Did the Abramoff indictments surprise you? Did the plea agreements? How about the news that an Ohio congressman seemed to work/vote to order for Abramoff?
Ohio, imagine that. Now who could believe that anything there is corrupt? Not after the election, Blackwell, Taft, Noe and coingate, and on and on, right?
The interesting thing to me is to watch the reaction of the media, and of "the public," to revelations that really did no more than put a few dates and details to a story that everybody with a brain and any interest already knew.
Now that it's "official" knowledge, the media can say what it already knew: these guys are sleazy and corrupt beyond belief, and far too many of our elected officials are just as much for sale as that rhinestone ring in the jewelry case at the discount store.
National Journal's The Hotline is reporting that there's a movement afoot among Republicans in the House of Representatives to force new elections for the party's leadership positions.
Not surprisingly, the major goal is to ensure that Tom DeLay's tenure as majority leader be laid to rest, once and for all. I've seen commentary lauding this move by the Repubs--supposedly jointly sponsored by conservatives and moderates--but I have a hard time getting too excited.
So Robertson the Holy hath spoken unto us again and madeth even less sense than usual. Robertson's take on the stroke suffered by a very old, obese, and unhealthy Ariel Sharon is that the stroke is God's punishment for for Sharon's trying to "divide" Israel by abandoning some territory.
Isn't it interesting how Robertson knows so much after the fact? Never before the fact?
Apart from his self-appointed role as God's chosen moron here on earth, I have to ask Mr. Robertson a couple of questions:
1. He bases God's punishment of Sharon on the bible--from a transcript of God's chosen moron available on Raw Story
"I think we need to look at the Bible and the Book of Joel. The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land.'
Well, shouldn't Robertson start looking out for his own health, then? After all, isn't America "God's land" now, too? Isn't Robertson playing a major role in trying to divide it politically and spiritually, if not physically?
Where in the bible does it say it's okay to try to enrich yourself in business ventures in Africa and China by lying and cavorting with murderous tyrants (as Roberston so clearly has)?
How does he keep a straight face when he says this crap?
Even better than reading about Colorado Republicans finally beginning to stand up to the zealots in their own party [see this post ] is reading about national Republicans finally understanding that their own butts are firmly hooked on a piece of twisted barbed wire.
As you know if you've ever been hooked on barbed wire, wriggling around to free yourself usually means some blood letting, and a good, sharp pain in the ass.
But let the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel tell the story: From today's Utica (NY) Observer Dispatch--
NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, responding to NY Governor George Pataki's Jan. 4, 2006 State of the State speech:
"To those working families struggling to pay your bills in cities, towns and villages across this state, I ask you: Have twelve years of Republican leadership improved your lives? Your schools? Your communities?"
A question we can all ask ourselves at the national level: Have 5 years of Bush Republican leadership improved your lives, your schools, your communities? Will 3 more years of that leadership improve them? Will it improve anything you can think of?
Where's a good recall election when you need one?
The Republicans in Colorado appear to be having a major battle between themselves. On one side are those in lockstep with the current crew of national Republican leaders. On the other side are those who appear to have finally had enough of lockstepping with zealots and people who have an uncanny knack for allying themselves with people destined for indictment (read that as Abramoff, DeLay, and company). An editorial in todays Kentucky Post has had an enough of the congressional financial follies. After detailing which representatives from the Kentucky-Ohio area had received money from Mr. Abramoff, the editor has some appropriate words for the government leaders, and excellent advice on what they should tell their leadership (boldfacing mine):
"And here's some more advice for the tri-state delegation: Assert yourselves. Tell your leadership you want the bad apples cleaned out. And tell them too that your constituents are fed up with the stories coming out of Washington about lobbyists leading Congress around by the ring through its nose.
"We're fighting a war no one wanted and that we can't afford. We have a health-care system that's held together with bandages. We have a retirement security system that's showing gaping cracks in its foundations. And not only has Congress failed to address such matters, it has ceded power to the likes of Tom "The Hammer'' DeLay and, judging from the Abramoff disclosures, a regiment of lobbyists." No, this ain't about sports. Our pal Arianna over at Huffington Post says a good one about a news media out of control... In an article in the journal Chronicles dated last week, Pat Buchanan cogently reviews the evidence of how well America's current foreign policy is working for us, and concludes:
"America needs a new vision. America needs a new foreign policy."
Question: How much trouble are you in when Pat Buchanan makes 10 times as much sense as the president of the United States?
Answer: Soooooooo much trouble. Absolute kudos and a big tip of the old redneck ballcap to one David Letterman, who, had none other than Faux Noise's OWN Bill O'Really....and talk about fireworks!!!!!!!!........ |
