Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Abramoff Partner Pleads Guilty: A onetime congressional staffer who became a top partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to bribe a congressman and other public officials and agreed to pay back more than $19 million he fraudulently charged Indian tribal clients.

The plea agreement between prosecutors and Michael Scanlon, a former press secretary to then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), provided fresh detail about the alleged bribes. The document also indicated the nature of testimony Scanlon is prepared to offer against a congressman it calls "Representative #1" -- who has been identified by attorneys in the case as Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio). -- The Washington Post

Cheney Smears War Critics: Vice President Cheney yesterday accused critics of engaging in "revisionism of the most corrupt and shameless variety" in the Iraq debate, in a major speech that reflected the uncompromising style that has made him a touchstone for many of the controversies shadowing President Bush.

"Any suggestion that prewar information was distorted, hyped, fabricated by the leader of the nation is utterly false," Cheney said, decrying the "self-defeating pessimism" of many Democrats. He added that to begin withdrawing from Iraq now, as some lawmakers have suggested, "would be a victory for the terrorists."

Folks, what Cheney is doing is unpatriotic and flat out despicable. Fortunately, the public is no longer buying his patriot games and the administration is further digging its grave with each ugly, wild accusation. For example, a recent Newsweek poll found that only 29 percent of Americans regard him as honest and ethical. With his credibility gone, what the VP says amounts to little more than sickening blather.

Here is the funniest and most bizarre spin from Cheney's scathing tirade:

Although the United States has not found any stockpiles of banned weapons in Iraq, Cheney said, "I repeat that we never had the burden of proof; Saddam Hussein did."

Don't expect Cheney's awful reputation to improve in the near future. He is scheduled to appear at a Dec. 5 fundraiser in Houston for Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Tex., who was forced to step down as House majority leader after being indicted.

IRS Attacks Anti-War Church: Shortly before the last election, a former rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Calif., gave a fiery antipoverty and antiwar sermon. He did not endorse a presidential candidate, but he criticized President Bush's policies in Iraq and at home. Now the Internal Revenue Service has challenged the church's tax-exempt status. (New York Times)

1 Comments:

The IRS is just another arm of the fascist bush government, the IRS never goes after the fundo churches that constantly mettle in politics, as long as they support the far right. As for Cheney, what more needs to be said? The 29% of the public who still think he's honest and ethical obviously have nothing in their skulls except a brain stem.
Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at 11/22/2005 12:22 PM