Posted on 05/16/2005 1:22:56 AM PDT by kingattax
When the partisan impasse over rules and procedures on the House ethics committee ends, the first member to face the panel won't be House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but rather Democrat Jim McDermott of Washington.
The Seattle-area congressman, one of the most vocal critics of Republicans, has been under investigation by the panel since last year over his role nearly nine years ago in the illegal taping and distribution of a phone conversation involving then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
A federal court already has determined, for a civil lawsuit against Mr. McDermott, that the liberal lawmaker illegally distributed the tape, a judgment of the sort that usually prompts the House to take some action.
Sources close to the committee said the McDermott case was on the agenda for the panel's organizational meeting two weeks ago, but it was removed when it was clear that Democrats wouldn't vote to continue the investigation, as required by committee rules.
"He's headed for a bad end," said one source last week, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "As a general proposition, the easiest cases for the ethics committee to handle is one where the courts have made a decision."
Democrats have paralyzed the evenly split committee, where bipartisan cooperation is needed for every action, citing unfair rules changes and staffing decisions. But another source close to the committee said the Democrats can't delay action for much longer, because Republicans relented last month to Democrats' demands that they repeal the 2004 set of rules changes
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Mcdermouth is a piece of sh$!,He is a Commie!
Frankly, I would prefer Dueling, rather than the "ethics" committee...
We all know politicans are unethical...
But if dueling was still legal, perhaps they would be a lot more careful with their lying lips....
Semper Fi
Wow, just imagine "Bagdad" Jim being dragged out of his spider hole in D.C., given a cursory exam for fleas, lice, ticks, etc. and checking out his teeth as well before being jailed, while he awaits trial.
Give me a break, and let me buy a vowel. How often do Dem's abide by compromises in Congress?
I would still like to know how they just happened to find 2
Democrats in Florida that just happened to hear the conversations. I think the phones or vehicle had listening devices planted somewhere. We were in an era of certain people hiring scumbag private detectives back then. No way was it just a fluke.
Gee, Baghdad Jim's dealings with Shakir al-Khafaji are of no interest to them?
Ahhhh! The first of the glass house inhabitants who were throwing stones at DeLay. Is Princess Pelosi next?
Where was the ethics Committee when Ted murdered Mary Jo.
Where was the ethics committee when John Kerry kept receiving his paycheck and not showing up for work?
The Martins! Yeaaa!
One of the funniest eras ever on Rush's show...he'll be all over this today. What was it they were driving? A little green Gremlin? LOL!
I wonder where all the people that said House Republicans caved over Delay are now? There is a reason the Democrats have blocked progress, Delay and Reps called their bluff.
McDermott has rightly earned the first investigation.
bookmk ping
The fact that they just happened to be in their vehicle in a parking lot (which was probably within sight of a cell-phone tower) and pick up just the right conversation from many would be an incredible coincidence.
The odds against that would be astronomical. Just as it is with icebergs, we're only seeing a small portion of what was actually there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.