30 JUN 06: A LOSE-WIN SITUATION

Thursday's news brought two examples of the fine art of political spinning. In one case, a man declared himself a winner even though he completely lost. In the other, a man tried to sound politically alive -- even though about 20 percent of the darts thrown at him hit their target.

First up: Instant Message to Don Siegelman: I never met the late John Gotti. John Gotti was not a friend of mine. But the mob boss was dubbed by New York tabloids the "Teflon Don" - and sir, you're no John Gotti. You're more the "Velcro Don" right now.

A federal jury convicted former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman Thursday on seven of 34 corruption counts. The convictions included bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and obstruction of justice - but apparently it was OK for him to call a witness a "jerk" outside court.

The federal jury in Montgomery reported twice it was deadlocked, then came out with a partial conviction after 11 days of deliberations. They might have spent more days in deliberations than Don Siegelman spent as a serious Democratic challenger for Lucy Baxley.

Outside the courthouse, Don Siegelman told reporters he was "absolutely shocked" by the verdict. He'd called the prosecution's accusations lies, and clearly thought the federal jury would agree with him. But then again, the longer deliberations lasted, the more Siegelman might have thought only one juror agreed with him....

Don Siegelman's attorney did NOT blame the jurors for the seven convictions. Instead, Vince Kilborn said the instructions of the federal judge were "flawed." Huh?! After 11 days of haggling, what part of "beyond a reasonable doubt" did they not understand?

Vince Kilborn led the spin on the jury's verdict, saying the 22 acquittals for Don Siegelman means he "defeated the bulk of the government's case." Well, I suppose 27 out of 34 IS better than the Atlanta bullpen's percentage in holding leads.

Someone asked Don Siegelman if the ten convictions meant his political career is over. He answered they have "certainly not enhanced it." But maybe Lucy Baxley will become Governor, and nominate him for the board of pardons and paroles.

Earlier in the week, Don Siegelman estimated he'd spent more than one million dollars on legal fees in the corruption case. No wonder he ran for Governor again this year - he needed more bribes to pay off the attorneys.

Don Siegelman joins a list of Alabama governors who have been convicted in court. The last one was Guy Hunt in the early 1990's, only Hunt was in office at the time. Does this mean Republican prosecutors are slower than Democrats - or Democrats hide their schemes better?

Remember what we wrote when Don Siegelman's attorneys refused to call any defense witnesses -- "once an overconfident politician, always an overconfident politician"?! That was true with his lottery proposal in 1999. That's now true in federal court in 2006. The last time Siegelman showed some public humility may have been that 2002 concession speech.

The federal jury also convicted former HealthSouth chief executive Richard Scrushy, on all six corruption counts he faced. The PBS "Nightly Business Report" noted he was cleared by a Birmingham jury a year and a day before, in a corporate corruption case. That'll teach Scrushy not to move his religious TV show from Birmingham to Montgomery.

Richard Scrushy was convicted, even though he added famed Tuskegee civil rights attorney Fred Gray to his defense team. Prosecutors suggested that was a stunt to play on the emotions of some jurors -- but this was apparently one time when it wasn't "gray matter," but Gray doesn't.

Two other defendants in the corruption trial were acquitted. Montgomery TV reporter and WRBL alumnus Mark Bullock said this meant in the eyes of the jury, Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy were "in cahoots." I think Cahoots, Alabama is located somewhere near Huntsville....

I didn't realize until Thursday that a majority of Russell County Democrats voted for Don Siegelman in the gubernatorial primary this year. County Chairman J.W. Brannen said had Siegelman won, the convictions would have hurt the party in November. Yet I suspect we'll still see Siegelman this fall - in Republican attack ads.

But lest you think all politicians behave badly, consider Thursday's Georgia Ethics Commission meeting. It dismissed a complaint listing violations against Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff, Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers and former City Manager Carmen Cavezza. The last time they were all dismissed together was in one of those "IsOurCitySafe" e-mails.

Columbus government wonk and WRCG "TalkLine" grumbler Paul Olson took the city officials before the Georgia Ethics Commission. He says they violated ethics rules in the one-cent sales tax campaign two years ago. The tax question failed at the polls - yet some city critics never seem to be satisfied....

Paul Olson argued Mayor Poydasheff went too far by allowing city employees to appear in promotional videos for the "Yes Columbus" campaign. It's no wonder Olson is upset about this. How are Springer Opera House actors supposed to make a living, between plays?

Then Paul Olson accused Carmen Cavezza and Jack Rodgers of breaking rules, by introducing a "Yes Columbus" video at informational "town hall" meetings. So why didn't someone submit a video for the anti-sales tax side? All you needed was the radio ad with Nathan Suber, and photos of frowning people.

After a three-hour preliminary hearing, the Georgia Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint. Yet Paul Olson told WRBL he still was victorious, by showing the sales tax question wasn't handled properly. Olson should sell his flower shop, and buy a spinning mill.

How many people would dare claim victory, after their complaint against city officials was dismissed in a preliminary hearing? Paul Olson did Thursday, but I don't think I would. For one thing, it costs some money these days to drive back and forth to Atlanta for a hearing like this....

But after thinking it over, maybe Paul Olson will have reason to crow should he call TalkLine today. He took three city officials before the Georgia Ethics Commission. Carmen Cavezza now has left office, Jack Rodgers is retiring from Columbus Council - and did one of Jim Wetherington's supporters sit behind Mayor Poydasheff and take notes?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of city government, that attached letter from "Brother Love" which we did not post here last Sunday showed up elsewhere Thursday - and it led to this message:

Thurs June 29 Letter to the Editor..Immunity would not be justice..

Paragraph #5

"if civil immunity is granted in this case,(Kenny Walker family v Columbus Civil Law Suit) our citizens will rightfully question whether we should feel safe,secure and protected in Columbus." "Can we afford all the negative repercussions if immunity is granted?We think not".... Signed Brother Love

.Is this a threat to our community..I don't appreciate it..I'm not taking sides,but I don't think a public announcement of negative repercussions is good for either side of this coin...

Hmmm -- so are you suggesting "civil immunity" for the city could lead to not-so-civil insanity IN the city?!

Perhaps the city of Columbus can "afford the negative repercussions" of a court ruling for immunity from this big lawsuit. But the attorney for Kenneth Walker's family probably cannot. For one thing, he's commuting to Columbus from Florida for all the preliminary hearings.

Or perhaps this letter (which was endorsed by NAACP officials) is hinting at an economic boycott of Columbus. Scoffers might say those boycotts don't work. But if they don't, why hasn't former deputy David Glisson FOUND work in two-and-a-half years?

Let's call a recess from all the court hearings now, for other items from Thursday:

+ WRBL presented a special report on "Crime in Your Zip Code" - except it broke down the Columbus crime count by police beats, not zip codes. As if the Postal Service is going to suspend deliveries?! You'd think letter carriers are more likely to be mugged by vicious dogs....

+ Later that same newscast, WRBL showed an overflow crowd, at a meeting on filing a new lawsuit against Continental Carbon. It sounded to me like their complaints were similar to the earlier case - which, of course, would make this a Carbon copy.

+ The Columbus Museum reopened, after being closed almost a week due to air conditioning failure. I'm not sure why this closure was necessary. Wouldn't a little sweat on some sculptures give them character?

+ Auburn University announced plans to build a new outdoor swimming pool on campus, and move the courts for the tennis team off-campus. Can you guess which program has been winning more national championships?

(The curious thing is that Auburn's new outdoor pool will be for training the Tiger swim teams - and will NOT be open to the public. Those fraternity-house pranksters will have to find a fountain, for dumping the biggest loser on poker night.)

+ Tom Hanks was named an honorary member of Fort Benning's Ranger Hall of Fame. But Hanks did NOT attend the ceremony - perhaps concerned some Bible Belt preachers would show up, and try to make him repent for "The DaVinci Code."

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: FREE ice cream from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. today at Ben & Jerry's.... FREE early Independence Day celebration at Fort Benning's York Field (open to the public).... FREE admission to the Jehovah's Witnesses' convention at the Civic Center (keep cool, but you probably shouldn't wear a T-shirt sand shorts)....

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