The whole point of free speech is not to make ideas exempt from criticism but to expose them to it.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

15 minutes until the mayor is elected...

I am having trouble maintaining my equanimity over recent comments by Bill Fleming, whose superlative use of condescension attracts most of the Forum's readership, I think. I want to lay out what seems to be his argument (an argument whose only goal, I think, is to show how clever he is) as the last few minutes tick down before the polls close.

Kooiker abused his alderman's office by asking too many questions.

Kooiker discovered what he thought was a conspiracy among a garbage contractor, the contractor's drivers and some employees at the Rapid City dump.

Kooiker got some other folks to look at the evidence. Among these others were cops and prosecutors. They also thought a crime had been committed. They charged people.

One of the people they charged killed himself.

In the first trial, the prosecution lost. Charges against others were dropped, apparently in exchange for testimony against still others.

Fleming says Kooiker unfairly pressured professional cops and prosecutors into filing bogus charges.

I think that makes Kooiker a surprisingly powerful figure. Maybe not since Huey Long....

7 comments:

Bob Newland said...

7:54: Kooiker's out in front. Nordstrom is WAY out in front.

Bob Newland said...

8:25: I'm callin' the race for Mayor Sam.

Wayne Gilbert said...

Bob--you have said that you didn't have a dog in this fight yet you gloat. You lost your credibility on that one buddy.

Bob Newland said...

Two questions.

What gloat? I just report the news.

What credibility?

BF said...

That's not my argument. But it's moot point for now. I'll explain it later after all the parties. For now, congrats!


"boxist" ...no kidding.

Bob Newland said...

I promise not to draw a breath until Fleming reveals his argument.

BF said...

That might be refreshing, Bob.