World-Class Jack

Cordova Mayor Jack Scott has single-handedly done for Cordova what no one else has managed in the 152 years of the city's existence--he's brought world-class attention to the town and it's nothing to be proud of. Unless you're Jack Scott.

We have often wondered why Alabama politicians have been so fond of the phrase "world- class." They throw it around in describing just about everything--bridges, budgets, ethics reform, mathematics programs, each other and the future of Alabama. It is almost like code speak for ' I pulled that off ' and when they use it, good intentions don't figure into any part of it.

Former Governor Riley was especially fond of saying this: "Ladies and gentlemen, the future is going to be exciting to watch, what will happen in Alabama is going to be a world-class movement of exciting changes."

Governor Riley doesn't know Jack Scott.

Cordova's Mayor Scott probably never thought, in his wildest dreams, that "world-class" and Cordova would have appeared together in anything, even on a hedged bet. He does seem to fancy gambling in some way because his obstinate, bull-headed, stuck in the 1950s way of viewing the world didn't go away with the initial outrage to his decision in banning FEMA trailers. Instead, he responded by doubling down, called the opposition and went out in public and showed the iron fist of who he really is to the world.

It was a bad bet.

Eyes all around the globe have watched the news clips of a town hall meeting in little Cordova. They got an up close view of the hard as nails Scott, a man seemingly devoid of the basic human capacity to feel empathy and one measly ounce of compassion for those he is charged with leading--his twice over tornado ravaged citizens.

The world does not like what it sees and Jack didn't count on all of this attention.

But he isn't moved one bit. He's dug in and hunkered down in his grand house of shame--proud of the I don't give a damn what anybody thinks walls that surround him.

And he's done talking about the whole thing.

Joe Johns Show CNN Newsroom May 30th:

We would love to talk to you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Scott, we have been calling you a number of times the past couple of days. You have not yet returned our phone calls, but I invite you live here on national television to pick up a phone and call me, Brooke Baldwin here at CNN.

It seems to us that a man who claims he "wants to make Cordova better" would jump at the chance to have national and global media attention for what he claims is his excuse in disallowing the FEMA trailers--"We want young professional people to move in here to Cordova and better our town. We don't want to be a town full of run-down trailers, we want to move Cordova forward!"

He has the perfect chance to hawk little Cordova on a world stage and make himself a big deal Daddy in the process by changing his mind about the city ordinance. He just won't take that opportunity no matter who's calling.

Instead, he uses his supporters to defend him on social network pages with scripted responses that no one is reading. The main page folded in less than 72 hours of internet existence. Ol' Jack did stick his head up briefly enough to claim "Everybody has got it all wrong...they don't know both sides of the story."

That's what he said--when he was talking.

Tell us what we have wrong Jack.

But Jack has nothing else to say and he's still at the table of I'll take my odds.

And the reason he isn't showing is because he's got a side bet with big coal.

Everyone has to make sacrifices, even Jack. And he's going to make sure Jack comes out ahead even if it causes him embarrassment far and wide.

What does he have to gain if he gives in and does the right thing? What's the payoff for him in his view of the situation?

Not a single lump of coal or one ill-gotten dollar.


*Update--'Talk' is starting to reach a 'compromise'   Or maybe not.
*July 5, 2011--Reed Materials files for coal mining permit on land owned by the Cordova Industrial Board. 20 jobs predicted.
*Please link to this article if using content

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