Comments on: Does Joe Biden’s long-playing role in the Scruggs drama matter?

By: MSlawyer

MSlawyer — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:33:17 +0000

cg12, I’m not a supporter of anybody running for President (or any other office for that matter), but it sure would bother the heck out of me if, for political reasons, an Obama-Biden or a McCain-whoever administration shut down the investigation and prosecution of people who have committed judicial bribery. I think Mr. Greenlee can expect to be replaced as US Attorney, but I hope that the career people in that office will be allowed to follow this mess wherever it leads. Unfortunately, I’m too cynical to believe that will really happen.

By: curious georgette

curious georgette — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:00:36 +0000

AFOTL is right – Greenlee’s got problems if this ticket gets elected. Are there Obama-Biden supporters out there who are bothered by that? Will it impact your vote?

By: a friend of the law

a friend of the law — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:33:52 +0000

Good points there MSlawyer @ 9.

I have a feeling this potential “issue” will not materialize for anyone on either presidential ticket. I think there are so many big dogs on both sides of the isle caught up in this Dickie Scruggs related influence peddling that the topic will be treated like an unmentionable disease for both parties. As I have opined before, it appears clear to me that Dickie was working all sides of the tobacco litigation, from all angles — the state of MS, Congress, and even the tobacco companies — to get this money making deal done. The state got a bunch of money, the politicians in Congress and at the state level got a bunch of campaign money and other unreported benefits, and the tobacco companies got a resolution of pending claims and a free pass from future suits (with perhaps some insiders lining their pockets as well). And the lawyers involved (officially and unofficially), and unregistered “lobbyists” (or “bag men” or “fixers” or whatever one wants to call them) made off like bandits.

It will take a truly independent press or politician or prosecutor to blow the lid off of this thing —someone who does not care who it hurts or goes down with the ship. Few today fit this description. Greenlee comes close, but he is limited to the context of prosecution. And he may be taken off these matters at some point depending on how things shake down in November.

God speed Jim Greenlee.

By: NMC

NMC — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:20:26 +0000

I agree with you, MSLawyer.

By: MSlawyer

MSlawyer — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:29:09 +0000

The contributions don’t bother me — to either McCain or Biden, because they are reported. What concerns me is the unreported. I want to know whether McCain and/or Biden got anything from the tobacco deal and, if so, what and how much.

By: NMC

NMC — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:09:22 +0000

The money is of course not a one way thing. Here’s some recent (last couple of years) contributions to John McCain:

February 2007
Amy Scruggs 1208 Old Lake Cove $2,300
Zach Scruggs 1208 Old Lake Cove $2,300
Sidney Backstrom $2,300

By: fishwater

fishwater — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:52:32 +0000

AP reporting that it is Biden!

By: curious georgette

curious georgette — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:32:00 +0000

This is a real problem for Biden. It could be a real problem for McCain. I’m just really interested to see if the legs on the Scruggs story will reach into a national race. If Biden’s the choice, I think it will.

By: GlitterGirl

GlitterGirl — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:34:34 +0000

Sorry, NMC-didn’t look closely at who posted this..but Lotus I agree with you @2 as well.

By: GlitterGirl

GlitterGirl — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:53:52 +0000

Ooof! I haven’t had a chance to wade through all of this but I’m with you Lotus. I sure hope they have vetted this with a fine tooth comb. Speaking for myself, it would be gawd awful if Biden’s the veep choice (and I think he is) and this comes back to bite REAL hard and we’re left calling McCain “Mr. President”.