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cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5632
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 10:31 pm: | 
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Affidavit: $90,000 found in congressman's freezer
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/21/jefferson.search/ |
The Notorious S.L.K.
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 1458
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 10:34 pm: |
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What, a Democrat did something wrong? Get out...I thought that notion defied logic?
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cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5634
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:07 am: |
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bump |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14379
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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There should be a bank vault which allows elected officials to go in and take freely any amount of money they want, any time they want to. That way, they won't be bribable, and they won't steal. Well, we could hope. 
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Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 9505
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:52 am: |
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Now that's an interesting idea. Except have RFID chips in the money so we can trace it. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11595
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:40 am: |
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If there is a difference, and I think there may be, between Jefferson and Cunningham, not to mention the horde of Congressmen involved with Assimov is that I think the incident where he obtained the $90,000 was an issolated one.
Randy actually published a price list for his "services" and the Assimov situation is a true "Culture of Corruption". Oh, and I forgot DeLay.
I think Jefferson put the cash in his freezer because he thought that would freeze the asset.  |
Madden 11
Citizen
Username: Madden_11
Post Number: 921
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
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Even if you assume that Jefferson = Cunningham (which is a stretch at best) one man doesn't make a culture. Everyone understands that there is plenty of low-level corruption on both sides of the aisle. But the CULTURE of corruption is unique to the extreme right wing elements that run today's Republican party. From Rove to Libby to DeLay...it's all the decision-makers that have their hands dirty.
They're worse than the Mafia. At least the Mafia doesn't pretend that they're working in the people's best interests. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2929
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:02 am: |
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To be fair, this guy is a crook and should and will end up in the pen. At least Cunningham folded and admitted to everything.
I think that the Republican party, through the K Street ptoject, and because of its naturally accomodating view toward business and hence lobbyists, has created some serious problems for itself through corruption. For instance, Tom Delay is leaving - that's an earthquake.
But I won't lift a finger to defend Jefferson or what he did. And I think it's funny that some conservatives on this board are pretending that the liberal posters here don't hold democrats to a high ethical standard when I haven't ever seen any of them write one negative word about Delay, Abramoff, Cunningham, unless they were thrying to mitigate or comparte to a democrat.
One guy even agressively bet me $440 on the premise that dDelay was "gone" vs would be "cleared". That guy never paid me, admitted he was wrong, though he might still be waiting for an aquittal. |
notehead
Supporter
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 3304
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:02 am: |
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I figured he put the money in the freezer because he just liked the idea of "cold, hard cash".
I notice that Jefferson says he's not guilty, says he's not "selling his office" and stuff like that, but he hasn't specifically denied the allegations against him. Doesn't look good, and if he's guilty then he should be jailed. I don't need a guy like that on my team. But, as my MOL brethren point out, Jefferson's alleged activities pale, absolutely PALE, in comparison to the kind of stuff Duke and DeLay were doing. They're not on anyone's team but their own. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5635
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:54 am: |
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themp -- business and 'hence lobbyists'? Unions don't lobby, lawyers don't lobby, groups founded on race don't lobby, businesses that toss the bulk of their money towards whatever party is in power (see: the 40 years before 1994 where it went to Democrats), they don't lobby? Farmers don't lobby?
Democrats kick and scream about taking that money too.
Get real. |
GOP Man
Citizen
Username: Headsup
Post Number: 389
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:02 pm: |
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it's exactly the same. Jefferson and DeLay were doing the same thing, although arguably Jefferson was much worse. he was keeping the money for himself, while DeLay was unselfishly trying to advance the Republican party. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2933
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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OK, point taken. But there is something new in the water, which is an effort to formailize the relationship of lobbyists to the GOP. It isn't a difference of degree, it is a difference of type.
Remember the absurd "Delay Rule" vote?
Democratic Rep. William Jefferson should be investigated by the House ethics committee, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said following the second guilty plea from a federal probe of alleged bribery involving the Louisiana congressman.
Fox News. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1786
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:23 pm: |
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Why isn't the mainstream media reporting this, cjc? |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5636
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:48 pm: |
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huh? |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 3370
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
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Several people connected to Jefferson have already pled out on bribery charges. His children were involved in his steered contracts as well. His whole office had a "For Sale" sign on it and was open for booming business. Democrat or Republican, he was corrupt. There should be extra penalties for engaging in corruption while on the public payroll. Wonder if anyone in Congress--Dem or Rep--has the guts to propose that legislation? |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1787
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
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You're always lamenting how the MSM doesn't report stories that reflect badly on Democrats. This clearly supports that claim.
Up next: Bob Ney, radical leftist from Ohio. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5637
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:48 pm: |
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dave23 -- I don't think your statement is an accurate representation of what I've said. And you 'always' do that. |
Factvsfiction
Citizen
Username: Factvsfiction
Post Number: 537
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:11 pm: |
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Maybe it was a money storage freezer?
Keeps the bills crisp.
Could be a new defense. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2092
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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I read he's not stepping down from his post and is denying the charges. I know he's innocent until proven guilty but... |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5642
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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He's innocent until proven guilty, and you can't cop a plea when the "Culture of Corruption" theme needs a chance to play for the '06 elections. Same with Mollohan, D-WV. |
llama
Citizen
Username: Llama
Post Number: 779
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Sounds like his assets will are frozen. |
notehead
Supporter
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 3311
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 1:58 pm: |
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The whole argument about "crossing the line separating the powers" is kind of freaking me out. And that's coming from politicians on both sides. What, their offices are some kind of off-limits safe zone, where you can do or store anything you want? I suppose one good thing that may come of this particular investigation is that the apparent "rule" that the offices of members of congress are beyond the reach of the law is inappropriate. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 5645
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 8:59 pm: |
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Congress has been mouthing a lot about checks and balances lately, but not when applying that to themselves. Run an ad about it. They don't like ads running against them during elections either.
Whoops. That's why they passed Campaign Finance Reform and, unfortunately, most of you bought into it.
Oh well. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1428
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 9:20 pm: |
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I remember CJC bring this tory to our attention months ago, Kudos CJC.
90k in the frezzer, and an alledged 400k in donations that, if Jefferson did something in return, is bribery. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1432
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
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Illegal search may foil Jeffersons prosecution. Opps. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1434
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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"It is the duty of the Justice Department to root out and prosecute corruption wherever it is found, including in the U.S. House of Representatives. I believe that all Members of the House should cooperate fully with any criminal investigation.
"That being said, I am very concerned about the necessity of a Saturday night raid on Congressman Jefferson's Capitol Hill Office in pursuit of information that was already under subpoena and at a time when those subpoenas are still pending and all the documents that have been subpoenaed were being preserved.
The Founding Fathers were very careful to establish in the Constitution a Separation of Powers to protect Americans against the tyranny of any one branch of government. They were particularly concerned about limiting the power of the Executive Branch. Every Congressional Office contains certain Legislative Branch documents that are protected by the Constitution. This protection-as the Supreme Court has repeatedly held-is essential to guarantee the independence of the Legislative Branch. No matter how routine and non-controversial any individual Legislative Branch document might be, the principles of Separation of Powers, the independence of the Legislative Branch, and the protections afforded by the Speech or Debate clause of the Constitution must be respected in order to prevent overreaching and abuse of power by the Executive Branch.
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