Does the timing of the Jefferson thing look a bit suspicious?

[bookman]

Today's Houston Chronicle had an editorial cartoon and editorial on William Jefferson, not anything outstanding on the Libby sentence. It appears they were just holding this and making the point that corruption is equal in both parties. Nonsense.

Make the crook resign and move on to the other crooks, Republicans.

[azurnoir]

1. read on some

stupid a** righty blog that Jefferson was Gonzo's revenge, and supposedly a warning shot to the Congressional Dem's and that if they persist in "persecuting" the WH there will be more to come

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. no, the prosecutor was careful and detailed.

much like Fitz. If they wanted to fuck with the election, they would have rushed it out in november.

[unpossibles]

3. well, I have seen some folks spin it as Democratic hypocrisy

and how it shows that the culture of corruption is bipartisan.

My response is that one person and his 2 aides do not a "culture" make.

The funniest is one guy tried to say how if it were a Republican in this situation, the media would be all over it, but are ignoring Jefferson. Right....

Speaking of which, did Delay ever go to trial yet?

[AndyA]

4. I've had a couple of Republicans mention this "Jefferson scandal" to me

in a way that suggests it's one of the worst things they've ever heard of.

I reminded them of Cunningham, and pointed out that he was a Republican. Then I mention Abramoff.

Then I tell them that contrary to what the Republicans did about their corruption scandals, the Dems would likely deal with Jefferson in a manner that ensured justice is served.

It doesn't matter who it is, if they've broken the law they should have to answer for it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. No. And Why Does Everything Just Have To Always Be A Conspiracy?

[EST]

6. I, too, am a little suspicious, given the circumstances.

However, congressman Jefferson, although not yet convicted by a court, is pretty well established as a consummate crook.
Although there is probably no really good time to execute his indictment and it did take a bit of the pressure off the widespread and unforgivable corruption extant in the republican party, it is best that the problem be exposed as soon as possible and all the members of congress need to take quick, decisive action to correct the situation.

The man should be pressured to resign-immediately-and all possible action brought to bear to get back to an even keel, one wherein we can again point out the pervasive and ongoing destruction of our country by his fellow miscreants from a position of moral superiority.
Some study should also be done to determine why he was reelected, given that his misdeeds were pretty obvious well before the last election.

We have no need for such predators in our government and the rules must apply to all, equally.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Not really, this thing has been dragged out seemingly forever....

My question is why is Tom Delay still walking around freely, earning big speaking fees, and writing books? I am just floored by his high visibility since being booted from Congress.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. this has been draging on forever

[librechik]

9. YES

and when the Republican "US Attorney" came out to read the charges--how did any of us know it wasn't just another of their department-wide "Screw Democrats" initiative.

We don't that's what.

If he is guilty, he should be tried and punished. But I have no faith in this justice department that charges agaiinst Democrats are legitimate.

[enid602]

10. bait

They knew Jefferson needed the money that he ended up putting in his freezer; they went out of their way to entrap him. I imagine they tried to entrap many other Dem leaders, but Jefferson seems to be the only one to take the bait thus far. They don't have anything.

[democrat_06]

11. Ah...come on

Jefferson is innocent until proven guilty in court, but the charges are legitimate. He was caught on tape taking the $90,000 which was subsequently found wrapped in tin foil in his freezer. Two men who worked for him are going to jail as well as testifying against him.

Just because he's a Democrat doesn't make him a saint, sometimes Democrats do bad things too.

[enid602]

13. agreed

All I'm saying is that if he's all they could come up with, then the Dems must be fairly clean. They've known for a while that Delay/Abromoff/Plame/DMS/Gonzogate/World Bank/Iraq could become problematic for them, so I think they were hoping to show that there's corruption on our side of the aisle as well. Of course there is.

[AlCzervik]

12. no.

[Swamp Rat]

14. Good RIDDANCE!! to William Jefferson!

:kick:

[bookman]

15. I agree Jefferson is a crook.

I just questioned both the timing and the attempt to "equalize" it with the slew of Republicans.

I honestly think if it was a republican the USDA would announce it Friday evening.

Sorry, just a skeptic.

[MadBadger]

16. Suspicious maybe, but I could care less because he deserves it.