Air Corruption.
By on Sep 19th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Air Corruption.
“Montana Sen. Conrad Burns, a Republican in a tight re-election race, flew on a private plane chartered by Vonage Holdings Corp. just days after he pushed legislation that the company has advocated for more than a year.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Business
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Glenn Beck
Global Warming
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Sports
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Tea Party
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Isn’t Conrad next on the list to get the pickle?
September 19th, 2006 at 12:49 pmVonage also ran ads on ABC.go.com during the Path to 911 fiasco.
September 19th, 2006 at 12:49 pmI’m beginning to think that the entire GOP is one corrupt group of individuals.
September 19th, 2006 at 12:53 pmbeginning to ? … i’m so tired of it… hope the end is soon…
September 19th, 2006 at 1:04 pm…
breaking: a coup in thailand?
…
I have some questions on this because I’m fuzzy on the details
First, I can’t wait to see Burns go just as much as anyone here. I am not a concern troll, you can look at my blog for proof.
But the senate rules say you can use a private jet if you reimburse for the cost of a first class ticket, which Burns’ spokesman said they would (now). So what are they busting him for? Is it that he wouldn’t have reimbursed if he hadn’t got caught? How do we know that, since he only took the jet less than a week ago? Does he have to pay them in advance or order to be in compliance?
I’m grateful for the bad news, don’t get me wrong, but I’m just confused. Again, I’m really not a concern troll.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:16 pmit is a crime, whether written or not, to be beholding to someone for providing a free ride to someone not entitled to a free ride.
guess the man is admitting he can’t win, is a criminal, and is expecting to spend the remainder of his life in prison. just one of many in our government. Did you note there are currently 2200 +/- investigations of public corruption in DC? seems quite a small number.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:22 pmVonage’s ad campaigns revolve around the catchphrase, “People do stupid things.” Right, Conrad?
September 19th, 2006 at 1:22 pmYou know, the Thai military is in the process of overthrowing their government because of corruption and political cronyism… Just sayin’
September 19th, 2006 at 1:23 pmantiwarhol,
September 19th, 2006 at 1:28 pmI not sure if they are busting him for doing anything illegal. But politically this just further shows how Burns is inthe pocket of corporations as his opponent has been saying in his campaign talks. If it looks bad, sounds bad and smells bad…..its bad for your re-election chances.
dlet
September 19th, 2006 at 1:34 pmIt’s also very STUPID given all the corruption swirling around Republicans recently. Whether he is morally challenged, corrupt, or stupid is debatable but which ever is the correct label, “ex-Congressman” is the important label.
PLC,
September 19th, 2006 at 1:37 pmI think they are addicted to the power they find themselves in. And the less morals you have the easier it is to fall into the trap of power addiction.
dlet -
Thanks, I figured it was one of those “appearances of impropriety” issues. Other blogs I’ve seen make it out to be more than that.
In any event, it’s good enough for a Jon Tester campaign ad!
September 19th, 2006 at 1:40 pmdlet #11
September 19th, 2006 at 1:41 pmExcellent point. When Democrats come back into power, it will be important from day one to hold them accountable for holding onto moral values and not falling into the same trap.
This doesn’t surprise me one bit because too many in Congress simply do not understand what the words “appearance of a conflict of interest” means. It’s worse when the Republicans do it because they are in charge of everything, and nothing passes Congress without their approval. When they engage in such activities, there is the very real danger that legislation was given an easier chance to pass because of this questionably cozy relationship. (I’m being generous there; it’s probably out-and-out illegal.)
I believe that a Constitutional Amendment is in order to better clarify what constitutes a “conflict of interest.” Right now, the Constitution says nothing about this; it’s simply a law about behavior that Congress passed and Congress could choose to ignore. The public needs more protection against morally bankrupt politicans like this one.
BTW, you just know he’ll deny any connecftion between the flight and the legislation Vonage asked to have passed. It’s just a coincidence he got a ride from them. He was probably supposed to get a ride from one of the other corporations he helped.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:47 pmdlet,
I have to agree, I think the power is addictive, and someday this will be seen as an addiction.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:47 pmDo any of these GOPers do any work for the Salus Populi at all?
September 19th, 2006 at 1:49 pmdlet,
You are right. Power corrupts, and it’s up to us to make sure that they don’t manage to get absolute power (which really is the goal of the Bush/Cheney adminstration – absolute power, though in their case they’re already absolutely corrupt.)
September 19th, 2006 at 1:51 pm#3
Sunshine,
I am glad you finally awakened the dawn.
The bastards have been corrupt all night long but the sun is beginning to shine.
#5
Andy,
Have you ever flown first class on any airline WITHOUT paying in advance?
Goose and Gander! If we gander the Rethugs will certainly goose us.
September 19th, 2006 at 2:04 pmYou are right. Power corrupts, and it’s up to us to make sure that they don’t manage to get absolute power
Indeed, when you hear a neo-con talk they say we are in ‘Power’ and not we are ‘leaders’
September 19th, 2006 at 2:04 pmThe only way for Sen. Burns to remain in office is if the GOP rigs the voting machines for him, otherwise he is going to be kicked out of the Senate by the Montana voters!
September 19th, 2006 at 2:13 pmThe only way for Sen. Burns to remain in office is if the GOP rigs the voting machines for him, otherwise he is going to be kicked out of the Senate by the Montana voters!
Comment by Jay Randal
Which is precisely why I think the Republican Party will not let the voters decide who will be their Senator. After all, this is exactly why they passed the “Help America Vote Act”, which should have been named “Help America Vore Republican Act”.
September 19th, 2006 at 2:18 pmYa’s think dumbass Monty would avoid anything that remotely smacked of favoritism or corruption after the JackOffAbramoff thing. Just shows what a complete toad he really is. Brainless one.
September 19th, 2006 at 3:27 pmBut, but, but he swore he’d reimburse the company for the cost of the flight! (As reported locally) Uh, huh.
September 19th, 2006 at 4:32 pmIt’s as if Burns just really can’t help himself. The corruption has gone too deep…
September 19th, 2006 at 10:38 pm