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.