Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Albany Explained
New York Daily News cartoonist Bramhall sums up everything anyone needs to know about New York state government:
Labels: corruption, New York state politics
Friday, April 03, 2009
Better Off Ted?
There's something in the water up in Alaska, right? No sooner does Attorney General Eric Holder petition the judge in the Ted Stevens graft case to drop all charges against the former Republican senator, than Alaska Republicans call for elected Democrat Mark Begich to resign so there can be a new election! Gov. Sarah Palin didn't quite go so far as to say that Begich should step down, but she certainly entertained the idea of a new election.
Oh, spare us. Let's get this straight: Prosecutorial misconduct brought by a Republican president's Justice Department results in a Republican senator being charged and convicted. But the duly elected Democrat senator should now step down -- after a Democratic attorney general chose to drop the charges? It's gotta be the long nights up there, right?
On the other hand, aside from being the right thing to do, Holder's move was one of the smartest political decisions to come down the pike in a while. The misconduct was pretty blatant: Prosecutors intentionally hid potentially exculpatory testimony from the defense.
The judge nearly declared a mistrial during the trial over similar reasons and held the same prosecutors in contempt for failure to hand over documents to the defense in the appeal process. And, oh, an FBI agent in the case may have been having an affair with a prosecution witness. Lovely.
With that background, it's likely just a formality that Judge Emmet Sullivan will grant Holder's motion next week.
The Alaska Republicans should just STFU. After all, Holder could have held the option to re-file the charges, given that Stevens is, you know, likely guilty of a number of ethical improprieties with respect to refurnishing his house.
But dropping the charges was very smart. First, it makes Holder look compassionate. Stevens is 85 years old, and putting him on trial again would look cruel. Besides, he's suffered the most appropriate punishment for someone charged with abusing the powers of his office: He lost his seat (which he had held for nearly 40 years).
Secondly, the Obama Justice Department looks fair and, yes, bipartisan by going easy on the older Republican. In contrast, the case was brought by the a George W. Bush U.S. Attorney and justice department. That was the same department that has been plagued with accusations of political prosecutions. While the Stevens case can't be considered partisan, it does throw an even greater cloud over the ethical culture of the previous administration.
And does it open the door for Holder to do something similar with former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who also claims prosecutorial misconduct? Perhaps.
Regardless, Holder -- and, by extension, Obama -- are demonstrating that good policy often makes very good politics.
Labels: corruption, Eric Holder, sarah palin, Ted Stevens
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Democrat Corruption Watch
In a one-year period: A New York governor has resigned over prostitution; a Detroit mayor has been convicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges; a New Mexico governor (and brief Cabinet nominee) is under federal investigation on pay-to-play allegations; and an Illinois governor is implicated (and now impeached) over a host of corruption issues.
The latest on the elected Democrat rap sheet: Baltimore's mayor is indicted on 12 counts:
I actually believe Barack Obama: He may well be the only honest person in his entire party. What a fun four years he has in front of him!
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The latest on the elected Democrat rap sheet: Baltimore's mayor is indicted on 12 counts:
Baltimore Mayor Sheila A. Dixon was charged today with 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office, becoming the city's first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted.Like Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick, Dixon apparently mixes business with pleasure -- of course, her boyfriend is involved!
The case stems in part from at least $15,348 in gifts Dixon allegedly received from her former boyfriend, prominent city developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, while she was City Council president. She also is accused of using as much as $3,400 in gift cards, some donated to her office for distribution to "needy families," to purchase Best Buy electronics and other items for herself and her staff.
I actually believe Barack Obama: He may well be the only honest person in his entire party. What a fun four years he has in front of him!
Labels: corruption, Democrats, Rod Blagojevich
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Well, That Didn't Take Long...
First Cabinet-nominee dropout.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is out as Commerce Secretary. "Withdraws" amid a federal investigation of his ties to a California company that won municipal bond contracts in New Mexico. Looks like 2008's Year of Democratic Corruption -- after the GOP cleaned up in the previous couple of years -- will roll over into '09.
As for Obama's "team of rivals"? Maybe not so much.
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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is out as Commerce Secretary. "Withdraws" amid a federal investigation of his ties to a California company that won municipal bond contracts in New Mexico. Looks like 2008's Year of Democratic Corruption -- after the GOP cleaned up in the previous couple of years -- will roll over into '09.
As for Obama's "team of rivals"? Maybe not so much.
Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, corruption
Sunday, December 21, 2008
SCANDAL '08: Dems Strike Back
In Sunday's Post, I take a look at the year in scandal, noting that the Democrats sweep of Republicans extended to taking the corruption crown that the GOP had almost to itself over the previous election cycle.
(Click on the inset art, which is quite amusing, if I do say so myself).
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(Click on the inset art, which is quite amusing, if I do say so myself).
Labels: corruption, Democrats, Eliot Spitzer, Rod Blagojevich
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
No Sparing The Rod
In my previous post, I mentioned the abrupt end of the post-election Obama "era of good feeling." Several readers took that to mean that I think Blagojevich's indictment implicates Obama in the general graft that the governor was perpetrating. It doesn't directly. Indeed, Obama's best defense is Blago's profanity-laced tirade about the president-elect not willing to promise him any specific benefit for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the Senate seat.
Unfortunately, if the political-journalistic nexus worked in that logical manner, we wouldn't see half the political stories we see today (maybe that would be a good thing).
Just look at the Day Two headlines of the Blagojevich story:
GOP pressures Obama on Blagojevich
Big risks for Obama in Blago scandal
Will Obama confront scandals head on?
Obama's Answer on Blagojevich -- and the Questions It Raise
Union Official Allegedly Liaison Between Governor, Obama Team
Corruption Hangover Follows Election Night High
C'MON, BAM: GET MAD, NOT 'SAD' AT YOUR SLEAZY PAL
The implications in these headlines show the danger that this story has for Obama -- even if he's not a target of Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation(s). When a political scandal starts spreading, even the completely innocent get tainted. And, unfortunately, politics is a profession where even the "completely innocent" -- aren't. "Completely," that is.
Because everyone in politics has something they want "keep close to their vests," an unwillingness to be -- in the parlance -- "completely forthcoming" makes even above-board people look suspicious. And so, Obama will undoubtedly have to put one of his trusted aides on "Blago response/damage control" just to deal with all the hordes of questions that are coming down from reporters wanting to know the history of the relationship. Republicans, of course, won't be able to refrain. It is in the nature of the opposition party to take advantage when the other party is facing a scandal, if nothing else but to undermine confidence that the public might have vested in a just-victorious new president and administration. Again, all of the above is true, working under the assumption that Obama has done nothing wrong with respect to his relationship with Blagojevich.
But, what if there is more? And, what if Blagojevich -- in a spiteful mood -- decides he wants to "smear" Obama? One reader brings up an interesting question: Did Blago -- or chief-of-staff John Harris or an unindicted flunky text Obama's Blackberry on Senate seat? The probe is still ongoing. Would Fitzgerald ever get to a point where he might consider subpoenaing either Obama or Emanuel's Blackberry? Oh, and Tony Rezko hasn't been sentenced yet? Is it because he's still cooperating on the Blagojevich take-down -- or is there more going on?
The point is that scandals take on lives of their own. Sometimes they ultimately amount to nothing, but a politician -- even those exonerated -- rarely ends up in a better place before scandal machinery starts getting revved up. For Obama in particular, this comes at a problematic point because he has taken on this pseudo-president/head cheerleader role, carefully rolling out new members of the Cabinet, using his political capital and moral authority wisely to project confidence for the public during the holiday season. The best he has to offer is the promise of something better, come January 20th. If his press conference start getting bogged down by questions on his Blagojevich relationship or, again, Rezko's relationship to Blago and the whole real-estate deal, the glow off the new administration will literally be turned off before the Obama has turned the lights on in the White House for the first time.
Barack Obama wants his administration to be a breath of fresh air in Washington. Instead the Blago scandal (still NOT the "Obama scandal" -- yet) looks like a movie we've all seen before. And it's a skunk that makes everyone end up smelling bad.
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Unfortunately, if the political-journalistic nexus worked in that logical manner, we wouldn't see half the political stories we see today (maybe that would be a good thing).
Just look at the Day Two headlines of the Blagojevich story:
GOP pressures Obama on Blagojevich
Big risks for Obama in Blago scandal
Will Obama confront scandals head on?
Obama's Answer on Blagojevich -- and the Questions It Raise
Union Official Allegedly Liaison Between Governor, Obama Team
Corruption Hangover Follows Election Night High
C'MON, BAM: GET MAD, NOT 'SAD' AT YOUR SLEAZY PAL
The implications in these headlines show the danger that this story has for Obama -- even if he's not a target of Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation(s). When a political scandal starts spreading, even the completely innocent get tainted. And, unfortunately, politics is a profession where even the "completely innocent" -- aren't. "Completely," that is.
Because everyone in politics has something they want "keep close to their vests," an unwillingness to be -- in the parlance -- "completely forthcoming" makes even above-board people look suspicious. And so, Obama will undoubtedly have to put one of his trusted aides on "Blago response/damage control" just to deal with all the hordes of questions that are coming down from reporters wanting to know the history of the relationship. Republicans, of course, won't be able to refrain. It is in the nature of the opposition party to take advantage when the other party is facing a scandal, if nothing else but to undermine confidence that the public might have vested in a just-victorious new president and administration. Again, all of the above is true, working under the assumption that Obama has done nothing wrong with respect to his relationship with Blagojevich.
But, what if there is more? And, what if Blagojevich -- in a spiteful mood -- decides he wants to "smear" Obama? One reader brings up an interesting question: Did Blago -- or chief-of-staff John Harris or an unindicted flunky text Obama's Blackberry on Senate seat? The probe is still ongoing. Would Fitzgerald ever get to a point where he might consider subpoenaing either Obama or Emanuel's Blackberry? Oh, and Tony Rezko hasn't been sentenced yet? Is it because he's still cooperating on the Blagojevich take-down -- or is there more going on?
The point is that scandals take on lives of their own. Sometimes they ultimately amount to nothing, but a politician -- even those exonerated -- rarely ends up in a better place before scandal machinery starts getting revved up. For Obama in particular, this comes at a problematic point because he has taken on this pseudo-president/head cheerleader role, carefully rolling out new members of the Cabinet, using his political capital and moral authority wisely to project confidence for the public during the holiday season. The best he has to offer is the promise of something better, come January 20th. If his press conference start getting bogged down by questions on his Blagojevich relationship or, again, Rezko's relationship to Blago and the whole real-estate deal, the glow off the new administration will literally be turned off before the Obama has turned the lights on in the White House for the first time.
Barack Obama wants his administration to be a breath of fresh air in Washington. Instead the Blago scandal (still NOT the "Obama scandal" -- yet) looks like a movie we've all seen before. And it's a skunk that makes everyone end up smelling bad.
Labels: Barack Obama, corruption, Rod Blagojevich, scandal
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Chocolate Prophecy
I've become a fan of Comedy Central's new Chocolate News created and starring Living Colour alum David Allan Grier. His opening "rant" always concludes with a demand that some individual or business not "lose your damn mind" with respect to some black issue.
Last week's segment seems strangely clairvoyant in light of today's Blagojevich indictment:
Like Grier said, Obama is at the top of his popularity right now -- or was last week. This week, he will inevitably face "What did he know and when did he know it?" questions related to the Blago scandal. Worse, much of the national press corps is already in Chicago covering transition stuff. It's so easy for them all now to switch over right away into Scandal Mode. Even though Blagojevich is the indicted one, it's much easier for lazy journalists to use the phrase "Obama seat" to describe the scandal.
Oh well, the Era of Good Feeling was great while it lasted.
Honeymoon is now officially over -- even before the presidency has begun!
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Last week's segment seems strangely clairvoyant in light of today's Blagojevich indictment:
Like Grier said, Obama is at the top of his popularity right now -- or was last week. This week, he will inevitably face "What did he know and when did he know it?" questions related to the Blago scandal. Worse, much of the national press corps is already in Chicago covering transition stuff. It's so easy for them all now to switch over right away into Scandal Mode. Even though Blagojevich is the indicted one, it's much easier for lazy journalists to use the phrase "Obama seat" to describe the scandal.
Oh well, the Era of Good Feeling was great while it lasted.
Honeymoon is now officially over -- even before the presidency has begun!
Labels: Barack Obama, corruption, satire, scandal
Blagoje-Yi-Yi-Yi!!
Wow. Talk about a nightmare story from hell coming from Obama's home state!!!
His governor, Rod Blagojevich, was arrested for trying to sell the appointment to Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat!!! Amazingly, Blagojevich did this -- even as he (like his convicted Republican predecessor, George Ryan) has been the subject of corruption investigation for months -- by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (yep, that one)!!!
Nothing to suggest yet that Obama knew anything about this, but it is still nonetheless a huge embarassment to the president-elect, at a time when he has been getting huge plaudits for running a seamless transition.
On the other hand, considering New York's pending $14 billion deficit, perhaps this is something Gov. David Paterson should think about for Hillary's seat. Considering the full-court press that the Kennedys are putting out to get Caroline appointed, surely they can afford a few mil, right?
UPDATE: The indictment.
UPDATE II: Jim Pinkerton explains why -- following the special-election wins last week in Georgia and Illinois -- that the Blagojevich indictment is Part 2 of the "Republican Comeback."
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His governor, Rod Blagojevich, was arrested for trying to sell the appointment to Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat!!! Amazingly, Blagojevich did this -- even as he (like his convicted Republican predecessor, George Ryan) has been the subject of corruption investigation for months -- by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (yep, that one)!!!
Nothing to suggest yet that Obama knew anything about this, but it is still nonetheless a huge embarassment to the president-elect, at a time when he has been getting huge plaudits for running a seamless transition.
On the other hand, considering New York's pending $14 billion deficit, perhaps this is something Gov. David Paterson should think about for Hillary's seat. Considering the full-court press that the Kennedys are putting out to get Caroline appointed, surely they can afford a few mil, right?
UPDATE: The indictment.
UPDATE II: Jim Pinkerton explains why -- following the special-election wins last week in Georgia and Illinois -- that the Blagojevich indictment is Part 2 of the "Republican Comeback."
Labels: Barack Obama, corruption, Rod Blagojevich
Monday, December 08, 2008
Louisiana Meets Alaska?
Was Dylan right? Are the times really a-changing? This weekend, Bayou State voters (well, those in Nawlins anyway) followed in the footsteps of Alaska's and said goodbye to their walking embodiment of corruption.
Ted Stevens got the boot on November 4th (well, after all the votes were counted a week or so later). And on Saturday, Louisiana's delayed-by-hurricane congressional elections produced the electoral expulsion of William Jefferson, he of the "cold cash" bribery indictment. Amazingly, the indicted African American Democrat lost to a Republican by the name of Anh "Joseph" Cao, who will now be the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress.
So, in this year of Obama, Louisiana -- home of the first South Asian Indian-American (Republican) governor -- sends another "first" Congress. And, this from a state that pretty much wrote the book on tolerating political corruption (well, the chapters not written by Chicago politicians, anyway)!!!
Now, that's diversity!!
Yeah, there is indeed some major-league change going on.
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Ted Stevens got the boot on November 4th (well, after all the votes were counted a week or so later). And on Saturday, Louisiana's delayed-by-hurricane congressional elections produced the electoral expulsion of William Jefferson, he of the "cold cash" bribery indictment. Amazingly, the indicted African American Democrat lost to a Republican by the name of Anh "Joseph" Cao, who will now be the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress.
So, in this year of Obama, Louisiana -- home of the first South Asian Indian-American (Republican) governor -- sends another "first" Congress. And, this from a state that pretty much wrote the book on tolerating political corruption (well, the chapters not written by Chicago politicians, anyway)!!!
Now, that's diversity!!
Yeah, there is indeed some major-league change going on.
Labels: corruption, Rep. William Jefferson, Ted Stevens
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Welcome To Mr. Rangel's Good Nabors-hood
The New York Times busts the House Ways & Means Chairman -- and dean of the New York congressional delegation -- on his relationship with a contributor to his school for public service -- who also benefited from an on off-shore tax break.
Does Barack Obama really want this guy steering his tax bills through Congress for the next few years?
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Does Barack Obama really want this guy steering his tax bills through Congress for the next few years?
Labels: Charlie Rangel, corruption, New York
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Baked Alaska
Didn't have the chance to use that headline during the whole Sarah Palin silliness. But it is most appropriate -- and deserved -- to cheer the electoral defeat of Sen. "Bridge To The Penitentiary" Ted Stevens.
Forget partisanship. Alaska voters did the right thing by avoiding the embarrassment of returning (however briefly) a convicted felon to the Senate.
Don't let the prison door hit you on the way out, Senator.
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Forget partisanship. Alaska voters did the right thing by avoiding the embarrassment of returning (however briefly) a convicted felon to the Senate.
Don't let the prison door hit you on the way out, Senator.
Labels: corruption, Republicans, Ted Stevens
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
From Cloud Nine to Client No. Nine
My Pajamas Media overview of the Spitzer fall from grace.
UPDATE: Republican-controlled state Senate starts talking impeachment.
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UPDATE: Republican-controlled state Senate starts talking impeachment.
Labels: corruption, Democrats, Eliot Spitzer, pajamas media
Monday, March 10, 2008
Hooked On A Feeling...
NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer involved in a prostitution ring.
(And, no, even though this is reported by the Times, these are apparently not lobbyists.)
Could be connected with this story on the front page of the New York Sun this morning.
UPDATE: Spitzer expected to resign (3:01 PM). Local WCBS Station is reporting that Spitzer resignation could come as early as this evening (5:15 PM).
UPDATE II: This may turn out to be the most prescient statement in the history of Ragged Thots (from last November):
Remove that "culture of corruption" arrow from the Democrats' fall quiver.
UPDATE III: Meet the governor of New York, "Client 9."
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(And, no, even though this is reported by the Times, these are apparently not lobbyists.)
Could be connected with this story on the front page of the New York Sun this morning.
UPDATE: Spitzer expected to resign (3:01 PM). Local WCBS Station is reporting that Spitzer resignation could come as early as this evening (5:15 PM).
UPDATE II: This may turn out to be the most prescient statement in the history of Ragged Thots (from last November):
Hillary's Worst Enemy...
...is not who you'd think.
It's not the easy answer of "herself" or "Bill."
It's certainly not Barack Obama or any of the other Democrats. For that matter, it's not even GOP front-runner Rudy Giuliani or the rest of the Republican field.No, it is starting to look like Sen. Clinton's biggest obstacle -- indeed, the biggest wild card in Democratic fortunes in '08 -- is NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Remove that "culture of corruption" arrow from the Democrats' fall quiver.
UPDATE III: Meet the governor of New York, "Client 9."
Labels: corruption, Democrats, Eliot Spitzer
Monday, February 11, 2008
Was It Huckabam Sweeps?
Well, this was a particularly horrid weekend for Hillary Rodham Clinton. Barack Obama won convincingly in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington (and the U.S. Virgin Islands!) on Saturday -- and Maine on Sunday (and rubbed it in by beating out Bill Clinton for a Grammy, for cripes sake). It's gotten so bad for Sen. Clinton that campaign manager Pattis Solis Doyle did the obligatory plank walk on Sunday -- replaced by former Clinton chief of staff Maggie Williams.
However, the more interesting story is whether Mike Huckabee had a right to crow over a weekend sweep over presumptive Republican Party nominee John McCain -- and whether that right was stolen from him by the Washington GOP.
The state party stopped counting votes from the caucuses and declared McCain the winner of Washington -- with only 87% of the vote in. At that moment, McCain led Huckabee 26-24 -- the actual margin was about 1.8 percent (Ron Paul had 21% of the vote). The party chairman even admitted that he didn't know where the outstanding vote would be coming from. Why do this?
Well, keep in mind that Huckabee had already won a huge victory in the Kansas caucuses early Saturday and eked out a one percent (43-42) win in Louisiana (which became a "beauty contest" because the winner didn't make 50 percent). So, from a public relations standpoint, Washington began to mean something. If Huckabee had won Washington, he would have been able to say that he he has strength outside of the South (and heavily evangelical states like Kansas and Iowa).
Josh Marshall reported the unfolding Washington story all weekend, beginning here. Josh has further updates, including a press release from the Huckabee campaign and a Meet The Press clip where the governor notes the "weird things" going on.
One point, however, that Josh missed is that the "weird things" began earlier in the evening. I was home Saturday and was flipping back and forth between the cable stations. I noticed that the Washington state Republican returns were stuck on 37 percent of precincts reported for what seemed like at least 90 minutes. Then, around 10:30 or so, the numbers jumped up to 74 percent, before slowing to a trickle -- and stopping at 87 percent. What was notable was that Huckabee led McCain by about 27-23 percent at the 37 percent reporting period. When the counting resumed, it seemed like McCain immediately jumped in front -- to the 26-24 margin that remained at the time the counting was "called." Normally, if one candidate catches and passes another as returns come in, it doesn't raise any eyebrows.
But given the, ahem, weirdness (theft?) in Washington, every odd activity needs to be examined.
Cripes, guys, McCain is going to win the darn thing. It's practically mathematically impossible for Huckabee to catch up. But, no, the Washington GOP has to try some underhanded measures to force the issue. And they wonder why the party is in such trouble.
UPDATE: Ed Morrissey chastises the Washington state party chair, while noting that the margin between McCain and Huckabee has remained constant after counting was restarted (they're up to 94 percent now).
UPDATE II: Josh Marshall has an even more of a detailed chronology of Saturday's evening voting aberrations -- as well as some incomprehensible "explanations" on what happened.
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However, the more interesting story is whether Mike Huckabee had a right to crow over a weekend sweep over presumptive Republican Party nominee John McCain -- and whether that right was stolen from him by the Washington GOP.
The state party stopped counting votes from the caucuses and declared McCain the winner of Washington -- with only 87% of the vote in. At that moment, McCain led Huckabee 26-24 -- the actual margin was about 1.8 percent (Ron Paul had 21% of the vote). The party chairman even admitted that he didn't know where the outstanding vote would be coming from. Why do this?
Well, keep in mind that Huckabee had already won a huge victory in the Kansas caucuses early Saturday and eked out a one percent (43-42) win in Louisiana (which became a "beauty contest" because the winner didn't make 50 percent). So, from a public relations standpoint, Washington began to mean something. If Huckabee had won Washington, he would have been able to say that he he has strength outside of the South (and heavily evangelical states like Kansas and Iowa).
Josh Marshall reported the unfolding Washington story all weekend, beginning here. Josh has further updates, including a press release from the Huckabee campaign and a Meet The Press clip where the governor notes the "weird things" going on.
One point, however, that Josh missed is that the "weird things" began earlier in the evening. I was home Saturday and was flipping back and forth between the cable stations. I noticed that the Washington state Republican returns were stuck on 37 percent of precincts reported for what seemed like at least 90 minutes. Then, around 10:30 or so, the numbers jumped up to 74 percent, before slowing to a trickle -- and stopping at 87 percent. What was notable was that Huckabee led McCain by about 27-23 percent at the 37 percent reporting period. When the counting resumed, it seemed like McCain immediately jumped in front -- to the 26-24 margin that remained at the time the counting was "called." Normally, if one candidate catches and passes another as returns come in, it doesn't raise any eyebrows.
But given the, ahem, weirdness (theft?) in Washington, every odd activity needs to be examined.
Cripes, guys, McCain is going to win the darn thing. It's practically mathematically impossible for Huckabee to catch up. But, no, the Washington GOP has to try some underhanded measures to force the issue. And they wonder why the party is in such trouble.
UPDATE: Ed Morrissey chastises the Washington state party chair, while noting that the margin between McCain and Huckabee has remained constant after counting was restarted (they're up to 94 percent now).
UPDATE II: Josh Marshall has an even more of a detailed chronology of Saturday's evening voting aberrations -- as well as some incomprehensible "explanations" on what happened.
Labels: corruption, GOP 2008 President, John McCain, Mike Huckabee
Friday, January 18, 2008
DeLay of Game
John McCain is by no means a perfect person or perfect person candidate. He's been on the wrong side of a couple of issues. But he's responsible for "betraying" the conservative movement?
Right.
Ask anyone who might have been paying attention back in 2006 what they thought were the main reasons why Republicans lost the House and Senate. Yes, the Iraq War was part of it. But so too was Republican overspending -- and rampant corruption (particularly in the House). What role did John McCain play in any of that? On the contrary, he was the one always decrying the GOP's profligacy.t
Conversely, how much did the legal troubles of The Indicted Hammer (AKA former majority leader) contribute to the ethical cloud that hovered -- continues to hover? -- over Republicans?
And this man -- now running a brand new operation called the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and whose former aides almost single-handedly helped spread the Jack Abramoff corruption infection throughout the party -- has the nerve to accuse John McCain of "betraying" conservatism?
Pathetic doesn't quite describe this.
Tom DeLay isn't qualified to pass moral judgment on anyone -- and certainly not John McCain.
UPDATE: First sentence now corrected.
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Right.
Ask anyone who might have been paying attention back in 2006 what they thought were the main reasons why Republicans lost the House and Senate. Yes, the Iraq War was part of it. But so too was Republican overspending -- and rampant corruption (particularly in the House). What role did John McCain play in any of that? On the contrary, he was the one always decrying the GOP's profligacy.t
Conversely, how much did the legal troubles of The Indicted Hammer (AKA former majority leader) contribute to the ethical cloud that hovered -- continues to hover? -- over Republicans?
And this man -- now running a brand new operation called the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and whose former aides almost single-handedly helped spread the Jack Abramoff corruption infection throughout the party -- has the nerve to accuse John McCain of "betraying" conservatism?
Pathetic doesn't quite describe this.
Tom DeLay isn't qualified to pass moral judgment on anyone -- and certainly not John McCain.
UPDATE: First sentence now corrected.
Labels: corruption, John McCain, Republicans, Tom DeLay
Friday, December 07, 2007
CIA CYA
While Democrats are outraged (as they should be) over the news that the CIA destroyed videotapes of a detainee interrogation (and kept their existence secret even in the face of court and 911 Commission orders), what is most interesting is the general consensus around the blogosphere that this a truly serious infraction that may (stress may) reach criminal behavior (i.e. obstruction of justice).
Conservatives are not giving the CIA a pass on this. Ed Morrissey assesses the issue. My hunch is that this is one of those scandals tailor-made for dumping all the blame on the previous guy (in this case, that would be Porter Goss). I disagree with Ed in one respect, however: The fact that video may have shown the interrogators face provides not even the slightest excuse for destroying the tapes. There is something called pixillation (the same technical process that blurs "naughty bits" on network TV if a nude person shows up in a news show) that could have hidden their faces.
Well, add one more thing for the chattering class to attack this weekend (along with Romney, Oprah/Obama, the NIE, etc.).
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Conservatives are not giving the CIA a pass on this. Ed Morrissey assesses the issue. My hunch is that this is one of those scandals tailor-made for dumping all the blame on the previous guy (in this case, that would be Porter Goss). I disagree with Ed in one respect, however: The fact that video may have shown the interrogators face provides not even the slightest excuse for destroying the tapes. There is something called pixillation (the same technical process that blurs "naughty bits" on network TV if a nude person shows up in a news show) that could have hidden their faces.
Well, add one more thing for the chattering class to attack this weekend (along with Romney, Oprah/Obama, the NIE, etc.).
Labels: CIA, corruption, interrogation
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Corrupt, But Competent?
Rudy Giuliani's ringing endorsement of his former police commissioner -- AND a promise of what his White House might look like?
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Giuliani has accepted responsibility for his role in Kerik's embarrassing 2004 withdrawal as President Bush's Homeland Security nominee after revelation of tax problems. Ethics questions and corruption allegations also have swirled around Kerik. But the former New York mayor said the results of the commissioner's time in New York far outweigh isolated incidences.
"Bernie Kerik worked for me while I was mayor of New York City. There were mistakes made with Bernie Kerik. But what's the ultimate result for the people of New York City? The ultimate result for the people of New York City was a 74 percent reduction in shootings, a 60 percent reduction in crime, a correction program that went from being one of the worst in the country to one
that was on '60 Minutes' as the best in the country, 90 percent reduction of violence in the jails.""Sure, there were issues, but if I have the same degree of success and failure as president of the United States, this country will be in great shape," Giuliani said.
Given what the Bush administration and the Republican Congress produced in their last few years together, the impulse for competence is admirable. But Rudy's papering over the fact that his former corrections and overall police commissioner was allegedly mobbed up is hardly reassuring. Oh, and crediting Kerik with "74 percent reduction in shootings [and] a 60 percent reduction in crime" is a crock. He was Giuliani's third commissioner -- having the job only for Giuliani's final 15 months in office. The downward trend was already well under way, inititiated by Bill Bratton, continued by Howard Safir (who was problematic in other ways) and then handed off to Kerik.
But Rudy wants to credit his mobbed-up pal with the entire crime plunge in his tenure? Quite a selective memory. With that sort of viewpoint, the country will surely be in "great shape."
Labels: Bernie Kerik, corruption, GOP 2008 President, Rudy Giuliani
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Perils of Alberto, Pt. XXIX
OK, it's one thing to have both Senate and House Democrats going after you. It's something else when even the director of the FBI has, um, a different recollection of events.
And the beat goes on...
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And the beat goes on...
Labels: Alberto Gonzales, corruption
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Spitzer Meltdown
In a remarkably quick turnaround, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issues report reprimanding Gov. Eliot Spitzer (Cuomo's predecessor) for inappropriate use of State Police in a political dispute with Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno.
Not in office eight months and already Spitzer is forced to toss his long-time spokesman overboard and "reassign" another flunky.
My Post colleague Fred Dicker takes a well-deserved victory lap.
What more this entails for the Spitzer administration.
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Not in office eight months and already Spitzer is forced to toss his long-time spokesman overboard and "reassign" another flunky.
My Post colleague Fred Dicker takes a well-deserved victory lap.
What more this entails for the Spitzer administration.
Labels: Andrew Cuomo, corruption, Eliot Spitzer
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Everything Changes
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer ran last year on the slogan, "Day One: Everything Changes."
Little did the average New Yorker realize how much the new gov would live up to that "promise."
Today's Post reports that Spitzer has apparently had state troopers following his main legislative foe, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno -- seemingly with the intent to use whatever information he gleaned for political mudslinging, such as last week's charge that Bruno used a state helicopter for political activity.
Now, to be clear here: Bruno is no angel. He's under FBI investigation for possible corruption involving his consultation practice.
However, this action by Spitzer -- the former attorney general -- brings up echoes of Richard Nixon using the FBI and the IRS for political retribution against his "enemies list."
Stunning.
The Post's editorial on the topic is here. The Daily News' coverage of Bruno's press conference earlier today where he called for a broad investigation of the governor's actions.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long takes issue with a Spitzer spokesman's claim that a comment by Long was the impetus for Spitzer siccing the state troopers on Bruno.
Amazing as it may seem, Eliot Spitzer may have irreparably wrecked his governorship barely six months into the job.
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Little did the average New Yorker realize how much the new gov would live up to that "promise."
Today's Post reports that Spitzer has apparently had state troopers following his main legislative foe, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno -- seemingly with the intent to use whatever information he gleaned for political mudslinging, such as last week's charge that Bruno used a state helicopter for political activity.
Now, to be clear here: Bruno is no angel. He's under FBI investigation for possible corruption involving his consultation practice.
However, this action by Spitzer -- the former attorney general -- brings up echoes of Richard Nixon using the FBI and the IRS for political retribution against his "enemies list."
Stunning.
The Post's editorial on the topic is here. The Daily News' coverage of Bruno's press conference earlier today where he called for a broad investigation of the governor's actions.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long takes issue with a Spitzer spokesman's claim that a comment by Long was the impetus for Spitzer siccing the state troopers on Bruno.
Amazing as it may seem, Eliot Spitzer may have irreparably wrecked his governorship barely six months into the job.
Labels: corruption, Eliot Spitzer
