Dodd, Conrad Cleared in Ethics Probe on Countrywide Loans (Friday pm news dump)

Market Watch ^ | August 7, 2009

[khnyny]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Two key Democrat senators were cleared by the Senate Ethics Committee on Friday from year-long investigations about whether mortgages they obtained from Countrywide Financial Corp. violated the senate's rules on gifts.

The bipartisan committee, which supported the decision unanimously, did scold the senior lawmakers, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., for not being more careful in their dealings.

"While the committee finds no substantial credible evidence as required by committee rules that your Countrywide mortgage violated Senate ethics rules, the committee does believe that you should have exercised more vigilance in your dealings with Countrywide in order to avoid the appearance that you were receiving preferential treatment based on your status as a senator," the committee told both Dodd and Conrad.

[a fool in paradise]

Just a coincidence he got a preferred loan. Really. Honest mistake.

Meanwhile the ethics charge against Tom DeLay STILL has not been brought to trial.

[Marysecretary]

surprise, surprise, surprise!!!!! No justice anymore.

[ronnie raygun]

BIPARTISAN MY A##, criminals covering for criminals

[rockabyebaby]

Of course he did..............where’s the freakin’ BARF ALERT! These people get away with EVERYTHING, including MURDER.

[madison10]

What you said...

[khnyny]

No, there isn’t any justice. I’m sure Michelle is now “proud of her country”.

[unixfox]

But of course.

And these people wonder why we are pissed off!! They can't be trusted, PERIOD!

[Road Warrior ‘04]

The foxes guarding the hen house have taken care of their own. Despicable!

[originalbuckeye]

Democrats investigating Democrats will NEVER find fault. Amazing that one who sat on the Banking Committee and one who sat on the Finance Committee didn't realize they were getting favors? Beyond incredible. But maybe they really were that stupid. After all, they are Democrats.

[TMA62]

Exactly. This will only add fuel to the fire this August. People are pissed over these double standards for elected (especially liberal) politians.

Someone post that illustration from Animal Farm showing the pigs walking out of the barn.

[Menehune56]

FWIW - These are the geniuses on the Senate Select Committee on Ethics who signed off on this finding:

Barbara Boxer D-CA
Mark Pryor D-AR
Sherrod Brown D-OH
Johnny Isakson R-GA
Pat Roberts R-KS
James Risch R-ID

http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/dodd_080709.pdf

[Dahoser]

This joke of a Senate Ethics Committee is chaired by the detestable Chucky Cheese Schumer. Looking at the Republicans on the committee, it's not difficult to see how they went along with this charade:

• Bob Bennett, UT
• Mitch McConnell, KY
• Thad Cochran, MS
• Kay Bailey Hutchison, TX
• C. Saxby Chambliss, GA
• Lamar Alexander, TN
• John Ensign, NV
• Pat Roberts, KS

[mono]

...the bipartisan committee....

They cover for each other. The last one they really punished was Packwood, wasnt it? He was french kissing and grab a..... the gals up there pretty blatantly.

[Uncle Miltie]

Friday P.M. sweep under the rug.

[W-Girl]

JUSTICE AT THE POLLS, MY FIREND !!

[SeattleBruce]

Probly (sic) these guys

Johnny Isakson R-GA
Pat Roberts R-KS
James Risch R-ID

got the hand slap put in there...

[SeattleBruce]

No wonder they, and we, get the impression that they can DO anything...beaut, aint it?

[Marysecretary]

Exactly. We’re the ones with the real power but liberals are so stupid (as well as other pubbies) that they don’t think past their noses when voting. Vote the one in that will bring the most pork. Well, not this gal.

[Marysecretary]

LOL. And ain’t it the troot.