CBS 60 Minutes to run Siegelman story on Sunday.
On Sunday, CBS’s 60 Minutes will air its long-awaited report on Alabama’s incarcerated former governor Don Siegelman, reportedly one of its “best pieces of domestic exposé journalism.” Justice Department prosecutors opposed the Siegelman investigation, in which Bush administration political operatives — including Karl Rove — allegedly interfered.
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About freaking time. For those of you who have not heard this story, you should really read up on it.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:53 amThe fact that Don Siegelman is still in jail is the biggest travesty of the Bush administration. Bush & Company commit numerous crimes and they are allowed to get away scott free. But Don Siegelman goes to jail because the RNC wanted their man to have his job.
Disgusting.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:59 amThis is a HUGE scandal & DoJ corruption story- CBS sat on it for too long, finally it couldn’t be de-fused anymore. Ergo: KaBooom this Sunday…
February 21st, 2008 at 10:02 amIt will be interesting to see how this story plays. What interests me is the sentence of seven years and four months in jail for what has to be a relatively minor crime when compared to the multiple offenses and literal selling off of the government as in the Duke case that netted 8 years as a sentence.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:03 amMeanwhile, Turdblossom & Gonzo are getting what equates to most of us as an annual salary for ’speaking’ 90 minutes while continuing to lie, not letting the public or media record the speech & only asking pre-approved questions…much like Bush did in both campaigns.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:04 amAmerica, it’s time to throw these piss stained fascists in jail. NOW!
Yes the Republicans stole the Alabama 02 election, yes the Republicans put Don Siegelman in jail for appointing someone who had contributed to him, so he wouldnt come back and win in 06… bla bla bla.
So who do you think will win American Idol?!?
February 21st, 2008 at 10:10 am60 mins has wussed out too many times’
I wonder if ROVE VETTED this version of the story
February 21st, 2008 at 10:12 amGood.
(no, I’m not plagiarizing Frank M, I’m mocking him.)
February 21st, 2008 at 10:17 amdono is right. The main topic in the office today is American Idol, not America’s future or it’s most recent past.
We get what we deserve. Most Americans don’t care about anything but themselves. How can they be entertained is more important than participating in our democracy.
I will watch the 60 minutes show and I thank NPR for bringing this to the radio some time ago. I will also tell all that care to hear that they too should watch this. All I can do is lead them to drink.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:20 amWow, they didn’t cave to Bushco? I’d wait to see what kind of spin they’ll put on it before I get too excited.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:20 am#10 Guess they realize where their bread is buttered. Bush is being reduced daily to the scrapheap of historic irrelevancy; McBush and his campaign will now become an asterisk at the bottom of the 08 election story.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:26 amI think we need to switch places - Siegelman should be replace by Turdblossom and Gonzocchio.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:28 amOnce this story comes out and America sees the injustice to this great American, we will once again see the criminal nature of herr dubyah and the reich-wing.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:42 amSp WHY won’t the “Justice Department” allow Siegelman to speak to the OUTSIDE WORLD?
Are they AFRAID that they will be shown as having POLITICALLY PROSECUTED Siegelman, ILLEGALLY??
Looks like…
February 21st, 2008 at 10:43 amHow many reading this are confident that the crimes that the Bush admin committed on this issue will be even investigated outside of 60mins?
………………..Me niether
February 21st, 2008 at 10:45 amBackground/links useful as a primer on the Siegelman scandal:
The Gulag Comes to America: The Don Siegelman Case
February 21st, 2008 at 10:46 amhttp://onlinejournal.com/ artman/ publish/ article_2905.shtml
good golly, are you going to read the link at #17?
February 21st, 2008 at 10:51 amKeep in mind that each “60 Minutes” segment is generally 1/3 of each show. That gives it 20 minutes. Commercials take away a minimum of 4 minutes. That brings it down to 16 minutes.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:54 am15 minutes will be explaining that Siegelman is in jail and what he was convicted of. 20 seconds will be an interview with his daughter where she’ll say Karl Rove is responsible but just as his name is being mentioned, they’ll accidentally lose power.
“”Siegelman was a major frustration to Alabama Republicans. The state is bright red, but Mr. Siegelman managed to win the governorship in 1998 with 57 percent of the vote.” Yet in 2002, Siegelman narrowly lost the governorship to Bob Riley. In 2004, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Alice Martin charged that Siegelman “had been involved in an effort to rig bids on a state project in Tuscaloosa.” A judge dismissed the case due to lack of evidence. Just as Siegelman was preparing to run for governor again, a second round of charges was brought in 2005 by U.S. Attorney Leura Canary in Montgomery, “a different judicial district distinct from the Northern Alabama district.” His trial in 2006 “overlapped with Alabama’s Democratic primary, in which Siegelman had initially been a heavy favorite.” Canary’s office then “convicted him of charges for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison.” Those charges have been considered tenuous by some legal experts. “It seems to me the conduct in this case was similar to a lot of what we take as normal for politics,” said David A. Sklansky, a former federal prosecutor and professor at University of California, Berkeley.”
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/ progressreport/ 2007/ 10/ rove.html
Political witch-hunts are what Republicans live for. The truth will set you free, but first it’s gonna tick you off!
February 21st, 2008 at 10:56 amHopefully, 60 Minutes will be fair to those jurors who did their civic duty in convicting this Democratic Party criminal.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Funny… I don’t recall Gigi ever speaking this forcefully for the Rule of Law in discussing Republican Party criminals like Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney, Claude Allen, Jack Abramoff.. oh, and four-time felon Scooter Libby…
February 21st, 2008 at 10:57 amFrom the link at #17 (it bears repeating the witch-hunt specifics)
“The bribery charge rose out of Siegelman’s appointment of Richard Scrushy to the Alabama hospital regulatory board, a non-paying position that Scrusky had held under two previous governors.
The appointment followed Scrushy’s donation of a half million dollars to a Siegelman foundation and gained Siegelman no financial advantage whatsoever. Of course, political favors to donors is routine in both state and federal governments, as numerous ambassadorial appointments will testify.
Moreover, clearly illegal campaign contributions were received by Alabama Republican Senator Jeff Sessions and Federal Judge William Pryor, who have not been investigated much less prosecuted.”
Political witch-hunt, indeed!
February 21st, 2008 at 10:59 amPolitical witch-hunt, indeed!
Comment by Democrat Soldier — February 21, 2008 @ 10:59 am
I’m waiting for one of the trolls to accuse you of copyright infringement.
“Hey! Political Witch-Hunt©??? That’s ours!”
February 21st, 2008 at 11:01 amComment by ralph the wonder llama — February 21, 2008 @ 10:57 am
IOKIYAR
February 21st, 2008 at 11:02 amComment by ralph the wonder llama — February 21, 2008 @ 10:57 am
IOKIYACATTBWR
February 21st, 2008 at 11:05 amQUESTION:
Why doesn’t the state or FBI or US Marshall’s go and GET the court transcripts so Siegalman can have his appeal!??!?!
This seams kinda easy but I know it isn’t because it hasn’t been done yet nearly 2 years after the transcripts were due.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:05 amOMG!!!! From Siegalmans Website
A total of 87* days after the first order by the Appellate Court Judge Fuller issued an order stating that the case had no grounds for appeal. That same day, Oct 4, 2007, Fuller’s Company, Doss aviation was awarded an $18.1 million dollar contract from the government.
Yeah, this case is …..wow!!!
February 21st, 2008 at 11:11 amThis story is sad the more you read about it. Believers, please pray with me for justice in this case and this mans mental health.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:13 amThe jury heard the evidence and the jury convicted him. Hopefully, 60 Minutes will be fair to those jurors who did their civic duty in convicting this Democratic Party criminal.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 10:34 am
gg is a liar for liars.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:13 amComment by YouCantHandleDaTruth — February 21, 2008 @ 11:13 am
He’s a political prisoner, no less. I hope he survives long enough to leave prison — and talk.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:15 amgood golly, are you going to read the link at #17?
Comment by hellinabucket — February 21, 2008 @ 10:51 am
take it easy on gg. it’s been a rough twenty four hours and she’s hurting.
gg nobody ever said trolling’s an easy job, now did they?
have you been to bed yet?
February 21st, 2008 at 11:17 amIn GG’s world, Republicans are virtuous saints who can do no wrong and if they are convicted of anything, they are victims of political persecution…Democrats on the other hand are ALWAYS guilty no matter the evidence or the political motives involved…
February 21st, 2008 at 11:18 amI put together a post on this case back in December at The Zoo. I only mention this because it contains a number of links to articles about the case, including one really good backgrounder. The depth of the state and federal corruption and the vile treatment of Siegelman is truly appalling.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:19 amgood_golly you remind me of Wiley Coyote. Do you get your talking points from Acme?
February 21st, 2008 at 11:24 amGood Golly, Super Genius.
maybe in gg’s mind, that dark lonely cavern.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:27 amThe jurors DID do their civic duty—
When they CONVICTED Lewis “Traitor” Libby on FIVE FELONY COUNTS.
Traitor Libby was then pardoned by his TREASONOUS “boss”, the boob who can’t say “nuclear”.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:28 amShayne, that was inspired.
Wiley Coyote indeed…
February 21st, 2008 at 11:28 amIt’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2
you have so little respect for the law. The prosecution kept all truth from the jury, idiot.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:30 amIt’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
So why the uproar, gg? you know damn well that the republican machine wrongfully jailed an innocent man you’re just afraid that your party will be shown up for the lawbreaking scum they all are.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:31 amThe jurors DID do their civic duty—
When they CONVICTED Lewis “Traitor†Libby on FIVE FELONY COUNTS.
Traitor Libby was then pardoned by his TREASONOUS “bossâ€, the boob who can’t say “nuclearâ€.
CONVICTED UNANIMOUSLY by a jury of 12.
Then the RapeubliNazis WHIIIIINED that Libby hadn’t gotten a “fair trial”.
McCain is another TRAITOR and philanderer and HYPOCRITE.
TRAITOR Bush will be going on trial for WAR CRIMES in 2009.
And straight to hell with TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan when he
DROPS DEAD.
Which can’t be TOO SOON for the WORLD and REAL Americans.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:33 amComment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
Garbage in garbage out applies to juries, as well as yourself.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:34 amIt’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
______
GG’s out on the golf course woth OJ, trackin’ down the real killer.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:34 amI seem to recall the jury system and the court system was deemed to be a fraud, back in the Scooter Libby says.
-GSD
February 21st, 2008 at 11:38 amIt’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.
Comment by good_golly
Jury system is not perfect…..can we say O J Simpson. Can we say XX number of people executed in this country who have since been proven to be innocent…….sit down and take it easy.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:39 amJury system? How about judicial system. You infer I don’t have respect for the Jury system (does this exist?) but you show disrespect for our judicial system. Evidence (look up that word becauxe you will be seeing a lot of it after the next election) was witheld from your JURY system by the prosecuter on advise from Rove and this is showing no respect for our Judicial system (which may contain your JURY system).
No man is above the law and if, after ALL the evidence is presented, Siegelman is convicted then I will abide by that. If it can be proven that evidence was witheld by the prosecution then we have obstruction of justice. Something you’ve heard recently (Scooter) but didn’t think it was too important.
We are a nation of laws, not of men. The men who pushed this Bush administration will be held accountabe for the preservation of the United States of America.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:40 am43. The OJ trial you bring up is a good example of how difficult it is to obtain a criminal conviction based upon the “beyond a reasonable doubt†standard. The OJ prosecution team couldn’t do it despite a “mountain of evidence.†The Siegelman prosecution team not only could, but did.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:39 am
With the help of a key witness who was released from prison halfway through his sentence in spite of failing to complete treatment required in that sentence. And the jury threw out all but one of the charges involving him. And let’s not forget the judge:
February 21st, 2008 at 11:45 amComment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:41 am
coffee break?
lol!
February 21st, 2008 at 11:45 amWhy thank you Ralph. I just calls em like I sees em.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:46 amtoo bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
This must mean that you are against limiting jury awards in civil suits.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:46 amComment by gummitch — February 21, 2008 @ 11:45 am
these facts just keep piling up don’t they gg?
i don’t think you’re going to get any sleep…
poor gg, poor thing.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:48 amScooter Libby was convicted of Obstruction of Justice pertaining to the outing of a CIA agent by the Bush Administration. The CIA confirmed the agent’s status as Covert. But yet he didn’t spend a day in jail.
This is another fact that will weigh down this administration to the lowly status of “The worst administration in the History of the United States of America”.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:48 amI love gg’s condescension………check your facts……you would think she would check some of her own facts.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:51 amgg doesn’t want to talk about how perfect our criminal system is anymore….how come. Why has there been a different penalty for crack cocain than there has been for powdered cocain gg? There is much wrong with our justice system. The best evidece of that fact is that Cheny has not been convicted of his criminal behavior yet…..not even charged.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:59 amFred, I think gg suffers from factophobia, a condition in which a person is severely afraid of truth and when accidentally or uncontrollably near truth the person tends to break out in jive.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:00 pm#38 - “It’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.” Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
You mean the system that’s not good enough for the suspected terrorists we have incarcerated in GITMO? THAT jury system?
February 21st, 2008 at 12:02 pm57 I’ve watched gg run from facts here many times…….these folks keep the trolls on track pretty well and they eventually must either show thier asses or run…you are right though, facts are not gg’s best suit.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm“It’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.†Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
That’s why reich-wingers are still screeching for a pardon for Libby.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:05 pmScooter Libby wasn’t pardoned. His conviction stands.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:41 am
and yet he’s not in prison where he belongs. Doesn’t say much for your party’s respect for the law, except that it doesn’t have any.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:09 pmIt’s posts like these that keep me coming back here. Great point Democrat Soldier. Here’s GG busting a nut about respect for the JURY system but it is in direct contradiction to those incarcerated in Gitmo.
GG, please expound on how this doesn’t show what a complete partisan hack without any consistency you are.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:10 pmfacts are not gg’s best suit.
Comment by Fred — February 21, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
that’s because, while the rest of us are playing straight poker, Gigi is trying to claim she has a full house with a fistful of Taror cards.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pmSorry… that should read “fistful of Tarot cards”
February 21st, 2008 at 12:16 pm“It’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.†Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
That’s why reich-wingers are still screeching for a pardon for Libby.
Comment by Dr. Matt — February 21, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
Exactly…
The GHP-Grand HYPOCRISY Party
February 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pmAh, political prisoners! Smells like a gulag, looks like a gulag, Comrade Rove, good job turning Amerika into a fascist dictatorship!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pmComrade Rove, good job turning Amerika into a fascist dictatorship!
Comment by RUCerious — February 21, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
he was hand picked and has been pushed up the political chain. these criminals are patient and he has been trying to make a statement in american politics for a long time. it is because of the lack of concern of the americans that allowed this to happen. this is so higher than karl rove. he does not have that much power…….it’s the zionist who own our political system and have the money which is power to appoint ‘one of their own’ to achieve their goal…NWO. that is why the slogan zionist owned, nazi ran, fascist america works so well.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:41 pmI like Taror cards better. It fits GG’s view.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pmI like Taror cards better. It fits GG’s view.
Comment by hellinabucket — February 21, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
It’s like a supernatural version of that deck of cards the Bushies released after the invasion of Iraq, with all the pictures of Tarorists.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pmspit my food out laughing at that one gummitch.
GOT DAM TARORISTS!!!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:54 pmThese days, one watches tv “news” shows for their historical value. By the time these scandals show up on tv, they’re old news to those of us who keep up via the web.
There really wasn’t much tv coverage of the Justice Department scandal, itself. This case was just one example of how Bush’s justus department was used for political purposes, against political enemies. Too little too late, to help reinstate “60 Minutes’” credentials for investigative reportage.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:28 pmThey should have sent this dem crook to gitmo.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pmSorry for the shouting but THE OSCARS ARE ON THIS SUNDAY!!! Why would they bury this by placing it against the FRICKIN’ OSCARS?!?
February 21st, 2008 at 2:57 pmGood Golly does not understand much about the legal system or justice. I have been a prosecutor and litigator for more than a quarter century. So let us talk a little bit about the justice system:
1. Prosecutors have great discretion in the cases that they bring. Now, contrary to GiGi’s assertion, the alleged bribe actually involved a contribution of money to an initiative campaign and not to Siegleman’s campaign. Thus there was no direct benefit to Siegleman. Second, the individual involved had already been appointed to consecutive terms on the board by several previous govenors. Even granting (and the evidence seems pretty tenous on this point) that there was an intent to curry favor with the then governor, it does not seem to be evidence of a real heavy duty crime. Certainly it pales in comparison to the kinds of campaign contributions that we have seen to Republicans in recent year whose companies then receive large contracts or personnel appointed to overseeing their industries. The fact that previous corruption charges were dismissed (coincidentally around another campaign time) and that 90% of the charges made in this case were dismissed prior to trial would show an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. The fact that the defendant was acquitted of the majority of counts making it to trial also tells a story. Hey, a prosecutor will bend heaven and earth to get a major organized crime figure or drug king pin. This really seems to be piling on.
2. The jury only does part of the job. The judge becomes a major figure both in determining the evidence admitted, the instructions given the jurors and the sentence imposed. Conflicts of interest are simply not countenance. These gentlemen had been bitter, political opponents. The very appearance of prejudice demanded recusal. There were other judges that could have presided over the case without the accompanying stench. The judge’s sentencing (another former govenor had been given probation in a case where the defendant had received a direct benefit) and failure to grant bail pending appeal or even time to put his affairs together prior to surrendering to custody belie a vindictiveness. The judge’s subsequent foot dragging in providing reasons for denying bail (despite two appellate court orders) or having the transcript prepared for appeal just stinks to high heaven.
3. The other political machinations, the statement of Rove’s involvement by a Republican political operative, the close relationhip of the US Attorney (spouse of a top Republican campaign operative in the election campaign against Sigleman), the timing of the charges all connote impropriety.
No good_golly, a jury is but a small part of the judicial process. I do not need indict the jury. They may well have done their duty. However, we can all indict the Republican party and their filthy form of politics. The record is replete with the bad faith, if not outright illegality, of actions taken by Republican US Attorneys in response to political pressure by the White House.
Obama is from Chicago- he will indeed be fighting the Republican mafia. Take some advice from the movie, the Untouchables:
You said you wanted to get Capone. Do you really wanna get him? You see what I’m saying is, what are you prepared to do?
February 21st, 2008 at 3:17 pmNess: Anything within the law.
Malone: And *then* what are you prepared to do? If you open the can on these worms you must be prepared to go all the way. Because they’re not gonna give up the fight, until one of you is dead.
Ness: I want to get Capone! I don’t know how to do it.
Malone: You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That’s* the *Chicago* way! And that’s how you get Capone. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? I’m offering you a deal. Do you want this deal?
Ness: I have sworn to capture this man with all legal powers at my disposal and I will do so.
Malone: Well, the Lord hates a coward.
[jabs Ness with his hand, and Ness shakes it]
Malone: Do you know what a blood oath is, Mr. Ness?
Ness: Yes.
Malone: Good, ’cause you just took one.
They should have sent this dem crook to gitmo.
Comment by Ricl077 — February 21, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
They should send MURDERER Bush the COXUCKER punk TRAITOR to the USA to Gitmo for the rest of his life, until he DROPS DEAD
and goes HOME to hell to be with his MASTER Satan and TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan.
Even BETTER.
TREASON and WAR CRIMES TRIALS coming to TRAITOR Bush in 2009!
USA! USA!
February 21st, 2008 at 3:19 pmUSA! USA!
USA! USA!
USA! USA!
USA! USA!
good golly, are you going to read the link at #17?
Why should it bother? It has the RNC talking points and the don’t pay it if it goes off message.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pmIt’s too bad you have such little respect for our JURY system.
Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 11:28 am
sigh… gg, if you had any knowledge of the jury system you’d know that it isn’t infallible. example:
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/ comments.php?id=16261_0_27_0_C
http://abcnews.go.com/ TheLaw/ story?id=4311309&page=1
poor gg flunked h.s. civics. and it shows.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:12 pmThe jury spoke. They spoke out that they believed, under the facts given to them at the time that Siegleman was guilty.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:05 pmSince then it has been learned that a key prosecution witness has recanted his testimony, that Karl Rove was actively trying to get dirt on Siegleman, to the point of hiring operatives to follow him to see if he was having an affair.
This case came before a Judge 2 times, the first time it was dismissed out of hand after the prosecutions opening statements. The second time they came back with different charges and a witness who would lie under oath.
Some of the jury are speaking again and singing a different tune this time.
Unfortunately for Sigelman and the state of Alabama it’s too late.
The greater question is how long before this case really does bring down the house of cards that is the Justice Dept.
I think this is the outrage that just might tip the scales over to the good side at last
I can always dream can’t I