Elephant In Exile

Tom Delay and Friends meet with their lawyers...

A High-Powered Lobbyist's Swift Fall From Grace is the big story today! Uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff was indicted in federal court in Florida for fraud in conjunction with his lobbying activities. The story is compelling and involves everyone from Ralph Reed (Moral Majority), Tom Delay and even a few Dems.

In the first round of indictments, Abramoff is facing 4 counts of wire fraud (max. penalty of five years each) and a conspiracy change (which I understand can be used to multiply the other sentences..but I'm too lazy to look it up). Anyway, facing a federal conviction rate of something like 94% (Never, ever get in trouble with the feds..if you do you're going to the big house ala Martha)...Mr. Abramoff is likely to do some time. And he may sing like a canary....something that some of our less scrupulous leaders here in DC may fear. (Tom Delay...)

This is just the beginning of a long saga of scandal and corruption in Congress. Do you remember back in 1994, when the Democrat majority was living large on the lobbyist perks? The House banking scandal tipped the public into disgust at the largest of the then majority party and sent them packing...giving the GOP a majority in the House for the first time in a generation.

Seems the GOP has followed the fat-cat democrats lead and have jumped on the corruption train far faster than the Dems....as this story plays out over the next year or so..(And as the GOP continues to spend, spend, spend) the voters may pull another 1994 and send 'em packing. They should.

Abramoff Indicted in Casino Boat Purchase
Lobbyist, Associate Charged With Fraud
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/AR2005081101108.html