…White House refuses to answer Senate questions on AmeriCorps IG firing
washingtonexaminer.com/opini … 85832.html
So protecting your corrupt underground good ol boy network is what passes for political courage today. As Chicago goes, so goes the nation. If a “community leader” can do this much damage in so short a time, just imagine what a cub scout leader could do.
I’m trying so hard to care about this.
IOW, you don’t understand the implications.
The difference is, if a Republican had done anything like approaching this, the Democrats and media would have come down one him like a ton of bricks–and the Republicans would have called for his resignation. But Obama doesn’t have to a respond to the hard questions because his own state run media are asking those questions.
I dare say you, like so many, have gone beyond bias into blind partiality. Others, many others, however, are waking up. Obama’s probably watching Iran close down the cell phone system, the Internet and arresting dissidents, leaving nothing left but state run media and whispering to himself, “some day”.
Ah, what am I saying, it’ll never happen here since every body tries so hard to care.
Well, I get confused when someone makes the claim that the media are in Obama’s pocket based on information they get…from the media.
I really want to respond to you and point out the abuses of the Republicans for the past 8 years, and the scandals involving the white house giving Fox talking points, but I don’t want to give the impression that I’m doing a tit for tat sort of thing. Because there is no tat, you’re just making shit up. However, I will say that once again you take what could be legitimate criticism against Obama, and go so ridiculously overboard on a rant about state run media and corruption that whatever truth is in there is instantly lost.
You should seriously think about the assertion that it’s some sort of vile debauchery of the office for a President to not give a reason for his firing of a political appointee, as Presidents rarely give reasons unless they’re already publicly known, and always say some sort of bull about different vision, not working out, or going in a different direction. Such things are and always will be uninformative dogshit.
Whatever.
Overview of criminal and political investigations
[edit] People convicted in Abramoff probe (as of June 9, 2007)
Abramoff is serving six years in prison on a criminal case out of Florida, where he pleaded guilty in January 2006 to charges of conspiracy, honest services fraud, and tax evasion. For the mail fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion charges stemming from the influence-peddling scandal in Washington, Abramoff was sentenced to four years in federal prison on September 4, 2008 by U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. He had faced up to 11 years in prison.
Abramoff is cooperating in a bribery investigation involving lawmakers, their aides, and members of the Bush administration.
Lawmakers, lobbyists, Bush administration officials, congressional staffers, and businessmen caught up in the Jack Abramoff public corruption probe:[60]
Adam Kidan (former Abramoff business partner), was sentenced in Florida in March 2006 to nearly six years in prison for conspiracy and fraud in the 2000 purchase of the Fort Lauderdale-based SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet.
Bob Ney, (former Rep.) R-Ohio, sentenced in January to 2 1/2 years in prison, acknowledged taking bribes from Abramoff. Ney was in the traveling party on an Abramoff-sponsored golfing trip to Scotland at the heart of the case against Safavian.
David Safavian, (former White House official), the Bush administration’s former top procurement official, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October 2006 after he was found guilty of covering up his dealings with Abramoff. Safavian is appealing his conviction.
Italia Federici, co-founder of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and obstruction of a Senate investigation into Abramoff’s relationship with officials at the Department of Interior.
Mark Zachares, former aide to Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. He acknowledged accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and a golf trip to Scotland from Abramoff’s team in exchange for official acts on the lobbyist’s behalf.
Michael Scanlon, a former Abramoff business partner and DeLay aide, pleaded guilty in November 2005 to conspiring to bribe public officials in connection with his lobbying work on behalf of Indian tribes and casino issues. He is cooperating with investigators.
Neil Volz, a former chief of staff to Ney who left government to work for Abramoff, pleaded guilty in May 2006 to conspiring to corrupt Ney and others with trips and other aid.
Roger Stillwell, a former Interior Department official, was sentenced to two years on probation in January after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge for not reporting hundreds of dollars worth of sports and concert tickets he received from Abramoff.
Steven Griles, (former Deputy Interior Secretary) the highest-ranking Bush administration official convicted in the scandal, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. He admitted lying to a Senate committee about his relationship with Abramoff, who repeatedly sought Griles’ intervention at Interior on behalf of Indian tribal clients.
Tony Rudy, lobbyist and one-time aide to DeLay, pleaded guilty in March 2006 to conspiring with Abramoff. He is cooperating with investigators.
William Heaton, former chief of staff for Ney, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge involving a golf trip to Scotland, expensive meals, and tickets to sporting events between 2002 and 2004 as payoffs for helping Abramoff’s clients.
Scooter libby convicted, but pardoned.
another list to complete to cover all my bases
Jack Abramoff (70 months)
John Albaugh
Trevor Blackann
Todd Boulanger
Jared Carpenter (45 days)
Ann Copland
Robert Coughlin
Italia Federici (48 months probation)
J. Steven Griles (10 months)
William Heaton (24 months probation)
James Hirni
Adam Kidan (70 months)
Bob Ney (30 months)
Tony Rudy
Michael Scanlon
Roger Stillwell (24 months probation)
Neil Volz (24 months probation)
Mark Zachares
Convicted
David Safavian (18 months)
Indicted/Charged
Kevin A. Ring
Fraser Verrusio
Named but not charged
Ed Buckham
Tom DeLay
Tom Feeney
Ernest Istook
Kevin Koonce
Others
Team Abramoff
Konstantinos “Gus” Boulis
Grover Norquist
Amy Ridenour
Susan Ralston
Ralph Reed
Lou Sheldon
When Obama’s list come to about half way to bush jr. then you may have a modest point to make, but until then,
your sad whine about one political appointee being fired should really wait until Obama actually breaks a law, you know
like when bush violated the constitution and broke the law like a dozens of time in his first 4 years, little less his last
4 years.
And before you say anything, Clinton had no appointee’s sent to jail nor did he have any any scandals that sent
anyone to jail despite spending over 50 million dollars investigating Clinton. Spend that much on bush and the jail
population would increase by hundreds if not thousands including bush, chaney, rummy and john yoo.
Kropotkin
So what are you saying, the punishment wasn’t strong enough? It’s ok if Republicans are convicted and punished, but don’t worry about the Democrats, particularly if it’s the President? The old tired arguments of pointing to the other side doesn’t excuse the wrongs of your side. And for the record, Libby wasn’t convicted of the original charge, because there was not basis for the charge, it was merely for not being forthcoming to the prosecution’s fishing expedition. It was a good pardon, and they should have stood up for him earlier instead of throwing him under the bus.
Oh, and nice list. I could come up with one at least as long and much more egregious concerning the Democrats–on tax evasion alone that they are all skating on. Not to mention other crap like this IG firing. And then there’s the Clinton Administration.
when youre the one in charge of the rules, or perceived to be, then those rules just dont apply to you. its just the way it is. and its why government (and politicians) tends so strongly to corruption; it also means that government is a great place to go if youre the kind of person who wants to be above the law.
as chicago goes, so goes the nation… i like that.
were seeing the effects of politics having been replaced by pressure-group warfare. lobbying, good ol boys, lies, bribes, payoffs, thousands of groups and businesses fighting for the legislative gun, or the right to direct (buy/coerce) whoever has it. its what happens when capitalism is abandoned for a mixed economy of central planning and State economic meddling. when youre competitor doesnt need to innovate and succeed to beat you out (he just lobbies for political support from his local government to get mandatory contracts or legislative favors such as tax breaks), you have no choice but to join the game and play it well, or go out of business. government isnt ignorant of this, they are not “reluctant shareholders” of GM anymore than they are reluctant players in any aspecto of the economy… government is playing the role of banker in this fucked up real-life monopoly game.
…if you are still being surprised at obamas government’s corruption and “politics as usual”, you need to wake up. and if you actually deny that there is corruption in obama’s government, well, you seriously need your head examined.
Three Times Great: when youre the one in charge of the rules, or perceived to be, then those rules just dont apply to you. its just the way it is. and its why government (and politicians) tends so strongly to corruption; it also means that government is a great place to go if youre the kind of person who wants to be above the law.
as chicago goes, so goes the nation… i like that.
were seeing the effects of politics having been replaced by pressure-group warfare. lobbying, good ol boys, lies, bribes, payoffs, thousands of groups and businesses fighting for the legislative gun, or the right to direct (buy/coerce) whoever has it. its what happens when capitalism is abandoned for a mixed economy of central planning and State economic meddling. when youre competitor doesnt need to innovate and succeed to beat you out (he just lobbies for political support from his local government to get mandatory contracts or legislative favors such as tax breaks), you have no choice but to join the game and play it well, or go out of business. government isnt ignorant of this, they are not “reluctant shareholders” of GM anymore than they are reluctant players in any aspecto of the economy… government is playing the role of banker in this fucked up real-life monopoly game.
…if you are still being surprised at obamas government’s corruption and “politics as usual”, you need to wake up. and if you actually deny that there is corruption in obama’s government, well, you seriously need your head examined."
K: replaced Obama with Bush and I could have written this years ago, almost WORD FOR WORD.
Kropotkin
thank you for proving my point for me.
So do something about it.
Everyone go out and buy Camel Mandarin Orange Exotic Blend cigarettes because they’re about to become a collector’s item.
yep, as ive said here before that story even came out, those of us in our 20s and 30s will surely live to see the complete banning of all tobacco products in our lifetimes.
so funny, people actually still believe theyre living in a free country…
banning tobacco? that’s just crazy. i’m not even being sarcastic. one, there’s too much money involved. two, ‘they’ tried banning alcohol and the results are well documented. if anything, i presume it’s gonna be progressively higher taxes.
and i don’t think the banning of a particularly harmful drug means that a country isn’t free anymore. by that measure, then this country also isn’t free because heroin and speed is banned.
wait until they institute national healthcare, and then begin denying services to smokers. wait until taxes keep jumping prices of cigarettes sky high, government mandates more taxes and fees to account for healthcare, slaps warnings over 60%+ of the packaging. by the time an outright ban comes along, so few people will smoke it wont even matter.
im not claiming tobacco isnt unhealthy. im claiming its a legal product, and one that people choose to use. and yes, because substances are banned from personal use does in fact mean that we are not free in that dimension. rather than banning substances, government should restrict them to adults 18+ and just let you do what you want with your own life, and let you personally suffer the rewards or consequences as a result… actually treat you LIKE AN ADULT. wouldnt that be nice for a change?
if drugs such as heroine are particularly devastating and represent a clear immediate risk (it does not, unless you overdose, and you can overdose on ANYTHING) then that product would have no market… the fact that people WANT drugs is a good enough sign that drugs are GOOD for those people. now, if those people abuse drugs, its their problem and they should suffer the consequences. even if you become addicted, you made the choice to take an addictive substance in the first place, and you ignored the warning signs as the addiction creeped up on you. its not like throwing a switch, its a process.
and maintaining recovery and medical treatment centers for people who overuse or abuse drugs like heroine or weed, in a like manner as we do for alcoholics, is far better. but even so, regardless of all that, tobacco isnt near the same category as heroin or speed. tobacco causes long term damage to the body. so does a great many things. it doesnt mean it should be made illegal just because it has risk associated with it. following that logic, almost any and everything would be illegal.