I don’t mean this guy (sadly, there is no longer any reason).
I am talking about how there are some prominent liberals who are complaining about the healthcare reform bill fiasco.
Thanks to President Obama’s indecisive fence-sitting, some in his camp are up in arms because of this very tired debate. One has even defected to the GOP. I understand that the Republicans have defectors too, but this is more of a case of “why” and “when” than anything else. Arlen Specter’s movement to the other side of the aisle wasn’t a surprise since his Republicanism had been suspect for quite a while. And let’s face it, he chose an easy time to do it with the proverbial Democratic boot firmly on the back of the GOP’s neck. Though Parker Griffith’s change of parties is not going to rock the boat regarding numeric representation in Washington, some are looking at the timing as writing on the wall for 2010 and perhaps also 2012 with help from the president’s falling popularity. However, don’t take my word for it, feel free to view the statistics for yourselves. Notice how, according to Rasmussen, 55% of those asked oppose the proposed healthcare legislation. But of course, that doesn’t matter to Mr. Obama who appears determined to let his cronies Reid and Pelosi cram it down America’s throats anyway. For months, many of their own constituents have been vocally speaking out against it but they and our president look like those famous three monkeys:
See no people, Hear no people, Ask no people
Liberals historically keep their dissent away from the public eye as much as possible in order to maintain an agreeable facade. But make no mistake that on the interior, there is a huge vacuum of peer pressure. Any who dares to speak or even think (GASP!) in terms different from the Liberal status quo and is deemed undeterred in doing so is cast into the same bonfire used to burn conservative books.
As President Obama wimps out on Global Warming, Healthcare Reform and even Abortion Rights all at the same time while breaking a boatload of campaign promises in his first year in office, he has apparently fooled himself into thinking that principles aren’t important and that everyone can be pleased simultaneously. However, in the meantime, he is alienating himself from much of his base.
Though there will always people for who he can do no wrong, the ones who matter the most (those who actually pay attention to politics and vote accordingly) are growing more and more disgruntled.
Related posts:
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Now Dfunzy there you and I agree 100% the system does need to be fixed.
Laura,
More of the same from you I see. Blah, blah, blah. Since the Dems are the ones in power of course they get my undivided attention. If it were the Republicans I would do the same. But they are no longer in power. How hard is it for your red headed temper to get that? Up the Prozac dear and come to terms with the fact that the Republicans can’t do squat at this time. Again BDS is a terrible disease and I encourage everyone to donate so we can find a cure for victims like Laura Bramble.
D,
You don’t need to defend yourself. I think I remember quite a few “The Dems did it first” columns and comments from Consti in defense of Bush and cronies treatment of those who disagreed with them. I never cease to be amazed with the shortness of memory of some on this site.
Maybe he’s just bitter because you proved it, which means he cannot say that it didn’t happen or ignore the fact that it did. Now he’ll say that “They all do it”, yet continue to only criticize Dems in office while overlooking anything that the GOP and Tea Partiers do. And claim to be objective. Has any article he has written been solely about a GOP or Tea Party member and been critical in nature? I looked…and looked…and looked…Aparently he found the one floodlight that renders conservatives invisible…
Consti:
First of all Merry Christmas. Second this is not a rant. If you would read you will see, my point is that kind of stuff happens in GOP and Dem administrations. J asked for sources on the GOP scandals and I provided them. The problem is the system needs to be fxed.
Consti,
Some of us have already given our 2 cents’ worth.
WOW!!! I didn’t read all of Crazy ol Dfunzy’s rants because I don’t want to be at my terminal all day! But I will say this… living in the past profits a man nothing. You are like the little kid on the play ground shouting “BUT HE DID IT TOO!!” and stomping your feet. We could go back even further and find Democratic/Republican shenanigans from the Carter era… or the LBJ era… Fact is, we were promised the most transparent and ethical administration in history. And all we got was more of the same greed and corruption.
There has yet to be an answer to who the progressive liberals will blame when they are booted out. I can see by Dfunzys rant that he will blame G.W. Bush. Problem is, he’s no longer in power, and the Republicans don’t really have much power either. BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) is a terrible affliction and I ask each and every one of you to help donate so we can find a cure.
Erick:
I like doing research. And I do my research before I kid around. When I started blogging here I planned to just do satire. Stay strictly with political humor. That doesn’t mean I didn’t plan to research the underlying facts of the satire. Maybe after the New Year and the races heat up, more of the progressives writers here will become more active, and keep this site balanced. Laura does a good job, but she can’t do it by herself. And I will stay strictly with humor. I plan to deliver satirical jabs at both sides. That include Obama too. Though I still support Obama for President until I see a better alternative.
Have a Good Christmas.
Consti,
How very Alinsky of you. Nothing concrete to say, so go for the insult. Must have fallen off your high horse…
J, While I’m shocked that you come to Hillary’s defense (I think you’ve just lost your conservative street cred because you’ve shown that you don’t swallow and gag on the party line), I commend you. She was my choice for Dem candidate for Pres, but oh well…Maybe next time. You’re right, she is a tough old bitch and she will be finished when she decides to be finished. I’d put money on her in a fistfight between her and Pelosi anyday…
D,
See what effect a couple months has on people’s memories? That they forget the widespread and blatant corruption that took place while the GOP had control of the White House and/or Congress. And people won’t forget how angry they are being told they are supposed to be with Obama in two years when the economy is back to normal and the world is more peaceful?
To everyone else,
Since most of you seemed to miss it, here’s some reading on DeLay, Armey, Abramoff, K Street and Nordquist, who has said publicly that it is his intention to shrink government till it was small enough that he can put it in a bathtub and drown it. I wish I was capable of making up lines like that… How come none of you seem to have a response to that, yet want to point the finger at everything that a Dem does that can be taken two ways, and still have the nerve to say you don’t choose sides and are objective?
http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jan/05/nation/na-abramoff5
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0307.confessore.html
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010514/dreyfuss
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2005-06-01/news/a-bug-in-windows-gop/
http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2005/10/06/rovean_empire/index2.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/boyernewt1.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/citizen-k-street/chapters/introduction/
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3161.html
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bad+for+the+Jews,+worse+for+the+Christians:+How+Abramoff,+Reed,+and…-a0143919135
http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2005/3216_christian_coalition.html- This is from Lyndon LaRouche’s (!) website…
Merry Christmas!
dfunzy,
Qualifying this by saying that I think you do excellent research, you either:
(a) Must have a night job;
(b) Need a job because you obviously have WAY too much time on your hands or;
(c) Should get fired because you are using your company computer to conduct extensive, irrelevant (to your company’s needs) research and writing mile-long comments about things that happened years ago but that may or may not have an impact on what will happen years from now.
You can cancel (c) if you work for a liberal political organization who is in the business of digging up skeletons.
If you are self-employed and/or have employees, then knock ‘em dead.
Wow! It looks like my buddy David Carradine has turned into a real trash-talk magnet!
Regarding Dubya, he is a mere amateur when it comes to corruption and scandal, as is evidenced below by the A to Z Guide of Clinton Scandals:
http://www.io.com/~cjburke/clinton/clinatoz.html
I have mentioned many times how corruption has no political affiliates. The Dems and GOP both have their share of clowns. I just happen to be a Conservative who is also a Constitutionalist. I do lean toward the GOP more (if given no other choice) because they are supposed to line up more with the principles I believe in – those that are better for America.
Of course, there are a lot of things that are “supposed” to be.
D,
I said L looks through anti-capitalist glasses, I can respect that, you however are looking through a crack kalidascope. No name calling? I can’t resist, HEY YOU DOPE, did you notice all your example are either a scandal or prosecuted!
Thats my point, what is unacceptable, illegal and immoral, THE SAME behavior is now just “part of the process”.
Hello Chicago politics in DC, only without an honest attorney general or press saying anything! D, are you blinded that badly, take those glasses off!
Erick, my great co-advocate of all that is good and pure, fellow fighter for freedom and justice, we have found an area of disagreement.
Don’t throw me out of our little Justice League here at 2012!
I know for what you speak. BUT, Hill is a true beleiver my friend, and PRO-AMERICA. She would certainly act as libs do, justify, bend rules, speak looking through L glasses, BUT, she would not stoop to this level.
Read Michael Medveds book on her, he was a friend and attended college with her. She would keep this country safe and strong. She’s a powerful bitch, but she’s a pro-American bitch and thats worth something.
She would not cow-tow and make us weak in the eyes of our enemies, and she has loyalty. The One and Reid and Pelosi, will thow anybody and any principle under the bus for personal power and Socialist overthrow of our great nation.
Sorry. At the end of the GOP scandal are some the notes I made while working on an article about McCain. It has nothing to do with scandal.
Rick Renzi – Indicted – Trial Scheduled for October 14, 2008
On April 19, 2007, the FBI raided the family business offices of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ). The FBI is currently pursuing two investigations against Renzi.
The first investigation concerns land-swap legislation from 2005 that inappropriately advantaged a former business partner. Renzi announced legislation that would swap government property for land owned by James Sandlin. Sandlin was then able to sell his land for a sizeable profit. Renzi also failed to disclose a $200,000 check he received from a Sandlin in 2005.
Renzi is also being investigated for signing legislation in November 2003 that benefited a military contractor who employs Renzi’s father. The firm, ManTech International Corp., now holds over $400 million in government contracts with options for an additional $1.1 billion in services.
On February 22, 2008, Renzi was indicted in Arizona on 35 counts, including conspiracy, money laundering, and other charges. The main charges center on a federal land deal; separately, Renzi is charged with a conspiracy to “embezzle and misappropriate client premiums [from his insurance company] to fund his congressional campaign.” Renzi has pleaded not guilty and a trial date has been set for October 14, 2008. In the meantime, on May 22, 2008, Renzi’s legal team sought to exclude wiretap recordings of conversations between Renzi and his defense, claiming client-attorney privilege.
James Tobin – Found Guilty on Two Counts – Pending Appeals Decision
Mitchell Wade – Pleaded Guilty – Status Conference Scheduled for March 17th
Mitchell Wade, President of the defense contracting firm MZM, Inc., pleaded guilty on February 24th, 2006 to one count of conspiring both to bribe Congressman Randall “Duke” Cunningham and to tax evasion; one count of Use of Interstate Facilities to Promote Bribery; one count of conspiring to deprive the Defense Department of the honest services of its employees; and one count of election fraud.
In addition to bribing Cunningham in exchange for help procuring defense contracts, Wade also provided “illegal benefits to Defense Department officials,” and attempted “to curry favor with two other members of Congress by making illegal campaign contributions.”
Wade faces up to 11 years and 3 months incarceration.
Wade’s orignal status conference was scheduled for August 21, 2006. It has been repeatedly postponed due to his ongoing cooperation with federal prosectors’ investigations. His conference was moved to March 17, 2008, then April 28, 2008. U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina will sentence Wade on December 15, 2008.
Brent Wilkes – Convicted – Sentenced to 12 Years
On November 5, 2007, Brent Wilkes was found guilty of thirteen counts, including bribing a public official, money laundering and honest services wire fraud. Wilkes was the owner of the defense contracting firm ACDS, Inc. On February 13, 2007, he was indicted of twenty-five counts concerning his relationship with former Congressman Duke Cunningham. He gave Cunningham more than $600,000 in illegal cash and gifts in exchange for Cunningham’s help with securing more than $80 million in Pentagon contracts.
Wilkes also allegedly secured several contracts through his relationship with lifelong friend and former Executive Director of the CIA Dusty Foggo. In addition to payments of illegal cash and favors to Foggo,
Sourc e: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/grandolddocket.php
These are just some o the GOPs, Dems aren’t saints. Like I said this is the stuff that goes on. There is more.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/06/22/LI2005062200936.html
Two lions of the GOP, two conservative John McCain and
Lindsey Graham have come under the sharp attack by right-wing wolves.
Talk-radio host, Tea Partier, and former House member J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) is exploring the possibly of running against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican senate primary, but both sides have already gone on the offensive. Even while still in the hypothetical stage, this race has already escalated into push polls, name-calling, and legal complaint filings.
McCain who will be facing a re-election race next year is already Already Getting Ugly
(link)
The Charleston County Republican Party voted unanimously last month to censure Graham on a litany of complaints. They claimed that South Carolina’s senior senator “in the name of bipartisanship continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law, and fiscal conservatism.” The group, closely aligned with the Tea Party movement, accused Graham of holding the GOP “hostage” for engaging on global warming and even lambasted him for having “stated on many occasions that his primary concern is to ‘be relevant.’” (link)
As you can see, scandals follow power.
Here is more material.
Robert Fromm – Pleaded Guilty – Sentencing Scheduled for January 14th
On October 9, 2007, Robert Fromm pleaded guilty to one count of violating his lifetime post-employment ban. Fromm, identified as “Official” in Mitchell Wade’s guilty plea, was a program manager at the Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center before he left to work at MZM, Inc., Mitchell Wade’s former defense company.
Wade claims to have hired Fromm’s son and then Fromm himself at MZM Inc in return for a positive evaluation of MZM, Department of Defense procurement information, and a recommendation that MZM receive contracts for a 2002 project. According to his plea agreement, Fromm contacted former colleagues in the government with the intent of influencing their evaluations.
On January 14, 2008, Fromm was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $2,500.
Shaun Hansen – Indicted – Awaiting Trial Date
Shaun Hansen, co-owner of Mylo Enterprises, was indicted March 8th, 2006 on charges of conspiring to commit and aiding the commission of telephone harassment. After cooperating with investigators, he pleaded guilty to both counts against him. Hansen has since reversed his plea, and is currently awaiting trial.
Hansen’s firm was hired by Allen Raymond’s consulting firm, GOP Marketplace, to jam the phone lines of Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day, November 5, 2002. Raymond was hired by Chuck McGee, executive director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, based on a referral by James Tobin, New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee. Both McGee and Raymond pleaded guilty and testified against Tobin, who was convicted.
Bernard Kerik – Indicted – Pre-trial conference scheduled for July 9, 2008
Bernie Kerik was indicted on November 8, 2007 on sixteen counts for bribery, tax fraud, and false statements with a maximum sentence of 142 years and more than $5 million in fines.
Kerik was a close ally of Rudy Giuliani, who appointed him New York City corrections commissioner and then police commissioner. Giuliani also recommended Kerik to head the Department of Homeland Security. Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination in December, 2004.
The indictment includes, among other charges, lying to White House officials during the vetting process for various government positions, corruptly accepting $255,000 in renovations to his apartment from a company with mob ties that was seeking contracts with the city, failing to disclose wages paid to his nanny, failing to report $20,000 in consulting fees from a computer software company and $75,953 in royalties for writing his autobiography on his tax return, claiming tax deductions for $80,000 in phony charitable contributions, and falsely claiming a home office deduction for a home he had not moved into yet. Also, failing to report $236,269 in rent for his Upper East Side apartment, paid for by one of the city’s biggest real estate developers, Steve Witkoff, with whom Kerik “anticipated doing business in the future.”
Kerik has pleaded not guilty. On January 23, 2008, the court disqualified Kerik’s defense lawyer Kenneth Breen for having a conflict of interest in the case. On March 19, 2008, after repeated requests, Kerik replaced Breen with attorney Barry Berke. Kerik’s next pre-trial conference is set for July 9, 2008. For a rundown of Kerik’s indiscretions, check out TPM’s Ultimate Kerik Scandal List!, and for breaking news on Kerik, check out TPMmuckraker.
Thomas Kontogiannis – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 8 years, 1 month incarceration and fined $1,050,000
On February 9, 2007 Kontogiannis pleaded guilty to making illegal payment involving former Rep. Duke Cunningham. Thomas Kontogiannis, a New York developer bribed Duke Cunningham, according to Cunningham’s plea, where he appeared as “Coconspirator #3″.
Kontogiannis was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison on May 16, 2008. He was also fined $1,050,000 by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns. For more on Kontogiannis, see TPMmuckraker’s Reference Section.
Jerry Lewis – Under Investigation
Jerry Lewis is under investigation for his relationship with former Representative-turned-lobbyist Bill Lowery. At least one constituent has claimed that Lewis, then head of the Appropriations committee, pushed him to hire Lowery’s firm. At the same time, Lowery’s firm made sizable donations to Lewis’ campaign.
Nine clients have thus far been subpoenaed as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, Lewis has spent close to $1,000,000 in legal bills since the announcement of the investigation.
Scooter Libby – Convicted- Sentence Commuted
Scooter Libby was indicted for Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, and Making False Statements on October 28th, 2005 as part of the Plamegate scandal.
On March 6th, 2007 Scooter Libby was found guilty on four of five counts, making him the highest-ranking White House official to be convicted of a felony since the Iran-contra scandal. He was convicted of two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of lying to the FBI. Libby was aquitted on one count of making false statements.
On June 5, 2007, Libby was sentenced to thirty months imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. He is currently appealing the original ruling.
On July 2nd, after a judge decided that Libby would remain in prison during the appeals process, President Bush commuted Libby’s sentencing by removing the thirty months in prison.
Chuck McGee – Pleaded Guilty – Time Served
Chuck McGee, the former Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, pleaded guilty July 28th, 2004 to one count: Conspiracy to engage in interstate telephone communications with the intent to annoy or harass. On March 11th, 2005, he was sentenced to 7 months in prison, which he began serving April 26th, 2005. He served his time and has been released.
McGee conspired with James Tobin, New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee, and Allen Raymond, president of GOP Marketplace, to jam the phone lines of Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day, November 5, 2002. Both McGee and Raymond pleaded guilty and testified against Tobin, who was convicted.
John T. Michael – - pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering and lying to a federal grand jury – sentencing scheduled for May 5, 2008.
John T. Michael, owner of a mortgage company in New York, helped Thomas Kontogiannis bribe Duke Cunningham, according to Cunningham’s plea, where he appeared as “Coconspirator #4″. On February 13, 2007, he was indicted alongside Brent Wilkes on one count of aiding and abetting the obstruction of justice. On February 4, 2008 Michael pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering and lying to a federal grand jury. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for each charge and a $250,000 fine. Michael’s sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2008. By changing his plea, Michael avoided facing additional charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.
Allen Raymond – Pleaded Guilty – Time Served
Allen Raymond, president of GOP Marketplace, pleaded guilty June 30th, 2004 to one count: Conspiracy to engage in interstate telephone communications with the intent to annoy or harass. In 2006 he served time from March 2nd through May 31st.
Raymond conspired with James Tobin, New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee, and Chuck McGee, executive director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, to jam the phone lines of Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day, November 5, 2002. Both McGee and Raymond pleaded guilty and testified against Tobin, who was convicted.
You asked for sources. I could give them to you all day. More on GOP Bush era scandals:
An investigation into House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s criminal fundraising schemes in Texas — which allegedly used corporate funds to help state GOP lawmakers –
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_DeLay
Claude Allen, Bush Jr. White House aide – Arrested for Theft – Pleaded Guilty
Allen was arrested March 9th, 2006 for a scam in which he ‘returned’ items he had never originally paid for. He is said to have refunded a total of $5,000 worth of merchandise (such as a home stereo system and a photo printer) over 25 visits in stores such as Target and Hecht’s.
In 2001, President Bush assigned Allen to the number 2 position at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bush nominated Allen to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in 2003, but the Senate rejected him. In 2005 Bush appointed Allen as his domestic policy advisor. Allen resigned in February of 2006, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Allen pleaded guilty on August 4th to one count of misdemeanor theft. He was ordered to pay $850 and given one month of probation.
Richard A. Berglund – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 3 Months Probation
On November 7th, 2006 Richard A. Berglund was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $2,500.
Berglund, director of MZM Inc.’s Federal Supplier Assessment Center, pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act on July 21, 2006. In March of 2005, Berglund received $7,000 from Mitchell Wade, the MZM CEO and briber of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA). Using an additional $1,000 of their own money, Berglund and his wife then wrote a $2,000 check each to the reelection campaign of Representative Virgil Goode (R-VA), the congressman who was instrumental in bringing MZM and the FSAC to his district. Berglund then gave the remaining $4,000 to two MZM employees and instructed them to write one $2,000 check each to Goode’s campaign. Wade then gave Goode the checks at a March 4, 2005 fundraiser for the congressman. Wade has said that he hoped to use the contributions to convince Goode to secure federal funding for MZM, but that Goode did not know the contributions were illegal.
Berglund agreed to cooperate with the expanding probe that began with an investigation into Cunningham.
Lester M. Crawford – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 3 Years Probation
Lester M. Crawford became commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in July 2005 and resigned in August 2006. On October 17th, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts, making a false writing and conflict of interest.
Crawford claimed on financial disclosure to have sold stocks in companies whose regulation he oversaw as an FDA official, when he in fact he’d retained ownership. His wife also owned stock in Wal-Mart, a company whose oversight he was in charge of, and he purchased shares in another FDA regulated company while an FDA official.
On February 27, 2007, Crawford was sentenced to to three years of probabtion and was fined $90,000.
Duke Cunningham – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 8 Years, 4 Months Incarceration
Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty November 28th, 2005 to two counts: Conspiracy to Commit Crimes against the United States (including Fraud and Bribery) and Tax Evasion.
On March 3rd, he was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months incarceration out of a possible ten year sentence. It is the longest sentence ever meted out to a member of Congress. He was immediately taken into custody.
He must also return $1.85 million, pay another $1.8 million in back taxes, and give up interest in his illegally funded Rancho Santa Fe home.
For more on Cunningham, see TPMmuckraker’s reference section and follow breaking Cunningham stories at TPMmuckraker.
Tom DeLay – Indicted – Trial Pending Appeals Decision
Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) is being prosecuted in Texas by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle for Money Laundering, a felony. He was indicted September 28th, 2005 on a Criminal Conspiracy charge. On October 3rd, a Money Laundering charge was added.
On December 5th, 2005 the judge threw out the Conspiracy charge against DeLay. The prosecutor, District Attorney Ronnie Earle, appealed. On April 19, 2006 the Texas Third Court of Appeals upheld the ruling to dismiss the conspiracy charge against DeLay.
The money laundering charge, a first-degree felony, carries a possible sentence of five years probation to life in prison.
See TPMmuckraker’s reference section for more on DeLay, and follow DeLay news at TPMmuckraker.
Brian J. Doyle – Pleaded No Contest – Sentenced to 5 Years Incarceration
On November 17th, 2006 Brian Doyle was sentenced to five years in state prison. Doyle, the deputy press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, was arrested on April 4th, 2006 and pleaded no contest on September 19, 2006 to seven counts of use of a computer to seduce a child and sixteen counts of transmitting harmful material to a minor.
Doyle is alleged to have had sexually explicit conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl online. He is also alleged to have sent pornographic movie clips to the “girl.”
Kyle “Dusty” Foggo – Indicted, Pre-trial Conference on July 11, 2008
Kyle “Dusty” Foggo was indicted on February 13th, 2007 on eleven counts: one count of Conspiracy, seven counts of Aiding and Abetting Money Laundering and three counts of Aiding and Abetting Honest Services Wire Fraud. A superseding indictment filed on April 11th broadened the scope of the investigation to other include other prid quo quo exchanges between Wilkes and Foggo, thus increasing the count total to 30.
Foggo served as the executive director of the CIA, the agency’s third-highest post, from October 2004 until May 8, 2006. He is a long-time friend of Brent Wilkes, and is accused of accepting bribes from Wilkes.
Foggo has pleaded not guilty and has filed a motion to have his trial moved from San Diego to Virginia. His request was finally granted on February 14, 2008.
In addition to prior charges, Foggo was indicted on May 20, 2008 for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in meals, vacations and “sexual companionship” in exchange for helping Wilkes land cherry government contracts. On June 9, 2008, Foggo’s request to take a trip to Europe in the middle of this trial was denied. A pre-trial conference is set for July 11, 2008.
I have more.
I founded out that you can only upload a message of a certain link. Here are more sorces on GOP Bush Jjr era scandals.
bramoff Scandal
Pleaded Guliity:
Jack Abramoff
John Albaugh
Robert Coughlin
Italia Federici
J. Steven Griles
Will Heaton
Adam Kidan
Bob Ney
Tony Rudy
Michael Scanlon
Roger Stillwell
Neil Volz
Mark Zachares
Convicted
David Safavian
Under Investigation
John Doolittle
Tom Feeney
Cunningham Scandal
Pleaded Guilty
Richard Berglund
Duke Cunningham
Mitchell Wade
Thomas Kontogiannis
John Michael
Robert Fromm
Convicted
Brent Wilkes
Indicted
Kyle “Dusty” Foggo
CIA Executive Director Kyle “Dusty” Foggo Foggo is under “federal criminal investigation” for improperly awarding agency contracts.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/week_2006_04_30.ph...
. Halliburton’s Corruption. Nine different reports compiled by the GAO, the Coalition Provisional Authority’s IG and the Defense Contract Audit Agency faulted Halliburton’s performance in Iraq, where it has been awarded more than $10 billion in US contracts. The government investigators cited, among other things, significant cost overruns, the overcharging of the Defense Department (and taxpayers) by $61 million, illegal kickbacks, failure to police subcontractors’ billing and unauthorized expenses at the Kuwait Hilton Hotel. The list of abuses will likely get longer in 2005, as multiple criminal investigations into Halliburton’s work pick up steam.
HHS’s Deceptive Ad Campaign. In May the GAO concluded that the Health and Human Services Department conducted a secret propaganda campaign that illegally spent taxpayer money to produce and distribute videos touting the Administration’s Medicare prescription drug law. And this January, the GAO said that the Office of National Drug Control Policy ads warning of the dangers of drug abuse (aired just before last year’s Super Bowl) were a form of “covert propaganda” because they promoted their policies without identifying their origin. The ads, said one GAO official, were “paid announcements” at taxpayer expense that shamelessly sought to blur the lines between government propaganda and a legitimate, independent news feature.
HHS’s Scully Scandal. In September the GAO found that HHS had illegally paid the salary of former Medicare chief Thomas Scully, who threatened to fire veteran Medicare actuary Richard Foster if he told Congress that the Administration’s Medicare prescription drug legislation would cost $100 billion more than the White House figure. According to the Washington Post, “A 1998 federal law prohibits an agency from paying a federal official who prevents another employee from communicating with Congress.”
Government-wide Accounting Problems. In December the GAO reported that the federal government’s accounting practices are unreliable and might not meet widely accepted accounting standards. The report gives the lie to GOP claims that it is a sound steward of taxpayer money.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050131/kvh
My intent is not to go in your face with who is the worse at shenanigans. It is those in power who have the most to gain do the most slippery stuff.
I could do a Laura on you and list sources , Internet articles, listing the sorry state of affairs f Republicans fell into when they held power. Several went to jail.
What the heck. These are some of the sources.
bush scandals
http://writechic.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/bush-scandals-a-work-in-progress/
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index.html
http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/bush-scandals-list-not-pretty-picture.html
karl rove scandal
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8562589/
alberto gonzales scandal
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/US/Politics/Alberto_Gonzales_President_Bush_And_Scandal_Politics__3112.asp
duke cunningham scandal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunningham_scandal
jack abramoff scandal
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/06/22/LI2005062200936.html
My intent is not to go in your face with who is the worse at shenanigans. It is those in power who have the most to gain do the most slippery stuff.
I could do a Laura on you and list sources , Internet articles, listing the sorry state of affairs f Republicans fell into when they held power. Several went to jail.
What the heck. These are some of the sources.
bush scandals
http://writechic.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/bush-scandals-a-work-in-progress/
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index.html
http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/bush-scandals-list-not-pretty-picture.html
karl rove scandal
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8562589/
alberto gonzales scandal
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/US/Politics/Alberto_Gonzales_President_Bush_And_Scandal_Politics__3112.asp
duke cunningham scandal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunningham_scandal
jack abramoff scandal
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/06/22/LI2005062200936.html
Abramoff Scandal
Pleaded Guliity:
Jack Abramoff
John Albaugh
Robert Coughlin
Italia Federici
J. Steven Griles
Will Heaton
Adam Kidan
Bob Ney
Tony Rudy
Michael Scanlon
Roger Stillwell
Neil Volz
Mark Zachares
Convicted
David Safavian
Under Investigation
John Doolittle
Tom Feeney
Cunningham Scandal
Pleaded Guilty
Richard Berglund
Duke Cunningham
Mitchell Wade
Thomas Kontogiannis
John Michael
Robert Fromm
Convicted
Brent Wilkes
Indicted
Kyle “Dusty” Foggo
CIA Executive Director Kyle “Dusty” Foggo Foggo is under “federal criminal investigation” for improperly awarding agency contracts.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/week_2006_04_30.ph...
. Halliburton’s Corruption. Nine different reports compiled by the GAO, the Coalition Provisional Authority’s IG and the Defense Contract Audit Agency faulted Halliburton’s performance in Iraq, where it has been awarded more than $10 billion in US contracts. The government investigators cited, among other things, significant cost overruns, the overcharging of the Defense Department (and taxpayers) by $61 million, illegal kickbacks, failure to police subcontractors’ billing and unauthorized expenses at the Kuwait Hilton Hotel. The list of abuses will likely get longer in 2005, as multiple criminal investigations into Halliburton’s work pick up steam.
HHS’s Deceptive Ad Campaign. In May the GAO concluded that the Health and Human Services Department conducted a secret propaganda campaign that illegally spent taxpayer money to produce and distribute videos touting the Administration’s Medicare prescription drug law. And this January, the GAO said that the Office of National Drug Control Policy ads warning of the dangers of drug abuse (aired just before last year’s Super Bowl) were a form of “covert propaganda” because they promoted their policies without identifying their origin. The ads, said one GAO official, were “paid announcements” at taxpayer expense that shamelessly sought to blur the lines between government propaganda and a legitimate, independent news feature.
HHS’s Scully Scandal. In September the GAO found that HHS had illegally paid the salary of former Medicare chief Thomas Scully, who threatened to fire veteran Medicare actuary Richard Foster if he told Congress that the Administration’s Medicare prescription drug legislation would cost $100 billion more than the White House figure. According to the Washington Post, “A 1998 federal law prohibits an agency from paying a federal official who prevents another employee from communicating with Congress.”
Government-wide Accounting Problems. In December the GAO reported that the federal government’s accounting practices are unreliable and might not meet widely accepted accounting standards. The report gives the lie to GOP claims that it is a sound steward of taxpayer money.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050131/kvh
An investigation into House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s criminal fundraising schemes in Texas — which allegedly used corporate funds to help state GOP lawmakers –
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_DeLay
Claude Allen, Bush Jr. White House aide – Arrested for Theft – Pleaded Guilty
Allen was arrested March 9th, 2006 for a scam in which he ‘returned’ items he had never originally paid for. He is said to have refunded a total of $5,000 worth of merchandise (such as a home stereo system and a photo printer) over 25 visits in stores such as Target and Hecht’s.
In 2001, President Bush assigned Allen to the number 2 position at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bush nominated Allen to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in 2003, but the Senate rejected him. In 2005 Bush appointed Allen as his domestic policy advisor. Allen resigned in February of 2006, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Allen pleaded guilty on August 4th to one count of misdemeanor theft. He was ordered to pay $850 and given one month of probation.
Richard A. Berglund – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 3 Months Probation
On November 7th, 2006 Richard A. Berglund was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $2,500.
Berglund, director of MZM Inc.’s Federal Supplier Assessment Center, pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act on July 21, 2006. In March of 2005, Berglund received $7,000 from Mitchell Wade, the MZM CEO and briber of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA). Using an additional $1,000 of their own money, Berglund and his wife then wrote a $2,000 check each to the reelection campaign of Representative Virgil Goode (R-VA), the congressman who was instrumental in bringing MZM and the FSAC to his district. Berglund then gave the remaining $4,000 to two MZM employees and instructed them to write one $2,000 check each to Goode’s campaign. Wade then gave Goode the checks at a March 4, 2005 fundraiser for the congressman. Wade has said that he hoped to use the contributions to convince Goode to secure federal funding for MZM, but that Goode did not know the contributions were illegal.
Berglund agreed to cooperate with the expanding probe that began with an investigation into Cunningham.
Lester M. Crawford – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 3 Years Probation
Lester M. Crawford became commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in July 2005 and resigned in August 2006. On October 17th, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts, making a false writing and conflict of interest.
Crawford claimed on financial disclosure to have sold stocks in companies whose regulation he oversaw as an FDA official, when he in fact he’d retained ownership. His wife also owned stock in Wal-Mart, a company whose oversight he was in charge of, and he purchased shares in another FDA regulated company while an FDA official.
On February 27, 2007, Crawford was sentenced to to three years of probabtion and was fined $90,000.
Duke Cunningham – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 8 Years, 4 Months Incarceration
Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty November 28th, 2005 to two counts: Conspiracy to Commit Crimes against the United States (including Fraud and Bribery) and Tax Evasion.
On March 3rd, he was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months incarceration out of a possible ten year sentence. It is the longest sentence ever meted out to a member of Congress. He was immediately taken into custody.
He must also return $1.85 million, pay another $1.8 million in back taxes, and give up interest in his illegally funded Rancho Santa Fe home.
For more on Cunningham, see TPMmuckraker’s reference section and follow breaking Cunningham stories at TPMmuckraker.
Tom DeLay – Indicted – Trial Pending Appeals Decision
Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) is being prosecuted in Texas by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle for Money Laundering, a felony. He was indicted September 28th, 2005 on a Criminal Conspiracy charge. On October 3rd, a Money Laundering charge was added.
On December 5th, 2005 the judge threw out the Conspiracy charge against DeLay. The prosecutor, District Attorney Ronnie Earle, appealed. On April 19, 2006 the Texas Third Court of Appeals upheld the ruling to dismiss the conspiracy charge against DeLay.
The money laundering charge, a first-degree felony, carries a possible sentence of five years probation to life in prison.
See TPMmuckraker’s reference section for more on DeLay, and follow DeLay news at TPMmuckraker.
Brian J. Doyle – Pleaded No Contest – Sentenced to 5 Years Incarceration
On November 17th, 2006 Brian Doyle was sentenced to five years in state prison. Doyle, the deputy press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, was arrested on April 4th, 2006 and pleaded no contest on September 19, 2006 to seven counts of use of a computer to seduce a child and sixteen counts of transmitting harmful material to a minor.
Doyle is alleged to have had sexually explicit conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl online. He is also alleged to have sent pornographic movie clips to the “girl.”
Kyle “Dusty” Foggo – Indicted, Pre-trial Conference on July 11, 2008
Kyle “Dusty” Foggo was indicted on February 13th, 2007 on eleven counts: one count of Conspiracy, seven counts of Aiding and Abetting Money Laundering and three counts of Aiding and Abetting Honest Services Wire Fraud. A superseding indictment filed on April 11th broadened the scope of the investigation to other include other prid quo quo exchanges between Wilkes and Foggo, thus increasing the count total to 30.
Foggo served as the executive director of the CIA, the agency’s third-highest post, from October 2004 until May 8, 2006. He is a long-time friend of Brent Wilkes, and is accused of accepting bribes from Wilkes.
Foggo has pleaded not guilty and has filed a motion to have his trial moved from San Diego to Virginia. His request was finally granted on February 14, 2008.
In addition to prior charges, Foggo was indicted on May 20, 2008 for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in meals, vacations and “sexual companionship” in exchange for helping Wilkes land cherry government contracts. On June 9, 2008, Foggo’s request to take a trip to Europe in the middle of this trial was denied. A pre-trial conference is set for July 11, 2008.
Robert Fromm – Pleaded Guilty – Sentencing Scheduled for January 14th
On October 9, 2007, Robert Fromm pleaded guilty to one count of violating his lifetime post-employment ban. Fromm, identified as “Official” in Mitchell Wade’s guilty plea, was a program manager at the Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center before he left to work at MZM, Inc., Mitchell Wade’s former defense company.
Wade claims to have hired Fromm’s son and then Fromm himself at MZM Inc in return for a positive evaluation of MZM, Department of Defense procurement information, and a recommendation that MZM receive contracts for a 2002 project. According to his plea agreement, Fromm contacted former colleagues in the government with the intent of influencing their evaluations.
On January 14, 2008, Fromm was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $2,500.
Shaun Hansen – Indicted – Awaiting Trial Date
Shaun Hansen, co-owner of Mylo Enterprises, was indicted March 8th, 2006 on charges of conspiring to commit and aiding the commission of telephone harassment. After cooperating with investigators, he pleaded guilty to both counts against him. Hansen has since reversed his plea, and is currently awaiting trial.
Hansen’s firm was hired by Allen Raymond’s consulting firm, GOP Marketplace, to jam the phone lines of Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day, November 5, 2002. Raymond was hired by Chuck McGee, executive director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, based on a referral by James Tobin, New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee. Both McGee and Raymond pleaded guilty and testified against Tobin, who was convicted.
Bernard Kerik – Indicted – Pre-trial conference scheduled for July 9, 2008
Bernie Kerik was indicted on November 8, 2007 on sixteen counts for bribery, tax fraud, and false statements with a maximum sentence of 142 years and more than $5 million in fines.
Kerik was a close ally of Rudy Giuliani, who appointed him New York City corrections commissioner and then police commissioner. Giuliani also recommended Kerik to head the Department of Homeland Security. Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination in December, 2004.
The indictment includes, among other charges, lying to White House officials during the vetting process for various government positions, corruptly accepting $255,000 in renovations to his apartment from a company with mob ties that was seeking contracts with the city, failing to disclose wages paid to his nanny, failing to report $20,000 in consulting fees from a computer software company and $75,953 in royalties for writing his autobiography on his tax return, claiming tax deductions for $80,000 in phony charitable contributions, and falsely claiming a home office deduction for a home he had not moved into yet. Also, failing to report $236,269 in rent for his Upper East Side apartment, paid for by one of the city’s biggest real estate developers, Steve Witkoff, with whom Kerik “anticipated doing business in the future.”
Kerik has pleaded not guilty. On January 23, 2008, the court disqualified Kerik’s defense lawyer Kenneth Breen for having a conflict of interest in the case. On March 19, 2008, after repeated requests, Kerik replaced Breen with attorney Barry Berke. Kerik’s next pre-trial conference is set for July 9, 2008. For a rundown of Kerik’s indiscretions, check out TPM’s Ultimate Kerik Scandal List!, and for breaking news on Kerik, check out TPMmuckraker.
Thomas Kontogiannis – Pleaded Guilty – Sentenced to 8 years, 1 month incarceration and fined $1,050,000
On February 9, 2007 Kontogiannis pleaded guilty to making illegal payment involving former Rep. Duke Cunningham. Thomas Kontogiannis, a New York developer bribed Duke Cunningham, according to Cunningham’s plea, where he appeared as “Coconspirator #3″.
Kontogiannis was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison on May 16, 2008. He was also fined $1,050,000 by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns. For more on Kontogiannis, see TPMmuckraker’s Reference Section.
Jerry Lewis – Under Investigation
Jerry Lewis is under investigation for his relationship with former Representative-turned-lobbyist Bill Lowery. At least one constituent has claimed that Lewis, then head of the Appropriations committee, pushed him to hire Lowery’s firm. At the same time, Lowery’s firm made sizable donations to Lewis’ campaign.
Nine clients have thus far been subpoenaed as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, Lewis has spent close to $1,000,000 in legal bills since the announcement of the investigation.
Scooter Libby – Convicted- Sentence Commuted
Scooter Libby was indicted for Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, and Making False Statements on October 28th, 2005 as part of the Plamegate scandal.
On March 6th, 2007 Scooter Libby was found guilty on four of five counts, making him the highest-ranking White House official to be convicted of a felony since the Iran-contra scandal. He was convicted of two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of lying to the FBI. Libby was aquitted on one count of making false statements.
On June 5, 2007, Libby was sentenced to thirty months imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. He is currently appealing the original ruling.
On July 2nd, after a judge decided that Libby would remain in prison during the appeals process, President Bush commuted Libby’s sentencing by removing the thirty months in prison.
Chuck McGee – Pleaded Guilty – Time Served
Chuck McGee, the former Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, pleaded guilty July 28th, 2004 to one count: Conspiracy to engage in interstate telephone communications with the intent to annoy or harass. On March 11th, 2005, he was sentenced to 7 months in prison, which he began serving April 26th, 2005. He served his time and has been released.
McGee conspired with James Tobin, New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee, and Allen Raymond, president of GOP Marketplace, to jam the phone lines of Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day, November 5, 2002. Both McGee and Raymond pleaded guilty and testified against Tobin, who was convicted.
John T. Michael – - pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering and lying to a federal grand jury – sentencing scheduled for May 5, 2008.
John T. Michael, owner of a mortgage company in New York, helped Thomas Kontogiannis bribe Duke Cunningham, according to Cunningham’s plea, where he appeared as “Coconspirator #4″. On February 13, 2007, he was indicted alongside Brent Wilkes on one count of aiding and abetting the obstruction of justice. On February 4, 2008 Michael pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering and lying to a federal grand jury. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for each charge and a $250,000 fine. Michael’s sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2008. By changing his plea, Michael avoided facing additional charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.
Allen Raymond – Pleaded Guilty – Time Served
Allen Raymond, president of GOP Marketplace, pleaded guilty June 30th, 2004 to one count: Conspiracy to engage in interstate telephone communications with the intent to annoy or harass. In 2006 he served time from March 2nd through May 31st.
Raymond conspired with James Tobin, New England Regional Political Director for the Republican National Committee, and Chuck McGee, executive director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, to jam the phone lines of Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts on Election Day, November 5, 2002. Both McGee and Raymond pleaded guilty and testified against Tobin, who was convicted.
Rick Renzi – Indicted – Trial Scheduled for October 14, 2008
On April 19, 2007, the FBI raided the family business offices of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ). The FBI is currently pursuing two investigations against Renzi.
The first investigation concerns land-swap legislation from 2005 that inappropriately advantaged a former business partner. Renzi announced legislation that would swap government property for land owned by James Sandlin. Sandlin was then able to sell his land for a sizeable profit. Renzi also failed to disclose a $200,000 check he received from a Sandlin in 2005.
Renzi is also being investigated for signing legislation in November 2003 that benefited a military contractor who employs Renzi’s father. The firm, ManTech International Corp., now holds over $400 million in government contracts with options for an additional $1.1 billion in services.
On February 22, 2008, Renzi was indicted in Arizona on 35 counts, including conspiracy, money laundering, and other charges. The main charges center on a federal land deal; separately, Renzi is charged with a conspiracy to “embezzle and misappropriate client premiums [from his insurance company] to fund his congressional campaign.” Renzi has pleaded not guilty and a trial date has been set for October 14, 2008. In the meantime, on May 22, 2008, Renzi’s legal team sought to exclude wiretap recordings of conversations between Renzi and his defense, claiming client-attorney privilege.
James Tobin – Found Guilty on Two Counts – Pending Appeals Decision
Mitchell Wade – Pleaded Guilty – Status Conference Scheduled for March 17th
Mitchell Wade, President of the defense contracting firm MZM, Inc., pleaded guilty on February 24th, 2006 to one count of conspiring both to bribe Congressman Randall “Duke” Cunningham and to tax evasion; one count of Use of Interstate Facilities to Promote Bribery; one count of conspiring to deprive the Defense Department of the honest services of its employees; and one count of election fraud.
In addition to bribing Cunningham in exchange for help procuring defense contracts, Wade also provided “illegal benefits to Defense Department officials,” and attempted “to curry favor with two other members of Congress by making illegal campaign contributions.”
Wade faces up to 11 years and 3 months incarceration.
Wade’s orignal status conference was scheduled for August 21, 2006. It has been repeatedly postponed due to his ongoing cooperation with federal prosectors’ investigations. His conference was moved to March 17, 2008, then April 28, 2008. U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina will sentence Wade on December 15, 2008.
Brent Wilkes – Convicted – Sentenced to 12 Years
On November 5, 2007, Brent Wilkes was found guilty of thirteen counts, including bribing a public official, money laundering and honest services wire fraud. Wilkes was the owner of the defense contracting firm ACDS, Inc. On February 13, 2007, he was indicted of twenty-five counts concerning his relationship with former Congressman Duke Cunningham. He gave Cunningham more than $600,000 in illegal cash and gifts in exchange for Cunningham’s help with securing more than $80 million in Pentagon contracts.
Wilkes also allegedly secured several contracts through his relationship with lifelong friend and former Executive Director of the CIA Dusty Foggo. In addition to payments of illegal cash and favors to Foggo,
Sourc e: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/grandolddocket.php
These are just some o the GOPs, Dems aren’t saints. Like I said this is the stuff that goes on. There is more.
J Byron,
I would have been content to just sit back with my soft drink and observe the dialogue among you all. However, when you said that Hillary has “integrity” I spewed that same soft drink out of my mouth with some coughing and hacking to go along. Of course, the fact that she is a devout liberal already reduces the odds of having integrity exponentially.
I could roll a scroll down Pennsylvania Avenue with a list of all the ways that Hillary and Bill (aka HillBilly) do not have integrity. Even with her resume alone, I could roll that same scroll pretty far. However, I don’t want to get too much off subject and take attention away from the context of this article and the interesting conversation that followed it. So I’ll just leave you with this one link to munch on for now:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\Hillary_Clinton_commits_to_UN_Small_Arms_Treaty.mht
Please ignore the part regarding the requested pledge (unless you want to contribute, of course – I have a larger burden to support other causes, frankly). This link has been provided mostly just to show you what Hildabeast has been up to lately along with some other UN lackeys, like our president, for instance.
D,
L usually give facts to back up what she thinks (while looking at them through anti-capitalist glasses), you however often put things out there with nothing but the intent to get the reader to look the other way.
What in the hell are you talking about! This kind of Vote Bribing payoff would have resulted in jail time in any other admin., including Bubba!
NEVER has such obvious Felonious VOTE BUYING ever occurred.
You call it making deals, I call it paying our Legislators to vote against their own conscious. The media is silent.
Hillary, who I beleive has integrity (however misguided) would never allow Reid and Pelosi took do what they are doing, intimidation, payoffs, ect., you can see it on her face in interviews when they ask her about the ONE and his menions. She is stone faced, pat answers, she supports the administration. No details, next question.
No D, this is unique in “unprosecuted” history. Wholesale, out in the open vote buying, with seemingly unlimited funds. Louisiana could give every citizen 1/2 million dollars cash for what they were paid to get their REPs vote, who catagorically said she felt this plan would hurt our country badly.
Laura:
Maybe McCain is trying to get allies. The right wing teapartiers want to clip his wings. Many on the right think that Mr. Conservative McCain is too liberal.
Any how, I doubt that he finds many picking in the North east. In the South, he might find another one or two
J:
I know Laura knows this and you do too. That there is wheeling and dealing on both sides, the reason why the system is what it is. Those in power just have more to deal with. Also J, as you know: One of the reason why conservatives got so ticked off with Bush, Jr. and Tom Delay was that they took the paying for Congressional votes to an extreme and bust the budget after budget.
Crazy ol’ Laura being crazy ol’ Laura. What do you expect.
L,
Good to see you back on the battle field, prepare your lance!
Good heavens L, “Desperate and funny” are the Dem Leadership having to backroom threaten, strip their own who dissent of power, OUTRIGHT BRIBE their own party with such HUGE graft (1/2 million dollars per citizen equivalent in Louisiana just to name one of the larger corrupt payoffs) is desperate!
The only transparency is the corruption of payoffs to get their nation busting programs through.
With only one example that I am aware of, the Republicans have stood and refused the MANY BRIBES offered for their votes. Them Dems, here a bribe accepted, there a bribe accepted, corruption everywhere. Or maybe they just had change of heart at the same time they receive incredible grafts or cash to buy votes in their districts.
The GOP is so desperate for credibility and for lost seats that they don’t think they can get back in 2010 that they are actively trying to recruit Dems to switch parties. Funny stuff…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/30942;_ylt=ArF52D8UyvvnW0KbD9ArMvpH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTMwN2JnM25rBGFzc2V0A3BvbGl0aWNvLzIwMDkxMjIzLzMwOTQyBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNARwb3MDNARzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA21jY2FpbmdvcHNlYw–
J Byron,
After reading your comment I went back and re-read my article. I can see why you think I am being over-enthusiastic. Two things:
(1) I was basing a lot of my “enthusiasm” on factual poll data;
(2) I am still fully entrenched in realism and cynicism though I also understand the cyclical nature of politics as a whole. Particularly in our modern age of information access where it has become much more difficult for the media to hide things from the public and, hence, form our opinions. This surely must be why there is a daily onslaught against alternative media outlets and conservative bloggers. I also imagine this to be a major driving force behind the attempted re-implementation of the Fairness Doctrine and the discussions about the president’s control of the internet, “if necessary”.
When I look at the Empire State Building at night, I admire its beautiful lights. However, I have a friend who once viewed the same building at night and he saw what he called “death” since the dark spots in between the lights are what impressed him most. This scenario is similar to my view of the present political atmosphere. Amidst all of the really bad things happening and the deck that is being increasingly stacked against us, I still see lights due to the fact that the Left is so largely radical that even many Liberals are starting to wake up and say “Hey! Wait just a minute!” I don’t know if the collapse of our liberties is inevitable or not. But I can’t help getting a kick out of the irony of how the attempt to strip them might just backfire. It remains to be seen. The cliche “let sleeping dogs lie” is quite fitting here. The more they push their agenda, the more of us are awakened.
Peace
All the more reason we need to continue to draw attention to the shennannagans and reming people where it’s comming from.
Great article, and comment!
Erick,
I wished I shared your enthusiasm, I love your spirit!
However, please keep in mind, this current crop of leaders led by the Democratic Messiah are a ruthless and cunning bunch. As much noted by all, they make backroom deals out of the public sight, they threaten openly and are very cunning (let’s give the devil their do).
I mean the equivalent of 1/2 a million dollars pay off to the “steadfast” Dem of Louisiana, and stripping power from other disinters, and the backing of all news save radio and Fox (lets note well over 12 million daily new viewers of the Big 3 compared to the 2 million of Foxes #1 show).
Now, keep in mind they have 10 months more to do anything their justifying minds can manipulate until then, at which time “hopefully” we can take back the house.
Erick, these elites are capable of anything. They play fast and loose and aren’t afraid to aim at the balls. Most all of the trillions in increased taxes won’t start hitting unknowing Americans until just after 2012, smart eh?
I don’t underestimate this crew. And their hardcore (35-40%) base would follow them to hell (I believe they are indeed) in the name of helping their Messiah help the poor, a group of growing constituents with their every increase in spending.
Many of these good people, we know some right here, are just like us, God, Country, Family types, only they think God wants to bitch slap evil old white guys who control too much money. They think by bringing the bastards down it will raise everyone boat. They haven’t a clue they are sinking everyone.
We will continue to bail water and wait to see in the next ten moths just what this crew (on both sides) can do. Personally I scared!