WP: Federal Probe Has Edged Closer to Texan

[seafan]

Federal Probe Has Edged Closer to Texan

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 4, 2006; A07

The pending resignation of former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), once one of the most powerful lawmakers in Washington, comes amid a federal criminal investigation that already has reached into his inner circle of longtime advisers.

DeLay faces a trial later this year on money-laundering charges in Texas that stems from an October 2005 indictment related to corporate contributions to state elections in 2001 and 2002. Since then, two former aides and one of his most prominent contributors have pleaded guilty in a separate federal probe to crimes including conspiracy; wire, tax and mail fraud; and corruption of public officials.

The picture appeared to darken further last week with the guilty plea of Tony C. Rudy, DeLay's former deputy chief of staff. Edwin A. Buckham, the lawmaker's former chief of staff and his closest political and spiritual adviser, was described in court documents filed in the case as someone who collaborated with Rudy, Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former DeLay aide Michael Scanlon. They arranged payments, trips and favors that the department's investigators charged were part of an illegal conspiracy, according to the documents.

DeLay himself was formally designated as "Representative #2" in the documents, a title that cannot be considered a good omen. The lawmaker designated in the same documents as Representative #1 -- Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) -- has been cited by the Justice Department as having received "things of value" for performing official acts.

snip

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040302145_pf.html

[QuettaKid]

1. all I can say is

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[Skink]

2. I'd like to add this...

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[rodeodance]

4. moving but slow as maple sugar sap in January

[callous taoboy]

3. Can I jump in?

:bounce: :bounce:

[wicket]

10. Let me join you....

:bounce: :bounce: :rofl:

[Jack Rabbit]

5. !!

I had my say here.

[seafan]

6. "I have never seen a better vote counter than Tom DeLay."

Thanks to Raw Story for posting this press release from the NRCC:

April 4, 2006

WASHINGTON - National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Reynolds today issued the following statement in response to Rep. Tom DeLay's announcement:

snip

"Tom's invaluable presence on the campaign trail will certainly be missed as we continue the battle to strengthen our House Republican Majority, but on this day, we celebrate him for time and again delivering on our party's bold agenda of reform. To say Tom was a driving force in every key accomplishment of this Republican Congress is no understatement.

"In all my years as an elected official, I have never seen a better vote counter than Tom DeLay.

snip

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Republican_campaign_chair_lauds_DeLay_as_0404.html

Yes, it's because of Tom DeLay's skills at directing vote counts as only ONE of the reasons he will be vilified by history.






Miami 'Riot' Squad: Where Are They Now?

January 24, 2005

As we begin the second Bush administration, let's take a moment to reflect upon one of the most historic episodes of the 2000 battle for the White House -- the now-legendary "Brooks Brothers Riot" at the Miami-Dade County polling headquarters.

This was when dozens of "local protesters," actually mostly Republican House aides from Washington, chanted "Stop the fraud!" and "Let us in!" when the local election board tried to move the re-counting from an open conference room to a smaller space.

With help from their GOP colleagues and others, we identified some of these Republican heroes of yore in a photo of the event.

Some of those pictured have gone on to other things, including stints at the White House.

snip

No. 1. Tom Pyle, who had worked for Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), went private sector a few months later, getting a job as director of federal affairs for Koch Industries.

snip

Fast forward to today.... we suffer the consequences of DeLay's participation in Grand Theft Election 2000. An impending convicted felon.

Oh, wait, we've been dogged by convicted felons ever since this Republican Revolution stampeded into absolute power. This garbage has rotted so much that we can no longer identify its components. It's all one vile stench.


There's absolutely NOTHING Christian about this, Tom.


So we have come full circle, back to Election 2000 in Florida.


Mr. Gore, your country needs you now.

[saigon68]

7. Those little weasels remind me of this

Michael Bolton: If we get caught, we're not going to white-collar resort prison. No, no, no. We're going to federal POUND ME IN THE ASS prison.
Samir: I don't want to go to ANY prison!

[NYC]

8. Where is Spargo in that picture?

Do you know?

[seafan]

11. I've never seen a photo of Thomas J. Spargo.

All the others in the photo are identified in the WP article.

Sorry.


On edit: He would have been 57-58 years of age in 2000, and I really can't pick out any clear individual in that WP riot photo...


Spargo loses fight for job

By MICHELE MORGAN BOLTON
April 1, 2006

ALBANY -- Justice Thomas J. Spargo was hearing cases Friday when his secretary entered the courtroom with a note.

The state Supreme Court justice read it adjourned the proceedings. "I've just been removed from the bench," he said. "I have to go."

The state Commission on Judicial Conduct decided that Spargo, 63, should be removed from his $136,700 office, saying the drastic sanction is employed in only the most egregious circumstances to "remove a stain on the judiciary."

"By engaging in a series of acts that conveyed an appearance of 'exploiting his judicial office for personal benefit,' the respondent diminished public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary as a whole and has irretrievably damaged his usefulness on the bench."

snip

Allegations of impropriety involving Spargo's participation in a GOP demonstration in 2000 during the Bush/Gore vote recount in Florida were dropped.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=467201&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=4/1/2006

(Emphasis added)


Man, this corruption knows no bounds.

[NYC]

13. Thanks.

I was hoping he was in the picture.

[yellowcanine]

9. Closer Lyrics by The Corrs

Closer Lyrics
by The Corrs

I see you, walking everyday
With a smile beneath frown
But I won't look away, yeah

What does it mean
What's there to see
If I look

Closer, closer, closer, closer
Closer, closer, closer, closer

Where are you going
And what are you thinking at all
Your eyes show nothing more
Than a dazed oblivion
What does it mean
What will I see
When I look

Closer, closer, closer, closer
Closer, closer, closer, closer..., ah, yeah

You don't see me
Watching everyday
My smile could warm your frown
And I'd never look away, never look away

There's more to me (there's more to me)
Than what you see
When you look

Closer, closer, closer, closer
Closer, closer, closer, closer
Closer, (close....r) closer, closer, closer..., ah yeah-ie...
Closer, (ah ha) closer, (ah ha) closer, no, no, no, (ah ha)
(ah ha, ah ha, ah ha, ah ha, ah ha,) ah, no, no...

[seafan]

12. This is such a great day for America's healing process to start.

But we will never rest until ALL of these thieves are removed and punished for their actions.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

14. I want more.

I want stocks, pillories and even the odd gibbet. Heads on pike poles at the entrances to Washington, for their replacements to gaze upon as they go to work in their first days on the job. Then, I want them to get to work, actively reversing the damages, the crap laws and the alienation that people feel towards this country and its government.

Most of all, I want the end to this police state we live in.

[happydreams]

16. Me too

:hi:

[donkeyotay]

17. But... we're a nation of laws. So only the Unitary Executive could

place heads on poles.:evilgrin: ...if he thought it best... keeping us safe and all.

[seafan]

19. I want to see immediate breakup of media conglomerates,

2. Strong corporate regulation, with tax incentives to maintain employment ranks and the manufacturing base inside the 50 States and with tax payments to the U. S. Treasury. No offshoring or outsourcing without heavy, heavy penalties assessed on the U. S. corporation. Revoke corporate personhood.


3. Publicly-financed political campaigns. No exceptions.


4. Prohibit pay-to-play lobbying.


5. All retiring politicians must be prohibited from working as lobbyists for 5 years after leaving office. This would stop the revolving door from making legislative decisions benefiting a brand-new lobbying job, soon after leaving Congress.


6. Re-examine all financial support for other nations, with an eye for fairness and based upon true need to support their populations. Open these discussions to public Congressional hearings.


7. Leave Iraq. Now. Turn over all newly built bases to Iraqis. Begin planning for the UN to preside over Iraq's rebuilding and peacekeeping, putting all competitive bidding for rebuilding contracts under UN control and supervision.


8. Make cash payment reparations to Iraqis, to be disbursed through the UN, for what we have destroyed in their country, and for support for the fractured families in mourning and catastrophic circumstances, to help them to pick up the pieces of their lives and livelihoods and rebuild their infrastructure.


9. Make an exhaustive list of harmful * policies in effect, and surgically excise each and every one of them.


10. Commence with criminal investigations for treason, of members of the * Administration, leading to indictment, public trial and conviction, followed by sentencing.


11. Revoke/block all pardons * may try to bestow upon his criminal cohorts. Iran-Contra-style pardons will not happen again.


12. Nullify all Supreme Court appointments under the illegitimate * Administration. For Roberts and Alito, require new and open confirmation hearings if they are still interested in serving as justices. Require them to answer all questions fully. No detailed and truthful answers equals no confirmation. Simple as that.


13. Expressly prohibit the merging of church and state, as written in the U. S. Constitution. Enforce this law.


14. Promise The People of America that elected officials will run our government for the people, not for a wealthy few, and certainly not for faceless, mercenary corporations.


15. Return to pen and paper voting nationwide, hand-counted immediately after polls close, under direct public observation, with the results telephoned into the Secretary of State's office. Permanently ban all electronic/electromechanical voting machines.


16. Abolish the Electoral College. Every person's vote is equal in our country. It's time to stop ignoring 40 states when we elect our President.


17. Immediate planning committees to establish universal, single-payer health care for our people, throughout our lives.


This is just for starters....


LOL, you got me going, Tandalayo_Scheisskopf.

[happydreams]

15. The turning point IMHO. From here these fascist rat-bastards

are going to tumble one after another.

[geek tragedy]

18. Correction: FORMER Texan, now that Tommy D is movin' to Virginia n/t