FBI bugging the Black Mayor of Philadelphia.

[Solomon]

We got a long, long, long, long way to go, folks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13897-2003Oct24.html

Read it for yourself. 2003 going into 2004 and this shit is still going on. Just in time for the upcoming election. Looks like the shit backfired though. Street will get re-elected.

[Bluzmann57]

1. UM...

This is sort of an old story. It was discovered a few weeks ago and I believe it was discussed on these boards. Thank anyway, though. You have a point, that this crap is still going on, and may forever.

[DocSavage]

2. ?

Just a question. What does the mayor being black have to do with your tag line? We know that the mayor's office had a bug in it. Does your statement equate to "All Black Mayors in america are being bugged by the FBI"?

[La_Serpiente]

4. It brings back a lot of memories

maybe he's just talking about Electoral Integrity

[Solomon]

6. My tag line? No, I did not say all black mayors are being bugged

by FBI. Can you read? I don't change my tag line for every post I write.

My tag line has everything to do with the system of white supremacy we currently live under. The tag line speaks for itself. It was adopted long long before I wrote this post.

Better check yourself. You reveal more than you think.

[La_Serpiente]

3. How suprising

Ashcroft was in Philidelphia on Wednesday to talk to the District Attorney about the investigation.

http://www.phila-tribune.com/102103-1-P1.htm

that's the article

[AP]

5. Republicans need to win PA in 2004. They could lose the rest of the state

by a small margin, but get lots of votes in Philadelphia (and/or disappear lots of Dem votes in Philadelphia) and then win PA.

Anyone who doesn't realize that this is part of the Republican plan to win the city for Republicans is living in a fantasy world.

[Solomon]

7. Thank you. Some real conversation about this.

Bush has moved on California and now Pennsylvania. The shit is pug ugly isn't it.

[Stupdworld]

8. yes

rampant corruption has nothing to do with it. it must be racism by the white man.

[CWebster]

9. Right the rampant corruption by the Republican white man,

Katz, isn't in the headlines.

[Cocoa]

10. is there any evidence this is racially motivated?

From the article, it's clear that's the perception in the black community there, based on the timing with the elections, and the black community's mistrust of law enforcement authoritites.

That's an important thing, the perception, and it shouldn't be ignored.

But what about the reality? That's important too, imo. If Street is actually corrupt, then he's ripping off the very people that are rallying around him. And if people that know he's corrupt are deliberately exploiting racial mistrust to defend Street, that makes it even worse.

[jiacinto]

12. Well

This campaign has been racially motivated. Both sides have played upon racial prejudices.

[roughsatori]

11. The bug was about his being a Democrat , not about being Black

I know that the story is about the racial aspect. And I was bothered when Street on the local news called this "racial profiling," and his supporters are carrying sings that read "Ku Klux Katz." It is what conservative commentators must mean when they use that annoying phrase "playing the race card" because it is clear that on a Machiavellian level that is what Street is successfully doing.

What bothers me the most about this is it distracts from the fact that the FBI bugged a Democratic Mayor in a very important, close political race. I keep wondering where the outrage is about THAT fact. Who are these unnamed "high-level FBI sources" who continually have leaked to the press, and in the beginning the leaks where VERY negative regarding Street. I want to know, did they have to have a judges order? If so, what evidence did they show the judge? Or even was this done under the auspices of the Patriot Act. I fear that the FBI and maybe Street too does not want that information made known. Might it really implicate the FBI and Justice Department as a tool of the GOP? But in Philly we all know anger over race will get out the voters.

But Street has always been divisive and as I have followed him most of his career I would say that if I had to pick the most racist person Street or Katz I would pick Street from what I know. Still if a Republican wins this race it will be used to leverage further dominance of the Repukes. Where is the outrage from the Democratic Nominees?

[recidivist]

13. Yes, the FBI would have had to get a judge to approve.

The evidence presented to the judge is confidential at this point, but when the case is brought, it will presumably all come out.

It has been reported that this particular FBI investigation has been going on for over two years. I have no idea about the merits, except to say that Philadelphia has a less than spotless reputation in the corruption department. That doesn't mean Street is guilty. It does mean one should be a little cautious about jumping to conclusions.

[sam sarrha]

14. didn't one of Asscrofts buddies win an election against a Democrat by

a false leak he was being investigated by the FBI ?