First link is missing:
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/href=
Posted by at January 27, 2006 11:10 PMWhy aren't people jumping on this? It seems like a pretty big deal. Wampum just doesn't get the traffic necessary to publicize this.
Posted by shargash at January 28, 2006 01:29 AMShargash, I don't think that's particularly the case: We've been getting just under 10,000 hits a day during the time since I started this story, which should be enough to make some kind of dent in people's psyches. I think that there are a number of factors - one, it's a complicated story that most people are ashamed to admit they know almost nothing about, and two, stories about screwing Indians just aren't that interesting - though, of course, the real story his is that its the US taxpayers who are going to have to foot this bill, unless they get the money from the oil, gas and mining thieves.
Posted by MB at January 28, 2006 03:36 AMFrom Mother Jones:
"In 2003, Congress inserted itself into the machinations by attaching midnight riders to omnibus budget and Iraq appropriation bills to delay the court-ordered historical accounting. It also attempted to cut the salary of court-appointed investigators, while permitting Secretary Gale Norton to use discretionary funds to pay for the scores of private attorneys hired by all past and present Interior employees appearing in the case."
House Democrats should start a discharge petition focused solely on the court-ordered accounting. Harry Reid could introduce the same legislation in the Senate and take the floor and do an old fashioned filibuster on the Indians in Nevada (he's keeping his contributions for good reason).
The Abramoff plea agreement clearly states that his tribal clients were the victim of a crime (failure to provide honest services). Stomping out the shadow of 'corrupt Indian casinos' from this story leaves only the truth - it's entirely a GOP scandal - steal from Native Americans and fund a corrupt political machine.
Posted by joejoejoe at January 28, 2006 03:48 AMI meant above that Harry Reid should speak in support of the tribes in Nevada and in all states, not filibuster against them.
A discharge petition on this court mandated accounting could be framed as a referendum on reform. The initial vote took place in the middle of the night - something that also requires attention. Get the House GOP methods into the daylight and they will no longer be in the majority.
Posted by joejoejoe at January 28, 2006 03:55 AMIf the Indians got some justice, and the Republicans got screwed (via justice), I'd be in heaven. And I'd rather have my tax money going to Indians than the frickin' war machine. There was a good NOW on last night about the military/industrial complex and how it's squeezing out democracy (and humanity). Some guy's movie "Why We Fight" (cowboys -Bushhurllll- and Indians). I love that David Brancaccio (sp?)
Posted by Sharon at January 28, 2006 05:46 AM"goppers" is technically correct. But "goopers" has more disdain and vitriol for our "friends" on the right.
Hey, it's not like I want to put rat poinson in the coffee or anything.
Posted by Flamethrower at January 28, 2006 05:58 AMHey, it's not like I want to put rat poinson in the coffee or anything.
My God, do they really make boxes of rat poison big enough to kill rats this size? Holy crap. You'd need a semi-truck just to take one box home.
Posted by phidipides at January 28, 2006 06:58 AM>
Documentary support???? What the heck??? That's hysterical.
Translation: One lefty blogger completely misrepresents the actual findings, and then te rest of the lefty sheeples take that as their source authority.
Umm...plain and simple...Dems too took dirty money and their is no way to spin that or change that.
Dems too took dirty money
WRONG. The only money in question for its legality is Abramoff's and he gave only to Republicans.
No one is questioning money given by indian tribes to senators from both parties representing their own states. To say that's illegal is to say that any private citizen giving a contribution to a senator from their own state.
dip shit's name should be full-of-shit..he proves it every time he posts....
Posted by headxray at January 28, 2006 10:08 AMEven in the face of all this people like dipshit (maybe he chose that username knowing he was one) remain experts at parroting the Rush Limbaugh talking point. Sadly, our media is actually gives this falsehood that dipshit proliferates 50% of their coverage on the whole scandal.
Posted by Kevin Ballie at January 29, 2006 11:14 AMFrom the Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/02/AR2005060202158_2.html:
"The Indians’ largess flowed to higher-ranking Democrats as well. Senate Democratic leaders Reid and Daschle each received more than $40,000 from the tribes and from lobbyists on Abramoff’s team during the period. Gephardt got $32,500.
Of the 18 largest recipients of tribe contributions directed by Abramoff’s group, six, or one-third, were Democrats. These included Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), who chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2001 to 2002, and Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (N.D.), a leader in Indian affairs legislation."
Oh well, just another dead end (issue) for the Leftists.
Posted by Bagley at January 29, 2006 07:16 PM