Hold on people, here we GO!

[IselaB]

You thought it was going to be a cake-walk to victory in November? You thought the Republicans were just going to roll over and accept their sad fate?

You have no faith in the Democratic leadership, but you have been so encouraged by Republican self-immolation that you figured we could win this one even though our leaders are snivelling cowards?

Well, guess what? It isn't going to be that easy:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060522/pl_nm/crime_milbergweiss_politics_dc_2

HEADLINE NEWS! FLASH! STOP THE PRESSES! (Washington-Reuters) - Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP, the securities class action law firm indicted last week on fraud charges stemming from corporate lawsuits it filed, made large political contributions almost exclusively to Democrats since 1999, records show.

Yep, you heard right! Democrats accepted campaign contributions from a firm which has been indicted on FRAUD CHARGES STEMMING FROM CORPORATE LAWSUITS IT FILED. That these corporate lawsuits have nothing to do with it's campaign contributions is irrelevant! The important thing is that we can now be FAIR AND BALANCED and equate this scandal with the JACK ABRAMOFF scandal which was all about using money from clients to influence Republican lawmakers through bribes and illegal campaign donations.

Oh, you can smell the relief! Now the MSM doesn't have to keep reporting how Congressional corruption is a Republican problem. It can now be FAIR AND BALANCED. Thank God reality finally, reluctantly agreed to cooperate. It sucks for journalists when reality takes sides. It's so hard on ratings and subscription rates.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Clearly corrupt

From their website-

* Experts in protecting victims of corporate fraud and other public misconduct
* Responsible for over $45 billion in recoveries
* The most prestigious and recognized plaintiff law firm in the United States




GlobeTel Communications Corp. (GTE)

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (FFH)

Sea Containers Ltd. (SCR-A)

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL)

» More New Cases

Debit Card Investigation

Guidant Investigation

Medtronic Investigation

Bextra Withdrawal
COX2 y Bextra (Español)

Variable Annuity Sales Practices
Variable Life Insurance Sales Practices

Guardian Life Insurance Sales Practices


They seem to be concerned with corporate/government fraud, pharmacuetical fraud, etc. Clearly, they are a threat to the Republican Party.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Milberg Weiss Statement

http://www.milbergweiss.com/newsevents/publicationsdetail.aspx?pubtype=5280&pubid=774

STATEMENT OF MILBERG WEISS REGARDING INDICTMENT -- MAY 22, 2006


05/22/06

*
Click here for further information

The Milberg Weiss law firm was informed today that federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have obtained indictments charging the firm and two of its partners, following a five-year investigation into the alleged misuse of "referral fees" paid by the firm. The government's allegations of wrongdoing have been categorically denied by the indicted partners, and the firm intends to join with them in vigorously defending against the charges.

The firm is particularly incensed that the prosecutors decided to indict the firm itself. The firm has 125 attorneys and another 240 employees who, even according to the government, did not participate in or know anything about the matters at issue.

The firm has held intense negotiations with government officials in Los Angeles and Washington over the past six months in an effort to avoid this unjust result. The government's insistence that the firm waive attorney-client privileges as a condition to avoiding indictment is in derogation of one of the bedrock principles of American law and extended to parties the firm did not control. Governmental insistence on such broad waivers has been criticized by the American Bar Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is currently being reviewed by Congress.The prosecutors also insisted that the firm make unfounded statements accusing its own partners of crimes and otherwise become an agent for the government. Unfortunately, the prosecutors insisted on indicting the firm unless it made these impossible concessions.

In an effort to address the government's concerns about alleged misuse of referral fees, Milberg Weiss voluntarily adopted a system to ensure that no outside firm or attorney receiving a referral fee from Milberg Weiss would share any portion with a client. Milberg Weiss also retained the services of Bart M. Schwartz, a highly respected former Chief of the Criminal Division in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to monitor the procedures and to develop a "best practices" program. The firm offered to have Mr. Schwartz report his ongoing efforts directly to federal prosecutors in Los Angeles. In addition, as previously reported, partners David Bershad and Steven Schulman have taken leaves of absence pending resolution of the charges filed against them, not because they believe they engaged in wrongdoing, but because they hoped doing so would avoid indictment of the firm. Indictment of the firm was completely unnecessary and unjust.

The government's case depends on its position that the firm and its attorneys failed to provide full and "honest services" in prosecuting cases in furtherance of its clients' interests. That charge is absurd on its face. The firm is renowned for achieving the best possible results for its clients and class members. In fact, the government makes no allegation - nor could it - that the firm did not provide first rate, highest quality legal services to every one of its clients.

The firm is committed to continuing the zealous representation of its clients and has the attorneys, personnel, and resources to do so.

Milberg Weiss was founded in 1965 and was one of the first law firms to prosecute class actions in federal courts on behalf of investors and consumers. The firm pioneered this type of litigation and is now widely recognized as the nation's leading defender of the rights of victims against corporate and other large-scale wrongdoing. Recent litigation results include: Lucent Technologies Securities Litigation ($600 million recovery); Raytheon Co. Securities Litigation ($460 million recovery); Managed Care Litigation (recoveries over $1 billion and major changes in HMO practices); NASDAQ Market Makers Antitrust Litigation ($1 billion recoveries); Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation (partial settlements for guaranteed minimum of $1 billion); Holocaust Slave Labor and Victim Assets Litigation (pro bono representation leading to recoveries of approximately $7 billion); September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (pro bono representation of claimants from government fund).

[IselaB]

3. Yes. It makes the political motivation very clear.

They aren't after the firm, they want the firm to serve as a weapon. The firm will be okay if it cooperates.

As these thugs become more desperate, they will try to utilize their governmental power in partisan ways.

[IselaB]

4. I'm at a bit of a disadvantage because I don't watch television...

but according to Yahoo, the media is doing handstands of joy. You see...

The firm and individuals there made $2.78 million in campaign donations to Democrats since 1999 compared to about $22,000 to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics.

So even though the legal problems this firm is confronting have nothing to do with it's political contributions to Democrats or whatever, the media is going to be all over this.

They don't have to prove the Republicans are law-abiding lawmakers with integrity... they just have to stir up the cynical dust that suggests everybody is tainted...

[radfringe]

5. going to fuel

the ANTI-IMCUMBENT mood. It's not going to be a THROW THE REPUBLICANS OUT mood - it's throw them all out (regardless of party)

Overall the general public believes All Politicians are Corrupt regardless of party. In past weeks the focus has been on Republican corruption and the golden rule (whoever has the gold, rules.)

How many of you can honestly say that when you go to vote - you are not holding your nose and somewhere in your mind you are thinking "not much of a difference between a crook or a thief"?

between this story and the news about Jefferson - the culture of corruption is epidemic in politics. But we knew that and hoped the infection was somewhat contained within one side of the aisle.

but the general public, overall, doesn't make the distinction between which is more corrupt - the dems or the repubs - the general public sees it equally corrupt and the fine distinctions is out the window.

yeah, the repubs are in charge - but if the dems are just as corrupt - what's the difference which INCUMBENT is re-(s)elected? The best hope Joe-six-pack voter has is to THROW THE BUMS OUT and hope it takes a little time before the challenger is contaminated.

We have two glass houses here - and they both best be careful when throwing stones.

on edit: You know the repubs are going to use this to deflect the image of corruption as being solely their 'stain'. but Repubs are in charge of congress and they have more seats to lose than Dems - so they also have to aim carefully when they throw their own stones.

[madokie]

6. we are gonna need a 65 to 70% turnout to even break even

much higher to win.