One possible explanation for Plamegate, as noted by The Washington Post: The job as director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, who “provides overall direction to the executive branch ethics program,” has been vacant since December 2003. The job of special assistant to the director is open, too. Sadly, this does not account for the ethics deficits over at the legislative branch.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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37 Comments
Pat Robertson is available. ;-))
“Sadly, this does not account for the ethics deficits over at the legislative branch.”
No, that’s AIPAC’s job.
ETHICS? Start with our own district 4 Congressman Todd Tiahrt. Just named by the Justice Department as part of the Abrahmoff BRIBERY SCANDAL.
Why does this not surprise anyone?
The entire ethics policy of the White House can be summed up in three words:
DON’T GET CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!
Galahad, I’ll be suprised if he even KNEW he was taking bribes. Without question, No Brain Todd is one of most the vapid people I’ve ever met.
Galahad–
No shit. I hadn’t heard that.
Given what a shameless, dishonest, lapdog Rep. Tiahrt is toward Tom Delay, it’s a wonder the investigation has taken this long to reach him.
How do y’all think ol’ Todd T is sleeping these days?
Galahad…where did you get this???
Here ya go, MrC.
“The Associated Press named eight more congressmen and senators who received contributions engineered by Abramoff in return for political favors, four Republicans and four Democrats. The Republicans were congressmen Charles Taylor of North Carolina, J. D. Hayworth of Arizona, Todd Tiahrt of Kansas and Dave Camp of Michigan. The Democrats included three senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota (the senior Democrat on the committee now investigating the Abramoff affair), and Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan.
“While some of these contributions went to leading Democrats, particularly members of the Indian Affairs committees of both houses, the bulk of the cash went to the Republicans—both because they had the deciding role, as the majority party in both houses, and because Abramoff built his lobbying empire on his longstanding ties to top Republican figures like DeLay, chief Bush political aide Karl Rove, anti-tax lobbyist Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition.”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/nov2005/abr1-n29.shtm...
Oh gee, a political appointee charged with regulating his bosses’ ethics! Just the thing for all those voters who still believe in the tooth fairy!
But wait, there’s more–
Investigation: Rep. Jim RyunDisposition: Received contributions from Abramoff
Investigation: Sen. Sam BrownbackDisposition: Received contributions from Abramoff
Investigation: Adam TaffDisposition: 2004 congressional candidate (KS-3), indicted for campaign violations amnd wire fraud.http://www.kcactive.com/comment/pubnote/pubnote2004_07_...
Type the word “ethics” next to the words “White House.” Now notice the word “ethics” starts to vibrate.
Mmmm. Delicious!
“A Republican…Who Me?”
But the Associated Press has been known to lie. They call it a free press because they are free to print anything they want. Sounds like a non story to me.Now if they have some sources or paper trails, etc. I am upset.
Galahad,I tried your links and they don’t work. I also did some checking and none of the major news sources seems to be carrying the story you’re talking about.What’s up?
Falcone,
The first one, http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/nov2005/abr1-n29.shtm, is the world socialist web site. Go figure. I think Ed probably belongs there.
The second is the eKC web site. It’s pablum for the masses. Your basic review site with some liberal claptrap thrown in.
I couldn’t find either article Galahad was refering to, so they may be down.
We do need an ethics czar, but who selects whom? Who in their right mind would want to put themselves through the torture the selectors would be sure to inflict? If anybody wanted this job, Their own ethics would have to be called into question.
Kind of a catch 22 job, huh?
The entire ethics policy of the White House can be summed up in seven words:
Catch us if you can, Ha Ha !
Codie,
“But the Associated Press has been known to lie.”
Really. Care to provide some factual documentation for that claim?
How about Ralph Nader for Ethics Csar? No ties to either party and he’s been known to go after others for their ethics in consumerism. Oh, wait. He also took campaign money from the Republicans in the last election, so I guess that lets out ol’ Ralphie, too.
Is there an ethical person left in this world? Maybe it’s time for Jesus to return…
J.M,You know I found the websites. I was a little surprised to come across the world socialist web site. I don’t think I would have used that one as a reference on this blog, lol. I searched both websites and didn’t find the relevant info, either. I notice it’s not splashed all over the news. Makes one wonder.
Okay, try this link. I’ll see if I can find some better ones.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/11/1786685.php
Here’s Yahoo news.
Lawmakers Helped Tribes Get Federal Money – Yahoo! Newsnews.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051125/ ap_on_go_co/tribes_letters___dollars
Through letters and legislation, more than a dozen lawmakers stepped in to protect a school funding program for Indian tribes while reaping political money from the tribes, their lobbyist Jack Abramoff or his firm.And most received donations, ranging from $1,000 to more than $74,000, in the weeks just before or after their intervention. One TODD TIAHRT used Abramoff’s restaurant for a fundraiser a month after a letter.As a group, they collected more than $440,000 from Abramoff, his firm or his tribal clients between 2001 and 2004, when Abramoff represented the tribes.In Washington, special interests with business before Congress commonly provide donations to lawmakers as they lobby.But ethics rules require lawmakers to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest while performing official duties, a requirement that became famous a decade ago during the Keating Five scandal when several got in trouble for pressuring regulators on behalf of Charles Keating while taking donations from the savings and loan operator.A former federal prosecutor said the size of the donations and their close proximity to official actions could impact the current Justice Department investigation of Abramoff. The lobbyist has been charged with fraud in a Florida case and an associate has pleaded guilty in Washington and is cooperating with investigators.”We’re going to see an awakened Justice Department after years of turning a blind eye to the tie between legislative action and campaign donations,” said former Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Sloan, who runs a watchdog group. “Members of Congress ought to be in general quaking today and thinking a little more about what they’re willing to do for those contributions.”The four others who signed Taylor’s letter also got help. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (news, bio, voting record), R-Kan., for instance, used Abramoff’s Signatures restaurant in Washington for a campaign fundraiser one month after the letter, paying $2,907 for food.
Whoa, Rhonda. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Ethics is a problem across all professions, including your’s young lady. And why would you socialists atheists care about ethics? Rhetorical question. You don’t. You care only about your socialist anti-religion (Christian, Muslim, Jewish) agenda.
And another–(The Raw Story) Congressman who defended DeLay says three fundraisers with Abramoff associates went unreported: A stalwart congressional supporter of embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has confirmed to RAW STORY that in-kind donations for several fundraisers held at skyboxes believed maintained by fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff were not reported until this year. The congressman, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), amended his campaign finance filings in February and April, listing three in-kind donations from the Greenberg Traurig political action committee, a fund managed by Abramoff’s former firm. The events dated from 2001, 2002 and 2003. Tiahrt press secretary Chuck Knapp called the amendments “a campaign staff oversight.” … Melanie Sloan, executive director for the progressive ethics group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington, chided Tiahrt and said his conduct merits an ethics investigation. “Those kind of errors are inexcusable,” Sloan said. “They’re breaking a law.”
And another–(The Raw Story) Congressman who defended DeLay says three fundraisers with Abramoff associates went unreported: A stalwart congressional supporter of embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has confirmed to RAW STORY that in-kind donations for several fundraisers held at skyboxes believed maintained by fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff were not reported until this year. The congressman, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), amended his campaign finance filings in February and April, listing three in-kind donations from the Greenberg Traurig political action committee, a fund managed by Abramoff’s former firm. The events dated from 2001, 2002 and 2003. Tiahrt press secretary Chuck Knapp called the amendments “a campaign staff oversight.” … Melanie Sloan, executive director for the progressive ethics group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington, chided Tiahrt and said his conduct merits an ethics investigation. “Those kind of errors are inexcusable,” Sloan said. “They’re breaking a law.”
IDiot–
In your religion do two wrongs make a right?
Because you’re arguing that they do . . .
This is the doctrine of the San Fransisco bay area Indy group, Galahads last web link. I suggest you read it carefully, especially (3) and make up your own mind whether or not this is your basic commie/socialist group:
“1. We strive to provide an information infrastructure for people and opinions who do not have access to the airwaves, tools and resources of corporate media. This includes audio, video, photography, internet distribution and any other communication medium.2. We support local, regional and global struggles against exploitation and oppression.3. We function as a non-commercial, non-corporate, anti-capitalist collective.”
Ya, this is a link I would respect for truth . . . not.
This blog was about the need for an ethics czar. As usual, it has degraded into the proto-typical who can slam whom.
There is a need for an ethics czar in Washington, but as I stated earlier, who is going to watch the czar?
Galahad, your post stated the following:
“The four others who signed Taylor’s letter also got help. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (news, bio, voting record), R-Kan., for instance, used Abramoff’s Signatures restaurant in Washington for a campaign fundraiser one month after the letter, paying $2,907 for food.”
Is it not common for politicians to use a restaurant for fund raisers? Seems to me that we had a certain vice-president who used a monestary for a fund raiser. Remember that one?
Tiahrts’ use of the restaurant for fund raising is in itself a non issue. He did pay over $2000 for food, not uncommon in Washington. If he did illegal fund raising, then there is a problem.
That’s where, and when, ethics should step in. That Abramoff is in clear violation of ethic standards, and the law, is something the courts will take care of. Being associated with the man does not mean the person is guilty of anything.
Right, J.M., nothing to see here, move on.
The gifts Tiahrt got from Abramoff and “forgot” to report.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
His undying defense of DeLay after DeLay have him money.
Ditto.
So your man’s got nothing to worry about.
Just like Libby . . .
And, heck, he GAVE BACK the money from Westar, so that shows an iron integrity.
Galahad,Ooh, you really stomped on ID’s ego!
Context, Galahad, context. Taking in context of the article you posted, Tiahrt did nothing other than have a fund raiser at a restaurant. In fact the article said so twice, as if to get its point across that having a fund raiser at a restaurant is really, really bad.
Gee, I wonder how many times that happens in Washington? If Tiahrt is guilty, (you’ve already condemned him) than he should be brought up on ethics charges.
I know this is improper to point out to a liberal, but in this country, a person is innocent until proven guilty.
And my own personal opinion of Tiahrt? Typical career politician. Power does appear to corrupt. But that’s for the courts to decide, isn’t it?
Ah, give Galahad a break, J.M. Although I’d be the first to agree he’s clear off the left side of the planet, his info is usually pretty good. Still, I’ll believe it when it comes out in mainstream media. If it’s true, It’ll come out in the next few days. Personally, I’d enjoy watching Tiahrt squirm. But I doubt if any of this will hurt his chances for reelection. He could rape a child on live TV and his supporters would still vote for him. Still, the Abramoff scandal looks pretty bad for Republicans. I don’t see the Democrats proffiting from all of this. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a third choice?
I get a little tired of holding my nose to vote.
Galahad, You jumped to another conclusion. You connected the wrong dots, again. But keep worshiping your socialist Gods, Galahad.
Uh, yeah, actually I did not realize that the first post was from a socialist website. I saw it on a linked site, and I wouldn’t have posted it had I known.
But I suspect that there some fire underneath all that smoke.
We’ll see.
Also, ID, I’m not a socialist. Anybody with my wife’s credit card bills can’t be a socialist.
If and when I become a socialist, ID, you’ll be the first to know.
http://www.ftimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=30621&TM=31862.9http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768360764&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161
Great links, Sum1. I wonder what’s up with the mainstream media. I’d think this stuff would be page 1.