Listen up Democrats!!! The Corruption Issue has traction!!!

[CatWoman]

Corruption Issue Comes to Fore
Reed Is Seen as First Casualty, and Parties Brace for More

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 20, 2006; Page A06

While political corruption has failed so far to take root as a national issue, the defeat of scandal-stained Ralph Reed in Georgia on Tuesday showed that federal investigators could tip some key House and Senate races this fall, according to party strategists.

Reed, a former top campaign official for President Bush and executive director of the Christian Coalition, lost the Republican primary for lieutenant governor after getting pounded by his opponent for his close and profitable relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the central figure in an unfolding money-for-favors scandal. Reed was the first electoral victim of political corruption probes -- but officials in both parties said he probably won't be the last.

Republicans worry that more than six candidates for the House and Senate could be hurt by Justice Department investigations, the courts and revelations in the Abramoff affair. Topping the list are Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), both bruised by Abramoff connections and facing tough races.

Anticipating more bad news, House GOP leaders are privately discussing a pre-election plan to compromise with the Senate on legislation clamping down on lobbyists and member perks, according to a GOP source familiar with the effort. The source, who discussed the plan on the condition of anonymity, said that if Ney or other Republicans are indicted, House leaders will drop their demands to include strict curbs on the special-interest election spending that favored Democrats in 2004 and quickly pass the lobbying bill to provide political cover to candidates.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071901714.html

[Monkeyman]

1. Not if Hastert has his way

Hell the boy goes on $1000.00 day fishing trips paid for by lobbyest and his son's one now. Ney going to jail, Jerry Lewis is going to jail,Harris going to jail you think the fatman Hastert will give up his cake

[Drum]

2. Don't forget DC Strippergate! nt

[BillZBubb]

3. Our side has to pound it home.

It's a good issue for us, but we need a good rebuttal to the Jefferson problem. The corporate media takes all the Repug scandals and puts them up against Jefferson and calls it a draw.

[nevergiveup]

4. Denny Hastert is another

He is taking a hit here in Illinois 14. His usual landslide victory is no more taken for granted. He will probably still prevail but his opponent, John Laesch, is young, bright, charismatic and an Iraq Veteran. If the Dems would send Laesch some money he could give Ole Denny a big scare.

[DELUSIONAL]

5. Well good news!! Was Ralph tainted or just judged to be creepy??

[Warpy]

6. Heather Wilson (R-COW) went negative and nasty here about

two weeks ago, with no ads from the opposition (leaving a lot of people wondering just what the hell she was yapping about, referencing some article from the right wing fishwrap from a year ago). Her opponent has come out swinging, and has cited both Abramoff and Delay's PAC as big contributors.

Corruption's a nasty thing. Wilson is certainly vulnerable. I just wonder if they're going to point out her staffers were in the Rent A Mob that stopped the Dade County recount in 2000.

I'm starting to hope we'll finally be rid of her. The paper ballots will help.

[Supersedeas]

7. Democrats have to get their act together!!!