I'm waiting for tonight's coverage:

A Republican lawmaker was one of four led away in handcuffs today...

"A Republican lawmaker was one of four led away in handcuffs today..."

That's just classic.

Here's the best bit:

"John Ford threatened, according to the indictment, to shoot and kill anyone who squealed!! Now, NOW, will someone take this guy’s raving lunacy seriously, instead of treating it indulgently? "

From Mike

What are you folks in TN trying to do...butt in on Illinois' record of being the most corrupt Midwest state?

It's been a long time since the FBI arrested a state legislator. I can't ever remember a sting like this one.

We have Chicago aldermen convicted all the time, but rarely state reps or senators.

a4g:
you stole my thunder.

Typical stats, 3 out 4 criminals are democrats. Once again we are shown why democrats are working so hard to get criminals, illegal aliens, and dead people to vote, especially dead people, they vote democrat 110 out of 100.

Cal:
No we are trying to be the most corrupt state in the southeast. Ford has been under the glass by the Nashville media for a year for other wrongdoing but nothing like this.

This has been really fun to follow in the blogosphere tonight with two members in the Tennessee house "reporting" the events as they happen.

The Dems in Memphis, and statewide will deserve further scrutiny, as will the US Senate campaign upcoming.

Fun.

The Repub involved should get all he has coming to him as well.

How long did they think that they could be that stupid?

Except for this quote from Bill Hobbs.com, "Agreed. Today is a great day for all Tennesseans - liberal, moderate or conservative, Republican or Democrat - who believe honesty trumps ideology every time.

I'd rather have a legislature full of honest Democrats than corrupt Republicans."

What? Or rather, WTF!?! What the F'ing, F--k?

Were they paying attention?

Harold Ford for US Senate. John will probably cut a deal in time to be able to be out on the stump for his nephew.

Mesa, I think Bill's point is that he'd prefer honest politicians over corrupt ones. If all the Republicans were corrupt and all the Democrats were honest, he knows how he'd vote.

And I'd have to agree with him.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, Bill was stating a hypothetical that has no chance of ever happening.

Democratic Underground is having problems with it. Surprised? I didn't think so. Here's my favorite quote there on this matter (among many jewels):

DUer quote: "one Repug arrested also."
Another DUer response: "Token bi-partisan gesture."

Morons.

This is John Ford's latest run-in with the law. He has at least three illegitimate children for which he avoided paying child support. He was the County Clerk for Shelby County and convinced his judge-buddies to NOT put child support requirements into any paternity finding. He told them, "I'll take care of it myself." His solution was to hire the women to high-paying jobs in his office for which they were totally unqualified.

And don't get me started on the "family business," a funeral home. They were caught there selling the same plot to multiple people, even burying two people in the same hole.

McGehee.

Point taken, thanks for the clarification. A few cocktails were involved with that post.

I just hadn't had an opportunity to say "WTF!?! What the F'ing, F--k? before.

Peace.

Tennessee has a real problem where businesses, like phone companies, that are subject to state regulation seem to get very favorable treatment from regulators. I hope this investigation will lead to some inprovements.

Yesterday it was reported that New Jersey's governor has rejected the following for a new state slogan"

"Most of our elected officials have not been indicted."