Comments on: Judge to unseal secret transcripts from Cunningham trial. http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:09:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Sweet Sphincter of the Lord http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4049290 The Sweet Sphincter of the Lord Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:01:02 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4049290 Bob/Jake/whoever... offhand question you have the URL of any rightwing blog that dregs up muck on rightwing candidates on a regular basis? how many high ranking republicans took money from and/or consorted with convicted felon jack abramhoff? Bob/Jake/whoever… offhand question you have the URL of any rightwing blog that dregs up muck on rightwing candidates on a regular basis?

how many high ranking republicans took money from and/or consorted with convicted felon jack abramhoff?

]]> By: Ret. Col. Jack Ripper http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4048808 Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:27:56 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4048808 Poor Bob. He just can't understand why TP isn't criticizing Hillary Clinton for NOT taking a donation from a felon and giving it to charity AFTER she finds out he's a felon. Memo to Bob: when you find out a contributor is a felon, you can keep the money, return it to the felon, or give it to charity. Most sane people would agree that the most honorable thing to do is to give it to charity. Bob, if this is all you can gin up against Hillary, she's looking better and better every day. Poor Bob. He just can’t understand why TP isn’t criticizing Hillary Clinton for NOT taking a donation from a felon and giving it to charity AFTER she finds out he’s a felon. Memo to Bob: when you find out a contributor is a felon, you can keep the money, return it to the felon, or give it to charity.

Most sane people would agree that the most honorable thing to do is to give it to charity. Bob, if this is all you can gin up against Hillary, she’s looking better and better every day.

]]> By: Carol Lam http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4048250 Carol Lam Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:12:40 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4048250 This is a big story, ongoing see TPM Muckraker and EmptyWheel who was hoping that the truth would be revealed about this mobsters ties to working for the CIA and corrupt congresspersons. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2961574 WANTED: THE PHOTO OF DUKE CUNNINGHAM, TOMMY KONTOGIANNIS AND GEORGE W. BUSH, 3 CRIMINALS WORKING ON A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON SCHEME I don't know if the San Diego Union-Tribune has turned into one of the best investigative newspapers in America or if they just happen to have the most crooked officials in their area to write about <strong>(between Duncan Hunter, Jerry Lewis, Brian Bilbray, Howard Kaloogian, Dana Rohrbacher and, of course, former area resident Randy "Duke" Cunningham).</strong> But whatever the reason, anyone who wants to follow the intricacies and machinations of the Republican Culture of Corruption in Washington DC is better off reading the San Diego Union-Tribune than even the New York Times or Washington Post! Today Joey Cantupe has penned a much-needed follow-up on a side road of the Cunningham scandals few reporters have ventured down: <strong>sleazy New York Republican mystery man and big time briber Thomas "Gus" Kontogiannis. I started looking into Kontogiannis last summer when it started to look like Cunningham was getting caught for all the millions and millions of bribes </strong>he was taking as part of the criminal conspiracy that was Jerry Lewis' Defense Appropriations Committee. You'll find my Kontogiannis research-- with some huffing and puffing-- on the link I've attached to his name above. The Union-Tribune has some of that background too. They make a good point that I missed, namely that Cunningham was like a kept-woman for Kontogiannis-- as they call it "a congressman on retainer." He was hoping that-- and bankrolling-- Cunningham's future, not as a prison inmate but as the next Donald Rumsfeld. An FBI agent working on the case put it like this: "Let's look at it this way. Duke Cunningham had power and no money, and Tommy Kontogiannis had money but no power." (And on this not too complicated concept, Tom DeLay and Rick Santorum were able to subvert the American democratic system into the Republican Culture of Corruption that has come to rule in DC-- and that has already sent Cunningham to prison and will soon send dozens of Republican elected officials to the same fate.) Oh, and Kontogiannis is also a two-time convicted criminal, both times for bribery, and must have a pardon in order to avail himself of lucrative business opportunities with Uncle Sam. In 2000, Kontogiannis was arrested for receiving more than $2 million in kickbacks in a bid-rigging scheme involving junk computer foisted on the Queens School District. The district Superintendent, Celestine Miller, a Republican scam artist, with absurd pretensions to get elected to Congress helped Kontogiannis defraud the district. He financed her doomed campaign, in part by giving her a brown paper bag filled with $50,000 in cash. That Cunningham sold him a presidential pardon for $400,000 is the most covered-up part of the Randy "Duke" Cunningham scandals. That's because there's only one person who can grant presidential pardons and it isn't Randy "Duke" Cunningham (nor is it Vice President Cheney, nor Irving Libby, nor Michael Brown, nor Gale Norton, nor Tom DeLay nor any of the myriad corrupt scoundrels Bush has surrounded himself with. Only Bush can grant a presidential pardon. What was his cut of the $400,000 bribe from Kontogiannis? CONTINUED... http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/04/wanted-phot... <strong>Report: Dysfunctional committee let Cunningham have his way</strong> This is a big story, ongoing see TPM Muckraker and EmptyWheel who was hoping that the truth would be revealed about this mobsters ties to working for the CIA and corrupt congresspersons.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102×2961574

WANTED: THE PHOTO OF DUKE CUNNINGHAM, TOMMY KONTOGIANNIS AND GEORGE W. BUSH, 3 CRIMINALS WORKING ON A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON SCHEME

I don’t know if the San Diego Union-Tribune has turned into one of the best investigative newspapers in America or if they just happen to have the most crooked officials in their area to write about (between Duncan Hunter, Jerry Lewis, Brian Bilbray, Howard Kaloogian, Dana Rohrbacher and, of course, former area resident Randy “Duke” Cunningham). But whatever the reason, anyone who wants to follow the intricacies and machinations of the Republican Culture of Corruption in Washington DC is better off reading the San Diego Union-Tribune than even the New York Times or Washington Post!

Today Joey Cantupe has penned a much-needed follow-up on a side road of the Cunningham scandals few reporters have ventured down: sleazy New York Republican mystery man and big time briber Thomas “Gus” Kontogiannis. I started looking into Kontogiannis last summer when it started to look like Cunningham was getting caught for all the millions and millions of bribes he was taking as part of the criminal conspiracy that was Jerry Lewis’ Defense Appropriations Committee.

You’ll find my Kontogiannis research– with some huffing and puffing– on the link I’ve attached to his name above. The Union-Tribune has some of that background too. They make a good point that I missed, namely that Cunningham was like a kept-woman for Kontogiannis– as they call it “a congressman on retainer.” He was hoping that– and bankrolling– Cunningham’s future, not as a prison inmate but as the next Donald Rumsfeld. An FBI agent working on the case put it like this: “Let’s look at it this way. Duke Cunningham had power and no money, and Tommy Kontogiannis had money but no power.” (And on this not too complicated concept, Tom DeLay and Rick Santorum were able to subvert the American democratic system into the Republican Culture of Corruption that has come to rule in DC– and that has already sent Cunningham to prison and will soon send dozens of Republican elected officials to the same fate.) Oh, and Kontogiannis is also a two-time convicted criminal, both times for bribery, and must have a pardon in order to avail himself of lucrative business opportunities with Uncle Sam.

In 2000, Kontogiannis was arrested for receiving more than $2 million in kickbacks in a bid-rigging scheme involving junk computer foisted on the Queens School District. The district Superintendent, Celestine Miller, a Republican scam artist, with absurd pretensions to get elected to Congress helped Kontogiannis defraud the district. He financed her doomed campaign, in part by giving her a brown paper bag filled with $50,000 in cash. That Cunningham sold him a presidential pardon for $400,000 is the most covered-up part of the Randy “Duke” Cunningham scandals. That’s because there’s only one person who can grant presidential pardons and it isn’t Randy “Duke” Cunningham (nor is it Vice President Cheney, nor Irving Libby, nor Michael Brown, nor Gale Norton, nor Tom DeLay nor any of the myriad corrupt scoundrels Bush has surrounded himself with. Only Bush can grant a presidential pardon. What was his cut of the $400,000 bribe from Kontogiannis?

CONTINUED…

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/04/wanted-phot...

Report: Dysfunctional committee let Cunningham have his way

]]> By: Jackie http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047646 Jackie Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:39:38 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047646 Hillary give the money back. Now while that's going on Bush is getting 50 billion from US taxpayers for personal use. Notice no out cry about that but let's just pay attention to Hillary while we get robbed by Bush. Talk about stupid. it's to funny. Americans are being robbed right under their nose while the trolls point to Hillary, Obama, Bill or anything else so the Bush crime team can complete the mission. When Americans see the debt Bush/Cheney has put us in you'll think the fall of the Stock Market looked good. Yes it's pushing 10 Trillion in debt but it will all be blamed on Bill Clinton and his illegal invasion of Iraq. If only Americans had put George W. Bush the famous successful businessman in office yes baby Bush had three failed business his Daddy gave him now he's got four the US Treasury. Hillary give the money back. Now while that’s going on Bush is getting 50 billion from US taxpayers for personal use. Notice no out cry about that but let’s just pay attention to Hillary while we get robbed by Bush. Talk about stupid. it’s to funny. Americans are being robbed right under their nose while the trolls point to Hillary, Obama, Bill or anything else so the Bush crime team can complete the mission. When Americans see the debt Bush/Cheney has put us in you’ll think the fall of the Stock Market looked good. Yes it’s pushing 10 Trillion in debt but it will all be blamed on Bill Clinton and his illegal invasion of Iraq. If only Americans had put George W. Bush the famous successful businessman in office yes baby Bush had three failed business his Daddy gave him now he’s got four the US Treasury.

]]> By: Zimzone http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047473 Zimzone Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:48:23 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047473 Are the Trolls clearing their droppings with the White House? Some of them may need some 'watering down'. Are the Trolls clearing their droppings with the White House?

Some of them may need some ‘watering down’.

]]> By: ∞Ω http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047468 ∞Ω Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:46:58 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047468 <em>Comment by Bob — August 30, 2007 @ 12:01 pm ———————— HeYoo! Bob! Comment by FreshElCaminoRollingKiloG </em> Let's all observe this troll mating dance in progress.  Comment by Bob — August 30, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
————————

HeYoo!

Bob!

Comment by FreshElCaminoRollingKiloG

Let’s all observe this troll mating dance in progress.



]]> By: RUCerious http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047390 RUCerious Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:19:02 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047390 This can't be good news for the ReThugs. Film at 11:00, make sure the kids are already in bed. This can’t be good news for the ReThugs. Film at 11:00, make sure the kids are already in bed.

]]> By: Chris L http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047383 Chris L Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:15:16 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047383 Comment by Jay Randal — August 30, 2007 @ 12:13 pm # Bad, BAD visual! Make it stop! Comment by Jay Randal — August 30, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
#

Bad, BAD visual! Make it stop!

]]> By: Jay Randal http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047377 Jay Randal Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:13:44 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047377 So will transcripts reveal Cunningham cavorting nude on his boat, while throwing drunken orgy parties, and soaking in his hot tub filled with dirty Potomac river water? So will transcripts reveal Cunningham cavorting nude on his boat, while throwing drunken orgy parties, and soaking in his hot tub filled with dirty Potomac river water?

]]> By: Chris L http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047376 Chris L Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:12:42 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047376 # Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, stung by criticism for accepting campaign contributions from a convicted felon with questionable fundraising practices, will donate the $23,000 he gave her to charity. Comment by Bob — August 30, 2007 @ 12:07 pm # Clinton is a DINO. Most posters here can't stand her. Essentially, she is Bush, with a vagina. And I'm not even sure about that second part. Calling Hillary a Democrat is like calling Lieberman an Independent. #

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, stung by criticism for accepting campaign contributions from a convicted felon with questionable fundraising practices, will donate the $23,000 he gave her to charity.

Comment by Bob — August 30, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
#

Clinton is a DINO. Most posters here can’t stand her. Essentially, she is Bush, with a vagina. And I’m not even sure about that second part. Calling Hillary a Democrat is like calling Lieberman an Independent.

]]> By: TripMaster Monkey http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047362 TripMaster Monkey Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:09:19 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047362 Bob sez: <blockquote><em>Must suppress, censor news about Clinton</em></blockquote> Obviously they're <i>not</i> "censoring" it, as your spamming of this stupid non-story across all of today's threads has not been addressed. Bob sez:

Must suppress, censor news about Clinton

Obviously they’re not “censoring” it, as your spamming of this stupid non-story across all of today’s threads has not been addressed.

]]> By: Bob http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047358 Bob Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:07:39 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047358 Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, stung by criticism for accepting campaign contributions from a convicted felon with questionable fundraising practices, will donate the $23,000 he gave her to charity. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, stung by criticism for accepting campaign contributions from a convicted felon with questionable fundraising practices, will donate the $23,000 he gave her to charity.

]]> By: ∞Ω http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047356 ∞Ω Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:07:16 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047356 <em>Please no more homo 24/7. Comment by Bob </em> As long as you are here, it's impossible to avoid the topic.  Please no more homo 24/7.

Comment by Bob

As long as you are here, it’s impossible to avoid the topic.



]]> By: bobh http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047346 bobh Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:03:55 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047346 its on huffpost.......lets move along its on huffpost…….lets move along

]]> By: Starve-A-Bush_Feed-A-Beaver http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047345 Starve-A-Bush_Feed-A-Beaver Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:03:52 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047345 Why would government prosecutors want secret trials and sealed transcripts? Are we in Soviet Russia? Why would government prosecutors want secret trials and sealed transcripts? Are we in Soviet Russia?

]]> By: Bob http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047343 Bob Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:03:13 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047343 Please no more homo 24/7. Please no more homo 24/7.

]]> By: Bob http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047339 Bob Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:01:58 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047339 HEYOOOooooOoooOooOoooOoo TP Where is this news story? Clinton Donor Under a Cloud in Fraud Case http://www.nytimes.com/ 2007/ 08/ 30/ us/ politics/ 30bundler.html?ex=1189051200&en=00ee337c9e083c5f&ei=5099&partner=TOPIXNEWS ——————————————————- Must suppress, censor news about Clinton HEYOOOooooOoooOooOoooOoo TP
Where is this news story?

Clinton Donor Under a Cloud in Fraud Case
http://www.nytimes.com/ 2007/ 08/ 30/ us/ politics/ 30bundler.html?ex=1189051200&en=00ee337c9e083c5f&ei=5099&partner=TOPIXNEWS
——————————————————-
Must suppress, censor news about Clinton

]]> By: Hellinabucket http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/comment-page-1/#comment-4047337 Hellinabucket Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:01:13 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/30/judge-to-unseal-secret-transcripts-from-cunningham-trial/#comment-4047337 Finally, some real news. Finally, some real news.

]]>