A lot of Americans believe that all politicians are greedy and corrupt. The Abramoff scandal, which is now reaching mainstream America, just reinforces that view.
As Richard Cohen wrote in an op-ed piece for The Washington Post: “What’s stunning about Washington — as opposed to, say, Las Vegas in the bad old Mafia days — is how open the whole process was. Abramoff had his own restaurant, a place called Signatures, and supplied skyboxes for sporting events the way old-time political bosses used to send over coal in wintertime. Abramoff could send a cooperative and worthy congressman on a golfing trip to Scotland or to a day at the beach in Florida. He liked to quote from "The Godfather," but Don Corleone was a model of discretion compared with Abramoff. The Godfather’s olive oil business was a front. Abramoff skipped that step. His fake business and his real business were one and the same — influence peddling.”
Perhaps, though, the public will begin to take politics back by demanding meaningful campaign finance reform and other changes to a system that is arguably out of control.
Posted by Melissa Cooley
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53 Comments
Elected representatives should be responsible to their districts and lobbies are corrupting them. Everything about lobbies needs to be transparent. Everything, with nowhere to hide. That should be a prerequisite for elected officials as well.
Stunning photo. Did Abramoff threaten to wear that if the DOJ wouldn’t drop charges? ;)
Did you see the whole snapshot, w/Abramoff resplendent in that black doublebreasted topcoat? Neither Martin Scorcese (Goodfellas) nor Bryan de Palma (The Untouchables) could improve on Don Abramoff’s look.
Unbelievable. If we Americans can’t take a clue from that photo alone (check out his eyes) then I guess maybe we deserve what’s surely coming our way sans valid reform legislation.
Wonder how long it will be before he goes to feed the fishes?
“Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002, also signed by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev). The next day, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana issued a $5,000 check to Reid’s tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund. A second Abramoff tribe also sent $5,000 to Reid’s group. Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations from 2001 to 2004.” – Washington Posthttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111701682.html
Ironic that Reid is quoted to say that this is the most corrupt Congress ever. He should know.
So, Crowson, when are you going to have a OpEd comic with BOTH GOP and Democrat as the power hungry/corrupt party?
This is not a one party problem, pal. And until you learn how to OBJECTIVELY report facts, figures and perspectives, you literary integrity is far below George Bush’s IQ.
Well ID, it IS a republican problem. Sure, there are going to be some Democrats snagged, but let’s not try to make this out to be equal. Last I heard, it’s running about 4 to 1 republican vs Democrat. And to my way of thinking, any Democratic politician that is mixed up in this needs to be left swinging in the breeze right along with the crooked republicans. A crook is a crook. Any politician who gets caught in this mess needs to pay. But you know as well as I do that it’s the republicans that are going to take the hit on this one.
There’s the difference between Liberals and conservatives. We Liberals want ALL the slime cleaned out. You conservatives just want to cover it up. Democrat or republican, if they’re crooked, they need to go!
Oh, puhleeeeeze, xxx! You libs have done such a wonderful job over the years. Now that we finally have media outlets to counter the left-wingers, some of us are challenging the MSM pukes and instead of reporting facts, figures and perspectives, the MSM pukes and the rest of you libs are going on the defensive and opening your piehole instead of doing real investigative objective research.
Facts, figures, and perspectives, my liberal friend. Debating on these premises will move our country in the right direction. Doing otherwise, will divert our attention from progress.
Funny how it was an “MSM” newspaper reporting on the Reid story. No doubt Bill O’Reilly gave them the information.
Id, you did just what conservatives do when presented with a valid point. You dove for your rathole and tried to change the subject.I said:
“And to my way of thinking, any Democratic politician that is mixed up in this needs to be left swinging in the breeze right along with the crooked republicans. A crook is a crook. Any politician who gets caught in this mess needs to pay.”
Now I’m asking you point blank, ID. What part of that do you disagree with?
Put up or shut up.
XXX – the part he disagrees with is “swinging in the breeze right along with the crooked republicans” Only Democrats should ever be held to any sort of standard of honesty.
And that would be because Democrats are the only ones with any standard of honesty to be held to? I’m betting we don’t hear any conservative on this blog call for a full investigation and for dirty politicians to pay for their crimes.
The reason being, the huge majority of the crooks are republicans.
What a bunch of nonsense I’m reading. First off, Abramoff, as far as we know, didn’t kill anybody; Corleone did. So we’re talking apples and oranges.
Second, “the huge majority of the crooks are republicans.” What kind of hole did that pop out of? It seems to me that when the democrats were in power they had their share of crooks go down. Crooks come in all shapes, sizes, political persuasions, ad nausium. Hell, go to any prison. Most inmates would tell you they are Democrats . . . if they could vote.
XXX, I do agree that crooks is crooks regardless of how they vote. If they are in politics, and they break the law, the punishment should be severe enough that they will never dull the political scene again, at least. At most, throw them in with Bubba for a hard twenty (pun intended).
What a joke NAZI Ian! YOU are the epitomy of SLIME! May you meet the same fate as your hero Hitler – and SOON!
Ben, please stop feeding the troll. Thanks!
J.M., I do recall hearing of someone associated with the Abramoff scandal who ended up suspiciously dead. That, of course, is a far cry from concluding Abramoff had anyone whacked.
I believe Melissa’s–and Richard Cohen’s–point was more along the lines of using “legitimate business” as a barely-concealed front for criminal activity.
So Walker, You don’t believe that the majority of the politicians who were involved with Abramoff are republican?”It seems to me that when the democrats were in power they had their share of crooks go down.”
Excuse me, but the thread is about the Abramoff scandal, not what you allege happened 10 or more years ago.
You, like ID, are trying to change the subject.
Sorry rage, but he is SOOOO funny!
As for your latter point I think the guy who ended up croaked was the guy Abramoff swindled out of the casino boats. I think that is what the FL indictments are about.
We know Sam (renew morality) Brownback was in bed with him; how about “Tanker Todd”?
Ben–Ian has been SHUNNED . . . meidung as the Amish say.
Don’t read him, don’t respond to him, he doesn’t exist to us anymore.
I hope this brings down the corrupt people in Congress like Tom Delay and Harry Ried. They need to go.
Joe, I’m going to agree with you on this one. I don’t care which flavor they are. If they’re dirty, they need to go down. I’m sick of money-grubbing, bribe-taking, screw-the-people-give-me-money filth that governs this country. Corny as it sounds, it’s supposed to be government “by the people, for the people”. I want it back!
XXX,Bro, I am with you on the last post. I want it back also.
“I’m betting we don’t hear any conservative on this blog call for a full investigation and for dirty politicians to pay for their crimes.”
XXX: You lose.
And as the party in power, of course it’s going to be tougher on Republicans. Abramoff spent his money where he gets the biggest bang. It ain’t that the Dems are pure, they just didn’t get the opportunity.
The one who ended up dead is the same person they frauded out of his business. That’s the case in Florida.
I’m looking forward to seeing if this will bring out just how much it costs to do business with the Republican party in our Country.
How much did a 15 minute meeting to our president cost?
Abramoff himself gave a fairly high number of our goverment reps that he could bring down with him and I for one applaud all the way.
Funny hardly anyone gave back the money until he plead guilty. Why was wrong with giving the money back when he was indicted? Was it just too easy to believe he’d slip the noose again the way he did in Guam?
One more point on giving the money to charity. How many of these politicians will give the money to one of their own fictitious charities?
What use to find paradise if heaven be lost? Absolute power corrupts absolutely!
XXX,Good grief, take a page out of the liberal bible (obfuscate and/or change the subject) and you flip out, even though everything I wrote was true. Apparently you can’t handle the truth (I always wanted to use that). But seriously, what difference does it make if it’s ten days, ten years, or ten centuries. Those who forget (or cover up) the past are doomed to repeat it. There were, are, and will be crooks in ALL of politics. Sheesh. get over it. That’s not changing the subject: thats adding to the conversations.
Who’s dead? Did he/she die after eating a quarter pounder? Define “suspiciously dead.” Is that anything like being a little pregnant?
Nobody’s denying Abramoff is a scum of the first order, but the premise of this blog itself, comparing Abramoff to a mafia figure, is rather stupid in my book. Why denigrate the mafia by associating it with scum? (That’s sarcasm, for you what got no sense of humor)
While we’re comparing a REAL charactor to a FICTIONAL one, why don’t we compare Bill Clinton to Zippy; Bush to Underdog; McCain to G I Joe; Snoop Dog to . . . uh . . . Snoop Dog?Now THAT would be a worthwhile blog. (More sarcasm, for you what don’t get it.)
Hmmm. . . “Are we having fun yet?” (Don’t look under the desk)
Rage,Why? Are you there?
Walker, do you suppose the mafia comparisons could have anything to do with Abramoff’s penchant for mimicing “the Godfather”? Do you suppose there’s the remotest chance?
“even though everything I wrote was true.”
Undoubtably it was true, it was just way out in left field somewhere. It didn’t have anything to do with the subject. As usual, rather than make a point, you changed the subject.
” But seriously, what difference does it make if it’s ten days, ten years, or ten centuries. Those who forget (or cover up) the past are doomed to repeat it.”
It makes a difference because the “Past” has obviously been repeated and we’re not discussing past transgressions here, we’re discussing the Abramoff scandal. Jeez, how many times do I have to point that out?
And PULEEEZE….would you knock off the kindergartener refrain of, “Well, the Democrats did it”? Answer me up front. Does that make it alright in your book?
Now I know you’ll sit down and write some flip comeback, but you seriously need to watch the tone, and try to stay on subject. I’m not interested in playing highschool debate, and you’re wasting your time playing one-upsmanship. I’m not interested. Stick to the subject, or don’t bother me.
XXX,As with everything else, if you don’t like my posts, don’t read them.
The analogy between what happened when Gingrich and Weber wrested control of the house from the Democrats is poignant: the democrats lost the house for the same reason. If you don’t like the idea of the democrats past transgressions being brought up, who cares?
My point is: This blog is using fictitious character and a real low-life as a comparison point: stupid in my book. I could care less if Abramoff dresses in tights and wears a pink wig.
I could also care less if he is a Democrat, Republican or independent. The point is he is as crooked as they come and the comparison, Abramoff’s to the Democrat actions in 1994, is valid. While you seem to think let bygones be bygones, I think that one hand DOESN’T wash the other and BOTH parties need to take a real hard look at this crap that passes for influence peddling. Otherwise, when the Democrats take over by default next election, we will be slogging down the same road in ten years.
So, pardon me if I use a little sarcasm in my blogs, but I do have a sense of humor, however warped you think it may be. Maybe it’s something you should think about getting yourself. After all, if you can’t laugh at politics, what can you laugh at? There are many a great comedian that made their living off politics, and while I don’t claim to be in their league, I do satisfy my own funny bone at times. You are taking all this way too serious. Lighten up. Or have you got the hots for Melissa? Bet that’s it, dude:-)
I see the ‘everybody does it’ and ‘both sides are equally at fault’ spin being trotted out, on cue.
Well, in this case, both sides aren’t equal, and everybody doesn’t do it. What’s at issue is the creation, by Abramoff, Grover Norquist, Tom Delay, and Ralph Reed, of a funding machine designed to suck up all the lobbying money dispersed on K Street in DC, in order to fund the GOP majority. That’s what is at issue. Abramoff was the GOP’s bagman, and only theirs: out of $300,000 in political contributions, he gave $0 to Democrats. Zero. This thing was a Republican project from start to finish, and its success was measured in Tom Delay’s ability to spread the wealth around for the purpose of keeping together his voting bloc.
To now say that Democrats were equally implicated is a lie. Plain and simple. The money they received, from Indian tribes and others, was, in many cases, money they would have received from constituents whose interests they had a history of serving. Although the fact that it came through Abramoff doesn’t necessarily taint it or compromise them, all would be well-advised to return it.
Nevertheless, the point of the machine that Abramoff constructed, along with his longtime friends from the College Republicans Reed, Norquist, Rove, and Delay, was to seize control of all the lobbyist money in DC, to pay the money necessary to keep congressmen in line, and to shut the Democrats out of power.
Once Abramoff starts singing to the prosecutor, I expect that it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish between the contemporary GOP apparatus and the machine Abramoff has constructed. A ‘bipartisan scandal,’ my foot. This thing goes directly to the highest levels of the GOP. No case exists for tying it to the Democratic Party. None.
JM, “Are we having fun yet?” is Zippy’s trademark line. Figure the rest out for yourself. . .
P.S. Feel free to use humor (you’ll notice I played along), but this current scandal does, in fact, have GOP fingerprints all over it. Corrupt Dems (Dan Rostenkowski, James Traficant) have gone to prison, and so it shall be for Republicans.
Rage,”"Are we having fun yet?” is Zippy’s trademark line.”I know, my favorite funny. I was pushing it a bit:-)
I am not denying that the Republicans should head for the big house if they are convicted. They should. The GOP screwed up royally and should go down for it. I never stated that this was a bipartisan scandal either, I was simply pointing out the fact that they were not the only ones guilty of the same crime: as you said, there are some scumbag Dems sitting there waiting for them.
My point is and always will be that BOTH parties are guilty of the same offence, and who cares in what tinme frame it takes place in. What gets me is the people who don’t want to hear that their Party did something bad; heaven forbid, we’re scandalless. I don’t need Joe to say it ain’t so.
Walker, you pull quotes out of context and pass over what I said to make a point.
“And to my way of thinking, any Democratic politician that is mixed up in this needs to be left swinging in the breeze right along with the crooked republicans. A crook is a crook. Any politician who gets caught in this mess needs to pay.”
What part of that don’t you understand? Which part indicates that I favor prosecuting dirty republicans over dirty Democrats?
“As with everything else, if you don’t like my posts, don’t read them.”
Don’t address me directly then.
CF says:”I see the ‘everybody does it’ and ‘both sides are equally at fault’ spin being trotted out, on cue.”
Read his excellent post, Walker.
And bravo, Rage!
xxx, I’m about as flaming a conservative as you are a flaming liberal. I too want my country back, and if that means more Washington conservatives are outed than liberals, then so be it, and let the debates/elections begin. I’ll say it over and over and care less what you libs think, but corruption is not ‘party’ trait. It is an individual trait.
Then why are Republicans so much more corrupt, ID?
PL: Are you really contributing anything to the discussion with comments like that? If you’re frustrated, try buying a heavy bag and work out on it or something. You can pretend it’s President Bush, or Uncle Sam or someone else you really hate.
ID, where did the “Flaming” part come in?
“I too want my country back, and if that means more Washington conservatives are outed than liberals, then so be it, and let the debates/elections begin.”
Fair enough.
ID, if that’s truly what you believe, then you have no arguement with me. We’ve found a point of agreement. And as I’ve said, I don’t care what political stripe they are, if they’re crooked, they need to go down. I don’t want a crook representing my party because it reflects badly on same.
Currently, it’s republicans in the hot seat. The money follows power. As our weird friend Myphisto said, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
PL, I believe ID made a sincere post. Your reply was a cheap shot.
PL,Facts, figures and perspectives. Maybe you missed that class in the public school system? Make a list of the ‘convicted’ Republicans and a list of the ‘convicted’ Democrats. Since you libs are so worried about civil liberties, I’m sure you don’t mind not including allegations. After all, that would violate due process:)
XXX”"And to my way of thinking, any Democratic politician that is mixed up in this needs to be left swinging in the breeze right along with the crooked republicans. A crook is a crook. Any politician who gets caught in this mess needs to pay.”
And then, “What part of that don’t you understand? Which part indicates that I favor prosecuting dirty republicans over dirty Democrats?”
Where o where do I disagree with you at all in any of my post? Please point it out. For example: “XXX, I do agree that crooks is crooks regardless of how they vote. If they are in politics, and they break the law, the punishment should be severe enough that they will never dull the political scene again, at least. At most, throw them in with Bubba for a hard twenty” Seems to me that indicates both parties. Seems to me I agree with you one hundred percent.
And this, “And PULEEEZE….would you knock off the kindergartener refrain of, “Well, the Democrats did it”? Answer me up front. Does that make it alright in your book?”
Again, where do I say that in any way I think it is okay in my book? Because you think that I bring up the Democrats? My point, again, for you to contemplate it this: Both parties have been, are and will be guilty of falling under the spell of influence peddling. If BOTH parties don’t come up with a way of negating and banishing this obnoxious form of government entitlement, and dealing with it in a bipartisan manner, then in another ten years we will be going over the same road again. If you have an argument with that, tell it to the wall.
I could care less if joe democrat broke the law in 1823, and jim republican broke it in 2006. It is still going on and when it happened in 1994, nothing was done to prevent it from happening again. And you want to know why? Because WE elected the morons who value money over the American people. WE re-elected morons who don’t have the huevos to do what they should to stop this crap. WE keep putting the same people in the same office over and over again, and the status quo stays just the same as it did ten years ago. So if you want to blame me for bringing this up, be my guest.
Now you know why I have a healthy disregard for both parties: They get so rabid when someone criticizes their party: I know my parties screwed up, but you can’t tell me that.
Well let me tell you how I really feel: The democratic party is full of whiners and crybabies who have totally forgotten who the great leaders they produced in the past are. The Republicans are loaded down with direction-less idiots, who don’t have a clue that this is the twenty-first century. I have not seem ONE person in government today who I can honestly look at and say: “You are the one I want leading me into this twenty-first century.” When and if that person comes along I will be the first in line to vote for them. As it is now, I might as well throw darts at a spinning wheel: they’re all the same.
So if you want to play some silly game of who can blame whom, and don’t bring up my party, have fun, because as I said, if you can’t laugh at politics, and its hoards of fanatical followers, who can you laugh at?
“Where o where do I disagree with you at all in any of my post? Please point it out.”
As usual, you’re out of context. Try again.
“Again, where do I say that in any way I think it is okay in my book? Because you think that I bring up the Democrats?”
Straw man arguement. I didn’t say anything about “bringing up Democrats”. Lame. try again.
“Now you know why I have a healthy disregard for both parties”
Because you don’t really stand for anything? UGH! Try again.
“So if you want to play some silly game of who can blame whom, and don’t bring up my party, have fun, because as I said, if you can’t laugh at politics, and its hoards of fanatical followers, who can you laugh at?”
What a steaming pile! I brought up my own party…repeatedly!I can laugh at lots of things, Walker. I don’t consider being badgered, misquoted, and talked down to a laughing matter. In fact, it could be considered an invitation to a flame war. Something to consider as you compose your reply.
Now I’m going to be offline for a while…time to go watch “the book of Daniel”.
What are we to do ……. stop paying taxes?
Our thieving lobbiests already buy and pay for the best government they can buy?
Flame war? If you compare posts, you will see, If you take the time to read them, that I agree with you. I use my way of thinking to do so. It’s called thinking for myself.
Not stand for anything? Who in his right mind would want to stand for either party? As I already stated, they both stand for a total of nothing. Please prove me wrong using quantifiable arguments, not flames, which seem to be the usual liberal line. Your party has not come up with one new idea since Clinton. The conservative party has been hiding behind some nonsensical religious agenda that offers nothing in the way of real leadership. Where are the party leaders? The ones that offer something concrete? The ones we, as a people, can respect?
I stand for honesty in government; it ain’t there. I stand for real leadership in washington; it aint there. I stand for new ideas in washington; they ain’t there. I stand for voters who are willing to truly change the ridiculous course this country is on; they ain’t there. I stand for people who are willing to change their whole outlook on Washington, and make this a government of the people, by the people and for the people; the way it used to be.
Abramoff will heads for jail, as will most, if not all of the people associated with him, whatever party they belong to. And then the American people will forget about it, vote in the samo-samo, and life will go on as we know it: full of hypocrites populating Washington, and the same clueless people voting them in.
And to think this blog started about a real person, albeit a con and a thief, and a fictional mafia thug. Who da thunk.
Enjoy the show. I’m watching PGA golf, and playing tomorrow:-)
John Public, the lobbies do the buying, but we, the taxpayers do the paying. We pay through higher prices and of course, higher taxes.
Walker, you’re so full of crap! A pox on both their houses? My, don’t you get reasonable…A post that wasn’t insulting or down-your-nose. You want to discuss, fine, otherwise bring your Bic.
Where are you playing tomorrow? I’m thinking Echo hills or North Newton myself.
He says Zippy is his favorite cartoon. . .
Hope you had a good golf game, Mr. Enigma. Don’t go away; you’re interesting.
XXX,”A pox on both their houses? My, don’t you get reasonable…A post that wasn’t insulting or down-your-nose. You want to discuss, fine, otherwise bring your Bic.” Interesting group of words. I believe I stated my case rather clearly.
And by so doing, “Walker, you’re so full of crap!”, which means you can call me diarrea boy if you wish, and I will wear the monikor proudly.
And when I asked, “Please prove me wrong using quantifiable arguments, not flames, which seem to be the usual liberal line.”, and then got the above, that would make you, hmmm, let’s see . . . constipated dude?
Carthage muni. Excellent layout. Joining up with one of the managers at work. Should be fun.
I was accused of a “cheap shot” in saying that Republicans were more corrupt than Democrats and I should “prove it.”
Okay, here it is for those of you that haven’t been paying attention.
Enjoy–
“No man is above the law, and no man is below the law. That’s the principle that we all hold very dear in this country.”- Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) – 10/98
“As John Adams said, we are a nation of laws, not of men. Our nation has survived the failings of its leaders before, but it cannot survive exceptions to the rule of law in our system of equal justice for all.”- Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-AK) – 12/98
“The rule of law protects you and it protects me from the midnight fire on our roof or the 3 a.m. knock on our door. It challenges abuse of authority.”- Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) – 12/98
“[A] nation of laws cannot be ruled by a person who breaks the law. Otherwise, it would be as if we had one set of rules for the leaders and another for the governed.”- Rep. Richard Armey (R-TX) – 12/98
“No one is above the law, not even the president.” – Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Connecticut) – 12/98
******************************************************
Jack Abramoff—super Republican fundraiser, indicted on wire fraud and conspiracy
Michael Scanlon—one of Abramoff’s close associates, indicted on conspiracy to defraud Indian tribes in a casino scam
Adam Kidan—one of Abramoff’s minions, indicted on wire fraud and conspiracy
Ralph Reed—campaigning for Lt. Gov. of Georgia and part of Abramoff’s casino swindle http://www.pensitoreview.com/category/gop-scandals/
Governor of California, Arnold Swartzenegger–Ethics probe for accepting salary from two men’s fitness magazines while governor, possible kickback from American Media publisher to Schwarzenegger charity and silence money to a woman who had an extramarital affair with Schwarzenegger. This probe may go criminal.
Randy “Duke” Cunningham–resigned in late November after pleading guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to companies. http://www.pensitoreview.com/category/gop-scandals/
Brent Wilkes—resigned his California positions after it was revealed that he was appointed based on recommendations of Randy Cunningham after the Dukester gave Gov. Swartzenegger 70,000 dollars. The Dukester claims that Wilkes gave him $ 635,000 in bribes for which Cunningham funneled millions in federal money to Wilkes’s company.Wilkes further used his company as a front to circulate money to other candidates and office holders including but not limited to Henry Bonilla, Roy Brown, Rick Clayburgh, John T. Doolittle, Maria Guadalupe Garcia, George W. Gekas, Lindsay Graham, Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Samuel Johnson, Thaddeus G. McCotter, Constance Morella, Devin Nune, Steve Pearce, Bill Van de Weghe Jr., Jerry Weller, Tom DeLay, Dick Cheney and even George W. Bush.http://cernigsnewshog.blogspot.com/2005/12/gop-scandals-tip-of-iceberg.html
Ralph Reed—former leader of the “Christian Coalition” and candidate for Lt. Governor of Georgia. He allegedly stands to take $4.2 million from Jack Abramoff.
Bob Ney—Republican Congressman from Ohio. According to the WaPo, “Ney has received campaign contributions from Abramoff and has accepted favors, including dinners at the lobbyist’s downtown restaurant, a fundraiser at the lobbyist’s MCI Center box, and a golfing trip to Scotland in August 2002.”http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/04/AR2005110401197.html
Connecticut Gov. John Rowland—convicted and imprisoned in 2004 of felony charges of accepting free renovations to his vacation cottage as well as charter flights and vacations from a state contractor, and of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service by not paying taxes on the free services. He also lied to investigators and the public.
Steve Rosen, American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (the infamous AIPAC)—indicted for conspiracy to obtain classified information
Lewis “Scooter” Libby, VP’s Cheney chief of staff—indicted on five counts of false statements and perjury
Republican National Treasurer Bob Kjellander–Under Federal probe for steering investment contracts to Illinois Teachers Retirement Fund.
Former Illinois State House Leader State Rep. Lee Daniels (Elmhurst)– Under Federal investigation for misuse of state employees for political activity and state contract kickbacks
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels—Under Federal investigation for soliciting contributions from the state highway system
Kansas Congressional Candidate Adam Taff (2004)–indicted for campaign violations and wire fraud.
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher—Criminal probe ongoing over state employee “merit pay.” Also received tainted money from Abramoff’s ARMPAC.
Mass. Vice GOP Chair Lawrence Novak—Arrested by FBI for money laundering
Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, House Majority Leader–Investigated for trading illegal PAC money with DeLay through Blunt’s Rely on Your Beliefs Fund. Received Indian casino money from tribes represented by Abramoff.
James Tobin, Northeast political director National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee–Indicted, conspiracy, GOTV phone line jamming, Sununu 2002 campaign. Convicted Dec. 15, on 2 telephone harassment charges.
Chuck McGee, former Exec. Dir. New Hampshire Republican Party–Pleaded guilty, conspiracy, GOTV phone line jamming, Sununu 2002 campaign
New York Sen. candidate Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro–Probed for campaign donations from mobsters. Her husband served a year in prison for tax evasion
Ohio Govenor Robert Taft–Misuse of state funds/ethics violations Convicted, four first degree misdemeanors, pleaded no contest (admission of guilt). $4000 fine and public apology, two Federal Grand Juries, one state Grand Jury still investigating Taft.
Thomas Noe, Bush-Cheney 04 campaign chair, NW Ohio; Turnpike Commissioner; University Regent–Misuse of state funds for rare coin fund. Indicted by Federal grand jury, arrested in Florida.
Brian Hicks, Taft chief of staff, member Ohio University Board of Trustees and Cherie Carroll, Taft Chief of Staff Executive Secretary—both convicted
Walden O’Dell, Chairman & CEO of Diebold, Bush-Cheney major campaign contributor who promised to “deliver” Ohio to Bush in 2004–Resigned for “personal reasons” Dec. 13, 2005 after initiation of a class action lawsuit against Diebold for securities fraud.
State Rep. Dan Doyle, Oregon—convicted of misuse of campaign funds
Wyoming Rep. Bill Janklow–Guilty, second degree manslaughter, imprisoned. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. Lied to investigators.
U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist–Under Securities and Exchange Commission investigation for insider trading on his Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) stock. Lied about his portfolio being a “blind trust.”
Rep. Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader–Probed for campaign finance fraud, ties to Abramoff/Kidan, Saipan sweat shops. Grand Jury, Travis County prosecutor, and House Ethics Committee probing DeLay. Indicted by Travis County District Attorney for 1 count of criminal conspiracy and 2 counts of money laundering. Arrested and booked at Harris County jail October 20, 2005. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. Conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering charges still stand after Texas Judge dropped the one count of criminal conspiracy on December 5, 2005.
Jim Ellis, Director Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC) PAC tied to DeLay and Abramoff , John Colyandro, Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC), DeLay associate, Warren RoBold, Lobbyist and DeLay associate—all indicted.
^^^Did somebody have too much caffeen this morning?
See that’s what I’m talking about. You’re damned if you do (provide evidence) and damned if you don’t.
Talking politics may be a game to some comfortable and well-off people, but it’s life or death to a large percentage of our population–the poor bastards in Iraq being example A.
I’m not playing games.
PL, seriously, why don’t you run for office? You have a lot of strong convictions, why not see how much of the populace supports them? My guess is that most of the voting public is right of your views, but I could be wrong. Why not try it and see?
You’re operating under the assumption that people vote for who represents their views the most.
They don’t.
They vote for whom they LIKE the best.
That’s why negative campaigning is so effective.
I think my role in the political process is helping good people get elected.
Besides, I already have a job I like.