Just found this editorial that is very well written by what appears to be a Republican with a conscience and a sense of ethics (if many of them still exist any more!). In any case, he mentions a lot things like the Duke Cunningham scandal, etc. and recommending crossing party lines to help "clean things up". Worth a read and giving to your Republican friends in that area for their consumption as well.
http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/2008/07/12/editorial/opinion5.txtGuest Soapbox: Jerry Lewis not fit to represent citizens
By Dave Larson / Flamingo Heights Friday, July 11, 2008 11:39 PM PDT
Members of Congress have a sworn duty to represent their constituents, the citizens who reside within the districts they serve, and to meet with those constituents to resolve issues with federal government agencies. Representative Jerry Lewis is up for re-election in November and recent news articles and media reports have revealed that Representative Lewis is the target of a federal corruption investigation by the Department of Justice and may not be fit to serve the constituents of California’s 41st Congressional District.
Like many registered Republicans, I used to faithfully support the party ticket, however in the case of Representative Lewis, constituents would be far better served by ousting this incumbent and voting for fresh leadership, even if it means crossing party lines. The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and other publications have widely reported that Representative Jerry Lewis is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, Los Angeles Attorneys Office and FBI for corruption and his improper ties to lobbying firms. A recent news article recently ranked Representative Lewis as the fifth most corrupt official in Washington.
After disgraced San Diego Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham was indicted on bribery and corruption, investigators began to look at other lawmakers who had ties to the same contractors — in this case the San Diego-based Brent Wilkes — alleged to have bribed Cunningham. Lewis was quickly determined to be one of those lawmakers. As reported in the San Diego Tribune, Lewis “greenlighted hundreds of millions of dollars in federal projects for clients of one of his closest friends,” lobbyist and former state Congressman Bill Lowery.
Additionally, Citizens Against Government Waste, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, ranked Lewis in the top ten for Pork Barrel Projects in 2008. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times also ranked Lewis as the No. 1 abuser of earmarks in all of Congress.
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