Analysis: Abramoff Plea May Rock GOP Boat

yahoo news ^ | 1-3-06

[TomGuy]

SAVAGE to discuss lobbyist Jack Abramoff (03/Jan/06)

[FreeAtlanta]

I agree with you 100%. I regret if any Republican's are involved in this, but if they are they deserve jail time or atleast to loose their office and pay heavy fines.

[conservativecorner]

Republicans aren't the only ones by any means:

Harry Reid Caught in Abramoff Plea Deal?


This morning's announcement that Washington super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff has reached a plea bargain deal with the Justice Department has reporters salivating over what they hint is going to be a Republican mega-scandal.

But it turns out that the most prominent player in Abramoff's web of influence was reportedly none other than the Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid.

In a little-noticed story in November, The Associated Press revealed that Reid had accepted tens of thousands of dollars from an Abramoff client, the Coushatta Indian tribe, after interceding with Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton over a casino dispute with a rival tribe.

Reid "sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002," reported the AP. "The next day, the Coushattas issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund. A second tribe represented by Abramoff sent an additional $5,000 to Reid's group. Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations between 2001 and 2004."

Questioned about the donations last month by "Fox News Sunday's" Chris Wallace, Reid immediately turned testy.

"Don't try to say I received money from Abramoff. I've never met the man, don't know anything," he insisted.

When Wallace protested: "But you've received money from [one of his Indian tribe clients]," the top Democrat shot back: "Make sure that all your viewers understand - not a penny from Abramoff. I've been on the Indian Affairs Committee my whole time in the Senate."

When the Fox host pressed again on the Abramoff-linked donations, a flustered-sounding Reid continued to stonewall, saying: "I'll repeat, Abramoff gave me no money. His firm gave me no money. He may have worked [at] a firm where people have given me money. But I have – I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even close to being wrong."

[Wolfstar]

Maybe it's time to float the idea for true campaign finance reform that guaranteed to work -- repeal the 17th amendment and eliminate 33 of the most expensive elections that occur every two years.

Bravo! I wholeheartedly concur. Not only would repeal of the 17th Amendment be genuine campaign finance reform, but it would restore something extremely important to our Republic -- the proper, and vital, relationship between the states and the federal government.

Contrary to the entire point of the Constitution, the states are no longer directly represented by their own agents in the federal government. That's what senators used to be, while direct election of representatives gave the people of the several states their own agents in the federal government.

Only the states have the power to truly check the excesses of the federal government, but they can't do so without a seat at the Congressional table. The senate was not supposed to be like the British House of Lords, which is pretty close to what they are now thanks to the really ill-considered 17th Amendment.

[Moby Grape]

WISHFUL thinking by the liberal media in this headline...Think back. Did you ever see the same media suggest that Jim Wright having to resign for taking bribes, or Clinton's buddy Rosty's conviction was going to cause the DEMS to "take a hit"?

[AmeriBrit]

Now do I have this right and this means all the Republicans that have been named have to step down until such time they're cleared as Tom Delay had to, but the Democrats can just carry on like it's nothing?

[Political Junkie Too]

I think it would also go a long way to breaking the power of national bloc political groups like the DNC. They seem to exist to raise campaign funding for Senate races more than Presidential races, since there are 33 of them every two years vs. one Presidential race every four years. Also, those 33 races can actually be 66 races if you factor in the primaries before the general election.

By eliminating the Senate elections, we neuter the power of party national committees, if they are left to only finance the Presidential election and various House races that are not already gerrymandered into safety.

-PJ

[6SJ7]

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) $3,000

It's not amazing that politicians sellout. It's amazing they sellout for such little money.

[fenian]

It's still early in the investigation. Maybe that number is only based on one receipt from Burger King.

[Galveston Grl]

The media party REALLY hopes the GOP is rocked. And you know - any rats who are named won't be mentioned in any coverage.

[YaYa123]

I've heard Chris Matthews talk about his NRA loving brother, but I didn't know he was running for political office.

Chris Matthews' brother and Fred Imus should start up their own radio show....named "Coattails".

[socialismisinsidious]

most excellent!

of course this is why the Internet(s) must be under UN control
; )

[TXBSAFH]

Both parties have a great deal to fear from this man.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Bush can make political hay here by emphasizing it is HIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT that is weeding out corruption.

[mystery-ak]

Bush recieved money also.....I'll be right back

[mystery-ak]

[ErnBatavia]

Well, if it were going to rock any 'Rat boats, it'd never have gotten this far. The DNC is sporting collective wood today, and they've got several days to get their talking points together for the infamous "Sunday Talk Shows".

[ErnBatavia]

Thanks for the list...I've copied and stored in my Ammo Locker - lock and load to take place with leftist correspondents at the appropriate time:

Namely, "first gloat" = "Blam!"

[ErnBatavia]

Unfortunately, the MSM doesn't care about facts, just perception.

Try a letter to the editor...sometimes surprises happen, and these things see print.

[Mittens]

Looks like Abramoff is a first class IDIOT!! Why would he put out so much money to democraps and not republicans? He must be a RINO. He deserves to be in prison,the stupid traitor.That's quite a list of democraps. They all need to go.... and get people in there with ethics. Democraps have none,it's obvious to me by looking at that list. They make me sick.