Comments on: Mayor Langford Has Election Challenge Dismissed

by: Considering Candidate Cooper » Doc’s Political Parlor

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:23:39 +0000

[…] The question yet to be answered about Patrick Cooper’s legal challenge (now dismissed pending appeal) to the election of Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has to do with how much damage Cooper has done to his own political future. The Parlor has heard many people including Cooper supporters say that Cooper did himself no favors by pursuing the matter. An elections lawyer epitomized this sentiment when he said about the challenge, “Legally it’s bad, and politically it’s worse.” […]

by: ALmod

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:11:27 +0000

Oh I absolutely agree that the PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM should have to live with that decision. And I agree that the PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM should have to pay the bill for that decision.

But the truth remains that one way or another, Langford is going to end up in jail or out of office. And WHEN he ends up in jail or out of office (or both), the PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM will be saying hello to Mayor Smitherman, who they also did not vote for. And the PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM will have to live with that one, too.

Honestly, that bothers me more than anything. At least if Cooper continues his challenge then another election will likely be held. I’m doubting that the same courtesy will be given once the feds get their hands on ‘Lectric Larry.

by: SamfordDem

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:54:13 +0000

Honestly, I was a Cooper supporter and I think he made a huge mistake. I realize there are residency requirements and that Langford in all liklihood did not meet them but most people in Birmingham knew that as well and they voted for Langford anyway. They chose Langford; let them live with that decision.

by: ALmod

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:49:29 +0000

Oh, don’t get me wrong… I’m not a Cooper fan, either. But I DO think that if he wasn’t bringing this up, nobody else would. Heck, the Birmingham media has been kissing Langford’s rear end since there was a prospect that he MIGHT be mayor. Even if Cooper were successful in disqualifying Langford, there’s no chance in hell he’d win in another election. But getting Cooper in isn’t the point… It’s about getting some honesty from a politician for once.

Langford has no real intention of ever moving to Birmingham, and so he has no real motivation for ever improving Birmingham.

by: JD

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:37:33 +0000

Birmingham don’t need no stinkin laws

by: Bhmhomeboy

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:02:27 +0000

Yep, we can always depend on the feds.

by: not important

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:50:34 +0000

Not pro-langford here by any stretch of the imagination, but cooper i think hurt himself with the challenge. He certainly could have filed it before he lost or might have even been better challenging absentees or other specific ballots, etc. to get the tally back below 50%. Cooper smells distinctly of a sore loser who arrogantly questioned the voters judgement (however bad that judgement may have been). I think you are likely correct that the feds figure Langford out before the b-ham electorate does - they love them some larry…

by: ALmod

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:29:35 +0000

Maybe he will, but I doubt that the IRS and SEC will.

Now that it’s officially open season… Who wants to be mayor of Birmingham next? Apparently, any of us are qualified, and we now have a precedent! At the very least, we can all rent the worst, cheapest, most unlivable apartments downtown and register to vote.

Thank you, Mayor Langford! Now we really CAN improve Birmingham!

by: not important

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:01:46 +0000

will patrick cooper go away now?