Washington Post: Today's Highlights: "During past 51/2 years, lawmakers accepted nearly $50 million in trips from groups seeking legislative favors, according to a comprehensive study."
This should be the jaw dropper story for the November elections. This is evidence of $50 million in legal bribes by corporations of our politicians for favorable votes on policies ranging from keeping the illegal flow of immigrants to winning contracts for disaster relief. These politicians have legalized bribery of themselves in order to take families on $25,000 round trip vacations on the corporate dime. Is it any wonder the American people fail to see their concerns for themselves and their children addressed with positive results? -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
ABC News: Politics: "Former Bush Official Says He Gave Lobbyist Abramoff Advice, but Didn't Conceal It From Investigators"
Reuters: Top News: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of the U.S. Congress and their aides took free trips worth nearly $50 million paid for by corporations, trade associations and other private groups between January 2000 and June 2005, according to a study released on Monday.
Politicians argue they would not know hurricane Katrina was bad, or that the Iraq war was happening if it weren't for these trips paid for by the contractors seeking bids for government contracts to elongate the Iraq War and the rebuilding of Katrina's path states to maximize their profits years down the road. Cut them some slack, how else are they supposed to separate the tax payers of the future from their hard earned dollars? -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Election Commission has determined that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's 2000 Senate campaign violated federal campaign finance laws, according to FEC documents released by a watchdog group...."
This is deplorable that this finding came after 2 more elections were conducted since the violation. Does this mean that Frist's and others violations in 2004 won't be uncovered and dealt with until 2009? Seems to me this is a convenient means of enforcement without affecting politician's elections in the meantime. Slap on the wrist so to speak for something that happened 2 elections ago. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
ABC News: Politics: "Capital Awaits Word of Whether Rove Will Be Indicted"
ABC News: Politics: "Coin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges He Illegally Funneled Donations to Bush"
CNN: Politics: "Read full story for latest details."
He shouldn't have taken them, PERIOD! That said, there are bigger fish to fry on this legal and illegal bribery system in Congress. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
ABC News: Politics: "Not All Lawmakers Favor Constitutional Battle Over FBI's Seizure From La. Congressman's Office"
Washington Post: Today's Highlights: "FBI raid on Jefferson's office breaks with political tradition, but it may not violate constitutional law."
This is a lawyer's argument. What is the law without its spirit, since any and all words may be interpreted and twisted to argue any side of any issue. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "The special counsel prosecuting former White House aide Lewis Libby indicated in court documents filed Wednesday that Libby's former boss, Vice President Dick Cheney, could be called as a witness in his upcoming trial."
Reuters: Top News: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawyers on Wednesday make opening statements in the trial of a former Bush administration official who is the first person to be tried in connection with the influence-peddling scandal of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
AP Politics: "AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Prosecutors in the case against U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay have asked the state's highest criminal court to reinstate an indictment accusing the former House majority leader of conspiring to violate election laws...."
ABC News: Politics: "FBI Agents Search Congressional Office of Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson in Corruption Probe"
Reuters: Top News: "Citing high-ranking Coast Guard officials, the Times said that intense pressure from shipping companies concerned about the cost of delays had led commanders in some ports to provide up to 24 hours notice of searches, which began after the 9/11 attacks as part of the service's new anti-terrorism mission.
We haven't got a single thing right on Homeland Security, yet. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: "The 72-year-old mayor of an Arkansas town was arrested on charges he sought sex from two women in exchange for preventing their water from being turned off."
Sudden case of dimentia, or another sign of incumbency overstayed? Vote out Incumbents for Democracy. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: "The New York law firm is charged with secretly paying $11 million to people to become plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits. Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman is known as a prominent foe of big business."
AP Politics: "SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office keeps track of people recommended for state jobs and who recommends them - often politicians and the politically connected, a spokeswoman acknowledged Wednesday...."
AP Politics: "CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- A former Republican National Committee official was sentenced Wednesday to 10 months in prison for his role in the jamming of New Hampshire Democrats' telephones on Election Day 2002...."
This is like illegal immigration. For every one we catch, a dozen more get away with it. Vote out incumbents for the sake of our democracy! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a new court filing, the prosecutor in the CIA leak case revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney made handwritten references to CIA officer Valerie Plame - albeit not by name - eight days before her identity was publicly exposed...."
CBS News: "When the NSA requested "call data records," Qwest Communications' ex-CEO agreed with company attorneys that surrendering customers' data to the government was wrong, and violated privacy requirements of the Telecommunications Act."
It's time to switch long distance carriers. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Slate Magazine: "Did the White House steal a document from the Reagan library to hide history of Justice Roberts prior to his confirmation hearings?"
There is some evidence this may be the case. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles has opened an investigation into House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis and his dealings with a lobbyist with connections to disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday...."
And the political corruption hits just keep on coming. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher was indicted Thursday on misdemeanor charges that he directed a scheme to illegally award state jobs to political supporters, the latest twist in a year-long probe into hiring practices in his administration."
Reuters: Top News: "The United States has again refused the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to terrorism suspects held in secret detention centers, the humanitarian agency said on Friday.
The overnight statement was issued after talks in Washington between ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger and senior officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley."
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Republicans and Democrats demanded answers from the Bush administration Thursday about a report that the government secretly collected records of ordinary Americans' phone calls to build a database of every call made within the country...."
The President will dodge this question until he finds his "Signing Statement" which grants him the Executive 'legislative authority' to do it. He's a little slow you know. You have to be patient while he gets his ducks lined up. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: ""The privacy of ordinary Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities. We're not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans," Bush said.
But, How does he know these Americans are innocent if he ISN'T mining and trolling through their personal lives? The Bushshit just keeps piling hire and hire! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "USA Today reported Thursday that the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting records of the phone calls of ordinary Americans."
Bushshit! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: "Facing criticism from Congress, President Bush did not confirm a report that the NSA has amassed phone records of millions of Americans. Sidestepping the issue, he said the government does not troll or mine through the lives of "innocent Americans.""
This is the same old game. The President tells his agency heads, do what is necessary, but don't tell me what you are doing so I can honestly say to the people that "To my knowledge, our government is not spying on innocent Americans." Bushshit! Our government ALREADY has spied on innocent Americans, Quakers and peace groups opposed to the Iraq war. They have even been caught going undercover and infiltrating these groups suspected of being a "threat to national security". Bushshit! Bushshit, and more Bushshit! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "Read full story for latest details."
It would appear that for all the hyperbole by Republicans in thanking each for their public service, public service is not what motivates them. Public service is a stepping stone to wealth and fame in the private sector as lobbyists and consultants on how to get what corporations need from government. The corruption continues to grow in every direction. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Prosecutors have e-mails showing Rep. Tom DeLay's office knew lobbyist Jack Abramoff had arranged the financing for the GOP leader's controversial European golfing trip in 2000 and was concerned "if someone starts asking questions."..."
So much for the conservatives argument that the prosecutor has no evidence. I'd call these smoking guns. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "Read full story for latest details."
She might as well get something out of the White House having ruined her career for political payback. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
New York Times: International News: "Officials argued that the United States had not violated its treaty obligations to prevent the torture of prisoners."
The U.S. argues they didn't torture that many, so, no big deal, leave us alone. RIGHT!!! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
ABC News: Politics: "Libby Also Seeks Testimony From Outed CIA Officer's Husband and Former State Department Official"
ABC News: Politics: "Lobbying Bill Moves to Complicated House-Senate Negotiations"
What a sad day for Americans! What an indictment of voter ignorance that they continue to reelect these corrupt politicians. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
ABC News: Politics: "Price Tag Keeps Growing for War, Hurricane Funding Bill As It Nears Senate Vote"
For all their talk, the waste, fraud, and abuse of political office just continues to grow. They have a lesson to learn, and only the voters can teach them that lesson in November's elections. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "A businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to paying more than $400,000 in bribes to a U.S. congressman.
Government sources identified the lawmaker as Rep. William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat who has denied any wrongdoing. He has not been charged."
ABC News: Politics: "Secret Service to Release Records of Abramoff's White House Visits"
And it was conservatives behind this Freedom of Information Act demand. Bravo! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "The executive's bumpy testimony may have harmed his defense, analysts say.
There's gotta be a political story in this trial somewhere? TBA. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
USATODAY.com News - Top Stories: "The former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is under federal investigation amid accusations of financial improprieties ...
The corruption hits just keep on coming. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a former Republican Party chairman, arranged the startup financing for a GOP telemarketing company implicated in two criminal cases involving election dirty tricks...."
And the corruption hits just keep on coming. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "ATLANTA (AP) -- Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that can be altered by anyone with a computer, has proved remarkably useful for pulling political dirty tricks...."
This story has been on the horizon for awhile, but, it deserves attention as we move into full election cycle mode. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "A Georgia gubernatorial candidate accepted the resignation of her campaign manager Wednesday after he was accused of changing the online Wikipedia biography of an opponent in the upcoming Democratic primary."
By hook or crook, the corruption of Democrats and Republicans knows no bounds. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "A federal judge refused Thursday to dismiss charges against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former top White House aide who was indicted on perjury and obstruction charges last year in the CIA leak scandal."
ABC News: Politics: "Rove to Testify for 5th Time Before Grand Jury Investigating Leak of CIA Agent's Name, Sources Say"
ABC News: Politics: "Fired CIA Officer Says Through Associates She Was Not Source for Secret Prisons Story"
CNN: Politics: "A Georgia congresswoman struck a Capitol Hill police officer "in his chest with a closed fist" after the officer tried to stop her from going around a metal detector last month, according to a police report."
McKinney should be charged with assault on a police officer, if those facts are true. Pure and simple. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
PORKBUSTERS UPDATE: Trent Lott isn't giving up:
Mississippi's two U.S. senators included $700 million in an emergency war spending bill to relocate a Gulf Coast rail line that has already been rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina at a cost of at least $250 million.
Republican Sens. Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, who have the backing of their state's economic development agencies and tourism industry, say the CSX freight line must be moved to save it from the next hurricane and to protect Mississippi's growing coastal population from rail accidents. But critics of the measure call it a gift to coastal developers and the casino industry that would be paid for with money carved out of tight Katrina relief funds and piggybacked onto funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It is ludicrous for the Senate to spend $700 million to destroy and relocate a rail line that is in perfect working order, particularly when it recently underwent a $250 million repair," said Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who is planning to challenge the funding when the $106.5 billion war spending bill reaches the Senate floor. "American taxpayers are generous and are happy to restore damaged property, but it is wrong for senators to turn this tragedy into a giveaway for economic developers."
You can find a defense of Lott's plan -- which I don't find terribly convincing, but your results may vary -- here.
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AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - A batch of 278 e-mails between lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a Bush administration official show a highly inappropriate relationship where gifts and business interests mixed freely and frequently, federal prosecutors said Friday."
CBS News: CBS Evening News: "Despite dozens of arrests at military bases around the country, Armen Keteyian reports government construction sites continue to be a fertile ground for undocumented workers, who work long hours for low pay."
Security and law be damned, profit and advantage drive immigration policy, make no mistake about that as this story evidences. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "Two former staff members of U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Michigan, say the longtime Detroit congressman made them baby-sit his children, run errands and work on political campaigns while they were on his congressional payroll."
Compared to pork spending, the NASA budget and the cost of Iraq, this is hardly worth a glance, except for the unethical and corrupt behaviors it displays of politicians on both sides of the political spectrum. Vote Out Incumbents to restore a viable Democracy. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: Politics: "Key figures in a phone-jamming scheme designed to keep New Hampshire Democrats from voting in 2002 had regular contact with the White House and Republican Party as the plan was unfolding, phone records introduced in criminal court show."
So, what? We know the White House is corrupt, and breaks the laws as it sees fit. The time to have done something about it was the 2000 or 2004 elections. Many of us said Bush was a huge mistake having watched his abuse of power as Governor in Texas. But you wouldn't listen. Enjoy your President; I can proudly say he has never been mine. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - A Republican Party official and Jack Abramoff's lobbying team bluntly discussed using large political donations as a way to pressure lawmakers into securing federal money for a tribal client, according to e-mails gathered by prosecutors."
Buying the law that suits your needs. And damn near everyone of our Congress person's is guilty of participating in similar schemes. There is no hard evidence of the quid pro quo so, they laugh in voter's faces while saying they are the honest ones. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "COLUMBUS, Ohio - A state office that monitors lawyer behavior recommended Monday that Gov. Bob Taft be disciplined for failing to report golf outings and other gifts while in office."
Trickle down theory! What's good for Congress should be good for state governor's, right? Well, maybe not in this case! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - Now in its third year, the CIA leak investigation took a decidedly unwelcome turn for the White House last week. A court filing by prosecutors depicted President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney as setting in motion leaks to the press that ended in the disclosure of the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame."
In very much the same way the White House's refusal to observe the Geneva Conventions led to horrible human rights abuses by western nations in the war on terror, some of which are still being perpetrated today. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "SAN DIEGO - If there is any doubt about whether ethics matter, consider how the scandal of a former GOP congressman now doing prison time for tax evasion and bribery has cast a long shadow over a House election."
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - With a grand jury investigating and little support from House colleagues, Rep. Cynthia McKinney reversed course and apologized Thursday for an altercation in which she entered a Capitol building unrecognized, refused to stop when asked by a police officer and then hit him."
So, she is capable of doing something smart for a change. Very good! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby apparently had serious qualms about leaking classified intelligence to the press, but he was quickly persuaded to drop them. There was pressure from his boss, Vice President Dick Cheney, who advised him that the president had authorized Libby to do so. End of discussion."
So, for the President, national security takes a back seat to political retribution and revenge? Sounds right!!! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
ABC News: Politics: "Arrest of Homeland Security Press Aide Just Latest in String of Security Problems"
The White House is beginning to look like a veritable nest of criminals and crimes and flagrant disregard for the law and law enforcement. A few are far better protected by Attorney General Gonzales however, than many others. Can anyone say quid pro quo! The President appointed him, favor is returned on the NSA spying. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - A grand jury has supoenaed two Capitol Hill aides who witnessed the March 29 confrontation between Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga.. and a Capitol Police officer."
Congress passes the laws. Law enforcement is supposed to enforce them (but, don't in a lot of cases). But, for a Congress person to ignore and rebuke law enforcement for carrying out their duties, is an attempt to demonstrate that the laws are for others, not the Congress Person, and that is about as UnAmerican as you can get. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: "The deputy press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security is headed to court today on charges he used the Internet to seduce what he thought was a teenage girl. Brian Doyle, 55, will have an extradition hearing in Maryland."
If you don't have the cover-up clout of the Vice President, don't do the crime. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim Ryun on Wednesday denied allegations by Democrats that he received a "sweet real estate deal" when he purchased a town house from a nonprofit group with connections to lobbyist Jack Abramoff."
AP Politics: "MIAMI - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former partner were sentenced to nearly six years in prison on fraud charges but were allowed to remain free while they help a corruption investigation that has embroiled Congress."
So, what will that come out to with after time off for good behavior. My bet is he doesn't serve more than 18 months. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: "Rep. Tom DeLay is fighting to regain his concealed handgun permit after it was suspended because of his indictment on felony charges. A justice of the peace suspended his license in January after the former majority leader was indicted last year."
Here we go again. One law for politicians and another for the rest of us. If he gets it back, I hope he shoots himself with it. It would be the patriotic thing to do! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
