Great Expectations

For those of you not living in Birmingham, you may or may not have heard of the trial, conviction, and as of today, sentencing of our mayor. He was convicted of accepting bribes, corruption, etc. etc. In his history of political service in Birmingham, both on the County Commission, and as mayor, he has served as an ubelievable example of hypocrisy, deviance, and arrogance.

In case you can't tell, I think this guy is the ultimate sewer rat.

He was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison.

I think he got off easy.

There's a part of me (and for those that know me well understand why) that is utterly heartbroken and sympathetic for him and his family.

Then there's the other part, that regardless of my own personal history, I know that there need be no exceptions: you do the crime, you do the time. Or in American government's case, you get convicted of the crime, you do the time.

But he did get off easy. The man has spent his life expecting great things of those surrounding him, expecting to be treated like a mighty politician. For those that expect great things, great things are expected, and YOU SIR, let us down.

So as you enjoy your cush federal minimum security prison sentence, with its vending machines, work-release, and cable tv, this county will be digging itself out of bankruptcy, debt, and despair.

Thanks for nothing.