LAT/Robert Scheer on GOP corruption: "When Connected Turns Into Corrupted"

[Nothing Without Hope]

Like he says, "In the vocabulary of crony capitalism, the word 'shame' does not exist." A fine article, but of course it's the tip of the dirtiest iceberg ever. And he doesn't even mention the recently illuminated adventures of the pious Dr. Frist:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4846742
thread title: NYT on FRIST’s possible insider trading - and HUGE 2000-3 HCA FRAUD

Besides the lying, the stealing, the killing, the hate, there is also the plain fact that the first impulse of the neocons is to spin a lie into something the public will buy. It's an entirely superficial kind of politics, built on photo ops and contrived "examples" and a compliant Poodle Press. When it comes to feeding their greed for power and money, they really DO know no shame, as so clearly shown in this jaw-droppingly repellent story:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4809342
thread title: Time: GOP senators looking for a RICH KATRINA CORPSE for estate tax pitch

Mr. Scheer's latest op/ed is, as so many of his are, well worth reading and passing to others. The people of this country need to be educated about the profound greed and corruption that underlie so many Bush Administration policies and appointments.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-scheer27sep27,0,2360507.story?track=tothtml
ROBERT SCHEER, latimes.com : Opinion

When connected turns into corrupted

September 27, 2005

CRONY CAPITALISM is the name of the Republican game. Their slogan is "take care of your friends and leave the risks of the free market for the suckers." That would be John Q. Public.

From Halliburton's overcharging in Iraq to Enron's manipulation of the California energy crisis and now the emerging hurricane reconstruction boondoggle, we witness what happens when the federal government is turned into a glorified help desk and ATM machine for politically connected corporations.

But the defining case study on the deep corruption of the Bush administration and the GOP is emerging from the myriad investigations of well-connected Republican fundraiser and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. For starters, Abramoff, a $100,000-plus fundraiser for George W. Bush's presidential campaigns, is under federal indictment on wire fraud and conspiracy charges. He is also under congressional and FBI investigations.

In the last fortnight alone, the spreading stain of Abramoff's legacy is seen in the possible undoing of Bush's nominee to the nation's No. 2 law enforcement position, the resignation and arrest of the Office of Management and Budget's former procurement chief and another blow to the already tawdry reputation of top Bush political advisor Karl Rove.

(snip - much more)

If you are not familiar with Robert Scheer's fine articles, here's a thread with excerpts from three other recent pieces that should not be missed:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x158169
thread title: LA Times/Robert Scheer: Three weeks of insights on Bush and Katrina

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. The biggest story that isn't being told in the press, is that this crap

originated at the local level. This crony capitalism is killing my city and my state. Has been for at least twenty years.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Kleptocracy. Recommended for Greatest.

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. kick n/t

[paineinthearse]

4. Trained as an interior decorator or fundraiser? Congratulations, ...

... you qualify to be chair or co-chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/26/AR2005092601598.html

CPB Taps Two GOP Conservatives for Top Posts

By Paul Farhi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 27, 2005; C02



A leading Republican donor and fundraiser was elected chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting yesterday, tightening conservative control over the agency that oversees National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. Cheryl F. Halpern, a New Jersey lawyer and real estate developer, won approval from the CPB's board. She succeeds a close board ally, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, who stirred controversy earlier this year by contending that public broadcasting favors liberal views. Tomlinson's term as chairman had expired, but he will remain a member of the board.

more at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2117354&mesg_id=2117354

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. kick n/t

[understandinglife]

6. Jason Leopold: "Return of the Crony" & TPM: Abramoff's 'family' friends

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-leopold/return-of-the-crony_b_7953.html

TPM:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_09_25.php#006636


Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. kick n/t

[understandinglife]

8. dKos: "Abramoff is no lobbyist, and this is no administration"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/27/93833/8085


Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. Thank you for these related threads, UL - adding threads like these

makes this thread more of a resource and broadens the story as well.
:hi:

[SlowDownFast]

9. Recommended.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Also connections to mafia, murder and even Atta? See this thread:

According to the Wash Post, three men have been arrested for the gang murder of Bouis, who sold a casino cruise line to Abramoff. Atta took a ride too, according to some comments in the replies...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4903099
Thread title: The Abramoff scandal takes a twist for the deadly

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. AP on Frist, Delay: "An odor of sleaziness is enveloping the Republicans"

Frist and Delay, linked in an Associated Press article as being the targets of ethics probes - this is so sweet to see at last.. Sanctimonious, greedy hypocrites! Put them in a jail cell together and let them suffer from each other's disgusting company.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/23/national/w123641D81.DTL
www.sfgate.com

Frist, DeLay Fend Off Probes Into Ethics

- By DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press Writer
Friday, September 23, 2005

(09-23) 17:30 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Heading into a midterm election year, Republicans find themselves with not one, but two congressional leaders — Bill Frist in the Senate and Tom DeLay in the House — fending off questions of ethical improprieties.

The news that federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are looking into Frist's sale of stock in HCA Inc., the hospital operating company founded by his family, comes as a criminal investigation continues of Jack Abramoff, a high-powered Republican lobbyist, and his ties to DeLay of Texas.

(snip)

The year 1994 marked the Republican revolution, when the GOP seized control of Congress after decades of Democratic rule in the House and years in the Senate. The GOP portrayed their rivals as beholden to special interests and corrupt after years of entrenchment.

(snip)

"The overall problem the Republican Party has is it is increasingly looking like Tammany Hall," Wittman {Marshall Wittman, a one-time conservative activist who now works for the centrist Democratic Leadership Council} said. "An odor of sleaziness is enveloping the Republicans and seeping into the administration."

(snip)

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. Pelosi & Waxman introduce "anti-cronyism" bill - nice if it works

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4904295
Thread title: Dems introduce 'anti-cronyism' bill

Dems introduce 'anti-cronyism' bill

Pelosi, Waxman Introduce Anti-Cronyism Bill

9/27/2005 11:06:00 AM

To: National Desk, Congressional Reporter

Contact: Brendan Daly of the office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, 202-226-7616 or Karen Lightfoot of the office of Congressman Henry A. Waxman, 202-225-5051

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, Congressman Henry A. Waxman and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi introduced the Anti-Cronyism and Public Safety Act, which would prohibit the President from appointing unqualified individuals to critical public safety positions in the government.

"President Bush has handed out some of the country's most difficult and important jobs - leadership positions in public safety and emergency response - to politically well-connected individuals with no experience or qualifications," Rep. Waxman said. "This common sense legislation will end this practice and ensure that public safety is back in the hands of those who are trained and experienced in protecting the public."

The bill would require any presidential appointee for a public safety position to have proven, relevant credentials for that position. In addition, the legislation bars from appointment to an agency any individual who has been a lobbyist for an industry subject to the agency's authority during the preceding two years.

(snip - more at posting thread and in original)

It's that lobbyist part that will especially make this non grata to the GOP and probably some Dems - that revolving door has been a staple and indeed a prized employment perk for a long time. Bush, of course, will fume over the idea that anyone would DARE to suggest that they have any say in his appointments.

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. With Delay, it's not just the Abramoff links - he's messed with Texas too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1810248
Thread title: DeLay Probe Winds Down; Charges May Loom

excerpt from the posted article, which is from Yahoo News:

WASHINGTON - A Texas grand jury's recent interest in conspiracy charges could lead to last-minute criminal indictments — possibly against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — as it wraps up its investigation Wednesday into DeLay's state political organization, according to lawyers with knowledge of the case.

Conspiracy counts against two DeLay associates this month raised concerns with DeLay's lawyers, who fear the chances are greater that the majority leader could be charged with being part of the conspiracy. Before these counts, the investigation was more narrowly focused on the state election code.

By expanding the charges to include conspiracy, prosecutors made it possible for the Travis County grand jury to bring charges against DeLay. Otherwise, the grand jury would have lacked jurisdiction under state laws.

(snip)

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. Further development in the Boulis gang killing case:

reported in this DU thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1813408
Thread title: Boulis killing indictment names fourth conspirator (Abramoff case)

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/gen/ap/FL_Boulis_Killing.html
Boulis killing indictment names fourth conspirator
By CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.
September 28, 2005 - 4:01 p.m. EDT

(snip)

Ferrari, 48, of North Miami Beach, is charged along with Anthony Moscatiello, 67, of New York, and 28-year-old James Fiorillo of Palm Coast in the Feb. 6, 2001 killing of Boulis, the Greek-born founder of the Miami Subs chain and the SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet.

Boulis, 51, was shot to death at the wheel of his car by an assailant who had pulled alongside. The shooting happened amid a bitter dispute over SunCruz, which Boulis had sold in September 2000 for $147.5 million to prominent Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and New York businessman Adam Kidan.

Abramoff and Kidan are charged in a separate, six-count federal grand jury indictment with fraud in connection with the SunCruz deal, and they have not been implicated in the Boulis slaying. Lawyers for both have insisted repeatedly that they know nothing about the killing and they have pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges.

According to the murder indictment, "Big Tony" Moscatiello and "Little Tony" Ferrari tried to hire Nicholson between Nov. 24 and Nov. 29, 2000, to kill Boulis. Fiorillo, whose nickname is "Pudgy," was not part of that deadly request, although he is charged with taking part in the murder conspiracy.

(snip)

Abramoff saved a LOT of money when Boulis was murdered. So far, he's not been indicted for the murder. I wonder if that will change at some point.

[oasis]

17. Great Scheer stuff. Thanks for posting.