Sunday, May 07, 2006
Repugs: Culture of Corruption
The Carpetbagger Report poses the question, "Are we near the tipping point on the Republicans' "culture of corruption" story? Have we passed it?"
He offers the following as evidence that this administration does not govern by policy but instead by ideology, corporate fealty, and blind stubbornness:
* CIA Director Porter Goss resigned suddenly Friday, a move than may have been driven, in part, by his connection to Kyle "Dusty" Foggo (who is now facing a criminal investigation of his own) and the Brent Wilkes/Duke Cunningham/prostitutes scandal. In fact, the San Diego Union Tribune and the New York Daily News both reported that Goss' departure is related to the Cunningham affair.
* The AP reported yesterday that Tom DeLay's office knew full well that 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.'"
* MSNBC's David Shuster reported on Friday night that the "tea leaves" suggest Karl Rove will get indicted in the Plame scandal, while Scooter Libby's defense is already going poorly in his own Plame-related charges.
* David Safavian, the administration's top federal procurement official before he was arrested last fall, will go on trial shortly for his Abramoff-related charges.
* All the while, Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury is still meeting, the case against Tom DeLay in Texas is still proceeding, the investigation into Bill Frist's investments is ongoing, and Rep. Bob Ney is still this close to an indictment.
As the New Democratic Network's Simon Rosenberg put it:
"This has never been about lobbying reform, or connecting the corruption to legislative outcomes. The corruption is of such magnitude that it stands alone as a statement of their values, of their lack of respect for the public trust. Simply put these are the largest set of scandals in American history. That should be enough for us to make the case for a new direction."
The Carpetbagger Report
He offers the following as evidence that this administration does not govern by policy but instead by ideology, corporate fealty, and blind stubbornness:
* CIA Director Porter Goss resigned suddenly Friday, a move than may have been driven, in part, by his connection to Kyle "Dusty" Foggo (who is now facing a criminal investigation of his own) and the Brent Wilkes/Duke Cunningham/prostitutes scandal. In fact, the San Diego Union Tribune and the New York Daily News both reported that Goss' departure is related to the Cunningham affair.
* The AP reported yesterday that Tom DeLay's office knew full well that 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.'"
* MSNBC's David Shuster reported on Friday night that the "tea leaves" suggest Karl Rove will get indicted in the Plame scandal, while Scooter Libby's defense is already going poorly in his own Plame-related charges.
* David Safavian, the administration's top federal procurement official before he was arrested last fall, will go on trial shortly for his Abramoff-related charges.
* All the while, Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury is still meeting, the case against Tom DeLay in Texas is still proceeding, the investigation into Bill Frist's investments is ongoing, and Rep. Bob Ney is still this close to an indictment.
As the New Democratic Network's Simon Rosenberg put it:
"This has never been about lobbying reform, or connecting the corruption to legislative outcomes. The corruption is of such magnitude that it stands alone as a statement of their values, of their lack of respect for the public trust. Simply put these are the largest set of scandals in American history. That should be enough for us to make the case for a new direction."
The Carpetbagger Report
