We still have the best political system money can buy!

Maybe the ONLY way to stop the corruption is to limit campaign contributions to individual voters, say $1000 per candidate. No unions, no corporations, no PACS...nobody but registered voters. The next step is to MAKE broadcasters provide a basic amount of equal free airtime to presidential candidates (once they've gotten to the "finals"). The TV & Radio networks get a free ride from The People, with their licenses, and even cable & satellite get subsidized distribution; they should give soemthing back every four years.

Its the Money Chase that's killing America and turning otherwise good-intentioned politicians into corrupt cash-generating machines.

You guys need to pull your head out...

Justice Department Denies ABC Report of Hastert Investigation
May 24 (Bloomberg) -- The Justice Department said it isn't investigating U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert in connection with a lobbying scandal.

``Speaker Hastert is not under investigation,'' said Justice Department spokeswoman Tasia Scolinos.

The statement was issued tonight in response to an ABC News report that Hastert had come under scrutiny by prosecutors investigating the activities of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Hastert's spokesman, Ron Bonjean, also issued a statement denying the report.

``The ABC News report is absolutely untrue,'' Bonjean said in the statement. ``We are demanding a full retraction of the ABC News story.''

Like I said, "The best system money can buy."

How many times have we heard a DC leak dismissed, only to find that there really WAS something to the rumors? I'm not judging Hastert on this rumor but I do point at the Culture of Corruption that plagues both parties (and has since Cornwallis laid down his sword).

GS,

Brian's insertion of (R-TOAST) above is all I needed to see - Reuters, the AP, the WSJ and all other legitimate news sources have all said ABC blew this one. They reported based on one piece of paper, which, as we can all see by Brian's use of Photoshop with pictures, was a pure fabrication. They didn't do the most basic journalism - check the source.

What ever happened to innocent until presumed guilty GS?

Speaking of Gallegly-Tenenbaum, has anyone else seen Gag-me's commercial? He doesn't even talk in it! Just a lot of make-up and feel good fluff.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert accused the Justice Department Thursday of trying to intimidate him in retaliation for criticizing the FBI's weekend raid on a congressman's office, escalating a searing battle between the executive and legislative branches of government.

"This is one of the leaks that come out to try to, you know, intimidate people," Mr. Hastert said on WGN radio Thursday morning. "We're just not going to be intimidated on it."

The Illinois Republican, in his interview with the Chicago radio station, was responding to an ABC News report that quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying that he was "in the mix" of the Justice Department's investigation into influence peddling by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

In its broadcast Wednesday evening, ABC World News Tonight reported that agents are looking into a letter Mr. Hastert wrote with three other Republican lawmakers three years ago, urging the Secretary of the Interior to block a casino on an Indian reservation that would have competed with other tribes.

The other tribes were represented by Mr. Abramoff, who provided details of his dealings with Mr. Hastert as part of his plea agreement with the government, the report said. The letter was written shortly after a fund-raiser for Mr. Hastert at a restaurant owned by Mr. Abramoff, at which the lobbyist and his clients contributed more than $26,000.

"We are not going to dignify or speculate about the motives of anonymous sources providing inaccurate information," said Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

Tim!

I'm sorry to say that when it comes to political figures the Innocent Until Proven Guilty adage became obsolete the day the GOP decided to go after the Clintons and force the Nation into an Impeachment. Its a little late in the day to start worrying about niceties like fair play and justice...no?

No, I disagree GS. Leaving the Clinton thing aside for a moment, where does it end? Are we to assume everyone accused of anything is guilty, and thereby justice should be swift and immediate?

I think it's ironic that Brian posted and you defent the Hastert/Toast headline, and yet Rep William Jefferson has $20,000 in his freezer, and not a peep.

I assume he's innocent and will defend himself at trial - don't you agree?

Tim

I don't agree that Hastert IS toast at this early stage in the "investigation" but I will defend Brian's constitutional right to use whatever headline he chooses...even if I don't agree with it.

Back in 1791 Alex Hamilton was called before an impeachment committee to answer allegations that he committed perjury when testifying before Congress as to his role in a banking scandal, while Sec of the Treasury. AH admitted that he HAD committed perjury but ONLY to protect his name and family in a sordid sex scandal that was not directly involved with the banking matter. The Committee found AH innocent of any wrongdoing that would merit impeachement because his perjury was a personal matter and did NOT affect his duties as Sec of Treasury.

When the GOP ignored the precedent set by the Founding Fathers' back in 1791, they deliberately established a new order in Washington that makes every politician's personal life subject to the worst judicial scrutiny & atrocities. I don't like it. I wish it were not so but that is realpolitiks today. Now that we're 10 years ahead and its the GOP on the defensive they all want life to return to what it was like BEFORE IMPEACHMENT. Good luck. I don't believe the dems will be so accomodating.

But hey! I never said Hastert is guilty, only that today a Culture of Corruption flourishes at most levels of government in America. And I expect him to be treated as innocent until proven guilty...even though I don't believe the present climate in DC will allow him that constitutional right.

As for Rep Jefferson, if he's found guilty I hope his sorry behind is tossed in jail for the next 25 years, along with all the other DC criminals.

BESIDES, if hastert's innocent he's got nothing to worry about....right?

(Sorry, I just HAD to.....)

Tim, you are right that William Jefferson ( D-Disgraced) is in trouble. The big difference is that he is a small fish, not the head of the congress.

The other difference is that his seems to be an isolated case ( a congressman taking cash bribes) unrelated to larger scandals.

That said, I don't think we need to wait until a court of law says that he is guilty. He is caught on camera. For the good of the country, his party, and the congress, he should resign today.

Many Democrats feel the same way. I just wish that Republicans spoke out against Delay for the last 10 years when everyone knew he was bending the laws and was corrupt.

ITMFA!

Tim, I hope the badness of my photoshopping would make it stand out as modified pictures, that way, no reader is surprised the pictures have been altered. I also hope you can get a few laughs out of them.

Will you vote for any candidate that refuses to debate in any race?

I absolutely won't, Brian. Gallegly's reluctance to debate Tenenbaum, much less appear in public (anybody seen the guy except at the back-patting press conference for the bit of pork known as the Highway 23 widening?), is disturbing. It's time to get someone in there who isn't afraid to appear in public and who also has a command of public policy. Anyone ever heard Gallegly cite legislation or statistics when making the case for his policies? The guy seems to be an empty vessel, a marionette for Karl Rove and all the less savory elements of the Republican Party.

Brian,

I have advised the Gallegly campaign that they should indeed invite his opponent to a debate, but that Tenenbaum be required to wear his chicken suit during it.

That way, the public can really decide on who's better qualified - the 19 year congressman, or the guy in the chicken suit.

I'll bring snacks! Maybe Buffalo Wings - unless that makes Tenenbaum "uncomfortable"...

Tim

And it took all of 19 years for Elton to come up with the grand legislation of....protecting hamsters! No health care initiatives for the Nation's kids? No bill to protect the middle class from growing ID theft & catastrophic financial ruin (Oh, that's right, Elton actually favored sticking it to the middle class, didn't he)? Voted for higher deficits and bigger government?

Maybe you should think about sweeping those last 19 years under the carpet and starting fresh.

Where'd all the Rockerfeller Republicans go to? You know, the ones that were for REAL fiscal discipline AND a progressive government. They are NOT mutually exclusive.

Brian,
Have you ever wondered why politicians spend millions to get a job that only pays a little?

Elton,come out,come out wherever you are. One gets the impression that Mr Gallegly has a severe case of Glossophobia,a fear of speaking in public. With the exception of ceremonial appearances such as the CVD parade,Simi Valley Street Faire,23 Freeway ribbon cutting and Tom Mcclintock's induction to the Hall of Fame,his voice has had the sound of silence. There has been evidence that he is alive and well in the press. He has given telephone interviews to newspaper reporters and sent out campaign mail.
One must wonder how he has functioned in Congress for 20 years. Does he speak,debate, and become verbally active in the exchange of ideas on legislative issues? Elton is a member of 4 congressional committees and subcommittes. Does he provide a voice that is heard?

Mr. Gallegly states that seniority is of great value,helping him get through the maze of people on both sides of the aisle. Seniority is only of value if he has the confidence,respect,support and admiration of his congressional colleagues. Perhaps Elton has been able to get through the maze with the help of his guide dog Rover-DeLay.
Thanks to the Bush administration the Republican Party has hit a new low. Congressional seats are in jeopardy of being lost in November. People are in up in arms and want a clean House.
Elton Gallegly aborted his desire to retire when he found out,by law, he couldn't and from some arm twisting from Bush enforcers. He became the "Unwilling Congressman." Will Elton be effective if re-elected for a final term? Will anyone in Congress give him the time of day? After 20 years will he find his voice,only not to be heard? Will he collect over $300,000 in salary to warm a chair as a lame duck congressman.
That's just my opinion. It may be wrong.