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The latest flash point in Kwame Kilpatrick's dramatic arc extends his role as a Detroit lightning rod.
Thursday afternoon's federal court sentence of 28 years sparks lively social media posts, including off-duty personal comments by prominent journalists such as Bill Shea, Andrea Isom and Alexis Wiley.
Though the disgraced ex-mayor has no defenders, as far as we've seen, more than a few people object to a celebratory, gloating tone of some posts.
"The *glee* of justice makes me nauseous," says Claire Nelson, who recently moved from publisher at Model D to director of the local Urban Innovation Exchange. These are among replies to her Facebook post:
- "It reminds me of how people were acting like they were at a NASCAR rally when Bin Laden was killed. It's weird what people get excited about." -- Ash Nowak of Detroit
- "Seems it should be a with a heavy heart and a heavier sense of of responsibility that we carry out such things. Not with festival, ramblings, and vengeance.." -- Erik Howard of Detroit
- "My thoughts exactly." -- Sarah Hulett, Michigan Radio assistant news director
- "Definitely agree." -- Michelle Martinez of Detroit, digital media executive
Fox 2 reporter Andrrea Isom also is put off, tweeting: "Why are people laughing, full of glee and excited??? There is NOTHING funny about this AT ALL." .
Carl S. Taylor, a Detroit native who's a nationally prominent MSU sociologist, goes on Facebook to suggest "consideration and a few kind thoughts today. Celebrating the downfall of anyone is not joyful."
On the broader topic du jour, here's a sampling of reactions to the stiff public corruption sentence imposed by Federal Judge Nancy Edmunds:
"Celebrating the downfall of anyone is not joyful," says Professor Carl Taylor of MSU, a Detroit native.
Throwing the book, hard: Talk about dipping the book in concrete before throwing it at him. -- Scott Held, Detroit
"Grossly corrupt SOB:" Ex-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gets 28 years in federal prison for being a grossly corrupt SOB. Will #Tigers win to cap off a great day? -- Bill Shea, Crain's Detroit Business writer
Other coverage: Judge Slams Kwame, Gives Him 28 Years in Prison
"A tad-bit harsh:" Whether a supporter or not (I wasn't), 28 yrs - with young sons - a tad-bit harsh. But his fault!! -- Alexis Wiley, Fox 2
No sympathy: My heart bleeds for him -- NOT! -- Art Rizzo, Highland Park
Term = her age: It just hit me that I'm 28 years old. That's how long Kilpatrick is going away. -- Ashley Catherine Woods, Huffington Post Detroit editor
"Weep no tears:" Kwame's sentence is driven by the fact that he was a corrupt, thieving mayor. . . . Weep no tears for this one.” -- Eric Baerren, Mount Pleasant blogger
"Move forward:" If you're a Detroiter, you can't help but smile that the Kwame reaction is more about hope and a belief to move forward together. -- Jeff Lutz, marketing executive
"A tad-bit harsh, but his fault," Fox 2 reporter Alexis Wiley tweets after Judge Nancy Edmunds' sentence.
Never let him out: He deserves to do the rest of his life for the shit he's done. -- Kim Marshall, Dearborn
Talk about slow time . . .: The wheels of justice turned slow, but nowhere near as slow as the next 26-28 years will turn for Kwame Kilpatrick. -- Dennis Fithian, Detroit sportscaster on 97.1 The Ticket
Sympathy for offspring: I just feel sorry for his kids. They are the ones who would really suffer. -- Michelle Fox-Phillips, Warren
L. Brooks says: This is the end of a long Greek tragedy. What bothers me most is the sacrifice of a potentially brilliant career. The guy was intelligent, charismatic, witty and greedy as hell. -- L. Brooks Paytterson, Oakland County executive
"Law won:" He fought the law. The law won. -- Kevjn Ransom, Dearborn writer
Wasted talent: The tragedy of Kwame is he was the most gifted politician I have ever seen up close. -- Joe DiSano, Lansing political consultant
"A grifter:" He's a grifter at heart. -- James Melton, Detroit writer
"Held accountable:" It is nice to see Detroit's politicians being held accountable and people getting what they deserve. -- Matthew Hain, Deadline Detroit reader
Blown potential: It is sad. Here we had a man with tremendous potential that could have done so much in his life and career. -- John Bailey, Detroit PR exec
"He enriched himself:“ Detroit was in serious peril and Kwame came in and pillaged. He enriched himself without a care about the future of the city.” -- Adam Modelski
"A warning:“ A warning for many aspiring young political hopefuls of what not to get caught up in. -- Kwameh A. Barnett, Kalamazoo
-- Alan Stamm
