It's interesting to note that while the KNS was first to file a report followed shortly by the local TV news, the little "tabloid" paper out in Halls was first to have the report online and the first to have an interview with the central figure in the controversy (who is curiously not interviewed in the Sheriff's report). Go figure.
Submitted by Bbeanster on Sun, 2007/01/28 - 8:55pm.
He says Nichols made him a deal he couldn't take.
He wanted immunity, but Nichols held out for a "proffer," which would have required Harber to spill his guts first, then find out whether he would be subject to prosecution. Reportedly Tyler's lawyer didn't think well of it.
Submitted by rocketsquirrel on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 9:37am.
perhaps under the "why bother" category, perhaps the Sentinel isn't going to bother with local news anymore now that Scripps bought the shopper. Sandra, Michael care to comment? also interesting why knoxnews.com allowed comments on the teen party story last year, but doesn't provide comment sections online for stories like this.
Submitted by Sandra Clark on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 10:23am.
Interesting. The Shopper and the Sentinel do different things.
Local news to the Shopper is about Halls or whatever community we're covering. Knox County news is the "big stuff" that is Bean's specialty. You won't see us pontificating about state or federal stuff at all.
We work to be comprehensive and "the best" at local news. We try to offer insight on the big stuff and score "scoops" whenever we can.
Bean's work with Tyler Harber has been awesome. Of course, that story is no more about a kid hacking into computers than Watergate was about some Cubans breaking into an office. The story is about abuse of power, paranoia and retaliation at the highest level of government.
Team Ragsdale's spin will be that this is yesterday's news, was never a real story and golly gee it's time to move on.
Mike Ragsdale is less fit to hold office than Richard Nixon was. At least Nixon had a foreign policy upside. -- s.
>The story is about abuse of power, paranoia and retaliation >at the highest level of government.
Highest? I dunno, compared to Watergate, Tyler's a pretty podunk "plumber." Which, frankly gets to the root of this whole story. Somebody should have sat Ragsdale down a long time ago and said "Dude, you're a county executive, not Cardinal Richelieu."
Excuse me, County Mayor...either way, lay off the Machiavelli.
This doesn't have to end here, you know. The criminal statute referenced in the Sheriff's report also has a civil remedy. Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-603, the "aggrieved person" whose emails were intercepted has two years in which to initiate a civil lawsuit and can recover $10,000 per violation (i.e., per email) plus attorney's fees. It is conceivable that all of the inconsistencies noted in the report could be the subject of detailed inquiry in depositions. If Harber were sued, he may assert that he was acting under the specific direction of others. The "others" could then be brought into the lawsuit in both their personal and official capacities. Then it could get interesting.
The clock on the statute of limitations is ticking....
Submitted by Simply Ridiculous on Mon, 2007/01/29 - 12:07pm.
Though I don't totally disagree with the discussions, I think it is fair to say that all of you involved in local politics know that EVERY elected official has at least one - and usually more- person in their office to support their political agenda.
Tim Hutchison is as guilty of this as anyone - just ask anyone who works there; so my thinking is "don't throw stones if you live in a glass house".
A good look at who the political supporters (a.k.a. Tyler Harbers) are, at least for 4 of the offices, will be the ones who get the replacements.
He says Nichols made him a deal he couldn't take.
He wanted immunity, but Nichols held out for a "proffer," which would have required Harber to spill his guts first, then find out whether he would be subject to prosecution. Reportedly Tyler's lawyer didn't think well of it.
Interesting. Adam Groves was apparently offered a similar kind of deal, according to his second interview where his lawyer present.
I heard that Betty's going to be on Lloyd Daugherty's show The Voice at 9 in the morning. It's on 1180 am and 1120 am.
So the Shopper gets Tyler interviewed and puts up the whole report.
The Sentinel runs a story about an interview WBIR did and puts up the summation of the report.
Sounds like Bean and Clark are eating the Sentinel's lunch.
perhaps under the "why bother" category, perhaps the Sentinel isn't going to bother with local news anymore now that Scripps bought the shopper. Sandra, Michael care to comment? also interesting why knoxnews.com allowed comments on the teen party story last year, but doesn't provide comment sections online for stories like this.
Interesting. The Shopper and the Sentinel do different things.
Local news to the Shopper is about Halls or whatever community we're covering. Knox County news is the "big stuff" that is Bean's specialty. You won't see us pontificating about state or federal stuff at all.
We work to be comprehensive and "the best" at local news. We try to offer insight on the big stuff and score "scoops" whenever we can.
Bean's work with Tyler Harber has been awesome. Of course, that story is no more about a kid hacking into computers than Watergate was about some Cubans breaking into an office. The story is about abuse of power, paranoia and retaliation at the highest level of government.
Team Ragsdale's spin will be that this is yesterday's news, was never a real story and golly gee it's time to move on.
Mike Ragsdale is less fit to hold office than Richard Nixon was. At least Nixon had a foreign policy upside. -- s.
>The story is about abuse of power, paranoia and retaliation >at the highest level of government.
Highest? I dunno, compared to Watergate, Tyler's a pretty podunk "plumber." Which, frankly gets to the root of this whole story. Somebody should have sat Ragsdale down a long time ago and said "Dude, you're a county executive, not Cardinal Richelieu."
Excuse me, County Mayor...either way, lay off the Machiavelli.
Same goes for Timmy, too.
This doesn't have to end here, you know. The criminal statute referenced in the Sheriff's report also has a civil remedy. Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-603, the "aggrieved person" whose emails were intercepted has two years in which to initiate a civil lawsuit and can recover $10,000 per violation (i.e., per email) plus attorney's fees. It is conceivable that all of the inconsistencies noted in the report could be the subject of detailed inquiry in depositions. If Harber were sued, he may assert that he was acting under the specific direction of others. The "others" could then be brought into the lawsuit in both their personal and official capacities. Then it could get interesting.
The clock on the statute of limitations is ticking....
Link...
The story is about abuse of power, paranoia and retaliation at the highest level of government.
With all due respect Sandra, I couldn't think of any better way to describe Tim Hutchison...
Wasn't this already covered here:
Link...
Heh.
Though I don't totally disagree with the discussions, I think it is fair to say that all of you involved in local politics know that EVERY elected official has at least one - and usually more- person in their office to support their political agenda.
Tim Hutchison is as guilty of this as anyone - just ask anyone who works there; so my thinking is "don't throw stones if you live in a glass house".
A good look at who the political supporters (a.k.a. Tyler Harbers) are, at least for 4 of the offices, will be the ones who get the replacements.
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