GOP senator (Coburn - OK) expects seven lawmakers headed to prison

[flvegan]

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/GOP_Senator_says_7_lawmakers_headed_0415.html

Speaking in Wagoner, Oklahoma, Senator Tom Coburn (OK-R) said that "if you've been keeping up with things, you've got a pretty good idea" who the unnamed lawmakers might be.

Tulsa World reports that Coburn indicated that six congressman and a senator would end up being convicted on corruption charges and that "members of both parties have been involved in questionable dealings."

Last month, Senator Coburn voted against the lobbying reform bill after an amendment was rejected "that would have given Senators greater power to block egregious earmarks."

"Earmark abuse was at the center of the Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham scandals yet the Senate failed to clamp down on what Abramoff described as the 'earmark favor factory' in Congress," Coburn explained...

<snip> more at above link

Also covered by KTEN:
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4773216

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I just hope that no Dems have done anything illegal

for you can bet your bottom dollar if they have, THEIR story will be splashed about all out of proportion from the other scandals, and when repuke scandals are mentioned, the Dem scandal will always be trotted out to show "they are all corrupt"-a concept that keeps many disgruntled voters from casting ballots at all.

[marbuc]

5. The recent buzz on Mollahan is not very encouraging

same with Jefferson of Louisiana. I say take all the criminals down. We might lose a few, but we will win this battle.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. I agree 100%

we don't need crooks on the Democratic side of the aisle. We have to be squeaky clean, I think, to claim the trust of so many who voted for Bush but are now disillusioned as well as Democratic voters who want their vote to end "business as usual".

[madmark2]

9. prosecute them all

[Old and In the Way]

15. Can you explain Jefferson's problems?

I know he's got bad press for using the NG to bring him to his house during the Katrina flood and maybe help remove some stuff? I also think he's had some aides that have issues...but is Jefferson in a Republican-Class corruption scandel?

[marbuc]

17. His problems started before Katrina

This is what he is accused of:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/15/AR2006021502752.html

[LouisianaLiberal]

38. I don't know if the charges against Jefferson are true.

He has always struck me as an opportunist who is a Democrat by default. His statements over the years have seemed self-serving and self-promoting. He is, however, very intelligent, and if the charges are true, he was not unaware of the legal issues when he committed the crimes.

[Rose Siding]

27. Mollahan is opening records and explaining every profit

There was an inheritance when his dad died, he invested in property and, of course that skyrocketed, as it did for everyone else in DC.

He took earmarks back to his state. If people in WV benefited more than corporations, that makes him a good rep, imo.

Do you know of any accusations coming at him from anywhere other than the sealed Scaife complaint?

[marbuc]

39. I'm actually a Mollohan fan

I know people that work for organizations formed from earmarks in WV, and I generally think earmarks have the potential for good. The thing that bothered me about the allegations is not the real estate investments, nor the inheritance, but the possibility that he was personally enriched by the earmarks he procured. I'm certainly keeping an open mind, and am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I am definitely keeping an eye on it. I will be very disappointed if that specific allegation is accurate.

[pokercat999]

41. The American people will win this battle if we

take them all (the criminals) down. Lets hope the future can bring some honest "citizen lawmakers" that will but teeth into ethics laws. Lets hand out some real jail time for this shit instead of wrist slapping. If one has a choice between a couple of ill gotten mil and a lifetime of being bubba's prison bitch it might make the decision a little easier to make.

[TankLV]

8. NO DEMS ARE INVOLVED. NONE.

I'll repeat it SLOWLY for those who STILL don't understand:

NO.
DEMS.
ARE.
INVOLVED.

NONE.

This is purely a REPUKE scandal!

[marbuc]

10. If you're speaking of the Abramoff affair

then you are correct. If you are talking about corruption in general, then you are mostly correct. History shows that Dems are not uncorruptable, as much as I hate to admit.

[rodeodance]

22. Colburn and others like to confuse issues.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

35. I realize no Dems are involved in the Abramoff scandal

what I am worried about is a Dem involved in anything shady, for the repukes will use it in the way I mentioned, I fear.

[oneold1-4u]

29. Get ready!

Not all the laundry comes clean every time! There should be some good choices in the wings just in case. The party will always be able to use good honest people even if they are only a school board member or concerned citizen!

[Auntie Bush]

2. So who are these 7 lawmakers?

I wonder who the Dem is and hope he is a Deno.

This should make winning in congress a little easier!

[rodeodance]

the article did not list any names

[Joey Liberal]

3. Coburn is an idiot

He's my Senator and that really sucks. He's trying to bring Democrats into the GOP scandals.

[FARAFIELD]

4. obviously NO DEMS will go to jail

Or else he would have said it, that will be the mantra for the right wingers. the best they have about us is that some have
"questionable dealings"

[OKNancy]

7. Snip from the Tulsa World article

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=060415_Ne_A1_Cobur43865
( you have to subscribe to read)
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., speaks during a town hall meeting Friday at the Wagoner Civic Center.
JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World

Coburn: Lawmakers are headed to prison
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
4/15/2006


The U.S. senator says he expects such a fallout from the lobbying scandal.
WAGONER -- U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn said Friday that he expects six congressmen and a fellow senator to go to jail on corruption charges in the wake of investigations involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others.

The Oklahoma Republican declined to name any of the seven, but said, "if you've been keeping up with things, you've got a pretty good idea."

Coburn's remarks came during a town hall meeting at the Wagoner Civic Center attended by about 30 people, and were made in relation to his attempts to curb "earmarking" -- the practice of inserting appropriations for specific projects into unrelated bills.

snip

Some of those connections began coming to light in the last year. Abramoff was sentenced to more than five in prison last month and may face additional charges related to his dealings with several Indian tribes. Coburn indicated after speaking Friday that his prediction was at least partly based on his service on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

---
article goes on to talk about Ney. Coburn says both parties involved. He mentioned Rep. Alan Mollohan, a West Virginia Democrat

[AX10]

11. Alan Mollohan is not involved with Jack Abramoff.

[Bleacher Creature]

12. Coburn is the one who wanted the FCC to fine NBC

for showing an uncut version of "Schindler's List," which he viewed as indecent.

Take anything he says with a pillar of salt.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Not to mention...

...the one who wants the death penalty for abortion clinic doctors, and who has claimed that the Oklahoma public schools are filled with lesbian activity in the girls' restrooms. :crazy:

[rodeodance]

21. good gawd--he said this!

.....Oklahoma public schools are filled with lesbian activity in the girls' restrooms. :crazy:

[meow2u3]

30. How does Coburn know there was hot lezzy action in the girls' rooms?

Does he have the tapes to show for it? And if so, does he beat off to it? Probably does get his jollies watching hot girl-on-girl action :evilgrin:

[jazzjunkysue]

28. Now, exactly how would ne know that? Personal experience?

Anyone ever asked him that?

These closet cases are all so obvious, and petty. Someone needs to tell them that they're not really sinners for playing with their private parts under the covers in kindergarden.....

[chaumont58]

13. I would guess the senator is Burns of Montana

*

[karlrschneider]

14. I was at that gathering (I live just outside Wagoner) and I've known Tom

quite well for 35 years from when he was still in high school and I was chief pilot for his daddy's company and I chauffeured him around the country for about 10 years. Hadn't seen him for several years but he obviously recognized me right away and came over and gave me a big hug. I asked him if he had read any of the letters I've sent since he got to congress and he said no, and he was sorry but can't read every piece of correspondence but would instruct his staff to flag anything I sent him so he could read it. I hope he does...but I doubt it will change his mind on any of the huge numbers of issues about which we disagree totally...but it can't hurt to have some input. We didn't have much time to chat but he said he respects me enormously to which I replied, "Tom, I like you personally but I think your political views are basically nutty." He said "You always were a rabble-rouser" (My boss, his dad, and I used to have VERY agitated arguments over politics...one night in Atlanta in his room at the Hyatt Recency he actually jumped on me because I said I would be voting for George McGovern!, I should write a book about those days) ;-)

[brentspeak]

18. Why not?

Write a book about a time when politics wasn't quite the mud-slinging affair that it is today.

[marbuc]

19. Agreed

Include in your book a description of a time when politics was not such divisive affair, where two people could argue passionately without jeopardizing the relationship.

[karlrschneider]

31. I don't think it would be so much about politics, as the inner workings

of a politically-influenced company...but I take your point, that is as I see it that the mud-slinging wasn't out in the open 35 years ago like it is now. Maybe.

[Lostnote06]

24. How are you KS?

....I recall your conversations re:TX oil folks....I've been off-line for well over a yr however its good to see familiar names....best of luck with your book project, I hope that you accomplish it.....best wishes from the Bluegrass

[karlrschneider]

32. Hey! Well, I'm fine but getting lazier by the day. I need

more discipline, I guess...or patience. I really should try a book but my literary skills aren't that great. ;-)

[Catch22Dem]

33. Man, I'd read that book in a heartbeat!

I always enjoy your posts.

[karlrschneider]

34. -blush-....well, thanks. You wouldn't believe how many times I've

STARTED but the first paragraph always looks so damn lame on first reading, I just delete it and go play with the dogs or drink a beer. :D

[truthisfreedom]

20. *yawn*

[BrotherBuzz]

23. Here's hoping Doolittle (CA4) and Pombo (CA11) are on the list

[Lostnote06]

25. McConnell/Bunning......Hang'm High....n/t

[Rose Siding]

26. Last month, I watched Coburn argue against emergency $ for

people who are freezing in the NE, as well as help for the scores of PEOPLE left without homes in NOLA.

"Questionable dealings" indeed, you freak show.

[oneinok]

36. seven is a good start

Seven repugs going to jail is a good start.

[jazzjunkysue]

37. Is this like Idol? Can we vote them off the island? Please?!?!

:popcorn:

[radfringe]

40. scuttlebutt from blatherheads on this

things are really going to bust wide open this summer - indictments, resignations, withdrawals from various races...

got my :beer: and :popcorn: ready