Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Abramoff
We haven't written much on this particular fellow, but it seems he has been involved in a rather dramatic volume of Congressional corruption. And, scarily for many I am sure, he has now agreed to a plea. Meaning he will sing. And it will be an ugly tune. But it will be a bipartisan harmony, and it will end many political careers. Others are already writing about this prolifically, and I will add little value in terms of details. However, I will offer a couple of projections:
1) This may turn out to be the political story of the year. It will have profound influence on the elections of November 2006 and November 2008.
2) It will sink many Republicans - and they will deserve sinking. The media is very excited about this, citing ties Abramoff has had with Grover Norquist, Tom Delay and Ralph Reed, among others.
People who accept bribes in exchange for political acts should be called out, regardless of party, for what they are. Corrupt. Criminal. Let's give them their fair hearing and presumption of innocence. But if found guilty, let's make them pay a heavy price.
3) It will surprise the media to see how many Democrats, some quite prominent, are stung by this. Political patronage is bipartisan. This is tautological. We won't feed the rumor mill. I am quite confident that there are many nervous Democratic nellies conferring with their Republican corruption allies.
This will be quite a bit uglier than the Keating Five, I think, for those who remember that affair. A fellow named McCain got off quite lightly then as I recall....
Let's go see the movie.
1) This may turn out to be the political story of the year. It will have profound influence on the elections of November 2006 and November 2008.
2) It will sink many Republicans - and they will deserve sinking. The media is very excited about this, citing ties Abramoff has had with Grover Norquist, Tom Delay and Ralph Reed, among others.
People who accept bribes in exchange for political acts should be called out, regardless of party, for what they are. Corrupt. Criminal. Let's give them their fair hearing and presumption of innocence. But if found guilty, let's make them pay a heavy price.
3) It will surprise the media to see how many Democrats, some quite prominent, are stung by this. Political patronage is bipartisan. This is tautological. We won't feed the rumor mill. I am quite confident that there are many nervous Democratic nellies conferring with their Republican corruption allies.
This will be quite a bit uglier than the Keating Five, I think, for those who remember that affair. A fellow named McCain got off quite lightly then as I recall....
Let's go see the movie.
3 Comments:
By 
TigerHawk, at
Tue Jan 03, 08:55:00 PM:
By Cassandra, at
Tue Jan 03, 09:24:00 PM:
Don't hold back now, TH. I hate it when you repress your feelings like this.
By TigerHawk, at
Tue Jan 03, 10:22:00 PM:
I'm too pissed off at Jack Murtha to waste a lot of energy on the corrupt dirtbags who slimed around with Abramoff.
If the Republicans are smart, they will attack Abramoff and anybody who dealt with him hammer and tongs. None of this business about the "Democrats did it as well." Just take everybody who did it down, and hard.
