Who Will Clean Up Our Political Cesspools?
Meanwhile, the President-elect has been rather mum on the topic of Madoff’s political influence. It would seem, if he really is the reformer he promised us he would be, that he would demand a full accounting of what, if anything, Madoff’s hundreds of thousands of dollars and robust lobbying effort got him. If Congress won’t do it, a special prosecutor should. What did Madoff lobby for, what did he get, and what enforcement actions, if any, did he stave off through his campaign largess? After all, this is supposed to be the era of New Politics. The near-silence from the president-elect is deafening so far.
And then there is the unfilled Senate seat in Illinois. The Illinois Democrats are caught in a bind. Blago (quoting Kipling) won’t quit, the impeachment proceedings will drag on, and the Democratic state legislature put the kibosh on a special election, because heaven forbid, a Republican might win. The Washington Post and other MSM outlets have called for a special election. What do we hear from the president-elect? Nothing. Once again, it’s the politics of party bosses, even at the price of denying full representation to Illinois voters.
Next there is Charlie Rangel, a serial tax and ethics offender who sits atop the House Ways and Means Committee. An ethics investigation is underway, but there has been no move to have him step down even temporarily while it is determined whether he violated tax laws and Congressional ethics rules. Nancy Pelosi seems paralyzed with fear of offending a powerful committee chair. And the Obama transition team is mute on this as well.
If this seems depressingly familiar, it is. In just two years since they won majorities in the House and Senate, the Democrats have managed to meet and surpass the Republican record of ethical depravity and self-dealing. Kimberley Strassel goes through a partial list:
The Blagojevich drama is titillating enough, and local Democrats’ dithering over how to fill Mr. Obama’s seat guarantees it will remain a storyline longer than is comfortable. But the Illinois drama has also thrust new light on the ongoing ethical controversies of House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel. At the rate the House Ethics Committee is receiving complaints — over Mr. Rangel’s real-estate problems, tax problems, his privately sponsored trips to the Caribbean, and donations to his center in New York — this too will make headlines for a while.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune published a new story about Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who racked up $420,000 through a series of suspicious real-estate deals. Texas Rep. Silvestre Reyes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, came under scrutiny this fall for questionable earmarking. West Virginia Rep. Alan Mollohan has been under investigation for a separate earmarking mess. And then there’s Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who has yet to answer questions about the sweetheart mortgage deal he received from Countrywide.
Riding a wave of disgust by the public, the Democrats won back control of Congress in 2006 and promised to be the most ethical Congress ever. And their presidential nominee two years later promised an entire era of New Politics. Lobbyists were supposed to be out of government, but Tom Daschle is in. Corruption was supposed to be unacceptable, but self-regulation and investigation are not on the agenda. And “bottom up” politics was supposed to be in fashion, except when it comes to allowing citizens to vote for an open Senate seat.
It is disheartening to be reminded that corruption, ethical sloth, and party cronyism aren’t limited to one party and the victors never learn the lesson when the other bums get thrown out. David Freddoso’s account of President-elect Obama’s time in Chicago portrays him as a “go along to get along” sort of politician. He was not personally corrupt, but he was nevertheless unwilling to challenge those who were. That unfortunate disinclination to clean up ethical cesspools is, from what we have seen, playing out now in Washington.
It needn’t be this way. President Obama can take on corruption wherever he sees it and push for reform whenever it is needed. Appoint a special prosecutor if needed to investigate the Madoff money connection. Demand an election in Illinois. Urge Congress to complete its Rangel investigation and act promptly to rid itself of scandal. And, of course, disclose all the information on Blagojevich, answer all questions the media can muster, and dismiss anyone on the team who may have crossed an ethical line.
That would be the New Politics. And that would be worthy of all Americans’ respect and admiration.
“It is disheartening to be reminded that corruption, ethical sloth, and party cronyism aren’t limited to one party and the victors never learn the lesson when the other bums get thrown out.”
AMEN! The lack of action on Obama’s part underscores the empty rhetoric of the 2008 presidential campaign. There is little likelihood of change in the Land of Obama.
Welcome to Obama Land: No Change, No Hope
“”"When he does reappear, some enterprising reporter might ask about any contacts he had with Madoff – or on behalf of Madoff.”"”
That would require ethics, professionalism and nonpartisanship. You don’t find those qualities in a MSM employee. Just slavish partisan hacks with no interest in ‘truth’ or the public good. I’m loath to even use the term reporter anymore. There aren’t many people who meet the qualifications for the title.
“New politics”. That depends on what the definition of “new” is a la slick Willy’s “that depends on what the definition of ‘is’ is”. Very Clintonesque.
Interesting how history repeats itself:
Only the names have changed.
Bernard Madoff, Senator Chuck Schumer, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Jamie Gorlick and that funny little Gov. Blagojevich telling us:
“Don’t worry about those Democrats over there behind the curtains pushing buttons, selling Senators seats and taking bribes.”
“All is wonderful in the Land of OZ!”
And my greatest inspiration- Vice President Joe Biden telling me how Patriotic I should be by
paying more than my fair share of taxes come April 15th.
All Righty then!
“Madoff was a major Democratic donor, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to powerful Democrats who were in a position to potentially regulate his business or uncover his crimes.”
Can you imagine the mass hysteria we would’ve heard had Madoff been a Republican?
That’s what we get for electing a Socialist for President.
This is not really news, but it does need to be talked and written about and given total exposure. Money is the only reason incompetent politicians such as Barney Frank, Barack Obama, Charles Rangel, Joe Biden, Harry Reid, John Kerry, Caroline Kennedy, Ron Blagojevich, John McCain, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and many others obtain and maintain any political position. These people could give Ringling Brothers competent lessons on how to run a circus.
Puh-leese
The president elect is just that. President elect. How many of you doom sayers voted Obama? I am willing to bet 0.
Facts don’t matter to you heels. We have never seen a president elect work so hard to keep the train on the tracks.
As far as cleaning up corruption. The Bush Administration is on the way out.
And no there is no uneasy or queasy feeling in the progressive camp. We are still watching you lie and try to create undue conflict.
A small correction, although on further thought maybe it’s actually the core of the issue: It’s not “our” government and it’s certainly not “our” cesspool. It’s their government and the cesspool of their making.
The solution? Every single American must start rubbing their noses in it. Write them at least weekly. Correct them. Advise them. Make demands. Threaten their jobs.
Government has become a haven for the brazenly corrupt and habitually incompetent and they know we’re complacent. Enough is enough. Don’t complain, write!
Things will never change until we return to the Founder’s Constitution and make rent-seeking unconstitutional. As long as government is able to offer preferences and political spoils from the public bourse, special interests and venal politicians will continue to flourish. Big Government can NEVER be Good Government.
Please describe the most signicicant 2 examoples where Obama cleaned up ethics or crime.
I can name several examples where he participated and was active with ethical problems folks where he defended what he did and left after the media exposed it as of bad reputation. He has no moral fibres of his own.
Maybe Chuck Schumer had a bunch of money invested with Madoff… and was able to fully redeem a year or so ago….
{Facts don’t matter to you heels. We have never seen a president elect work so hard to keep the train on the tracks.}
I’ve never seen a President Elect with a track record of a train wreck like this one…corruption on every side. And the man hasn’t stepped foot in the White House yet.
God only knows how sleazy this new “messiah” will be when he steps into office.
My last one.
While I am on a history kick:
Another president from Illinois called ‘Honest Abe.’
DISASTER ON THEIR WATCH MERITS A RAISE?
We need to get rid of our reprehensible representatives and the earliest opportunity:
http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/economy-in-crisis-congress-gets-raise.html
Maybe we will get lucky and have an Honest OBama from Illinois,
if we show him we are willing to throw out all the crooks in 2010.
How can we possibly trust a man who won’t reveal his Birth Certificate, or any of his past schooling. Is he even a legal Citizen?
Why, it’s time for a (drum roll) BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE!!!
There must be a number of experts on this subject in the Democrat party that aren’t already appointed to the Charisma Wizard’s cabinet. Bill Clinton, Gary Condit, John Edwards, Charlie Rangell, Rod Blagojevich, George Ryan, and some of the captains of industry like George Soros, Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, Tony Rezko…just off the top of my head.
The nice thing about Blue Ribbon Committees is that they can bloviate for two or three years and by the time the report is issued to Congress, nobody cares any more.
Problem solved.
Obama is the personification of corruption. It is his identity. He has no desire to change himself. He only wants to change the world. He will leave himself the same, the perfect messiah, without a narcissistic bone in his entire body.
Reading about Obama and Illinois politics, I am reminded of this verse from the Book of Job (Chapter 14, verse 4):
“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.”
It’ds not a matter of who; it’s a matter of what; I believe the process is called revolution.
Let’s not forget Rahm Emanuel’s Congressional seat either, who will take his place? Will Blagojevich be choosing the replacement of will there be a special election for that one too? How many bidders were there for Emanuel’s seat? Questions, questions, those nagging inconvenient questions.
dscott:
Let’s not forget Rahm Emanuel’s Congressional seat either, who will take his place? Will Blagojevich be choosing the replacement of will there be a special election for that one too? How many bidders were there for Emanuel’s seat? Questions, questions, those nagging inconvenient questions.
In the age of Internet, posters who are ignorant of US politics should at least try educating themselves before posting ignorant speculation.
The Governor does not appoint vacant House seats. That is Constitutionally not allowed. The office-holder is deemed “vacant” on death or deciding they will not continue in office. A special election is ordered to fill the seat.
16. xnylady:
How can we possibly trust a man who won’t reveal his Birth Certificate, or any of his past schooling. Is he even a legal Citizen?
Dec 22, 2008 – 9:16 am
What other presidents birth certificate have you demanded? Because I think Bush is from Mars. I wanna see his birth certificate..sic
He was born in Hawaii.
Even if he was born overseas he is a U.S.
citizen because of his mother.
Now are you questioning the constitution? Try reading it.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
The constitution nowhere defines the meaning of these words [citizen and natural born citizen], either by way of inclusion or of exclusion, except in so far as this is done by the affirmative declaration that ‘all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.
That language is clear. get over it.
He went to school in Indonesia. What is your insinuation? He was a child. I went to Catholic School. I didn’t have a choice.
He went to school in Hawaii. Then Columbia and Harvard.
What is wrong with you people? Please at least correct the fools. This is why the GOP is dead you continue to align yourself with these loons.
This person has no clue what conservatism is.
Questions Questions
Bush Bin laden family 30 year relationship?
No weapons of Mass Destruction?
5000 dead and 30000 wounded?
Oil prices $140 bbl?
Economic meltdown?
Free Trade?
Manufacturing nation to consumer nation?
What is really important to you? Your next Monica scandal or the real issues?
Your so called ethics or guilt by association can apply to any pol.. Stick a microscope up someones A$$ your bound to find a hemorrhoid.
From Another View’s comments it seems the sanctimonius liberal Obamabots are nervous already. Hurts when your ox is gored so early.
Are we to conclude that Jennifer Rubin really thought that Bambi meant what he said about corruption?
Not at all. It’s just disgusting that we had a administration that has bloated the federal Gov’t, inflated the dollar and has us in unnecessary conflict. And yes we had a Republican congress the Majority of the GW Bush term.
And somehow it’s the liberals. My vote was a educated decision. How about yours? Your a bunch of “Joe the plumber” simpletons. “I’m just a so scared of Obama”. You folks don’t know your kids teachers as well as you know Obama. Nor did you ever know as much about or question any other candidate.
24. Another View wrote:
Questions Questions
Bush Bin laden family 30 year relationship?
As far as I know the only relationship is Bush looking for BinLaden for the last 7 years…
No weapons of Mass Destruction?
Really? And what do YOU call 800 tons of yellow cake weapons-grade uranium?
5000 dead and 30000 wounded?
So you’d rather have who knows how many dead on US soil if we appear weak and not go after the terrorists?
Oil prices $140 bbl?
Last I checked oil was less than $40 bucks a barrel. What price guage are YOU looking at?
Economic meltdown?
Maybe you should do some research and see how many Democratic connections are responsible for this meltdown?
Free Trade?
Last I checked, it was Congress that was blocking free trade. Go talk to our allies in the government of Columbia for example.
Manufacturing nation to consumer nation?
Again, research the Democratic connection.
What is really important to you? Your next Monica scandal or the real issues?
As far as I can see, all the real issues that concern me have Democrats hidning under the rocks.
Blago. Ayers. Wright. Khalid. Rezko. Norman Auchi. Moss. “Father” Pflegler. Richard M Daley. Please tell me libscum, how many conservatives(aka Sarah Palin) are associated with such a group of lowlife scum? The Obamination and Palin are roughly of the same generation, yet Palin attends a small church in Alaska. Obama attends a “church” of ill repute, with a demented “pastor” blasphemizing God and giving out awards to Black Islamic Racists. The Obamascumsucker also worked with Blago in both his 2002 and 2006 campaigns, so dont give me this they arent “close” malarky. To go anywhere in Chicago politics YOU HAVE TO BE A CROOK. Its almost a job REQUIREMENT. Dont forget-before her UIC affirmative contamination job, MICHELLE OBAMASCUM WORKED FOR MAYOR DALEYS OFFICE. OBAMASCUM is part of the PROBLEM and defintely not the solution. Just wait folks. this guy will make SICK WILLIE look honest. And thats saying a lot.
Obama did such a great job LOL of cleaning up Illinois and Chicago politics you think he will be any better with Washington? Too bad Chuckie Schumer, Barfy Frank or little Dick Durbin had no money with Madoff. Is Rachel Madcow related to Madoff their names are so similiar.
Speaking of corruption I am in Vegas and Pete Rose is peddling his autograph at Caesar’s Palace. Any takers? Maybe Obama will make him baseball commissioner. Just taking a peek here at what you Obama drones have to dribble from your fatfingers.
Sorry to be the one to inform you that the Bush family and Bin laden family have been in business for 30+ years. Do your own research.
Sorry i don’t smoke pot and have a memory. We have had years of oil gouging now its ok to you. Oil prices dropped because the free ride was over and they knew it.
Sorry I do not believe in the bogeyman. we were not in danger. I live in NY don’t 9/11 me. we have questions. I lost friends.
Exactly free trade has been bad for the U.S. we need more protectionist policies. Free Trade has led to the outsourcing that has made us a consumer nation. And created job loss.
Show me the connections and I will show you deregulation with Bush signature.
If i’m not mistaken N.Korea was trying to test missiles. And your saying unenriched uranium was the smoking gun. They could not have made a bomb as weapons inspectors said.
Who’s hiding? Your frivolous.
Another View, regarding your ‘educated decision’ on your vote Nov 4th, here’s some factoids you can’t alude. I can name the sources, but I’ll throw out the, ‘Fo your own research’ adage as well..
Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago?
Body count: In the last six months 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago; 221 killed in Iraq.
Sens. Barack Obama & Dick Durbin, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Gov. Rod Blogojevich, House leader Mike Madigan, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike), Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J. Daley)
…..our leadership in Illinois…..all Democrats.
Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago.
Of course, they’re all blaming each other.
Can’t blame Republicans; there aren’t any!
State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country.
Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country.
Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country.
This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois. And he’s gonna ‘fix’ Washington politics for us!
-This is a message I’d gotten up to September. Though seeing as how the fatality rates for October and November are the lowest for those months since arriving in 2004, you finsh the thought…
Another View, for the record, 4,200 have given the ultimate sacrifice. Not 5,000. Yes, it is a bg deal. Almost 20% more than you’d quoted
Pardon me, I’d meant 20% LESS than your quote.
Perhaps a Cromwellian solution is needed, as per his speech to Parliament in 1653. (I swear he has the bunch in Washington in mind.)
It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money;
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves become the greatest grievance. Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God’s help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do;
I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place; go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there (Parliamentary Staff), and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!
oatka, I am saving your comment and sending it to everyone I know. Funny how history is so useful. Thanks.
31. Another View wrote:
Sorry I do not believe in the bogeyman. we were not in danger. I live in NY don’t 9/11 me. we have questions. I lost friends.
Peter responds: Could you please translate that into English so I can figure out what the heck you are talking about?
What I was referring to, and please check your own facts, is …In its May 22, 2004 edition, the New York Times confirmed a myriad of reports on Saddam’s nuclear fuel stockpile – and revealed a chilling detail unknown to weapons inspectors before the war: that Saddam had begun to partially enrich his uranium stash. The Times noted: “The repository, at Tuwaitha, a centerpiece of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons program, . . . . holds more than 500 tons of uranium . . . . Some 1.8 tons is classified as low-enriched uranium.”
So, please tell me again there were no WMD’s.
As for a supposed relationship between Bush and Bin Laden, please cite evidence, not supposition. Give me a fact I can confirm.
AMERICANS DON’T KNOW BASIC CIVICS
It is so bad that college graduates cannot pass a simple civics exam:
http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/elected-officials-flunk-easy-civics.html
Maybe all you boomers are starting to understand what all that 60s’ BS leads to.
And the answer to the question is nobody.
deguello:
‘It’s not a matter of who; it’s a matter of what; I believe the process is called revolution.’
Absolutely. It’s easy to join the resistance. Just go here;
http://www.wethepeoplefoundation.org/UPDATE/misc2008/Obama-USA-TODAY-ad.htm
and print out about 12 copies of that list. Then find a newspaper vending box next to a bus stop or train(metro, tram) station and insert one of your print-outs in one of the un-bought papers. Shut the door and walk away. One person doing this once a day will produce thousands of flyers as people copy and spread them around.
You have now become part of the resistance to the Usurper Obama. Congratulations, when your grandchildren ask what you did in the war, you can tell them you were in the front lines, delivering important messages.
The News box technique is an old, honored resistance tactic. The Soviets used to have special units that would drive around Moscow checking newspaper boxes for flyers. The Nazi’s did the same in Paris. In those places ‘seeding the box’ was a dangerous job, with a bullet in the head the reward for getting caught. We aren’t quite there in the Former United States of America. YET….
Obama and company are moving in. Obama will now be the man, “the establishment.” Obama friends including Bill Ayers, Farrakhan, Pfleger, the Chicago mob, etc. will be “the establishment.” Corruption has come to rule the day.
Honest and ordinary people have now become either neo-surfs or the opposition. Submit or else the alternative. What do you do?
Another View: Who’s the loon? Seems like both sides have their share of “eccentric” viewpoints, wouldn’t you say? I’d say that includes yours.
Also, in response to Ms. Rubin’s headline question: The Voters. It’s a messy process of elimination that (at best) results in an 80-20 solution (translated into this scenario: 20% of the cleanup yields 80% of the benefits of a total cleanup).
Our system is a horrifyingly messy and disheartening one, the worst imaginable…except for all the others. H/T WSC.
I suppose it’s no big surprise that THE ONE is not engaged in the flood of corruption. After all, where did he come from…Chicago. Who were his friends and associates….Blago and Rezco, among others. No, THE ONE is going to stay well clear of these messes. So far nothing has really touched him but if he comes on as too high and mighty, perhaps people will start talking about what he did back in the day as he was becoming a rising star. AND, perhaps the national MSM will begin to do their job of investigating THE ONE….NOT!
It is odd indeed that the usual camera-craven Schumer has not been out calling for a full investigation and explanation for how Madoff got away with his scheme for so long.
My guess….you have heard the last of Chuckie for a while because he doesn’t have Bush to bash anymore.
Why is this surprising? Expecting a chicago pol to fix corruption is like asking a fox to work on the fence surrounding your henhouse.
Hey, Another View… Still waiting…
16. xnylady:
“How can we possibly trust a man who won’t reveal his Birth Certificate, or any of his past schooling. Is he even a legal Citizen?”
How about those millions of Mexicans from illegal immigrants born in the USA? They are legal citizens. Someone will run for President after they become 35 years old. Hispanics will be the largest “minority” one of these days.
vivo:
That explains it. The Time Cops went forward in time and told you a Hispanic would run for President and refuse to show his college records, so Hussein Obama doesn’t need to show his now.
Leaving the citizenship issue aside for the moment, just why shouldn’t Hussein show his college records? Haven’t the Time Cops had a chance to go back and change his grades yet? If that’s the problem, you should tell them to do a better job than they did on his Selective Service record. It’s on a form that wasn’t in use until years after he supposedly registered.
have a nice day
To Cybergeezer, Post 7.
I must beg to differ, Barney Franks, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, et al, are NOT “incompetent politicians.” On the contrary, they are very GOOD politicians as evidence by their managing to get elected cycle after cycle, despite being far-left idiots whose only real agenda is seizing and retaining political power for themselves. That should give you some idea how simply terrible professional politicians are as a class, too.
cesspool? politicians. why are we leaving out the bankers, our anglo saxon we own the country and the country club guys who just split 1.6 billion in “bonuses” amongst a couple of them. that’s from the money the taxpayer shmucks (me and you) provided, because the bankers were so good at their jobs that the whole thing fell apart and had to be rescued by the little people.
of course, that still doesn’t mean you can get a loan. after all, you don’t have the collatoral those guys have. they can get a loan. all they do is sign off on one for themselves or their kid, like they did for the bonuses.
please, the stink trickling down from “above”, as if they are above anyone, dumb lazy shmucks who couldn’t save a business if their own lives depended on it, much less ours.
buhbye trickle down. maybe we need one more good piss from you, to level the whole place. then at least we can start over, sans you.
50. Rashputin:
I don’t think ANYONE will show you a document unless it’s a PUBLIC record.
That’s why lawyers get involved.
I read a good analogy about Chicago and the One. It goes like this; There was this BIG whore house in Chicago for many many years and all of the girls who worked there were well fed and sexy. Then two whores (Obama and Emanuel) left the whore house after working there for many years to pursue an out side job. When asked by the MSM how two whores could run for public office they responded that they were both VIRGINS!!!
The MSM all said Oh!