4 TN State Legislators, incl. Ford Jr. uncle, Arrested and Indicted on Bribery

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Four Tennessee State Senators, one former State Senator, the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Education, and an activist were indicted and arrested this morning on charges of bribery and corruption.  The FBI set up a sting operation with a fake company called "E-cycle".  These legislators were basically paid to file and support a bill that would have benefited the company.  Senator Ford's charges were the most serious as he threatened to murder anyone who set him up.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_3808002,00.html

Sen. John Ford (D - Memphis)
Sen. Kathryn Bowers (D - Memphis)
Rep. Chris Newton (R - Cleveland)
Sen. Ward Crutchfield (D - Chattanooga)
fmr. Sen. Roscoe Dixon (D - Memphis)
Charles Love (Hamilton Co. Board of Edu. chair)
Barry Myers (Democratic activist, Memphis)

Bowers was just sworn in a few days ago to replace Dixon -- Dixon resigned to take a cushy job with County Government that paid $101,000 a year.  To do that, Bowers - who is also chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party - left her state house seat. 
So far, these special elections have already cost the state $600,000.

Bowers won the special election against Republican Mary Ann McNeil, a widely respected African-American principal who had been a teacher her entire life and who had been honored as "Principal of the year" by the state PTA.  Bowers had the (D) next to her name, so despite being only one of three legislators to vote against the ethics reform bill, she won handily in the overwhelmingly black district.

[Gabu]

Sen. John Ford (D - Memphis)

Aha, I knew it all along that John Ford was a criminal.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

The sad thing is that its the State Senator's image that comes to my head whenever I read a post by John Ford here

Ford's district is about 80% Democrat, so he would likely be re-elected if he is not convicted before November '06.

Sen. John Ford (D - Memphis)

Aha, I knew it all along that John Ford was a criminal.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

You Ford Jr. fans should note that Senator Ford is the uncle of Harold Ford, Jr.... whose filing yesterday has now been overshadowed by this news

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You Ford Jr. fans should note that Senator Ford is the uncle of Harold Ford, Jr.... whose filing yesterday has now been overshadowed by this news

If relatives mattered, people would be paying a lot more attention to Neil Bush.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

It will matter here.... the Ford family name is known with disdain across the state.  Ford Jr. has been cast as the "white fox" (opposite of black sheep ) of the family but he may find it difficult to stay above these headlines.

You Ford Jr. fans should note that Senator Ford is the uncle of Harold Ford, Jr.... whose filing yesterday has now been overshadowed by this news

If relatives mattered, people would be paying a lot more attention to Neil Bush.

[AuH2O]

I hope they don't do a sting like this in NJ. All the Democrats and some of the Republicans in the entire state government would be in jail.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Earlier in the day there were rumors that as many as 7 other legislators were going to be arrested with more to come.  It looks like this is it for now, though I think this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to companies paying for legislation.

Our legislators only receive a salary of $16,000 a year.  If the taxpayers won't pay their legislators, crooked companies will.

I hope they don't do a sting like this in NJ. All the Democrats and some of the Republicans in the entire state government would be in jail.

[bgwah]

Ahh yes, those evil Democrats. Before you know it they will be destroying free speech and attacking various countries for profit!

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Senator John Ford just resigned and a major coalition of black ministers (affiliated with Rainbow/PUSH) has made a statement withdrawing their support from the current crop of black politicians and insisting on the need for new, younger, more ethical leaders.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Now we can only hope Tom DeLay follows.