Randy Duke Cunningham being sentenced NOW

[Nikki Stone 1]

Judge is deciding now

[CottonBear]

1. Goodby Randy Duke! Have fun in prison. n/t

[Jack from Charlotte]

23. Suggested birthday gift for Randy? Soap on a rope. *

*

[Road Scholar]

107. LOL Good! The ol' Dukester. Go Randy!

[Road Scholar]

108. My tax dollars finally gonna be at work! LOL

:rofl: :rofl:

[Nikki Stone 1]

2. The judge is listing the findings of guilt

He added 2 more because there were additional bribes

[Nikki Stone 1]

3. "Adding aggravating factors; evidence has been proved"

This doesn't look good for Cunningham.

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. Judge says doesn't know who corrupted whom. Yes on obstruction of

justice

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. Really hammering in the obstruction part; Accepted responsibility

not right away, but he did own up. Stood up in front of the courthouse and admitted he lied.

--Judge shaving off some points for sentencing

[cal04]

5. Prosecutors Want Max for Ex-Congressman

osecutors hoped to secure the longest prison term ever for a congressman Friday at the sentencing of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to taking bribes on a scale unparalleled in the history of Congress.
Cunningham, a Republican who resigned last year in disgrace, accepted $2.4 million from defense contractors and others in exchange for steering government contracts their way.

Prosecutors asked for the maximum — 10 years behind bars. The longest term ever meted out to a congressman was the eight years former Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, received in 2002 for taking payoffs.

Cunningham's attorney Lee Blalack asked for six years for the former Navy "Top Gun" flight instructor and Vietnam War flying ace.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060303/ap_on_go_co/congressman_bribery

[AlCzervik]

6. where are you hearing this on?

[MadMaddie]

Self Delete-Dupe

[MadMaddie]

7. Well as the saying goes you Reap what you Sow...

the other repugs better get ready....cause their day infront of the court is coming!!

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Where - when?

Got a link or a channel?

Thanks.

[Nikki Stone 1]

11. Judge wants to give 135-168 months; does not depart from 10yr

sentencing guidelines

[AlCzervik]

12. where are hearing this, please?

[Dinger]

13. Yeah, No Alerts, Anywhere (nt)

[AlCzervik]

16. yeah, i give up.

[Nikki Stone 1]

15. Judge "What you did was aggravated in scope. duration and nature"

thesandiegochannel.com

[hang a left]

18. I didn't even know we had a channel???

[Career Prole]

14. Airing live now on WOM(f)G!!!!!!!!111

:eyes:

[Coexist]

10. Where??! Please.

[Nikki Stone 1]

17. ABC affiliate in San Diego at thesandiegochannel.com

Judge seems pissed

[Coexist]

19. thanks! LINK HERE LINK HERE!!!:

http://www.10news.com/video/7652471/detail.html

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. "I dare say we've paid a lot of money for things we didn't need"

Judge

[Nikki Stone 1]

22. "I'm surprised at you" --Judge to Cunningham

..that you allowed yourself to go that far in that direction. The word avarice is an antiquated word." Judge thinks it's the right word

[Nikki Stone 1]

24. Cunningham nodding his head as he listens

,,,

[Lochloosa]

25. Keep 'em coming...please

[Nikki Stone 1]

26. Judge tells Cunningham about his own job and raising kids but he,

the judge, did it the "right" way. Judge apparently had 2 jobs

[Nikki Stone 1]

27. "8 distinguised terms in Congress."--Judge begins mitigating factors

...

[Nikki Stone 1]

28. "Your weren't wet, you weren't cold, you weren't hungry. Yet you did

these things" Judge

[Nikki Stone 1]

29. Harm: Lack of confidence in politics, undermined the opportunity of hones

politicians

[Nikki Stone 1]

30. Judge references other San Diego scandals: pension board indictments

The "ripple effect" the judge

[Nikki Stone 1]

31. "Most people in politics are doing their level best but you put a dent

in their ability to do that. "

Judge to Cunningham

[Nikki Stone 1]

35. Sentence recommendation of 10 years fully supported BUT

Before, Cunningham had 59 years of pretty good living

[Nikki Stone 1]

38. Judge Larry Burns speaking from the bench: mentions 1972

and Cunningham in the Vietnam war. Cunningham enlisted, shot down 3 MIGs in one day. Judge respects this

[Nikki Stone 1]

39. "I credit your service. It's meaningful. I think your country owes you"

"I can appreciate your sense of duty"

[Nikki Stone 1]

40. Some say your dance card's full on that. You were elected to Congress

But I think you have some equity

[Nikki Stone 1]

41. "Send a message to politicians, but aother message should be sent

for service to country"

On resignation: "I think you finally got it right."

[Nikki Stone 1]

43. I've given this a great deal of thought, No formula

Been conscientious about this

[Nikki Stone 1]

46. I was impressed in particular by letters from two of whom knew you

Young man recovering at the Naval Hospital at Bethesda

[Nikki Stone 1]

47. "You flipped him a silver dollar and told him he's be a success"

Second

A Navy flier, Cunningham was his instructor

[Nikki Stone 1]

49. 1987, you had the moral courage to give an African American a

number one rating

[Nikki Stone 1]

50. 100 MONTHS

[Nikki Stone 1]

52. After that, supervised release

60 months for first count, 40 months for second

[Nikki Stone 1]

55. EIGHT YEARS, FOUR MONTHS

The max was 10, the lawyers asked for 6, Judge seems to have split the difference

[Drum]

More than Traficant, yes? A new record??? nt

[Jack from Charlotte]

65. What are the odds the AWOL/moron pardons him?*

*

[hang a left]

54. fucking disgrace!!!!!!

[Jack from Charlotte]

45. His service makes his crimes even worse.......

Screwing over everyone in the service by stealing..... A good reason his sentenced should be doubled.

[TahitiNut]

57. As a veteran, I completely agree.

Duty does NOT end - especially for those decorated!

[hang a left]

36. Judge obviously conscious of TV cameras. n/t

[revree]

32. I CAN'T GET LIVE LINK.

POST WHAT IS HAPPENING, PLEASE!!!

[Lochloosa]

33. Stick w/ Nikki

[AlCzervik]

34. me neither, i click it but the feed won't run.

[Coexist]

42. maybe go from here:

http://www.10news.com/index.html

[AlCzervik]

51. thanks, i tried and it still wont load, it's probably very busy.

[Coexist]

53. 60 months on first count, 40 on second - consecutive.

[AlCzervik]

59. 5 years total?

[AlCzervik]

60. oh, never mind, i was thinking concurrent.

[Coexist]

37. Did you try this? It takes a while to load.

http://www.10news.com/video/7652471/detail.html

[Dinger]

21. Tom Cruise To Play "Duke"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20060228/cm_huffpost/016476;_ylt=A86.I0F39ANEBLwAjAX9wxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

Not exactly a close resemblance.:rofl:

[MADem]

44. Oh, gag!!! That TOP GUN movie was bullshit enough!!!!!!!

Cruise is going to write the screenplay himself. "It will be a docudrama," he said. "The gist of the story will be true, but we will punch up the story to make it more interesting." One fictitious character will be a sultry Washington defense lobbyist, Wanda Wickham, whose seductive ways help turn Cunningham to the dark side; she will be played by Katie Holmes. "We will delay the shooting until after the baby is born and Katie is back in shape," Cruise said.

[thebigidea]

100. pssst. Joke.

[MADem]

101. Jeez, it's hard to tell

I would have sworn THIS was satire, but it ain't:

His last film, The Passion of the Christ, was spoken entirely in the dead languages of Latin and Aramaic. Now Mel Gibson will appear in a brief spot on this Sunday’s Oscar broadcast speaking another exotic tongue: Maya. That's the sole language of Apocalypto, the adventure epic set in Pre-Columbian Mexico that Gibson is currently shooting on the edge of southern Mexico's rainforests, in the state of Veracruz. ""I wanted to shake up the stale action-adventure genre," Gibson told TIME, which was given an exclusive peek at the filming for a story to appear in a forthcoming issue. "So I think we almost had to come up with something utterly different like this."

This week Gibson, who just turned 50 and has shed the beard he had been sporting of late, was choreographing scores of extras-- many of them local Mayas who’ve never seen a movie, let alone acted in one-- in a fiery scene depicting a Maya city’s obsession with the kilned limestone used for the temples in which some of the crowd may soon be sacrificed to the gods. Holding a Camel cigarette in one hand and a bullhorn in the other, Gibson put on his best bug-eyed Lethal Weapon face and pleaded with them to "show more fear, more trepidation! It’s like Mars! It’s hell on Earth!" When most of them gave him blank stares, Gibson sheepishly turned to the crew. "Traduccion, por favor" – translation, please.

Could those human sacrifices cause as much of a stir among the politically correct as what some saw as anti-semitism in Gibson's depiction of the crucifixion of Christ? "After what I experienced with The Passion," he says, "I frankly don’t give a flying f--- about much of what they think." Yet Apocalypto promises some surprises. The film, which Gibson co-wrote with first-time screenwriter Farhad Safinia, is an allegory about the collapse of civilizations--with warnings about environmental abuse and political fear-mongering, not the sort of thing to comfort conservatives. And the obvious care that has been taken with costumes, sets and the dialect-correct language suggests the kind of cultural attention filmdom has rarely if ever accorded the Mayas, who were the Greeks of the New World.

"The Maya, the subtitles, it won’t even matter in this film," because of its fast-paced action, said Gibson, as thick black kiln smoke wafted across the set. Then he picked up the bullhorn again and approached another crowd of extras covered like ghosts in thick white limestone powder. "Try to think of what makes you most afraid!" he shouted. "My mother!" an extra shouted back. Gibson smiled and nodded at the crew: "I told you this film was going to be very, very different."

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1169484,00.html

[Catherine Vincent]

48. How much you want to bet he'll get off easy?

[Nikki Stone 1]

58. EIGHT YEARS SIX MONTHS

...

[Nikki Stone 1]

61. Cunningham asked to see his 91-year old mother. Waiting to see

if judge will allow that

[Nikki Stone 1]

63. Over 1.8 million dollars in restitution for BACK TAXES ordered by

Judge

[TahitiNut]

64. 100 months = 8 years (96 months) and 4 months

[MADem]

62. I'm shocked Joe Carroll wrote a letter on his behalf

Randy was a total ASSHOLE on active duty, he never did his work, he rested on his laurels, and he was a miserable shithead to MANY. For every kindness to one, he was a turd to dozens. Screw him.

SIXTY MONTHS, then FORTY MONTHS, consecutive, then supervised probation.

The fucker got off easy. With good time, he'll be home in no time.

And he wants to go see his elderly mother before he goes to the can....boo hoo.

[Career Prole]

66. He got 100 months...maximum was 120.

He gets 20 months off for not spending all the bribe money on crack and fast women. :evilgrin:

[Jersey Devil]

56. 100 months total sentence

60 on the first count, 40 on the second, consecutive

[MADem]

68. Eight years, four months, he split the diff between the prosecution and

defense.

They're saying he will have a hard time getting the cash to pay restitution...hell, Tom Cruise bought the rights to his sordid tale, he can use that!

[Jersey Devil]

71. and don't forget he will NOT lose his pension from Congress

He'll be collecting for the rest of his life from the US taxpayers. Isn't that a disgrace in and of itself?

[Blue_In_AK]

78. Perhaps it will be seized to pay for his almost $2 million

restitution.

[Blue_In_AK]

96. Follow-up -

My daughter who is on Cunningham's defense team told me that his pension will be going toward paying off the restitution, which is as it should be.

[MADem]

102. And he won't lose his Navy pension either--he'll make more in retirement

than most stiffs do working every day....

[in_cog_ni_to]

73. GOOD! 8 years 4 months is good. I wish it was 10 years, but...

I'll take 8+.;)

[MADem]

79. He will be out in a little more than five with TOFGB

For every couple of days, they get a day of good time. If he does three quarters of that sentence, that will be a lot. The bastard got off easy.

[in_cog_ni_to]

85. That SUCKS. These assholes need to be sent a HUGE message

to stop their ILLEGAL deals!

[hang a left]

93. Doesn't it work different for federal sentencing??

I think they do the whole thing. I could be wrong.

[MADem]

95. He can get at least a fifteen percent reduction, still, just on TOFGB

The sentence, which could be reduced by 15 percent for good behavior, completed a stunning downfall of a legendary political figure in California who catapulted from Vietnam War hero and "Top Gun" icon to respected civic leader to eight-term congressman.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/politics/03cnd-cunningham.html?hp&ex=1141448400&en=183229e5e4fe3711&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Also, there is the "rat factor," and anyone who did business with the Dukester is probably shitting bricks right about now:

Whatever sentence he gets, Cunningham will have a chance to shorten it.

He has agreed to cooperate with the continuing investigation of bribery and improper contracts, and prosecutors have said that he has helped. If they find his assistance particularly useful in the future, they may return to Burns later and ask for a lesser sentence.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060303-9999-7m3burns.html

I'm betting he's out in five, six tops.

[Caution]

103. Not true. It is 1 in 6 in the federal system. He will do 7 years.

2 months good behavior for every 12 in. There is no parole in the federal system. He will do the full 7 years in prison. And it won't be pleasant.

[MADem]

105. He can get a fifteen percent reduction, as I noted above, on good behavior

ALONE. Then there is the strong likelihood--damn near a certainty--that his lawyer will go back before the judge and ask for a sentence reduction based on his cooperation. He isn't done singing yet--he will rat everyone and their mother out to get time off that sentence. I posted links to this info elsewhere in this thread.

I stand by five years, six tops.

[in_cog_ni_to]

67. 10 YEARS! I want the maximum! SEND A MESSAGE

to the rest of these rat bastards out here! If he gets off easy, they'll just continue doing what they've always done. They will learn NOTHING from this.

[MADem]

72. Eight years, four months, plus 1.8 mil restitution

"He was very emotional..." Yeah, bet he was emotional when he was handing out his bribe menus.

He only weighs 175, down from more than a deuce and a half...

He will earn good time, and probably be out in six year, betcha...

[Nikki Stone 1]

69. Now 3:00. Sentencing hearing has been taking 2 hours

People are surprised at sentence

[Nikki Stone 1]

70. Packed courthouse, Cunningham emotional

Cunningham has lost weight: 265 to 175 pounds

Voice broke

Judge was compassionate at times, but also extremely stern

ABC affiliate

[TahitiNut]

74. The next question is: WHICH PRISON?

Will it be "Club Fed" or something more like Leavenworth?

[MADem]

80. He asked for TAFT, near Bakersfield, because it has good medical care

and is NEAR HIS FAAAAAAAAAMILY.....

[0007]

83. ....also has a nice golf course.

[TahitiNut]

84. That's "Club Fed" ... warm weather, sunshine, and shuffleboard.

It's a privately-managed 'secure' facility with 1,758 inmates in the Correctional Institute and another 559 in the Camp.

Here's an article from GOvEXEC (a trade pub) ...
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=21892&printerfriendlyVers=1&

The boldest experiment in federal prison privatization is under way at the Taft Correctional Institution, located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Just months before Taft was set to open as a low-security facility in 1997, Congress ordered it privatized for at least five years as a pilot test of outsourcing. So while the Bureau of Prisons owns the facility, Wackenhut Corrections Corp. has a contract worth as much as $302.4 million over 10 years to house 2,346 low- and minimum-security inmates. The deal marks the first time the federal government has hired a contractor to run a government-owned prison. "Clearly, the intent of Congress is to evaluate the effectiveness of privatization," says Janus. The bureau must report to Congress on privatization at Taft this summer.

Some early returns on the Taft pilot program are already in. Interviews with government contract administrators at Taft and reviews of reports on the privatization effort suggest that hiring a private company to run a federal prison may cost more and, in many cases, contractors do not follow the same standards required for federal prisons.

Studies by two Bureau of Prisons research organizations - the National Institute of Corrections and the Office of Research and Evaluation - have raised questions about the idea of widespread outsourcing of federal prison operations. An internal bureau summary of its own studies and those conducted by outside organizations says that privatized prisons require larger staffs, have higher turnover among correctional officers and have a higher rate of drug use among inmates than federally operated prisons do.

A 1999 analysis commissioned by the National Institute of Corrections found that the Bureau of Prisons paid $1.9 million more in fiscal 1998 ($28.3 million) to operate Taft, including $618,000 for monitoring contracts, than it would have spent if it had operated the facility itself. And the costs of running the facility privately will continue to rise, researchers found. The higher costs were blamed mainly on the private sector having a larger staff at Taft than what the bureau would require, the study states.

:puke: :puke: :puke:


Here's a comprehensive description of Taft Correctional Institution ...
http://www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury/early_releases/PDFs/lawjustice_taft_correctional.pdf

FINDINGS:
• TCI houses 1,536 Low Security inmates and 512 inmates in the Minimum Security Satellite Camp for a total of 2,048 inmates at a cost of $40.00 to $60.00 per day per inmate. As is the case in most prisons TCI is over capacity.
• Inmates vary in age from 18 to 83 and are incarcerated for various crimes that include, but are not limited to, drug trafficking, illegal weapons, immigration, and white collar crimes.
• Housing consists of three two-story buildings inside Low Security and one identical building in the Satellite camp. Each building has two wings and each wing comprises a unit. Each unit is managed by a unit manager, case managers, and counselors. Each wing has an officer’s station overlooking 64 inmate cubicles. Inmates have access to a TV room, food preparation rooms, laundry rooms, multi-purpose spaces, toilets, and showers.
• Educational opportunities include classes to obtain a high school diploma or GED taught by outside professionals and inmate tutors. Also available are online classes with Taft College.
• Vocational opportunities offered are electrical work, computers, maintenance, food preparation, carpentry, and other job training programs. TCI is presently contracting with “Wheels for the World” for wheel chair reconditioning.
• Inmates have an outdoor recreation area for handball, bocce ball, soccer, basketball, and baseball. Indoor recreation has many areas to listen to or play musical instruments, work on leather work or ceramics, play pool, or work out on cardio-vascular machines.
• TCI employs 40 medical staff and offers 24 hour care when necessary. There is a trauma room for emergencies and x-ray machines are available.
• Inmates are fed three hot meals a day, buffet style, in a clean spacious kitchen. The staff of TCI has a separate kitchen but eats the same menu.
• The Committee was told there are few disciplinary problems at TCI. However, if the need arises there is a Secure Housing Unit (SHU) where an inmate will lose all privileges while detained in the area. The Unit could house 144 inmates in two - man cells.
• There is a Substance Abuse Program on site which currently has two counselors. TCI is in the process of hiring a Spanish speaking counselor for the program.
• Visiting for inmates is in an open day room area. The only contact is upon arrival and departure of visitors when an embrace is acceptable. During the visiting time inmates may not have physical contact with family or friends.
• Inmates are allowed 300 minutes of phone calls per month to approved family or friends willing to accept collect calls.
• TCI accommodates all religions with chapels, synagogues, Indian Sweat Lodges, or other meeting areas. Religious dietary needs are met such as for Ramadan and Yom Kippur.
• There have been no escapes since the present warden has been in charge. In the past only two walk away escapes have been recorded and both inmates were apprehended.

[MADem]

97. WACKENHUT? Man, you can't make this shit up!!!

Amazing how these guys in the federal pen get more goods and services than Katrina victims....

[Jack from Charlotte]

77. Maybe he can save up a bunk for Tom Delay or Scooter.*

*

[Nikki Stone 1]

75. TAFT prison near Bakersfield chosen

Close to home, medical care available if needed,

Camp type, no fence

[Nikki Stone 1]

76. Coverage over for now.

...

[MADem]

81. They are still interviewing--there is a lawyer up talking to a reporter

on a live shot--from the prosecution, sounds like.

[Nikki Stone 1]

82. I think they've switched to their cable affiliate

The regular news is on in 1/2 hour

[Nikki Stone 1]

91. More news below

...

[Nikki Stone 1]

86. "Most severe sentence for a member of Congress ever convicted"--news

...

[Nikki Stone 1]

87. Cunningham taken IMMEDIATELY into custody

Guess he doesn't get to see his mom

[Nikki Stone 1]

88. Cunningham could get out in 7 years with good behavior

Prosecution say they are satisfied with sentence

[Nikki Stone 1]

89. Taft Prison is for a full medical workup. Apparently they could move him

....

[Nikki Stone 1]

90. Cunningham cried in court when war buddies supported him

"We all fought in Vietnam...he flew 300 combat missions...We want to support that aspect of him."

[Nikki Stone 1]

92. McKinnon: "Cunningham totally disgusted with himself"

Cunningham has been staying at the McKinnon ranch

[Nikki Stone 1]

94. There is apparently a link with the number 3 man of the CIA, related

to Cunningham's purchases.

Cunningham's luxury items will be auctioned off.

[DemonFighterLives]

98. Who is number 3 man?

Thanks for the thread. Nomination number 5!

I am glad he got 8 years anyway. I'm tired of the wrongdoers getting a slap on the wrist and a vacation. Most screwups in the dub admin. fail upwards. I'm surprised the dukester is not nominated to the supreme court.

[Nikki Stone 1]

106. Didn't get the name, dammit. The coverage was moving too fast

If someone got the name, please post it.

[Lasher]

99. What's Cunningham's net worth looking like now?

Neither he, nor his heirs, should end up with a single dime. It's just basically wrong for people like him to end up retaining part of their illicit gains after everything is said and done.

For example, Ken Lay is just about broke right now, and that suits me fine. Hey, I think I'm richer than he is!

[BrotherBuzz]

104. He's busted and they are selling off his assets - lock, stock, and barrel

IRS to auction Cunningham cache March 23

By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

Antiques and home furnishings seized from former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, goods that an auction company official says have a "certain provenance," will be auctioned off March 23.

More than four dozen items were seized by the IRS from Cunningham's former Rancho Santa Fe mansion late last year after he pleaded guilty in November to bribery and tax evasion.

The items were seized after the disgraced Republican lawmaker admitted they were bought for him as bribes or with money illegally funneled to his bank account by defense contractors. Cunningham has a back tax bill of at least $1.57 million, according to federal authorities.

The IRS and its contracted sales agency, EG&G Technical services, will conduct the sale at a warehouse in Rancho Dominguez in Los Angeles County, the federal government announced Thursday.

"Cunningham's assets will be sold along with those seized from drug dealers and others involved in illicit activity," said Britney Sheehan, an EG&G spokeswoman reached at the company's offices in Miami.

<more>

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/03/news/top_stories/21_33_053_2_06.txt