Free Republic

Erickson says:

"But there is a problem with Murkowski. I have confirmed through multiple sources that Lisa Murkowski has already approached the Alaska Libertarian Party. In exchange for putting her on the Libertarian ticket in November, Murkowski will hand the Libertarians a sizable chunk of her +$1 million war chest."

If Erickson is correct, then this is a clear violation of federal law:

18 U.S.C. 600 provides:

Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises any...compensation...to any person as consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party in connection with any general or special election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election...shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

This is a misdemeanor.

It looks like it could also be a felony under 18 U.S.C. 201 ( Public Bribery), which provides that any person who:

"directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official or any person who has been selected to be a public official, or offers or promises any public official or any person who has been selected to be a public official to give anything of value to any person or entity with intent.....to influence an official act shall be fined under this title...and imprisoned for not more than fifteen years, or both and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.

The term "person who has been selected to be a public official" means "any person who has been nominated or appointed to be a public official, or has been officially informed that such person will be nominated or appointed."

A public official includes a "Member of Congress", so a person who has been "selected to be a public official" would be someone who has been nominated, as the Libertarian candidate has been.

Finally, an "offical act" is "any decision or action on any question, matter...or controversy which may at any time be pending, or which may be brought before any public official, in such official's official capacity or in such official's place of trust or profit"

Clearly, paying someone to step aside and let them run in your place is an "official act" within the meaning of these provisions. Conversely, the receipt of the bribe would also be a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Any conspirators would be liable as well to five years imprisonment under 18 U.S. C. 371.

Whether it helps her or not, I find these circumstances to be interesting. Of course, they can’t be proven. But pointing them out does not make me a kook.

Pope John Paul II’s assassination attempt was on May 13, the anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima, and he attributed his survival (the professional assassin was only 6 feet away and had never missed) to Our Lady of Fatima. True, he was a religious leader, but he was also a political leader who had a greater impact on history than practically every President of the United States. The fact that he believed that could not be proven. But it did not mean he had gone over the cliff.

You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.