quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

Unless someone makes a really juicy remark.

But several members are privately aghast that Mr. Murtha, a pork-barreling opponent of most House ethics reforms, could become the second most visible symbol of the new Democratic rule. "We are supposed to change business as usual, not put the fox in charge of the henhouse," one Democratic member told me. "It's not just the Abscam scandal of the 1980s that he barely dodged, he's a disaster waiting to happen because of his current behavior," another told me.

As for Abscam, a recent book by George Crile, a producer for CBS's "60 Minutes," provides damning evidence that Mr. Murtha escaped severe punishment for his role in the scandal only because then-Speaker Tip O'Neill arranged for the House Ethics Committee to drop the charges, over the objections of the committee's outside prosecutor. The prosecutor quickly resigned in protest.
...

Melanie Sloan, the liberal head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, was cheered on by Democrats six weeks ago when she helped reveal the Mark Foley scandal. Now she says that "Ms. Pelosi"s endorsement of Rep. Murtha, one of the most unethical members of Congress, show that she may have prioritized ethics reform merely to win votes with no real commitment to changing the culture of corruption."
...

Mr. Murtha was among those who were offered the Abscam bribe money. He declined it, but the late columnist Jack Anderson said the Pennsylvania congressman's conduct was "perhaps the saddest scene on the secret Abscam videotapes. He refused to take the money, but his reason was hardly noble."

The 54-minute Abscam tape shows Mr. Murtha functioning as a cynical backroom operator, telling the FBI undercover agents: "You know, you made an offer. It might be that I might change my mind someday." Later, he explained how that might happen: "I want to deal with you guys awhile before I make any transactions at all, period," he told the fake sheiks. "After we've done some business, well, then I might change my mind. I'm going to tell you this. If anybody can do it--I am not BSing you fellows--I can get it done my way. There's no question about it."

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ORIGINAL: Lordandmaster

Oh all right.  I'll bite.

Maybe the OP should worry about the politics in his OWN country?

Just sayin'.

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

Unless someone makes a really juicy remark.

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ORIGINAL: Chaingang

... 2. Whoever is in charge will have to raise taxes on somebody. I would prefer rates going higher for corporations, but most likely the supposed "middle class" will foot the bill as is usual. Someone's going to have to pay down the debt left by MonkeyMan.
3. Whoever is in charge is going to have to deal with Universal Healthcare. The rest of the modern world just laughs their asses off at us. To do business in the U.S. you have all kinds of overhead costs like healthcare to manage because of the lack of a universal healthcare. Sometimes workers do without and miss work because their health needs are managed only during emergencies. Etc, etc, etc...The writing is on the wall, someone has to implement Universal Healthcare or face the wrath of the American voter...

quote:

She's backing Jack "redeploy the troops to Okinawa" Murtha for House Majority Leader.  The same Murtha who called US troops cold-blooded murderers; the same Murtha who is on videotape entertaining bribes from undercover FBI agents during the Abscam scandal in 1980

quote:

She's backing Alcee Hastings for the House Intelligence Committee.  Even though it's almost unanimious that Jane Harman is infinitely more qualified, Harman supports the WoT, and that's a no-no for a San Fran liberal like Pelosi.

quote:

Who is this Nancy Pelosi?  Why is the very liberal Old Media falling all over themselves to lick her shoes?  What are Nancy Pelosi's values?  Well, Pelosi comes from a county that voted:

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ORIGINAL: mnottertail

whadda ya see in the offing in that big world outside the box?

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

quote:

She's backing Jack "redeploy the troops to Okinawa" Murtha for House Majority Leader.  The same Murtha who called US troops cold-blooded murderers; the same Murtha who is on videotape entertaining bribes from undercover FBI agents during the Abscam scandal in 1980

This is the very first time I have heard this, would you provide links? And make those mainstream links, I have as much use for conspiracy sites that support my position as do not.

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

quote:

She's backing Alcee Hastings for the House Intelligence Committee.  Even though it's almost unanimious that Jane Harman is infinitely more qualified, Harman supports the WoT, and that's a no-no for a San Fran liberal like Pelosi.

Jane Harmon is my Daddy's congress person, and she supported the war in Iraq. The American people went to the polls to oust the republicans over Iraq and scandal... tell this American why I would want Jane Harmon in such an important position? (notice I said American and not democrat).

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

KY... I do not care about your partisan proclivities, I will check the link provided by your submissive, but I did pass it by on first pass thru because I was replying to the OP, and not the two of you.

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

BTW Jane Harmon was seriously challenged in her district in primary because of her stance on Iraq, and most people that voted for her did so because she represents unions and the longshoreman's union is HUGE in her district. It is best to know someone's constitiency before commenting on why they were reelected... it was not because she was pro Iraq war for a fact.

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

As for the rest, I find you rather rude, condenscending, and not someone I want to engage in a conversation, (1) I would appreciate it if you do not post to me anymore. Nothing positive will come of it and I made a definite decision after some terrible losses that I was going to do everything possible not to get into petty squabbles here, and lately the ones involving (2) you and yours have left me with a bad taste in my mouth. (3) I have had my relationship and my dominant insulted by the two of you... and I really have no use for it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

Have a nice life.

quote:

ORIGINAL: saskslave

I am baffled by your claim that you cannot tie ethics and corruption together.  Pelosi promised to bring ethics back to the House and she is backing Alcee Hastings over the far more qualified Jane Harman (who supports the WoT) for the House Intelligence Committee. 

November 15, 2006 1:23 PM
Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:

As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.

A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical.

"We have no idea what Abramoff is telling prosecutors to save his skin, but I do know that these kind of old allegations are completely ridiculous and untrue," Sen. Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told ABC News.

A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."