Pick your favorite falling soundtrack — Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'”comes to mind — and watch. Also great in glorious quietude. Over and over.
Thanks, Crick.
Comments
sanford
- November 2, 2005 @ 12:59 pm
aah the joys of modern technology-if only it was that easy……………..
lonbud
- November 2, 2005 @ 10:07 pm
or graceful.
Tam O’Tellico
- November 7, 2005 @ 4:39 pm
The decline and fall is far from over. The Abramoff Affair will finally expose Republican values for what they are — bribes and other ill-gotten gains. And as soon as the Democrats control either the House or Senate, we can move on to the Cheney/Halliburton Connection and the real reason Dick was so interested in promoting an ill-advised war. Better warm up the defibrillator — I smell another heart attack for Vice. Makes you wonder why he wants all that money when he never live to spend it.
Here’s a small portion of the list of who’s who in the Crooked Crew. If this was a novel, no one would believe it.
Abramoff’s Circle
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff is under investigation by at least three federal agencies and two Senate committees for his dealings with members of Congress, their staffs, and his clients. Much of the evidence has come from e-mails released to Senate investigators by Abramoff’s former lobbying firm. Here are some of the main characters in the Abramoff inquiry:
Rep. Tom DeLay
DeLay called Abramoff “one of my closest and dearest friends” and was allied with Abramoff in populating the lobbying industry with former Republican staff members, including his own. DeLay has requested that the House ethics committee look into three trips he made that were paid for by Abramoff or his clients.
David Safavian
A former lobbying partner of Abramoff’s, Safavian was chief of staff of the General Services Administration before he was arrested Sept. 19 and charged with lying to federal investigators about his dealings with Abramoff. He has pleaded not guilty.
Rep. Bob W. Ney
The Ohio Republican, who chairs the House Administration Committee, which oversees campaign finance, has been subpoenaed by the federal grand jury investigating Abramoff in Washington. Abramoff organized a golfing trip to Scotland for Ney in 2002. Ney has denied any wrongdoing.
Michael Scanlon
A former press secretary for DeLay, he partnered with Abramoff in a lobbying/public-relations business that took in more than $82 million from 12 American Indian tribes between 2001 and 2003. He has refused to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which is investigating whether he and Abramoff defrauded Indian clients and their gambling operations out of tens of millions of dollars.
Ralph Reed
Former executive director of the Christian Coalition and now a candidate for lieutenant governor of Georgia, he was paid by a Louisiana tribe to rally Christian opposition against competing tribal casinos. Reed said he did not know his efforts were being funded by Abramoff’s gaming clients, but Abramoff’s e-mails indicate otherwise.
Grover Norquist
President of the antitax group Americans for Tax Reform and a leading conservative activist, he received a subpoena from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee for records related to his dealings with Abramoff. The subpoena came after Abramoff’s e-mails showed that he sometimes funneled money from his tribal gaming clients through Norquist’s group to hide its source.
Sen. Conrad Burns
The Montana Republican helped Abramoff’s client, the wealthy Saginaw Chippewas of Michigan, land $3 million in federal funding intended for impoverished tribes after the Department of the Interior determined that the tribe did not qualify. Two of Burns’ staff members later joined Abramoff’s lobbying team.
Timothy Flanigan
President Bush’s nominee for the Justice Department’s No. 2 position, he withdrew his name from consideration after questions about his relationship with Abramoff when he was corporate counsel for Tyco International Ltd. Flanigan testified that Abramoff bragged of his access to Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff, and DeLay when Abramoff was lobbying for Tyco.
Adam Kidan
A disbarred lawyer, he partnered with Abramoff to buy SunCruz Casinos, a Florida gambling-boat empire built by businessman Konstantinos “Gus” Boulis. Kidan and Abramoff were indicted in August for mail and wire fraud in the $147 million purchase in 2000. Boulis was killed six months after the sale.
Anthony Moscatiello
He has been charged with conspiracy to murder Boulis. Moscatiello, who was friends with Kidan, and his daughter were paid at least $145,000 by SunCruz when it was controlled by Kidan and Abramoff.
sanford - November 2, 2005 @ 12:59 pm
aah the joys of modern technology-if only it was that easy……………..
lonbud - November 2, 2005 @ 10:07 pm
or graceful.
Tam O’Tellico - November 7, 2005 @ 4:39 pm
The decline and fall is far from over. The Abramoff Affair will finally expose Republican values for what they are — bribes and other ill-gotten gains. And as soon as the Democrats control either the House or Senate, we can move on to the Cheney/Halliburton Connection and the real reason Dick was so interested in promoting an ill-advised war. Better warm up the defibrillator — I smell another heart attack for Vice. Makes you wonder why he wants all that money when he never live to spend it.
Here’s a small portion of the list of who’s who in the Crooked Crew. If this was a novel, no one would believe it.
Abramoff’s Circle
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff is under investigation by at least three federal agencies and two Senate committees for his dealings with members of Congress, their staffs, and his clients. Much of the evidence has come from e-mails released to Senate investigators by Abramoff’s former lobbying firm. Here are some of the main characters in the Abramoff inquiry:
Rep. Tom DeLay
DeLay called Abramoff “one of my closest and dearest friends” and was allied with Abramoff in populating the lobbying industry with former Republican staff members, including his own. DeLay has requested that the House ethics committee look into three trips he made that were paid for by Abramoff or his clients.
David Safavian
A former lobbying partner of Abramoff’s, Safavian was chief of staff of the General Services Administration before he was arrested Sept. 19 and charged with lying to federal investigators about his dealings with Abramoff. He has pleaded not guilty.
Rep. Bob W. Ney
The Ohio Republican, who chairs the House Administration Committee, which oversees campaign finance, has been subpoenaed by the federal grand jury investigating Abramoff in Washington. Abramoff organized a golfing trip to Scotland for Ney in 2002. Ney has denied any wrongdoing.
Michael Scanlon
A former press secretary for DeLay, he partnered with Abramoff in a lobbying/public-relations business that took in more than $82 million from 12 American Indian tribes between 2001 and 2003. He has refused to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which is investigating whether he and Abramoff defrauded Indian clients and their gambling operations out of tens of millions of dollars.
Ralph Reed
Former executive director of the Christian Coalition and now a candidate for lieutenant governor of Georgia, he was paid by a Louisiana tribe to rally Christian opposition against competing tribal casinos. Reed said he did not know his efforts were being funded by Abramoff’s gaming clients, but Abramoff’s e-mails indicate otherwise.
Grover Norquist
President of the antitax group Americans for Tax Reform and a leading conservative activist, he received a subpoena from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee for records related to his dealings with Abramoff. The subpoena came after Abramoff’s e-mails showed that he sometimes funneled money from his tribal gaming clients through Norquist’s group to hide its source.
Sen. Conrad Burns
The Montana Republican helped Abramoff’s client, the wealthy Saginaw Chippewas of Michigan, land $3 million in federal funding intended for impoverished tribes after the Department of the Interior determined that the tribe did not qualify. Two of Burns’ staff members later joined Abramoff’s lobbying team.
Timothy Flanigan
President Bush’s nominee for the Justice Department’s No. 2 position, he withdrew his name from consideration after questions about his relationship with Abramoff when he was corporate counsel for Tyco International Ltd. Flanigan testified that Abramoff bragged of his access to Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff, and DeLay when Abramoff was lobbying for Tyco.
Adam Kidan
A disbarred lawyer, he partnered with Abramoff to buy SunCruz Casinos, a Florida gambling-boat empire built by businessman Konstantinos “Gus” Boulis. Kidan and Abramoff were indicted in August for mail and wire fraud in the $147 million purchase in 2000. Boulis was killed six months after the sale.
Anthony Moscatiello
He has been charged with conspiracy to murder Boulis. Moscatiello, who was friends with Kidan, and his daughter were paid at least $145,000 by SunCruz when it was controlled by Kidan and Abramoff.