Another day, another GOP scandal

[Red Harvest]

This is getting to be repetitive. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10218892/site/newsweek/ Ohio has another GOP leader in an ethics scandal. This one is more serious, because it is an actual bribery case.

This was the state that "decided the 2004 election." (Not that scandal had anything to do with the result itself.) I've had some personal experience with Ohio Republicans...I'll describe the ethics of the particular individuals in one word: absent.

Newsweek
Updated: 12:52 a.m. ET Nov. 27, 2005
Dec. 5, 2005 issue - Ohio Rep. Bob Ney has long been known as "The Mayor of Capitol Hill," a name tied to his role overseeing a committee charged with such mundane tasks as doling out parking spaces and buying office furniture. But last week Ney was known as "Representative No. 1," the lawmaker identified by federal prosecutors as the recipient of free trips, sports tickets and campaign donations from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff allegedly in exchange for official favors.

Michael Scanlon, Abramoff's ex-partner and a former top aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, pleaded guilty last week to conspiring to bribe a member of Congress and other public officials. Nearly three pages in Scanlon's guilty plea detail gifts and services provided to "Representative No. 1" and his staff, including a 2002 trip to Scotland. In return, Ney allegedly performed several "official acts" to aid Abramoff's clients, including backing a measure to reopen an Indian casino in Texas. Ney's lawyer acknowledges his client is "Representative No. 1" but says Ney was "duped" by Abramoff and Scanlon. "Any allegation that Rep. Ney did anything illegal or improper is false," Brian Walsh, a Ney spokesman, told NEWSWEEK.

Ney, who was subpoenaed in the investigation, reportedly has been told that he's a target of a bribery case. He recently hired a high-profile defense attorney, Mark Tuohey, a deputy in independent counsel Ken Starr's investigations of the Clintons, and launched a legal-defense fund.

Democrats hope to capitalize on the lawmaker's ethics troubles in their quest to regain control of the House. Back home, Ney, who won re-election in 2004 by a 2-1 margin, is being challenged by Joe Sulzer, a local mayor and Vietnam vet running on a platform of "returning ethics" to public office. It's a message that Republicans fear could resonate not just in Ohio, where the GOP has been rocked by ethics scandals involving state officials, but across the country during next year's midterm elections.

While most Republicans have stayed mum on Ney's problems, there was a notable exception last week. In a breakfast with reporters, Republican activist and key White House ally Grover Norquist, whose own dealings with Abramoff have come under scrutiny, suggested if Ney is facing a "serious legal problem," he "should step aside for the good of the team." While no Republican has publicly asked Ney to step down in '06, party officials privately admit worries over the investigation, which reportedly includes other lawmakers. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department is now probing Abramoff's dealings with DeLay, Rep. John Doolittle and Sen. Conrad Burns, all of whom are up for re-election in 2006. All have denied wrongdoing.

[Red Harvest]

And today we have another GOP congressman from California pleading guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes. http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

CNN/AP

SAN DIEGO, California (AP) -- Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges, admitting taking $2.4 million in bribes in a case that grew from an investigation into the sale of his home to a wide-ranging conspiracy involving payments in cash, vacations and antiques.

In a tearful statement to reporters in California, Cunningham said he plans to try to make amends for his actions. He said he's known "great joy and great sorrow" in his life, and that he now knows "great shame."

Cunningham, 63, entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud, and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004.

Cunningham answered "yes, Your Honor" when asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted bribes from someone in exchange for his performance of official duties.

Cunningham, an eight-term Republican congressman, announced in July that he wouldn't seek re-election next year. But it was not immediately clear whether he hoped to keep his seat for the remainder of the current term. He planned to address reporters at a news conference later in the morning.

House Ethics rules say that any lawmaker convicted of a felony no longer should vote or participate in committee work. Under Republican caucus rules, Cunningham also would lose his chairmanship of the House Intelligence subcommittee on terrorism and human intelligence.

The former Vietnam War flying ace is known on Capitol Hill for his interest in defense issues and his occasional temperamental outbursts.

After the hearing, Cunningham was taken away for fingerprinting. He will be released on his own recognizance until a February 27 sentencing hearing. He could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He also agreed to forfeit to the government his Rancho Santa Fe home, more than $1.8 million in cash and antiques and rugs.

In a statement, prosecutors said Cunningham admitted to receiving at least $2.4 million in bribes paid to him by several conspirators through a variety of methods, including checks totaling over $1 million, cash, rugs, antiques, furniture, yacht club fees and vacations.

"He did the worst thing an elected official can do -- he enriched himself through his position and violated the trust of those who put him there," U.S. Attorney Carol Lam said. The statement did not identify the conspirators.

The case began when authorities started investigating whether Cunningham and his wife, Nancy, used the proceeds from the $1,675,000 sale to defense contractor Mitchell Wade to buy a $2.55 million mansion in ritzy Rancho Santa Fe. Wade put the Del Mar house back on the market and sold it after nearly a year for $975,000 -- a loss of $700,000.

He drew little notice outside his San Diego-area district before the San Diego Union-Tribune reported last June that he'd sold the home to Wade.

Cunningham's pleas came amid a series of GOP scandals. Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas had to step down as majority leader after he was indicted in a campaign finance case; a stock sale by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being looked at by regulators; and Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff was indicted in the CIA leak case

Pretty blatant stuff, makes you wonder why he thought he could get away with it.

[Xiahou]

Dont forget the Democrats.

Just because it's not getting the same press coverage doesnt mean they arent doing the same things.

[Red Harvest]

Dont forget the Democrats.

Just because it's not getting the same press coverage doesnt mean they arent doing the same things.

Yep, looks like two of them might have a trip linked to the Abramoff probe. Pales next to the two bribery cases above...but it will be interesting to see what comes of it.

[Reverend Joe]

That's it. Everyone grab a Mousin-Nagant or a PPSh and some Molotov Cocktails- we're dismantling the parties, and executing all of their leaders.

I swear to god, this country is being run by a pack of beasts and driven by idiots.

[drone]

Isn't this what happens when the ethics committees are neutered "to prevent partisan attacks"? At this point, I'm surprised congressmen aren't openly accepting briefcases full of cash.

[Aurelian]

Dont forget the Democrats.

Just because it's not getting the same press coverage doesnt mean they arent doing the same things.

I don't think you're giving the Republicans enough credit. They've worked really hard to achieve their current level of corruption. I don't think it's fair to the Republicans to just assume, without evidence, that the Democratic party could even begin to display anything near the level of corruption that the Republicans have perfected.

[Redleg]

I don't think you're giving the Republicans enough credit. They've worked really hard to achieve their current level of corruption. I don't think it's fair to the Republicans to just assume, without evidence, that the Democratic party could even begin to display anything near the level of corruption that the Republicans have perfected.

Most politians - if not all - have thier hands in the cookie jar in some way. All one has to do is look at the amount of pork that is installed into many bills as a way to get them to pass.

Some are just more corrupt then others. I remember back in the 1980's and early 1990's reading about the corruption and payouts concerning many democrates that were in the different offices - be it Federal or State governments, and about the same number of republicans were making the papers to.

Its the shame of both parties, and when found the individual and individuals involved need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. If they are found guilty, send them to real prison, not the country club minimum security lock-ups.

[Strike For The South]

Im going to have to agree with Bill Hicks on American polotics.

I think the puppet on the right is more to my liking

I think the puppet on they left suits me more

Hey wait a second there on the same strings

[KafirChobee]

It is a matter of how the "game" is played. One must first remember that the vast majority of these people are millionaires (most before they entered office, nearly all after). One doesnot give up a multi-million dollar job for what seems a lower paying one unless their is something in it for them (aside from serving the people, blah...blah...blah).

Many moons ago an instructor I had (Dr. Cambell, Urban developement advisor to L.A. City Council and Cal. legislators) said, "Good men that go to congress are either corrupted ... or they leave, there is no island of safety for them to practice politics of integrity when the playing field is pot-holed with money pockets of the special interests." [roughly] He meant simply that it is difficult for anyone to stay above the greed level that permiates our legislative process.

One of my favorite politicians of all time, a Republican Senator from Illinois (long ago and far away, may never be another like him), accomplished more than most presidents for his nation and his state. But, after his death they opened a closet and found shoe boxes full of cash. My reasoning (who knows really) is that, not to accept would mean one thing, while accepting the 'gifts' allowed him to continue to do some good for his nation. The classic thing was how all the boxes were taped shut and labeled "do not open" (maybe a reminder to himself that were he to actually use any of the moneys, there would be just one side for him to vote on - he crossed party lines all the time and would be considered a liberal today. Of course that was during the times we had a true political process of discussion and debate, evaluation of the common good, etc. Versus, what's good for big oil and our other corporate contributors is good enuffs for me.).

The point is, until we exclude corporate contributions to candidates or treat them like individuals - and limit individual contributions to $1,000 per party (period - no this candidate and that, just $1,000 total contributions - adds and all) we will have to accept that a majority of our representatives are taking favors on the sly. After all, why else would a millionaire want to reduce his salary? Take former and future CEO Dick Chenney, we all know he .... oh wait, he's still getting a salary from HalliFUall - bad example. OK, take Condelleza...... oh, wait ... same thing. OK, OK take ...... well I'm sure some GOP'er out there can come up with a good response. 'Cause try as I might, I can't come up with an example of one person in the administration that isn't doing favors for their former company.

Still, point is, with the way that our present system of contributions and lobbying is conducted and allowed - it all but begs for abuse. Good men do not survive in D.C. - men like DeLay do. Thats a fact. It is that simple, good men die, evil men thrive.