And when he finally implicates 20 Republicans and 1 Democrats, the MSM will announce that the scandal extends to both parties.
Posted by bob h at January 3, 2006 05:25 AMThe plea deal is expected to contain information that will forever close the door on any chance Tom DeLay will return to his leadership role and open the door to the prosecution of his misdeeds.
Good -- couldn't happen to a nicer asswipe.
.
Bob H is correct....the Abramoff "scandal" has already been reported as involving both sides of the isle. Look for prominent Dems who were bit players to be front page news, while the DeLay's and Frist's always get "critic's charge" put in any articles. FOX will hammer away at Reid for getting $5k and excuse DeLay for being the kingpin.
Posted by T2 at January 3, 2006 06:11 AMJosh Marshall has an excellent post this morning,with an article cutting to the core of the situation we now find ourselves in. The basis is a thought I've had many times during the Fitz investigations, i.e., how can Fitz (or any investigative body below an impeachment level)effectively destroy the government by indicting or naming it's highest level personnel (VP, pres, large swaths of a party's leadership)as criminals? They cannot, even if warranted. Thus, even if Cheney is the crook, Libby will take the fall, even if DeLay is a mastermind behind a monumental circumvention of the governing process involving dozens of GOPers, smaller fish will be sacrificed, rather than half of the Senate. In short, the higher up you are, the better chance you have at getting away with anything (hardly news, I guess), which forms the postulum that brings us Bush. Bill Clinton, when asked why he tristed in the Oval Office, replied "because I could". When we are done with Bush, and history asks how he could have done all the damage he did, the answer will most certainly be "because he could".
Posted by T2 at January 3, 2006 06:23 AMWell I'm back at work his lovely January morning in NYC. I must say my self imposed internet/newspaper/television ban was great over the past week plus. Wow did I have a blast with my kids. That's what Christmas is all about. Making great memories for your little ones. Anyway I'm a little behind the times news wise so I'll be stealing time over the day to read through the past several days posts.
Hope everyone had a great holiday.
Posted by snark at January 3, 2006 06:27 AMT2,
I also read that email from a reader and simply don't agree. Here's what I sent to Josh in response.
The comparison of the ABSCAM affair with the current corruption flooding Washington is comparing apples to pomegranites. ABSCAM was initiated BY the DOJ and, as such, would have been irresponsible to continue to the hyperventilated extent reader LH postulates. The current investigations, however, are entirely appropriate, whoever they eventually bring to justice. No one has forced or bamboozled these officials, who swore an oath to uphold the laws of the land, NOT to flaunt them. They are guilty of corruption of their office and EVERY ONE of them should be forced from office and prosecuted. They are oath breakers and criminals. Pursuing them is EXACTLY what the DOJ was intended to do. Whether it changes the political makeup of the Congress is not the concern of anyone who believes in the rule of law. LH's concerns are misplaced and misguided.
It's a prosecutor's JOB to pursue corruption. If one party was so outrageously arrogant and blatant in their corruption, then that's just too bad for them. We have to stop believing they can always get away with it and push hard for their incarceration. NO GET OUT OF JAIL FREE cards for these assholes.
Posted by DeminNewJ at January 3, 2006 07:14 AMMy simple request:
Can we please start throwing corporate executives in with Bubba and Bruno when their software companies release buggy-ass software that bend over and let anyone with a bad habit and some programming skill rape your computer?
Or we could sue for MS's $40 billion cash horde too.
- an IT worker.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 3, 2006 07:15 AMDon't worry about the 'bipartisan" charge corruption. That was tried before in 1994 with the house post office scandal when the shoe was on the other foot. If the numbers are stressed, the people will get it. Throw the bums in jail regardless of party let the people do the counting, it will work out.
Posted by rlp at January 3, 2006 07:43 AMGod, T2, will you lighten up? Not every piece of news, ever, is bad for Democrats.
Posted by dj moonbat at January 3, 2006 07:51 AMhttp://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20051222.html
H.R. 4569: the Digital Transition Content Security Act of 2005, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on December 16th, is intended to protect the intellectual property rights of movie studios by MAKING ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION ILLEGAL.I am not making this up.
Under the Act as proposed, manufacturers will have one year after passage to stop making devices that convert analog signals like music and video into digital forms unless those forms preserve some original Digital Rights Management technology present in presumably the pre-analog stage.
What's covered by this proposed law are things like TiVO and RePlay Digital Video Recorders, TV tuner cards for your PC, software intended to record audio or video streams, or just about any device or program you might use to actually implement that part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that says you have the right (though soon not the equipment) to backup or media-shift your own music and movies.
Sensenbrenner and Conyers (you fucking jackass!) are the sponsors.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 3, 2006 08:10 AMOh - and here's the summary for DTCSA - http://ipcenter.bna.com/pic2/ip.nsf/id/BNAP-6KAUDN?OpenDocument
MAKING ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION ILLEGAL.
*****
Good luck with that, Congress.
LOL.
Posted by God Of War at January 3, 2006 09:05 AMI have not read up on the newest on jackemboff, and not up-to-date on the digital changeover, but I am saddened by this man's plight.
He makes some excellent points and my feeling is that he is begging for the people to get together and protest this illegal war.
I had attempted to make a point at one time on a previous thread that because we have this medium, the ability to share our frustrations and what we are outraged about here, it diminishes our need to get together with people and really throw our outrage into action as was done in the 1960s.
If I did not have you all to commisserate with then I would be starving for that kind of common cause and understanding and we would be meeting in squares and kitchens and coffee shops.
I often wonder why people aren't taking to the streets every time a new outrage is presented us. A couple of weeks ago when the domestic spying came out I would have thought that there would be riots. Nothing.
We here, typing away were outraged - but this has no real societal effect. If we were marching in the streets then people would have to open their eyes and either join us or oppose us, but ignorance would no longer be an option.
I do not have an organized physical community around me to plan events. I have my family, my job, my kid - all of this regular stuff that I turn to when I step away from my PC...but this does not really affect change.
Also, because I have this outlet I AM NEGLECTING seeking out others who feel like me around me.
Thoughts?
Posted by Anjha at January 3, 2006 09:06 AMAnjha, you can look to the community blogs - I believe Mary is also a blogger on Pacific Views. There's also Washblog, where you can find locals to meet up with. I need to get more active this year, I've been hiding behind my keyboard way too long. Maybe I'll see you at something local. I know dKos has regional groups as well; so does Atrios, and Booman Trib. Give it a try!
Posted by iamcoyote at January 3, 2006 09:33 AMThanks, iamcoyote. I guess that my point was really to confess that I have been lazy in getting more active because I have this medium. The few events that I have attended I have not made contacts.
So my confession is hopefully to push me into it. If I say something outloud to people, hopefully they will keep me accountable.
I will check your links.
Posted by Anjha at January 3, 2006 09:42 AMAsk and you shall receive.
iamcoyote, look what I found as a result of following your links. Also, a state district meeting Wed and a fed district meeting Thurs.
We'll see what I get off my ass and actually attend.
Posted by Anjha at January 3, 2006 10:06 AMAnjha, I have been saying that same thing on this Blog for a very long time. There is nothing like a million man/women/child march on Washington DC to get attention. A visual of millions protesting this War (occupation is really the correct word), would be hard for the MSM to ignore. Even more important, would be the continuation of the protesting, as was the case against the VietNam War. What the hell are we all waiting for (and I include myself)?
Posted by Judith at January 3, 2006 10:22 AMAnjha, local Peace groups might be a good idea. Where I am there are weekly vigils. And PLEASE, make sure to go to the big marches in DC.
Posted by Monica at January 3, 2006 10:48 AM"march on Washington DC to get attention."
didn't msm just ignore a peace rally of hundred of thousands in dc a couple of months ago?
Posted by at January 3, 2006 10:51 AMIt's not just the war I object to anymore! It's this whole corrupt administration! For far to long it's treated the people of the USA as second class citizens, the constitution as their toilet paper, and corporations as the divine benediction!
I will be in DC next time!
Posted by bbtb at January 3, 2006 11:19 AM"didn't msm just ignore a peace rally of hundred of thousands in dc a couple of months ago?"
Yes, and you are right, they ignored it basically. However, protest cannot end with one march on Washington D.C. or one day of protests.
Posted by Judith at January 3, 2006 02:11 PMAnjha, I'm guilty too. I didn't want to bore people with all of my resolutions but active participation was on my list (glad I have back-ups since I've already blown the one to temper my contempt for assholes). I have great intentions to participate and evidently an equal number of excuses to shirk that particular responsibility. I do belong to my local peace group and it's a good resource for issues and events.
I know it will shock some Repubs and radical right-wing fundamentalists but a few of us liberals actually have jobs, educational pursuits, families, "whatever's in-season" sporting events to attend, volunteer positions, etc.. While I think my excuses may sound good, they are also beginning to sound a little old and lame, even to me.
If I were to be really honest, I'd also confess to some fear of repercussion for my participation. But I don't feel like being that honest. Anyway, I've been surrounded by conservatives and have paid for expressing and living my liberal views over the years. I've managed to shed the constraints of most of them (the conservatives) by now and have raised a little activist in the process. All I need now is to get up and go!
Judith, in case you haven't noticed Cindy Sheehan had to go to SPAIN to get anyone to show up for her anti-war rants.
No one but those in the liberal echo-chamber gives a darn about your protests.
But please continue with them. Especially in September and October when the coutnry is just tning into the mid-term elections only to see the 1960's anti-war bunch and wondering how many times they have to see that re-run.
Posted by David at January 4, 2006 06:01 PM