General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWow ... did you know this about Darrell Issa???
https://www.facebook.com/ConservativesAreDestroyingOurFuture
I know he's a scandalmonger and hatchet man, but I didn't know he had such a rap sheet.
warrior1
(12,325 posts)napkinz
(17,199 posts)I knew nothing about his past. I suppose I shouldn't be shocked.
Actually, I'm more shocked that I hadn't heard or seen any reporting on his past transgressions. Not from Rachel or Lawrence or Ed or Tweety.
Where did you learn about them?
progressoid
(49,933 posts)7962
(11,841 posts)And one Dem congressman has brought it up on the floor as well, if I'm not mistaken
northoftheborder
(7,569 posts)ann---
(1,933 posts)homegirl
(1,427 posts)Yes, he has been challenged by a Democrat. For some reason the California Democratic Party chooses to let Mr. Issa run virtually unopposed as they contribute zero to the campaign of his challenger. Issa has a campaign war chest of $1.5 MILLION, his challenger had less than $100K., but did get 41% of the vote. The voter demographics indicate that with strong financial support Issa could be defeated.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)1982: Issa Suspected, But Never Charged, In Arson Incident At Manufacturing Plant. According to the Los Angeles Times: "A suspected arson fire ripped through [Issa's Ohio] manufacturing plant in 1982. No one was ever charged in the fire, but authorities were troubled by a dramatic escalation in the facility's fire insurance just weeks earlier. Even before the blaze was put out, investigators began peppering Issa and his partner with 'crazy questions' regarding their whereabouts before the fire, Issa recalled." [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis, emphasis added]
Prior To Fire, Issa "Boosted" Fire Insurance And Removed A Computer From The Premises. According to the Los Angeles Times: "Weeks before the fire, Issa and [business partner Miles] Hunsinger boosted their fire insurance from $ 100,000 to $ 462,000 on property stored for other companies...At the same time, a separate company that contracted with Quantum to outfit bug zappers increased its insurance to $ 400,000, and, according to an insurance report, one investigator was 'concerned about the coincidence.' Fire investigators also noted that a computer was taken off the site eight days before the fire, 'allegedly to be reprogrammed' by Issa's lawyer, and that business blueprints were put away in a safe -- which was 'not previously done before.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis]
"Suspicious Burn Patterns" And "Out Of Normal Practice" Behavior Alerted Investigators. The Washington Post reported: "Investigators reported 'suspicious burn patterns' and said the fire may have been set. A company bookkeeper, Karen Brasdovich, also told them that computers and records had been removed from the site days before the fire for no clear reason. 'It was totally out of normal practice,' she said in a telephone interview last week." [Washington Post via FTLComm.com, 7/8/03]
AC Custom Fire: Flammable Liquid Had "Been Poured On The Only Area Not Covered By Fire Sprinklers." The Los Angeles Times reported that "seven months after Issa took control," a fire broke out at the "Quantum manufacturing plant." "Case files from Maple Heights, the Ohio fire marshal and insurers pointed repeatedly to the likelihood of arson in the blaze, which officials estimated caused $ 800,000 in damage. Although an accident could not be ruled out, the uneven and unnatural burn patterns made the blaze 'suspicious in nature,' the state concluded two months later. Flammable liquid appeared to have been poured on the only area not covered by fire sprinklers, investigators found." [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis, emphasis added]
http://mediamatters.org/research/2011/01/11/report-media-ignore-rep-issas-alleged-criminal/174997
napkinz
(17,199 posts)Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)I hope Rachel Maddow and Steve Kornacki unearth all of the unsavory things not known.
Ilsa
(61,690 posts)the way of him serving himself in Congress.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)where not even found in bed with a live boy, or a dead girl will be enough.
Oh and I forgot, iirc number two wealthiest man in Congress
rustbeltvoice
(429 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)Thanks to years of reading DU.
napkinz
(17,199 posts)... his witch hunt against the president.
herding cats
(19,558 posts)I'll be sure to spread it around now that I do, tho.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)And I could NEVER hold a government job because I smoke pot.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)haele
(12,635 posts)Yes, everyone "knows" about the rumors. But there's nothing that is on the books that can brought up in any campaigns will pry him out of his district seat. Only thing that can torpedo his career is if he pulls a "Duke" Cunningham, and one of his under-the-table friends squeals on him.
But, since he's rich-richy-rich, none of those greedy holier than thou sociopaths he aligns himself with will rat him out. They love that money and the prestige it buys way too much for any bit of feeling of remorse, decency or justice can affect their "friendship" with him.
Haele
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and has a list...
liberal N proud
(60,332 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Sell what you know.
Jessy169
(602 posts)One guy's "rap sheet" is another guy's "list of qualifications". It depends on which political party you're trying to get in tight with, I guess.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,145 posts)napkinz
(17,199 posts)cascadiance
(19,537 posts)... including how he swindled away the car alarm business that made him rich, and despite the tools he sells to evade cops in cars, he gets arrested for speeding and tries to blow off the cops who arrested him too.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/01/14/85544/-The-corrupt-49n-er-49th-Congressional-District#
He should have one the way of the Heaven's Gate cult, which also happened to be in his district too.
Rex
(65,616 posts)he and other career criminals like Tom Delay get off without doing any jail time.
mercymechap
(579 posts)maybe that is why he goes after others so vehemently, he wants others to have long rap sheets too...... But I bet the Republican/conservatives/Tea Partiers have an explanation for everyone of those that makes him come out "saintly"!
mrmule
(17 posts)He is a republican
FlyByNight
(1,756 posts)Congress must be proud to have him among their fellow members.
2banon
(7,321 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)And he cried when he found out that having ousted Davis the Republicans wouldn't support him for Governor.
Bandit
(21,475 posts)kairos12
(12,841 posts)SamKnause
(13,087 posts)I did know that he was a career criminal.
He fits in well with all the other career criminals in DC.
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)Hekate
(90,538 posts)bvf
(6,604 posts)a la Henry Hyde.
But yes, it never hurt to remind people . . .
napkinz
(17,199 posts)At this point, are they not embarrassed?
Haven't they seen enough by now?
W.J. McCabe
(74 posts)yeah...
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)KansDem
(28,498 posts)RAP Sheet = A sheet of "Republican Approval Points"
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Our local Dem club is working to support a candidate running against him. We have hope because of the gov shut down. And for all the rest of you our there -- Come April, anyone can help work the phone banks!!
2banon
(7,321 posts)oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Would love your vote. The 49th congressional district is mostly the west side of north San Diego county and southern Orange county north of us.
2banon
(7,321 posts)I have friends and relatives scattered about down in San Diego and Orange Counties.. I was just trying to remember which district that creep "represents". Good Luck in your efforts!!!!
homegirl
(1,427 posts)"Yes, he has been challenged by a Democrat. For some reason the California Democratic Party chooses to let Mr. Issa run virtually unopposed as they contribute zero to the campaign of his challenger. Issa has a campaign war chest of $1.5 MILLION, his challenger had less than $100K., but did get 41% of the vote. The voter demographics indicate that with strong financial support Issa could be defeated."
haele
(12,635 posts)There is a s-pile of money in Issa's district in the hands of a very few, very conservative people that will outspend whatever the CDP can give a challenger. If the challenger polls around 48%, they may consider it - which is why they finally supported Scott Peters and may soon start to tentatively look at a challenger to Li'l Dunkie Hunter, but the CDP is chickenshit when it comes to any seats in California where big money opposes them and there's not a significant number of "anti-incumbant" polling percentages when it comes to a Republican Incumbant.
They don't trust an indication of registed voters saying they're more inclined to vote blue in a red district - that doesn't pan out too much, because people are creatures of habit.
41% voting for an Issa challenger will always pretty much be 41%, just as in the past, Busby may have polled more favorable than Bilbray, but the polls never seemed to show at the polling place.
Just as for the San Diego Mayoral race, Fletcher (a Republican/Independant/psuedo 3rd-way Democrat) pulled some moderate hipster-type Republican and "North of I-8" Democrat votes when he was running, but those votes either will go back to Faulconer (the real Republican) or not show up at the voting booth.
The typical Democratic Fletcher voters are not inclined to stay with the party representative Alverez, the "South of 94 which is way too South of I-8" candidate. They may have gone for a Todd Gloria or Toni Atkins, but not for Alverez.
What the local CDP is hoping for is a push to get their voters at the polling places, and that the North of I-8's won't let their fear of the "South of 94's" get in the way. But I've got a nasty feeling that won't happen, and we'll become a Blue city run by Developer interests yet again. Right now, I don't see as much CDP money going to Alverez as it did in the primaries, and this is when he needs to get the voters out.
One would hope that the Latino/Mexican vote would help Alverez, but the "Latino Business community" (i.e., Real Estate/Developers/Day Laborers) and the evangelicals prefer the Repulican Faulconer because Alverez is just too pro-Union and pro-low income community re-development.
I'm afraid Filner really f'ed all of us. Three (four, five? Between the mayoral primaries and filling vacant council and state representative seats, I've lost count) special elections in two years really tire the voters out. And even though I know why Gloria didn't run (talk about a great mayor he's been so far! He's what Filner should have been.) I'm really sorry he didn't.
Faulconer is Wilson part II. Expect a convention center expansion, a new stadium for the Chargers, no critical re-development for the Chollas and Stockton, and pensions and wages for city workers slashed to the bone. We'll be open for business again! Who cares that the cost of basic living in San Diego means that unless you've already got Section 8 housing, you need to be making at least $50K a year just to afford a 2 bedroom roach-infested apartment for your houshold. As long as the millionaires get more millions off the backs of non-unionized day labor and minimum wage service/retail, it's all good.
Haele
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Yes, money is a problem. We are doing better in the Duncan Hunter district -- 50th. James Kimber is building a good campaign.
KauaiK
(544 posts)the press knows as well. 3 guesses (and the first 2 don't count) as to why it isn't reported. Karl Rove owed him b/c he financed the recall of California Gov Gray Davis which gave California Ahhhnoold. Karl Rove got him his seat in Congress and committee chairmanship.
He is a two-bit criminal thug from San Diego.
blondie58
(2,570 posts)Responsible for putting The poison pill in about the post office- making Them prepay benefits for future retirees- to The túne of 6.5 billón. If The post office dies, it William hurt a lot of people- And you Will be Paying moré for letters And packages.
I really detest this man.
napkinz
(17,199 posts)To quote Daffy, "He's despicable!"
"How do I loathe thee? Let me COUNT the ways."
That's funny!
Thanks Cha
libodem
(19,288 posts)The GOP stands for the MOB. They are ruthless Capitalists.
pinto
(106,886 posts)imo
He's a scumbag. A THUG. Cream rises to the top, but in the case of Republican, scum rises to the top.
Kablooie
(18,605 posts)They find everyone else's.
malaise
(268,664 posts)Grand Theft Auto Issa (GTA Issa)
napkinz
(17,199 posts)I don't know how I missed that.
Everything I've read on Issa has been about his countless hearings, his witch hunt, his sleazy tactics. But I had never read anything about his life before he entered politics.
And with that kind of record -- that rap sheet -- how the hell was he was ELECTED to office?
B Calm
(28,762 posts)MarianJack
(10,237 posts)...the truth about "rand Theft Auto" Issa!
PEACE!
merrily
(45,251 posts)heaven05
(18,124 posts)all in one RW thug. How lucky his voters must feel. Most are crooks anyway, only some, like this clown, are thugs, I hope.
valerief
(53,235 posts)He doesn't care who he kills with his policies.
rrely
(7 posts)THUG!
niyad
(113,029 posts)resulted in herr gropenator as gov.
. . .
The movement took off when wealthy U.S. Representative Darrell Issa, a Republican representing San Diego, California, announced on May 6 that he would use his personal money to push the effort. All told, he contributed $1.7 million of his own money to finance advertisements and professional signature-gatherers. With the movement accelerated, the recall effort began to make national news and soon appeared to be almost a sure thing. The only question was whether signatures would be collected quickly enough to force the special election to take place in late 2003 rather than in March 2004.
. . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_gubernatorial_recall_election
MADem
(135,425 posts)He thought HE was gonna be governor of California.
That's how delusional that crook is....
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)I keep asking why he is not in jail too.