RIGHT NOW! - with Timothy Crawford

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Indicted for Corruption

 

Do Wrong Dixon Does the City Dirty

Here we go again.  Another politician bites the dirt.  Sheila Dixon, Baltimore, Maryland's first female elected Mayor was indicted today on charges of corruption.  The charges stem from accepting gifts, furs, travel tickets and back massages from her former developer and boyfriend, swanky businessman Ronald H. Lipscomb.  Lipscomb who was also charged earlier this week with a short list of similar bad goings on.  Ms. Dixon has seen better days.

The Dixon investigation isn't new.  Dixon has been a juicy target of a nearly three-year probe by State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh (Pitbull Rohrb) into corruption at City Hall, an investigation that has centered on allegations that Dixon has used her office to award lucrative contracts to various people including her sister, her then-boyfriend and her former campaign chairman.

Rohrbaugh must've took popping the Mayor's bubble personally.  The Baltimore Sun reports the State Prosecutor was even nabbing Dixon for accepting gift cards from a couple local real estate developers.  Gift cards?  Come on Rohrb, gimme a break! 

Gift cards doesn't sound too bad until you add in details, such as it wasn't a couple cards, it was more like 19 or 20, and the cards were supposed to go to help needy Baltimore families, instead Dixon used the Best Buy cards for herself, purchasing personal items, including a digital camcorder, a Play-Station 2 and other very, very sweet electronics. 

Dixon is also being hammered for greasing the palms of her former campaign chairman, Dale G. Clark, who received $600,000 over six years for developing a computer system for the City Council.  Man, I'm in the wrong business!  There's also some fishy goings on's surrounding a company called UTECH which received over a million dollars worth of Government contract award money.  The fishy thing is, UTECH has no real address, files no taxes and the owner is supposedly cooperating with the Prosecutors investigation. 

In laymen's terms that means the UTECH owner is what they call dry-snitchin for the man, which is a big no-no, especially in crime filled BODYMORE - Baltimore.

I've only heard the prosecutors side of the story, but Of course, the fur dawning Dixon denies any wrongdoing, releasing this statement:

"I am being unfairly accused. Time will prove that I have done nothing wrong, and I am confident that I will be found innocent of these charges.... I want to make it clear, though, that I will continue to put all of my energies into running the City of Baltimore during these perilous economic times."

So Dixon, you're denying any wrong doing?  I hear you Mayor.  Keep fighting the good fight.  You go lady.  I'm sure these allegations are false.  100% fabrications right?  After all, you wouldn't actually help old friends, boyfriends and partners out by sending city business there way thus defrauding the good citizens of Baltimore now would you?  Of course you wouldn't buy yourself Sony Play-stations and camcorders with the poor little homeless children's monies would you?  Of course not! You're a woman of character who'd never stoop so low as to betray your city and shame yourself and your office, you know, you being the first black-woman to serve as Mayor of Baltimore and all, right?  I'm counting on you Mayor Dixon, because if you did cheat the citizens of Baltimore I'm going to rub Lawry's salt and Frank's Hot Sauce in the wound every chance I get. 

Did you hear me?  Lawry's Salt and some thick Fank's Hot Sauce!

Rumor has it, Naresse Campbell a character on HBO's powerful series, "The Wire" was loosely based on Mayor Dixon's life in the City Council.  It may seem far-fetched, but picture this; Naresse Campbell was a shrewd and crafty character determined to play the political game and win at any cost, whether it took blackmail, payoffs or perjury.  Naresse was game enough.  Is it possible Naresse Campbell was playing Sheila Dixon or flip it, maybe Sheila Dixon was playing Narresse Campbell? 

 ...either way Dixon better watch her back.  I saw "The Wire".  I still haven't gotten over what they did to "Stringer Bell" and my man "Boadie".  Maybe the Mayor should've watched a few more "Wire" episodes, better yet, she should've learn the lyrics to the theme song below...

Tom Waits - Way Down in the Hole

(Theme Song from the Wire)

When you walk through the garden
you gotta watch your back
well I beg your pardon
walk the straight and narrow track
if you walk with Jesus
he's gonna save your soul
you gotta keep the devil
way down in the hole
he's got the fire and the fury
at his command
well you don't have to worry
if you hold on to Jesus hand
we'll all be safe from Satan
when the thunder rolls
just gotta help me keep the devil
way down in the hole

Joe the Plumber: The American Dream - From Fake Plumber to War Correspondent

America Sure Could Use a Good Plumber

America is full of it. Yep, I said it!  It's the truth.  I love America, but yes, America is full of it.  How else do you explain Paris Hilton, Kevin Federline and Joe Wurzelbacher?  You can't.  And that's what makes us great. We're still the land of opportunity and longshots.  In some cases, long, long, long, LOOONNNGGGGG Shots!

In America a zero can become a hero, a loser and a faker can become a mover and a shaker and even a no good jerk can find good work.  American's with no visible talent, anorexic resumes, no specific knack or track records in anything special, can somehow manage to become big, big hits. Just look at Joe Wurzelbacher aka "Joe the Plumber", before the Plumber's rise to fame, no one could've told me a fake plumber could impact a presidential race, become a national celebrity and land a job as a war correspondent.  In America the impossible is possible. 

Joe the Plumber: Flush with Job Offers?

While unemployment is nearing record highs, Joe the Plumber is being offered pretty sweet gigs.  Why? 

Well of course you have the fact Mr. Wurzelbacher is pretty darn creative.  Creativity must be Joe's top selling point.  You can't deny Joe can make up stuff, but how does that contend with his huge downside; the man is also a lying bastard?

I call Joe names, but the truth is, Joe is no idiot and in the great spirit of America, we've gotta give him props for being smart enough to recognize how star thirsty the country really is and being creative enough to twist that thirst to his advantage.  Look at what Joe has accomplished, he took his knowledge of, well... nothin' pretty much and ran with it.  Joe turned feces into fillet mignon. 

Joe maybe an opportunist and a liar, but he's also one heck of a cook!

Palin and the Plumber

Question: Who does Joe remind us of? 

Answer:

America's #1 Airhead - Mrs. Sara Palin, of course! 

Oh-yes, Palin, the poster child for boldly going way beyond your level of expertise and not being even the least bit concerned about trying to learn squat to stay there.  As with Palin, my problem isn't really a problem with Joe, it's a problem with the rest of the country.  Why do we choose these people and hold them up as special?  After all John McCain chose Sara Palin, it wasn't the other way around and the same mystery holds true with Joe's surprising upward spiral.  The citizens of the United States made Joe Wurzelbacher famous. Now we're making Joe a war correspondent?  Yes we can, I guess, but I've gotta ask, why on earth would someone think this fictitious Joe the Plumber would make a good war correspondent? 

Aren't their real journalists busting their butts everyday paying their dues so one day they can get interesting assignments? 

How does Joe Wurzelbacher leap frog over better qualified people to get such a great job? 

Joe never completed the plumber apprentice program he began back in 2003.  Joe also never obtained an actual plumbers license or anything close to it, and meanwhile held himself up as a plumber representing all plumbers and blue collar workers with small business owner ambitions.  The man went and gave speeches about being a disenfranchised small business owner type guy when he had neither a business or a license in anything.  Now, that's the power of positive thinking put into action!

The sad or great truth is, America is just about the only place where employers would beat down Joe Wurzelbacher's door offering him a job.  In most other countries Joe would probably be pummeled with bottles and rocks, labeled an untouchable and deported, but in American we have a spirit of openness that embraces even our Wurzelbacher's, our Hilton's and our K-Fed's, and no matter how crazy it makes us look, I for one, wouldn't have it any other way.

New Orleans Man Kills Son To Avoid Child Support Payments

How can I get my head around this one? Man is ordered to pay child support.  Man kidnaps and murders his own son to avoid payments.    Man's defense:  "I was under alot of pressures".   Yes, the world is coming to an end.     Danny Platt Apologizes for Killing Son, Ja'Shawn Powell

No Mas: Richardson Quits Obama Job Before Being Given Obama Job

Long time no blog.  I'm back and I bring gifts.  Surprise gifts even. 

A couple days ago, our fluffy friend Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew his name from the Obama cabinet as the next secretary of Commerce.  I didn't see this one coming folks.  I needed to get the scoop on Richardson for two reasons:

1. I liked Richardson's public persona.  The man comes across as a down to earth and lovable person who deserves a fair-shake

2. These ethics/conduct issues are getting downright ridiculous.  Stevens, Blagojevich, Edwards, Palin, Spitzer and now Richardson. What's the deal?

Richardson, Not You Too? 

Enough already!  It's almost enough to make you vote independent. 

Of course, as in any of these situations, it's the loyal supporters who hurt most.  The people who actually believe in the big dummies who grease their palms with money or lubricating oils betraying their offices and their oaths for personal gains and fun times.  The Richardson situation is particularly sad. I don't want to suggest all Hispanics supported Richardson, but it's likely the guy has given a good portion of the Hispanic community a real sense of pride over the years.  Think not?  Okay, name another Latino American with as much political notoriety as Richardson?

Take your time.  I'll wait. 

It's okay.  I was shocked that I couldn't name anyone close either. 

Until now folks were used to Richardson yucking it up, enjoying his shine on the national stage.  Richardson was/is a powerhouse and he was all set to continue his powerful cutting and scratching on the political wheels of steal all the way up until last Sunday when his turntable needle snapped in half and flew across the room. 

I know what you're thinking.  So why the drama?

 

Richardson Plays Footsie with Donors

The FEDS say Richardson was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  The Mexico Governor is accused of playing politics as usual, doing the hokie-pokie, passing around government contract awards in exchange for $100K in donations to "Si, Se Puede", an organization Richardson formed to cover his expenses at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.  That's right folks.  These allegations/charges are not new charges.  Bill Richardson has been under investigation for this ethics crap since way back in 2004.  We're talking 4 or 5 long ass years.

 

Crooked Is As Crooked Does

Answer me this America, what's the deal with all of these politicians?  How can you know you're under investigation and still be bold enough to run for President, Congress, Senate seats or Cabinet positions? I don't get it. Do you actually think your legal troubles will magically melt away and no one will ever find out? 

 

Maybe these egomaniac pols believe if they win their elections they'll then have the power to disappear any and all of their legal issues?  There's gotta be a reasonable explanation because if I was under investigation I wouldn't run for a seat on a bus, let alone a Senate seat. 

 

In All fairness to Governor Richardson....

Richardson denies any wrong-doing, but if he did nothing wrong why couldn't he be upfront and honest with the Obama Team back when they tapped him for the cabinet slot?  BR, if you did nothing wrong why not get out in-front of this thing during the nomination run?  Maybe it's just me, but when people say they have nothing to hide, I tend to think they have a lot of stuff to hide especially when they hide it.

Can America watch yet another popular political powerhouse perform a highly public, extremely embarrassing face-plant? 

Si, Se Puede America.  Si, Se Puede!