Comments on: Pelosi Calls on Jefferson to Resign From Ways & Means Committee

By: john

john — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:25:00 +0000

funny stuff, instead of commenting on Jefferson’s alleged misdeeds virtually every comment takes a swipt at republicans. You folks really have been drinking the Kool-Aid!

By: Think Progress » Breaking: Democrats strip Jefferson of committee seat.

Think Progress » Breaking: Democrats strip Jefferson of committee seat. — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:38:42 +0000

[...] The House Democratic causus voted tonight to strip Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) of his seat on the Ways & Means Committee. Jefferson is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly accepting bribes to help a technology company win several contracts and business deals. He had been asked to voluntarily give up the seat but refused. 8:36 pm | Comment (0) [...]

By: Arkaro

Arkaro — Sun, 28 May 2006 19:01:39 +0000

There’s lots of things that people don’t seem to understand.

1) The Impeachment process is highly destructive to both the legislative process as well as the government in general. It’s not a simple 1 day changeover. Democrats, even if they get into power would rather use that power to fix the current system instead of the Republican method of being the first to throw a wrench into it hoping to reap the benefits. Democrats aren’t selfish enough to hit the government when it’s down. You want selfish government leaders? Vote Republican.

2) While it makes sense to citizens that anyone should be open to FBI searches, they forget that the White House is protected from such treatment. Why should our legislators be any less protected? Sure, all members of government must be held accountable, but if the FBI doesn’t have enough evidence without the invasion of your personal files, then really how strong is their case? The same steps we take to investigate the President outside of searches should be applied to Senators and Representatives as well. The Executive branch of government is not above the others in terms of protection.

3) This issue with Jefferson isn’t a one time sting operation. The feds were on his trail due to the confession of another case involving 400,000 of business fraud invovling iGate with the countries of Nigeria and Ghana. He deserves to be brought to justice, just like any other american/politician. Pelosi and the Democrats recognize this breach of law and continue to pursue the solution in accordance to the constitution and law. However, this does not include the huge array of violations that the current Executive administration as well as the Republican congressmen continue to pursue.

4) As far as the media is concerned, they’ve been bashed as being “liberally biased” for so long that I almost don’t blame them for taking advantage of this scenario. I am playing “devil’s advocate” a bit here. Republican corruption definitely needs to be ridiculed in the media just like this. But the Jefferson ordeal is news in a sense and hyping things up is not out of the ordinary nowadays. True, Republican violations seem to get away with only 10 seconds in the spotlight.. but then again, a story about corrupt Republicans isn’t exactly news to anyone is it?

By: Tommy

Tommy — Sat, 27 May 2006 18:49:34 +0000

How dare she ask the man to step down. I mean, he’s a black man for crying out loud! Nancy Pelosi must be a racist!

By: Tom Smeltzer

Tom Smeltzer — Thu, 25 May 2006 03:13:37 +0000

Shortly after posting my comment I was informed by telephone that Nancy Pelosi had also, like Dennis and Tom, condemned the invasion of Congressman Jefferson’s office. My apologies to Nancy Pelosi, who is hereby relieved forever of any perception of being politically tone-deaf, at least this time around. Nevertheless, the question remains: why wasn’t this search tactic employed against Randy Cunningham and any other Republican Congressional bribery suspects?

By: Tom Smeltzer

Tom Smeltzer — Thu, 25 May 2006 01:01:28 +0000

What’s most chilling about these developments is that apparently the Justice Department, at the direction of Alberto Gonzalez, who reports to “W” in the Executive Branch, will now stop at nothing in the quest to intimidate Congress. The search of his office by FBI agents was a chilling demolition and bastardization of the separation of powers delineated in our Constitution, and at this point Pelosi is, for whatever reason, obfuscating that more important issue. Sure, the evidence presented so far is pretty damning of Mr. Jefferson, but we should also remember he’s been accused, not convicted. If anything, the Republicans, including, unfortunately, Tom DeLay, have so far presented a better (partial) defense for him than Nancy has. Ever hear of the term, “Politically tone-deaf?”

By: jurassicpork

jurassicpork — Wed, 24 May 2006 21:52:25 +0000

Why is it that Nancy is tougher on her fellow Democrats than she is on Bush?

“Twenty Bucks, Same as in Town” blogwhoring post is up, btw.

By: Nancy L.

Nancy L. — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:52:00 +0000

I think all members of Congress should expect an search whenever there’s evidence of wrong doing, just like any American. Because they’re members of Congress doesn’t make them above the law. Democrat or Republican, equality all around. If your’re dirty, then you deserve what you get. Actually, if Democrats had any brains, they would of jumped onto this Republican corruption, at the beginning and started outlining real reforms and changes. Going public, airing ads, splashing it all over the media, to get the Average Joe’s attention, distancing themselves, from Republicans by playing the ‘good cop’ vs ‘bad cop’. Even if they couldn’t get these things passed, they could vocally make a ruckus and point fingers at the Republicans. They just don’t know how to play the same games as Republicans, or how to turn the tables. They just don’t get it.
I’m an Independent, but lean towards Democrats, but to be truthful, I’m really embaressed by some of these Democratic ploys, which they think are going to turn the voters away from Republican. Honestly, I’m beginning to think Republicans are the party of Corruption & Greed, and the Democrats are the party of Dumb & Stupid.

By: BillC.

BillC. — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:49:59 +0000

#26. How do you figure Pelosi knew about it for 16 months?

By: Krazny

Krazny — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:10:25 +0000

At least Pelosi didn’t change the rules to protect him.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 24 May 2006 19:43:05 +0000

After 16 months of knowing about this Pelosi is JUST NOW calling for Jefferson to step down? She didn’t grow a pair, she was FORCED to call for his resignation! Too little too late to be seriously be called the Democratic leader of the House. LOL!

By: DoubleSpeak with Matthew and Peter Slutsky » Pelosi To Jefferson: ‘Time To Go’

Wed, 24 May 2006 19:31:09 +0000

[...] Think Progress: Pelosi Calls on Jefferson to Resign From Ways & Means Committee [...]

By: R U Serious

R U Serious — Wed, 24 May 2006 19:30:02 +0000

Nancy Pelosi would rather sell Mr. Jefferson out than stand up for him. This is why the Wimpocrats lose, no loyalty. If he’s found guilty crush him, until then stand up for him. the evidence is there that Delay, Ney, Frist, Libby, Rove, Cheyney, Bush are guilty, but you wouldn’t know it by the way Ms. Pelosi was running to drop Mr. jefferson off at the galo’s.

I know the Dem’s want to run as the party of ethics, and it can, if they had some. I feel that there is no hope that the Repuppetcans will lose the house, because the Dem’s strategy of “letting them kill themselves” will not work.

This fake charade of the puppets standing with the wimps over the jefferson raid has nothing to do with bi-partisanship, it’s has everything to do with making sure NO REPUBLICAN is treated that way.

Wake Up Nancy!!!

Get A Clue, or Leave, for the good of the country

By: David

David — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:24:24 +0000

Mr. Jefferson’s response should come as no surprise. Most politicians, regardless of their party affiliation, are interested only in maintaining or building upon the power they have accrued.

By: Jay Randal

Jay Randal — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:14:13 +0000

Hastert does not want the FBI to raid Republican House members’ offices! I doubt he really cares about Rep. Jefferson a member of the Black Caucus Democrats! If the FBI thinks it is OK to raid one House member’s office, then raid all the Repubs in scandals too!

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:12:01 +0000

oops, my comment was meant for the previous thread. sorry for the mix up.

By: Spudge_Boy

Spudge_Boy — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:08:51 +0000

What needs to be added to this story is that both Republicans and Democrats are pissed about the FBI search.

CNN
May 24, 2006
Angry lawmakers demand FBI return seized documents
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/24/raid.on.congress.ap/index.html

House Speaker Dennis Hastert demanded Wednesday that the FBI surrender documents and other items agents seized on Capitol Hill in what lawmakers said was an unconstitutional raid.

“I think those materials ought to be returned,” said Hastert, adding that the FBI agents involved “ought to be frozen out of that (case) for the sake of the Constitution.”

Although it is pretty funny that Hastert wants to protect the Constitution now.

By: Clyde the Ripper

Clyde the Ripper — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:02:25 +0000

Of the ten Congressmen found guilty, indicted, and/or suspected of wrongdoing (Delay(R), Ney (R), Lewis (R), Jefferson (D), Hunter (R), Goode (R), Pombo (R), Doolittle (R), Weldon (R), Cunningham (R)), the Congressional Office of only one was broken into and searched by the FBI. Is the explanation just a question of black and white or is itjust a one-in-ten coincidence? Why hasn’t Pelosi been screaming about the other nine? I suspect the answer is in the above comments and that old saying: “Balls,” cried the Queen, “If I had (to, two) I’d be King;” and the King cried too because he had (to, two).

Click on Clyde!

By: Jay Randal

Jay Randal — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:01:42 +0000

Rep. William Jefferson was set up by the FBI by a created sting operation, but he got greedy and took the $100,000 cash, apparently used $20,000 of it, and stashed $80,000 in eight bundles wrapped in tin foil in a freezer! He fell for the sting so he will probably be forced to resign from the Congress! Pelosi is only involved because she wants Dems to look ethical, while Repubs appear corrupt, but both parties have members who are thieves or kiss Bush’s ass!

By: Spudge_Boy

Spudge_Boy — Wed, 24 May 2006 17:49:46 +0000

I applaud Think Progress for posting this. As progressives, we should not tolerate corruption, no matter what side of the aisle it is on.

Where are the trolls?

Look trolls, we will point out the corruption of the Democrats also.

It would be nice if the Republicans would do the same, but they like corruption, underhandedness, lying, and stealing.