Yup. I'm busted. :) Here she is:
Posted on 01/04/2006 4:56:47 AM PST by cp124
WASHINGTON — Maine's Democratic congressmen said Tuesday that the conviction of lobbyist Jack Abramoff should bring about reform and could taint House Republicans in this year's election.
"It's clear the Justice Department now has its sights trained on members of Congress and their staffs," said Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine. "I have no doubt that as this scandal unfolds, it will expose practices that the Republican leadership in the House has wanted to keep hidden."
His comments came as congressional watchdogs reported that no member of Maine's delegation - including its two Republican senators - received contributions from Abramoff in recent years.
Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud. A federal judge said he had engaged in a conspiracy involving "corruption of public officials" by providing campaign contributions, trips and other items "in exchange for certain official acts."
Abramoff contributed $204,253 to federal candidates since the 2000 election cycle and the Indian tribes he represented gave nearly $4.2 million, according Federal Election Commission reports analyzed by the Internet watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics.
But Maine lawmakers got none of it since at least the 2002 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics and another Internet watchdog, PoliticalMoneyLine.org.
"The actions of Jack Abramoff and his partners are absolutely shameful," said Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine. "I strongly support efforts to stop this type of corruption and hope that this leads to further efforts to reform the campaign finance system."
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, declined comment on Abramoff's case through a spokesman.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was traveling in Antarctica and couldn't be reached for comment, a spokeswoman said.
But Allen suggested the conviction is a blot on the entire political system. "Underlying the Abramoff corruption is the idea that it's OK to get what you want no matter how much you have to pay for it," he said.
Allen said he hopes Abramoff's guilty pleas prompt discussion of his legislative proposals to change the way the House conducts business.
Allen proposed legislation in December that would prohibit lawmakers from accepting trips from lobbyists, among last perks allowed under ethics reforms of the mid-1990s. Allen would also require time for lawmakers to read bills before voting on them and restrict votes from being held open for hours while leaders twist arms to change results.
"There's a continuum of anti-democratic practices," Allen said. "Some are illegal, and some corrupt the process and make it less fair."
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bart Jansen can be contacted at 202-488-1119 or at:
bjansen@pressherald.com
I wouldn't be so sure. More well informed voters probably don't believe it. However, polls indicating doubt about President Bush's honesty and integrity are troubling.
Personally, I believe that he is the most ethical and honest individual that den of snakes in DC has seen in decades. However, the constant media drumbeat of "Bush lied", the indictment of DeLay and the plea bargaining of Cunningham and Abramoff is what those locked onto the OM see.
The dims are claiming the high ground (only because they have fewer convictions this year than usual) and getting the usual "pass" from the supposedly onjective media.
Save the list...it will come in handy.....the MSM does not mention all the rats on the take....just the Repubs
"Let the guilty be punished." - Calvin Coolidge
I won't shed any tears if corrupt politicians lose their offcices, no matter what the party.
Jail as many politicians as possible, the more the merrier, pubs and dems.
Where is the Barrett Report that the special prosecutor put together over 10 years with $22,000,000 taxpayer funds outlining Clinton's use of the IRS and Justice Dept. to punish his critics? It's been stonewalled by the Dems, with some Repubican enablers, since Aug. '04. Let's have a little "fair and balanced" here when we are trumpeting the Abramoff sins, msm. And let's name the Dems who also took his money, like Dorgan, Reid, Johnson et al. Even Brit reported this story yesterday as a Abramoff/DeLay story.
btt for later
This demoncrat may be the biggest catch of all:
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."
That is why we need a two term limit prevents sticky fingers.
Two years ago I picked up a blurb that the boat Patrick Kennedy ran aground was owned by the lobbyist for the Naragansett Indians and then the trial disappeared I bet Teddy won't let Patches go down.
That story sounds extremely plausible.
There are Fed prosecutors involved in this one, much less suceptible to Kennedy influence.
Yup. I'm busted. :) Here she is:
Kennedy, Murray, Reid and Gephardt are all some of the most visible and influential member in Congress. Knocking over Reid and Murray would seriously damage the Democrats in Congress, that's to be sure.
Well, Gephardt isn't in Congress any more.
What I want to know is:
What's Susan Collins doing in Antarctica?
you forgot ole charlie nagel nyc
Though you mentioned Baucus, MT voters won't hold him accountable. He is the "Clintoid of MT." I think that they will, however, punish Conrad Burns by voting him out in 2006 if he dares to run again.
Lets not sugarcoat this. This scandal is bad for out party. While some dems were involved, Abramoff is a lifelong conservative activist and his ties to republicans are much stronger than his ties to democrats. His ties to Delay are particularly problematic. Not surprising that dirty lobbyists would have more ties to the party in power. Disappointing but its how Washington has always worked. I hope anybody involved gets the boot. I like seeing corrupt wild spending elites get their comeuppance
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