Breaking: Democrats strip Jefferson of committee seat.
By on Jun 15th, 2006 at 8:36 pm
Breaking: Democrats strip Jefferson of committee seat.
The House Democratic caucus 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.
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Wonderful news!
June 15th, 2006 at 8:39 pmIt’s the right thing to do. I am sorry it had to be done.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:40 pmLead by example. Make the Republicans look less ethical.
Good. Now if they could just get on the same page about the Iraq war…
June 15th, 2006 at 8:44 pmGood.
Let’s see if the Republicans follow suit.
Yeah right!
June 15th, 2006 at 8:46 pmBravo.
Rush is already trying to make this a party-splitting “whte Dems vs. black Dems” sideshow. Let’s see if he can spin liberals responsibly policing their own and taking the correct action.
That’s going to be tough, even for him.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:50 pmGood. maybe the Republicans will do the right thing too? hahahaha
I guess that was too much to wish for.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:53 pmGood, the Democrats have taken the high road. Will the Republicans follow the example?
History shows not a chance, the Regugs have a history of party before country and of coverup. And we don’t have to look far back to see current examples of this.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:55 pmWhen will Jefferson resign from his seat? Before or after he is indicted or not at all? Let me see, Delay has resigned. Cunningham has resigned. Yup, the democrats are leading by example by joe!
June 15th, 2006 at 8:55 pmAssuming the position of T.P. troll: “But, but DeLay did it…’sides Duke Cunningham said it was okay. You libs are hung-up on ethics. This is the NEW American century…it’s no longer how hard you work–it’s who you can “do”. Get with it.”
June 15th, 2006 at 8:57 pmThe Preznent of “Frauds R Us” George W. Brush would bestow a congressional medal of honor on Jefferson–only thing is, he’s a dimocrat; his criminal legislative seat needs to be warmed by a Repug.
When is Harry Reid going to step down? I know he didn’t directly take money from Abrahmoff, but whats the difference as long as he got it? In the eyes of the average American, there is no difference.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:00 pmexcellent news.
I guess people who read comments at thinkprogress regularly know that Randy is delusional, but the comment on Reid is weird. Also, of course, since Cunningham is in jail he would have trouble serving in the House (and since he pled guilty he knew he was going to jail).
June 15th, 2006 at 9:07 pmRandy,
Didn’t Reid vote against the interests of Abramoff’s clients? Isn’t that a pretty big difference?
Anyway, I second the many bravos here regarding “Dollar” Bill Jefferson. Nice to see.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:08 pmFinally some good news now hopefully the rest of the crooks will go too.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:19 pmGood. The party did the right thing. For the sake of the party, Jefferson should resign. He was caught on tape. This isn’t a race thing. All of the CBC should encourage Jefferson to resign. If not, he not only taints the Democratic party, but, he especially taints those in the party who, for whatever bizarre reason support him, such as some members of the CBC. This isn’t a race issue. He was caught on tape taking a bribe. He’s got to go.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:27 pmWhoa… He hasn’t even been charged with anything!
The Democrats WON’T stand up to the Republicans – at all – but they will attack their own before he has been proven guilty? That’s pure bullshit.
And why I am voting for independents.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:48 pmRandy, your comments are just too stupid for reply.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:48 pmWhat if Jefferson is not guilty?
June 15th, 2006 at 10:03 pmGood. Corruption should be expunged. Maybe bush will take the hint and dump rove.
“And maybe the Statue of Liberty is situated in Lake Ontario.” Dorothy Parker, from her review of Amee Semple McPherson’s book.
June 15th, 2006 at 10:05 pmThe republicans are going to try and blow this out of proportion, as usual, and also as usual, they won’t mention all the corruption that’s already been uncovered within their ranks.
What else is new?
Good for our side though. Sorry, but he quacks like a duck. I’m pretty convinced he did it.
June 15th, 2006 at 10:31 pmGood to see the corruption being punished.
June 15th, 2006 at 10:35 pmWhat if Jefferson is not guilty?
Comment by unbelievable
$90K in the freezer, Salma! If he’s found not guilty, or never charged (as if), I’ll send him an “I’m Sorry” bouquet, and a nice crawfish etoufee, right now, he must go.
June 15th, 2006 at 10:38 pmThis is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. Jefferson has not been charged/indicted with anything! Has anyone stopped to wonder why he hasn’t been charged MONTHS after his supposed crime?
Like unbelievable said, Dems are attacking their own, trying to create some sort of illusion that they are less corrupt than Republicans. They are POLITICIANS, and by definition, CORRUPT. They need to stop focusing on doing PR stunts and start creating, oh, I don’t know, a PLATFORM, a campaign strategy, a message, and most importantly, some backbone that they’ll use to stand up to Republicans instead of to members of their own party!
June 15th, 2006 at 10:41 pmHey I wonder if any of the Republicans have enough huevos to do the same thing?
Any Bets?
June 15th, 2006 at 10:55 pmI bet ‘no’
Rush is already trying to make this a party-splitting “whte Dems vs. black Dems†sideshow. Let’s see if he can spin liberals responsibly policing their own and taking the correct action.
That’s going to be tough, even for him.
Agreed. But for fun lets try =)
“You see Folks…Here we have these these Liberals folks..and they all of.,.Proven..we proved..Here now half of them or black..You see this Folks these Liberals are poor welfare recipients and black on drugs [crinkles donut package], And The Here Now Folks we see..on TV and Radio, These rich white druggies..are firing a black man for stealing! Folks this must stop..We Must stop these druggies.[krinkles cookie bag] You see folks, Look Here. [wrinkle candy wrapper] ahhumm..This Folks, My Truth Detector says, in french male voice, this Is Democratic War, Next they Will be Shooting,,Liberals In the Streets killing liberals..Like gang rappers..True, Folks, we, me and you, not me, Folks We must stop these drug abusers!! Here Now This must stop [crinkles potato chip bag]
June 15th, 2006 at 11:05 pm#17 – Agreed – Somehow the word “token” comes to mind – the way it was used back in the day. Jefferson, Mckinney….
June 15th, 2006 at 11:58 pmRep. William Jefferson was caught in a FBI sting operation and took a $100,000 cash bribe and then stashed $90,000 in 9 foil wrapped bundles in his freezer > apparently he spent $10,000 of it or stuck it in his bank account?! He was set up but he fell for it, so he must resign from the Congress! Sen. Joe Lieberman who has taken bribes from every Defense contractor in the United States must resign from the Senate as well! Now Republicans kick out one of your low-life Senators too!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:26 amI agree Jay, to bad we can’t boot all the bad one’s on both sides of the isles before the next election, it sure would save us tax payers a lot of money. Can you all imagine, an almost empty house ,senate and white house limping along and accomplishing nothing. Oh, I forgot thats what their doing now with the exception of voting for more bloated borrow and spend bills and giving themselves raises…..Blessings
June 16th, 2006 at 1:17 amI think Jefferson is innocent too. Hang on the pizza guy’s here, let me go to the freezer to pay him.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:26 amYes post 30 Sharon > by my calculations the Repubs should throw out about 50 of their 55 Senators for corruption, and the Democrats should kick out about 24 of their 44 Senators too! So that would leave 5 Repubs, 20 Dems, and one Independent in the Senate with 74 seats up for grabs and new blood!
June 16th, 2006 at 1:38 amRandy= I-RIGHT-I, folks. Nuf said.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:05 amYes, this is good. Maybe we can expect a littlelove from our Dems? Don’t they realize their paycheck is at stake?
Am I getting a little cynical? Must be the company I keep… Happy weekend to you all.
Wow, Ken Daveis is a Dororthy Parker fan? Who knew?
June 16th, 2006 at 2:08 amJust a little one, Fred…
Bill Clinton of Lousianna? I mean, BILL JEFFERSON?
The Rapepublicans HAD TO CORRUPT BILL JEFFERSON. It was just too good to pass up.
Compare Bill Jefferson’s ouster from a priveleged partisan post in the Congress, to Greg Palast’s BOMBSHELL — yet uncovered by Think Progress — that 3.1 MILLION Black and Jewish (2%) voters had their registration to vote challenged in a targeted campaign that violates the 1964 Voting Rights Ac — a felonious criminal conspiracy by the RNC!!!!!
It gets better. 1.1 million are DISENFRANCHIZED, including thousands or tens of thousands of black soldiers who are CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN IRAQ, and so they “aren’t living at the address of their registration.
Overseas, they VOTED, absentee, and when their votes got to their county of FORMER registration, WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEGE OR ABILITY TO ACT TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, their ballots WENT IN THE TRASH!
Compare this newly revealed shocker to a hapless black Congressman from the state that Bush has most endeavored to destroy, after NYC. Mission accomplished.
When this data was presented at the Civil Rights Commission, the investigation was quashed, and the members of the Commission who sought the investigation were reportedly removed from their positions.
The entire RNC is as viciously corrupt as their ‘Congress.’ They’re murderers and traitors and felons. If Bill Jefferson took some cash, he betrayed himself. He didn’t betray black soldiers and stab them in the back while hiding behind them the way he hid behind our kids on Nine-eleven.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:32 amOops, ambiguous. Sorry, Bill.
If Bill Jefferson took some cash, he betrayed himself. He didn’t betray black soldiers and stab them in the back while hiding behind them. BUSH DID — just like when hid behind our kids on Nine-eleven.
He didn’t even pay out to mafioso to kill Guy Boulis, like Abramov’s company did. He might be corrupt. That’s what the law is for.
But where is the law for those tens of thousands of black soldiers who had their votes torn up (and who still don’t know it)? Where is the law that our forefathers signed? And where is that pesky oath that Bush took? Probably not under his cushions, either.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:47 amI am astonished that it took the Democrats this long to kick Jefferson out of comittee. Bribes cannot be tolerated. You would never see the Republicans policing their own ranks this way. Because they would never need to.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:12 amWell, at least Jefferson won’t suffer as much from inflation as the rest of us.
Paul Krugman’s latest. Get it while it’s still steaming.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:26 am$90K in the freezer, Salma! If he’s found not guilty, or never charged (as if), I’ll send him an “I’m Sorry†bouquet, and a nice crawfish etoufee, right now, he must go.
Comment by Zookeeper — June 15, 2006 @ 10:38 pm
What happened to innocent until proven guilty in America? That’s my issue.
They could have suspended him until the investigation was over sighting that the investigation prevented him from doing his job – but to basically fire him from it for hiding money in his freezer? The guy makes $168K a year. This is like me getting fired and investigated for having $20 in my freezer… hmmm…. I have more than that in my IRA… See what I’m saying. Until it happens, I think it violates ‘innocent until proven guilty’. They have to prove his guilt – not he prove his innocence.
He probably did do it. I’m not saying he is innocent. I’m just saying – what happened to the benefit of the doubt afforded us by the Constitution? Have we really become this judgmental and skeptical of everyone? No wonder we’ve gotten a corrupt government then… since we get what we expect.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:50 amUB still thinks she is a moderate isnt that adorable?
Hats off to the Dems if the motive was morality however I am inclined to think it was an attempt to save their “culture of corruption” mantra from the trash heap.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:51 amComment by Sharon Cox — June 16, 2006 @ 1:17 am
Hey Sharon,
Where’ve you been? We were surprised you’ve been gone this long. Glad to see you :)
June 16th, 2006 at 7:54 amTroll,
No one values your opinion. Save it for that ‘offspring’ that’s about to ‘need’ you when you run out of reality in your next debate. Convenient.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:56 amDems strip Jefferson…
of his committee seat. Will Pelosi buy off the Black Caucus with a House Select Committee on Intelligence promotion for Alcee Hastings?…
June 16th, 2006 at 8:12 amYet another Harvard grad, leading by example and bringing to life still again the business code that has helped America maintain so much its puritan and ethical standards.
June 16th, 2006 at 8:37 amWhile it certainly looks bad for Mr. Jefferson at first glance, he should be afforded the presumption of innocence. But as an elected public official, he should also recognize that the publicly disclosed evidence would make any reasonable person believe that he may be guilty. As a Member of Congress, he has a responsibility to avoid even the appearance of impropiety. Until this is resolved, he should step down from the Ways and Means Committee.
That having been said, remember that he is being asked to step down because the Democratics want to portray the Republicans as the party of corruption. Even if Mr. Jefferson is innocent of any wrongdoing, he should understand that he will just be the Republicans’ defense against the valid charges of corruption. I would not be surprised if his committee assignment goes to the full House for a vote and the Republicans vote to keep him on the committee. Then they’ll use this episode to run against him and the rest of the Democratics to portray them as the party of corruption. I believe them underhanded enough to do that.
June 16th, 2006 at 8:47 amI believe them underhanded enough to do that.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 16, 2006 @ 8:47 am
And the fact that the Democrats are just playing into their hand by playing games further encourages me to vote for Independents. It’s like they exist to be re-elected and King of the Hill.
I want my elected representatives to just do their jobs. Avoid the social posturing, and just do what I’m paying you to do. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and stand on the issues. That’s why you are there.
Why is that so much to ask of these folks?
June 16th, 2006 at 8:58 amWhy is that so much to ask of these folks?
Comment by unbelievable — June 16, 2006 @ 8:58 am
For some reason, it has gotten to the point where upon being sworn in, their primary objective is to get themselves re-elected. They’ll tell you they can’t do the people’s work if they aren’t in Congress. So they constantly campaign for re-election, even to the point of doing nothing in Congress worth getting re-elected for!
It’s ironic that in a section called “CODE OF ETHICS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICEâ€, the first item after “Any person in Government service should:†reads:
1. Put loyalty to the highest moral principals and to country above loyalty to Government persons, party, or department.
Both Republicans and Democratics are guilty of violating this rule all the time. People need to get the idea out of their heads that your only two choices are between the two major parties. It’s not! And the only way we’re going to change our Congress for the better is to get rid of all them and support ANYBODY from another party. Then we’ll begin to see a new mindset in Washington. Until then, this is what we’re going to have forever.
June 16th, 2006 at 9:07 amJ’accuse!
Guilty!
Guilty!
Guilty!
Get the rope, vigilantes.
We must protect the women and children, our schools and churches, our stocks and bonds, our goats and horses, our saloons and mines.
Let none escape.
June 16th, 2006 at 9:54 amLet the West be won.
Let the party begin.
Blessings
Comment by Sharon Cox
Thank goodness, Sharon! Where have you been? Somewhere fun, I hope!
P.S. Denny, if this is you playing, I will track you down…
June 16th, 2006 at 10:21 am#39 & #46 – unbelievable, I agree with what Wayne says in #47. Our congress people have the obligation to avoid even the appearance of unethical behavior. We wanted DeLay gone, didn’t we? He has been charged with crimes, but he has not been convicted. If Jefferson is found to have committed no wrong-doing, he could be reinstated on the committee.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:28 am#37 – Herman, you’re hilarious.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:29 am37 – are you being sarcastic?
How many republicans are STILL serving on the appropriations committee or in party leadership where we KNOW they’ve been bribed?
Rep Tom DeLay – they changed a rule to let him keep his Majority post
Rep Doolittle
ep Cunningham
Sen Noe
RepHastert
Rep Jerry Lewis
Sorry. Republicans are way more corrupt than Democrats right now.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:33 am#37 Oh, Herman. You’re almost as hilarious in your pretend beliefs as Stephen Colbert is in his. I mean, no one in his right mind can possibly believe that the Republicans have always acted ethically, above the law, and without even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:39 amI understand that whole “innocent until proven guilty” thoughts of some on here, but let’s be honest:
The guy’s on video taking money.
The guy had the money in his freezer (to keep it fresh, I’m sure)
The guy was part of sting operation.
Sure, he may be innocent … and I may start at quaterback for the Colts this coming season.
The Dems did the right thing in this case, and showed a desire for accountability simply not seen from the GOP.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:45 amdems are doing it to save their own ass. self preservation. period
June 16th, 2006 at 10:53 amI know what you guys are saying, but I still want to assume innocent until proven guilty to be applied to me in case some evidence makes me look guilty when I am not. And that applies to Republicans as well.
I’d rather err on the side of caution when it comes to judgment than not.
If he’s guilty, I hope he goes to jail. I just am reserving judgment until that occurs.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:56 amunbelievable, we aren’t suggesting he be jailed prior to his conviction. We aren’t suggesting he be stricken from the rolls as a House Representative.
We are suggesting that taking him off the appropriations committee, in light of the accusations against him (and the evidence) is an appropriate move. We wish the republicans would be just as appropriate, but we know they won’t, they’d lose their majority status if they did.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:06 amunbelievable,
I do agree with you. He should be considered innnocent until proven guilty and if he is proven ghuilty, then he should face the same punishment you or I would face. Actually, for violating the public trust, he should get a stiffer sentence.
But, as a Member of Congress, he has a responsibility to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. He claims there’s a perfectly good explanation for why he was taped accepting a bribe. He needs to recognize that given his office of public trust, he should do the honorable thing until this is all cleared up one way or the other. He doesn’t have to resign from Congress, but he should not be in a position where the public might feel that their interests aren’t being served properly. (I know, the Republicans should already have given the public that idea.)
June 16th, 2006 at 11:06 am#55
The funny thing about doing the right thing is that it’s still the right thing even if the wrong person does it. It’s pretty clear that you think democrats are wrong, but their action on this is still right.
And it’s not self-preservation. It’s an open challenge to the Republican leadership to fulfill some campaign promises: Have they brought back inegrity to Washington yet? Do they believe in accountability and consequence? Not yet…
June 16th, 2006 at 11:09 amwho said i thought it was wrong? you assume too much. you dont know me dude.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:13 amunbelievable–
Again, I understand your point. But the fact is the guy should’ve stepped aside — not for the Democratic party, but for democratic principles such as integrity, honesty, and trust.
Well, assuming those principles even apply to this country any more …
June 16th, 2006 at 11:21 amI do agree with you. He should be considered innnocent until proven guilty and if he is proven ghuilty, then he should face the same punishment you or I would face.
Are you willing to show Republicans the same standard?
June 16th, 2006 at 11:23 amYes, Randy, I am. They can remain Members of Congress until they are actually convicted of a crime. But they need to understand that as public officials elected to some of the highest posts in our nation, they have a special responsibililty to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. I don’t care which party it is. And I have said this before, by the way.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:28 amWayne,
Aside from his actions, the Democrats are only standing up to another Democrat. A guy who had $90K in his freezer. While, they pass on the President’s numerous law violations of far more serious laws, and the multitude of infractions by his henchmen.
I maintain that their priorities for being tough on corruption are transparent at best and suspicious considering we haven’t heard the whole story yet. Like i said, he probably is guilty, but if we jump the gun on everyone who is accused of doing something wrong without being afforded their due process, it makes us no better than others who violate the Constitution. And don’t think for one minute thatthat isn’t exactly what will come back to bite them – or us. Think it through. It can be considered denying Jefferson his due process.
I just think we should consider this from all angles before we jump on board. The Democrats haven’t given me cause lately to want to jump on their band wagon without first inspecting it. Sorry, I just don’t agree that he should be fired for an assumption. I think it goes against the intention of our civil rights.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:29 amDoes anyone remember how the FBI got ahold of this guys freezer full of cash?. Right after katrina, this guy commandeered a national guard duece and a half. He had the troops go to his house and load this freezer up and take it to dry land. He is an abomination. when it get right down to it the Dem leadership will probably take some heat for not moving fast enough on this
June 16th, 2006 at 11:36 amMoses,
I guess I am trying to put myself in Jefferson’s shoes. Stepping down would make him seem guilty (look at Tom Delay), so if he genuinely believes he was innocent or framed, then, well, in his shoes I would stand my ground and refuse to be punished for something I didn’t do.
I am willing to concede that he is mostly likely guilty, and that if he is, he should have stepped down. But relinquishing him from his title is a different matter. It’s not giving him the presumption of innocence we all would want in his situation.
Let me put it this way. If he was set up or framed, and is therefore innocent – the Dems look like paranoid and egregious idiots. However, if he is left in the position and then indicted, then he looks like the bad guy. Sure, some will criticize – but there are always that minority of people who complain about nothing short of capital punishment. I just think, in light of their weak reputation, it harms them more if there is no indictment…
And, they have much bigger fish to try higher up the food chain… Why aren’t they?
June 16th, 2006 at 11:37 amunbelievable,
I understand what you’re saying. And I don’t think he should be “fired”, just “re-assigned.” He can demand a speedy trial and get this all behind him. But, if he’s guilty and he knows it, then he should resign from Congress. If.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:40 ameventually he will resign. (for family reasons) after he plays the race card
June 16th, 2006 at 11:42 amAnd, they have much bigger fish to try higher up the food chain… Why aren’t they?
Comment by unbelievable — June 16, 2006 @ 11:37 am
They don’t have subpoena power to do anything. They can write all the letters they want asking the Bush Administration to answer some questions, and they will be ignored. The Republicans are shitting bricks over the idea that the Democratics might win one of the Houses and get that all-important subpoena power. Without it, they are literally powerless to do anything about the bigger fish that should have been gutted and fried years ago.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:45 amunbelievable-
The Democrats have the ability to strip him of the commitity seat and they did ask him to take this step himself, untill the matter is cleared, but he refused
The democrats cannot strip a repug of a seats, that has to be the repug leadership. They do not have the ethics. All the democrats can do is lead by example and in this case they did.
He still is a congressman untill he resigns, gets outvoted or is convicted.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:51 amThey don’t have subpoena power to do anything. They can write all the letters they want asking the Bush Administration to answer some questions, and they will be ignored.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 16, 2006 @ 11:45 am
I think there are other ways to get things done. After all, where their is a will, there is a way. And necessity is the mother of invention. Nothing illegal – but certainly use the means they have to make a fuss?
Why aren’t they writing those letters, publishing them or mailing them to their constituency? I have a Republican district rep in the Georgia Congress who writes letters to his constituency. He has for years. And while I don’t agree with him on a lot of things, I respect him for the effort.
Why aren’t they uniting and making statements to the press on a regular basis – trying to get the American people aware of the problems?
Why aren’t they using their right of freedom of speech to make their cases heard so that the people react?
They should be advertizing this. They should be pro-active. Instead they are saying “Well, we can’t do anything, so let’s just sit here and hope we get a turn at bat.” It’s that apathy that makes me distrust them as much as the Republicans.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:39 pm#52 & #53 – kindness & Wayne, click on Herman’s name and you will taken to one of the best satire sites EVER.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:40 pmJust wanted to chime in here with my own useless “hell yea i agree” post to prove that us liberals are not anything like the neocons. When somebody who claims to be on our side is actually corrupt, we want him/her out, and we want him/her out RIGHT NOW. This is great new. Put a real non-corrupt liberal in his place now and let’s move on. I see no reason to sink to the repub’s depth of immorality and fight for him just because he was on our “team.” If he did wrong and isn’t going to lead by example, he doesn’t deserve to hang with us! We are better than that! Now, how do we get Lieberman to go away…
June 16th, 2006 at 12:48 pmInstead they are saying “Well, we can’t do anything, so let’s just sit here and hope we get a turn at bat.†It’s that apathy that makes me distrust them as much as the Republicans.
Comment by unbelievable — June 16, 2006 @ 12:39 pm
I have put forth the idea before that the reason the Dems don’t do anything about the abuse of power is because they hope to be in a position to abuse that power themselves. The Republicans wouldn’t be able to say anything if the Dems do the exact same things they did. This is why I always advocate voting ALL members of Congress out, except for Bernie Sanders (Socialist – VT). He’s neither a Dem nor a Repub.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:51 pm#73, The Dems are well on their way to kissing liebermans ass. lieberman just played his trump card and threatened to run as independant for prez in 08. Which will drain dem votes. Lots of em. Within a month he will be hailed as the greatest Dem to ever serve
June 16th, 2006 at 12:56 pmbernie sanders should be the 1st to go BECAUSE he is a socialist
June 16th, 2006 at 12:58 pmRep. William Jefferson was set up by a FBI sting operation > he took the $100,000 cash bribe while the FBI was filming the whole event > they have him cold on this, even joking about the cash! Later they searched his house and found $90,000 in 9 foil wrapped bundles > $10,000 was spent apparently and each $100 bill had been marked by the FBI!
Jefferson is guilty of taking a bribe, so it is best for the Democrats to dump him from the Congress and move on with outing all the Republicans who take bribes too!
June 16th, 2006 at 1:02 pmLead by example. Yes it sucks that this is a big deal and some will use it to paint the Dems as bad. But I prefer to look at it as the Dems are willing to punish and deal with corruption in their own party, unlike the Repubbers.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:04 pmI have put forth the idea before that the reason the Dems don’t do anything about the abuse of power is because they hope to be in a position to abuse that power themselves.
Well, 1994… Just the horse of the other color this time…
The Republicans wouldn’t be able to say anything if the Dems do the exact same things they did.
And perhaps whythe Dems aren’t saying anything now?
This is why I always advocate voting ALL members of Congress out, except for Bernie Sanders (Socialist – VT). He’s neither a Dem nor a Repub.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 16, 2006 @ 12:51 pm
I’m with ya… Though I doubt we’ll get more than just standard issue ‘Independent’ around these parts. They confuse anything else with ‘The Debil’ or “Evil”…
I’m noticing a trend. You know the saying ‘The bigger they are the harder they fall?” Well – large countries seem to have that same problem. Seems the countries who are the most secure over the long haul are generally on the smallish size. Makes me wonder if somewhere down the road there won’t be a country called California and another called New York?
June 16th, 2006 at 1:05 pmyeah, maybe their could be a city in your fantasy called morontown, and you of course could be the high mayor. yeah
June 16th, 2006 at 1:08 pmbernie sanders should be the 1st to go BECAUSE he is a socialist
Comment by flash — June 16, 2006 @ 12:58 pm
That’s as silly as saying he sohould go because he’s a vegetarian… Considering our socialistic aspect as a Republic…
June 16th, 2006 at 1:10 pmHe could be a vegatarian all he wants. I got no beef with em
June 16th, 2006 at 1:13 pmyeah, maybe their could be a city in your fantasy called morontown, and you of course could be the high mayor. yeah
Comment by amy — June 16, 2006 @ 1:08 pm
Someone forgot to flush again.
http://www.myspace.com They probably will like you there wallace.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:14 pmThat would be cool if California became it’s own country. The big export would be entertainment. Pot would be legal, heck maybe the beachwear would become more like Europe 8)
June 16th, 2006 at 1:29 pmI’m a socialist and vegetarian. Sounds like my dream candidate. ;-)
* Pausing to wait for right-wing troll flames about what they stereotype is socialism, but which is actually fascism and not related to socialism at all. *
June 16th, 2006 at 1:58 pm* Pausing to wait for right-wing troll flames about what they stereotype is socialism, but which is actually fascism and not related to socialism at all. *
Comment by Parrotlover77 — June 16, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Oh, so that’s their irrational rant about socialism. IRI connected socialism to Hitler once and I couldn’t figure out how he made that leap, considering Hitler was the ultimate Fascist. Kinda like how Russia and China were never really Marxist Communist?
They (neocons) get too wrapped up in sematics that they miss the reality. As usual…
June 16th, 2006 at 2:03 pmWays and Means Committee controls appropriations. Jefferson is accused of appropriating money for himself illegally. He HAD to be suspended from this committee. Such suspensions occur in other jobs – I’ve suspended workers under investigation in a mental health facility- because the risks are too great to not protect the organization and the clients (which is Congbress and the American people in this case). The Democratic Black Caucus need to back-off and focus on the “democratic” part of their name and the larger issue for America rather than consider this a “race” issue.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:24 pmAnd ontop of all that, their pet monkey boy in charge of the executive branch of our country has basically stated through actions and ongoing requests for increasing executive power (to protect us from the terrorists), that he basically wants the U.S. to be equivelent to a fascist regime! Yet we socialists (and just liberal left-wingers in general) are the ones more like Hitler.
When will the ironies end?!?!
So much of what they say could be made into a hillarious comedy about politics. Yet, it’s real and not funny since it impacts our lives.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:25 pmDems need to Kick Ass Inside their own Party!
I was in a criminal family for more than 26 years who is part of the Political Corruption that we all are witnessing in the news. Out of every 10 Criminal Corrupt Politicians, 7 are Republicans and 3 are Democrats, hence the “Cleaning Out Phase†has only begun. The Republicans creditability is finished and if the Democrats get aggressive and act quickly, with muscle, to clean up their own Party, they are assured success. The key is to be aggressive and show muscle!
Regarding Jefferson, with what’s coming up ahead, you haven’t seen anything yet! Better fasten your seatbelts!
June 16th, 2006 at 4:27 pm