Posted on 09/28/2005 11:27:24 AM PDT by new yorker 77
If nothing else, you have to give Travis County Democrats credit for thinking big, like real Texans. Apparently undaunted that the assault on President Bush's National Guard service blew up in their faces, they are now trying to bring down House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
All roads in the CBS memo scandal traverse Travis County. Dan Rather was the special guest at a 2001 fundraiser for the Travis County Democratic Party, and his daughter is active in the organization. Former National Guardsman Bill Burkett, the unstable Bush-baiter, who now claims he was the source of the forged documents, is represented (and many believe directed) by David Van Os, the former Travis County Democratic Party chairman.
Now Travis County district attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat with a history of bringing politically motivated indictments, has indicted three DeLay aides who ran a political action committee called Texans for a Republican Majority PAC. Perhaps recognizing that indicting DeLay himself 41 days before an election would be just too transparent, Earle instead indicted the three underlings for allegedly directing corporate contributions to Texas legislative candidates in 2002.
At stake in 2002 was control of the Texas legislature, which was to redraw congressional district lines. Corporate contributions to legislative candidates are illegal in Texas. The DeLay aides stand accused of violating that prohibition, along with eight companies like Sears Roebuck that provided the funds. The corporate money, however, never went to the candidates. Instead, it went to a much larger fund for state elections controlled by the Republican National Committee in Washington. That committee made contributions to Texas legislative candidates, constituting what Earle now charges is "money laundering."
The only problem is that similar transactions are conducted by both parties in many states, including Texas. In fact, on October 31, 2002, the Texas Democratic Party sent the Democratic National Committee (DNC) $75,000, and on the same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $75,000. On July 19, 2001, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $50,000 and, again on the same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $60,000. On June 8, 2001, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $50,000. That very same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $60,000.
EARLE'S LAST FORAY INTO politicized prosecution in 1993 turned into a huge embarrassment when he went after Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), who was then Texas Treasurer. Earle made a series of trumped-up charges, including that the demure Hutchison had physically assaulted an employee. Earle dropped the case during the trial.
DeLay has been the target of previous legal harassment. Four years ago, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, under the chairmanship of Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), filed a lawsuit under RICO, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. RICO was designed as a tool against organized crime, but Kennedy argued that DeLay's relationships with Washington lobbyists amounted to "extortion." Even some liberal commentators criticized the suit as frivolous. It was eventually thrown out.
This year, lame duck Rep. Chris Bell (D-TX), who lost a March primary, filed a Complaint with the House Ethics Committee, citing many of the same circumstances in the Earle indictments. For good measure, Bell echoed Kennedy's "extortion" allegations and claimed DeLay "misused" his office by asking the Federal Aviation Administration and Justice Department to help find Texas legislators who fled to Oklahoma to deny Republicans a quorum needed to pass the redistricting plan. Since Bell had, in effect, been redistricted out of his seat, his allegations were colored, but did not stop the media from repeating them.
IRONICALLY, DELAY'S DEMOCRATIC counterpart in the House, Nancy Pelosi, has been involved in wholesale and indisputable election law violations, but has been absent from the headlines. Pelosi is a champion of what is called "campaign finance reform." The clearest and most fundamental tenet of current election law is the limitation of contributions. Yet, Pelosi's committees have engaged in a massive circumvention of the limitation, even as Pelosi was a key player in passing additional "reform" measures such as McCain-Feingold.
Earlier this year, the Federal Election Commission fined two so-called leadership PACs associated with Pelosi in response to a Complaint by the National Legal and Policy Center. The purpose of leadership PACs is to make contributions to the campaigns of other Congressional candidates. House and Senate Leaders are allowed one leadership PAC in addition to their own campaign committee.
Pelosi set up two. Her second PAC made $5,000 contributions to thirty-six campaigns that had already received the $5,000 maximum from the first. The treasurer of both PACs candidly admitted that the "main reason" for setting up the second PAC was to "give twice as much (sic) hard dollars."
Some of the enmity directed at DeLay results from his success in the Texas redistricting. It is rank hypocrisy to suggest that his actions are unprecedented or inappropriate. After all, the King of Redistricting is still the late Democratic Rep. Phil Burton of California. In a 2003 tribute, Pelosi gushed, "his true artistry was displayed when it came to redistricting. One press account described it as 'Phil Burton's contribution to modern art.' For almost three decades, he painted the political landscape of Californians in the House from his palette."
Peter Flaherty is president of the National Legal and Policy Center, a foundation promoting ethics in public life. The group sponsors the Government Integrity Project.
You know the saying...Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves!
And the timing?
THE SAME INSTANT that it is revealed the Democratic Political Machine in Louisiana is padding payrolls with police officers the FBI can't find this stuff pops up.... Pardon me while I reach for my tinfoil hat, but this seems awfully convenient.
I give you that - and he is either totally mis-informed or thinks we are but a snake - guess you are harder on politicans then I. I assume everything they say is subject to later revision with the truth.
I don't look toward goverment for leadership and I am never disappointed.
conserv13
Since Mar 16, 2001
Maryland Libertarian. I live in Highlandtown, Baltimore.
Troll, no. Conservative, no. Just another irritating Losertarian.
Is Ronnie the Rat still DA in Travis County?
LOL. You are right. They are all snakes.
You are wrong. Not everyone who doesn't tow the GOP party line is a troll. Some people on FR are independent.
Ronnie the Rat is still DA in Travis County:
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/district_attorney/default.asp
Oh he's a snake too. They all are. Pelosi is worse than DeLay. Does she ever shut up?
Does Your Mother Know she raised an asshole?
^5
"Swift Boat tactics coming home to roost?
Payback's a beeeeeeeyatch"
Was that your first post? IF so, hello and goodbye.
EARLE'S LAST FORAY INTO politicized prosecution in 1993 turned into a huge embarrassment when he went after Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), who was then Texas Treasurer. Earle made a series of trumped-up charges, including that the demure Hutchison had physically assaulted an employee. Earle dropped the case during the trial.
Game, set, match.
What about the wrinkle-faced ex-governor?...can't recall her name
And such a subtle troll, too. hahahahaha.
Some merely snipe at Republicans while they wait for Pat Buchanan to land the mother ship and transport the elect to an America that never was.
And the rules are only for Republicans. the dims do not have a similar rule.
However, DeLay should be cleared easily on this crap. Ronnie Earl is a disgrace. Lots of things to be pissed at the GOP about. This ain't one of them.
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