Jack Abramoff: The A-Bomb Drops On Washington by Bill Press

[jbfam4]

Jack Abramoff: The A-Bomb Drops On Washington by Bill Press
January 5, 2006


http://billpress.com/columns.html


The Abramoff scandal is not just a big deal. It could end up being the biggest and most widespread case of corruption to hit the nation’s capitol ever. Bigger than Teapot Dome, Abscam or even Watergate. Because this one adds up to more money, hits more people, and may very well send more politicians to jail. Some 210 members of Congress received campaign contributions from Abramoff. Between 12 and 20 of them are under investigation by the Justice Department for possible bribes.

And make no mistake about it. This is a Republican scandal, from top to bottom. Sure, there are a few Democrats on Abramoff’s list. Every lobbyist, after all, is forced to sprinkle a little money, once in a while, to the opposition. (No Democrat is yet accused of exchanging cash for official acts.) But Abramoff called himself a “Republican” lobbyist. He filled his own staff with former aides of Republican members of Congress. He worked closely with uber-Republican lobbyists Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, and Ralph Reed, former director of the Christian Coalition. He gave most of his money to Republicans. And his closest ties were to Republican leaders in the House, Senate and White House.

Even before Abramoff’s guilty plea, President Bush pretended he’d never heard of him. In classic Bushspeak: “I’m umm-ahhh, you know the, the Ambramamoff — I’m frankly, I’m not all that familiar what’s going on up there in Capitol Hill,” he told Fox News. This was just as honest as Bush’s telling reporters, four years ago, he couldn’t remember meeting Enron chairman Ken Lay — a close family friend and financial supporter, whom Bush had actually nicknamed “Kenny Boy.”

As first reported on the blog Daily Kos, Bush’s ties to the A-Bomb go way back to when he was governor of Texas, writing letters in support of the North Marianas Island, Abramoff’s client. As president, he met with Marianas Gov. Juan Babauta. Abramoff’s office records clock over 200 meetings with administration officials, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft and top aides to Vice President Dick Cheney. And Bush appointee David Safavian, head of procurement for the White House, has already been arrested and charged with lying to investigators about his dealings with Abramoff.

[woodsprite]

1. Luv it! My 12yo was just comparing this to Teapot Dome/Harding

and the "Ohio Gang" the other day. Her asking questions of me sent me to Google. I didn't exactly remember the particulars from my history class so many years back. I was saying "Wow" alot as I read between docs on Teapot Dome and Watergate (which I was still pretty young for).

[Trevelyan]

2. SourceWatch is great for learning about the cast of thousands involved in

Abramoff and other bush regime scandals:

Profiles

Previously, Griles, who became Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) on July 12, 2001, announced his resignation December 7, 2004. The Department administers more than 500 million acres of federal land, is responsible for endangered species protections, and oversees the conservation and development of the nation's water and mineral resources.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Steven_Griles

==Steve Griles More on him here.

He's the ex-deputy secretary (read: 2nd in command) at the Interior Department, which oversees many tribal issues. He was a former miningindustry lobbyist who went on to regulate, among other things, the mining industry. Griles is reportedly one of the executive branch officials under investigation in relation to Abramoff. It's believed that he saw to it that actions favorable to Abramoff's clients were taken at Interior.

There's also Gale Norton, the head of Interior under Bush. She was previously head of the non-profit org. CREA, whose director was used by Abramoff as a conduit in conducting 'business' with Griles.

[Ready4Change]

3. "The A-Bomb!" Great label! n/t

[cliss]

4. Just imagine in Washington, right now.

Lots of politicians are pretty sweaty. They've got beads of sweat on their foreheads. Their hand trembles, as it reaches out for a bottle of Perrier water.

There are discussions. Lots of discussions going on, lots of alibis, stories, reversals, more sweating, trying to stick together, phone calls, desperate pleas.

This is great.

[No Exit]

5. Reminds me of that nursery rhyme about King Shrub

Sing a song of 6 mil,
A pocket full of bribes,
Suave and sleazy Jack bird,
Bilked all those tribes,

When the tribes were empty,
The Jack began to sing,
Wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before the King?