Another Republican Embarrassment
Posted by: Scott W. Graves | 07/29/2008 10:37 AM
Looks like the bridge to nowhere actually does go somewhere: TO INDICTMENT!In yet another case of "one step forward, two steps back", Republicans get to wallow in the disgrace that has become of our congressional leaders. Today, Senator Ted Stevens, (R - Alaska) served up another embarrassment for Republicans as he was indicted on 7 counts of making false statements.
It is long past time for us to end our complacency and stop supporting corrupt, unethical, and unsavory characters just because "they are better than the alternative." Truth is, they are not better than the alternative. When the alternative (i.e. Democrats) makes poor decisions and leads this country in the wrong direction, their acts do not diminish our credibility, hurt our brand, and waste our political contributions at the same time.
It is time for meaningful reform of our own party and our own leaders.
Here is the AP story:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator and a figure in Alaska politics since before statehood, has been indicted on seven counts of falsely reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home.
Stevens, 84, has been dogged by a federal investigation into whether he pushed for fishing legislation that also benefited his son, an Alaska lobbyist.
From May 1999 to August 2007, prosecutors said Stevens concealed "his continuing receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of things of value from a private corporation." The indictment released Tuesday said the items included: home improvements to his vacation home in Alaska, including a new first floor, garage, wraparound deck, plumbing, electrical wiring; as well as car exchanges, a Viking gas grill, furniture and tools.
Justice Department officials were holding a news conference later Tuesday to discuss the charges.
Messages left Tuesday at both Stevens' Senate office in Washington and his campaign office in Anchorage were not immediately returned.
Read the whole story at Brietbart, here.
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Right on, Scott! Here's my post on the topic, for what it's worth:
http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/alaska-one-senator-down-one-congressman-to-go/53408
Scott:
It is extremely tempting to use the “everybody else is doing it” approach to governance, otherwise the odds of winning an election go down exponentially.
Likewise with the there is nothing illegal here: “I am doing it to benefit the community, it so happens that I get to benefit at the same time” – as in certain OC politicians, for example
The choice for the Republicans and Democrats alike, is whether to win an election at all costs, or to use principle-based decision making to governance and campaigning, putting the country’s needs ahead of special interest groups. The latter requires discipline, patience and building grass roots support, until the principle-based message resonates with the electorate.
That this indictment comes as no surprise is a sad commentary on politics as usual and the GOP "leadership" in particular. I suppose one can agree to disagree with the old-line leadership on the sullied practice of earmarking as it is not illegal -- but when voters are treated to yet another Republican self-inflicted wound of wrong doing, can we blame them if they reject us?
We need to do a better job cleaning house so the voters aren't tempted into throwing everyone out the door.
Chuck DeVore
California State Assemblyman, 70th District
The Honorable Assemblyman DeVore is right about agreeing to disagree – and perhaps that is at the root of not only the current Republican malaise, but the state of affairs anent values.
Activist judges for example, take a world view and label the Bible as hate speech. The Supreme Court rules that virtual pornography is not pornography, and politicians such as the Honorable Representative Ken Calvert argues that the good of the many is not only legal, it is also ethical, even when he benefits himself.
Heck, even the honorable Representative Charles B. Rangel said he would ask the House ethics committee to look into whether he had violated rules- nothing but posturing so he can be exonerated by a panel of peers.
In other words, the common denominator is relative truth – There is no right and there is no wrong, because what you see as wrong, I see as right - let us agree to disagree.
As a limited government Republican- all this uproar about earmarks is silly! They account for LESS THAN 1% of the federal budget. Further, if our Congressmembers weren't bringing back home that money for special projects that benefit our community- OUR dollars would just disappear into some other federal bureaucracy.
As a limited government Republican you have missed the point altogether. Further, your syllogism is indeed used as the basis to perpetuate the problem, not solve it - that is, you are part of the problem and not the solution.
As many long suspected, Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) has been indicted on federal corruption charges involving lying about favors and gifts he received. Everyone in Washington knew the senator was in trouble when the FBI served a search warrant on his Alaska home last year. According to the charges, Stevens lied to conceal over $250,000 worth of gifts and home renovation services he received from an oil contractor seeking favorable treatment from the government.
The 84-year-old Stevens has been around the political scene forever, building a reputation for pork barrel politics and abrasiveness. He is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate. Now he stands accused of criminal corruption.
I have no opinion on the charges, and Stevens is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yet, this is just one more black eye for the Republican Party and politics in general. What is the public to think of our elected leaders? Is it now commonly accepted that our politicians are in office to feather their own nests, make a fortune and have a fantastic sex life? From mayors to governors to congresspeople and yes, to senators-it seems that everybody is in politics for their own interests-not because they want to serve their country and the people.
Of course, that is not completely fair. There are decent and dedicated politicians who are not corrupt. However, they all suffer when a bad apple is uncovered. And it must be stated here, bad apples in politics are not an aberration these days. There are a lot of them. It has reached the point where Congress has got to start policing their own-in more draconian fashion. Yet, I suspect that there are many in Congress today who are thinking that they could take a fall themselves.
This should not be a partisan issue. Yes, political junkies on both sides have greatly delighted in watching a politician from the opposing party get caught with his/her hand in the cookie jar, so they could crow about "the culture of corruption". But the reality is that this is a cancer that infects both parties at all levels.
How did we get to this point? is there something about our political system that is conducive to corruption? Apparently so. I think we as voters have to look in the mirror and accept our share of the blame. Why do we vote for any political candidate? Because of party loyalty? Is it due to agreement on the issues? Is it because a candidate is charismatic and speaks well? Is it because the incumbent has a proven record of bringing home the pork? How much do we really care about integrity and character? That last point is open to question when you look at so many of the characters we have put into office in recent years, both Democrat and Republican.
Though I am an independent, being conservative, I have always voted Republican. For that reason, I care about the quality of Republicans in office. The indictment of Stevens is another black eye for the Republican Party. Without passing judgement on his guilt or innocence, his continued presence in the Senate can only further embarrass his party.
He should resign. Now.
gary fouse
irvine
fousesquawk
When you practice the politics of personal destruction, you are held by the same standard. Newt goes after Bill, even though both have a girlfriend, what happened there?
It's time to release the juveniles we have in leadership and let the adults do the talking. I'm just glad we're shedding some manged fur here.