Democrats are forever touting some new scandal as the herald of their return to political power. Abu Graib was going to cripple the Bush presidency, Valerie Plame was going to cripple the Bush presidency, NSA domestic eavesdropping is going to cripple the Bush presidency.

Now of course, the Abramoff scandal is going to cripple the 2006 congressional races for the Republicans.

As prophets, the Democrats really suck.

The ever optimistic media and lefty-blogosphere hope and pray that dozens of Republican congresspersons are sent up the river by a cooperative Abramoff, but that is wishful thinking on the order of a Karl Rove indictment. Somewhat more predictable is the political fallout, which I don't think will amount to much.

Its already clear that Harry Reid took Abramoff money as did many other Democrats (Rep. Patrick Kennedy got over 100K...). Quibbles such as not taking money directly, or the contributions being legal, or that Republicans got more than Democrats, are not subtle odors that will be perceived over the rank stink of the affair. If you have a race this year and you took money, its going to be a campaign issue, regardless of whether the contribution was legal or not.

That said, there are ALWAYS campaign issues with which the opposition wants to beat you over the head with. The real question is whether those issues will resonate enough with voters that they will elect weak-on-defense Democrats in a time of war.

Once again, the real play for the Democrats is to hope and pray for bad news--bad news from Iraq, Iran or North Korea, bad news economically, just bad news generally.

I think they are going to be disappointed.

The reality is that attacks have been declining in Iraq all year and that 2006 can expect modest improvements and some troop drawdowns. The economy has really surprising strength as attested to by its performance even while carrying Katrina on its back.

In the end though, the 2006 elections are likely to be a rather ho-hum affair decided by demographics rather than current events. The bottom line is that congressional races are local, not national affairs. The local perception of a Senator or congressman can differ wildly from the national impression. Ted Stevens, castigated for his pork barrel antics in the national forums, was referred to by one journalist as the most popular man in Alaska. I have little doubt that's true.

What kind of funny about the Abramoff thing is how John McCain is looking heroic again. I wonder how many people remember that McCain was part of the Keating Five, embroiled in an ethics probe involving the default of the Lincoln Savings & Loan on 2.6 billion dollars in bad loans. McCain, like Tom Delay, was joined at the hip with Charles Keating, accepting several trips, including to Keating's Bahamas retreat. He also got the lion's share of campaign contributions that Keating made and invested in a Keating strip mall in Arizona.

No doubt, many great and wise pundits predicted McCain's political demise at the time, but they were wrong, weren't they?

Captain Ed concurs with my own predictions about the 2006 races, although he steps out on a limb somewhat to suggest that Hillary and others thinking about 2008 have had their legs taken out from under them by the taint of the scandal. Just because something is a campaign issue, doesn't mean that its effective in moving votes. Who would have believed that John Kerry could get nominated with the baggage he has?

What will undoubtedly be a future CSI episode with the names changed to protect the guilty, San Diego prosecutors are requesting the extradition of Kerry-voter Cynthia Sommer, 32, from Florida for poisoning her Marine Sergeant husband.

What was initially thought the be a heart attack was actually arsenic poisoning. Sommer used the insurance money to get breast enhancement surgery.

Sommer's neighbor on the Miramar base told the investigators that after Todd Sommer's death, his wife threw a series of loud parties and showed the results of her breast augmentation, which had cost $5,400.

"Cindy's excuse for the lifestyle she started living after [her husband's death] was that he was very strict. He didn't like for her to go out partying [or] staying out with her friends," a family friend told investigators.

"Todd also didn't want her to get her breasts enlarged, so I think that she was living out the fantasy life that she really wanted," the friend said, according to court documents.

Sommer also paid to have her name listed on an Internet service that provides an "adult dating community focused on sexual discovery."

The 720,000 dollars Hillary got from her Hollywood buddies could prove to be her political albatross.

Hillary will attempt to spin the finding by the FEC as an exoneration of her other Senate campaign committee and herself, because she was not found to be liable under FEC law. She will not refer to the fact that the FEC has no jurisdiction over Title 18 of the US Code. Her potential criminal liability based on Title 18, for aiding and abetting, conspiring, colluding with and misprisoning Mr Grossman's filing of material false statements to the FEC and the IRS, and then obstructing the federal investigation of those actions that led to the indictment and prosecution of her finance director, is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Justice Department.

An ex-aide to William Jefferson D-LA, has pleaded guilty to bribing the Congressman into supporting high-tech ventures in Africa.

Pfeffer recounted in court how his former Capitol Hill boss, in exchange for using his congressional influence in Africa, demanded a 5 to 7 percent stake in one of two new companies Pfeffer's firm was investing in. The companies were to provide high-speed Internet and cable TV service in Ghana and Nigeria.

Pfeffer said the congressman also demanded that two relatives be put on the businesses' payrolls.

Pfeffer told his boss at the investment firm, a 41-year-old woman referred to as "CW" in court papers, that such was the cost of doing business with the congressman, a court document said.

Nuff said.

UPDATE: Doing a little look around on this story, it is perhaps not surprising that it is being soft-pedalied by the elite media. There is simply no excuse for this--corruption is a current issue, this is corruption, it should be on the front page. Since it deals with Democrats, it another case of "move on, nothing to see here..."

Olbermannwatch: Bob Ney gets coverage for suspicion of corruption, Jefferson doesn't make the cut. Does Olbermann really need watching? Does anyone watch Olbermann?

Reconsider

Cranky George: There is enough blame in Congress to go around! Before another Democrat like Pelosi throws around the "corrupt" label, they shouldn't forget the "skeletons" in their own closets such as Trafficant, Torrecelli, and Rostenkowski!

Gateway Pundit names other Democrats who wrote letters on behalf of Abramoff clients and got quid pro quo donations.

And, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is leading the pack: "Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid Of Nevada Sent A Letter To [Interior Secretary Gale] Norton On March 5, 2002 ... The Next Day, The Coushattas [An Indian Tribe Represented By Abramoff] Issued A $5,000 Check To Reid's Tax-Exempt Political Group, The Searchlight Leadership Fund."

Along with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) : "Harkin Wrote At Least Three Letters In 2003 Pressing The Government To Release Federal Money To Help The Sac & Fox Tribe In His State Cope With The Temporary Closing Of Its Casino Due To A Tribal Dispute, According To Interior Department Documents Obtained By The Associated Press And Records Provided By Harkin's Office."

The esteemed Senator Mary Landrieu, (D-La) joins them: "Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., Who Was Engaged In A Tight Re-Election Race In 2002, Sent Her Letter March 6, 2002. That Same Day, The Coushattas Sent $2,000 To Her Campaign And She Received $5,000 More By The End Of That Month. By Year's End, The Total Had Grown To At Least $24,000."

As does Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): "[There Were] Half-Dozen Letters Written Or Signed By 14 Lawmakers On Behalf Of The Tribes. One Was Written Jan. 23, 2003 By [Democrat Sen.] ... Debbie Stabenow ... On The Saginaw's Behalf."

And, don't forget Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI): "[There Were] Half-Dozen Letters Written Or Signed By 14 Lawmakers On Behalf Of The Tribes. One Was Written Jan. 23, 2003 By [Democrat Sen.] Carl Levin ... On The Saginaw's Behalf."

Most people already knew that Dean was crazy, but apparently he's stupid too. Declaring publicly that the Democrats "are clean" on the issue of Abramoff-related pay-for-play was a monumental error. Even CNN isn't buying (Ed Henry)

"I Want To Underline Again, There Are Democrats Implicated In [The Abramoff Scandal] As Well. So [Democrats'] Argument About A Culture Of Corruption May Not Resonate With People Across The Country." (CNN's "CNN Live Today," 1/3/06)

Law-enforcement authorities and others said the investigation's opening phase is scrutinizing Sens. Conrad Burns, Montana Republican; Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat; and Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, along with Reps. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona Republican, and Bob Ney, Ohio Republican.

Ironically perhaps, Tom Delay was not a target for investigation. Yet Democrats unleashed the guilt-by-association beast and it may well turn around to bite Harry in the ass.

Now, Congressional Quarterly reports that Reid's former legislative counsel, Edward Ayoob, joined Abramoff’s then-law firm, Greenberg Traurig, in March 2002, and that some of Ayoob’s clients at the firm were Indian tribes. "Democrats have taken a special interest in Ayoob's clients," reported CQ. "Of the eight tribes Ayoob represented when he was with Greenberg Traurig, Reid acted in behalf of or moved legislation benefiting six." One case involved a casino controversy. "He [Reid] intervened, for example, to block other Democrats from opening a casino in Michigan, noting that other tribes in the state -- Ayoob's clients -- would suffer," CQ noted. "Ayoob gave $51,333 to Democrats since 2002, including $4,000 to Reid in 2003, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Tribes represented by Abramoff or Ayoob also gave Reid $30,500 since 1999, according to the Center." Announcing a Democratic ethics reform package last week, Reid told reporters, "This is a Republican scandal and they can try to spin-doctor it. … Eddie Ayoob didn’t work for Jack Abramoff, he worked for a 1,000-member law firm."

Harry Reid, like Ralph Reed, were Abramoff's glass breakers. Every so often some Autoglass company gets the bright idea that if they send some people around to break some windshields, they can create some business for themselves. Abramoff used his glassbreakers to oppose Indian casino gambling and then offered to "fix the problem" for a considerable fee. The fact that Reid has been doing this for years and getting big bucks for his trouble suggests that its way more than a coincidence.

Regardless of Reid's innocence or guilt, the smart thing to do would be to resign the leadership post and avoid tainting the party.

Captain's Quarters has more dirt on the Culture of Corruption.

Underneath the elegant conference room table in her House office, the California Democrat clenched her hands in her lap. She bit her lower lip. But Milling pressed on, and soon Pelosi was accepting a box of bonbons and an invitation for a 36-hour, expense-paid trip to New Orleans. "I'll be there," she said before the women walked out.

Would you be surprised that New Orleans residents are having to bribe members of Congress will all-expenses-paid trips to visit the devastation? Only 55 House members and 30 Senators have made the trip. Thes rest are holding out for a private jet.

Cynthia McKinney (D-Crazy) punched a Capitol Hill police officer after he sought to stop her after she failed to pass through a metal detector.

Such a gracious lady...

UPDATE: Fox News has provided a bit of history for this incident--apparently McKinney is often upset with Capitol police for not recognizing her on sight. She also has a tendancy to treat her subordinates with disdain, particularly white subordinates.

..well at least it should be. Paul Reubens who plays the remarkably original characterization of PeeWee was caught pleasuring himself in a Florida porn theater--something that would never happen today with the ubiquity of DVDs and cable porn.

PeeWee disappeared from the scene, which I thought was a great loss. I am reminded of the incident because enough time has passed that PeeWee has been able to make a comeback of sorts on cable--fifteen years after the incident!

Arguably, I would charitably say, lying about the Saddam Hussein regime's interest in reinstating a nuclear weapons development program is far, far worse. How long should one stay out of circulation after having been caught with that particular pecker out of his pants?

In case you're confused, and I not necessarily surprised if you are, I am talking about Joe Wilson and the American "anti-war" constituency which launched its entire "Bush lied, people died" program on the back of Joe Wilson's assurances that Niger never discussed selling Uranium oxide, otherwise known as yellowcake, to Saddam.

At the time, I argued heatedly with former UNCoRRELATED poster Marc Schindler that Wilson was full of it, particularly since criminals had been caught only month earlier trying to sell African yellowcake. Subsequently, evidence trickled out, quietly and unremarked that confirmed the essential facts. Post-invasion, the entire matter became clear as glass--Saddam had in fact sent envoys on two occasions to Niger to discuss trade--trade in this context being Niger's only product--yellowcake.

While relatively-speaking, no one is listening to me, they do listen to Christopher Hitchens who writes for Vanity Fair and Slate. He has consistently debunked the Wilson lies and did so again this week.

Now that Joseph and Valerie Wilson's fantasies of having been persecuted by high officials in the administration have been so thoroughly dispelled by Robert Novak (and now that it seems the prosecutor has determined that there was no breach of the relevant laws to begin with), we may return to the more important original question. Was there good reason to suppose that Iraqi envoys visited Niger in search of "yellowcake" uranium ore?

Follow the link and get an education...

Remarkably, Wilson appears to be a guy who cannot be embarrassed into silence and low observability. In spite of Robert Novak's definite dismissal of the notion that the administration was out to "punish him", Wilson calls the cameras out, pecker waving in the wind, to have his clueless wife announce her lawsuit against administration officials.

Oh that Wilson had half as much class as Paul Reubens--we wouldn't be hearing from him for the rest of his squalid life.

How soon before critics on the right question whether the latest AP asshattery against Harry Reid is an aptly timed election ploy? Couldn't Karl Rove come up with something better than this as an October Surprise? Granted, I don't think NoKo or Foley were quite what the administration had in mind...

The most succinct summary goes thus:

The AP's John Solomon, the go-to guy at the Associated Press for any anti-Democratic efforts, and this piece is absolute crap. The crux of the claim:

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid collected a $1.1 million windfall on a Las Vegas land sale even though he hadn't personally owned the property for three years, property deeds show.

Actually, he did own that land. It just so happened that three years ago, he transfered the property from his own personal name to that of an LLC.

It'd be kind of like me selling Daily Kos, and someone claiming I reaped a windfall from it because I "sold it three years ago". I didn't. Daily Kos became an LLC. As did Reid's piece of land.

And btw, this was all disclosed to the ethics committee. The place were things got sloppy is that Reid continued to disclose ownership of the land as a personal asset rather than ownership in the LLC which owned the land. But that's it. Fact is, the LLC had no other assets other than this piece of land, and Reid disclosed ownership of the piece of land.

Solomon is either being dishonest or an idiot. But watch the wingers and GOP try to gain traction off this story to divert from their coddling of a sexual predator.

Update: Note that there is no charge or evidence or anything that would suggest that Reid used his position of authority to boost the value of the land. That would be troublesome. As it is in NC-11 where Rep. Charles Taylor (R) used earmarks to line his pockets:

So, what is the story behind the stories? Did Reid run over John Solomon’s dog? Maybe John Solomon just serves as a convenient outlet for smear merchants who know that he won’t ask too many questions. Either way you have to wonder whether the AP is best served by keeping this guy around.

Crossposted:

A Deputy Secretary of State gets fired for hiring a hooker (maybe, probably) with his own money. Why? If he'd had an affair that would have been better? Why is it anyone else's business - he's not running for election by brandishing his family. This is all familiar stuff. They say the cheapest sex is the sex you pay for, maybe not in this case.

Wait,Jeremy,...I'm tuning into the Republican Party Line...receiving,receiving...ok, apparently I'm supposed to point out that this fellow got chopped because ABC is trawling through the DC Madam's black book for Republicans among the 15,000 names, but it's ok to have oval sex in the Oral Office with employees for free. Did I get that right?

Our esteemed fan, Jeremy.calls me a parrot, and he's almost right; in another life I'm a cormorant (aka shag) in Shad Thames, London.

..is also his most likeable trait - loyalty. Loyalty has given us Harriet Miers, Alberto Gonzales and George Tenet. Ah, George Tenet, head of the CIA for 7 years, daily briefer of Presidents. Douglas Feith pretty much destroys Tenet here, but the thing that gets me is that Clinton and Bush either didn't rumble this obvious fraud or wouldn't take the heat to defenestrate him in the national interest. His agency's incompetence thru critical times is a scandal. The CIA's core competence has been to undermine US democracy like a nomenklatura defending its privilege.

Bush is to blame for tolerating Tenet and Tenet's CIA. He had clear-sighted people from Cheney down to consult.

The U.S. is orange. It would be interesting to get a chart by individual states.

from Captain Capitalism

Renting the Lincoln bedroom and romping around with interns didn't give you a clue?

I think it's not Presidential," said former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, about Mr. Clinton's steady barrage against Barack Obama. "It's not in keeping with the image of a former President, and I'm frankly surprised that he is taking this approach."

A riposte to Hillary Clinton's lies about sniper fire in Bosnia:

General Petraeus may allow himself a quiet smile.

Townhall and others have been on this for some time, but now MSM CBS News brings it up--why earmarks are a BAD idea--however admirable the intention, they do not receive the same amount of scrutiny other appropriations do, and they can lead to corruption of public officials. Video here, via the NRCC. In case you missed it, The Pig Book is out for 2008. One more note for the presidential campaign. Hillary one of the top earmarkers in the Senate. Senator John McCain has requested zero. And Barack Obama has a very mixed record, written up by a liberal-leaning columnist from the Chicago Sun Times:

Instead, since I have some reporting history here, I am noting a pattern that has emerged: This is Obama's third ethical conversion of convenience -- taking on a higher standard, but only when it appears to be politically expedient. Obama is making government transparency and ethics a centerpiece of his presidential campaign.

It's a signature issue for McCain, and a winning one.

This is about as downright mean as I get. A beautiful spring day today.

Roll back the regs, Dems, in the land of the free!

Give us back our own energy destiny!!!

Powerline sums up the energy bigwigs testimony to Congress. And the Castro-loving Maxine Waters spills the beans. Gateway Pundit.