Sen. Burns Scrutinized for Earmark Tied to Abramoff [Archive]

Tromp

03-27-2006, 10:50 AM

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5299944

Earmarks are in the spotlight in Washington, D.C. They're the special legislative favors, often worth millions of dollars, that go to an individual or company or locality. Their numbers have exploded in recent years, and now earmarks are showing up at the center of scandals. They figured in the downfall of California Rep. Duke Cunningham, who was sentenced this month to eight years in prison for taking millions in bribes and gifts. Now an earmark linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff is threatening the political career of Republican Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana

Talk amongst yourselves... I'm a little faklempt.

And I don't wanna hear anY crap about the source of the article and such. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

(GENERALIZING SO DON' CRUCIFY ME) My personal opinion is how in heck can you push to get funding for a school that isn't in the state you represent? So out with the bad and in with the good (or at least the smart enough not to do dumb $hit like this).

DeV

03-29-2006, 02:42 PM

In other related news...

Judge sentences former lobbyist Jack Abramoff to five years and 10 months in prison in his Florida fraud case, news agencies report.

xtc

03-29-2006, 04:19 PM

NPR IS A LIBERAL RAG and what is a few dollars between friends.

Warriorbird

03-29-2006, 05:39 PM

Really? Damn. Even with all the conservatives Bush forced in?

xtc

03-29-2006, 06:13 PM

Really? Damn. Even with all the conservatives Bush forced in?

I guess my attempt at humour is lost.

Sean of the Thread

03-29-2006, 11:39 PM

I guess my attempt at humour is lost.

It usually is.

Earmarks and Pork Barrelling are some of the things that piss me off most about the Congress/Senate. ON BOTH SIDES.. it is rampant and disgusting.

Back

03-30-2006, 12:04 AM

It usually is.

Earmarks and Pork Barrelling are some of the things that piss me off most about the Congress/Senate. ON BOTH SIDES.. it is rampant and disgusting.

Talking point of the knee-deep Republican party. Funny, I don't see any Democrats involved, implicated or facing court in the recent scandals.

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 12:06 AM

Talking point of the knee-deep Republican party. Funny, I don't see any Democrats involved, implicated or facing court in the recent scandals.

You're truly more ignorant and lopsided than I ever thought if you believe that the democrats are not just as busy in the above practices.

Back

03-30-2006, 12:12 AM

You're truly more ignorant and lopsided than I ever thought if you believe that the democrats are not just as busy in the above practices.

If that is truly the case, which I am not conceding, then where is the evidence if not out of your fantastical attempt to dilute your own party's problems?

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 12:14 AM

If that is truly the case, which I am not conceding, then where is the evidence if not out of your fantastical attempt to dilute your own party's problems?

You're not worth the effort. To save time I'll site common sense as my source.

>>where is the evidence if not out of your fantastical attempt to dilute your own party's problems?<<

I'm a registered democrat fyi.

Back

03-30-2006, 12:17 AM

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 12:21 AM

I love this argument by the way...

We are corrupt so everyone else must be too!

Way to go. Lowest common denominator argument. Just because there is one human being out there that is the most absolute scum of the Earth means we are all absolute scums of the Earth. Your argument fails when you don't consider that there are humans who are honest and reliable. Yet you don't ever bring that up as an example of exemplary human behaviour.

Based on your repsonse at least you read and comprehended the part where I told you I was a registered Dem.

Also since you have lost ALL political cred even from your peers I'll just end this by saying.. YOU ARE DUMB. Go cap off your lonely evening by masturbating on a libby rag.

Back

03-30-2006, 12:34 AM

Great, you are a registered Dem. I'm not even going to ask you to scan your voter registration card because that is not even the point.

You still haven't told us which Democrats are involved.

The only thing I am going to say about the masturbation comment is that I'll bet most women that men masturbate too are probably overwhelmingly democrat. Except for Anne Coultre.

Skirmisher

03-30-2006, 01:23 AM

Talking point of the knee-deep Republican party. Funny, I don't see any Democrats involved, implicated or facing court in the recent scandals.

Even if no Democrats get caught in this particular scandal, it would be the height of naivete to not think that at least some of them are dirty.

Hell, New Jersey's current Senator Lautenberg is for example in office because hiis predecessor, Robert Torricelli was flat out caught taking bribes and kickbacks from at least one person. Ironically enough the individual who was doing the bribing, to get support from the US govt in collecting a debt from I believe North Korea, was sentanced to prison time while Torricelli got I think a letter of reprimand. Funny how there was not enough evidence to charge Torricelli but that same evidence was enough to n ot only charge but to convict the accused briber.

Of course there are dirty Democrats. I just hope they number less than the dirty Republicans.

Back

03-30-2006, 02:00 AM

Even if no Democrats get caught in this particular scandal, it would be the height of naivete to not think that at least some of them are dirty.

Great. You are playing right into their hands. Stop being a self-hating Democrat.

Again, where is the proof?

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 02:50 AM

Great. You are playing right into their hands. Stop being a self-hating Democrat.

Again, where is the proof?

Holy shit I was joking earlier but no doubt you have lost it now.

Skirmisher

03-30-2006, 02:52 AM

Great. You are playing right into their hands. Stop being a self-hating Democrat.

Again, where is the proof?

I just posted the story of one who was in fact dirty.

I'm not sure what else you want to show that such creatures exist.

And I'll thank you to not try to pigeonhole me into a black/white, republican/democrat, good/bad kind of manner. I like to look at each candidate and instance individually rather than just using a party affiliation to tell me how to feel or how to vote.

Back

03-30-2006, 03:25 AM

I just posted the story of one who was in fact dirty.

I'm not sure what else you want to show that such creatures exist.

And I'll thank you to not try to pigeonhole me into a black/white, republican/democrat, good/bad kind of manner. I like to look at each candidate and instance individually rather than just using a party affiliation to tell me how to feel or how to vote.

I didn't see any link in this thread.

If you don't want to be pidgeonholed then quit caving in to their asinine arguments. Like scientists are divided about global warming.

You think I'm critical. You bet your ass. I'm not bending over for any of the Republican bullshit. Because it is apparent, its all bullshit. I can provide many documented examples.

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 03:27 AM

Back

03-30-2006, 03:31 AM

Continue your baseless argument without proof.

Don't fall into the "we are corrupt therefore everyone is corrupt" argument. Its beyond stupid.

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 03:32 AM

Continue your baseless argument without proof.

Don't fall into the "we are corrupt therefore everyone is corrupt" argument. Its beyond stupid.

You sir are completely delusional.

Back

03-30-2006, 03:34 AM

Pot, meet Kettle.

Skirmisher

03-30-2006, 03:42 AM

I didn't see any link in this thread.

If you don't want to be pidgeonholed then quit caving in to their asinine arguments. Like scientists are divided about global warming.

You think I'm critical. You bet your ass. I'm not bending over for any of the Republican bullshit. Because it is apparent, its all bullshit. I can provide many documented examples.

Well I must say I am dissapointed. I told you enough to review the case yourself if you wished and enough to prove me wrong if you truly believed I was making things up.

You did not do even the most cursary search but choose to stick your head in the sand and hope what I said would go away?

Fine, here are some links:

http://www.wnbc.com/news/1689291/detail.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A20602-2001May12
http://www.politicsnj.com/murphy073002_TorricelliEthics.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/04/02/politics/main283466.shtml
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/04/02/politics/main283466.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-07-30-torricelli-ethics_x.htm
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/elec02.nj.s.torricelli.race/
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/01/elec02.nj.s.torricelli.race/

I hope that satisfies the link requirement.

Back

03-30-2006, 03:49 AM

Well I must say I am dissapointed. I told you enough to review the case yourself if you wished and enough to prove me wrong if you truly believed I was making things up.

You did not do even the most cursary search but choose to stick your head in the sand and hope what I said would go away?

Fine, here are some links:

http://www.wnbc.com/news/1689291/detail.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A20602-2001May12
http://www.politicsnj.com/murphy073002_TorricelliEthics.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/04/02/politics/main283466.shtml
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/04/02/politics/main283466.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-07-30-torricelli-ethics_x.htm
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/elec02.nj.s.torricelli.race/
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/01/elec02.nj.s.torricelli.race/

I hope that satisfies the link requirement.

Wow. You have links to one bad democrat.

Quit caving. Grow a spine.

Skirmisher

03-30-2006, 03:54 AM

My but you are in a bad mood.

Sorry to have shown that Democrats, much as I may tend to prefer them, are only human.

You'll have to try to live with the dissapointment.

Back

03-30-2006, 03:59 AM

My but you are in a bad mood.

Sorry to have shown that Democrats, much as I may tend to prefer them, are only human.

You'll have to try to live with the dissapointment.

One democrat as opposed to many republicans. Sorry if my posts are unadulterated.

I do not believe in the lowest common denominator. I do believe that criminals are criminals no matter who they are.

The topic of this thread is about another republican tied to a republican lobbyist, Abramoff, who happens to be sentenced to jail for 5+ years.

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 03:59 AM

You'll have to try to live with the dissapointment.

edited out the low blow :P

Skirmisher

03-30-2006, 04:05 AM

The topic of this thread is about another republican tied to a republican lobbyist, Abramoff, who happens to be sentenced to jail for 5+ years.

Perhaps that is the focus but someone posted this:

>>If that is truly the case, which I am not conceding, then where is the evidence<<

Don't ask a question if you don't really want it answered.

Sean of the Thread

03-30-2006, 04:06 AM

Wow. You have links to one bad democrat.

Quit caving. Grow a spine.

It only takes one in this case to prove you wrong. You cried.. you whined.. you spewed your ludicrous shit and then you got skirm pwnt.

Back

03-30-2006, 04:09 AM

OMG!! Come back to the Jedi! Don't fall for the Emperor's deceptive manipulations!

Seriously, there are far more links to Republican corruption than the ones you provided.

Don't be fooled.

Tromp

03-30-2006, 09:45 AM

Man this thread went way off base.

There is corruption on both sides of the coin but lately we get to enjoy the Reps getting scrutinized the most. ::cough:: DeLay ( i'd love for that f'er to fry but the likelihood of this happening is quite unrealistic)

The developments of the posted article are pretty amusing. His defending arguments for all of this are worth the read. He tried to donate the Abramoff $ to a Montana tribe and they refused to take it! (LMAO)

Oh and Xyelin STFU!!! and umm you too Backlash... how in heck can you even argue that corruption is linked to only one party?

Parkbandit

03-30-2006, 10:01 AM

Oh and Xyelin STFU!!! and umm you too Backlash... how in heck can you even argue that corruption is linked to only one party?

I believe it was Backlash that was saying it was only the Republicans that are corrupt... not Xyelin. Xyelin was simply pointing out how retarded Backlash is.. which isn't tough.

"Grow a spine, don't worry about the Democratic corruption.. let's just focus on the Republican corruption"

Classic Backlash... the one eyed pirate.

Tromp

03-30-2006, 10:05 AM

Hey PB!

Yeah I know Xyelin didn't say it but he just encouraged the whole debaucle.

>> and umm you too Backlash... how in heck can you even argue that corruption is linked to only one party?

That is meant for Backlash but in no means trying to discourage him in any way what so ever! Backlash rocks!

HarmNone

03-30-2006, 10:07 AM

Just because someone doesn't agree with your views on a subject does not make them a "retard". There are some of us here who could hold a pretty damned rational discussion with those who are capable of being rational. Unfortunately, that's not always easy to find around here.

ElanthianSiren

03-30-2006, 10:13 AM

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Backlash, the sheer number of republicans in office currently is going to make it seem like more republicans are corrupt, but they are still people, and the above phrase still holds true. Were legislature full of dems, you would see corruption there too. You could try to back your argument up with administrative trends: Iran Contra, Watergate, etc, if you're trying to prove a correlation between the two. I'm sure folks here will have counterpoints, and doubtlessly someone is going to claim that you don't have enough samples to prove one side is more corrupt than the other because we haven't had 1,000 presidential administrations.

I think both parties are corrupt, but they are corrupt for different interests (sort of the definition of being corrupt). How good or bad you find that as a person seems to depend (IMO) on which interest is currently being served.

-M

Back

03-30-2006, 12:29 PM

I have never posted anywhere that I don't believe there aren't corrupt politicians on either side.

The point I am trying to make is simple. To say "all politicians are corrupt" should not be a pass for those who are whoever they are. Don't fall for it.

To say "you'll see more corruption in this or that party when they are in the majority" should also not be a pass. Its a complete deflection of the real issue right in front of our faces today.

You won't find any dems involved in this Abramoff issue. People want you to think there are, but there just plain aren't.