Comments on: Siegelman Says He Will Go To Washington http://blog.locustfork.net/2008/04/08/siegelman-says-he-will-testify-in-spite-of-advice/ Changing the World, A Keystroke at a Time Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:45:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Yana Davis http://blog.locustfork.net/2008/04/08/siegelman-says-he-will-testify-in-spite-of-advice/#comment-1086 Yana Davis Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:19:21 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/index.php/uncategorized/siegelman-says-he-will-testify-in-spite-of-advice/#comment-1086 Don Siegelman is doing the statesman-like thing in vowing to keep his promise to testify. Reminds me of John Peter Altegeld, the Republican governor of Illinois who pardoned the Haymarket people, who were diehard socialists. Altegeld believed they'd been framed, and pardoned them even though he knew it would end his political career. Don is going one step further in promising not to run for office again. But he's absolutely right that this is, first, "about America" and what kind of justice system we have. Do people go to jail for political "crimes" like they do in Iran, Belarus and Burma? Or do we have the impartial rule of law? In the long run, it's in everyone's best interest, including that of Don and his family, for him to do the courageous thing and testify to Congress. If we lose the protections of the Bill of Rights, outright dictatorship will shortly follow. Three cheers for Don Siegelman. Don Siegelman is doing the statesman-like thing in vowing to keep his promise to testify. Reminds me of John Peter Altegeld, the Republican governor of Illinois who pardoned the Haymarket people, who were diehard socialists. Altegeld believed they’d been framed, and pardoned them even though he knew it would end his political career.

Don is going one step further in promising not to run for office again. But he’s absolutely right that this is, first, “about America” and what kind of justice system we have. Do people go to jail for political “crimes” like they do in Iran, Belarus and Burma? Or do we have the impartial rule of law?

In the long run, it’s in everyone’s best interest, including that of Don and his family, for him to do the courageous thing and testify to Congress. If we lose the protections of the Bill of Rights, outright dictatorship will shortly follow.

Three cheers for Don Siegelman.

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