newsobserver.com projects - Sam Currin - Comments

Re: Dome Memo: Busy week, but no budget

domewatcher — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:27:01 -0400

Top ten mythical comments from imaginary legislators as to why we ain’t got not budget deal yet:

10. "The lobbyists have been telling me how great I am and now I just can’t stand to leave the mirror. Do I really look like Brad Pitt?"

9. "I have been pretty tired lately. I’m not used to drinking the good stuff."

8. "Must be the special herbs and spices in that lobbyist chicken. It sure is good but makes you drowsy."

7. "We knocked off at lunch today. Everyone brought a beach chair and we sat outside………pretended we were sitting on the new pier. I’m bringing a fishing pole tomorrow and an Ember’s CD."

6. "I have not been back to the chambers since I heard about that snake handling bill. I am afraid of snakes and will not be going back until someone makes sure they did not leave any around the General Assembly. And anyhow, I’m a Presbyterian and we don’t do much with snakes."

5. "None of us really understands this budget mess. It’s because those pesky Republicans don’t want to raise taxes. We could balance the budget if we could raise taxes as high as the teachers and state employees want us to. Pretty simple if you are as smart as me."

4. "We have been too busy watching that court battle between the Gov and that school lady, June. I’ve never seen a trial like that and I have the whole “Perry Mason” series on VHS. And what is so funny……..I’ve voted for both June and Bev. And now they are squaring off in court. Life sure is funny sometimes."

3. "A lot of us have been working on getting Jim Black back home. Some things are just more important than a budget. You sure you’re not from that grand jury investigating all these goings on….? Maybe I shouldn’t be talking to you. Let me ask my lobbyist if I’m allowed."

2. "I’ve been keeping my head down and not saying nuthin’. I was afraid the Gov was going to invite me on her “Raise Your Taxes” tour. I don’t like flying much and I don’t want my constituents to know I’m up here in Raleigh. I hope this all blows over before the next election. I went back home to my district for momma's birthday but I wore a wig and a mustache...."

1. "With this $1.6 billion dollar tax increase coming……..well, to be honest………most of us legislators have taken part time jobs so we will be able to keep our heads above water. Me, I’m waitin’ tables at McDonalds. That doesn’t leave us much time to work on the budget. I don't know about the average working family but this new tax increase will put my family in the ditch. I just wish I had some say in this!"

Re: Dome Memo: Busy week, but no budget

PaulTerrell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:34:05 -0400

Judge STephens is too busy yelling at school board attorneys. To bad he is not providing justice for the people of NC by actually punishing a CORRUPTED politician.

Soft on crime?

grinder — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:48:19 -0400

Soft on crime? I don't think so. These two gentlemen were not really doing anything other than working the system.

But those who shoplift to feed the family. That's another story. Lock them up and throw away the key.

The quality of mercy is directly related to the quality of your shoes. Shoes make the man and these two gentlemen wore some fine footwear in their day.

The quality of mercy

Isaac136 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:21:18 -0400

I've got nothing against showing mercy to folks, but it would be nice to know that these judges would be as ready to extend the same mercies to convicts who aren't in their same social class and circles. Maybe they do. But Sam Curren sure never did.

Re: Currin gets an early release

w02468 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:29:42 -0400

Judge Britt showed Sam Currin something that Currin never showed defendants when he was a Special Superior Court Judge: Mercy. As a trial judge, Currin had the reputation of ALWAYS imposing the maximum sentence under the law without any regard for mitigating circumstances in a defendat's case. Currin was known as "Maximum Sam", a moniker he carried with pride.
But he did serve some time in prison. To think that a former trial judge who delighted in being known as "Maximum Sam" actually went to prison himself reminds me of a quote from MLK, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

Black should take the hint

PoliticalJunkie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:26:15 -0400

You help the government get Basnight, Rand, Easley, and Perdue they'll turn you loose.

Re: Currin gets an early release

domewatcher — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:22:58 -0400

I think this is a good move. It saves money! And releasing white collar criminals makes our legislators rest a little more easily at night.

Re: Currin gets an early release

GiggleBox — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:41:42 -0400

I bet the Burr campaign is hiring.

Re: GOP: Keep Holding on the job

scharrison — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:59:24 -0400

"But the state Republican Party argues that Holding doesn’t just go after Democrats. They note that he also prosecuted such Republicans as former U.S. Attorney Sam Currin and former state Sen. John Carrington."

Jebus, Brent. Do a little research upfront, okay?

Sam Currin was prosecuted by Gretchen Shappert out of the Western District office, and John Carrington was investigated by Commerce and prosecuted by James Candelmo and John Bowler while Whitney was still the top dog in the Eastern District.

Re: GOP: Keep Holding on the job

Kingixolib — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:14:53 -0400

I'll bet Hagan is bouncing off walls trying to get this done before her boy Easley gets in any further trouble.

She has some pretty big debts coming due and now this Easley thing has added several more to the pile cause it looks like some petty big names are gonna be left out in the wind if she can't follow up with on time and proper payments.

Re: GOP: Keep Holding on the job

PaulTerrell — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:31:38 -0400

I respect the opionion to keep Holding on the job until these investigations are completed. Can he be retained until then while bringing in a Obama appointee to handle just the new cases?

Re: GOP: Keep Holding on the job

PoliticalJunkie — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:35:04 -0400

Frank Whitney was previous US Attorney.

Didn't the Blago prosecutor stay on the job in Chicago?

Maybe they want the "Blago Exception" applied here.

Re: GOP: Keep Holding on the job

Isaac136 — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:27:45 -0400

I say keep him on the job, too, at least until he completes investigations of the Easley and Edwards fiascos.

Re: Where U.S. attorneys are now

GrayJ — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:08:31 -0500

Thanks!

Re: Sam Currin the DA???

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:18:20 -0500

The Granville D.A. is Samuel B. Currin III; the former U.S. attorney and current inmate was Samuel Thomas Currin.

— RTB