Kwame Kilpatrick and a fresh episode of 'As Detroit Turns'

When we last checked in on the soap opera that is Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, he had just been sprung after a night in the local hoosegow for ticking off a judge by violating the terms of his bond on perjury charges relating to his under-oath statement that he wasn't sleeping with a top aide (yes, he apparently was).

And then he was arrested again on charges he assaulted a sheriff's deputy trying to serve a warrant.

Amid all those headaches -- and the very real chance his political career is going the way of auto worker jobs -- Kilpatrick asked the court's permission to hit the Denver party circuit in less than two weeks for the Democratic National Convention.

Yep, the mayor is a Democratic superdelegate, believe it or not.

And the judge said yes. But then another judge said "forget about it."

This whole sorry saga began with a party and allegations of a cover-up -- and includes a stripper who turned up dead -- and has just gotten more and more bizarre. We're fascinated. Not because it's tawdry, but because it falls somewhere between a Theodore Dreiser novel and "Law and Order" episode with a touch of Fatty Arbuckle tossed in.

One thing we do know is that if Kilpatrick ultimately gets to attend the Democratic convention, he'll be walking around as though he was Radioactive Man in some comic book. Unless, of course, the DNC sets aside a room for him and John Edwards, just to keep them out of the way -- and off camera.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Chuckster]

Taudry? Don't bloggers and Journalists use Spell check?

[grammar_dude]

"Not because it's taudry, but because it falls somewhere..."

"taudry" or "tawdry"?

Idiots.

[Jeff in Orlando]

What's the big deal? Kwame commited adultry and got caught? It's all about sex isn't it, and everybody does it? For Kwame, lying under oath to a judge landed him in jail, but made a hero out of Clinton for essentially the same thing. There is more here to his story and the end result is Kwame could be toast. I would feel good about this but the next louse is right around the corner. Detroit will pick another black loser to be the mayor and the world will return to normal. Or, maybe Kwame can get re-elected because the "man" put him in jail. That worked for Marion in DC. Is there a big Democrat run city that is safe or decent to live in?

[Tony Bunn]

This Detroit mayor is a disgrace. It is also amazing how the citzenry of Detroit puts up with him and his antics.

And imagine a judge saying its ok for this joke of a mayor to travel causing another judge to have to say "no".

This mayor does not do the city of Detroit any good and is only causing the city to be joked about and laughed at.

Citizens of Detroit: get rid of him and move on.

[Larry]

Mayor Kilpatrick is typical of the leaders and future of the Democrat Party and therefore as a stupor delegate should be allowed to attend.
BTW, why isn't the Breck Girl in trouble for lieing to the entire world about his ongoing affair? Racist Democrat Party double standard.

[Dwaine Byrd]

I live in the metropolitan Detroit area. It's very relieving to see that others outside our area--and our state, for that matter--are seeing what the true colors this guy is! In local interviews here on radio and television, Mr. Kilpatrick blames all the "negative press" as being overinflated and just an attack from those in the area that don't like him. Well, unless you're writing for an Alaskan or Hawaiian newspaper, I don't think one can get much further than L.A. without leaving the country. And I appreciate the fact that this piece is as matter-of-fact as it is. We're chomping at the bit here for this man to resign his office; Governor Jennifer Granholm has even been asked to step in and remove him from office. But this character has even had the audacity to have his attorneys request a pardon from the governor. When it comes to Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, no soap opera writers in the L.A. area could come up with a script like this one. Or at least not one that would be bought by the networks--it's too unbelievable.

[Michael]

"What's the big deal? Kwame commited adultry and got caught? It's all about sex isn't it, and everybody does it? For Kwame, lying under oath to a judge landed him in jail, but made a hero out of Clinton for essentially the same thing"

WRONG.

not the same thing at all. Kwame abused public funds for his little tryst, fired career police officers who were close to exposing some of his misdeeds and wasted millions of dollars of a bankrupt city's money when those same police officers sued in retaliation.

Clinton lied about sex, it wasted Congress time and sullied his reputation.
Kwame lied about sex and he took an entire city down with him.

BIG DIFFERENCE

[Di]

I am from the Detroit area - Lets go back in time to the Navigator and all the time he spends collecting a huge pay from a city in trouble (I am sure he is in court and being paid - My employer would not pay me) and making a mockery of our judicial system. Kwame needs to step down, clean up his legal issues and then start anew with his family. The residents are tired and he does not have any integrity that we can put faith in.

[Brendan]

Hey Larry, cant wait to here your next comment. Which will probably be as soon as RUSH tells you what to say.

[TX poster]

I am amazed at what our country's political system has become. we have more corrupt and smarmy politicians every year. What's worse is they think they can get away with doing what they want and get paid big bucks and use up tax payer dollars. Sheesh, what do they think this is, Enron?

Who do we need to bribe to get descent politians with a conscience and maybe some values?

[Peter Pan]

Come on anyone sticking up for him must be just like him! Why else would u say oh whats the big deal he had sex etc etc. One action reflects another even if you see it as just sex....mind you the idiot is married! Than bring up his spending habits, hookers, dead hookers, payroll going to friends if not family that didn't even go to work. What he spent on the city dollar when he was out romancing for so called super bowl reasons.

Either way you can just smell it off him...no need for me to point anything out even. And people wonder why he is hated. Look around you. No one acts like this thus you have many people wanting to hang him. No other reason at all. It's just cut and dry. The sad bit is he seems like Detroit's baby tooth. You want it pulled but there seems to be some fear of self reflection of pulling it.

[R]

The citizenry of the City of Detroit will not get rid of him. They think he is being victimized by the white establishment. Don't laugh, I'm not kidding. If he were to run for mayor again today (yes, right now) he'd be re-elected by a landslide.

You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. That is how the citizenry of Detroit thinks.

[CLH]

ha, love how the first two responses are the grammar police.

i too am in the metro detroit area, not the city, and have been frustrated by this madness for nearly as long as Kwame has been in office. What really gets me is this guy is such a personable individual and is so charismatic he could be doing great things for the city, instead we are watching it deteriorate. Even worse is people still support him, not because he does anything good for the city, but because of the color of his skin. I anxiously await the day people are really judged on their actions, not the color of their skin, their religion, their wealth, or power.

[Bill Johnson]

I'm in Detroit, and rest assured we are working feverishly to get this jerk out of office. The RecallKilpatrick.com people are doing what they can, but they are under funded and the task is difficult.

It takes 60% of the voters to sign the Recall petition in order to get the matter on the ballot. The Recall people faced gangs of Kwame lawyers to even get the petition language apporved.

The churches have been loath to get involved. One they don't want to remove a Young Black Man, two they are afraid they will lose funds they get from Kwame and Company.

It's tough here in the D ... I'm calling all people who care to go to RecallKilpatrick.com and toss in some sheckles. ... for the love of God, if you can donate to Darfur, and PETA and Californians For Equality ... help some starving Americans. plz

[toby]

The problem isn't so much that Kwame lied about adultry, but that he lied about numerous other, important things. For instance, he wrongfully terminated several city police officers who served as "lookouts" during his adulturous escapades, lied to city council about the reasons for said dismissal, and eventually used 8 million dollars of city money to settle their wrongful termination lawsuits. The man has consistently engaged in behavoir unbecoming of an elected offical. He is a bully and thug and has maintained his position by selling claims of racism and "us vs. them" (or Wayne County vs Oakland County) to the general populace.

[Fan of Detroit Music]

There is a song by ELIZA NEALS called "I know all about Her" she is a Detroit Rocker Chick .... its about getting busted VIA technology you gotta hear it. I found it after SPITZER got busted in NY!! OUCH

[Lewis]

Sitting here in Atlanta, I find a striking resemblance to our former Mayor Mr. Campbell who apparently thought high office was simply the vehicle to high living. He was a terrible embarassment and damaged the city in the business world. Detroit will have to find its way to gain back what has been lost by having this guy in office, and the longer he stays the worse the effects will be. He's obviously too selfish to resign for the sake of the citizens so the legal processes available will have to be pushed to get him out.

[Aaron]

Being born and bred in the Motor City, it pains me to see what has become of what was once America's 4th largest city and the industrial wonder of the world. Forget Kwame .... he's another loser in a long string of black and white losers, who stole, connived, cheated, and played to racist sentiments to maintain their personal power (remember the original Mayor Daley of Chicago, anyone?). The real issue is that there is no tax base in the city of Detroit to support city services, nor is there the political will to enage the urban poor (90% of the city) in any effective way. The liberals would funnel more money to programs that have failed for years and the conservatives would insist that the urban poor pull themselves up by their bootstraps (Obama did it, didn't he?) -- not to mention the Religious Right, who would condemn the city as a bed of sin. No common ground. No program that actively includes the urban poor in the decision making process. Either Top-Down, Nothing, or God Damn. The only thing that could possibly change the desperate tax-base situation would be a Metro Tax Authority that could raise some revenue for highly needed infastructure, such as public transportation (not many jobs left in the city anymore). But don't worry -- both the whites and the blacks in the suburbs aren't going to let anything like that happen. So, leave Kwame be .... and let the real show roll on.

[Piper]

Anyone that sticks up for Kwame is obviously on his "damage control team".

[lARRY]

"Hey Larry, cant wait to here your next comment. Which will probably be as soon as RUSH tells you what to say".
Posted by: Brendan

Hey Brendan,
I have listened to Rush Limbaugh since 1989 as time allows. he is interesting, as opposed to your mesiah, Yobama. Also, Limbaugh can talk without a teleprompter, unlike Yobama.
You are probably a young white liberal male who thinks you can relieve your phony liberal white-boy guilt get a date easier if you listen to CNN talking points and regurgitate them as you get wasted on your second brewski.
Grow up son,
Larry

[ann]

Couple thoughts...

First, re: Kwame... I am a resident of the City of Detroit. I am educated, have a good job and pay plenty in taxes. No, I am not alone. We are trying desperately to get rid of this joke of a mayor. With Kwame and his family and friends running this city I am amazed that Detroit has not spontaneously combusted. I appreciate that the national press is covering this mess - even though it's embarrasing. Perhaps some of the idiots in the city that think this is normal and this stuff happens everywhere will be enlightened when they see how the nation is laughing at us. But trust this, his support if fading. The Michigan Chronicle - one of the nation's oldest black newspapers - has called for his resignation. Don't think that the whole black community here is buying his b.s.

[TruckerT]

Lisa Lindsey: A sistah bringin down a brothah! aww-yeah

[gabe]

I have listened to Rush Limbaugh since 1989 as time allows. he is interesting, as opposed to your mesiah, Yobama. Also, Limbaugh can talk without a teleprompter, unlike Yobama.

LOL way to prove your idiocy. You actually admit to listening to that bigot? Besides, Its easy not to use a teleprompter when you've said the same thing for the last 15 years

[Judy Kilgore]

Larry @ 1:08 P.M., gave me a good laugh with his "stupor delegate" line. I laughed so hysterically, I almost fell out of my chair. Dear me. I was probably already hysterical to have found this so hilarious. Politics in America just gets more and more ludicrous. It's laugh or cry these days.

I don't know how old Kwame Kilpatrick is, chronologically, but mentally and intellectually, he is an adolescent, at best. I can't believe this buffoonish thug is still in office! It's too bad the suffering citizens of Detroit can't go in there and forcibly remove him.. He needs to be literally thrown out, which is apparently the ONLY way to get rid of him. I am jaded enough to agree with whoever said he would get elected again, tomorrow, by the clowns who voted for him in the first place. Marion Barry was a national joke only to those who understood the joke. I am beginning to think we are in the minority.

I understand his mother was recently re-elected to office. If I were her, I would be too embarrassed to hold my head up, much less campaign. Evidently her son is a chip off the old block: no shame, no honor, no personal responsibility, no pride, no sacrifice for the common good --- in other words, no character as most civilized people understand the term.

I can't wait to hear Obama say, "This is not the Kwame Kilpatrick I knew," before he throws yet another Obama friend and supporter under the proverbial bus. By all means, let Kwame go to the Democratic National Convention and publicly cast his vote for Obama.

[Christopher Robinson]

I am an educated Detroiter with a decent job and a wonderful family. I own a wonderful home in a wonderful neighborhood and I do not support Kwame Kilpatrick and have not for many years. In the city of Detroit we suffer from voter apathy and that is how a loser like Kilpatrick was able to win office twice. During any given election we have less than a 30% registered voter turn out and most of those folks are on the Kwame family and friends plan. Yesterday the clown finally stepped down from office and will be going to jail. Now the city that I love can move forward and grow. We are not a bunch of idots who support thugs. Our Governor, Jennifer Granholm should have removed this guy months ago, but she has not done anything else, why should I expect her to do something now? I have babbled enough.