Now that Michael Scanlon, former partner of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former aide to Tom DeLay, has pleaded guilty of conspiring to bribe a member of Congress, it could get really interesting. Is he going to start fingering lawmakers? Reportedly, the “Representative No. 1” identified in court papers is Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. But Scanlon and Abramoff showered extravagant gifts on many more members of Congress, mostly Republican.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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13 Comments
It does look like Republicans are going to get scuffed up pretty bad by this investigation, but I’ve read there are some Democrats that have been implicated, too. Like Harry Reid. No matter what party, if they’re dirty, they need to go down. Congress for sale to the highest bidder needs to stop.
I sure hope so. On top of all the scandals going on I want to know who pulled the prosecutor off Abramoff in Guam.
Of course he’s going to start fingering others, that’s part of his plea bargain. He ripped off the Indian tribes for 20 millon and probably won’t do a day in jail because “he’s tryng to do the right thing”. It’s so true that the man with a briefcase will rip you off just like the man with a gun, only for a lot more money.
The bigger question is whether Congress will tighten laws against lobbying masquerading as bribery. I am convinced that the only way this country is going to restore statesmenship and principle to decision-making in Washington, D.C. is by taking the big money out of campaigns and lobbying. It might take widespread criminal indictments in both political parties to begin serious discussions – but then again the power elite might instead react like they did after Katrina – deploring poverty and homelessness for a week or two, and then going back to SOP – like Congress giving themselves another pay raise which just happened.
Kelly,Excellent post. And to answer your question: No, they won’t do anything about it. They have too much to lose.
Just like the smoke and mirrors dog and pony show about the oil companies, it will blow over and the American people will move on the next juicy bit of gossip, keeping these same carpet baggers in power.
You’re right, JM. The American public has the attention span of a goldfish (about 3 seconds). This investigation will become “old news” next time some cute blonde is kidnapped or dissapears (I notice Fox is back in Aruba).Politics is corrupt by it’s very nature. Every human has a price and the obscene amounts of cash available in Washington render honesty passe.
Lets hope the voters see the rampant corruption in the GOP-controlled Congress and turns them out. Only then will we get any sort of investigation into this mess. That would also allow for an investigation into the misuse on “intelligence” to get us into Iraq.
Lets hope Scanlon roars like a lion before he too is bought off.
Remember when the right-wing blow hards all were cheering about “the adults are in charge” when Bush got installed.
Well, a fish rots from the top down.
This is Bush’s version of “the responsibility party,” break every rule you can get away with and when you get caught, don’t take responsibility . . .
Ed,I can add much to your portrayal of the truth:
It is in the heart of the Israeli mother holding her dead daughter’s hand, after she was murdered by a suicide bomber.
It is in the freightened and dead eyes of those slaughtered by Sadaam.
It is in the hands of the Iraqi people that reach for the United States soldiers to thank them.
It is locked in the memory of those who lost loved ones when terrorism visited New York City and the American people on 9/11.
It is in the minds, and weapons, of the American soldiers, who for whatever reason, think they are doing the right thing in Afganistan and Iraq.
It is not residing in the White House, where lies and dishonesty reign.
It does not reside in the Congress, where smoke and mirrors are the norm.
It, sadly, does not reside in the average american person, where voting in the “old gang” is much easier than voting in change and true leadership
JM, sadly, I think you’re wasting your time. I get the impression Ed is a one pony parade.
I’ve listened to claims to “victim status” for over 60 years. All involved being paid money. Now the time has come for an another perspective, at no charge.
Wasn’t there an article a year or so back about how the administration kept track of which newspapers wrote negative things about their NCLB?