Abramoff Pleads Guilty, Will Cooperate (20 Congressmembers Under Investigation!)

Breitbart.com ^ | 2.02.06 | Mark Sherman

[summer]

This will be the biggest political story of the year, ney decade, and it will have a massive effect on our governmental system and the 2006 elections.

Yeah, that's what they're all saying in the press.

But I have to say, I read the charges and I think: yes, this guy did a lot of illegal things, and he admits it. He's a Republican and it's good the GOP Justice Dept went after him.

However, I don't understand the following part -- and I realize I may sound like a total idiot for asking this: What is it that he did that is different from lobbyists who are not under investigation?

I keep hearing what this guy did and I think: Yeah, so, what is new about this? Isn't this what happens all the time? (Then, I hear the charges, and I think: I guess it is different here in this case.)

So, I don't really know at this point. Yes, he's obviously corrupt -- but, how exactly is he different from any other lobbyist??? Please clue me in, so I do not remain clueless in this, the biggest scandal of the decade. Thanks.

[karnage]

That's right. Pubbies will go down, Rats probably won't. "They say" the big recipient of Abramoff largesse was DeLay. If Abramoff was a Dem, he'd stonewall - and become a hero like Susan McDougal. Instead he's a beefer who will hurt the GOP.

[Howlin]

Reid got $11,000 more than Delay did?

[Osage Orange]

I suppose it's debatable as to what was the catalyst for The Contract With America Boy's winning office.......

But..I also remember a lying rapist in the Whitehouse...that a spineless house couldn't "do anything about" because they couldn't stomach seeing their own FBI files...so they took a powder.

Color me extremely pessimistic....on anything happening to these lying stinking thieves....

[Political Junkie Too]

Factual correction. Each US House district is now approaching 700,000 residents.

Thanks. I knew they were growing, but I didn't realize they grew that much. It must also be a district-by-district thing, with at-large states having the largest ratio of people to representative. Just a guess, though, since Congress at some point limited the size of the House to 435 members, regardless of the population of the United States. Maybe they should also increase the size of the House to be more proportionally fair across districts?

-PJ

[oceanview]

I tend to agree with you - we need to see some "quid pro quo" - the promise of an explicit vote for cash.

[untrained skeptic]

I hope they throw the whole lot of corrupt congresscritters in jail regardless of their political affiliation.

[summer]

OK. Thank you for mentioning that, as I have heard this briefly talked about, but only in passing. I guess it means the entire story has not even come out yet, because there is not much content being reported right now about what you brought up. (Yet, he did plead guilty; so, I guess there's a lot of that stuff to come.)

[mystery-ak]

You betcha....but the MSM doesn't report that little fact....bookmark that list for future revelations...

[Jim Noble]

It's about damned time the bribery laws were enforced.

Fiat justitia, ruat coelum

[kcvl]

[Howlin]

You can show them this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551354/posts?page=7#7

[Howlin]

What is it that he did that is different from lobbyists who are not under investigation?

I must be an idiot, too, because I'm wondering the same thing.

Surely he did something worse than the rest of them, right?

Or did he just get caught and the rest of them have run to the hills?

[mathluv]

Brit said they may as well lock up all of Washington if they were going to say it was illegal to lobby.

[summer]

Thanks for admitting you are wondering the same! :)

[oceanview]

well sure, on Abramoff's side of the crime (that he plead guilty to) - if he engaged in acts of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion - that's his rap. what he does with the money on the other end of the food chain - unless they can show specific promises of votes for cash, its meaningless.

if a drug dealer sends a check to congressman X for $1000 (from a booty of ill gotten gains) - the congressman is guilty of taking drug money? its guilt by association, unless you can show the congressman knew the contribution came from drug operations, or promises some specific vote for that money, where is the crime?

[chiefqc]

Elected offical who do little or nothing while be vastly overpaid by the tax payers, who have the best medical insurance, for life, that the tax payers can afford to give them, who make more money after the are out of office than while in ofice, who are rich before being elected, who are arrogant, who never tell the truth, being corrupt? I am shocked, just shocked.

[Howlin]

Let's make one thing clear: I don't think you or I are making excuses for this guy.

I just haven't heard anything yet that I haven't read about somebody else (Democrats) doing that they didn't get prosecuted for.

[summer]

Yes, I understand the point you are making, and I think it is a valid one; on the other hand, this uy Jack A. seemed to want to publicly express A LOT of remorse today to the judge,m so clearly, there was criminal intent on his part in this matter. Because otherwise, you wouldn't have this speech from him about the Almighty, how sorry he is, etc. etc. in an effort to cut down his jail time.

[summer]

Oh, no - no excuses for this guy, and he obviously knows he is guilty of crimes. But, so far, the story that will really grab the average voter has not come out yet, in my view, if people like you and me are scratching our heads saying: What exactly did this guy DO that was illegal? (And he's already admitted guilt; so obviously he DID do something crimina.)_