Pew
The waters of the stinking cesspool of Washington are getting churned up by the Jack Abramoff scandal and nobody appears to be immune. Even the usually insulated Bush has to give up the grease, poor guy. But the Democrats aren't too happy about it either. Minority Leader Harry Reid enjoyed some of that filthy lucre, and, unlike Bushie, he has no intention of giving it back. But, you have to cut him some slack -- he's a Democrat and they don't have as much money as the Republicans.
Assuredly, the average American has become some ill about the contaminated waters of the Foggy Bottom (if they are fortunate enough not be ill from the water in New Orleans). Each fresh influence-peddling scandal shows that very few of those Congressional porkers can keep their hands out of the cookie jar, even if it means throwing a few votes one way or another. Many of these bought... er, elected indivdiduals assume they are being pragmatic by cutting a couple of favors to store up the mighty reserves of cash it takes to get elected and stay in office. By their way of thinking, a few deals in the "favor factory" means they can get re-elected so that they can pass legislation to help... other lobbyists.
It runs deep, gang, and no well-intentioned John McCain can single-handedly repair the Washington machine. Tom Delay and friends have rigged up K street for their interests, and even if DeLay is run out of town on a rail, as he should be, the machine moves on without him. If you start asking the question "how deep does it go?" you start to find that the Foggy Bottom might actually be bottomless.
It will be hard for the Democrats to paint this as a purely Republican scandal -- even if it turns out to be a mostly Republican scandal -- but they will try. In the end, we here on the taxpayer end can all hope that the Democrats won't simply use the Republicans' malfeasance for political advantage and instead use the national embarrassment to truly try to instigate some substantive changes in campaign finance.
DeLay may represent Sugarland, Texas, but his real SugarLand is the abundant Washington cornucopia of delicious lobbyist payouts. Bon appetit on those just desserts, Tom.
Assuredly, the average American has become some ill about the contaminated waters of the Foggy Bottom (if they are fortunate enough not be ill from the water in New Orleans). Each fresh influence-peddling scandal shows that very few of those Congressional porkers can keep their hands out of the cookie jar, even if it means throwing a few votes one way or another. Many of these bought... er, elected indivdiduals assume they are being pragmatic by cutting a couple of favors to store up the mighty reserves of cash it takes to get elected and stay in office. By their way of thinking, a few deals in the "favor factory" means they can get re-elected so that they can pass legislation to help... other lobbyists.
It runs deep, gang, and no well-intentioned John McCain can single-handedly repair the Washington machine. Tom Delay and friends have rigged up K street for their interests, and even if DeLay is run out of town on a rail, as he should be, the machine moves on without him. If you start asking the question "how deep does it go?" you start to find that the Foggy Bottom might actually be bottomless.
It will be hard for the Democrats to paint this as a purely Republican scandal -- even if it turns out to be a mostly Republican scandal -- but they will try. In the end, we here on the taxpayer end can all hope that the Democrats won't simply use the Republicans' malfeasance for political advantage and instead use the national embarrassment to truly try to instigate some substantive changes in campaign finance.
DeLay may represent Sugarland, Texas, but his real SugarLand is the abundant Washington cornucopia of delicious lobbyist payouts. Bon appetit on those just desserts, Tom.
posted by Netizen X | 8:52 AM
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