 | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
« From China to the Confederacy | Main | First, They Came to Tax Your Barbecue... » December 4, 2007Hangin' Mr. Cooper
Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Tom Humphrey reports on skepticism about whether Cooper really intends to retire, or if he's just saying that in order to get his fine reduced so he can pay it and run again. Humphrey's story includes comments from Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis and state Democratic Chairman Gray Sasser, neither of whom has a critical word to say about their colleague who stole $95,000. Kyle says, with uninentional irony, that the Senate would be "a poorer place" if Cooper retires. The Tennessean reports that the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance "can seek help from an administrative law judge to force Cooper to pay the fine through a civil lawsuit" if Cooper refuses to pay. Sounds good, but that doesn't mean Cooper will ever pay the fine - he could simply ignore the civil judgment, just as he ignored the law in the first place. And, as I outlined yesterday, he could steal the remaining $205,000 in his campaign account, pay the fine, and net a profit. The Associated Press story reminds readers that Cooper's theft of campaign funds "came to light during a trial in which Cooper faced charges of bank fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy." The City Paper story contains comments from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, and from state Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville. Just like Sen. Kyle and Chairman Sasser, Sen. Haynes also does not have a critical word for corrupt colleague who stole $95,000. The Tennessee Democrat Party continues to tolerate an incredible culture of corruption festering within it. Cooper steals $95,000, drives drunk and causes a spectacular wreck that could have killed innocent people - and you hear no criticism from the Tennessee Democrat Party leadership. Fellow Democrat senators Ward Crutchfield and Kathryn Bowers join Democrat Sen. John Ford in taking bribes to vote a certain way on legislation and Democrats welcome them to stay in the Senate, sit on committess and vote on legislation - and you hear no criticism from the Tennessee Democrat Party leadership. Democrat state Rep. Rob Briley has an affair with a lobbyist with business before the committee Briley chairs, smashes his SUV into a car then leaves the scene of the accident and leads police on a drunken high-speed chase across two counties, putting the lives of countless innocent people at risk - and you hear no criticism from the Tennessee Democrat Party leadership. The administration of Democrat Gov. Phil Bredesen sells Tennessee Highway Patrol promotions for campaign donations, shreds documents related to sexual harrassment allegations against administrations staffers, and lies to the legislature and the people of Tennessee about the true amount by which its budgets exceed the state constitution's limit - and you hear no criticism from the Tennessee Democrat Party leadership. Not. One. Word. Blog Coverage: Posted in Tennessee Government News
Comments
Bill thats amazing that Kyle actually said that the senate would be a poorer place without Cooper. Talk about being out of touch with reality.... Posted by: dan t at December 4, 2007 11:18 AMPost a comment
Comments Policy: Your comment is subject to deletion if it is off-topic or includes foul language or personal attack. Readers, please email me if you find comments that include egregious violations of this policy. Comments may not post immediately - do not post twice!
|
|||||||||||
News media and the blogs are all over the story of Sen. Jerry Cooper's reported intention to retire and not seek re-election, in the wake of his being fined $120,000 by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance for stealing nearly $95,000 from his campaign funds. By law Cooper can not run for re-election in 2008 unless he pays the fine by the April 3 filing deadline.