the price of mercy.
I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks
IF....IF....Black had ANY integrity or remorse for his behavior
he wouldn't have to be bribed to help clean up the corruption. Put him on a chain gain and work his scrawny ass dawn to dusk. There ought to be a special program for people like Black....let any interested taxpayer come in and punch him in the nose.
Stan Bozarth
so..so..
this 70-something year old man should serve more time than Jack Abramoff will in a country club prison? His bribe was waaaay less than the cost to play a skins game at st. andrews; and thats just the tip of THAT iceberg. ahhh...justice.
let this man spend his waning years with his dying wife.
what about the criminals that will be released b/c of Perdue cuts(those aint chickens)? you lining up to punch them in the face?
Just because Jack
got a break from his Republican enablers doesn't mean that Jim should benefit from political connections.
I don't know if we have a policy for this kind of humanitarian treatment being suggested, but if we do, Black should get exactly the same treatment as everyone else. Not better, not worse. As you'd probably say to any other criminal - he should have thought about his wife when he did the dirty deed.
Abramoff didn't get what he deserves and I can't change that.
Abramoff also wasn't elected to office nor did he take an oath regarding his responsibilities.
I'm not lining up to punch Black. My point was that what he did affected every citizen and we all paid some price for his dishonesty and manipulations.
I have great sympathy for his wife. I'd be happy to let him go home to help her...as long as they put him back in after she is beyond help.
Stan Bozarth
statement from Democracy NC concerning Jim Black
STATEMENT ON JIM BLACK’S SHORTER PRISON SENTENCE
Today’s Charlotte Observer features a story by Jim Morrill on efforts by the friends of former Speaker Jim Black to reduce his prison sentence – see: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/793368.html
Democracy North Carolina has followed the Black saga closely; in fact, we filed the complaint about illegal contributions in his campaign that triggered the State Board of Election’s investigation and the subsequent federal and state probes. The scope of his corruption shocked his friends, but more has yet to be told –- which takes us to the missing part of today’s newspaper article:
Jim Black already had a chance to get a shorter prison sentence. By design, a considerable period of time was set aside between Black’s conviction and his sentencing date, so prosecutors could benefit from his cooperation in their investigation of political corruption. But Black gave them virtually no help. In fact, he continued to hide the truth behind self-serving stories that lacked credibility, right through to his tale about the $500,000 "loan" from lobbyist Don Beason. Consequently, federal and state judges gave him what they considered a fair prison sentence. If Black wants reduced prison time now, does that mean he's changed his mind and is ready to tell the truth about what he knows about pay-to-play politics in North Carolina? It would be highly ironic if he wins shorter time now, not because of the merits of his case, but because of the lobbying clout of well-connected friends.
Bob Hall
Democracy North Carolina