I have the list of 40 of the 45 democratic senators and the amount of money they took from the pocket of Abramoff. I know Dean is crazy but now he's shown he's also stupid. If I can get the list anyone can. The amounts ranged from $1250.00 to a grand total of $98,550 to Hanoi John Kerry. Maybe he stored his in the special forces hat he received when ordered to Cambodia for the Christmas of 68 by Nixon before he became president.
I don't expect to ever see the list of dim-wits published in a major paper but it should be spread across the net. Everyone from the Swimmer to Dusty Reid is on the list.

http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff_recips.

i bookmarked this handy chart in blue state/red state color scheme.

1. Abramoff's goals weren't to advance the interests of his tribal clients.

2. Abramoff had two goals:

a. Get rich by swindling his tribal clients;

b. Advance rightwing/Republican causes

That's where the illegal activities took place. And they ALL involve Republicans.

3. Why is Bob Ney still Chairman of the House Administration Committee? Why hasn't a single prominent Republican, or even a notable Republican blogger, called for Ney to be replaced when it's OBVIOUS that he was bought and paid for by Abramoff?

To put things another way so that our friends on the right--especially those with their head in the sand--can understand.

There are two different kinds of transactions being discussed.

1. Abramoff's clients donating money to various political figures. Done completely above board, perfectly legal. No proof that Abramoff himself was even in touch with the recipients of the money, let alone that he got quid pro quo agreements from them.

2. Shady, underhanded dealings where money is laundered through fake charities and used to bribe Congressman and defraud tribal clients, and generally subvert the law.

NONE, ZERO, NOT A SINGLE Democrat has been involved in the second kind of transaction so far as the public record indicates.

ALL, 100%, EVERY SINGLE transaction of the second kind has involved Republicans. There is no Democratic equivalent to Tom DeLay or Bob Ney in this scandal.

Dean is absolutely correct. And there is nothing illegal about accepting contributions from Indian tribes, or anyone else who happens to be a client of Abramoff. Being Abramoff's client doesn't mean that all your money is "from the pocket of Abramoff".

The RNC is working overtime to muddy the waters here, but what is at the center here is the Republican fund-raising machine. They can't change that fact.

You really should watch the video. It's worth it for Blitzer's off-balance pauses.

Heh. Liberal media, eh? NOT.

If you still don't see the distinction between what Repubs and Dems did, just pin this over your desk: It's the ILLEGALITY, stupid.

Except that these Republicans don't give a shit about the law.

Hence the absolute unwillingness to criticize Bob Ney's conduct, or question his fitness to serve as Chair of the House Administration Committee.

Sure, if he gets convicted, then he should step down, they'll say. But that's because it's a political calculation, not because they really care that the Republican Congressional leadership is corrupt.

Except that these Republicans don't give a shit about the law.
...
Sure, if he gets convicted, then he should step down, they'll say.

Geek debated with himself, and lost.

Geek debated with himself, and lost.

That disgusting right wing shill. I'm outraged.

After all the politically motivated, manufactured "scandals" we've been treated to over the last ten years, I don't have any outrage left. Maybe this Jack A. guy is the worst criminal since Capone. Maybe not. I don't care one way or another. Did he kill anyone or molest any children? Don't think so. Send him to jail, give him a Freedom Medal - don't care. I imagine that a significant portion of the American people feel the same way. Even if Tubino and co. are 100% correct, this will blow over, just like fuckin' Whitewater.

what i still don't understand is, if this guy is so crazy gung-ho republican, then why would he have to bribe all these republicans to go along with him?

You really should watch the video. It's worth it for Blitzer's off-balance pauses.

Heh. Liberal media, eh? NOT.

Uhm, the pause is due to the satellite delay. And I fail to see how Blitzer's questions prove media bias.

if he was trying so hard to push his own republican agenda, wouldn't it make more sense for him to bribe democrats?

It just comforts me to know that the left is capable of being outraged at something other than Republic--oh, wait. Nevermind.

Meh. Shine the light on these guys and stamp the roaches. Having corrupt Republicans in office is a sad side effect of having a completely worthless opposition in a two-party system. I won't shed a tear when Abramoff and his pals go up the river.

But if tubino and his buddies think that this mess makes Democrats look good, well, they best gird themselves for several more years of impotent disappointment. Frankly, the only thing the Dems have going for them these days is that even Kos is giving up on 2006. Given Kos' track record for picking winners, that might mean this is their year. Or maybe he'll be right for once?

if he was trying so hard to push his own republican agenda, wouldn't it make more sense for him to bribe democrats?

Unless his agenda is getting favors and making money.

Being preyed upon by Jack Abramoff doesn't take away the indians' rights to give to Democrats.

Quick! Put out the roach motels, before it's too late.

The troll-be-gone has quit working.

Wow. Great outrage by Geek and Tubby. I wonder if they were as outraged by Clinton tapping into the ChiComm warchest? Maybe they were beside themselves when Gore was receiving money laundered through Buddhist temples? I'm sure they were. Not.

what i still don't understand is, if this guy is so crazy gung-ho republican, then why would he have to bribe all these republicans to go along with him?

What I don't understand is, with Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, why would Bush have to make SEVENTEEN recess appointments?

I guess there are some crony Republican-partisan agendas that even Republican congresscritters won't enable -- unless they are paid?

-------------

Uhm, the pause is due to the satellite delay. And I fail to see how Blitzer's questions prove media bias.

Blitzer is caught flat-footed by a simple robust truthful response. And his big audible sigh after the third try to get Dean to legitimate RNC talking points is clear disappointment.

What I don't understand is, with Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, why would Bush have to make SEVENTEEN recess appointments?

Geez, Turbino is really off his game. That has to be the most idiotic talking point yet. Let's review Civics 101:

1) BOTH houses don't "advice and consent" on an executive appointment. Only the Senate does.

2) It takes 60 votes to break a filibuster and it only takes one Senator to put a "hold" on a nomination vote in committee.

"Wow. Great outrage by Geek and Tubby. I wonder if they were as outraged by Clinton tapping into the ChiComm warchest? Maybe they were beside themselves when Gore was receiving money laundered through Buddhist temples? I'm sure they were. Not."

Clinton's corruption was in a whole other league from what we see here. The F*cker took money from agents of foreign governments hostile to the US (duh, the PRC) to get re-elected. Guess it was just coincidence that he also authorized the transfer of ICBM missile techonology over there for "peaceful purposes."

And who can forget the Lincoln bedroom?

Of course the Dems did nothing but defend Bubba to the hilt during this time. To quote "statesman" George Mitchell, the Repubs were "just out to embarass the President" (like that was even possible for Bubba, the most corrupt President in US history).

So I simply gag on the hypocracy of these Demo trolls talking about a "culture of corruption." Please spare me the faux outrage, a**holes. Your party is a corrupt joke, unable even to serve as a "loyal opposition." All you clowns have are the latest talking points.

The best the Republicans can do is say "the Democrats did it too" just like the take-no-responsibility, crybabies always do. They even continue to bleat out the same accusations against Clinton, even though time has shown most of them to be false. Here we have Republicans cutting deals left and right, confessing to their crimes, trying to keep their soft ass out of jail, and their crybaby sheep like followers run around claiming equivalency.

These are the same crybabies who screamed they were going to bring honor and dignity back to the WH, they were going to act differently? Now that the WH has been turned literally, into a floating crap game, the best the honor and dignity crew can do is say you did it too.

Way to go "at January 9". I'm not saying Abramhof shouldn't be punished, just that the double standard you people reflexively employ makes me sick. Even now we hear that "time" has magically "shown" "most" of the accusations "to be false." Or am I getting this mixed up with Bubba's famous "these allegations are false" defense. In an event, I will respond no further to you and your ilk. With apologies to Joe Walsh, "you can't argue with a sick mind."

Redhand if you ever studied history somewhere other than the RNC website you would know that the vast majority of accusations against Clinton turned out false. He did get his dick sucked, for which you loons tried to impeach him. The false accusations were pumped out by a couple of hillbillies in Ark. who loved how the "Liberal" media just sucked them up and kept coming back for more.

Let Geek and Tubino, et al. keep this thing that is working for them going. Sure they brok up with the electorate. Are they still friends? Absolutely. Do they talk? No.

When they look at us, they may wink or give a little grin to know that this is a predator-prey situation. By the end of the evening, we'll be cooking them dinner.

Or not. Hey guys, how did Mother Sheehan work for you? The Ronnie Earle indictments? The Rathergate records? The Murtha moment? The NSA intercepts? The last three general elcetions? The Wellstone Funeral? Halliburton? No WMD? Spotting a trend, yet? No? Good. Looks like this will be another good year.

A scoreboard for our friends on the right:

Abramoff-related convictions:

Republicans 2, Democrats 0

Abramoff-related indictments (including Bob Ney):

Republicans 4, Democrats 0

But, Hillary killed Vince Foster, so it's okay that Tom DeLay took Russian money and the Republican leadership in the house are criminals.

There will always be graf and scandal in any political party. The difference is how each party handles these things. Unfortunately because the Republican party bases many of its positions on moral grounds we are subject to more of a hypocrisy charge than a party that shuns any moral standards. As such, the Democrats can have as its present leaders and flag bearers a lying coward who left a person to drown, a former KKK official, a man who had a homo prostitution ring run out of his home, a serial philanderer who committed perjury and was disbarred and who has had a credible charge of rape against him. Contrast that to the Republicans with a fraction of that type of background and who remain in power. None. They are shunned, not embraced.

Winston Churchill sums up my feelings about liberals-

You have all the virtues I despise and none of the vices I admire.

The 'culture of corruption' is a nice-sounding talking point, but will not impact the congressional elections in any significant way. Most Americans tend to think every member of Congress but their own is likely on the take or corrupt.

Congressional elections are local and statewide. The greatest obstacle Democrats face is the "throw the bums out but not my bum" view that many Americans have toward Congress. If people are satisfied with their representation, they will re-elect that person to office, regardless of the problems the national party is experiencing.

Also, the Democrats have to stand for something policy-wise. Antagonism only gets one part-way to electoral victory - policy suggestions have to be formulated and communicated. Voters don't just want to hear why you're not the Republicans. They want to hear what you're actually going to do if you start winning elections.

Contrast that to the Republicans with a fraction of that type of background and who remain in power. None. They are shunned, not embraced.

Why is Bob Ney still Chairman of the House Administration Committee, genius?

Then again, I'm dealing with someone who believes every word he reads at the Free Republic . . .

Bob Ney has got this thing that's working for him. And he's very gracious for it.

None of them actually took money from Abramoff (unlike Republicans, who did). They may have taken money from his clients. What is an Abramoff "associate"?

Whats under investigation is whether favors were made in exchange for Abramoff's direct contributions...

Knowledge still appears to optional here....

Howard Dean is a blabbering idiot he should keep his piehole shut it will keep him from sticking his foot in it

You know, this whole Abramoff thing means that the Lefties finally have something real to crow about. Let's face it: most of the dirty do-ers were Republicans. Don't white-wash it. Sure, there are plenty of Donks with their hands in the till, but the Republicans came to power under the implicit promise that this kind of horseshit wouldn't go on. Republicans deserve every head-knock they're going to get because they represent a party that used to be about small government and fiscal responsibility. The Donks were never about anything other than big government and influence peddling, and so I find the Republican betrayal all the more galling.

K Street corruption is as old as the hills -- Michael Barone wrote a good article on this awhile back. Lobbying is both legal and necessary to the functioning of the Republic, but it also means that corruption will also be an eternal handmaiden. But I won't excuse it just because the sleazebags have an (R) after their names. If they are found to be guilty, kick their asses out of the House. If the Donks end up controlling the chamber in '06, well, they can hardly do a worse job than the Republicans have been doing lately.

If the Donks end up controlling the chamber in '06, well, they can hardly do a worse job than the Republicans have been doing lately.

All too true.

Geek you are internet punk without the ability to make logical comparisons just like all of the rest of your liberal brethen. If Bey is indicted, he will be forced from his position because of Republican rules. Not congressional rules, not constitutional rules but Republican rules you f'ng loser. By the way, Bey took this seat after he beat your Democratic rep who put had put his mistress on the committee payroll.

Blitzer was way too easy on Dean, allowing him to blur the issue between Abramoff's personal campaign contributions with the actions of his various lobbying concerns. Wolf should have asked why Dorgan and Baucus were so all-fired anxious to return those perfectly innocent, non-Abramoff related contributions.

The "culture of corruption" campaign was launched after Katrina blew the sheep's clothing off the DEM wolves in Louisiana and exposed the corrupted, lifelong, 'child-adult' welfare wards of the corrupt DEM handlers - proof positive of the failure of their policies. Katrina exposed the able US military, multi-cultural by DEED in the real world where effort and overcoming is rewarded. The left spun lies in the press while a very expensive ($500.000.00 taxpayer $$$ to a Dem), hurricane "plan" sat in a drawer, while communications equipment sat underwater in a flood plain. They spun even as the state that received the most taxpayer funds to fix the levees pandered, instead, to unelected environmentalist leftwing activists. They spun while school buses that would have 'braved' rain, sleet, snow to bus the poor to the polls on election day, sat empty in a parking lot while the Mayor of NOLA and NOLA police skipped town, Gov. Blanco played politics with the lives of her neighbors. They spun as Sen. Landrieu reacted, before a sympathetic press and Congress, threatening to punch our CinC and demanding more and more taxpayer dollars... "outraged" at expectations of accountability. They spun the culture of LA corruption exposed by Katrina into an attack on Republicans.

The left is reacting the way spoiled, unaccountable, shamed children react when caught in the act, by pointing fingers, accusing others, hiding in lies.

Distract, deceive, divide, destroy - the corrupt game of the sorest loser from the Garden of Eden onward... and downward with the corrupt left.

Geek you are internet punk without the ability to make logical comparisons just like all of the rest of your liberal brethen. If Bey is indicted, he will be forced from his position because of Republican rules. Not congressional rules, not constitutional rules but Republican rules you f'ng loser. By the way, Bey took this seat after he beat your Democratic rep who put had put his mistress on the committee payroll.

Yes, the Republican rules which state : If you're being prosecuted for criminal behavior, you have to take a leave of absence. That's hardcore stuff.

Meanwhile, someone who is OBVIOUSLY up to his ears in bribery and other illegal and deeply unethical behavior goes without a word of criticism, and is allowed to continue in his leadership position.

Btw, it's Ney, not Bey.

I was going to put up a long & witty post comparing this alleged Republican corruption to other bi-partisan corruption in our past, until I saw Spurwing's post from 10:23.

My God, that sentence is like the perfect haiku. I cannot improve on it, I cannot add anything to clarify it, and I cannot dispute it's truth. As far as I'm concerned, the Democrats have been "Ploverized", and the debate is now officially over. Game, Set, Match.

Russ from Winterset - My sentiments exactly. Belongs in the Ace of Spades Hall of Fame - 'over the fold'.

A couple of comments I ran acrossthis morning...any thoughts?

"I don't know what's more pathetic," Jack Abramoff's sleaze or Republican paralysis in the face of it. Abramoff walks out of a D.C. courthouse in his pseudo-Hasidic homburg, and all that leading Republicans can do is promise to return his money and remind everyone that some Democrats are involved in the scandal, too."

"It is past time that the president insist that his subordinates get the facts out about Iraq's terror connection."

I agree 100% with Monty. Lobbyists are and have been a staple in our government forever. Their very existence requires them to try to influence members of congress on behalf of their clients. Whether its AARP, unions, the NEA, NARAL, etc., etc., these people exist on both sides of the spectrum. If they step over the line of accepted lobbying and commit a crime I don't care who they are they should be prosecuted and so should those who take illegal benefits from them.

Frankly, I expect this type of behavior from Democrats. Its been their M.O. for as long as I can remember and there are numerous scandals (Jack Murtha ABSCAM anyone?) to cite. I hold Republicans to a higher standard and if any of them are found guilty I won't shed a tear.

It is so much fun to watch the lefties get all worked up, like they did on Plame, on then get nothign for the trouble.
Abramoff will be taking down more than just republicans, and dean's transparently phony stand will only make sure people ignore him.
Dean and his Deaniaca are the boys who cried wolf about 1000Xs too many.
Notice that when clilnton was illegally receiving contributions in the WH and renting out the Lincoln br, and and and the dimohacks did nothing. we Republicans are saying to get the guilty out.
Hell the dims are still selling the lie that clinton was impeached for a blow job, and not perjury.
reality based, to laugh out loud.

Again:

"I don't know what's more pathetic," Jack Abramoff's sleaze or Republican paralysis in the face of it. Abramoff walks out of a D.C. courthouse in his pseudo-Hasidic homburg, and all that leading Republicans can do is promise to return his money and remind everyone that some Democrats are involved in the scandal, too."

"It is past time that the president insist that his subordinates get the facts out about Iraq's terror connection."

I was going to put up a long & witty post comparing this alleged Republican corruption to other bi-partisan corruption in our past, until I saw Spurwing's post from 10:23.

My God, that sentence is like the perfect haiku. I cannot improve on it, I cannot add anything to clarify it, and I cannot dispute it's truth.

... and check this out (from the bikini lightsaber thread):

SEAGULLLS,PELICANS and SANDPIPERS with LIGHTSABERS the beach will be a dangerous spot and no shark will be safe they will stay away from the beach becuase the birds are confirmed jedi

Oh dear, the Wall Street Journal goes all moonbatty:

Earmarks are at the heart of the scandals surrounding Mr. Abramoff and Duke Cunningham, the former GOP congressman who admitted to taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for earmarks. Military contractor Brian Wilkes not only lavished gifts on Mr. Cunningham but spent $1.1 million on lobbying others. The payoff: at least $95 million in government contracts. The Copley News Service reported that "Wilkes made no bones about where his money was coming from. His jet-black Hummer bore a license plate reading MIPR ME--a reference to Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests," the means by which his firm got paid.

Now, scrapiron, do you see $2.4 million next to Cunningham's name on your list? No? Can anyone guess why not?

You just gotta check out firedoglake on this one. Did you know that Delay is lined up to replace Duke Cunningham on the Appropriations Committee?!?

The Bush team is claiming that W barely knew Abramoff's name.

An AP story from last May:

WASHINGTON (AP) — In President Bush's first 10 months, GOP fundraiser Jack Abramoff and his lobbying team logged nearly 200 contacts with the new administration as they pressed for friendly hires at federal agencies and sought to keep the Northern Mariana Islands exempt from the minimum wage and other laws, records show.

I guess W was just "out of the loop", as they used to claim about his dad on Iran-contra...

Yap Yap Yap. Leave it to the left to "bring a tubino to a plover fight".

You've been ploverized; now be a man and admit it, tubby.