Artur Davis Officially Flies the Coop -

Geez, give it a rest (4.00 / 1)

The guy is gone.  The gubernatorial primary is long over.  There's nothing he could do with his future that would make you happy.  Well, maybe if he spent the rest of his life groveling at your feet, but that's not going to happen.  He's moved on -- so should you.

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by: Kathy @ Mon Jan 03, 2011 at 21:40:27 PM UTC

Sorry but it's pretty indefensible. (3.00 / 2)

When a Republican goes to work defending folks like Bernie Madoff or the like, it's expected. Heck, when a Democrat trial lawyer does it, it's expected.

But Davis deserves to get blasted for this when he has spent so much of the past couple of years talking about ethics. I don't know that he's always been in it for the money, but he certainly is now. 

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by: bluebearcat @ Mon Jan 03, 2011 at 22:05:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think there's a lot of value (2.50 / 2)

in talking about this.

Good point bluebearcat.  

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by: gradyw @ Mon Jan 03, 2011 at 22:23:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There is no value, however, (4.00 / 1)

in taking a snide little swipe at the LiA folks in the process.  I wouldn't expect a friend to take a dump on my living room floor, and you shouldn't do the virtual equivalent when you're posting diaries here.

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by: Kathy @ Mon Jan 03, 2011 at 22:46:12 PM UTC

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He's a lawyer. (4.00 / 1)

Pretty much anything he's going to do is going to involve either defending folks accused of doing things wrong or speaking for someone who has some sort of issue with the law the way it's written.  That's kind of in the job description.

Forget innocent until proven guilty.  You're accusing him of defending a guilty party before he even has a client.

That's not just weak.  It's sad.

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by: Almoderate @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 04:29:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes but... (0.00 / 0)

Davis seems to be leveraging his connections in Washington as a congressman and prosecutor to help get rich people off the hook and help large financial companies avoid federal regulations. It's no different than Dick Gephardt taking his experience as a Democratic powerbroker and getting paid to lobby for major polluters.

Almoderate, I have nothing against lawyers - indeed I'm on my way to being one - but folks don't pay firms like this because they're innocent. 

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by: bluebearcat @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 14:53:22 PM UTC

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To be clear.... (0.00 / 0)

I'm not arguing that Davis is especially bad for doing this - he's not - but I am arguing that it's further evidence that the guy was more or less like everyone else in DC. No doubt there were plenty of opportunities for him to work at/set up think-tanks or non-profits right here in Alabama but instead he took the money to protect companies and accused white collar criminals from federal prosecution. Those folks are certainly entitled to a defense and they tend to pay handsomely for it. But, in my opinion, there is something a little unseemly about helping to shield folks from some of the very same legislation that you helped write and campaigned on.

 

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by: bluebearcat @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 14:57:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Again... (4.00 / 1)

As I said above:

"Forget innocent until proven guilty.  You're accusing him of defending a guilty party before he even has a client."

Something tells me that you guys weren't quite so hard on the Langford lawyers or anyone defending certain former Jefferson County commissioners...

Haven't you folks been crowing for some time about politically motivated injustice toward white-collar criminals Democrats?  Seems to me that they'd need lawyers, too.

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by: Almoderate @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 15:02:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Disagree (4.00 / 1)

There are already to many think tanks and non-profits scattered accross Alabama.  Few of them accomplish anything.  If Bright doesnt flip party lets see what he does professionally.  There are more laws on the books other than the ones passed over the last two years.  Come on guys, let's be adults and focus on te fact that we now have no leadership as Democrats in Alabama.  We have been left with sewer rats.

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by: Takenoprisoners @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 15:23:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Artur Davis is an attorney, bluebearcat.. (4.00 / 3)

Attorneys do not make a living defending nuns and choirboys. GradyW is an attorney also, and I promise you he has defended persons and/or positions he did not like.

Grady, Davis is not LIA's hero. LIA is more than one -or even two-persons, and some of us who make up LIA do not consider Davis any kind of a hero.  For some of us he got our vote because the other option stunk just a wee bit more.  For some, Sparky got our vote for the same reason.  As far as Kathy's comments - there is merit in moving on.  We are in a whole new year, and a whole new Congressional  session is bringing its own problems.  Let's move it along.  If I never hear of Davis or Sparks again, it will be too soon.

Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. Cree Nation Tribal Prophecy

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by: piggieheart @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 02:11:51 AM UTC

Well said (4.00 / 2)

Attorneys make a living by defending positions and people they may or may not agree with (Thats what makes that whole "presumption of innocence" thing work).

I have always wondered why no one ever attacks a doctor for treating the very people lawyers get attacked for defending.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 03:15:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

As a cop, I often arrested people I didn't agree with. (4.00 / 1)

Oh wait.  That's kinda different, isn't it?

Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. Cree Nation Tribal Prophecy

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by: piggieheart @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 03:18:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And, BTW, how does one fly a "coup"? "Coop" maybe? (0.00 / 0)

Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. Cree Nation Tribal Prophecy

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by: piggieheart @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 02:12:59 AM UTC

maybe my snarkyness was a bit over the top (0.00 / 0)

it's more the press release that I was aggravated about. Davis completely screwed his constituents for the past two years while running for Governor. A

It is time to move on.

But we need some real leadership in the Democratic Party, what's left of it in Alabama.  

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by: gradyw @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 04:37:46 AM UTC

no issue with what Davis is doing (0.00 / 0)

but the fact that he is essentially saying I'm done with Alabama.

good for him that he's going to be making some serious loot.

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by: gradyw @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 11:54:05 AM UTC

He announced his plans well over a month ago. (0.00 / 0)

Where have you been?

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by: Almoderate @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 14:58:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Seriously, Are some of you that envious? (4.00 / 1)

The argument that Davis is supporting people that are inherently guilty shows a complete lack of insight and serously scarly ignorance of the law.  Do you ffeel the same about Terri "I would give my right arm to be half as good as Davis" Sewell when she represented scummy Wall Street firms as a bond lawyer.  Your hypocricy is mind numbing.

The guy is doing well and much success to him.  Alabama lost a great one and we have nothing to cheer by way of elected officials.

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by: Takenoprisoners @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 15:17:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I actually like Artur (3.00 / 1)

his entire career has been in public service. He's never made any bling. Heck I think he still has some student loans.

I hate the way he voted over the past two years.

IN MY OPINION  - Sewell ,on the other hand, waited until the gravy train ran out on her bond deals and decided that its high time for her to be a DC socialite.  

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by: gradyw @ Tue Jan 04, 2011 at 19:18:25 PM UTC

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Shocked I tell you, but we might agree! (0.00 / 0)

However, name me one Souther Democrat that met your satisfaction on every key issue. THEN, overlay their public rationales.  Just interested in your viewpoint.

Sewell was the last one standing out of a disasterous line up of candidates.  I know you supported Smoot with great viigor and passion but you realized that she was troubled and very flawed candidate.  Sewell will be challenged in 2012 by no less than 10 candidates that I have spoken with personally.  Her money will not even come close to saving her.  She is a fraud and she is not even sure what to do in DC.  She is merely keeping the seat warm for a long termer coming after her.

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by: Takenoprisoners @ Wed Jan 05, 2011 at 03:58:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]