I find it funny that because Rep. William Jefferson is almost certainly a crook, the right is saying that the idea of a Republican culture of corruption is moot. Jefferson is notable largely for how isolated his incident is in the Democratic caucus.
While on the Republican side:
* Tom DeLay, the House majority leader was indicted and resigned in shame
* Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader is under SEC probe
* Duke Cunnigham is in prison now for bribery, and is apparently fingering the ills of numerous other congressmen as well as two or three CIA people.
* Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff is in the middle of a bribery scandal involving numerous Republican congressmen (like Bob Ney)
* Not to mention: no bid Halliburton contracts, secret meetings with oil executives, the flaunting of all sorts of laws – including FISA
But yeah, there’s no Republican culture of corruption
Oliver,
The corporate press/media, aided by the RW propaganda machine, will find this sufficient to state: both parties are involved in the corruption. They were already saying it before this, with no facts in support. Katie Couric, for example, and countless others, who insisted and continue to insist that Abramoff “gave to both parties” even though this statement is a lie.
Forget it. The Democrats are not going to be able to use ‘culture of corruption’ against the Republicans because: a) the Democrats have not purged themselves of this type of person, and b) the Democrats could not effectively use a hammer to pound a nail.
pgg2
There is no strawman.
Sayanything states: “As I noted previously, “culture of corruption” anyone?” If you have a grasp of modern English usage, you will have no trouble understanding what that means.
I’m hardly surprised, but I don’t see anything at sayanything about the Republican “culture of corruption” being moot…
How about a little fire, strawman?
Lets call it a ‘culture of exposing corruption’ for democrats.
Absolutely Jay,
Ollie, Google “clinton presidency + indictment”…..
The difference is, democrats want corrupt democrats exposed and removed. Republicans want corrupt republicans to stay in power and just lie about it.
Oliver once again has to fall back on, “Yeah, we’ve got corrupt people too!! But we’re not as bad as those eeeeeeeevil Repugs!!”
What kills is me is that you think Democratic corruption is limited to Jefferson. Shit, the others haven’t been exposed because they’re not in power. There’s no spotlight. If they take over Congress, I’ll bet money you’ll be fending off all of the corruption stories that will break with your precious Dems.
Hmmm. Halliburton no bid contracts are illegal? Are we saying that? Anyone? If you are not saying that, then the Halliburton jab is a cheap smear that will appeal only to the lazy, non thinking readers.
One guessses that leftists would have the oil fires burn and gone through the full competitive contract process (lets say nine months contract lead time, maybe another 12 months post award lead time – if not Halliburton) one that would have in all likelihood been won by Halliburton (subsidiary) anyway.
Dugger
Oliver, care to comment on the part of the story where Jefferson (D) diverted National Guard resources to his house instead of rescuing people?
Keep this in mind next time you want to pop off about how slow the Katrina response was. People died because William Jefferson (D) wanted to secure incriminating evidence.
“People died because William Jefferson (D) wanted to secure incriminating evidence”
Prove it. Point to one person who died because of Jefferson’s alleged wrongdoing.
People at ATC mobile, one of the prime launching points for rescue missions in NO, was locked down (to the point where my O6 father couldn’t leave his building) for FOUR HOURS early on, so much could point at a map and tell brownie he’s doin’ a heck of a job. So go to hell, farris.
And again, again, again, look what happens. A democrat comes up corrupt, and the democrats scream for his blood. A republican comes up corrupt, and the republicans whine about witch hunts and point at obscure professors that no one has ever heard of and try and ignore it.
You people make me sick.
I will say it Dugger. Halliburton no-bid contracts should be illegal and should be investigated. They have been caught multiple times padding bills, failing to deliver, and basically ripping off the US in Iraq and elsewhere. Under Clinton, Hallibruton would not be eligible for many of these contracts because of their track record of defrauding the US government and military.
And SaveFarris, no one is saying that Jefferson isn’t the worst sort of slime in the government. People spoke out against him when he visited his house in New Orleans (although I don’t know anything about incriminating evidence). He sucks, he’s an embarrassment. Can we point to all the rescue personel that Bush diverted for his photo ops now to get you to denounce Bush now? I mean seriosly, are you blaming the inadequacy of the federal response to Katrina on Jefferson though? Get real.
The difference is, democrats want corrupt democrats exposed and removed.
Oh please. They’re just as likely as Republicans to cover and defend for their own as long as they can.
And again, again, again, look what happens. A democrat comes up corrupt, and the democrats scream for his blood.
Do you people actually believe the stuff you write? You sound like something out of an SNL skit.
I find it funny that when a Democrat is exposed as a crook it is an aberration but when a Republican is exposed, it is the culture. At what point do you guys start to get it that neither side has a monopoly on crooks?
Dukker, the gripe is against the administration continuing to hand out no-bid contracts to Halliburton, given their track record of corruption, fraud, failure to deliver. It isn’t just oil fires Dukker, its the substandard water our troops drink. It’s fuel that doesn’t get delivered to them. It’s food they aren’t getting. It’s cost overruns. It’s billing for goods and services not provided. It’s fraud. You focus on one aspect of their business, when they have branched out. Are you saying there are no other companies that can put out oil fires? Are you saying there are no other companies that can deliver fuel and food to our troops? It seems the army did that for themselves for years.
JayC, point at the democrats that continue to support Jefferson. Now look at the Republicans that support DeLay. Which Republicans are calling for the head of Ney? Who wants to get to the bottom of the Abramof corruption? Who wants to know how far the Cunningham corruption goes? Where are the investigations? The corruption is wide spread through out the Republican ranks. Its fund raising, its cronyism, its special favors to companies that write the laws that govern their industries. Etc Etc Etc. All equally balanced by one thoroughly corrupt democratic politician. Show how his corruption spreads throughout the Democratic ranks.
Mitter, Separate it out. The gripe here is against the no-award contract – not the subsequent contract performance. A ‘no award’ contract is perfectly legal and frequently done – almost always by career civil servants – not evil Republicans. And would you have let the oil fires burn for a couple of years, Mitter? Or maybe hire Back Yard Charlie with no resources to go do the job and lose another two years?
Dugger
Funny, I didn’t see conservative blogs condemning Tom Delay, or Scooter Libby. On the other hand, Oliver posts on Jefferson, as does Eschaton, condemning his actions.
Yes, there is a difference between Democrats and wingnuts- we condemn our crooks, wingnuts embrace them, and when the facts become too much to take, ignore their bad seeds.
Shorter Oliver: “Look over there! A jackelope!”
Midderpidge, please note that the Democrats must put on a good face. They can’t circle the wagons around Jefferson and hope to regain power. But you look at what they did with Wright, Rostenkowski, Reynolds, etc. It was defend mode all the way.
If you want to believe that Democrats don’t do what the GOP is doing right now and won’t do again, fine. Go right ahead. The rest of us here on planet Earth however, know better.
Here’s my Culture of Corruption scorecard.
For those who can’t count, here’s the score:
Republicans – 29
Democrats – 2
Yeah, they’re equally as bad. Funny how Jefferson’s been front-paged by the national media for the last 3-4 days. Sure don’t remember that for the investigation of Duke or even the conviction of James Tobin.
Who are those people you speak of JayC? Wright? Rostenkowski? Reynolds? Where have I heard these names before? 1995? When Republicans were pointing and screaming about democratic corruption and using that as an election day issue? Pretty quiet over there now. Now the Dems will use it, turn about and all that.
Mitter,
You truly don’t understand. It was a DOD contract. The president or VP is NOT in the approval cycle – period. So other than it not being illegal, but legal and it not being the President or Veep who put together and approved the legal contract, but career, non-political civil servants – I guess maybe some remote place you have a point. I guess you also concede that the BS at the header of this item about no-bid contracts is just BS – designed to to stoke the fires of the brain dead Bush haters.
Dugger