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"They Got The Minnow"
Prosecutors scored their third conviction of a third former Alaska state lawmaker yesterday, nailing Vic Kohring on three of four counts. He was convicted of taking a couple thousand dollars in bribes from Veco executives and asking for $17,000 more (to pay off credit card debt due to health care bills).
Jurors were united in finding Kohring guilty -- and in not feeling good about it:
As they left the Federal Building, jurors looked drained but relieved after roughly nine hours of deliberations over two days. Only a few would talk. They said they anguished over their decision.One, who declined to be identified other than as "juror No. 8," said "they didn't get the sharks. They got the minnow."
Most felt sorry for Kohring and saw him as "a very sympathetic figure," said Alan Rowe, juror No. 12.
The "sharks" in that metaphor, of course, would have to be the biggest fish in Alaska: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and his son, Ben.
Josh
Zachary
My thoughts on this case exactly. I hope he slips on the Stevens and they give him time off.
November 2, 2007 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sharks depend upon smaller prey. Sharks cannot survive without their prey - don't feel bad
November 2, 2007 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kohring had lawyer that made Lionel Hutz look like a Jonnie Cochran
He was the dumbest guy from the dumbest city in Alaska and held office for 12 years
Wasilla has a 60% graduation rate and more meth labs and baptist churches than anywhere in America
BIG OIL and VECO found the dumbest people to manipulate and put them on committess to change OIL taxes
Kohring was especially dumb but Anderson and Kott were not too far behind
See a pattern? BIG OIL did years ago and VECO executed that plan
BIG OIL laughs all the way to the bank!
November 2, 2007 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Vic's conviction shows is that in our legislature, there is a culture that accepts this sort of behavior.
I doubt Vic would've gone to Bill & Rick for cash if the precedent weren't already set culturally. Lobbyists in Alaska will walk into a political meeting and make everyone there swoon. During campaigns you'll hear, "Ooo, don't say , you might alienate -- it will cost you *money*!" No regard for party platforms, no regard for the quality of life of constituents -- only for the lobbyists and their money.
I don't know how many times I heard the phrase, "...but that's the way things are done!"
Lobbyists should be there to answer questions posed by legislators. They should give the view of their industries/PACs *when asked*. They should not have the power they do. Our legislators ought to rethink the culture that led to this sort of thing. The lobbyists should be resources, not masters.
November 2, 2007 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is saying it all. If your a politician you ask your pac or lobbyist friend for money to pay your indebtedness from a mountain of medical bills. If you a lowly commoner, you seek protection in a skewed bankrupcy court while vacationing under the overpass.
November 2, 2007 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
His health care provider wouldn't pay for spinal surgery at Mayo Clinic. If that doesn't argue the case for a national health care program, nothing does.
On the other hand, Kohring should have done what we peons do when faced with that kind of decision ... we suffer or go bankrupt. Ain't America grand.
November 2, 2007 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ted & Ben deserve cold steel rather than a jury trial and imprisonment. Failing that, I'd settle for putting them in the 'TOMBS' in NYC for 5yrs. I doubt they'd survive 2 - BETWEEN them. Indeed, they deserve MORE PAINFUL treatment.
November 4, 2007 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anchorage Daily News gave Bill Allen a full page opposite ADN's op/ed page
So essentially our local newspaper was on the Bill Allen/ VECO payroll. No wonder it took the FEDS to catch them
November 4, 2007 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink