Ex-Mayor Nagin is off to prison

[malaise]

Please remind Christory that hurricane money will get you there faster than most things.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/us/nagin-corruption-verdict.html?_r=1
<snip>
NEW ORLEANS — Former Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans was found guilty on Wednesday of accepting payoffs for city contracts, becoming the first mayor in the city’s history to be charged and convicted of corruption.

The jury, deliberated for about six and a half hours in total before finding Mr. Nagin, 57, the Democratic mayor for two terms and the face of the city’s leadership during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, guilty in 20 of the 21 counts against him.

Tania Tetlow, a Tulane University law professor and a former federal prosecutor, said Mr. Nagin could receive a sentence of as many as 20 years under federal sentencing guidelines. He will remain free on bond until sentencing, but was placed on home detention.

After the verdict was read, Mr. Nagin stood at the defense table, his hands in his pockets; his wife wept as she sat in the front row of the gallery.

[louis-t]

1. I doubt Christie will go to jail.

He didn't accept payoffs as far as we know, but using federal money as a slush fund should be a felony.

[madaboutharry]

2. This line jumped out at me;

"….becoming the first mayor in the city’s history to be charged and convicted of corruption."

A lot of mayors before him got away with a lot of shit, no doubt.

[malaise]

3. That did surprise me

[Aerows]

5. How about the two Governors that were sent to jail

and the Representative with thousands of dollars in the freezer? You can't make things up about Louisiana politics, because no matter how outlandish it sounds, it's probably true!

Oh wait, I forgot about an Attorney General or two.

[Aerows]

4. He'll be in "good" company

A couple of governors and a representative got hauled off to the pen, too. LOL. Louisiana politics have always been littered with "interesting" folks.

[Solly Mack]

6. People here actually speak fondly of political corruption.

Not all of them but quite a few. They talk as if political corruption was just some sort of charming tradition to be amused by instead of frowned upon.

"...becoming the first mayor in the city’s history to be charged and convicted of corruption." ...fairly leaps off the page doesn't it?

I repeat: Not everyone thinks that way but a surprising number of people have expressed that sentiment. Almost like they're bragging about it.

I'm just not amused by political corruption.

[alarimer]

7. I'm not either, but it always seems it's mostly Democrats getting actually sent to prison for it.

Maybe Republicans are sneakier or better at being crooks.

[Useless in FL]

8. +1

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. Republican scandals usually seem to involve rent-boys and importuning in public toilets.

[Solly Mack]

10. Does seem that way.

Republicans seem to be able to get away with a lot.

[malaise]

11. Used to be that just the most miniscule hint of political corruption was enough

to withdraw one's name from running for office. Now it appears to be a badge of honor cheered on by people in the media and supporters of political parties.

[Solly Mack]

12. I've been told I'm naive to expect a politician not to be corrupt to some degree.

I'm OK with being naive.

[malaise]

13. Same here

[proudretiredvet]

14. If your naive I'm with you.

I expect them not to take pay offs and bribes. If I had my way every politician on any side of the line who got caught in a bold faced lie would be kicked to the curb without their pension.
Yes I am that tired of lying politicians. It is OK to be a liberal or conservative just be honest with us and then we vote.
The other thing I hate is hooking one issue to another that is totally different and then taking it to a vote. NO... one issue at a time and make everyone vote in secret until all have voted then publish every vote. Make them stand up for what they say they believe in.
Radical aren't I....

[Solly Mack]

16. It all adds to distrust of government. Which weakens democracy because it decreases

voter turn-out.

There are other reasons why people don't bother voting but corruption in politics is certainly one of those reasons.

People get disgusted. They wonder 'Why bother?'.

Corruption in office matters.

It helps to see public officials held accountable. Consistent accountability would be better.

[TheMathieu]

15. I'm OK with the ends justifying the means... 70% of the time. nt

[Solly Mack]

17. I can see how a less than honest means could bring about a good

but then I think about how horrible that little bit of leeway could go bad. (and has gone bad) So-called best of intentions and all that. Politicians cloaking their abuses and crimes in the "greater good". (and "national security" and "freedom&quot

[proudretiredvet]

20. Oh well that is just me.

I'm very old school and spent way too many years in the military. Personal integrity matters to me.
My definition of integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
I do expect this from people who run our government. The only exception to this is with national security issues. Even with those people we all just saw how far wrong it can go.
I have no better answer.

[Solly Mack]

22. I'm not a ends justify the means kind of person.

Precisely because of how wrong that can go.

Give power an inch, it takes everything.

[JanMichael]

18. they should be clear that he was a lifelong repuke before switching to run

He endorsed bush and jindel.

He is a dino at best or a third way dem at the worst.

[malaise]

19. Most excellent point

[proudretiredvet]

21. Simply

He is a POS criminal who took advantage of the suffering of people to make himself a lot of money.

[JanMichael]

23. that too but the articles keep saying democrat nagin. not criminal or conservative. nt.

[proudretiredvet]

25. I get that

How about we politically neuter any of them that get caught and convicted. They then simply become POS criminal xxxxx.

[UTUSN]

24. & Shrub puts another notch on his revenge belt: Saddam, GORE, RATHER, Poppy, Jeb,

Mommie-Babs, and how many others?!1

[SDjack]

26. Nagin's mistake: He should have been a banker and stole $1 B. nt