Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman's political career ended with a 'mighty fall'

al.com ^ | August 5,2011 | Kim Chandler

[Hojczyk]

Over the course of about 30 years, former Gov. Don Siegelman made a meteoric rise, holding four of the state's top elective offices and becoming one of the state's dominant political figures.

But his political star's descent was complete Friday when a judge pronounced that he was sending Siegelman back to prison for more than five years.

Outside the federal courthouse, just blocks from the Alabama Capitol where he had sat as governor, Siegelman expressed distress that this was where his story was ending.

"I never expected to be in this kind of place. I never expected my career in public service would end in a federal courtroom," Siegelman told reporters. "So I do owe the people of Alabama an apology for the embarrassment this case has caused them."

Wayne Flynt, a former Auburn University history professor, said history will view Siegelman as a cautionary tale. The corruption case that brought him down rested at the intersection of two of the Democrat's trademarks -- aggressive fundraising and his signature campaign issue to establish a state lottery to fund education.

Wayne Flynt, a former Auburn University history professor, said history will view Siegelman as a cautionary tale. The corruption case that brought him down rested at the intersection of two of the Democrat's trademarks -- aggressive fundraising and his signature campaign issue to establish a state lottery to fund education.

"It's very much a mighty fall," said political scientist Bill Stewart.

"What strikes me is the sadness of it, for the governor, his beautiful wife and family and the citizens. Unfortunately, it will also reinforce Alabama's reputation as a corrupt state," Stewart said.

"He was clearly, very, very, very ambitious. In some ways the irony is that his ambitions are what derailed him," said Brad Moody, a political scientist

[VRWCmember]

Over the course of about 30 years, former Gov. Don Siegelman made a meteoric rise,

What exactly is a meteoric rise? Meteors are objects that start out very high (as in outside the atmosphere) and then begin plummetting to earth as soon as they are captured by the earth's gravitational pull. There is no point in a meteor's existence that it is rising. At the very moment that it becomes a meteor rather than just floating space junk, it begins its permanent descent.

[Paladin2]

Is this guy a ‘rat?

[Paladin2]

Yep, of course:

"intersection of two of the Democrat's trademarks -- aggressive fundraising and his signature campaign issue to establish a state lottery to fund education"

[ChocChipCookie]

"He was clearly, very, very, very ambitious. In some ways the irony is that his ambitions are what derailed him," said Brad Moody, a political scientist

What a hilariously naive statement. Can he think of no other politicians whose ambitions brought them to a sorry end??

[Onelifetogive]

"What strikes me is the sadness of it, for the governor, his beautiful wife and family"

It's also sad that homely wives get so little respect. Going to jail would not be so bad if his wife was ugly?

[apillar]

Figured he had to be a democrat since the writer buried it in the middle of the story. If he had been a Republican the title of the story would have been, “Former Republican Alabama Governor and Tea Party Activist Don Siegelman’s, political career ended with a ‘mighty fall’”

[skinkinthegrass]

"Is this guy a ‘rat?"*Goldfingers' voice/*
"but, of course Mr. Bond"
*/Goldfingers' voice*
...he's corrupt / a Democrat.

[Calvin Locke]

Generally speaking, when a party affiliation is not mentioned immediately in a less-than-flattering story, you're almost always safe to assume (D).

In this story, it's in the fifth paragraph (line? What is the format?).

[Cyber Liberty]

I wouldn’t call a 30-year career “meteoric” no matter which direction it was heading. “Plodding” seems more like it.

[subterfuge]

Weird. Only pity for the merely hapless democrat. Not even a hint of condemnation. Stupid writer! Where is the concern for the people who are disenfranchised by the rotten, crooked democrat (redundent I know)?

[subterfuge]

Weird. Only pity for the merely hapless democrat. Not even a hint of condemnation. Stupid writer! Where is the concern for the people who are disenfranchised by the rotten, crooked democrat (redundent I know)?

[subterfuge]

Weird. Only pity for the merely hapless democrat. Not even a hint of condemnation. Stupid writer! Where is the concern for the people who are disenfranchised by the rotten, crooked democrat (redundant I know)?