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Doug:

Black should be treated like every other criminal and sentenced according to the guidelines available to the judge. As with most prison sentences, the sentence itself is a waste.

If Black gets away with this, it will just further show that there are two justice systems: one for the poor and disadvantaged and another for the well-connected. The ONLY thing that Black has going for him is that he pleaded guilty and saved the state the trouble and expense of a trial. As in other plea situations, he should get credit for that but not for anything else.

If conservatives are unhappy with the bed they have made with longer sentences and strict sentencing guidelines, they should work to adjust those guidelines for everyone, not just for the politically connected.

Consideration is usually given to how cooperative the individual is with authorities investigating further crimes. Sentencing options are a legitimate tool for prosecutors to use in the pursuit of justice.

Judges should be allowed a bit of flexibility in sentencing when appropriate. I don't expect Black's proposal to be accepted, but it would not be for reasons of political favoritism if it happened.

Jim Black offers to give 2,000 free eye exams annually ... if he isn't sent to prison, * Doug

Using new age republican Scooter conservative math, that comes out to about 80,000 International House pancakes orders to his cohort in crime [Mr Flip them over Decker]. First of all Doug, how do know that Black will able to perform this outstanding community service for his past political sins. Mr Black is 72 years old and his chances are slim and none that he will make it another couple of years whether in the slammer or selling lottery tickets at any 24/7 as community service. He can lecture the buyers about the sins of the lottery while performing this duty. Chances are that if he works the 3 rd shift, he will get blown away by some hack off purchasers who didn't get the winning tickets. So who really cares how he serves his time as an example that crime in politics does pay like Scooter.

Sentencing options are a legitimate tool for prosecutors to use in the pursuit of justice.* Doug

In Black's case, Mr Black is driving the federal prosecutors nuts, since he can't remember much about who was involved with him, because of his faultly senior citizen memories. Maybe the present republican Federal prosecutors just might want to waterboard him a little like their Boss Bush does to get at the real corruption rascals in the Gov office. Nothing like waterboarding a 72 years old Alzihemers political patient to get at the truth.

If Black does not get the full 10 years, they should open the jails and let everyone out. However since Clinton pardoned his brother and Marc Rich, who knows. By the way Dave, have you noticed that Nifong is still running loose. Good ole boy justice, live and well in NC.

Doug J:

One Democrat at a time please.

I'd much rather see Black cooperate with investigators than keep his mouth shut during 10 years in prison.

Nifong and Clinton aren't involved in this.

Doug:

And I would like to see Jack Abramoff and Scooter Libby cooperate with investigators. I guess we're both going to be disappointed.

Abramoff could write a book. If prosecutors want more on the Plame affair, they could charge Richard Armitage, the Bush official who actually initiated the leak. But they'd have to figure out what the crime would be.

Mr. Ribar, please elaborate on just what you think Libby is obligated to cooperate about. What can Libby divulge about a case in which he had no part?
Prosecutor Fitzgerald knew (before his bogus prosecution of Libby) that Richard Armitage leaked Valerie Plame's name but didn't prosecute Armitage because no crime occurred. There's nothing left to find out about the case, the whole world (except you, apparently) knows the facts.

Doug,

I think the free eye clinic is an excellent idea. It can be accomplished using the current work release program available to all criminals and convicts. Let's find a low income county that needs the clinic and assign Black to the closest correctional facility. He can work 5 days a week at the clinic and spend the rest of his time behind bars, where he belongs.

Can you hear me now, Judge?

Mad Dog

Good proposal, MD. It would be interesting to see if Black would agree to that. He's offering to do public service if he stays out of prison. I guess he'd go along in exchange for a lesser sentence. But maybe I'm wrong and he would try to use his professional skills for the benefit of others regardless of his incarceration status.

We met him at the Candy Store.
Get the Picture?
Yes we see. (we got our free eye exam)

That's when we fell for ...The Leader of the Pack

(Rummm....Rmmmmm)

But maybe I'm wrong and he would try to use his professional skills for the benefit of others regardless of his incarceration status.* Doug

Right! Black's lawyers have come up with another deal for the Feds. They are going to purpose with his superior political professional skills, that he go to work for Fed-X as a undercover bag man for the Drug Lords in South America. His Code name will be " Good Old Boy" like that Republican on 24. He will hang out at the International House of Pancakes as a bus boy.

Abramoff could write a book. *Doug

In fact he has while doing time. It's a best seller at the Burton federal dentention center here in North Carolina. It's on 14 rolls of prison toliet paper and Republican "Duke" Cunningham has read and use two rolls so far. Former Democrat Congressman Frank Balanince is trying to read the remaining rolls with his tudor Scooter who has already started doing community service in the prison system.

Is there a federal prison just for politicos? It may be developing a North Carolina accent.

Is there a federal prison just for politicos? It may be developing a North Carolina accent.*Doug

Yep! It's call the protected high profile clients dentention system. Black's other little cohort in political crime [the former lottery commissoner Kevin Gedding the former democrat political wiz kid from South Carolina,] just check himself him to the super deluxe federal political safe haven system at Jessup Georgia for the next 8 years. Brother Kevin will have all kind of services afforded to him by the feds. His wife will be able to visit him, since she is located near Jacksonville Florida and the prison. Chances are that Kevin wife will run off with his ill gotten assets during his vacation stay for the remaining years. You have to remember that Kevin was the super political consultant for the Lt Gov Beverly Perdue campaign in 2000. Kevin was the political genius that made her infamous TV political commerial about the Lt Gov being a poor coal miners daughter. It was later reveal after the campaign that her father own the coal mine. I am sure the Lt Gov will be sending Kevin care packages and wanting to know if he can dream up anymore outstanding TV commerials for her non-campaign as he will have enough time on his hands.

I was astonished when I realized that one of the politicians who took the mike was absolutely drunk as a skunk . . . slurring his words and on the point of a crying jag when he spoke about the need for doctors to get behind their local politicians if they wanted something done (translation: please send money).* Doctor Mary Johnson commenting on Jim Black today.

I met Jim Black a couple of times and one thing that strikes me is that he did have a drinking issue as the political correct say. Jim Black was simply another political fool who could be used by many others in the democrat political establishment legal system, since it appears his vices were deep and were much more than mainstream media every thought was possible. Corruption runs deep in this state in both parties.

Sorry Mr. Clark, I think you are wrong, both Nifong and Black are proteges of the WEASEL, taxpayers are paying these two great retirement plans, both had lawyers funded by the taxpayers.
Black lawyers claim this will save taxpayers $543,882 this comes out to $271.94 per eye exam.
Mad Dog, what you are suggestion is letting law breakers go. I still trying to figure out, how poor people have a big car, tattoos and 2 cell funds. If you have your health, there is no excuse to be poor in this country. Most people are poor because they choose to be. Saying that we did meal on wheels for years. There are many people that need help, mostly because of poor health.

Here you go Doug! Finally real money! Now are you in favor of letting Mr Black get off light. It's for the children! Remember?

Just in from the Charlotte Observer.

Former House Speaker Jim Black accepted a $500,000 check from a lobbyist in 2000, deposited the check into his campaign account and then misrepresented the transaction as a personal loan, federal prosecutors say.

The potentially damaging revelation was disclosed for the first time in court papers filed Monday.
Prosecutors argue Black's actions broke N.C. campaign finance laws, though they don't specify which ones. The laws limit contributions to candidates to $4,000 per election and require strict reporting of contributions and loans, including loan sources.

The revelation by prosecutors is "eye-popping," said Joe Sinsheimer, a former Democratic campaign consultant who once ran a Web site calling for Black's resignation.

"It's more shocking evidence of the pay-to-play empire that Jim Black built while House speaker, and it's a powerful argument that Jim Black deserves prison time," Sinsheimer said. "Just think about what he would owe that lobbyist."
The lobbyist involved has not been identified.

Most people are poor because they choose to be.*DJ

Don't think so Mr Johnson! That is like saying Slaves prefer being Slaves and chose to be.

If Black took a half-million-dollar payoff, new charges should be filed.

If Black took a half-million-dollar payoff, new charges should be filed.* Doug

You got that right! I believe the dots are connecting and Black is the scapegoat in this sea of corrupt Democrat Establishment politics.

If Black took a half-million-dollar payoff, new charges should be filed.*Doug

As you know, Judge Boyle gave Black a death sentence today....5 years, 3 months. and a minor chump change fine of 25 grand...for the charge. The interesting part was the Federal lawyers having a media conference after the sentence hearing saying they are going to pursue the so-called 500 loan or whatever lobbyist agreedment was. They refuse to name the lobbyist from the media claiming they only would refer to the motion or court record about the bibe or whatever it was. I find this beyond the pale of public interest they that have refuse to name this individual.

Either we have republican politics at play here or they have no case in this charge. Surely the mainstream media should be demanding that this information be provided to the public, if they were truly interested in fighting corruption in this State.

Five years is a serious term. Black still faces sentencing in state court. I wonder if whatever he gets there will run consecutively or concurrently. Whatever it is, maybe the governor can commute it.

Five years is a serious term. Black still faces sentencing in state court. I wonder if whatever he gets there will run consecutively or concurrently. Whatever it is, maybe the governor can commute it.* Doug

Any time is serious! Ask Paris Hilton and Scooter. The question about the Gov commuting his sentence should be? Will the dots lead back to the Gov in his 2000 campaign and will he have to pardon himself like Bush should he refuse the impeachment process.

As a hard charging editoral writer and leader, you should be chasing that secret lobbyist that bought the whole political system in North Carolina. Now get to work and smoke out that corrupt political sucker and become a hero to the masses. You will find your Superman outfit in the men's room at your office if your cohort editorial writer is not using it to chase corrupt good old boy NACAR race drivers.