National Journal...Saturday bombshell: DeLay cited with new violations

[truthpusher]

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=129

2/25/2005
National Journal readies Saturday bombshell: DeLay cited with new House rules violations

Filed under: General— site admin @ 4:04 pm

National Journal to report DeLay violated House ethics rules

RAW STORY

The National Journal’s Peter Stone will tear open the DeLay fundraising scandal in a Saturday exclusive, RAW STORY has learned.

The prominent lawyer and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is being investigated by federal authorities for his lobbying efforts of an Indian tribe and his relations with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), paid for DeLay and his staff’s stay in an expensive London hotel in mid-2000.

National Journal has obtained a copy of an expense voucher that Abramoff filed the law firm where he was then a leading lobbyist, Stone reports Saturday.

“Among the big-ticket expenses that Abramoff listed for reimbursement was a bill for the DeLays at the Four Seasons Hotel in London in the amount of $4,285.35,” Stone writes. “The voucher shows that the total reimbursement for expenses was $13,318.50. For some reason, it shows that both Abramoff and Buckham were owed that amount.

“The voucher shows that Abramoff was accompanied by DeLay and his wife; Hirschmann and her husband; and Ed Buckham, DeLay’s former chief of staff who had also become a lobbyist,” Stone continues.

complete story: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=129

[Richardo]

1. ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease...

pwetty please?

[mourningdove92]

4. you took the words right out of my mouth.

PLEASE!

[BOSSHOG]

2. Thank you Rawstory

Now lets hope all America can turn on the evening news and hear all about it.

[no_vote_no_count]

3. Uhh....how is this a story?

Who cares? They'll just change the rules to make it perfectly legal. Retroactively.

Besides, it's not news unless the RWCM says it is, and they ain't about to say, so that leads us back around to....who cares?


/snark

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

30. hey what does snark mean?

is it like sarcasm?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

40. How is your post a real post?....

/snark

[BiggJawn]

42. That's what I was thinking.

Don't know why everyone else is giving you so much trouble.

I gotta tell ya, there's been so much stuff these last 5 years that was supposed to "have legs", only to see the MSM cut 'em off at the hips that if they EVER get the goods on these bastards, the story would have to be a centipede...

It ain't a story unless Wolf Blither says it is.

[Nordmadr]

6. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1622905&mesg_id=1622905

[joefree1]

11. Not duped in LBN, hand over your Dupe Detective Badge

Duping is the sincerest form of flattery


Seating now available in the Smoking Section:
Politics, humor, death and the Devil - http://www.eDiablo.com

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. We should demand Delay's resignation

This is beyond ridiculous.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

[MADem]

8. They'll get out of it, like they always do

These incidences of malfeasance are always followed by a press statement saying that there was an "accounting error" and that they "fully intended" to pay the full freight themselves, but "somehow" an invoice was never provided to them. Of course, the "reason" that the lobbyists paid the full freight in the first place was because it was "easier to reimburse the full amount subsequent to" the boondoggle, er trip, to London.

Don't be surprised if that's how it shakes out. These guys are evil, they LIE in plain sight, and they are just bold and brazen enough to play it exactly like that. No shame, no apology, no nada...

It's what they do. The whores!

[struggle4progress]

60. Texas legislators are busily working overtime to watch Tommy's back:

Send outrageous bill straight to trash heap

Never underestimate the ability of Texas legislators to introduce outrageous bills.

.. House Bill 913 .. would require a local prosecutor who wants to file charges for violations of the state election code to first present the case to the Texas Ethics Commission. Only if the commission recommends criminal charges could the prosecutor proceed.

Denny claims this will assist local prosecutors who need help filing complaints against local officeholders, such as justices of the peace or city council candidates, and give such cases a higher profile.

Oh, and by the way, it also would derail investigations such as the one Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has under way. The probe focuses on the Texas Association of Business; Texans for a Republican Majority, associated with U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay; and Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick ...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/MYSA022605.10B.outrageousbill1ed.e2d8019b.html

[leftynyc]

9. I'm not familiar with National Journal - reliable? (eom)

[truthpusher]

10. From their website:

Link: http://nationaljournal.com/

"WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO
National Journal Group Inc. is a leading publisher of magazines, newsletters, books and directories for people who have a professional interest in politics, policy and government. Based in Washington, D.C., National Journal Group Inc. is committed to providing publications and services that are nonpartisan, reliable and of the highest quality."

[librechik]

13. yea, but they love the Bush and hate Al Gore

so read their "nonpartisan" crap with a ton of salt.

I can't stand em, to me they're no different than the National Review.

[leftynyc]

15. Thanks for the info from both of you

If a repub-friendly publication is involved - this could get very interesting.

[truthpusher]

16. That will give the story the extra cred it needs...

...so everybody won't blow it off as a bunch liberal conspiracy shit like they are with the Gannon thing.

[Guckert]

12. Delay calls them "Freedom Vouchers"

If we look into this the terrorists win
We cant forget the lessons of 9/11
"Orange Alert"

I just thought i would list the laundry list of GOP bile they will use when asked about this.

[Richardo]

20. That is hilarious, Guckert...

...if that is in fact your real name ;-)

"Freedom Vouchers" HA!

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[Guckert]

35. My "real" name is too hard to pronounce.

[intheflow]

28. Howdy!

Welcome to DU, Guckert! :hi:

[KittyWampus]

14. Sounds like fun!

[AlCzervik]

17. the only thing that could make this sweeter if somehow Ralph Reed is

involved.

[starroute]

22. This good enough for you?

This is from an article that ran in the Washington Post last fall. I can't find the original online now, though there are quote from it at various message boards.

Foundation's Funds Diverted From Mission
Records Detail Spending By GOP Lobbyist Abramoff
September 28, 2004

The Capital Athletic Foundation's Web site portrays youths at play: shaking hands over a tennis net, learning how to hold a bat, straining for a jump ball. Its text solicits donations for what it describes as "needy and deserving" sportsmanship programs. In its first four years of operation, the charity has collected nearly $6 million. ...

But tax and spending records of the Capital Athletic Foundation obtained by The Washington Post show that less than 1 percent of its revenue has been spent on sports-related programs for youths. Instead, the documents show that Jack Abramoff, one of Washington's high-powered Republican lobbyists, has repeatedly channeled money from corporate clients into the foundation and spent the overwhelming portion of its money on pet projects having little to do with the advertised sportsmanship programs, including political causes, a short-lived religious school and an overseas golf trip.

<snip>

Travel was another major foundation expense, totaling $240,416 in 2001 and 2002, records show. More than half of that was spent in August 2002 on the chartered jet that flew at least six people -- including Abramoff, House Administration Committee Chairman Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), lobbyist and former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, and then-General Services Administration chief of staff David Safavian -- to St. Andrews, Scotland, with a stopover in London on the way back.

None of those on the plane would say precisely how they spent their time, although two people confirmed that they played golf in St. Andrews. Ney spokesman Brian J. Walsh said Ney thought the trip's purpose was to raise money for the foundation, but Walsh did not cite any fundraising events.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

47. good find! nt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

57. Washington Post article last fall

Foundation's Funds Diverted From Mission

>>
Foundation's Funds Diverted From Mission
Records Detail Spending By GOP Lobbyist Abramoff

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 28, 2004; Page A01
<<

[colonel odis]

23. i look forward to the day ralph reed goes to prison and winds up

being traded for cigarettes.

[AlCzervik]

25. Thanks, thats the best visual and laugh i've had all day

Ralph reed, prison bitch.

[Demeter]

18. Couldn't happen to a more deserving fellow

or a more needy country.

[flyarm]

19. ahhhhhh yes and this was the reason the rethugs wanted to change the rules

in congress to let an convicted felon to remain in charge of congress!!

they knew this was comming..and the rethugs did everything they could to keep a criminal in power and in our congress!!

what scum bags the rethugs are!!

fly

[Enraged_Ape]

21. A (very) short list of Rs I'm waiting to see prosecuted

Rush Limbaugh
Ken Lay
Bob Novak
James D. Guckert, Man for Hire
George W. Bush
Richard Cheney

In other words, I won't hold my breath about Tom Delay ever getting what's his.

After all, children, it's OKAY if you're a Republican.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

24. Well, it's about time for Repuke change the House ethics rules again...

DeLay needs to become the "prison bitch" for cellblock D, but sadly it's not likely because his morally-challenged Repuke brethren will cover his ass by changing the rules YET AGAIN.

JB

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Wow! You mean Tom broke YET ANIOTHER

Ethics rule?

WOW!

But lets talk about Clinton, shall we?

I mean it must be Clinton's fault, SOMEHOW... that is what they always say...

[rawstory]

27. Clarification: Story was printed Friday, dated Saturday

My bad -- the Journal piece was actually printed today but dated Saturday. Corrected in article.

[lovuian]

29. WOw Tom is getting the heat!!!

Keep it up!!!

[Rainscents]

31. National Journal's Saturday Bombshell: DeLay

Cited with new house rules violations.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=129

This story is BIG!!! I hope this will bring him down!

[truthpusher]

32. I sure hope so, I can't stand this guy. n/t

[ailsagirl]

43. YECCHHH!!! I guess I never saw a photo of the creep before

Is his hair really that dark? No grey hairs? Or is it a toupe?? Sure doesn't look natural.

Why do all of *'s people look as if they've crawled out from under a huge rock???

I guess that's where all the creepy, crawly, slimy things live...

[BigBearJohn]

33. Bombshell! DeLay cited with new House rules violations

2/25/2005
National Journal’s Saturday bombshell: DeLay cited with new House rules violations
Filed under: General— site admin @ 4:04 pm


RAW STORY

The National Journal’s Peter Stone tore open the DeLay fundraising scandal in a Saturday exclusive printed Friday, RAW STORY has learned.

The prominent lawyer and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is being investigated by federal authorities for his lobbying efforts of an Indian tribe and his relations with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), paid for DeLay and DeLay’s staff’s stay in an expensive London hotel in mid-2000.

National Journal has obtained a copy of an expense voucher that Abramoff filed the law firm where he was then a leading lobbyist, Stone reports.

“Among the big-ticket expenses that Abramoff listed for reimbursement was a bill for the DeLays at the Four Seasons Hotel in London in the amount of $4,285.35,” Stone writes. “The voucher shows that the total reimbursement for expenses was $13,318.50. For some reason, it shows that both Abramoff and Buckham were owed that amount.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=129

[cmutt]

34. medal?

Doesn't that earn him a medal in this administration? You screw up and nobody cares -- you are just one of the bunch. You make a colossol F-UP and W gives you a medal.

[quaoar]

36. Tom DeLay is the king of sleaze

I can't wait for the day when DeLay does the perp walk in leg irons.

[ailsagirl]

37. DeLay and trouble go hand-in-hand

Or should I say, DeLay and corruption.

Geeez-- this guy is unbelievable!! NORMAL people would avoid this creep like the plague, yet the repug Congress loves him so much they raised the morality bar... WAY up. Do you have a felonious record??? No problem!!!

What a bunch of effing hypocrites.

[bearfan454]

38. This is going to get good real quick n/t

[Melissa G]

39. I want Delay to get busted almost more than getting Bushco et al

I had to live through his re redistricting. I would dance in the streets if they got the Bug Man from Sugarland!

[bearfan454]

55. I went to the rally in Austin

Delay is a CRIMINAL. He funnel'd corporate money through his Pac. That is a big time FELONY in Tx. Handcuffs NOW !

[Media_Lies_Daily]

41. Delay must have pissed off the REAL Texas powers-that-be....

...that being the Herr Busch Nazi Crime Family.

There is only room in Texas for one major player, and Delay is discovering that he's not it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

56. That's my suspicion as well. The cartel has decided to dump DeLay

This story came out in a pro-Rethug publication, the National Journal. This is a sign that DeLay's downfall is being planned from inside that party, which means the neocons, which means the Bush Family/Saudi/Hangers-On cartel. The Rethug propaganda machine is very thoroughly controlled, and this article would not have been allowed to move forward -- I'm guessing it was planted -- without admnistration approval.

Ole Tom must be getting so radioactive and/or so hard to control, they've decided to make an example of him and purge him right out of there. He'll be replaced by a spineless administration toady. (DeLay is a monster, but he does have a spine--not a plus in the imperial court of the blivet**.) In the meantime, the administration can brag about how this move proves how moral they are. I'm betting they'll try to scapegoat him for everything they can get away with.

But it will be fun to watch DeLay fall at last. Please pass the popcorn.

[Nothing Without Hope]

59. Another thought on this -- I keep thinking "BLACKMAIL"

It's my belief that one of the ways that the blivet** cartel controls its goons is by blackmail. Note that that this Rethug publication "obtained" this evidence that looks to be a lead to anti-DeLay evidence. Where did it come from?

My guess: DeLay is going to be purged, either because he was insufficiently compliant to every wish of the cartel, with his own love of power, or because he has become radioactive enough that his ultimate exposure -- and thus embarrassment of his supporters within the administration -- has become inevitable.

I think these cartel creeps have blackmail evidence against a LOT of people, both Rethugs and Dems -- not only in Congress and the judiciary but also in the military, in the media, in the fundie churches, and everywhere else control would be useful. There are a lot of closeted gay men, and I think there has long been blackmail of them to coerce their support and gather intel from them:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1609452
For hetero targets, they would seek other forms of blackmailable evidence.

I don't know what else they have on DeLay besides the leads cited in the article, but I don't doubt that someone as powerful as he is merits a whole dossier stored away for insurance. If he is brought down by information leaked via Rethug publications, you know it is coming from the administration.

I'm thinking this is two birds with one leak - bring down DeLay for whatever reason they are doing it AND, at the same time, DEMONSTRATE TO EVERYBODY ELSE ON THEIR BLACKMAIL LIST HOW DEADLY SERIOUS THEY ARE. I think that if they decide to bring him down, DeLay is going to serve as an object lesson to keep the ranks in line.

[roguevalley]

44. I can die happy now. God bless America.

[truthpusher]

45. I hope this happens too. One Delay is worth a thousand Guckerts. n/t

[GetTheRightVote]

46. The lies just keep piling up on the Repubs, when will they pay for them.

:kick:

[Jon8503]

48. Delay in trouble again

via Raw Story
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=129

The prominent lawyer and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is being investigated by federal authorities for his lobbying efforts of an Indian tribe and his relations with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), paid for DeLay and DeLay’s staff’s stay in an expensive London hotel in mid-2000. read on

Will he try and change the rules again?

[MSgt213]

49. Delay's not in trouble so stop saying that. He and his fellow republicans

can do what ever they want. The majority of Americans just don't give a shit. Thinking about this kind of stuff interfers with kissing our employer's asses while they fuck us over and shopping at Walmart.

[Rose Siding]

50. dupe, here's a link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1265988

[truthpusher]

51. You just linked to the same story?

But thanks, I think? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1265988

[Rose Siding]

53. The threads have been combined

I posted "Dupe" before they were combined. That is confusing, huh?

[truthpusher]

54. Oh shit, that is confusing, thanks. n/t

[Bo]

52. More scum in the house needs to go

[Vogon_Glory]

58. The Righteous Right of Sugarland and Their Representative

The "Righteous Right" of Sugarland praises Jesus and votes to re-elect crooks--then they have the gall to call progressives "immoral!"