Once again, there arises the spectre of questionable actions on the part of a Republican Senator. This stuff has gotten to be almost comical, it is being done so blatantly.

Senator John Thune, R-S.D., who defeated Tom Daschle after making a big campaign issue of integrity and ties to lobbyists, and the need for new untainted blood, has shown us the true content of his character, and given the Dems more ammo.

After serving as an employed lobbyist for Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) in 2003 and 2004, Sen. Thune inserted language into a transportation bill last summer to assist DM&E to apply for a $2.5 billion dollar government loan.

Why are these people seemingly unable to think of the ramifications of their actions, and the effects that may be felt by others? Why does the concept of conflict of interest not enter these politician's minds? Why do they seem unconcerned with appearing to be corrupt, or at the least of little character or integrity?


This story was printed in the St Paul Pioneer Press today (page 6B), but the theme of the story was about the Mayo clinic objecting to the DM&E expanding their rail traffic close to the Mayo facilities. The mention of Thune was an add-on paragraph to the story.

Probably because they know that at worst it will be investigated by people who are guilty of the same acts. Its kind of like Tony Soprano being investigated for violations to RICO by Pauly "Walnuts". Its gonna go nowhere.

I often wonder how come politicians sell out so cheaply, basically awarding huge contracts valued at $500 million to billions for shitty little payoffs like $50 - $75,000.00 dollar "donations" (payoffs). At least if you're gonna sell out make it worth it.

Because the nature of todays politicians is one of power/greed. They get where they are by scratching the backs of other powers to be (read selling their souls and future interests).

Fandros

I came across this written by Amy ephron...humorous and interesting but oh so true:


How come whenever there's a big deal, one of them owns the company, or used to own the company, or used to run the company that owns the company, or used to run the company that sold part of the company to the company that's making the deal? And probably owns a lot of stock in the company (or the parent company or the company that invested in the company)?

And we don't? And it's a company we never heard of before? Like CSX or Dubai Ports World.

In case you haven't been following this, Treasury Secretary John Snow used to be the CEO of a company called CSX, an international transportation company, which sold its international terminal business to Dubai Ports World in 2003, the same Dubai Ports World that's buying Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation (P&O) which is how they're going to end up managing all those U.S. Ports...

Anyway, I looked up John Snow's financial disclosure statement and, let me tell you, the Secretary of the Treasury is a seriously rich fellow. There are all these boxes that you check that define how much of a stock you might own, $5000-$10,000, $50,000-$100,000, 1,000,000-5,000,000 and there's a box that's $25,000,000-$50,000,000 and Secretary Snow has checked it more than once. And, in one instance, that little $25,000,000-$50,000,000 box is checked in relation to CSX. I've never checked that box. I didn't even know that box existed.

Now, John Snow's right-hand man at CSX was a fellow called David Sanborn who then went to work as a senior executive at Dubai Ports World until a month ago when (this deal was surely already afoot) President Bush nominated him to be the new U.S. Maritime Administrator.

So, when Treasury Secretary John Snow (who in addition to being Treasury Secretary is the head of the "Committee on Foreign Investment, the committee that vets and signed off on this deal to begin with) said two weeks ago, that he didn't know anything about the Dubai Ports World deal until he heard about it in the press, I didn't believe him.

Is Secretary Snow so out of touch with his old colleagues (nobody even gossips with him) and his own staff that he didn't know anything about a 6.8 billion dollar deal (involving a company he has intimate knowledge of), which even by John Snow's standards is a pretty big deal? I don't believe it. So, why is he saying that he didn't know? Is there something about it that would seem improper?

In any event, Treasury Secretary Snow's financial disclosure statements are only available on-line for the years 2002, 2003 (has he forgotten to file them?) but as soon as he posts the new ones, I'm looking them up and I'm calling my broker.

Another interesting thing to note , is they whenever a Democrat gets caught up in this sort of thing, it's on page 20 Section C of the Newspaper.
But if it's a Republican, that's front page news to be run for 2 weeks straight.
But there's no bias in print journalism at all.

Few Democrats are currently caught up in anything. I've heard Maxine Waters and some Rep down in Louisiana; that's about it. Whereas just this week both Katherine Harris and Virgil Goode were found to have accepted illegal campaign contributions by Mitchell Wade, the same guy who kept Randy "Duke" Cunningham (due to be sentenced today, I think) in good stead.

Currently, Republican corruption is widespread and, thus, big news (or ought to be). Rightly so.

Another interesting thing to note , is they whenever a Democrat gets caught up in this sort of thing, it's on page 20 Section C of the Newspaper.
But if it's a Republican, that's front page news to be run for 2 weeks straight.
But there's no bias in print journalism at all.

Yeah Clintons blowjob never made front page news :rolleyes:

LOL, wow, you actually think Democrats are saints?
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/26/couric-caught-on-tape/

How about :

• Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who received at least $22,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), who received at least $6,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), who received at least $1,250 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), who received at least $2,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who received at least $20,250 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), who received at least $21,765 in Abramoff-linked cash.
• Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), who received at least $7,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who received at least $12,950 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), who received at least $8,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ), who received at least $7,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), who received at least $14,792 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who received at least $79,300 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who received at least $14,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who received at least $2,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), who received at least $1,250 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), who received at least $45,750 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), who received at least $9,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT), who received at least $2,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), who received at least $14,250 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who received at least $3,300 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who received at least $98,550 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who received at least $28,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT), who received at least $4,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), who received at least $6,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.


• Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), who received at least $29,830 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Received At Least $14,891 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who received at least $10,550 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), who received at least $78,991 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), who received at least $20,168 in Abramoff-linked cash.


• Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Received At Least $5,200 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), who received at least $7,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), who received at least $2,300 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who received at least $3,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), who received at least $68,941 in Abramoff-linked cash.


• Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV), who received at least $4,000 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), who received at least $4,500 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), who received at least $4,300 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who received at least $29,550 in Abramoff-linked cash.


• Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who received at least $6,250 in Abramoff-linked cash.

• Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), who received at least $6,250 in Abramoff-linked cash.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/1/6/100900.shtml

Nope, Democrats are saints.

I guess one should ask the meaning of "Abramoff-linked" verse direct.

Thanks Rover, me poor frenchie was afraid to ask.

True dat Rover thanks for another prime example.

If Dem's are throw into shady light....ask for the definitions to be changed...

Fandros

In this particular case, "Abramoff-linked" seems to mean legal contributions from Abramoff clients - as opposed to possibly illegal money directly from Abramoff (it may be illegal and not just possibly illegal - it's just been months since I read up on this.

As for it being front page news when Repubs do something - it tends to be that way when that party owns the White House. Give it a few years, it'll change.

And, btw, the White House tour is now lame. It's just a walk through several meaningless rooms, though some of the stuff is seriously old. Plus it can take months to get on the list through your rep. Whee.

Just wanted to vent for a sec. Heh.

Once again, Jack Abramoff only gave money to Republicans. He was a leader in the College Republicans in his youth and never strayed far from the party. The cut-n-paste job is vacuous with explication. Many of Abramoff's clients donated to Democrats; many of them were donating to Democrats (e.g., Reid and Durbin) long before Abramoff showed up a few years ago. It's called lobbying, and for better or for worse it's legal. Thus far, the illegal aspects of Abramoff's dealings (and Mitchell Wade's, and Brent Wilkes') are centered on various members of the Republican party.

Once again, Jack Abramoff only gave money to Republicans

Good to know you were there for every check he wrote Thor.. Damn man.. where you his personal accountant? There is such a huge difference between Jack handing me the money or his cousin on his mothers side. I say bullshit, as these people knew exactly where the money was coming from......

Pull your head out of your ass and see that corruption is rampant throughtout politics...even I have acknowledged it. Have you been wearing my blinders?

Thor,


I am sorry about the ass comment, I am trying to stay civil, but I am just seeing red when people say that the dems were getting money from "lobbyists" but Republicans from Crooks. Accepting money from a lobbyist is acknowledging that you owe them a favor, and you will do whatever you can to make thier wishes come true. I accept that, but when I see you or anyone else here make is sound like what the Republicans get is dirty money and not the Dems.. then I blow up.

Dirty money = Repubs...

Vehicular Homicide = Ted Kennedy...

Noone is clean, noone...

Fandros

Dirty money = Repubs...

Vehicular Homicide = Ted Kennedy...

Noone is clean, noone...

Fandros

Agree, with some reservation....


I still cling to the hope that McCain is above the everyday BS we see going on in our capitol.....he will get my vote either way, tho.

I just thought it was very funny that this guy ran the campaign he did and then not even halfway into his first year he is doing favors for the company he used to lobby for, which screams for attention the type of which is definitely not needed by the Republican party right now.

/Toast Byl

I'm with you bud.

McCain is my great hope for '08.

Fandros

but I am just seeing red when people say that the dems were getting money from "lobbyists" but Republicans from Crooks

Well, in the context of this item it would appear that the Dems got money from legitimate groups (not even lobbyists in some cases) and that the Repubs DID get money from a crook.

Good to know you were there for every check he wrote Thor.. Damn man.. where you his personal accountant? There is such a huge difference between Jack handing me the money or his cousin on his mothers side. I say bullshit, as these people knew exactly where the money was coming from......

Until you have evidence otherwise, this is how it is. Just calling "bullshit" means nothing. Abramoff is a lifelong Republican, and his lobbying efforts went hand in hand with DeLay's "K Street Project." As far as giving goes, the same group can give to more than one individual. Giving to DeLay doesn't mean you can't give to Reid. But there are rules to follow in how much can be given and what can be done with that money. Abramoff and a number of Republican congressmen broke those rules.

The problem isn't that lobbying happened. It's a bit of a joke, seeing all this talk of "lobbying reform" when the real problem is that laws were broken, not that they didn't exist.

Naw there has NEVER been a corrupt Dem.

LOL excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor.

On the floor? You must have lost a contact before reading my post since I never suggested such a thing. Continue taking yourself up on that dare.

Right, Only Republicans are Evil. Democrats tend to be more on the "naughty" side of things.

I never pointed fingers at who my post was directed at actually. I was making a generalization to go with some of the others that have been made in this post and others!