Wes Cooley: Proof that Oregon Republicans are stupid, and never change thier spots.

[the_chinuk]

Remember ol' Wes Cooley? How he had exactly one term as US Rep from the dryside 2nd District (now home to Greg "only Statewide Republican Left" Walden)?

Remember why?

Because he lied about serving in a Special Forces unit in Korea and once the Sergeant who was his DI called him on it, accused him of being Alzheimer's afflicted?

Actually, Wes was part of a Very Special Forces unit. He went to the battlefield on a short yellow bus.

Remember how he and his wife collected her Vet's widow benefit until someone found out and then they adjusted thier wedding date accordingly, because if you're married it's a felony to collect survivor's beneifits?

And how he lied about being a motorcycle-riding champion?

You didn't see that fellah leave town ... because he slunk out in the dead of night, and decamped to southern Cali.

Well, that dude just can't quite lying. I was just as surprised as anyone when he showed up, indicted, in a business fraud scheme.

From The Oregonian:
>

Cooley, 76, who represented eastern Oregon in the U.S. House for one term in the 1990s, was indicted Thursday in Los Angeles on federal money laundering and tax charges. Prosecutors said the charges stemmed from an alleged scheme that bilked more than $10 million from investors.

A product of Southern California, he lived outside Bend in 1994 when he got himself elected to Congress. Two years later he was forced to drop his bid for re-election amid allegations he'd lied about his military service. In state voter pamphlets he had falsely claimed to have fought in Korea.

Actually, Cooley had a long and colorful history of lying about a lot of things. I discovered this when the newspaper sent me to Orange County to interview his former business associates, friends and family members.

For example, he once claimed, under oath, to hold a law degree and a master's degree. Not true.

He bragged at parties of having connections with a shadowy secret agency that "could make things happen to people," and he liked to boast that he used to kill people with piano wire.

But a background check showed the Cooley was never a spy or assassin. He was a blow-hard.

Here's My take on it.

[classof56]

1. Ah, yes, I remember Wes well. As others have said...

Knowing Wes, this actually is no surprise. His sleaze has no depths!

I live in Walden's district and desperately wish I didn't, but it is what it is.

Welcome to DU! Just checked out and bookmarked your blog. Very nice. Like your words and the photo of South Falls. I love every part of Oregon and in fact haven't been out of the state for over two years now. Really glad my native Oregonian spouse sneaked me across the border from our neighbor to the north 40 some-odd years ago. Decided then he's a keeper!

Blessings.

[the_chinuk]

2. Magnificent, Lady! You rock too!

You're very sweet to say what you did about my blog. Thank you for bookmarking me and spread the word that a new smartass is in town!

As a native Oregonian, I'm thrilled when an auslander falls in love with this place too. Every friend we bring in from outside wants to come here someday.

So your mate rocks, you rock, and I'm sorry you live in Walden's district too, but I hope our party is working like hell to change that in two years. I can't do much, but I do philosophize in the name of the good guys!

Glad to meet you!

[gratuitous]

3. Good old Wester

I remember when he first got in hot water over his alleged service in Korea, he invoked his commander, a guy whose name he half remembered as "Sergeant Poppy." It sounded like a made-up name, and probably beyond the recall. After all, this was 40 years after the fact, the guy's name might not even be "Poppy" (maybe more like Papajon or Popovich), and for he could be dead.

Lo and behold, however, out of the woodwork, from a retirement community in Arizona came none other than Sgt. Poppy himself, who called Cooley a liar and worse. I think it was Cooley's nastiest surprise ever that this guy would actually still be alive. Cooley shambled off into the sunset, but not before implying that Poppy was senile, didn't remember things correctly, and that the truth was still out there, waiting some glorious day to exonerate Wester.

I see he's kept himself busy with his usual habits while waiting.