March 13, 2007
Marion Barry: No Jail Can Hold Him
Good news for fans of "Mayor for Life" Marion Barry this morning. A federal judge has refused to put the D.C. Council member in jail for violating his probation in a criminal tax case. As you'll recall, federal prosecutors recently sought jail time for Barry for failing to file his 2005 tax returns on time -- complying with all federal tax laws was a condition of his probation. From the WaPo:
Sidestepping the issue on a technical point, U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson rejected the prosecutors' request to revoke Barry's probation. She said it was up to the federal probation office -- not prosecutors -- to make the request.
Robinson said that she will not take further action or consider the probation violation "unless and until" the U.S. Probation Office brings it to her attention. Probation officials could not be reached for comment on the case.
Talk about phenomenal swag -- Barry is simply unstoppable. Even the ire of angry federal prosecutors can't hold the man the down. We hear they're now looking for an adequate supply of kryptonite. Of course, the U.S. Probation Office still could cause a ruckus by formally telling the judge about Barry's failure to meet his probation obligations -- which would bring up the possibility of a presumed 18-month jail sentence once more. But does anyone actually believe he'll ever be in real trouble in this town?
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no wonder we can't get a vote in congress. if dc keeps electing this guy to council and crowning him "king of dc," i think we should lose local voting rights too.
So the judge just stuck her fingers in her ears and yelled "Lalalala, I can't hear you!" when the prosecutors told her about Barry's latest failures to live up to the probation bargain?
I say we send Barry to go search out Osama bin Laden. Clearly Barry is an untouchable superhero.
Joke or not, the idea that people forfeit fundamental democratic rights because of who they choose to elect is fucking ridiculous.
so...how does new and improved, gentrified, homogenized, finally not murder one capital of the united states explain this one?
"even in our finest hour, we got a crackhead on stage"
-Chris Rock
At one time I hated Barry, but now I just sit in awe of this man. He is such a sleazy politician you can't help but admire the way he gets people to kiss his a--. I have lived in a lot of places and never have seen anything close to this type of situation.
Barry is a fine upstanding example for young African-American men trying to escape poverty. He's a great example of how you can get away with everything and land on your feet every time.
As I walk home from the Shaw metro station every night I see his young protogies dealing drugs in plane sight without any fear of retribution. I'm glad these young men have someone to give them inspiration. What a great city DC is, instilling hope on every street corner!
The folks who keep voting him back in should be ashamed of themselves and the community which they recreate for themselves.
Jonny: Barry: Representing Ward 8 the only way they would want it!
Seriously, does anyone have any idea what it would take to get him kicked off the City Council? There has to be some kind of standard.
While the message sent is appalling - no need to pay those taxes! - I prefer this outcome to having Berry reach martyrdom status. Just picture the 'Free Marion Barry' that would pop up if he did land back in jail...
"dealing drugs in plane sight"
You mean the planes can see them dealing and do nothing? For shame American Airlines, for shame.
Senator Barry!
Next time you people get on your DC voting rights soap box just think, this is what you are working for!
Marion:
Had a pocket full of horses
fucked the shit out of bears
threw a knife into heaven
and could kill with a stare
He made love like an eagle
falling out of the sky
killed his sensei in a duel
and he never said why
Yeah, how can the poor, dumb, black folks in ward 8 keep electing Barry. Those people need to forfeit their fundamental democratic rights. Why cant they follow our lead and keep reelecting pols like Robert (kkk) Byrd, (curious) George Bush, the Daley (la famalia) family in Chicago, Bill (the Arkansas Pimp) Clinton, Gary (the hitman) Condit, Mark (N.A.M.B.L.A.) Foley and Ted (beer guy) Kennedy? Man, when will they ever learn!
......SOME people are so FUCKING IGNORANT!!!
KC...that funny, but its even funnier because airplane is not spelled "airplain"
I don't like Barry much, but two things need to be said:
1) If every state's democratic rights were dependent on the worth of its politicians, no state would have a vote in Congress. Every state has a politician like this, and to be honest, I'd rather Barry get busted doing drugs than steer billions of dollars in no-bid contracts to his friends.
2) He can only be removed from the D.C. Council if he is recalled by Ward 8 voters or if he is convicted of a felony. We may all think he's a joke, but if he's the person Ward 8 chose, is it really our place to judge them? No.
Just banish him to PG. Maybe he can find some kids to help him carry his groceries there.
Barry sucks, Bush sucks. The electorate is often mo' stoopid as it's polytishuns.
It's not our place to judge voters who elected Barry? Why the F not? If voters elect some fire-breathing racist demagogue, we can't say the voters are a bunch of asshelmets because of their electoral choice? That was a stupid final comment by DCMartin.
There's a pretty obvious difference between judging another's decision and overturning it.
Ignorance revealed, your comment is a big ole pile of bull. Regardless of what other shady actions others have taken, we're at this point talking about Mr. Barry. We're not talking about Byrd, Bush, Daley, Clinton, Condit, Foley or Kennedy. You have no idea what any of us might say regarding the people who would vote for any of those men. So really, the only racist here (i.e., the one bringing race into the discussion at all) would be you. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through one discussion about an ex-con that doesn't result in charges of racism. Because, you know, sometimes it's possible to talk about people without involving race at all.
So "ignorance revealed" is a fine name for you to take, since you seem quite adept at revealing your own ignorance.
Ignorance revealed, is it really necessary to use profanity in your witless reply?
By the way I never voted for any of the people you listed so how is that "our" lead?
Thank you for your inspiration.
Robis, your response is a big ole pile of bull. You accused me of being "the only racist here (i.e., the one bringing race into the discussion at all) but somehow failed to mention two earlier post by K-"even in our finest hour, we got a crackhead on stage"-Chris Rock and Joe-
Barry is a fine upstanding example for young African-American men trying to escape poverty. He's a great example of how you can get away with everything and land on your feet every time. So as we see race had already been brought into the discussion.
guilty of being white, I am SO SORRY for using PROFANITY on DCIST. I realize I'm the first to use such language on this site and I apologize............
I said it before and I'll say it again.......SOME PEOPLE ARE SO FUCKING IGNORANT!!!
I believe the proper spellin' be "ig'nant".
not all of us in ward 8 are cool with marion barry. please don't generalize about the ward. we're not all "ignorant" and not all of us agree with him or what he represents.
and i agree with dcist martin, how can anyone tell me i should lose my voting rights b/c the majority of my ward voted for someone that you think is a joke. i think bush is a joke and cheney and a few others, but i don't run around and tell the rest of the nation that they shouldn't be granted their rights b/c they voted them into office. to each his own. eventually people will see the light. what goes around comes around.
Joe, give it up buddy. You can't match wits concerning grammar...
The truly sad sight is: INDIGNANT, poor whites livin' in places like Shaw.
{(What I want to know is: how'd they know it was time? They started showin' up all over the city in strange places -- at the same time! Realtors? The upper-class is still in Alexandria, and upper NW where they've ALWAYS very quietly been. Quiet 'cause theys raised right - got some intelligence - confident that the' self-worth is high.)}
I'm amazed to stumble upon this blog and read such disrespect for the supporters of a man such as Marion Barry, or for that matter, to pass by in the street and see pawns, led to believe they "Urban" Pioneers, givin' ugly looks to people who's blood been walking down that sidewalk for generations.
As opposed to you haters, one who is inherently self-possessed and intelligent, can reside anywhere on earth with dignity and respect for others. But someone also has to serve the propaganda machine during this "make-ready phase." (That's where you uneducated loud-mouths come in.)
Current, and long dead, White Power Movement/Decision-Makers of America understand/understood history, making it impossible for them to even gather the emotion needed to express such disrespect. (don't they use stuff like rape to get their frustrations out?)
Note:
The kids in the life that have always been in the neighborhoods of the District - don't count as pioneers,and they would never behave so badly anyway. And you coonin' fools who love to be in agreement with 'em, I ain't addessin' my remarks to you.
Sorry, but I have to say ...
"the bitch set me up!"
for all his weaknesses, let's not forget that marion barry took a bullet near his heart in 1977 during a hostage crisis in downtown dc that he was trying to defuse. he's fought hard for district rights--and one thing's for sure, he never got rich through politics the way others have.
There are other black representatives who could be advocates for poor and working class blacks who HAVEN'T been caught and convicted of breaking drug laws. I hate apologists who give certain groups a PASS on ethical responsibility. Ethical character is EXACTLY the issue. Although there are certainly wealthy immoral people, the normal way to improve and maintain oneself in society is to behave and pursue your ends with a reasonable sense of ethical standards. It's condescending to overlook the lapses of some people because of contingencies like skin color.
"the content of their character, not the color of their skin..." It cuts both ways.
chris lee - What PASS?
Content of the character is definitively null and void at this point when it comes to pursuing ends, as regards the ruling class' political leaders and society trend setters. Was an ethical character EVER a most desired trait for them boys? Ethical responsibility? (that's so precious) I agree with you about the necessity of it, but are you familiar with an institution called: The Transatlantic Slave Trade?