Good ole Jack!
Good ole Jack!
I will quote only liberal outlets & groups in this article:
Unfit for Majority Leader
By Ruth Marcus
"The Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history," Pelosi pledged on election night. Five days later she wrote Murtha a letter endorsing his bid to become her No. 2.
Not the most promising start.
For years Murtha has relied on the Abscam bottom line to argue that the case is not a problem for him: He wasn't indicted. But he was named a co-conspirator in the bribery scheme. The feckless House ethics committee didn't take action against him, though the outside investigator it hired quit in disgust after the panel rejected his recommendation to file misconduct charges.
"I am the guy that didn't take the money," Murtha said this summer when his opponent raised the issue.
Yes, but: He's the guy who, brought into the deal by two other House members -- Frank Thompson (D-N.J.) and John Murphy (D-N.Y.) -- agreed to meet with men offering money in return for official action. He's the guy who knew these two colleagues expected a payoff and even vouched for them with the would-be bribers ("Both of them are solid.").
He's the guy who, when offered a bribe, still wanted to do a deal. "I'm delighted to do business with him and do every goddamn thing I can within bounds, you know, so I don't get myself in jail, in order to get him into the country and whatever needs to be done," he says on the video. He’s the guy who -- as a member of the House ethics committee-- did nothing to stop the scheme.
Sorry, but I'm not buying Murtha's argument that he's the victim of a "Swift-boating attack" over "unfounded allegations that occurred 26 years ago." On its own, Murtha's Abscam conduct is disqualifying.
Even if it weren't, though, everything in Murtha's post-Abscam life is of a piece with the back-scratching, dealmaking style on display in the video. In a story last month, the New York Times described how Murtha has operated "a political trading post" in a back corner -- the Murtha corner, it's called -- of the House floor, where Democrats and Republicans alike come to get Murtha's blessing for earmarks or his help on close votes. As Pennsylvania Democrat Paul Kanjorski told the Times, "nobody ever leaves completely disappointed."
Murtha is one of 12 Democrats who voted against the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. He's one of four who killed a strong Democratic ethics package earlier this year. He is a one-man earmarking factory whose beneficiaries have included a lobbying firm that employed his brother and another founded by a former top aide.
The biggest puzzle, and biggest disappointment, in all this is Pelosi, in her first several days as speaker-elect. Now comes this lose-lose move.
If she gets her way and helps Murtha win a come-from-behind victory against Maryland's Steny Hoyer in tomorrow's leadership election, she's buying herself -- and the Democratic caucus -- endless news stories about Murtha's ethics. If, as he says, Hoyer has the votes, Pelosi has made herself look weak within the caucus -- not a smart move for any new leader, and certainly not for the first woman in the job. Perhaps the late timing and measured phrasing of Pelosi's endorsement were meant to ensure that it would have little impact. If so, Pelosi failed to recognize that once she weighed in, the vote for majority leader would inevitably be seen as a gauge of her clout.
I wrote a few weeks back that Pelosi's first test as speaker would be whether she picks Florida's Alcee Hastings -- who was removed from his federal judgeship for agreeing to take a bribe -- to head the intelligence committee. As it turns out, I was wrong. Pelosi's first test was how to handle Murtha. Whatever happens tomorrow, she flunked. Whether she'll get another failing grade on Hastings remains to be seen.
_____________________________________________________________
Pelosi directly intervened in the heated contest between Murtha and House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) on Sunday by circulating a letter to Democratic lawmakers. The letter voiced her support for Murtha and put her prestige on the line in a closely fought leadership battle. Some Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups say they are baffled that Pelosi would go out of her way to back Murtha's candidacy after pledging to make the new 110th Congress the most ethical and corruption-free in history.
Murtha, a longtime senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, has battled accusations over the years that he has traded federal spending for campaign contributions, that he has abused his post as ranking party member on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, and that he has stood in the way of ethics investigations. Those charges come on top of Murtha's involvement 26 years ago in the FBI's Abscam bribery sting.
"Pelosi's endorsement suggests to me she was interested in the culture of corruption only as a campaign issue and has no real interest in true reform," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a Democratic-leaning group. "It is shocking to me that someone with [Murtha's] ethics problems could be number two in the House leadership."
"People have known about these things for months," said one Democratic House member who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to anger the presumed incoming speaker. "I am sure they are going to become much more important in the next few days."
Pelosi said in her letter that she was swayed to endorse Murtha, a longtime ally, by his early call for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Pelosi aides and Murtha supporters said the charges against him are trivial or untrue. A senior Pelosi aide conceded that her endorsement is risky but said that she had to show her loyalty to Murtha, who has been steadfastly loyal to her.
At issue is Murtha's relationships with two defense lobbyists. Paul Magliocchetti of the PMA Group is a former aide to the lawmaker, and Robert "Kit" Murtha is his brother and was a senior partner at KSA Consulting from 2002 to 2005.
The PMA Group has become the go-to firm to approach Murtha as ranking Democrat on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, CREW charges. In the 2006 defense appropriations bill, PMA clients reaped at least 60 special provisions, or "earmarks," worth more than $95 million.
The PMA Group and its clients have been top campaign contributors for Murtha: $274,649 in the 2006 campaign cycle, $236,799 in the 2004 cycle and $279,074 in the 2002 cycle.
After Kit Murtha joined KSA Consulting in 2002, one of his first clients was a wireless networking company called Aeptec Microsystems Inc., which was seeking to build a business complex in Murtha's district with a Pennsylvania state grant. Aeptec executive Michael Hoban contributed $2,000 to Murtha's campaign that year.
In 2004, Murtha helped secure the grant. A few months later, the Appropriations subcommittee approved a $4.2 million earmark for the company.
Murtha may be the Democratic Party's consummate dealer in home-district spending. Taxpayers for Common Sense identified more than $103 million in earmarks in the 2006 defense spending bill that Murtha requested for his home district in southwestern Pennsylvania -- nearly $80 million of which cleared President Bush's desk.
"Hoyer gains his influence the 'regular' way," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "He travels, and he raises money for his leadership [political action committee], which doles it out to help Democrats get elected. Murtha doesn't bother with that nicety. For years, he has used his powerful perch as the ranking Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee to dole out earmarks to build influence. Hoyer raises campaign cash; Murtha taps the taxpayer for influence."
Former congressman Chris Bell (D-Tex.) said yesterday that Murtha helped elevate Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (W.Va.) to the top Democratic spot on the House ethics committee, and that Murtha and Mollohan have worked to slow the ethics process to a crawl for much of the past two years.
As for the Abscam case, Murtha was not indicted and his conduct was cleared by the House ethics committee, but he did meet with FBI agents posing as Arab sheiks and, after refusing bribes on several occasions, appeared to leave open the possibility of doing business later. Hoyer has been criticized as well for his legislative dealings, especially for his close ties to lobbyists and business interests. But it is Murtha's record that Pelosi will have to defend, watchdog groups said yesterday.
Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.), a Murtha supporter, said he was not aware of the ethical issues around the lawmaker, but said they will have little impact on Democrats as they gather Thursday to choose the next majority leader.
"The bottom line is, Nancy has decided what team she wants," Capuano said. "What members have to ask themselves is whether they want a unified leadership team or a fractured leadership team. That will make a difference in the next two years."
Hoyer and Pelosi have had a strained relationship since Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of minority whip; Murtha managed her winning campaign. The urge to stay loyal to the presumed new Democratic speaker -- as well as to curry favor to obtain committee assignments -- will bring a substantial number of votes to Murtha, one of his supporters said.
Unfit for Majority Leader
By Ruth Marcus
"The Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history," Pelosi pledged on election night. Five days later she wrote Murtha a letter endorsing his bid to become her No. 2.
Not the most promising start.
For years Murtha has relied on the Abscam bottom line to argue that the case is not a problem for him: He wasn't indicted. But he was named a co-conspirator in the bribery scheme. The feckless House ethics committee didn't take action against him, though the outside investigator it hired quit in disgust after the panel rejected his recommendation to file misconduct charges.
"I am the guy that didn't take the money," Murtha said this summer when his opponent raised the issue.
Yes, but: He's the guy who, brought into the deal by two other House members -- Frank Thompson (D-N.J.) and John Murphy (D-N.Y.) -- agreed to meet with men offering money in return for official action. He's the guy who knew these two colleagues expected a payoff and even vouched for them with the would-be bribers ("Both of them are solid.").
He's the guy who, when offered a bribe, still wanted to do a deal. "I'm delighted to do business with him and do every goddamn thing I can within bounds, you know, so I don't get myself in jail, in order to get him into the country and whatever needs to be done," he says on the video. He’s the guy who -- as a member of the House ethics committee-- did nothing to stop the scheme.
Sorry, but I'm not buying Murtha's argument that he's the victim of a "Swift-boating attack" over "unfounded allegations that occurred 26 years ago." On its own, Murtha's Abscam conduct is disqualifying.
Even if it weren't, though, everything in Murtha's post-Abscam life is of a piece with the back-scratching, dealmaking style on display in the video. In a story last month, the New York Times described how Murtha has operated "a political trading post" in a back corner -- the Murtha corner, it's called -- of the House floor, where Democrats and Republicans alike come to get Murtha's blessing for earmarks or his help on close votes. As Pennsylvania Democrat Paul Kanjorski told the Times, "nobody ever leaves completely disappointed."
Murtha is one of 12 Democrats who voted against the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. He's one of four who killed a strong Democratic ethics package earlier this year. He is a one-man earmarking factory whose beneficiaries have included a lobbying firm that employed his brother and another founded by a former top aide.
The biggest puzzle, and biggest disappointment, in all this is Pelosi, in her first several days as speaker-elect. Now comes this lose-lose move.
If she gets her way and helps Murtha win a come-from-behind victory against Maryland's Steny Hoyer in tomorrow's leadership election, she's buying herself -- and the Democratic caucus -- endless news stories about Murtha's ethics. If, as he says, Hoyer has the votes, Pelosi has made herself look weak within the caucus -- not a smart move for any new leader, and certainly not for the first woman in the job. Perhaps the late timing and measured phrasing of Pelosi's endorsement were meant to ensure that it would have little impact. If so, Pelosi failed to recognize that once she weighed in, the vote for majority leader would inevitably be seen as a gauge of her clout.
I wrote a few weeks back that Pelosi's first test as speaker would be whether she picks Florida's Alcee Hastings -- who was removed from his federal judgeship for agreeing to take a bribe -- to head the intelligence committee. As it turns out, I was wrong. Pelosi's first test was how to handle Murtha. Whatever happens tomorrow, she flunked. Whether she'll get another failing grade on Hastings remains to be seen.
_____________________________________________________________
Pelosi directly intervened in the heated contest between Murtha and House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) on Sunday by circulating a letter to Democratic lawmakers. The letter voiced her support for Murtha and put her prestige on the line in a closely fought leadership battle. Some Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups say they are baffled that Pelosi would go out of her way to back Murtha's candidacy after pledging to make the new 110th Congress the most ethical and corruption-free in history.
Murtha, a longtime senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, has battled accusations over the years that he has traded federal spending for campaign contributions, that he has abused his post as ranking party member on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, and that he has stood in the way of ethics investigations. Those charges come on top of Murtha's involvement 26 years ago in the FBI's Abscam bribery sting.
"Pelosi's endorsement suggests to me she was interested in the culture of corruption only as a campaign issue and has no real interest in true reform," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a Democratic-leaning group. "It is shocking to me that someone with [Murtha's] ethics problems could be number two in the House leadership."
"People have known about these things for months," said one Democratic House member who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to anger the presumed incoming speaker. "I am sure they are going to become much more important in the next few days."
Pelosi said in her letter that she was swayed to endorse Murtha, a longtime ally, by his early call for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Pelosi aides and Murtha supporters said the charges against him are trivial or untrue. A senior Pelosi aide conceded that her endorsement is risky but said that she had to show her loyalty to Murtha, who has been steadfastly loyal to her.
At issue is Murtha's relationships with two defense lobbyists. Paul Magliocchetti of the PMA Group is a former aide to the lawmaker, and Robert "Kit" Murtha is his brother and was a senior partner at KSA Consulting from 2002 to 2005.
The PMA Group has become the go-to firm to approach Murtha as ranking Democrat on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, CREW charges. In the 2006 defense appropriations bill, PMA clients reaped at least 60 special provisions, or "earmarks," worth more than $95 million.
The PMA Group and its clients have been top campaign contributors for Murtha: $274,649 in the 2006 campaign cycle, $236,799 in the 2004 cycle and $279,074 in the 2002 cycle.
After Kit Murtha joined KSA Consulting in 2002, one of his first clients was a wireless networking company called Aeptec Microsystems Inc., which was seeking to build a business complex in Murtha's district with a Pennsylvania state grant. Aeptec executive Michael Hoban contributed $2,000 to Murtha's campaign that year.
In 2004, Murtha helped secure the grant. A few months later, the Appropriations subcommittee approved a $4.2 million earmark for the company.
Murtha may be the Democratic Party's consummate dealer in home-district spending. Taxpayers for Common Sense identified more than $103 million in earmarks in the 2006 defense spending bill that Murtha requested for his home district in southwestern Pennsylvania -- nearly $80 million of which cleared President Bush's desk.
"Hoyer gains his influence the 'regular' way," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "He travels, and he raises money for his leadership [political action committee], which doles it out to help Democrats get elected. Murtha doesn't bother with that nicety. For years, he has used his powerful perch as the ranking Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee to dole out earmarks to build influence. Hoyer raises campaign cash; Murtha taps the taxpayer for influence."
Former congressman Chris Bell (D-Tex.) said yesterday that Murtha helped elevate Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (W.Va.) to the top Democratic spot on the House ethics committee, and that Murtha and Mollohan have worked to slow the ethics process to a crawl for much of the past two years.
As for the Abscam case, Murtha was not indicted and his conduct was cleared by the House ethics committee, but he did meet with FBI agents posing as Arab sheiks and, after refusing bribes on several occasions, appeared to leave open the possibility of doing business later. Hoyer has been criticized as well for his legislative dealings, especially for his close ties to lobbyists and business interests. But it is Murtha's record that Pelosi will have to defend, watchdog groups said yesterday.
Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.), a Murtha supporter, said he was not aware of the ethical issues around the lawmaker, but said they will have little impact on Democrats as they gather Thursday to choose the next majority leader.
"The bottom line is, Nancy has decided what team she wants," Capuano said. "What members have to ask themselves is whether they want a unified leadership team or a fractured leadership team. That will make a difference in the next two years."
Hoyer and Pelosi have had a strained relationship since Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of minority whip; Murtha managed her winning campaign. The urge to stay loyal to the presumed new Democratic speaker -- as well as to curry favor to obtain committee assignments -- will bring a substantial number of votes to Murtha, one of his supporters said.
Last edited by vman on September 20th, 2011, 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
I have to say thank you to me ..." for not being stupid enough to go to Penn State."
Re: Good ole Jack!
to echo what Southpaw said in an earlier post "They are all crooks!'
Murtha Calls Ethics Bill ‘Total Crap’
By John Bresnahan
Roll Call Staff
Wednesday, Nov. 15; 1:18 pm
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) told a group of Democratic moderates on Tuesday that an ethics and lobbying reform bill being pushed by party leaders was “total crap,” but said that he would work to enact the legislation because Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) supports it
As the election came closer, and the hand writing on the wall started to signify the democrats may take control of the House or Senate, the corporate lobbyist (k-streeters) started shoveling money at the Demcratics.
It is my understanding that while Pelosi wrote the letter supporting Murtha for Majority Leader, she is not doing much else to support him.
Lobbyist reform is needed at the national and our state level.
Murtha Calls Ethics Bill ‘Total Crap’
By John Bresnahan
Roll Call Staff
Wednesday, Nov. 15; 1:18 pm
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) told a group of Democratic moderates on Tuesday that an ethics and lobbying reform bill being pushed by party leaders was “total crap,” but said that he would work to enact the legislation because Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) supports it
As the election came closer, and the hand writing on the wall started to signify the democrats may take control of the House or Senate, the corporate lobbyist (k-streeters) started shoveling money at the Demcratics.
It is my understanding that while Pelosi wrote the letter supporting Murtha for Majority Leader, she is not doing much else to support him.
Lobbyist reform is needed at the national and our state level.
Last edited by Lemmy on September 20th, 2011, 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Pre
Re: Good ole Jack!
Good Point:[quote="Lemmy";p="129693"]
to echo what Southpaw said in an earlier post "They are all crooks!'
[/quote]
Likewise:[quote="Lemmy";p="129693"]
Lobbyist reform is needed at the national and our state level.[/quote]
And here's more on another sterling possibility:
For Pelosi, the decision of whether to appoint Hastings as intelligence chairman is something of a headache. Hastings is haunted by accusations that, as a judge, he accepted a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a lenient sentence in a perjury case.
Hastings was acquitted of bribery and perjury charges by a jury in a criminal trial, but the House impeached him in 1989, and the Senate later removed him from the bench. When Hastings challenged the decision in federal court, a judge, Stanley Sporkin, ruled in his favor and remanded the case to the Senate. The removal was eventually upheld.
One political hurdle for Hastings to overcome in chairing such a sensitive panel as the intelligence committee stems from his long-standing legal debts, which, according to his most recent financial statement, amounted to between $2.1 million and $7.35 million last year. Hastings listed assets worth less than $15,000 in the statement, filed in May.
Pelosi's office declined to comment on Hastings's possible appointment, except to say that he and Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, are vying for the chairmanship.
to echo what Southpaw said in an earlier post "They are all crooks!'
[/quote]
Likewise:[quote="Lemmy";p="129693"]
Lobbyist reform is needed at the national and our state level.[/quote]
And here's more on another sterling possibility:
For Pelosi, the decision of whether to appoint Hastings as intelligence chairman is something of a headache. Hastings is haunted by accusations that, as a judge, he accepted a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a lenient sentence in a perjury case.
Hastings was acquitted of bribery and perjury charges by a jury in a criminal trial, but the House impeached him in 1989, and the Senate later removed him from the bench. When Hastings challenged the decision in federal court, a judge, Stanley Sporkin, ruled in his favor and remanded the case to the Senate. The removal was eventually upheld.
One political hurdle for Hastings to overcome in chairing such a sensitive panel as the intelligence committee stems from his long-standing legal debts, which, according to his most recent financial statement, amounted to between $2.1 million and $7.35 million last year. Hastings listed assets worth less than $15,000 in the statement, filed in May.
Pelosi's office declined to comment on Hastings's possible appointment, except to say that he and Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, are vying for the chairmanship.
Last edited by vman on September 20th, 2011, 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
I have to say thank you to me ..." for not being stupid enough to go to Penn State."
-
southpaw
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 2906
- Joined: September 5th, 2003, 12:33 pm
- Location: Helixville
Re: Good ole Jack!
The problem is that GOP crooks are forced to resign due to unrelenting MSM pressure but the MSM is silent on Democrat corruption!
The Harry Reid land swap? Nothing
Nancy Pelosi paying sweat shop wages to illegals at her vineyard? Nothing
Abramoff with testimony on 6-8 corrupt democrat senators? A subheading a week after the election! Talk about sitting on someting until!
Delay gone. Trent Lott mispeaking! Lost his leadership position! Kerry? nothing, not even an apology
Rangel...he trash talks every week and gets a free pass!
The point is that the GOP is held accountable far more than the Dems. by the MSM.
The Harry Reid land swap? Nothing
Nancy Pelosi paying sweat shop wages to illegals at her vineyard? Nothing
Abramoff with testimony on 6-8 corrupt democrat senators? A subheading a week after the election! Talk about sitting on someting until!
Delay gone. Trent Lott mispeaking! Lost his leadership position! Kerry? nothing, not even an apology
Rangel...he trash talks every week and gets a free pass!
The point is that the GOP is held accountable far more than the Dems. by the MSM.
Last edited by southpaw on September 20th, 2011, 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
"I'm your huckleberry"
Re: Good ole Jack!
Today is the anniversary that Good Ole Jack urged a pull out of Iraq. Since then 790 Americans have been killed and 6000 injured. For what?
To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Pre