Abramoff pleads guilty

[Helmetcase]

Abramoff is going down, but will not likely take too many congresscritters with him, as he was into both Reps (2/3) and Dems (1/3).

Apparently that's not the case. He actually did only give money to Repubs. Makes sense, if your business is brokering power, you only bother dealing with the people in power.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

He actually did only give money to Repubs.

I thought I heard on the radio that he did give money to Byron Dorgan, a Dem from North Dakota, but this was early in the case and I wasn't paying as close attention as I have been lately.

 

[Helmetcase]

Hmmm. That might be right, but I came across this today, for what it's worth, someone did a check on Abramhoff's contribution records.

There probably is a Dem contribution here or there somewhere if he was trying to get a casino vote in a location where he needed a Dem vote...but the gist of what the spinmeisters are getting at--that this is a bipartisan scandal--doesn't appear to be supportable, which doesn't surprise me...not because Repubs are necessarily more susceptible to this sort of corruption (I'll wager they're all as likely to take dirty money) but because they've got the power.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Not that there aren't plenty of corrupt Dems, but Abramoff was a Repub operator ever since college accd to the report I read.

 

[ceetee]

Apparently that's not the case. He actually did only give money to Repubs.

Source... Capitol Eye dot org.

It looks like the Reps on the take outnumber the Dems by a considerable margin, but the Dems are definitely there.

 

[Kim]

I think this is all funny. Why you ask? Well I makes me think of the congresscritter from California the infamous Rep. Stark. It was back in the 1980's I believe when he had a hissy fit about physicians owning Nursing Homes, Hospitals and goodies they got from BIG Pharma and he pushed all kinds of restrictive laws on the type of relationships that would be legal. I never knew of a single physician who got anything from BIG PHARMA or kickbacks for admitting patients etc. Doesn't mean it did not happen. So now we have all these laws with big penalities hanging over our heads and the drug reps leave pens. I guess those are O:K. and here is our great congress crittters getting all kinds of trips, tickets ,meals etc. This is nothing new just political arguing and it will not stop anything. But beware ---- you are not a member of the elite Government and there will be law upon law to make sure you only get a pen. And all the Masses will give applause to the great reformers for the little people. I'm still laughing.

 

[ceetee]

...I never knew of a single physician who got anything from BIG PHARMA or kickbacks for admitting patients etc...

Ummm..... Google "Bill Frist Scandal".

Journal reports probe into whether Senate leader had insider knowledge

 

[Leatherneck]

There certainly were Democrats who took his money (to the tune of $1.2 million or so), but Malone is right in that he was primarily buying the favor of Republicans.

TC

 

[garyk/nm]

Meh...more smoke and ponies.
There will be a few visible scapegoats. Those scapegoats will be selected from the group up for re-election this year who have little chance of winning.

 

[roo_ster]

Especially when he got $100,000 but is only returming $6000...

One thing to note & savor: That $100K and most of the other monies that some congresscritters are returning/donating, etc...were all legal under the recent McCain/Feingold campaighn finance "reform" act.

Apparently that's not the case. He actually did only give money to Repubs. Makes sense, if your business is brokering power, you only bother dealing with the people in power.

Been addressed. Note that Patrick? Kennedy, who got upwards of $100K? has decided not to give a dime back.

? I'm doing this from memory & can't recall which philanderer Kennedy it was & can't recall exact $$ amount.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Note that Patrick? Kennedy, who got upwards of $100K? has decided not to give a dime back.

Let me anticipate the excuse: "But I worked hard for that money, and ruined a perfectly good pair of pants."

 

[LAK]

Looks like he's also headed back here to Miami to plead guilty to a couple of the counts down this way. Not that he's innocent, or anything, but I think he's basically making himself into a scapegoat... and the full house of cards will never fall.

He's nothing to worry about, he won't serve hard time. And like his cronies before him, George Bush doesn't shy from having convicted felons serving under him. Abramoff might have a bright career in front of him.
--------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[ceetee]

He's nothing to worry about, he won't serve hard time. And like his cronies before him, George Bush doesn't shy from having convicted felons serving under him. Abramoff might have a bright career in front of him.

What does a pardon cost these days? (It used to be several million paid back to the IRS...)

 

[Master Blaster]

What does a pardon cost these days? (It used to be several million paid back to the IRS...)

Bill Klintoon only charged Mark Rich $1 million for his pardon, a great deal since he owed the IRS $250 million and was hiding from them in Switzerland / or the Caymen Islands depending on wether it was skiing season. It helped that his ex wife who is a very HOT Blond deliverd the Check to Billybob herself.

Al,I invented the Internet,Gore took $68,000 from the Communist Chinese lobbiest if you recall.

As far as the Democrats vs the Republicans goes, The Washington Post reported that there were 77 Democrats who took money from Abramoff, and 133 Republicans. Harry Reed Democrat minority Leader took $78,000.
In my state DE my two democrp senators Biden and Carper only took $6,000 but they claim its all from the Indian Tribes Abramoff represents so its OK.
Delaware only has the Nanicoke Tribe, which doesnt have any land or casinos.
But then Joe Biden's biggest contributor is the American trial Lawyers Assoc. which gave him $3.5 million in the last campaign. Our one republican congressman Mike Castle didnt take any money from Abramoff.

My take on this, is that there are more republicans representeing the states with Indian tribes, than there are Democrats, Just like the Democrats get more money from the ACLU cause they have more ACLU members in their states.

Or it could be Abramoff felt he needed to bribe more republican, to get them to vote his way, because the Democrats already vote for the downtrodden Indians, and therefor dont need a contribution.

The answer to the lobbying problem is two five year terms for both houses and you are OUT, never to serve in Congress or the senate again. And a limit on campaign spending of $500,000 in any election. That would make these folks get out and work for the votes they get rather than relying on lots of expensive TV ads.

 

[Dannyboy]

I heard yesterday that the Dems wanted any Republicans who received money to give it back but Harry Reid recieved money and refused to give that back. Evidently, an aide said that it was a Republican scandal and it only affected them.

 

[72Rover]

Returning the bribe...um...*contributions*

I wonder if this will work next time I get a speeding ticket? "Officer, what if I drive just as fast in reverse for a while? That surely must negate a summons...." I don't think so.

Or if you rob a bank. Offer to give the money back, but only if you get caught later. I don't think so. The legal metaphor often used in courtrooms is that you can't 'un-ring' a bell.

This will proove to be the biggest scandal in Washington since Teapot Dome in the 1920's. "Whitewatergate" was nothing compared to this, and it exceeds even the sleaze surrounding Watergate. No, the Repugs (and a few Dems) are hip-deep in this mess, including the President who 'returned' $6,000 yesterday. A piddling amount, but in for a penny, in for a pound.

I've got a great case of schadenfreude going on right now....

 

[ceetee]

...As far as the Democrats vs the Republiturds goes...

I'm not sure if you're trying to be funny or sarcastic, but using insults to describe people sure doesn't make them want to see your point.

I do agree that we need strict campaign finance reform. I'd also like to see a spending limit. Any money collected must be used in the next campaign, and any left over after the election should have to go to one of a few select (honest) charities.

Never happen.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

I can understand the impulse to describe the leaders of each party in derogatory terms. In my non-moderated conversations I often use imagery related to Roman brothels when discussing the U.S. Congress, but you are correct that it doesn't help further discourse in a forum such as this.

 

[RealGun]

I'm not sure if you're trying to be funny or sarcastic, but using insults to describe people sure doesn't make them want to see your point.

Or even continue reading the post.

 

[Helmetcase]

One thing to note & savor: That $100K and most of the other monies that some congresscritters are returning/donating, etc...were all legal under the recent McCain/Feingold campaighn finance "reform" act.

I used to think McCain was a super candidate, but he continually gets more egg on his face all the time.

Been addressed. Note that Patrick? Kennedy, who got upwards of $100K? has decided not to give a dime back.

I should have been more specific. Abramhoff clients, Indian tribes, etc gave money to Democrats, but Jack himself only gave money to Repubs. Makes sense, the guy was clearly trying to buy Republican influence.

 

[Kim]

Good grief the spin. It was this guys dealings with the Indian Tribe money that is at question not his own contributions. Now let us not forget that lobbying is a protected constitutional right-----------the right to petition your government. Ya'll really don't won't that to go away. The big problem is the government as ususal is so involved in every persons and every business that there is so much lobbying going on. When the Enviiro get congress to pass legislation about what kind of toilet you can make,use, how to intall it of coarse there is going to be lobbying. Get the government out of everyones business and we can go forward more quietly and less expensive with our lives. NEVER GOING TO HAPPWN AS LONG AS THE COMMERCE CLAUSE continues to be used to regulate you personally and everything else. This case is a bunch of nothing in the long run.

 

[RealGun]

Again, I think this flap about lobbyists will involve NRA, GOA et al. I expect all the talk will be about ensuring the integrity of Congress members, but won't be surprised to find that the fine print will include measures to cut back on the effectiveness of gun owners during gun legislation proceedings.