Posted on 12/23/2004 8:32:12 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
In finally admitting guilt as a corrupted public servant, former Gov. John Rowland of Connecticut could not resist one more attempt at self-serving finesse, resorting to the passive impersonal in declaring, "Mistakes have been made." Facing stiff prison time, the onetime G.O.P. boy wonder did admit to "responsibility" for those mistakes. But Mr. Rowland hardly apologized for the deep betrayal and humiliation he put the state through in personally turning his administration into a thieves' mart for crooked contractors and cronies.
Rather, Mr. Rowland asked voters to "understand what we have tried to do" in 25 years of public service, as if his sordid record for corruption could ever be outweighed by his Statehouse career. Mr. Rowland's tone outside the courthouse echoed his drawn-out period of unctuous lying and evasion - until the brink of impeachment - as details of his profiteering dribbled out.
The particulars include accepting free vacations and junkets from corporate sycophants rewarded with no-bid state contracts and loans. Taxpayers had to reel through months of disclosures about the governor's hubris - how blithely he sought gifts of cigars, champagne, a canoe, whatever was within grabbing distance. If the Statehouse had had the proverbial hot stove, it probably would have wound up alongside the notorious freebie hot tub in the Rowlands' vacation house.
Mr. Rowland's penchant for stonewalling became the face of a state in a deep crisis over public corruption. His downfall is just part of Connecticut's difficult process of recovery and reform. Prison time for Mr. Rowland will be an object lesson for other politicians tempted, in the terminology of justice, by "conspiracy to steal honest service."
With real justice, he could be sharing a cell with McGreevey soon.
McGreevey should be applauded for his courage in admitting his, um, er , discretions. (/sarcasm)
Yeah, Rowland should have thought of that -- "My truth is that I am a crooked American." Then he could have tapped into some of that sympathy vote instead of just pleading guilty. How unoriginal.
The only thing that makes him different from the rest of the New England Libs (Excluding Mitt Romney) isss....
That he got Busted!
Haven't heard much about the Clinton/Chicom campaign finance scandal since the FBI agent in charge of the investigation got caught sleeping with a Chicom agent.
Oh well, I'm sure the MSM is "investigating" both situations.
(My Old Boss) Edwin Edwards would like to compare notes as well.
A corrupted official is a corrupted official no matter what party he(she) she is affiliated with.
A local radio station asked some of our senators (Chris Shays was one) if they ever got free vacations. He said yes and he called them "fact finding missions", but called for Rowland's resignation for accepting free vacations. Rowland is corrupt and should pay the price, it's too bad he do a decent job in a state of Liberals. His corruption has just handed the democrats the the next election
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