As a Democrat, I would like to thank Tom Delay for excluding Dems...

[kentuck]

...from his lobbyist racket when he first took power. Smoking his cigar and arrogantly telling some protestor that he was the "government", he let it be known right up front that he and the Republicans were in charge and that if they did not give their money to Republicans, they would have no access. Zilch.

So, over the last 10 years or so, they have indeed created a culture of corruption. Few of them are exempt. Perhaps a few of the newer members? But many of them are in the same game and mindset as Duke Cunningham. They have convinced themselves that they need to make whatever they can for themselves because since they are in "public service", they are sacrificing their future to serve the people.

But, it is not that the Democrats are more moral or discreet than the Republcians in this scandal, in my opinion. It is because they were denied access by Delay and the Republicans. They were the big hogs at the trough and the little piggies were not to get anything. Just my opinion.

[MADem]

1. It benefits us that our crew were able to learn a lesson first hand

...without having to go through the meatgrinder personally. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Perhaps congressmen, like children, will learn what they live. It will make them better legislators in future, hopefully.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. Hmm. A rare tactical error by the diabolical criminals. If they

had only bought off some Dems ! Bet they are kicking themselves, huh. It just shows that they were so sure they would get away with it all they didn't need the insurance.

But their campaign to implicate Dems, no matter how false, will work to some degree.

If you watched the C-Span special last night about the whole affair, there would be no doubt in your mind that they could fix an election !

[Tiggeroshii]

3. here here!

Democrats would have taken it if they could, but they couldn't. Supposedly they have taken things from Abramoff's "clients." Very little. But they couldn't really do any favors for him, so they didn't get anything.