Democrat caught by FBI in big bribery scandal

[Loftin]

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/images/jefferson.jpg

Democrat congressman from New Orleans stuffs his money with bribes from shady business deals in Africa. Meanwhile, his constituents continue to beg on the streets in Houston.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060522/ap_on_re_us/congressman_probe_13;_ylt=AvVM_KEoPU6oQOHxX6sqHw2G bToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[Loftin]

Wow, I read up on this guy and he is pure trash. Apparently, right after hurricane Katrina, he commandeered a truck and some national guardsmen to "tour the aftermath." He diverted the tour to go to his house, and later loaded the truck with a laptop, suitcases and a box. A rescue helicopter spent 45 minutes trying to get him, but he refused to part ways with his belongings. Here's the story from ABC:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1123495&page=1

[polish]

typical congressman from LA. Hell if thats all he did in LA, his damn near a straight shooter

[CaliHornia]

Wow, I read up on this guy and he is pure trash. Apparently, right after hurricane Katrina, he commandeered a truck and some national guardsmen to "tour the aftermath." He diverted the tour to go to his house, and later loaded the truck with a laptop, suitcases and a box. A rescue helicopter spent 45 minutes trying to get him, but he refused to part ways with his belongings. Here's the story from ABC:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1123495&page=1

Actually it looks like the reason he did this is because he had all of this incriminating stuff in there.

[GregH]

Wonder when Jesse Jackson and Sharpton will be at his side spewing "It's just the bush admin trying to keep blacks down", crap.

[Slotback]

Maybe they won't because there is too much incriminating evidence.

[Loftin]

Maybe they won't because there is too much incriminating evidence.

Yeah, there is no way any credible politician would back this guy. But then again, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are not credible politicians.

[CaliHornia]

Amazingly, REPUBLICANS are coming to his defense on the basis that the search was unconstitutional.

Get this: A search executed on a valid warrant issued by a federal judge is invalid constitutionally if it concerns a congressman's office.

I'm betting right now that there are about 50% or more congressmen that could be sent to jail right now if we knew what they were doing. No way Republicans would be making this extraordinarily lame-ass defense if it were otherwise.

I will NOT be voting Republican in the next two elections. Time to send them all packing.

[Dustin00whoop]

Imagine that--a sip voting Democrat.

[CaliHornia]

Imagine that--a sip voting Democrat.

Don't give me that. I bet I'm more conservative than any of you guys. And I didn't say I'd be voting Democrat--just not Republican.

These guys have completely betrayed us on spending, border security, and now, worst of all, this, they're all freaking corrupt.

[Pflugerville Ag]

Don't give me that. I bet I'm more conservative than any of you guys. And I didn't say I'd be voting Democrat--just not Republican.

These guys have completely betrayed us on spending, border security, and now, worst of all, this, they're all freaking corrupt.

And Clinton was an angel.

[CaliHornia]

And Clinton was an angel.

No one said he was.

But right now we have a Republican congress that is engaging in pork barrell spending and acting in complete neglect of our southern border against every principle our party should stand for.

These guys in office are not real republicans.

They're a bunch of hacks, and apparently enough of them are worried about having their offices searched for some reason (let's see, consistently legislating against the wishes of the base, what could be the reason. . . .bribes?) that they're defending this tool.

[Pflugerville Ag]

Well instead of saying that Republicans are corrupt, betraying us, etc, you should have just made a general statement about all politicians. It doesn't matter what party they are from, they are all the same.

[CaliHornia]

Well instead of saying that Republicans are corrupt, betraying us, etc, you should have just made a general statement about all politicians. It doesn't matter what party they are from, they are all the same.

I've never voted Democrat. That's not my party. I am a registered Republican. That's my party. They answer to me.

When Democrats betray our country I expect it. I'm not happy about it, but I'm not surprised.

I don't know if you've noticed, but between Abramoff and Cunningham there's an awful lot of corruption in the Republican party. Just because someone's willing to put an R next to their name doesn't automatically make them a good guy.

Until the Republican party roots this sh!t out I'm done with them.

[CaliHornia]

Well, well, well. . .guess who is the target of a corruption probe. . . .

Dennis Hastert.

Seems our fat friend fired off a few nasty letters to an indian tribe that was set to build a casino that would compete with a casino built by some indian tribes that had just been major contributors to a fundraiser held by. . .Jack Abramoff.

Hastert was protecting his fat a**.

Zero principles left in Washington. That guy doesn't represent my party.

[Dustin00whoop]

Cali, I don't claim to know any of your political beliefs, but to swear off an entire party because a few people that represent that party are screw ups doesn't mean that they all are (or maybe I should say, doesn't mean that they are any more corrupt). I couldn't care less how you vote but my suggestion would be to become a little more educated & choose not to vote for those people that you feel are the most corrupt, regardless of party affiliation.

[CaliHornia]

Cali, I don't claim to know any of your political beliefs, but to swear off an entire party because a few people that represent that party are screw ups doesn't mean that they all are (or maybe I should say, doesn't mean that they are any more corrupt). I couldn't care less how you vote but my suggestion would be to become a little more educated & choose not to vote for those people that you feel are the most corrupt, regardless of party affiliation.

Go over to the BOFZ and ask anyone over there what I am.

They'll laugh you off the board if you come over questioning my conservative credentials my friend. I didn't join the federalist society as a spy.

I'm as educated as it gets on politics. I know the law and I know what's going on.

And I know that Dennis Hastert, OUR REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, is defending a worm that even the Democrats have asked to resign apparently now because he's afraid he's going to be the next one to go down.

That's the party's problem. The WHOLE party's problem. Hastert is a party leader.

The Republicans in congress have come to be completely contemtible of their base. And they've gotten this way because they've flat out gotten arrogant.

And there may be some good Republicans on the immigration issue, but I better start seeing more than just Tancredo out in front of this issue. Instead, they're caving to business interests looking for immediate cheap labor with ZERO regard to the either the rule of law or the future of our country.

[Dustin00whoop]

Man, I wasn't attacking you & I definitely didn't say that you weren't conservative. Did you read anything that I just posted? But its extremely close-minded to swear off an entire party simply because of a few screw-ups that are magnified by the liberal media.

[CaliHornia]

Man, I wasn't attacking you & I definitely didn't say that you weren't conservative. Did you read anything that I just posted? But its extremely close-minded to swear off an entire party simply because of a few screw-ups that are magnified by the liberal media.

Actually, it is not.

That's how we got the Republican majority in congress in the first place which was, at least at one time, a very good thing.

Swearing off an entire party makes the entire party responsible for the bad eggs.

Ever seen a coach make the entire team run laps for one guy's mistake? It's the same principle at work. If they think they'll be held responsible for everyone else's f*ckups they'll govern themselves better.

The only way to root out corruption is for everyone to be responsible for everyone else's bad deeds. If they want me to consider them then it's their job to fix the problem.

Somebody today should have broken with Hastert and called BS on him. No one did.

[CaliHornia]

By the way, this was from the REPUBLICAN contract with america:


REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.

That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This year's election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.
Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act "with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:

FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.

The Republicans just let their Speaker break that contract.

[Dustin00whoop]

Very true...but its incorrect to say that only Republicans are corrupt. I guess what I'm saying is that when you have to go with the lesser of 2 or 3 or even 4 evils, its close-minded to swear off a party because they are beginning to catch up to the same level of corruption as other parties.

[CaliHornia]

Very true...but its incorrect to say that only Republicans are corrupt. I guess what I'm saying is that when you have to go with the lesser of 2 or 3 or even 4 evils, its close-minded to swear off a party because they are beginning to catch up to the same level of corruption as other parties.

I've never said only Republicans were corrupt. Clearly Jefferson proves otherwise.

And I think pretty much everyone is doing the sorts of things DeLay stands accused of.

But I expect Democrats to be crooks. I'm not even bothered anymore when they are. I expect more from my party.

The fact is that this Republican Congress is failing so badly right now that I just don't care. And that's going to keep me home next November. Bad news too, because I'm a loyal voter.

We survived eight years of Clinton and emerged with control of all three branches of government. If we have to have a setback this November to remind our elected representatives why they're in DC, so be it.

You watch, if the Democrats take back the House, they'll start talking impeachment (and look like fools in the process) and the Republicans will come together again and those that are serious and straight will emerge all the better for it.

[Dustin00whoop]

The fact is that this Republican Congress is failing so badly right now that I just don't care. And that's going to keep me home next November. Bad news too, because I'm a loyal voter.

If you'd said that from the get go, we wouldn't be having this discussion. I thought you were saying that since you weren't voting Republican that you were going to be voting Independent or something. That was actually going to be my next point--if you don't like any of the candidates, then just don't vote. :D

[CaliHornia]

If you'd said that from the get go, we wouldn't be having this discussion. I thought you were saying that since you weren't voting Republican that you were going to be voting Independent or something. That was actually going to be my next point--if you don't like any of the candidates, then just don't vote. :D

It's a simple thing really. I could never bring myself to vote for pretty much any Democrat I know of for president right now outside of POSSIBLY Joseph Leiberman.

But I could easily bring myself to just stay home if McCain's on the ticket.

On the other hand, if HRC's on the other side, I'd have to think long and hard about even doing that.

[zrf2002]

That was actually going to be my next point--if you don't like any of the candidates, then just don't vote. :D

i know you put a smiley there, but i will go ahead and give my opinion of this statement.... i believe that it is not a god given right for us to be able to vote for our elected officials, but it is by the grace of god that we live in such a great country that we have the opportunity to elect who will lead our country. if you dont vote, i dont think you have the right to bitch and complain about what is going wrong with the elected officials or the county, you gave up that right when you (not you dustin, just anyone) decides to not execute your right to vote. if you do not like any of the candidates for whatever reason, you should research all of the candidates and try to validate to yourself why you SHOULD vote for someone, even if it is not in your chosen party. in a worst case scenario, you should probably vote for the competitor who is running against someone who you would never vote for no matter what. at least by doing that, you can give your opinion and hopefully keep that person out of office for reasons you do not see fit.

[Dustin00whoop]

I understand where you are coming from Zach, but if I feel that there isn't a worthy candidate to represent me & that they are all crooked, I'm not going to vote for any of them. I think Cal, made the point that if you really don't want a certain someone in office then you vote for the other person just to keep that someone out (like HRC). But if you feel that you aren't given a worthy choice, then I don't think you have to vote just because you are given that right. I'm not going to vote for someone because he is less of a crook. Thats like saying well Manson is better than Dahmer--he only killed 4 people as oppossed to 12. (extreme over the top example & I doubt that the actual number of killings is correct. Just used that example for effect. :D )

There really isn't any arguing this point because certain people just feel certain ways about these type of things & you usually aren't going to sway a person from their beliefs on this.

[zrf2002]

agreed, we can agree to disagree on this. but not on the hof, mlb discusssion;)

[Dustin00whoop]

agreed, we can agree to disagree on this. but not on the hof, mlb discusssion;)

Well, HELL NO! Because thats not opinion--thats fact. Plus, the board has been slow lately & I can't get anyone to answer the phone, so if I agree on every point, then there is no discussion & I have nothing to do while I let the phone ring. Not to mention the fact, that I'm not going to agree on something when I know I'm right. ;)

[zrf2002]

okay then we disagree on everything

[Dustin00whoop]

My last post wasn't very clear. I was saying that we can agree to disagree on this, but not on the other. This is getting to confusing. I have to go to CS & get away from this madness. :D