Republican Party Ethics

“Boy Vile is really whipping up his little troll today....”

“I still can't count that money that's at the bottom of that pool of 'Blackwater'.”

“I hear the big Muckity Muck at Blackwater is a bigtime mystic, too.  He's probably right there alongside Bush and Ahmadinejad getting set for the end o' the world.”

“
Wilkes’s lawyers make case for subpoenas
By Susan Crabtree
October 02, 2007

Lawyers for Brent Wilkes, the defense contractor accused of bribing former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.), laid out their case for issuing subpoenas for documents and testimony from 12 members of Congress two weeks ago in a brief filed with the court Tuesday.

Wilkes’s legal team issued subpoenas for documents and testimony to 12 members of Congress two weeks ago, including: former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Reps. Jerry Lewis (R- Calif.), John Doolittle (R-Calif.), Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), John Murtha (D-Pa.), Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) and Norm Dicks (D-Wash.). A 13th subpoena, issued to Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), was withdrawn.

Wilkes is accused of giving Cunningham $625,000 in cash, plus gifts and favors, such as luxurious trips, antiques, boats and the services of prostitutes, in exchange for help securing $80 million in defense contracts. Cunningham is serving an eight-year sentence for accepting the bribes from Wilkes and others.

U.S. Judge Larry Burns will decide whether to quash the subpoenas as early as Tuesday.

The brief opposes the House general counsel’s motion, filed last week, to quash the subpoenas. The House brief argued that the speech and debate clause in the Constitution protects lawmakers from judicial interference in legislative activity.

Wilkes’s lawyer, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, wrote that the House general counsel’s office ignores the main issue before the court, namely, how Wilkes can defend himself against charges that he misused the legislative process if he is not permitted to inquire about the legislative process.

If the court grants the general counsel’s motion to quash the subpoenas, Geragos argued that Wilkes “will be in the position of a boxer fighting a match blindfolded.”

Geragos argued that the House general counsel failed to cite a single instance in which a court held that in a case alleging corruption of the legislative process, the speech and debate clause prevented a defendant from calling legislators to his defense. He also wrote that the speech and debate clause only covers specific acts within the “legislative sphere” and does not bar a legislator from testifying in a criminal case.

Geragos also asserted that several of the members of Congress subpoenaed have “direct knowledge and were participants in many of the activities listed in the indictment.”

“As such they are clearly subject to the subpoena power of the court and must give relevant testimony like any other witness,” he wrote.

In another development in the Cunningham case, a judge has postponed the trial of a defendant accused of conspiring to bribe the former lawmaker, because he has meningitis.

John Michael, who is accused of money-laundering and obstruction of justice, was set to stand trial this week along with businessman Wilkes. Wilkes’s trial will begin Wednesday with jury selection, but opening statements and first witnesses will not be heard until Oct. 9.

Judge Burns did not set a new date for Michael, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday.

Both Wilkes and Michael have pleaded not guilty.

”

“Wow, the family values of the Rebublican party are truly outstanding!

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Wisconsin_GOP_chair_faces_charges_in_1014.html”

“Former United States Rep. Henry 'youthful indiscretion' Hyde (R-IL) got the so-called "Presidential Medal of Freedom" from his buddy George Monday.

The 'towering figure' would've appreciated a year's supply of Viagra and a case of rubbers more, I'm sure.

Like many things touched by George Bush, it will take a while for the award to recover its reputation.”

“The Green Monster rears it's head.
LOL”

“After 8 years of the guy before him your worried about Bush damaging a reputation? That's rich! (I know, I'm not suppose to bring him into discussions so I'll not mention his name)”

“Bush better than Clinton, but even worse than Nixon?”

“What a horror, I mean, honor.”

“
Ex-NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik surrenders in corruption probe

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Friday, November 9th 2007, 10:10 AM


Bernard Kerik, the former New York police commissioner under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, surrendered Friday for arraignment on federal corruption charges.

A law enforcement official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the indictment had not yet been unsealed, confirmed that Kerik had surrendered to await a court appearance later Friday.

Less than three years ago, Kerik stood proudly at a White House podium, being introduced as President Bush's pick to head the Department of Homeland Security. Now he stands to face what could be the decisive chapter in a downfall as stunning as his rise.

Kerik is named in a federal indictment that will be unsealed later Friday, according to a person close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of grand jury proceedings.

The charges in the indictment include mail and wire fraud, tax fraud, making false statements on a bank application, making false statements for a U.S. government position and theft of honest services, according to the person close to the investigation. The theft charge essentially accuses a government employee of abusing his position and defrauding the public.”

“Yep, that Giuliani sure runs in some interesting circles.”

“Just imagine Kerik as head of Homeland Security.....”

“A New York City / New Jersey politician is crooked.
What a shock!”

“Kerik means little compared to Pat Robertson.
Which is the bigger crook?”

“...............stealin' in the name of the Lord”

“Hope your not grounded, the blasphemy thread lurks below.”

“Business as usual I suspose.......

"ANCHORAGE -- When the FBI came looking for corruption in Alaska politics, it found an excellent perch in Suite 604 of the Baranof Hotel in Juneau, the state capital. There, a profane septuagenarian named Bill Allen did business throughout a 2006 special session called to set taxes on the oil industry. With hundred-dollar bills in his front pocket for ease of access when lawmakers turned up with their hands out, the oil-services company executive turned in a bravura performance before the pinhole camera that federal agents installed opposite his favorite chair".



"On another tape, Pete Kott, the former Republican speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, crowed as he described beating back a tax bill opposed by oil companies. "I had to cheat, steal, beg, borrow and lie," Kott said. "Exxon's happy. BP's happy. I'll sell my soul to the devil."

Ya gotta love the honesty, LOL.

Complete story
last edited: 11/11/07 8:13:35 PM”

“Oh c'mon guys, get your priorities straight; they're good tippers.”

“Trickle down proof, the final trick.”

“Still compared to Shrillery these guys are pikers...(LOL)”

“State Police received an unexpected surprise when they stopped former Rep. John Sweeney on the Northway early Sunday a female passenger on his lap, a law enforcement source said Tuesday.

When troopers began following the ex-lawmaker north on I-87, just south of Exit 9, they assumed the Clifton Park Republican was driving alone in his 2004 BMW, said the individual, whose identity is being withheld by the Times Union.

The 23-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was on Sweeney's lap, the source said.

Sweeney, who is expected to appear in Clifton Park Town Court tonight, was pulled over after he swerved toward a State Police cruiser nearly striking the vehicle, the individual said.

The former congressman refused to take a roadside field sobriety test, in which drivers blow into a device, but did take a Breathalyzer exam back at the State Police barracks, said Maj. Patricia Groeber, who commands Troop G in Loudonville.
[...]
On Monday, State Police issued a news release stating that Sweeney was driving northbound on I-87 about 1:19 a.m. Sunday when troopers stopped him for making an unsafe lane change. A trooper, noticing a ``strong odor'' of alcohol on the former congressman's breath, issued sobriety tests, which Sweeney failed.

His blood alcohol level registered at 0.18 percent over twice the legal limit of 0.08 causing him to be charged with aggravated DWI as well as the standard DWI charge. He was also ticketed for the lane change.

Sweeney, a one-time STOP-DWI coordinator for Rensselaer County, lost his seat last November to Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand amid allegations of spousal abuse.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=638802&category=&BCCode=”

“I was wondering if this was going to show up in this thread. My former congressman is in some deep #&%!$ now.”

“LOL...then there is something somewhere about "loading the questions" in one event....

”

“I'm still trying to visualize what, "in his lap" means. There are several possibilities.

The fight about the bowling score about is pretty dang funny too.”

“So the driver had to blow into a device and the passenger had already done so, huh?”

“That's exactly what I was thinging Mark, but it said she was sitted in his lap. I wonder if she was facing front or back?”

“Another Model Citizen.”

“The first guy needs the grey bar. The second needs to stay away from the bar. It's like these guys get this power and then act like they're in high school again.”

“Perhaps the significance of the Kerik indictments didn't sink in:


November 13, 2007
A �Mistake�?
Peter Fenn
@ 2:31 pm

Rudy Giuliani says he made �a mistake� with Bernard Kerik. What? I make �mistakes� when I send in blogs with typos; I make mistakes when I don�t buy the right dog food at the supermarket or forget to take out the trash. But a 15-year association � everything from serving as Giuliani�s driver during his mayoral campaign to his NYC police commissioner to his business partner � is more than a casual �mistake.� Trying to put him in charge of the nation�s homeland security was a lot more than a �mistake.�

These two guys were locked at the hip. Now, faced with 14 charges including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to the IRS � along with a possible sentence of 142 years in prison and $4.7 million in fines � now Kerik is �in the past.� Right.

Not a chance, folks. When Bernie was walking away from his security responsibility in Iraq, Rudy was failing to show up for meetings of the Iraq Study Group because he was giving speeches to earn himself tens of thousands of dollars.

This is the law-and-order duo? Taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from Mafia-related businesses, Kerik goes into business with Giuliani to offer security services.

These two men were so close that Rudy was godfather to Bernie�s girls. Now, Bernie was just a �mistake.� That gives some new meaning to the concept of being a �godfather.�”

“Maybe he did it to get in the news again. He diapered after losing the election last year faster than the domestic violence charges his wife brought up against him.”

“Maybe she figured she had a better chance of getting spousal support if he wasn't in jail.

But now he might be in jail anyway ----”

“
CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Nov. 15, 2007 � 1:30 p.m.

Former House Speaker Hastert To Resign This Year

Former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., reduced to minority party backbencher by the Democratic triumph in the 2006 elections, will resign from the House before the end of this year.

Hastert�s office said �he plans to formally resign from the House before the end of the year.� Hastert said in an interview Thursday he did not plan to announce a specific date for his resignation now. �I will leave when I finish my work,� he said.

The longest-serving Republican Speaker in history, Hastert had previously announced that he would retire at the end of the 110th Congress.

Ending his 11-term political career early would force a special election in Hastert�s 14th District in north-central Illinois, but it also would give his successor a small advantage in seniority � provided that the victor wins again in November 2008.

Hastert�s early retirement had been rumored in August, before he announced that he would not run again.

Democratic Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has wide discretion in scheduling a special election to fill the upcoming vacancy in Hastert�s 14th District. But Hastert is expected to time his resignation in a way that prevents the special election from coinciding with the Feb. 5 primary elections.

A large Democratic turnout is likely that day, spawned by the presidential primary campaign of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. That could help the Democrats if the House special election were held at the same time.

Four Republicans and four Democrats have filed paperwork to compete in the regular primary election on Feb. 5, and the major candidates have long prepared for the likelihood of a special election.

”

“The local fast food places will miss Denny.”

“He kept Mark Foley stuffed in the closet as long as he could, ....”

“"Former House Speaker Hastert To Resign This Year"

Tariq Aziz'z tried to get the hell out of Baghdad when their regime fell, too. Most people involved in these types of leadership tend to try and get a head start on accountability.

It's the third chair leg of the "Rape, Pillage and Run" leadership style.”

“Dang, I thought he already stepped down. Shows how much I pay attention to all those clowns.”

“The cool part is that the Republicans are dumping their excess problems NOW.....heck by Februrary most voters won't remember who they were.”

“See XL's right again. I had to google the name Mark Foley, right? The truth is , I don't know the difference between Judith and Ronnie Re-gan, except they were both in affairs with a bunch of crooks.”

“He should change his name to Kennedy.”

“Or change his nickname from 'Coach' to 'Noprob'.”

“Axel Foley?”

“Great. now I'll have that song stuck in my head for the next several days. Thanks, MarkO.”

“Axel Foley Rose?”

“Hastert kept Foley "stuffed" in a closet? Bad visual, Tilt, lol.”

“< GAK > � � � Sorry about that ----”

“Great innuendo (and we all know how you libbies like that)

here is something you can't even HOPE to compare to......

Pardon Me?
Hillary Clinton Takes Cash From Recipients of Husband's Controversial Pardons
By JAKE TAPPER
Nov. 15, 2007 �

One of the pardonees who has become a donor to Sen. Clinton is David Herdlinger, a former prosecutor in Springdale, Ark., who, according to press accounts at the time of his pardon pleaded guilty in 1986 to mail fraud after taking bribes to reduce or drop charges against defendants charged with drunken driving offenses.

Now a life and business coach in Georgia, Herdlinger was pardoned by President Clinton in January 2001; he donated $1,000 to Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign in August.

Insurance agent Alfredo Regalado, who gave Hillary Clinton $2,000, was pardoned by her husband for failing to "report the transportation of currency in excess of $10,000 into the United States," according to the Department of Justice.


Allegedly Mishandled Government Secrets
John Deutch is a different case, having served as President Clinton's CIA director.

Pardoned by President Clinton for charges he had mishandled government secrets -- but before the Department of Justice could file the proper paperwork against him -- Deutch, now a professor at MIT, gave Sen. Clinton the maximum allowable donation, $2,300.

Neither Herdlinger nor Regalado nor Deutch could be reached for comment.

"This is another argument for restoring the presidential public financing system," said Common Cause's Mary Boyle. "Is there an appearance here that this is kind of a payback for the pardons? I'm sure it could look that way for some people. But they're exercising their free and perfectly legal right to give a campaign contribution."


Controversial Pardons
The 177 pardons and commutations President Clinton issued in the closing hours of his presidency in January 2001 ignited a firestorm of controversy, most especially the one issued for financier Marc Rich, considered the biggest tax cheat in history, whom Rudy Giuliani had successfully indicted as a U.S. attorney.

But other controversies more closely involved Hillary Clinton.

In August 2000, during her first Senate run, Clinton met with the Hasidic community in New Square, where many members were working to obtain clemency for four members of their community who had been convicted of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the state and federal government.

The town overwhelmingly voted for Clinton, and in January 2001, the four men were granted clemency. Hillary Clinton had met with members of the community in August 2000, but said the issue did not come up.

The subject of clemency was raised in a December 2000 meeting between President Clinton and Sen.-elect Clinton, and leaders of the village, but the outgoing-first lady said at the time she had no opinion.

In June 2002, then-U.S. attorney James Comey closed an investigation into the matter with no action against anyone.


Clinton's Brothers Paid
Hillary Clinton's brother Hugh Rodham , was paid approximately $200,000 from Almon Glenn Braswell, whom President Clinton pardoned for mail fraud and perjury, as was Carlos Vignali, whose sentence for cocaine trafficking was commuted. News of his involvement in the pardon controversy prompted an outrage in Washington, D.C.

"I knew nothing about my brother's involvement in these pardons," Sen. Clinton said at the time. "I knew nothing about his taking money for his involvement."

The Clintons asked Hugh Rodham to return the cash, which he did.

Hillary Clinton's brother Tony Rodham was paid $244,769 over 2� years by a carnival company, United Shows of America, owned by Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory. The Gregorys had been convicted of bank fraud and were seeking pardons. Tony Rodham has said he mentioned their pardon application to his brother-in-law, who ultimately granted the Gregorys a pardon. But Rodham said he was not paid for anything having to do with the pardon.

The estate of the Gregorys sued Tony Rodham this year, saying $107,000 if the money he received was a loan. Rodham and the estate settled the case in September.
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3866786

Sorry the Republicans have NOTHING to compare to the FILTH and SLIME of the CLINTONS.”