I'm constantly on the look-out for the dirt on Conservatives...

[j2k4]

here's an interesting piece from the biased liberal media:

This part's right.

www.slate.com:

Corrupt Intentions
What Cunningham's misdeeds illustrate about conservative Washington.
By Michael Kinsley
Posted Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at 7:08 AM ET

It used to be said that the moral arc of a Washington career could be divided into four parts: idealism, pragmatism, ambition, and corruption. You arrive with a passion for a cause, determined to challenge the system. Then you learn to work for your cause within the system. Then rising in the system becomes your cause. Then finally you exploit the system—your connections in it, and your understanding of it—for personal profit.

These are things said by Democrats about Republicans.

And it remains true, sort of, but faster. Even the appalling Jack Abramoff had ideals at one point. But he took a shortcut straight to corruption. On the other hand, you can now trace the traditional moral arc in the life of conservative-dominated Washington itself, which began with Ronald Reagan's inauguration and marks its 25th anniversary in January. Reagan and company arrived to tear down the government and make Washington irrelevant. Now the airport and a giant warehouse of bureaucrats are named after him.

Kinsley believes Washington to be "conservative-dominated"?

Just a wee bit out-of-touch; he ignores the entrenched old-line democrat bureaucracies.

By the 20th anniversary of their arrival, when an intellectually corrupt Supreme Court ruling gave them complete control of the government at last, the conservatives had lost any stomach for tearing down the government. George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" was more like an apology than an ideology. Meanwhile Tom DeLay—the real boss in Congress—openly warned K Street that unless all the choice lobbying jobs went to Republicans, lobbyists could not expect to have any influence with the Republican Congress. This warning would be meaningless, of course, unless the opposite was also true: If you hire Republican lobbyists, you and they will have influence over Congress. And darned if DeLay didn't turn out to be exactly right about this!

Again, none of this happens when the squeaky-clean democrats are in charge.

Charlie Trie, John Huang, Marc Rich....?

Never heard of them.

No prominent Republican upbraided DeLay for his open invitation to bribery. And bribery is what it is: not just campaign contributions, but the promise of personal enrichment for politicians and political aides who play ball for a few years before cashing in.

Normally, a columnist might consider a proffer of documentation at this point, but, hey-it's Michael Kinsley.

When Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty this week to accepting a comic cornucopia of baubles, plus some cash, from defense contractors, the vast right-wing conspiracy acted with impressive speed and forcefulness to expel one of its most doggedly loyal loudmouths and pack him off to a long jail term. Even President Bush, who possesses the admirable quality of an affable capacity for understanding and forgiveness on the personal level, seized an unnecessary opportunity to wish the blackguard ill. There was no talk of "sadness"—the usual formula for expressing sympathy without excusing guilt.

This is anathema to Democrats; that the Republicans fail to employ the Democrat strategy of "DENY, DENY, DENY" is a cause of much derision.

Such things never happen to Democrats anyway, owing to their inherent goodness.

A little hypocritical, actually; the Dems accuse the Republicans of trying to "bury" the issue by tossing one of their own overboard.

Of course, there is no real cynicism if you're never guilty, right?

This astringent response would be more impressive if the basic facts about Cunningham's corruption hadn't been widely known for months. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported last June that a company seeking business from the Pentagon had bought Cunningham's southern California house from him, held it unoccupied briefly, and sold it—in the hottest real estate market in human history—for a $700,000 loss. You didn't need to know that Duke's haul included two antique commodes to smell the stench. Yet all the Republican voices now saying that Cunningham deserves his punishment were silent until he clearly and unavoidably was going to get it.

Just so-the one thing you don't do is let an investigation run it's course before you reap all the political hay from it that you can.

Like medieval scholastics counting the angels on the head of a pin, Justice Department lawyers are struggling with the question of when favors to and from a member of Congress or a congressional aide take on the metaphysical quality of a corrupt bribe. The brazenness of the DeLay-Abramoff circle has caused prosecutors to look past traditional distinctions, such as that between campaign contributions and cash or other favors to a politician personally. Or the distinction between doing what a lobbyist wants after he has taken you to Scotland to play golf, and promising to do what he wants before he takes you to Scotland to play golf.

Jim Wright?

Can't remember him either, huh?

He was from Texas, too.

These distinctions don't really touch on what's corrupt here, which is simply the ability of money to give some people more influence than others over the course of a democracy where, civically if not economically, we are all supposed to be equal. So, where do you draw the line between harmless favors and corrupt bribery?

Charlie Trie, John Huang, Peter Paul....no, wait, I already mentioned them...

It's not an easy question, if you're talking about sending people to prison. But it's a very easy question if you're just talking: The answer is that it's all corrupt bribery. People and companies hire lobbyists because it works. Lobbyists get the big bucks because their efforts earn or save clients even bigger bucks in their dealings with the government. Members of Congress are among the world's greatest bargains: What are a couple of commodes compared with $163 million of Pentagon contracts?

And everyone knows only Republicans use lobbyists, right?

Perhaps conceding more than he intended, former Democratic Sen. John Breaux, now on K Street, told the New York Times that a member of Congress will be swayed more by 2,000 letters from constituents on some issue than by anything a lobbyist can offer. I guess if it's a lobbyist versus 1,900 constituents, it's too bad for the constituents. That seems fair.

One does not seek commentary from Republicans on such subjects; they might mention Democrats.

I suppose it's easy to pick on the Republicans right now, since they are the ones in control - the argument could be made that it wouldn't be much different if the tables were turned. Still, I miss the good old days when 'political scandal' usually meant marital infidelity or some such.

Yes, and that's all Democrats are ever guilty of.

Charlie Trie, John Huang, Peter Paul, Marc Rich....DAMN! There I go again...

[Busyman]

here's an interesting piece from the biased liberal media:

This part's right.



One does not seek commentary from Republicans on such subjects; they might mention Democrats.

I suppose it's easy to pick on the Republicans right now, since they are the ones in control - the argument could be made that it wouldn't be much different if the tables were turned. Still, I miss the good old days when 'political scandal' usually meant marital infidelity or some such.

Yes, and that's all Democrats are ever guilty of.

Charlie Trie, John Huang, Peter Paul, Marc Rich....DAMN! There I go again...

j2 I think both sides pick nitpick when it's convenient.

I, for one, don't always need a conviction to make my mind up. Repubs, when it's one of their own act like they do.

I think many Dems smile when a Repub fucks up 'cause they're were the main ones making a wasted stink about Clinton.

I remember a coupla Repubs having to come out with there adulterous affairs after the Clinton scandal mainly because they had no choice ('cause they were previously outed in the media) and God forbid they do what Clinton did and lie.

I'll hafta admit it's kinda wild that Frist and Delay are in the crosshairs....top Repubs.

The sooner people realize there is no bad party, as faras corruption goes, the better.

Ideals are an entirely different matter.

[j2k4]

Well, it strikes me in such cases that Conservatives believe men to be human, and are less likely to excuse poor behavior without penalty.

The flesh is weak, and solutions created by mere men are not infallible.

Liberals, on the other hand, believe in the anointed intelligentsia...the "expert".

The intelligentsia pay lip-service to utopia and purport to guide those less gifted toward that goal, and dare not confess it as unachievable.

Those who do the Liberals' bidding are not to be criticized, only exalted and never, ever questioned.

Your "nit-picking" comment is well-taken, BTW.

[krispy82]

Some people have entirely to much time on their hands... It's funny how some individuals can put sooo much effort into making one look bad, that they in return make themselves look like pompous assholes...

[j2k4]

Some people have entirely to much time on their hands... It's funny how some individuals can put sooo much effort into making one look bad, that they in return make themselves look like pompous assholes...

Just so.

[Busyman]

Abramoff Pleads Guilty to 3 Counts
Lobbyist to Testify About Lawmakers In Corruption Probe

By Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 4, 2006; Page A01

Jack Abramoff, the once-powerful lobbyist at the center of a wide-ranging public corruption investigation, pleaded guilty yesterday to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to provide evidence about members of Congress.

The plea deal could have enormous legal and political consequences for the lawmakers on whom Abramoff lavished luxury trips, skybox fundraisers, campaign contributions, jobs for their spouses, and meals at Signatures, the lobbyist's upscale restaurant.


Jack Abramoff, center, leaves Federal Court in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006. The once-powerful lobbyist pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud, agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors investigating influence peddling that has threatened powerful members of the U.S. Congress. At right is his attorney Abbe Lowell. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert -- AP)
LEGAL DOCUMENTS
FindLaw.com: Abramoff Plea Agreement
U.S. v. Abramoff (pdf file)
Plea Agreement - U.S. v. Abramoff (pdf)
Graphic
Copping a Plea
The long influence-peddling investigation into the activities of lobbyist Jack Abramoff reached a new level with his guilty plea in U.S. District Court on Jan. 3.

TRANSCRIPT
Justice Department News Conference on Abramoff Guilty Plea
Justice Dept., IRS and FBI officials discuss the Abramoff plea agreement.

Special Report


Abramoff, the once-powerful lobbyist at the center of a wide-ranging public corruption investigation, pleaded guilty Jan. 3 to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to provide evidence about members of Congress.

• Abramoff Pleads Guilty (Jan. 4, 2006)
• Fast Rise, Steep Fall (Dec. 29, 2005)
• Stacking the Deck (Oct. 16, 2005)

» FULL COVERAGE
Abramoff Lobbying Questioned
A Tribe Takes Grim Satisfaction in Abramoff's Fall
Abramoff and His Vanishing Friends
Fashion:Jack Abramoff, Wearing a Guilty Look
Bush to Give Up $6,000 In Abramoff Contributions
In Florida, Abramoff Again Pleads Guilty
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In court papers, prosecutors refer to only one congressman: Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio). But Abramoff, who built a political alliance with House Republicans, including former majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas, has agreed to provide information and testimony about half a dozen House and Senate members, officials familiar with the inquiry said. He also is to provide evidence about congressional staffers, Interior Department workers and other executive branch officials, and other lobbyists.

"The corruption scheme with Mr. Abramoff is very extensive," Alice S. Fisher, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, said at a news conference with other high-ranking officials of the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI. "We're going to follow this wherever it goes."

Fisher declined to identify the officials under scrutiny. "We name people in indictments," she said, adding: "We are moving very quickly."

Among the allegations in the court documents is that Abramoff arranged for payments totaling $50,000 for the wife of an unnamed congressional staffer in return for the staffer's help in killing an Internet gambling measure. The Washington Post has previously reported that Tony Rudy, a former top aide to DeLay, worked with Abramoff to kill such a bill in 2000 before going to work for Abramoff.

Abramoff's appearance in U.S. District Court came nearly two years after his lobbying practices gained public notice because of the enormous payments -- eventually tallied at $82 million -- that he and a public relations partner received from casino-rich Indian tribes. Yesterday, he admitted defrauding four of those tribal clients out of millions of dollars. He also pleaded guilty to evading taxes, to conspiring to bribe lawmakers, and to conspiring to induce former Capitol Hill staffers to violate the one-year ban on lobbying their former bosses.

Under terms of his plea agreement, Abramoff can expect to receive a prison sentence of 9 1/2 to 11 years, and he is required to make restitution of $26.7 million to the IRS and to the Indian tribes he defrauded. Today he is to plead guilty to fraud and conspiracy counts in a related case in Florida involving his purchase of a casino cruise line.

Standing before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle in Washington yesterday, Abramoff looked sheepish and sad. "Your Honor, words will not be able to ever express how sorry I am for this, and I have profound regret and sorrow for the multitude of mistakes and harm I have caused," he said softly. "All of my remaining days, I will feel tremendous sadness and regret for my conduct and for what I have done. I only hope that I can merit forgiveness from the Almighty and from those I have wronged or caused to suffer."

Abramoff has been in extensive discussions with government lawyers for months leading up to yesterday's plea.

Ney, chairman of the House Administration Committee, is among the first of those expected to feel the fallout. In the court documents -- which identify him only as "Representative #1" -- Ney is accused of meeting with one of Abramoff's clients in Russia in 2003 to "influence the process for obtaining a [U.S.] visa" for one of the client's relatives and of agreeing to aid a California tribe represented by Abramoff on tax and post office issues.

Ney also placed comments in the Congressional Record backing Abramoff's efforts to gain control of the Florida gambling company, SunCruz Casinos, and offered legislative language sought by Abramoff that would have reopened a Texas tribe's shuttered casino.

There's http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...010300474.html

[vidcc]

Oh come on busy....... this is a non story, just a foaming mouth democrat partisan prosecuter run amock

[clocker]

Oh come on busy....... this is a non story, just a foaming mouth democrat partisan prosecuter run amock

Just so (to steal one of j2's favorite phrases....oh the irony!...wait, I'm American...I don't get irony...or was that satire...nm).
You are aware that at some point in history a Democrat did something much worse...let's talk about that instead.

Just move along...these are not the droids you're looking for.......

[j2k4]

Pay close attention:

More darts are in flight as we debate this, where they land is yet to be seen.

However this shakes out, they offenders should be shot and kicked for dying.

I have not defended any politician of any stripe during this fiasco, though I'm sure no one remembers the fact.

I have made several comments to the effect that the process ought to be allowed to run it's course, and the media's oversteps have not gone un-noticed.

I await the bottom-line just like you fellows.

[vidcc]

I await the bottom-line just like you fellows.

While you do that this lot await a line of bottom



On the plus side congress is donating a lot of money to charity lately....pity the charities are run by Delay