Our Party Blog

Devastated and Disappointed

Devastated and disappointed - these are the only words I can use to describe my feelings regarding Sheriff Billy Long's charges for extortion, money laundering, giving a firearm to a convicted felon, and drug trafficking. There is absolutely no way anyone in Hamilton County government, that any Republican, or any Democrat knew that former Sheriff Billy Long would be charged with extortion, money laundering, giving a firearm to a convicted felon, and drug trafficking. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and the people of this community are devastated and disappointed - this news affects all of us regardless of party affiliation.

A friend of mine, who also supported Billy Long, stated the day after Long was arrested that he felt like he had been run over by a Mack truck. I told his friend I felt the same way, but that because of my staunch support for Billy Long I felt like a Mack truck ran me over, and then backed over me again. Last Friday when the drug trafficking charge was read in open court I felt like the truck started up and ran over me again.

I have, in the past, given platitudes for Billy Long. I have stated that "politicians across this country can learn from Sheriff Long's commitment to the voters of this community-sheer perseverance, the art of compromise, a little bit of intelligence, and a commitment to honesty and integrity..." Billy Long's public record supported that statement-he was committed to the voters of this community and he had sheer perseverance. He built a coalition between Republicans and Democrats to improve the Sheriff's Department - he gained re-certification for the jail and he expanded the school resource officer program. Billy Long was using his gifts to build a national model to prevent crime among young people. His public works showed that he had the qualities to become a great Sheriff. However, in secret he was apparently money laundering, extorting people, and trafficking drugs - actions which were totally inconsistent with his public persona and the persona he showed to his friends and supporters. There is no Republican, Democrat, or supporter of Billy Long who would ever believe that Billy Long would end his career this way.

Billy Long is innocent until proven guilty - he resigned because of his legal "predicament." Whatever comes out in court, whatever happens to Billy Long, whatever the end result may be-I can state definitely there are many in this community who are devastated and disappointed.

The only thing I can say now is that I hope we pray for Billy Long, his family, his friends, his colleagues, and his supporters - the pain of this situation is a lot to bear for all of us.

I hope the politicians, both Republican and Democrat, remember-

to err is human to forgive divine.

Stuart James
stuartfjames@americaninsider.us

"to err is human to forgive divine?"

Here's a rather good one:
"Any appeasement of tyranny is treason to this republic and to the democratic ideal."
- William Allen White