Corrupt Alabama Gov. Runs Again

Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman will be having a tough time this week attempting to convince Democrats to vote for him in the upcoming gubernatorial primary while he tries to convince a jury he is innocent of serious federal crimes.

As Alabama governor from 1999 to 2003, Siegelman became known for selling the favors of his office for cash, plane rides and fancy cars. Charged with federal racketeering, bribery, fraud, extortion and obstruction of justice hasn’t cramped Siegelman’s political ambitions, however. He plans to win his party’s nomination to become the state’s next governor.

Of course, he can’t really do that if he lands in jail. One of the crimes he is charged with is accepting $500,000 in disguised contributions from his buddy, former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, in return for appointing Scrushy to the state Certificate of Need Review Board, which approves hospital construction projects.

Siegelman is also charged with receiving an all terrain vehicle, worth more than $200,000, from a landfill developer in return for helping him get tax breaks as well as a $25,000 sports car in return for helping another business obtain state contracts and $40,000 from a toll bridge developer.

If Alabama voters give Siegelman another chance, they probably deserve him and his corrupt ways of running the state. One political blog says that maybe he has a fighting chance, but it’s not going to happen. Donkey Cons can’t get over Siegelman’s schedule, writing that he is running his race for governor in a way voters have never before seen – trial by day and campaign by night.