Bush is keeping $94K in Abramoff money.
By on Jan 4th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Bush is keeping $94K in Abramoff money.
Abramoff raised over $100,000 for the 2004 Bush-Cheney reelection campaign, but the campaign is “giving up only $6,000 directly from Abramoff, his wife and one of the Indian tribes that he worked to win influence for in Washington.” (via TalkLeft)
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too funny! he gets $100k and returns 6% of it as a good faith gesture?
January 4th, 2006 at 2:26 pmBush is also claiming not to know him.
January 4th, 2006 at 2:29 pmChristy Harvey was on Franken’s show saying the two of them actually go back to when he was Gov. of Texas.
Slimeballs all.
I’m suprised he didn’t ’stay the course’ by keeping it all. I’m even MORE amazed that in the face of so much bad situations for the Bush administration both fo rthe administration as a hole and its individuals… that they would decide to return only 6k and open themselves up to even MORE criticism.
Perhaps they see it going only down from here, so why not just go all the way?
January 4th, 2006 at 2:31 pmGood Work! I am sure there is quite a bit more money out there from Amramoff that has been funneled or laundered in order to protect the emperor.
Republicans believe in one thing and one thing only….PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY!
January 4th, 2006 at 2:32 pmonly returning money directly from abramoff and his wife? can we expect any more from such a simple president/person…forget about the other $90k… it didn’t have abramoff’s name on it, we are expecting too much from bush to think that he can look past only black & white issues
January 4th, 2006 at 2:32 pmUch! My spelling today! “…in the face of so many bad situations….”, and “…for the administration as a whole…”
January 4th, 2006 at 2:33 pmfrom the article:
What decade is this guy living in?
January 4th, 2006 at 2:35 pmThe RNC head, Ken Mehlman, is an old friend of Abramoffs and the RNC has several hundred thousand donated by him, maybe as much as a half million.
Snakes all.
January 4th, 2006 at 2:49 pmKing George has donated the other $94K to the Delay Defense Fund. He’s not guilty either says the King.
January 4th, 2006 at 2:50 pmThis is my first post here, but I’ve been trolling for some time now…
Why doesn’t Bush just say “Yes I took $$$ from Jack, and I’ll do it again” it seems to make everything else he does justifiable in his own mind, and therefore we should just accept it and move on. Furthermore how does giving ANY of the cash back make this OK for ANY of these crooks? Am I just that out of touch? Why didn’t they give it back when Jacky-Boy first got into this trouble? Its like a damn broken record anymore. Case in point: NY times sits on NSA leak for a year and Bush does nothing until WE the PEOPLE find out about it, then decides its time to take action (albeit the wrong action as usual) I still find it most sad that all the kool-aid drinkers on the right are so far gone that they take these people for their word. I am glad that the people that show up most on the “radical leftist” blogs such as this generally see 2 sides to every story and yet the other side see it only one way…. the one that is placed in their heads by the “no spin zones” and “fair and balanced” self-titled reporters. As a democrat I am perfectly willing to watch with joy as Repugs and corrupt Dems alike go down over this (maybe go down is to strong a phrase since several are hopefully headed to prison :P). I hope there is a brighter future than this current track we’re on for America, and I hope some people on the right with a spine and who are actual christians(not just using a great religion as a front to herd the faithful to be their sheep) step up and do what is right, legal, and just for this once great nation.
January 4th, 2006 at 2:50 pmOver at Free Republic, they’re claiming Bush couldn’t possibly know who “all” his contributors were (meaning Abramoff), even though Abramoff was a “Bush Pioneer” fundraiser.
Bush doesn’t remember Ken Lay, either. Or Vietnam.
January 4th, 2006 at 2:51 pm….or to chew a pretzel before swallowing
January 4th, 2006 at 3:15 pmMy Letter to MSNBC regarding Chris Matthews involvement with Ambramoff
MSNBC Staff,
To hear that one of your anchor’s helped a felon raise money for a shady
charity is quite astonishing and embarassing for MSNBC. Capital Athletic
Foundation was a front group for Abramoff. Chris Matthews personally helped in
raising funds for the group. This is a clear case of ‘guilt by association’ at
the very least.
It appears Chris Matthews’ bias has not only shown up in his reporting but in
his possible shameful actions outside the newsroom. There have been many, many
rumors about Abramoff’s shady dealings in the last 5 years, and it was no
secret that he was possibly breaking the law continually to help his clients.
Being inside ‘the Beltway’ like Matthews I find it hard to believe he did not
know or at least have the common sense to stay away from the likes of Jack
Abramoff.
This will be continually reported and discussed in the blogosphere which will
help your competitors immensely. We will be notifying your advertisers of such
activity and will be be boycotting their products until which time Chris
Matthews employment with MSNBC is severed.
In today’s day and age with so-called journalists taking bribes I find it
astonishing that MSNBC has refused to act and prevent this embarassment from
occuring.
Sincerely,
Mike Politik
January 4th, 2006 at 3:31 pmyes, let’s see who Jackie’s Indian Tribes donated to - Harry Reid, Harkin, Baucus, Dorgan, Boxer - everyone has their hand in this pot.
You people are idiots. Jack is cooperating with the Republican justice department to take down several leading Democrats. Do you people ever think before you spew hate?
January 4th, 2006 at 3:33 pm“you people are idiots”
Sounds like you’re the hate spewer. Check your facts Faiz, he only gets the reduction in his sentence AFTER he spills the beans. Go fall in line with O’Reilly and let him tell you what you are supposed to think a bit more sheep boy. Meanwhile we’ll all be watching who it is that does go down, and I’d say the majority of us won’t care if its republican or democrat, if they are crooked they need to go. Here’s you FACT ….it’s not illegal to have your hand in the pot, it’s illegal to propose/change legislation as a result of putting your hand in the pot. You and I can both send money to any congressman we want, thats not illegal, its paying people to get your way that is. There is your fact sheepy sheep.
January 4th, 2006 at 3:40 pmI knew the minute i looked at the McCain anti torture bullshit …I did not mention anything about stopping CIA from handing prisoners to foreign countries for torture…I knew I knew it I knew it , worthless rhetoric by bush and his cronies once again ….its all spin once again…. what i would like to see is an American hostage in iraq waterboarded live on video …They should have a medic present to revive him a couple of times just like the CIA. then once again tip him upside down into a bathtub made of glass filled with water so we can all see…the American hostages last breaths …That might make America come to upstorm the Idiot Nazi of a president …HAS ANYONE SEEN THE ALEX JONES AND THE OLD BUSHES BEING MONEY LAUNDERERS FOR HITLER…..thats whats happening to your country at the moment……..
January 4th, 2006 at 3:44 pm“You people are idiots. Jack is cooperating with the Republican justice department”
Why is it so important to you that the justice dept. is Republican? If they were truly “just” it shouldn’t matter what political affiliation they have. Just another sad case of the right demonstrating how corrupt and above the law they think they are.
January 4th, 2006 at 3:46 pm#15 - What interest does a Republican Justice Dept that allows wiretapping American citizens have in getting Jack to talk about their GOP friends? NONE. This is a set up and you people are falling right into the trap.
This story will shock Democrats MORE than Republicans. Then, after President Bush unseals the Barrett report on Clinton’s privacy problems at the IRS, the Democrats are toast. Why do you take the bait every time? Why?
January 4th, 2006 at 3:49 pmA whopping 6%… doesn’t he usually pay a much smaller percentage in taxes with his welfare for the rich program?
I think we should be refunded the $2,000,000 we’ve paid him in salary over the last five years (math for the trolls: $400,000 a year x 5 years).
January 4th, 2006 at 3:49 pm“What interest does a Republican Justice Dept that allows wiretapping American citizens have in getting Jack to talk about their GOP friends? NONE.”
In cased you are from a 3rd world country, I’ll clarify for you…the interest they have is doing there damn job Faiz. Thats what justice is about, hence the title justice department. Its not about getting him to talk about their GOP friends, it should be about ensuring those “friends” are following the law. What is your problem with understanding this. Both of your comments make it clear that you believe that republicans don’t let their friends go to jail. Well what you’ve done is made it very clear that there are some one the right that don’t give a hoot if laws are broken by their GOP friends. That is truly a sad statement for your side. Please come up with something better than that. In case you haven’t noticed, WE don’t care if democrats go down. Its the whole mess that needs to go, but let me ask you this. IF jacky boy squeal and lets say the democrats you mentioned go down (which they won’t, at least not the majority of the ones you mentioned), and the likes of Tom DeLay, Ney, Rorabacher, and the other “GOP friends” you elluded to go down as well, won’t you feel a bit let down that you spewed all this junk over the belief that no matter what anyone says the Republicans are always right? Wake up son, there are bad seeds on both sides of the aisle here, you are not 100% right and neither are we. Apparently we are not above admitting that. I mean how many democrats have give the money back so far? As I see it there are 5 republicans + bushie coughing up cash, and ONE democrat. Fact check that. (Hint: Don’t get your facts from FOX)
January 4th, 2006 at 4:01 pmDo they get to deduct these returns of monies as “charitable donations” on their tax returns?
January 4th, 2006 at 4:01 pm#20 - Democrats will get hurt too, trust me. All of the sudden, liberals have faith in Bush’s justice dept. Please stop being such a blatant partisan.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:03 pm#10, #15, #20 :( in Kentucky
January 4th, 2006 at 4:06 pmWelcome to TP. Great first posts!!
“Democrats will get hurt too, trust me. All of the sudden, liberals have faith in Bush’s justice dept. Please stop being such a blatant partisan.”
WOW. Are you even paying attention? It’s NOT Bush’s justice department, its OURS. You sir are the blatant partisan. Keep posting though, this is keeping me entertained as my work day comes to an end.
“Faiz is a Pig” ….is that you Karl….or Dick maybe? Not sure, but you obviously can’t come up with a thought or an opinion on your own. Since everything you have refered to is “Bush’s Justice Department” and “Republican Justice Department” maybe we can refer to you and “Bush’s Republican Zombie”
January 4th, 2006 at 4:09 pmScorecard:
F’d Republicans_____________ F’d Dems__________________
Bets on the overwhelming winner? BWHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA
American People = the real loser
January 4th, 2006 at 4:11 pmBig thanks Marie, I sense a change is coming. I just hope its before “Bush’s Iran” or Bush’s Supreme Court” or “Bush’s GD piece of paper” happens.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:12 pmHey :(, I guess you missed the part where no democrats received any money from Abramoff. It’s pretty hard to give money back, that you never received!
The only democrats who received money did so from organizations that ‘employeed’ abramoff, as well as a variety of other lobbyists. The fact that those democrats are willing to give back money because of this ‘indirect’ relationship is commendable, whereas there are some 60 republicans who DIRECTLY received money from abramoff, most of whom have kept the money. Clearly this shows exactly how corrupt and inappropriate republican values are.
Is fox news the only reception you’re getting? Because your statements are fraught with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, misconceptions and flat out lies.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:15 pmSorry :(, I meant to say faiz :))
January 4th, 2006 at 4:16 pmI hate to say it, but I don’t have a lot of faith in the justice department. Who is the head of it?
January 4th, 2006 at 4:17 pmdodgeball,
I agree with you. I’m taking the position of being cautiously optimistic at this point.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:19 pm:( in Kentucky….welcome to TP, a bit of advice - the trolls here are relentless in their attempts to distract from the theme of the thread, we all, at some point, reply to them and get sucked in - there is no chance to change their point of view (they are part of the solid 36% you will find in every poll that blindly supports the corrupt administration) I have been trying to ignore them and not let them affect my blood pressure (it was leading to road rage after work)
January 4th, 2006 at 4:22 pmlol 27-28 thanks for clarifying. I was a bit unsure how to take your first post. I have however read into the fact that not ONE Dem has a whole lot to worry about in this mess, but since I am a “thinker” I chose not to rant on that until it is a FACT. Once again if we have to oust a minor, and I do mean minor Dem or two, to take down the Republican leadership in all branches so be it. Too bad there is no secret sex scandal or shady personal dealing for the right to divert our attention to. My guess is the war on easter eggs will be next, or maybe a bogus terror alert in the coming weeks who knows. Truth hurts, feel the pain Repugs.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:25 pmDodgeball - after 5 years, every facet of this administration has an uphill battle to prove competence and morality, they have yet to do so, the best we can hope for is to get the reich wing out of the house & senate later this year and at least try to bring to light all of the crimes and atrocities that have been committed by those who unfortunately represent this country
January 4th, 2006 at 4:27 pmGiving back $6,000 is as bad in the eyes of the public as giving back $100,000. It’s like telling your wife you only cheated on her once or twice and keeping the other times a secret.
And if only direct Abramoff contributions count, that makes it well and truly a 100% GOP scandal since Jack the Enforcer didn’t give dime one to Democrats.
Rove must be rattled.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:31 pmFrom Rawstory.com — seems Scanlon’s jilted fiancee started the ball rolling. Never underestimate a woman scorned.
How they got caught: After lobbyist broke off engagement, ex-fiancee told of illicit dealings to FBI
Jason Leopold
Scanlon was implicated in the Abramoff scandal by his former thirtysomething fiancee, Emily J. Miller, whom he met in the late 1990s while working as communications director for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), three former associates who worked with Scanlon at DeLay’s office said. Colleagues say Miller went to the FBI after Scanlon broke off their engagement and announced his intention to marry another woman.
Miller did not return a call seeking comment. Scanlon’s attorney, Stephen Braga, did not respond to phone calls or emails seeking comment. Former coworkers of Scanlon and Miller at DeLay’s office and of Miller at the State Department would speak only under condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to be called as witnesses in a trial.
Miller was DeLay’s young press secretary and as communications director, Scanlon was her boss. The two began a secretive office romance and Scanlon eventually proposed marriage, associates say.
In 2003, Miller left DeLay’s office to work at the State Department. Scanlon departed too, partnering with now-indicted conservative lobbyist Jack Abramoff in lobbying for an array of Indian tribes. As Scanlon’s star rose, troubles between the couple mushroomed.
In May 2004, Miller found herself at the center of attention when—while live on air—she ordered a cameraman for NBC’s Meet the Press to stop filming Colin Powell. A copy of the transcript shows Miller, who also used to work as an NBC staffer, as a brusque press aide. Powell eventually ordered that the interview continue and asked Miller to step aside.
What many people didn’t realize at the time, however, is that during the Powell interview Miller was upset because her fiancee, Michael Scanlon, had broken off their engagement, two of Miller’s former State Department co-workers said. While still engaged to Miller, Scanlon had started an affair with a manicurist and broke up with Miller because he planned to marry the other woman, three of Scanlon’s former associates at DeLay’s office said. They added that the two had numerous public arguments.
But Miller had something on Scanlon. He confided in her all of his dealings with Abramoff, former colleagues said. She saw his emails and knew the intimate details of his lobbying work—work which is now the center of a criminal fraud investigation. After the breakup, Miller went to the FBI and told them everything about Scanlon’s dealings with Abramoff, her coworkers added.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:36 pmI need some explaining here. Are you saying that the other $94,000 wasn’t given directly by Abramoff? If so, isn’t that the defense of the “he never gave to Dems–only Repubs”?
I don’t get or like this defense of DEM reps who got money from clients only. That is often how it works for corrupt cases, so why are we giving them a pass on this?
January 4th, 2006 at 4:45 pm#35, HA HA!! I read the same story and made the same comment. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!!
January 4th, 2006 at 5:01 pmUnfortunately for Ms. Miller, everyone knows she’s “the rat”.
January 4th, 2006 at 5:25 pmThink she might befall an accident of her own?
The trolls on the puke payroll are very, very anxious to get the information out that democrats are involved in this also.
Go to Americablog. There is a complete and total list of all the recipients of Abramoffs largess. YOU WONT FIND ONE DEMOCRAT ON THE LIST.
So dream on trolls, dream on. Spew your lies.
January 4th, 2006 at 7:17 pmPaul,
The issue is that the Abramoff machine was one that was designed to ‘extract’ money from organizations that typically donated to democrats. It was an ‘extortion engine’, that basically told people that they must pay to play. Many of these groups already donated to democrats, because those democrats typically agreed with their efforts. The republicans however typically voted against these interests, so in order to tilt the playing field, republicans extorted money from them both directly and indirectly.
Abramoff therefore became a conduit through his ‘charities’ to launder the money, and make it seem like the republicans weren’t representing the interests of these groups from a ‘public’ perspective. It’s just more good old boy influence peddling.
Don’t be surprised that many of these organizations did donate to democrats, but that isn’t to be confused with ‘vote buying’. That was the work of Abramoff and his partner. If a republican received money from an Abramoff represented company, you can be virtually assured there was influence peddling involved. If a democrat was involved, then there’s definitely a ‘chance’ of this, but it’s much less likely. Especially since the interests being ‘bilked’ already donated to democratic causes, which is why Abramoff thought he wouldn’t get caught, nor would he be taken down without taking democrats with him.
This is why the republican talking points surround involving the democrats. They weren’t involved in this scandal, because there was no need to buy their influence on policies they agreed with. Republicans however, had to be bought - and they were.
The republicans who are easily duped by these talking points should receive our pity. They’ve shown once again how easily they are ‘cowed’ by their ‘masters’. Poor things! Considering that many conservatives only believes in authority, and not democracy, it’s easily to see why they’re so readily duped.
January 4th, 2006 at 7:27 pm#32
There is no secret sex because they can’t find anyone to have sex with them except the horse out behind the barn.
January 4th, 2006 at 7:40 pmJohn Kerry gets $100,000 and gives back ZERO.
January 4th, 2006 at 8:03 pmSteed,
What’s that supposed to mean.
Do you mean Kerry got money from Abrmoff? Do you mean Kerry got it from one of Abramoff’s charities? You need to post more info if you expect for people to understand what you mean.
Here look:
Bill Gates gets $100,000,000 and gives back ZERO.
See how it doesn’t mean anything?
Post a link or finish your sentence. It helps for the people trying to translate your postings.
January 4th, 2006 at 8:56 pmSteed,
I saw the list of money from Abramoff, no Democrats got any money from him. Why must republicans fabricate lies to defend their immoral politicians. Do you guys love corruption so much, or are you just too weak to purge it from your ranks? I think weakness is the issue. Republicans are just morally weak.
It’s like the republican conservative southern baptist homophobe who just caught soliciting a male cop. It’s just weakness, hypocrisy and more proof that I-RIGHT-I has something to hide…
January 4th, 2006 at 9:16 pmIt’s a $6000 fig leag. That covers the essentials! NO?
January 5th, 2006 at 2:38 amBush is also claiming not to know him.
Christy Harvey was on Franken’s show saying the two of them actually go back to when he was Gov. of Texas.
Slimeballs all.
Comment by True Blue — January 4, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
Bush has such a short memory in these instances. He could not remember that Chalabi sat right behind his wife during one of his State of the Union addresses. He said he may have run into him at a rope line or something. Nevermind the fact he had him in the Oval Office. Just can’t seem to remember though.
January 5th, 2006 at 2:42 amWhen a person expects less then what they are capable of being, doing or having in their life you end up with a person like King George who can’t even differentiate right from wrong. Keep the money George and use it towards rehab.
January 5th, 2006 at 8:49 am#18 - You are not in reality dude. I think you are trying to convince yourself. You are way out, man - smokin’ the good shit you are.
January 5th, 2006 at 11:13 amIt’s just weakness, hypocrisy and more proof that I-RIGHT-I has something to hide…
Comment by RightPunch
Hey rightPunch #44,
I-Triflin’-I is in a perpetual state of hiding 9as Puny hermaphrodite and other psuedo-personalities)…
his/her true sexual preference…
gender (or trans…)
and the fact that he/she’s partial to kin folk and barnyard animals…
in fact, he/she’s hiding now!!!
January 5th, 2006 at 11:48 am[…] Bush is keeping $94K in Abramoff money. Abramoff raised over $100,000 for the 2004 Bush-Cheney reelection campaign, but the campaign is “giving up only $6,000 directly from Abramoff, his wife and one of the Indian tribes that he worked to win influence for in Washington.†(tags: Bush Politics Politiburo Scandal Scandalous abramoff delay) […]
January 8th, 2006 at 8:30 pmmedic alert
I found your post comments while searching Google. Very relevant especially as this is not an issue which a lot of peaople are conversant with.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:06 am