# Fewmets Hit Windmill: 4 Tennessee Legislators Arrested By Feds **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786 "2005-05-27T17:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/1 "2005-05-27T17:58:11Z")
Extortion, bribery, kickbacks, and other business as usual led to the arrest of 4 Tennessee State Legislators, and who could deserve it more? These lowlifes have been sleazing around Tennessee Government since the 70’s. [http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section\_id=9&screen=news&news\_id=41773](http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=41773) [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE\_ID=44474](http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44474) [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7994310/](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7994310/) And yet, the Rabid Swine we have in office have been fighting reform & anti-corruption measures all Session. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/2 "2005-05-27T18:12:10Z")
Serve 'em right. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/3 "2005-05-27T19:08:34Z")
I think I speak for many Memphians in saying that I hope we’ll finally be rid of State Senator John Ford because of this. The guy’s a fucking asshole maniac with a penchant for threatening people (including working-schmo Memphis Light Gas and Water employees, for the love of “Bob”!) with firearms. The only reason he keeps getting reelected is that the generations-old Ford political machine is behind him. Furthermore, I think that corruption–especially relatively legal forms of corruption like lobbyist paid trips and corporate campaign contributions–is one of if not THE biggest threat to democracy today. However, the political side of this news cannot go without comment. John Ford is Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.'s uncle. Harold Ford Jr. offically announced his candidacy for Senator Bill Frist’s seat on Wednesday. On Thursday, three FBI agents arrested John Ford in his hotel in Nashville. I don’t believe the timing is a coincidence. Now, Jr. gets to spend the opening days of his campaign answering questions about his uncle. And what do you want to bet that the trial lasts through 2006? John Ford deserves what’s coming to him. But the whole story is more complex than that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/4 "2005-05-27T19:46:27Z")
So, I’m to understand from your post that, while you do decry political corruption, you’d prefer that prosecutions of Democrats be done when it’s advantageous to your schedule? If that’s not what you mean, I do hope you’d explain further. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/5 "2005-05-27T19:58:00Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > So, I’m to understand from your post that, while you do decry political corruption, you’d prefer that prosecutions of Democrats be done when it’s advantageous to your schedule? > > If that’s not what you mean, I do hope you’d explain further. I’m guessing that what he means is that he prefers that the prosecutions of Democrats not SPECIFICALLY be done when it’s DISadvantageous to his schedule. That is, if the decision as to when to prosecute was made politically, that is bad. Although, of course, the dude being corrupt in the first place is presumably worse. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/6 "2005-05-27T20:22:22Z")
All available evidence, both legal and the acendotal kind you get from living in Memphis, suggests that John Ford is not only corrupt but is also a loon and that his eventual removal from the state sentate will be a good thing for both Memphis and the state of Tennessee. I am suspicious of the timing of his arrest and fear that it may be politically motivated. I have no doubt that his trial will become an issue during Harold Ford, Jr’s Senate race, even though Jr. has been accused of no wrongdoing. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/7 "2005-05-28T00:39:23Z")
And this is but a small number of folks who’ve gone down recently. Several members of former Gov. Sundquist’s adminstration have been busted, with more arrests promised. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/8 "2005-05-28T05:08:46Z")
I am suspicious about the timing too, but at least John Ford’s corruption comes as no surprise. That man has been a potential albatross around his nephew’s neck. Better to get it over with. Anyone who tries to blame Harold for that lunatic’s antics will be making a misstep. Harold’s a little conservative, but I wouldn’t mind working in his campaign. I just don’t understand _how_ people in the legislature can be so easily corrupted. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/9 "2005-05-28T08:33:33Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I am suspicious about the timing too, but at least John Ford’s corruption comes as no surprise. That man has been a potential albatross around his nephew’s neck. Better to get it over with. Anyone who tries to blame Harold for that lunatic’s antics will be making a misstep. > > Harold’s a little conservative, but I wouldn’t mind working in his campaign. > > I just don’t understand _how_ people in the legislature can be so easily corrupted. Easy. $$$ That’s all it takes. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/10 "2005-05-28T12:32:52Z")
You thought we didn’t know what fewmets were, didn’t you **Bosda**? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/11 "2005-05-28T18:06:03Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > You thought we didn’t know what fewmets were, didn’t you **Bosda**? **Case** , I never doubted that you, _in particular_, were fully conversant with Fewmets. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/12 "2005-05-28T22:41:06Z")
[John Ford resigns](http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3404654&nav=1TcRaPs6) I am surprised, I thought it would take much longer for him to leave office. This kind of thing is one of the reasons I dislike politics and politicians. This thing (Operation Tennessee Waltz) has been in the works for around 2 years, from what I’ve read. By the way, keep your fewmets to yourself, all of y’all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/13 "2005-05-29T00:03:49Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > **Case** , I never doubted that you, _in particular_, were fully conversant with Fewmets. 😃 Pure chance, mate: I happened to re-read **The Sword In The Stone** a couple of months back. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/14 "2005-05-29T14:11:02Z")
The best part: they’re al west Tennessee’ers! 😃 Just kidding. But I can act all high n’ might n’ superior over it. State legistlatures are often coruptible because they’re often in mediocre financial straights. Most people skilled enough to get to the top of the political heap are (no suprprise here) smart enough to make a heap of dough. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/15 "2005-06-01T16:48:45Z")
Actually, Chris Newton was from Cleveland and Ward Crutchfield was from Chattanooga, both East Tennesse addresses. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/16 "2005-06-01T16:51:24Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > Actually, Chris Newton was from Cleveland and Ward Crutchfield was from Chattanooga, both East Tennesse addresses. Their new address will be 001 Prison Bitch City, if I get picked for the jury. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/17 "2005-06-01T22:18:31Z")
From today’s [Commercial Appeal](http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_3820804,00.html) (may require registration): > [@](#): > > NASHVILLE – Former state senator John Ford has applied for his state pension of $2,507 a month, which he or a beneficiary will receive for life regardless of whether he is convicted on the federal charges he faces. > > He is also eligible, for life, for the same state employee group health coverage he received as a state senator, by paying a premium of 20 percent of its cost to the state. State taxpayers pick up the rest. It makes me sick. There’s not enough money for education or health care for the poor or decent law enforcement, but this arrogant fucker is set for life. I’ll be real damn surprised if he ever spends a day behind bars. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/18 "2005-06-01T22:24:51Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > It makes me sick. There’s not enough money for education or health care for the poor or decent law enforcement, but this arrogant fucker is set for life. I’ll be real damn surprised if he ever spends a day behind bars. One of my coworkers claimed that Ford had made _death threats_ against the prosecutor, so it’ll be difficult for him to weasel out of this, I’d say. And I don’t know about the state laws, but IIRC on the Federal level, if a member of US Congress is convicted of a particular heinous crime, Congress can vote to yank their pension and benefits. IMHO, any elected official who commits an abuse of power should be subjected to the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/19 "2005-06-01T23:25:14Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > One of my coworkers claimed that Ford had made _death threats_ against the prosecutor, so it’ll be difficult for him to weasel out of this, I’d say. > > And I don’t know about the state laws, but IIRC on the Federal level, if a member of US Congress is convicted of a particular heinous crime, Congress can vote to yank their pension and benefits. IMHO, any elected official who commits an abuse of power should be subjected to the death penalty. The Good Old Boy circut alway take care of their own. He’s fixed for life. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewmets-hit-windmill-4-tennessee-legislators-arrested-by-feds/305786/20 "2005-06-02T07:42:08Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > IMHO, any elected official who commits an abuse of power should be subjected to the death penalty. Corruption at higher levels of gov should be considered treason, IMHO. _Especially_ if the person is a judge or someone with control over life/death situations of other people.