One of the most popular politicians in Tennesee history was murdered one day, and this episode is the story of he and his tragic demise. The program is very biased, but that's because everyone - regardless of political party - had nothing but kind words to say about the victim: five-time state senator Tommy Burks. The politician-pig farmer wound up being a rural drive-by shooting victim, killed by a man who was running against him for the office.
The killer was a real loser, as the program points out numerous times: a man who called himself "Low Tax Looper." In addition to this political murder story, we get a profile of Cookevlle, Tenn. The town is given a very favorable "review" by City Confidential, which isn't surprising since CC's liberal bent always favors artsy, college towns, even if they are in the South. This is no "backwater" town, narrator Keith David remarks, implying most small southern towns are such. To a northern elitist, this is typical bias. Anyway, any town which has theaters for plays, art museums and even its own symphony orchestra, will get high praise from City Confidential.
Getting no praise is Looper, who is pictured as a nutcase from the word "go." In fact, this is one of the few CC episodes in which we never even heard from the defendant's attorney. Usually, we hear all the baloney that defense attorneys like to hand out while defending the vilest of people.
Burks, meanwhile, is profiled as man truly in touch with the everyman and a guy who has earned respect over the years, a lot of respect. His wife Charlotte took over his campaign immediately (since Tommy was shot right before the election) and was victorious.
The killer was a real loser, as the program points out numerous times: a man who called himself "Low Tax Looper." In addition to this political murder story, we get a profile of Cookevlle, Tenn. The town is given a very favorable "review" by City Confidential, which isn't surprising since CC's liberal bent always favors artsy, college towns, even if they are in the South. This is no "backwater" town, narrator Keith David remarks, implying most small southern towns are such. To a northern elitist, this is typical bias. Anyway, any town which has theaters for plays, art museums and even its own symphony orchestra, will get high praise from City Confidential.
Getting no praise is Looper, who is pictured as a nutcase from the word "go." In fact, this is one of the few CC episodes in which we never even heard from the defendant's attorney. Usually, we hear all the baloney that defense attorneys like to hand out while defending the vilest of people.
Burks, meanwhile, is profiled as man truly in touch with the everyman and a guy who has earned respect over the years, a lot of respect. His wife Charlotte took over his campaign immediately (since Tommy was shot right before the election) and was victorious.