The Culture of Corruption, Part MCMXVIII
By streiff Posted in Democrats — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Republicans plan to force a floor vote on Rep. William Jefferson's move to the Homeland Security Committee in an unprecedented maneuver to force Democrats to go on the record supporting their embattled colleague who is the target of a federal bribery investigation.
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) pledged to call for a recorded vote on the House floor when Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) introduces a resolution to make the Jefferson move official.
Pelosi removed Jefferson from the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in response to Justice Department allegations that the Louisiana Democrat had accepted $100,000 in bribes and stored $90,000 of them in his freezer. The speaker then gave Jefferson a seat on the Homeland Security, and Democrats agreed to the change in a closed-door caucus in February.
We haven't seen any evidence that shame has a moderating influence on Democrats and one has to wonder, John Cole's support aside, why Mr. Blunt hasn't demanded a roll call vote for Alan Mollohan as well. But this is a good start towards 2008.
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The Culture of Corruption, Part MCMXVIII 12 Comments (0 topical, 12 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I think it's utterly shameful for Republicans to carry out this partisan attack on this great hero in the struggle against oppression. He selflessly stood up to the partisan attacks. He proudly stood up to the FBI, when anyone else would have gone quietly into the night. And he courageously stood up to his ankles in floodwater to get his belongings out of his official residence, braving the elements when no one would have expected him to do it.
The depth of experience in Homeland Security is without equal. His star is rising in the Democrat party for not only having lived through Katrina, but for having showed leadership by directing, in a complicated and daring mission, disparate elements of the Coast Guard and other rescue operations. In the removal of certain refrigerator-sized boxes from his official residence, he undoubtedly saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees and court costs.
His valiant effort in handling the boxes himself, while the Coast Guard rescue teams waited patiently outside his official residence, gave them not only the opportunity to rest, but allowed other, less critical rescue operations to queue up for more efficient handling.
So I applaud the nation's Speaker-in-Law, and hope that she continues to put Congressman Wm Jeffereson (D-LA) in the spotlight, at least through November 4, 2008.
[TiTiT] The Academy: Your Logic Service Provider
was a bipartisan affair. Don't forget, Dollar Bill got Denny Hastert, the former Speaker of the House, to stand up to the oppressors as well.
Rep. Jefferson is truly a man for all seasons.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller
to try to take the glory from Wm Jefferson (D-LA) and put it on former Squeaker Hastert. Sure, Hastert deserves a good part of the credit for November '06, but in terms of unfettered gall, Hastert is a novice compared to Jefferson.
Resign? When there are Liberian cell phone businesses who still have not gotten the grants they need? When the Homeland Security spigot is still stuck open wide?
He feels the call of justice. Or maybe his attorney is taking calls from Justice, who knows.
[TiTiT] The Academy: Your Logic Service Provider
"For now", was that maybe an indication that his refer was on the fritz?
understand how his district re-elected him.
Now the problem is that the FBI won't indict until the issue over the evidence they found in his office is settled - which could drag on all summer.
I do hope that this end up in a floor vote - for while one should presume a person is innocent until proven guilty - I would hope the standard for serving in Congress would be a lot higher then that. Of course, given the charlatans that have managed to weasel their way into office over the years, you guys have every right to think I'm utterly naive.
Still, tho' justice can sometimes be slow, I do look forward to seeing Mr. Jefferson doing time.
Nor do the WV rep's constituents. Or Murtha's. Or Alcee Hastings'.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller
anyone get reelected. Unless, of course, they are a Republican, in which case they resign in disgrace.
Fortuna Favet Fortibus
...re-elected him because Karen Carter who ran against him was cut from the same cloth: family political dynasty who has made a living lapping at the public trough.
Ms. Carter would have been elected had she not made the fatal mistake of p***ing off Harry Lee, sheriff of Jefferson Parish.
Lee figured Jefferson would get indicted sooner rather than later, and he'd get to back his man in the special election to replace him.
...for highlighting this. I have wondered what committee assignments this clown snagged, and all I was able to confirm was the Committee on Small Business.
Homeland Security! My word! That Pelosi would have given a second thought to Alcee Hastings' chairmanship of Intelligence was really quite remarkable, but now this!
That the Dems consider this kind of person, with proven, known character defects, to sensitive positions such as these shows that they do not take national security seriously.
Several of the other characters surrounding him have already plead guilty. Yes, Jefferson is innocent until proven guilty, but that in no way carries an obligation to appoint him to a sensitive committee until there's an indictment.
that Pelosi was being less than completely forthright when she promised to clean up Congressional corruption?
I think she was just following the old Clinton model myself. He, remember, promised us the most "corruption-free administration in history".... mere days before he imported those FBI files to his bedroom closet and Hillary fired the travel office staff.
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Illigitimi non Carborundum!
... in his freezer!
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So libs, how's that Congressional Resolution to end The War™ coming along?