Abramoff Interview: Lobbyist Details Relationship With Bush, DeLay, Burns
Abramoff Interview: Lobbyist Details Relationship With Bush, DeLay, Burns
Vanity Fair is set to publish an in-depth interview with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff sheds new light on his close relationships with top conservatives, including some not typically associated with the Abramoff scandals like Ken Mehlman and Newt Gingrich. Some choice quotes:
On President Bush:
President Bush, who claims not to remember having his picture taken with Abramoff. According to Abramoff, at one time, the president joked with Abramoff about his weight lifting past: “What are you benching, buff guy?”
On former Rove deputy Ken Mehlman:
According to documents obtained by Vanity Fair, Mehlman exchanged e-mail with Abramoff, and did him political favors (such as preventing Clinton administration alumnus Allen Stayman from keeping a State Department job), had Sabbath dinner at Abramoff’s house, and offered to pick up Abramoff’s tab at Signatures, Abramoff’s own restaurant.
On Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX):
Abramoff has “admired Tom DeLay and his family from the first meeting with him,” he tells Margolick. “We would sit and talk about the Bible. We would sit and talk about opera. We would sit and talk about golf,” Abramoff recalls. “I mean, we talked about philosophy and politics.”
On Newt Gingrich:
Newt Gingrich, whose spokesman Rick Tyler tells Margolick that “Before [Abramoff’s] picture appeared on TV and in the newspapers, Newt wouldn’t have known him if he fell across him. He hadn’t seen him in 10 years.” A rankled Abramoff says “I have more pictures of [Newt] than I have of my wife.”
On Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT):
Abramoff says: “Every appropriation we wanted [from Burns’s committee] we got. Our staffs were as close as they could be. They practically used Signatures as their cafeteria. I mean, it’s a little difficult for him to run from that record.”
Despite the magnitude of his crimes, however, Abramoff says that imprisoning him would only deprive society of his teaching and/or janitorial talents:
Abramoff … tells [Vanity Fair] that sending him to prison is “stupid,” saying, “Let me teach English, history, music. Or let me sweep floors at the reservation. Instead you’ll be paying to feed me to sit in a jail.”
More here.
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Let’s see how many more times they can deny, deny, deny.
I have this image of Bush, Delay, and other GOP members tied to Abramoff sticking their fingers in their ears and repeating “I can’t hear you” whenever this subject comes up.
After all, if you keep denying something, you eventually convince yourself it’s true. Now, the rest of the country, that’s a different matter. You only convince 34% of them.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:30 am“I don’t know Jack”
March 8th, 2006 at 11:31 amYes, Mr. President, you don’t.
“Oh, you mean Abramoff?”
No, we’re talking about your brain.
“Well, then I’m right”
How ’bout if we compromise: you can sweep the floors of the prison.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:34 amAnyone else catch the fact that in yesterday’s Texas primaries, DeLay still got over 50% of the vote in the Republican primary. Now, seriously, what the hell does he have to do to not get that type of support? Just to reiterate what I’ve said before on this issue with regards to the GOP blind-faith supporters:
Bush could be caught on high-definition TV eating babies while screwing a goat, and his approval ratings would still be at least 20%.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:34 am#4: of course. the ‘liberal media’ always tries to make the president look bad. He’s not responsible for what he does.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:35 am“The reality is, Jack Abramoff and I were not close personal friends†- Tom Delay
March 8th, 2006 at 11:37 amNico,
Hotline Blog has more. http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/
March 8th, 2006 at 11:39 amThat’s a magnanimous gesture on Abramoff’s part, to suggest we’d be better off putting his talents to work instead of locking him behind bars and forgetting about him for a few years. Not haughty at all.
/sarcasm off
And these people wonder why they get caught. Despite a proven desire to recite the Torah and Bible, they don’t have an appreciation for the underlying message with Moses being described as “the meekest man on earth†and “The meek shall inherit the earth.â€
Bow your head and accept the fate you earned, Abramoff. Shame on you.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:43 amThe Castratas of The Indicted Tabernacle Choir are singing soprano. Will there be Fitzmas for Easter?
Goper’s Lament
March 8th, 2006 at 11:45 amAh, the warm soft and fuzzy side of widdle Jackie that comes out in warmly lit restaurants and politicians kitchens…..
March 8th, 2006 at 11:46 amHe offers to “sweep floors at the reservation” as penance?????
C’mon over anytime, fella, I got work for you to do, I’ll even give you the Sabbath off in respect. (You will not be working in the casino’s however, you won’t even be inside. What with your teaching skills you can be MY teachers asistant.
We’ll sleep on the ground, eat pinon and rock squirrel, make spears and start a fire rubbing two sticks together.
Everybody has to.
And if you can’t, you go hungry.
‘Cause I ain’t gonna carry YOUR a$$
Abramoff would find one of those days a severed horse’s head in his pillow…
March 8th, 2006 at 11:48 ambob_cat - if DeLay was caught in bed with an underage girl, they’d still vote for him there.
Now if he was caught in bed with an underage boy, they’d first ask “who was the top?” before deciding.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:50 ambobcat_grad - Delay took 62%. This is a republican primary though. He was running against other republican low-lifes. There was no real choice here, but to pick the most powerful and influential lowlife from the group. I am hopeful that general election will be different.
Off the subject - is bobcat_grad TSU
March 8th, 2006 at 12:08 pm#12 - You’re too funny, kindness. I was thinking more along the lines of eating kittens on live TV, but that would be Frist, wouldn’t it?
March 8th, 2006 at 12:16 pmI didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye. I don’t intend any parting insults or condescending advice. I just came here two weeks ago because I had certain assumptions about what motivated you, and wanted to test them. Prior to this, my assumptions were built entirely on what I had read and seen in interviews. Some of my assumptions were incorrect, and will be adjusted or discarded. I didn’t really expect to change any minds. I just came to learn more about your ideas by sharing some of mine.
It’s been a interesting couple of weeks for me. I promise I won’t change handles. As a few of you realized, I didn’t come here to troll. Be a little suspicious if somebody posts using my current handle after this; it’s unlikely to be me.
Take care!
- Seth
March 8th, 2006 at 12:21 pmIt has not hit the mainstream media yet, but Abramoffs credit card bills showed that he paid with his credit card over $14,000 in first class airfare for DeLay and his wife, and perhaps one other, in a golfing trip to Scotland.
DeLay will have to answer for this at his up-coming trial, as well as his friendship, or lack thereof, with Abramoff.
The dems in Texas 22 should start their campaign against DeLay TODAY, not wait one minute more. I would love to see photos come out of DeLay in the old fashioned prison uniform, replete with the cap, all done in gray with black stripes. Precious little darling.
March 8th, 2006 at 12:22 pmNico,
Whole article here:
http://www.vanityfair.com/ pdf/ pressroom/ advance_Abramoff.pdf
March 8th, 2006 at 12:44 pm[scratching head]
Where are the (D)s this “bipartisan scandal”…?
*cough*
March 8th, 2006 at 12:44 pm“The reality is, Jack Abramoff and I were not close personal friends†- Tom Delay
Comment by AkaDad #6
AkaDad,
Judging from yesterday’s republiscum primary in DeLay’s country (Texas)…
…lying is a prerequisite to getting elected…
March 8th, 2006 at 12:45 pmNico,
March 8th, 2006 at 12:46 pmYou already got it. Way ahead of me.
Yup. It is going to be fun for Delay to run with the fear of more indictments hanging over his head.
Jamie
March 8th, 2006 at 12:46 pmhttp://www.intoxination.net
“Let me teach English, history, music. Or let me sweep floors at the reservation. Instead you’ll be paying to feed me to sit in a jail.â€
Jack, darling, you can do all of those things in prison, and I, for one, am willing to spend my tax dollars on sending you there. Hopefully, we’ll be sending all your little friends for a nice, long sleepover.
Also - What a stupid picture.
March 8th, 2006 at 12:47 pmPennacchio for Pennsylvania Files 4212 Petition Signatures
March 6, 2006
On the afternoon of March 6th in Harrisburg, Pennacchio for PA filed over 4200 petition signatures, more than double the number needed to qualify Chuck as a candidate for the May 16th Democratic Primary. The signatures came from 32 counties and were collected by 220 circulators, every one of them a volunteer. Unlike the other Democratic campaigns, the Pennacchio campaign did not pay circulators, nor did we receive help from the Democratic Party machine. The largest number of petition signatures collected by an individual was 280.
On Saturday, March 4th, the Bucks County Democratic Party voted on endorsements in the US Senate Race. In spite of the strong preference of John Cordisco and the Bucks party leadership for Bob Casey, Chuck received 47% of the vote.
This all volunteer, PAC-free Senate campaign continues to build grassroots support around Pennsylvania, most recently collecting endorsements from Democracy for Lancaster, Democracy for Pittsburgh, Democracy for Harrisburg, Upper Bucks for Democracy, and Bucks for Progress. We now have active organizations in 7 key counties, and forming in many others.
Chuck Pennacchio issued this statement: “I am grateful to all of our circulators for braving cold weather, cold shoulders, and tired feet, for circulating after long days at work and on weekends, when you could have been relaxing. I’m inspired by you all, and ready to do whatever it takes to win this race and change politics in our state and across the nation. This is what democracy looks like.”
http://www.dailykos.com/ comments/ 2006/ 3/ 8/ 12290/ 48552/ 0/ post#here
March 8th, 2006 at 12:51 pmOhhh Abramoff is a religous Jew? I don’t see a Kippa On his Head.. The Canary sings sweet songs on bush. (buff guy) damn he is such a tin horn suck up to buff men is that how bush likes his men pumped up like jeff gannon gurkert was Now we know why jeffie was staying overnights. Some sliding between the sheets herrbush.Like King James 1 “My sweet child my wife’ speaking of his male lover.
March 8th, 2006 at 12:59 pmto thoes who insisted on voting for de-lie in TX. Go to church and pray for forgiveness for your mistake. Jesus.
March 8th, 2006 at 1:06 pmbobcat_grad - Delay took 62%. This is a republican primary though. He was running against other republican low-lifes. There was no real choice here, but to pick the most powerful and influential lowlife from the group. I am hopeful that general election will be different.
Off the subject - is bobcat_grad TSU
I know it was the Republican primary, but still. If it’s a primary for Hitler, Saddam, or Satan do you think Satan would win just because he is the most powerful, influential lowlife?
And no, not TSU. 1999 graduate of Ohio University, the REAL state university in Ohio (a minor dig at Buckeyes out there. Don’t take too seriously, I live in Columbus now and enjoy rooting for OSU, too).
March 8th, 2006 at 1:10 pmThe picture looks like they are holding hands.
March 8th, 2006 at 1:12 pmCan’t wait for the Abramoff sentencing at the end of the month when all the’naming names’ will begin! I’ve got my popcorn, do you?
March 8th, 2006 at 1:27 pmsqueezing each others bunns is more likely….
March 8th, 2006 at 1:28 pm“let me sweep floors at the reservation. Instead you’ll be paying to feed me to sit in a jail.â€
Give him a work release so he can go clean toilets at the Coushatta’s casino! They’d love to make him their bitch after all this. They could take pictures showing Jack working the skidmarks of the porcelain, or emptying used kotex containers, and sell them in the casino gift shop.
I’d buy a set.
March 8th, 2006 at 1:28 pmThe latest story on DeLay (Bush’s fave at the polling booth) is in today’s Houston Chronicle. It is about a documentary film on Delay that is going to be shown in various venues around Sugar Land, Texas. Maybe Bush can get a chance to see it while he is in the area.
My favorite quote from the article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story….nt/ 3708199.html
“Dick DeGuerin, DeLay’s attorney, said the film offers little in the way of balance.
‘I think it’s about as fair and balanced as Michael Moore’s stuff or Fox news,’ he said.”
Ha ha ha
March 8th, 2006 at 1:31 pmWhere’s Gary Ruppert on this?
March 8th, 2006 at 1:33 pmBobcat - I am sorry to hear that you are not a Texas State grad as I am. But I guess Ohio is pretty cool too. They have almost as many reprehensible lowlife thieves as TX.
As for your Satan, Saddam, and Hitler scenario, it all really depends on what they are running for. If they are running for the office of “Least Menacing Bad Guyâ€, then sure maybe Satan doesn’t win. But if they are running for any other office where strength matters, then Satan wins 99.99% of the time. The .01% is attributed to voter fraud.
Sadly, in our world the ends more often than not are considered as justifying the means. This is especially true among Repugs.
March 8th, 2006 at 1:37 pmPhilosophy and politics, eh? Like, “there’s a sucker born every minute”, or “hey if they’re not looking, they deserve to get ripped off”, and “If god wanted the people to get a fair shake, he wouldn’t have made me a lobbyist.”
March 8th, 2006 at 1:57 pmEarth-shaking concepts. Too bad we weren’t in the loop.
As for your Satan, Saddam, and Hitler scenario, it all really depends on what they are running for. If they are running for the office of “Least Menacing Bad Guyâ€, then sure maybe Satan doesn’t win. But if they are running for any other office where strength matters, then Satan wins 99.99% of the time. The .01% is attributed to voter fraud.
If they were using Diebold, it’d be more like 70% voter fraud.
March 8th, 2006 at 2:09 pmBobcat - You are correct - Diebold does Suck!
But like most corrupt businesses, Diebold sells its services to the bidder that has the most to offer… again we return to Satan.
Somehow Hitler would still be able to talk Diebod into rigging elections for him .01% of the time. He was very persuasive!
March 8th, 2006 at 2:33 pmAbramoff is the Republican’s Tar Baby. The more they try to separate from him the more he sticks to them.
March 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pm[…] Abramoff Details Relationship With Bush, DeLay, Mehlman, Gingrich for Vanity Fair. […]
March 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pmThe Repugs will manage to protect them all and if they don’t they will all be pardoned by Shrub before he leaves office.
March 8th, 2006 at 2:48 pmDelay got over 50% of the vote CAST. Only 7% of the possible repug voters bothered to show up. So really he got……3.5% WOW!
March 8th, 2006 at 2:56 pmPut him in Leavenworth with Leonard Peltier. That will take care of the problem. Who is Peltier? Research the name!
March 8th, 2006 at 2:57 pmThose of you questioning the intelligence of Texans - you are quite correct in your assumptions. Living here is pure hell!! There is an excuse for everything the republicans do. I refuse to remove my Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker and have a couple of others they hate as well - and I hate bumper stickers. You should see the looks I get, it’s great. It is a small victory, but a victory just the same.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:01 pmI think Mr Aramoff should recall that our prison system needs teachers, too.
He could do a lot of good teaching to other prisoners while he serves his well earned time behind bars.
A man of such deep religious convictions should be concerned about setting a good example for others. What kind of example would he set if he was simply allowed to walk after helping to undermine our political system in service of the worst administration in all of human history?
Do your time, Mr. Abramoff; you were more than willing to do your crimes.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:01 pmI just hope (but I’m not holding my breath) that after the truth comes out the media plays Bush saying unequivically (sp?) “I don’t know him” as often as they played Clinton’s “I did not have sexual relations” quote. The second he said I turned to my wife and said, that’s the line he’ll be remembered for…a guy can dream, can’t he?
March 8th, 2006 at 3:09 pmshorter jack abramoff: “I broke numerous important laws. Please give me a job.”
March 8th, 2006 at 3:15 pmJules - Tx aint so bad. You just got to know where to live. the Austin/San Marcos area is rather kick ass if you ask me.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:16 pmWe don’t mind giving you room and board at all Jack.
I got this nice little “sweetheart” (oops- tee hee) of a one room condo at Folsom, already got your roommate picked out (Morrice Luther Johnson, two consecutive sentences of life, rape battery and pre-meditated murder for shooting a man in “RENO” just to watch him die). If you prefer the east coast, then I got one at Attica, course it’s a lower clientele there.
RENO-(R)e(E)lect(N)o(O)ne
March 8th, 2006 at 3:18 pmGW - you are lucky. I cannot leave for another 18 months. Sounds like a prison term doesn’t it.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:21 pmNah. I’ll pay to feed him while he rots in jail. It may be “stupid” as Jack says, but I’ll savor every penny’s worth.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:28 pmWell, well well! So King George the Dim got caught in another lie! How many is that so far? Let’s see now- There was Irag! Oh yeA! That was good for at least 20 right there! Well shit! Who can keep up with them all?
Seems like The Repigs used to get all worked up about lies in politics! (Bill Clinton?)? I guess the Repigs don’t get so worked up about a liar in the White House as long as he is one of theirs!
March 8th, 2006 at 3:30 pmsounds good. he’s spilling the beans and ready to sweep floors at the reservation. Which proves he’s he’s a simple practical follower who was the big bad corrupt washington player because washington is a big bad corrupt place.
he’s right. We should have him speaking out on his mistakes
March 8th, 2006 at 3:33 pmevery minute he can. The repubs would love to hide him away in prison.
well, he can always write.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:35 pmWhhy are you letting McCain off the hook here? He’s in on ot too.
“Mr. Abramoff flatters himself,” Mark Salter, McCain’s administrative assistant, tells Margolick. “Senator McCain was unaware of his existence until he read initial press accounts of Abramoff’s abuses, and had never laid eyes on him until he appeared before the committee.”
Abramoff says, “As best I can remember, when I met with him, he didn’t have his eyes shut. I’m surprised that Senator McCain has joined the chorus of amnesiacs.”
March 8th, 2006 at 3:37 pmJules - I hope your leaving brings you to greener pasture, but just remember - Texas ain’t all bad. There are many of us that continue to bring the fight right here in the belly of the beast.
March 8th, 2006 at 3:43 pm[…] Think Progress has a good sumarization of the interview. […]
March 8th, 2006 at 3:55 pm“What are you benching, buff guy?”
God, he makes me sick
March 8th, 2006 at 3:57 pmThey’ll deny it all the way to their graves unless Abramoff actually documents his smelly connections. Check my Bush/Abramoff cartoon at http://www.unclesamysays.com
March 8th, 2006 at 3:58 pmThey’ll deny it all the way to their graves unless Abramoff actually documents his smelly connections. Check my Bush/Abramoff cartoon at http://www.unclesammysays.com
March 8th, 2006 at 4:06 pm#40
March 8th, 2006 at 4:10 pmHoly Moly is this true!
Delay got over 50% of the vote CAST. Only 7% of the possible repug voters bothered to show up. So really he got……3.5% WOW!
Comment by david palmer — March 8, 2006 @ 2:56 pm
That puts a whole different color on the spin of the Delay propagandists.
Yes, and next door here we continue to deal with the flood of refugees from the Zone Far State.
March 8th, 2006 at 4:11 pmGood people, just wanting out and away from the litter, oil wells and meth labs.
Takes them awhile to adjust to the idea of not exaggerating everything (if not plain out and out making sh@t up), quit throwing the empties out on the road, and realizing you just don’t have to talk so loud and fast.
And no, everyone is not out to screw ya. That comes from your habit of screwing everyone YOU come across, makes you believe the rest of the Union operates that way. (And Washington D.C. is not a state in the Union)
If your gonna live here you’ll have to kick them nasty habits…….
“Mushmouth must have had his eyes closed” classic.
Plus TPM fills in the details refrenced in this VF peice about online gambling legislation. Like the Who said “Meet the new boss same as the old boss.” or “Cut off a hydras head and five more grow in its place….” - some guy.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000055.php
March 8th, 2006 at 4:13 pmYes and DeLay gets re-nominated by the Republican Party to run for congress again, 62% of the vote. Most people don’t really care, unfortunately.
March 8th, 2006 at 4:13 pmoh yeah and delay is mentioned on TPM too…
March 8th, 2006 at 4:19 pmAbramoff can implicate everyone in the thug party, and the entire White House, but until people elect to throw them all out on their ears, nothing will change.
March 8th, 2006 at 4:19 pmWe have seen scandal after scandal for the past 5 years - lies, deceptions, manipulations, dangerous and reckless acts causing death, destruction and financial disaster, but nothing has changed.
I will believe something comes of the Abramoff scandal, when I see it.
[…] But I was most struck by how Nico at Think Progress referred to Abramoff as a “disgraced lobbyist”. […]
March 8th, 2006 at 4:21 pmI have two words for jack: Work release.
He should be imprisoned and permitted to leave on a daily basis to work as a janitor.
March 8th, 2006 at 4:34 pmSent this memo to Howard Dean:
Why should I send you money??? You don’t need me to send money till the Dems already in power start supporting each other. Howard Dean and the Dems couldn’t help a real Texan - Rodriquez beat a fake Dem Bush kisser Cuellar. How sorry is that? Did Pelosi or Hillary show up to help? NO!!! Also, Houston/Galveston had voting problems AGAIN, in the Republicans favor - AGAIN!!! Imagine that. You fake Dems are just Millionaires ripping off poor people for money. You couldn’t win a high school election against a tenth grader who isn’t eligle to vote. Oh yeah, why should I vote for Dems who sold us out on war, bankruptcy, health care, veterans benefits, wire tapping, Katrina, port security, outsourcing, insourcing, immigration, pensions, Supreme Court, and the un-patriot act? And you had the gaul to vote yourself a pay raise. Vote yourself fundraising while you’re at it, why don’t you?!? You sure you Dems aren’t closet Republicans? Karl Rove kicks your sorry asses every election. No amount of money is gonna stop that. Get a job like the rest of us.
Signed,
Disgusted in Texas
March 8th, 2006 at 4:39 pmLet Abramoff teach? Hell, if necessary I’ll personally foot the bill to “feed [him] to sit in jail.”
March 8th, 2006 at 4:42 pmHahaha!! Finally some dirt on Conrad Burns, now will my peeps back in Montana stop voting for that dipshit–probably not! Hes not even from Montana, Ill never understand it!
March 8th, 2006 at 4:49 pm#62 Yes and DeLay gets re-nominated by the Republican Party to run for congress again, 62% of the vote. Most people don’t really care, unfortunately.
Comment by patrick — March 8, 2006
You didn’t think conservatives were all of a sudden going to grow a brain, did you? ;)
March 8th, 2006 at 4:54 pmSpeaking as a gay man I’ve got to tell you that I’ve heard my share of pickup lines. However, Bush asking Abramoff “What are you benching, buff guy?†is the all time record for sleazy come-ons. Oh Jeffery? Oh Miss Gannon? I miss you sooooo much!
March 8th, 2006 at 5:05 pmA friend of mine taught at the state prison for years and said it was much more rewarding than teaching children because the men there knew that an education was their key to getting out of the system. If Abramoff thinks he should teach, let him earn his keep in prison teaching the young men there. (Except he might teach them how to commit white collar crimes like he did.)
March 8th, 2006 at 5:17 pmBush has so many clowns fooled that he’s “keeping America safe,” you have to wonder if anything resonates with some of these dimwits.
March 8th, 2006 at 5:26 pmAs John Kerry said,”This is the crookedest bunch of people I’ve ever seen.” And, they are patriarchal, they deny and feel, so what, what are you gonna do about it?
#62
Calvin… I agree. I am in Texas and I am discussed with it all too….
The DMC, Kerry and Clinton call us for $$ all the time. I am waiting for the NEXT call to tell them how I truly feel.
SusiQ
March 8th, 2006 at 5:44 pm[…] Vanity Fair is set to publish an in-depth interview with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff sheds new light on his close relationships with top conservatives, including some not typically associated with the Abramoff scandals like Ken Mehlman and Newt Gingrich. Some choice quotes: […]
March 8th, 2006 at 6:06 pmYou want to teach music? How about “How to Sing Like A Canary 101,” at that famous educational institution, Folsom Prison?
March 8th, 2006 at 6:37 pmdfs
March 8th, 2006 at 8:08 pmI never read Vanity Fair but I’ll be all over it when it comes out. The HuffPo has a great picture up of DeLay and no longer “good friend” Abramoff. That said…
I have two new posts up, for those of you tuning in late. First, MoDo’s shorts sabbatical is over and not a moment too soon since she’s back giving the Bush madministration hell from the NY Times. I have her newest up at my place, for those of you who also loathe the NY Times’ Select bullshit.
Seondly, I have some original material of my own up about the unrest in Iraq and how it all seems to devolve on Bush’s idiosyncratic definition of “civil war.†It may appear to mirror the Dowd screed but the truth is I didn’t even read her article before I’d posted it until after I’d posted my take.
Anyway, enjoy and stayed tuned tomorrow as I’ll have a kick-ass post out by early tomorrow night that draws a parallel between the Cheney Bush administration and McHale’s Navy, with photoshopped pics by none other than the incredible Dood Abides of My Left Wing/DKos fame! Ciao!
March 8th, 2006 at 8:42 pmIs that all there is? There isn’t a single corrupt activity in any of these examples, unless you call buying Abramoff a meal at his own restaurant corrupt (see, most people have been complaining about Abramoff handing out free meals - not the other way around).
The sabotage of poor Paul Hackett’s campaign by “Credit Chuck” Schumer and “Brave Harry” Reid was a whole lot more corrupt, if you ask me - not to mention all those letters “Brave Harry” wrote for all those out-of-state Indian tribes. Hey, $5,000 a letter is a pretty good gig, if you’ve got the juice to get it.
You e-progs crack me up. You’re all hate and vituperation, and you never play by your own rules. You have no sense of honor, no sense of humor, and especially no sense of how people live in the real world. You’re gonna find out, though: you can’t sell anger to the American people. Especially when it’s over-the-top, self-important, drama queen anger, like yours.
So I encourage you, keep slingin’ that mud and holdin’ them impeachment seminars. Excuse the poetic license, but when I suffer from insomnity your absurdity is the perfect remedy.
(yawn) Z-z-z-z-z-z-z
March 8th, 2006 at 9:40 pmJack, you are right. You should teach. I would love to see you live on a teacher’s salary.
March 8th, 2006 at 9:45 pm#79
March 8th, 2006 at 9:55 pmIf we are so boring, why don’t you go away?
It’s easy to be cocky when your crooks control the government — but what goes around, comes around, so don’t sleep too tight.
Dear Blue State Red:
It’s hard isn’t it? Standing by as all you’ve ever believed in turns out to be a sad, tawdry little sham. Why not just accept the fact that so much of the republican establishment is corrupt? Why keep thrashing out at the people who have known this all along?
March 8th, 2006 at 10:05 pmLook at the pic. Between them ia a big green face.
March 8th, 2006 at 10:11 pm#79
is that all there is?
your comments are all torpor and lack any substance or factuality. to just randomly hurl absolutes and generalities about a group you are obviously prejudiced against only identifies you as closed-minded and willfully partisan. many people here are not self-identified liberals or democrats (myself included).
funny you say you can’t sell anger to the american people, but anger is exactly what’s fuelled the so-called “republican revolution”. anger was and is the single most effective tool of the right wing noise machine and is certainly what was behind the clinton impeachment circus.
the truth is that you certainly can sell anger, and fear, to the american people, and the republican party has continually shown a willingness to do just that.
you are blind. it will hurt all the worse for those like you who continue to cling to the deceptions of this administration when you have to admit you’ve been wrong.
of course there is also the alternative that you will never admit you are wrong. then you’ll have to wonder why everyone thinks you’re a fool.
March 8th, 2006 at 10:50 pm[…] and says they didn’t know me is almost certainly lying.” Bipartisan scandal, my ass. Permalink| […]
March 8th, 2006 at 11:11 pmI’m buying a subscription to Vanity Fair. I may buy stock in Vanity Fair - just for their interview.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:31 pmTo be fair, I never saw the sense in just throwing non-violent criminals in prison. It would make much more sense if they were allowed to remain in society, repaying their debts to it with a long-term community service-type sentence. Prison is good for keeping violent people off the streets, but nonviolent offenders don’t need to be restrained in that sense; they can be monitored, and their activities controlled, while allowing them to contribute to society.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:56 pm#87
yes i agree, but in abramoff’s case there is the murder of the cruise line owner to consider… it appears to be an ordered ‘hit’.
i would think that there are even more violent chapters to the jack-off story that haven’t even been revealed.
March 9th, 2006 at 12:05 amExcuse the poetic license, but when I suffer from insomnity your absurdity is the perfect remedy.
(yawn) Z-z-z-z-z-z-z
Comment by Blue State Red —
To BS Red
March 9th, 2006 at 12:05 amThere is nothing poetic about using the non-existent word “insomnity.” (Does that have anything to do with “insomnia?”)
Adam 87…non-violent crime… suggest you reconsider
Black Hat Jack took the money from the Indians and forwarded millions to Israel for their black op training school.
Somehow that begs the full blown expectation…
Jack put Israel in position to continue to murder and land grab and/or add to their 400 plus nuclear war heads in stock.
Pom Pom President is such a woose… Israel doesn’t have boots on the ground in the fight against terrorism. Why? Because they have duped the American people. Americans are the ones being killed and mamed in Iraq… and for what reasons???? Izzy for one.
March 9th, 2006 at 1:14 amDeLay and Abramoff were super buddies, so for Tom to claim he never really knew Jack is plain rediculous, and fat LIE!
March 9th, 2006 at 1:17 amYes sweeping the floors is also needed in prison Mr Abramoff. Also on your record it would still be vastly Cheaper to pay to keep you locked up than to let you run around free.
March 9th, 2006 at 2:33 amAnyone trolling here has not read the advance .pdf, nor did they watch Lou Dobbs last night. You can read Lou’s transcript from http://www.cnn.com/lou
I did not expect to read all that is contained in Vanity Fair’s article, and am very pleasantly surprised!
It’s not the Ides of March yet, but it will do!
woo-hoo!
March 9th, 2006 at 4:15 amOh the irony of it all. Where does Jack Abramoff choose to finally “open up” ? VANITY Fair !!! And, why on earth would he have more pictures of NEWT GINGRICH than his wife ?!? Eeeewwwwww. Kinda freaky… And, yes, in a “perfect” world, convicted criminals would be able to decide how best to “serve” their sentences, but this is not a perfect world. But I do think he shouldn’t have to leave all of his friends behind. I hear renovations are occuring down at Guantanamo, lots of room down there. And as we are already spending the money to lock up a whole bunch of people who have never even been charged with anything, well, what’s one more ?
March 9th, 2006 at 6:35 amI have a great idea. Let’s find a way to try this scumbag for treason (subverting government in time of war, perhaps?) Then if found guilty we can execute the bastard. That’ll save a buck or two and prove that we are good little conservatives committed to law and order. Hell, we could even have Bush review the case for the cursory 15 minutes he gave all the inmates he executed in Texas.
March 9th, 2006 at 10:24 amAbramoff and Ralph Reed and Michael Scanlon totally fleeced Texas about 5 years ago. It is too late for my beloved once great state of Texas.
As for Delay getting the R nomination, I blame that on whatever true “progressives”, “conservatives” or “Christians” that may reside in that district. They should have all voted in the R primary and decided upon one challenger, probably Tom Campbell, and they could have ousted Delay. They could have taken max advantage of traditionally low turnout for primaries. But all those people sat on their rear ends.
I am not a D or an R - no party - rarely vote much since our Austin TX area voting machines (Hart InterCivic E-Slate machines) were purchased by “Congressman” Mike McCaul’s father-in-law Lowry Mayes (CEO of ClearChannel Communications and by the University of Texas UTIMCO investment fund.
I am so sick of all the evsicerated words and their meanings and of all the new labels for the same old errors.
It is all Orwellian newspeak.
Not only is Texas just a big set up and sold out state, the ENTIRE U.S. Congress is also totally irrelevant.
So when I see all the mentally ill support-Bush-and-Republicans still voting in their mentally ill ways, I also see all you so called “progressives” who still see things in terms of Republicans and Democrats or conservatives and progressives.
For heavens sake. Y’all ain’t just never gonna be able to get it.
It’s about Tyranny versus Freedom.
Forget about throwing the rascals out because they’re all rascals and they all are purchased and controlled by the exact same entity, and that entity wants the elimination of all nation states of the world and all monotheistic religions of the world. That entity wants a one world death and slavery system where most of the world’s population will have been eliminated and where our international banksters will be our slavemasters.
Give me liberty or give me death.
March 9th, 2006 at 11:23 am[…] Check out the Vanity Fair article. Senator Conrad Burns from Montana is gonna bite it hard. […]
March 9th, 2006 at 11:47 amWhat is the matter with Texas voting for Delay again Are they all rich in Texas? How much more does it take for people to wake up. I saw a Rep. on Lou Dobbs say thier was to be more in the house getting exposed by summer.What shame it is taking so long taking from the poor and middle class every day.
March 9th, 2006 at 11:47 am#89, in re: your “To BS Red:
There is nothing poetic about using the non-existent word ‘insomnity.’”
Thanks for pointing that out - I almost did, then saw your post.
It’s odd, isn’t it, how these anti-intellectual folk can neither spell (which is, well, only annoying) nor think (which is worse). I stand by this. Check the “nasty emails” sent to 1) Rabid Liberal sites and conversely 2) Rabid Neo-Con sites and come back and tell me which set is more devoid of correct spelling, basic grammar and kindergarten-level thought.
Yes, it sure is odd. Isn’t it, BS(oh the humanity!)Red?
March 9th, 2006 at 1:22 pmNobody knew Jack. At least in the Republican party. It’s the party of Bart Simpson, “Jack who? Abramoff? Never heard of him? Never a close personal friend. Nope! didn’t do it! you can’t prove it!”
March 9th, 2006 at 3:32 pmLadies and gentlemen, tonight the pleasantly rotund lady, in her most challenging role will be accompanied by Jack Abramoff, a rising talent as tenor and snitch to perform the Justice Department’s revamped version of “What did the Republicans know, and when did they know it?” Mr. Abramoff is sure to pack all the power and emotion into this, his swan song-or will he be back for an encore? Stay tuned.
March 9th, 2006 at 6:59 pm“Or let me sweep floors at the reservation.â€
?!?! He LOOTED the reservation! There ARE no floors!
March 9th, 2006 at 11:54 pmSomeone said Abramoff was a j_ _. See, I didn’t really say it. Shhhhh! Well this is just a test anyway. Every post here that I have read violates your terms of use agreement. But as these blog sites always are, you will be selective, won’t you. So who cares!
March 10th, 2006 at 3:11 am[…] A couple of weeks ago, I commented on how off Nico at Think Progress seemed to be, referring to Jack Abramoff as a “disgraced lobbyist”. […]
March 30th, 2006 at 6:07 pm[…] Abramoff Details Relationship With Bush, DeLay, Mehlman, Gingrich for Vanity Fair. […]
April 4th, 2006 at 10:40 am[…] Hotline Blogometer and Think Progress has more on this huge story. […]
June 28th, 2006 at 9:22 pm[…] Think Progress cites links to… […]
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March 31st, 2008 at 12:49 pm