I have a sneaking suspicion Michael Silence won't live down the "Rex McGee" thing. At least, he won't if I have anything to say about it. ;-)

This trial has taken some fascinating turns this week. Lumpy and Scoobie either don't know what "perjury" means, or they really did have to go the bathroom that many times on Black Wednesday. Neither thought is comforting to me.

Mark Harmon's testimony may turn out to be key in the case, and I don't think Mary Ann Stackhouse was able to damage McElroy's credibility at all.

Things ain't looking good for County Commission.

~Russ

I wonder if Jonathan Wimmer has been subpoenaed to testify about Lumpy offering him a deal to get appointed if he would agree to be sworn in and vote for Trammel?

Ah, missed that. Thanks. Have been busy and obviously not paying much attention much less blogging about it. I'll go check it out.

EDIT: Hmm, can't find anything in the paper about it, and Rich Hailey's live blog from Tuesday doesn't mention it.

Anyway, what did he say? What was the nature of the cross examination?

(link...)

I haven't been at this trial at all, but based on the media coverage, I've got to feel for the County lawyers.

They tried to settle this thing twice. They obviously did not want to have this trial.

It might have escaped the jury's notice that, in trying to discredit the testimony of Mark Harmon, the county essentially proved what they have been charged with: that in fact the law was broken.

However, it is beyond the realm of possibility that any functioning human being believed Moore's story that he was maybe chatting with John Valliant on his cellphone about a tenant during the January 31 meeting, moments before Valliant accompanied Moore's campaign treasurer to the Chancellor's chambers to be secretly sworn in as a new County Commissioner during one of the notorious bathroom breaks.

Then to add injury to insult, a picture is put in evidence showing Owings huddling with Moore, Bolus, and other Commissioners after Bolus was sworn in but before he took his seat. Ouch.

What a nightmare!

I'm not saying the county lawyers are innocent in this whole mess. I have no idea if they are or they aren't. I'm just sure they're doing the best they can, and it's got to be painful.

However, it is beyond the realm of possibility that any functioning human being believed Moore's story that he was maybe chatting with John Valliant on his cellphone about a tenant during the January 31 meeting

He was multi-tasking!

..."the notorious bathroom breaks" would be a great band name.

...or the title for a typically topical Todd Steed song.

...with amusement. So he goes right out in front of everybody and tells the truth about everything.

And gets blasted by the gang for having a political agenda?

How dare he tell the truth in a political situation! This is uncalled for and I expect some sort of ethics investigation to ensue directly.

How dare he tell the truth in a political situation! This is uncalled for and I expect some sort of ethics investigation to ensue directly.

How dare you speak the truth here. This is a court of law!

For everyone who was there or watched it on tv, you saw the best evidence. Moore asked for nominations. They gave nominations. They voted on nominations. There was no discussion on the nominees qualifications. How could they decide who to vote on without a discussion? They had to discussed prior to the meeting.

1) Moore nominates Bolus, who is subsequently appointed.
2) Immediately after Bolus is appointed, there is evidence that Moore is on the phone with John Valliant.
3) Then, according to photos, Bolus is immediately handed the oath and escorted into Fansler's chambers by Valliant.

However, Moore doesn't recall the nature of the conversatins with Valliant and Bolus doesn't remember who handed him the oath to take to Fansler or that Valliant was accompanying him.

Incredible.

Well of course Mark Harmon has a political agenda. He wants to clean up county commision. Pretty radical, eh?

____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

However, Moore doesn't recall the nature of the conversatins with Valliant and Bolus doesn't remember who handed him the oath to take to Fansler or that Valliant was accompanying him.

Hey, this defense has served our country's top law enforcer pretty well.

I agree Betty. And I don't know if you feel like I do, but every time they lie on the witness stand I feel just like I did while watching the meeting on 1/31. Not just as public servants/county officials, but as human beings, how can their consciences allow them to continue to lie about this when everyone had already put the pieces of this puzzle together? And now we have the entire timeline laid out for us which confirms what we knew from 1/31 and they continue to thumb their noses at us and lie some more. "This just buffoons me".

Mr. Harmon's stance is sour grapes just like the rest of commission... he was beat at politics and had his nose rubbed in it just like Florida did to Tennessee last week... it is easy for Mr. Harmon to cry foul when you loose... but what would he being saying today if his choice had been selected?

The whole process smells... the Supreme Court should have ordered new elections...

How could the Supreme Court have ordered new elections when the law is clear -- the local legislative body (County Commission) appoints to fill vacancies until the next election.

Many of the current or former officeholders came into their jobs via appointment by County Commission -- Criminal Court Clerk Martha Phillips, Register of Deeds Steve Hall, Sessions Court Judge Tony Stansberry, Law Director John Owings ...

The Other Paper didn't notice the process until 1) It happened 12 times at once; and 2) Ragsdale's spin team wanted to deflect criticism off the mayor. -- s.

COuld the Supreme Court not have ruled the election was invalid/false... call it what you want and ordered a new election be held?