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Thursday, October 27, 2005

AL-Gov: Seigelman Indicted - Again

Posted by DavidNYC

Some news out of AL:

Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and HealthSouth Corp. founder Richard Scrushy were indicted by a federal grand jury in an alleged bribery and extortion scheme.

The 30-count indictment, returned today in Montgomery, Alabama, accuses Scrushy, 53, of paying $500,000 in bribes. Paul Hamrick, a former chief of staff to the governor, and Gary Roberts, the ex-director of the Alabama Department of Transportation, were also charged in the case.

Siegelman, 59, a Democrat, was governor of Alabama from 1999 to 2003. The indictment alleges that Scrushy made two payments to Siegelman in exchange for appointing the business executive to an Alabama state board that approves hospital construction.

Fortunately, we still have a great - I'd say, much better - candidate for the Alabama gub race in Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley. Seigelman really, seriously ought to just step aside. Unfortunately, he's being really unreasonable.

P.S. Siegelman was indicted once before for a bid-rigging scheme, but the charges were dismissed as his case was proceeding to trial. This set of charges pertains to a different accusation entirely.

Posted at 04:15 PM in 2006 Elections - State, Alabama | Technorati

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Comments

I am just glad you will say that, because most Democrats down here (I'm from Alabama) won't open there mouth and yell if we have to that this man is a disaster to our party right now (and to Lucy Baxley) and I would argue is the main obstacle to Mrs. Baxley having a shot @ beating Riley. If you can't tell I am a little peeved, but Siegelman has turned his back on his party and my back is to him.

Posted by: Tal East at October 27, 2005 06:48 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm pretty down on Sigelman as well, but I'm curious about Baxley's message. Sigelman has an economic recovery plan -- or at least touts one -- but Lucy doesn't really seem to have a specific platform to her campaign.

Perhaps I missing something here, but I have to admit I'm a little rusty on Alabama politics since leaving the state 9 years ago.

This seems encouraging:
http://www.lucybaxley.com/newsarticle.html?ArticleID=31

Believe me -- I want to put a Dem in that office as much as the next guy, but I'm wondering what issues she's going to run -- what's the positive message to get behind?

Posted by: Macon at December 6, 2005 03:50 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

To be quite honest with you, she really hasen't been that specific, but she needs to move forward with an agenda before the GOP (and Siegelman) define her. I can however hypthosize: she will be a pro-business, moderate Democrat, who is very much on the side of teachers. Other than that, I can't say at this time, but I do KNOW that Siegelman's negatives are to high for him to win, and I don't want Riley or Moore.

Posted by: Tal East at December 7, 2005 03:22 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Will Roy Moore crave his his platform onto two stone tablets?

Posted by: RBH at December 7, 2005 03:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment