When you look at the Wapo graphic that B has linked to something sticks out like the proverbial dog’s balls. That is that the money Abramoff was giving to both sides was pretty much equal once you remove the ‘donations’ to the Repug and Dem National Committees. That is, as far as the lobbyists are concerned a rethug presidency is a done deal, but both Congress and the Senate are there for the taking; no matter who is ‘in charge’. The slight variation in bribes between the two halves of the One Party could just be a reflection of the difference in numbers of legislators from each half.
Harry Reid who took a $47,000 bribe isn’t that far behind Tom Delay on $71,000 especially when the substantial difference in each’s power is considered.
Of course the most sickening thing about all this is that the first citizens who had been studiously ignored by both halves for centuries had finally found a way to get some of the resources that these low-life legislators had promised but never delivered.
As soon as they do, the self-same lying, hypocritical, spotty assed creeps queue up for a piece of the action.
It’s enough to make you vomit over all the sleazy breed who consider themselves ‘leaders’.

Posted by: Debs is dead | Dec 12 2005 20:20 utc | 4

We have a tiny start-up venture, controlled by persons unknown, that suddenly materializes in late 2003 doing “private equity” deals in the middle of a war zone, and then obtains a huge PR contract from the Pentagon, and then hires a bunch of unemployed GOP campaign operatives to execute that contract, and then is absorbed by a shadowy DC company that specializes in corporate and political detective work and that may have close ties to both the Republican Party and the intelligence community, which then is awarded an even bigger contract to produce even more Pentagon propaganda.
la di da, billmon says it all so well, back in june .
i found this sherlock google thread helpful. i know its been linked to here in the last few days, but in case someone missed it

Posted by: annie | Dec 12 2005 21:42 utc | 6

Speaking of scandals and the Wapo, I suspect many people here will be angry to learn that:

Froomkin on White House Briefing
In Sunday’s Washington Post, the paper’s new ombudsman, Deborah Howell, writes that The Post’s political reporters don’t like my column. She states that the column is “highly opinionated and liberal” and concludes that it should no longer bear the name “White House Briefing,” because the title may lead some readers to think it is the work of the paper’s reporting staff. Such a belief, Post political editor John Harris told her, dilutes the credibility of the newspaper.
Regular readers know that my column is first and foremost a daily anthology of works by other journalists and bloggers. When my voice emerges, it is often to provide context for those writings and spot emerging themes. Sometimes I do some original reporting, and sometimes I share my insights. The omnipresent links make it easy for readers to assess my credibility.

Please leave comments
HERE

Posted by: Delurker | Dec 13 2005 15:57 utc | 8