Any thoughts on Larry Langford's conviction?

[southpaw]

While I'm not a Birmingham resident, I'm glad to see Langford's chickens coming home to roost.

Democrat though he may call himself, Langford has shown himself to be a social conservative who wears his fundamentalist christianity on his sleeve. His refusal to sign a parade permit for the Pride parade was explained by Langford as being based in his god-based disapproval of the LGBT 'lifestyle.'

I could go on, but why bother. Even here in Alabama, we don't need people like Langford besmirching the party.

But that's just my opinion.

[John Williams]

1. In my opinion...

...he was a man who brought ideas to the city, ways for it to move forward. Some of those ideas seemed far fetched (the Dome), but at least he wasn't someone who essentially did nothing for the city except warm the bottom half of the mayor's chair (Kincaid).

His two biggest failings were hubris and his inability to keep his hands out of the financial cookie jar. Grandstanding and taking shady gifts from shady characters did him no favors, but I still think he basically got thrown under the bus by Blount and LaPierre, so they could attempt to soften whatever blows they had coming to them.

60 counts, and 800 years. No way in hell they're gonna stick him for life over this. I can see the sentencing at maybe 5 to 10 years. If it's any more than that, I'd be surprised.

[Syrinx]

3. I pretty much agree with that

But I think you picked the wrong thing to call far-fetched. Birmingham, as the largest city in the state (for now), needs a quality sports and general event venue. Legion Field is falling apart. As is BJCC. And Boutwell, well it fell apart a long time ago. It was his "bid" for the Olympics that really took the cake for lunacy.

[Syrinx]

2. the evidence seemed pretty solid

I have liked some stuff that he did.

That doesn't prevent me from posting funny pictures of him.

[Syrinx]

4. Didn't he eventually sign the permit after Patricia Todd talked some sense into him?

I know the parade took place, but I'm kind of fuzzy on the details.

Edit to say to I'm not defending him for either taking bribes, or for not liking gay people. Those are both bad things. And he also did some just really goofy things, like trying to get the Olympics. Overall, I would rate him as a poor mayor, but he did a few good things too, I think.

The evidence in the criminal case seemed pretty strong, and I think he ought to spend a few years in prison, mainly to make other politicians have a second thought before taking bribes. But what is effectively a life sentence is pretty harsh for taking a quarter million dollars in bribes.

Someone posted in my LBN thread when this first happened that she hoped he got punished to the "full extent of the law." I neglected to ask her if she knew Langford is facing 800 years.

I wish someone like Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or George Soros would give the Alabama Pride people a bunch of money to run a sophisticated tolerance campaign. I don't mean a political campaign. We're light years from passing pro-gay referendums. Just a grass-roots and advertising campaign, subtle enough to influence people for the better.

[southpaw]

5. Yeah, he did relent on the Pride Parade

And if I heard right, Patricia Todd was instrumental in convincing Langford to grant the permit.

I don't think Langford deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison, either. A few years, maybe. Just getting him out of the driver's seat (and insuring he'll not be back in it) is enough.

It's been said that Langford had vision but lacked follow-through. I'd say that's a fair assessment, but incomplete. Langford had vision and lacked grounding in reality.

[Syrinx]

6. I would say your assessment hits the mark

Precisely.