Murtha and Earmarks...

[lawrocket 3]

It appears that he may be in the midst of a scandal that can be like something not seen since the 93-94 House Post Office scandal.

It appears the Murtha - and scores of others - may have been earmarking in favor of campaign donors.

It won't happen soon but this looks like something big may occur in the next several months. I'm ashamed. Interestingly, Pelosi is being mum.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[quade 4]

Got link?

Everything I can see in the news about this looks pretty penny-ante so far. Certainly nothing on the scale of say KBR.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[lawrocket 3]

No one link, Paul. But just a steady diet of little things over the past few months.

The issue is that most of these stories don't seem to indicate that there were deliberate bribes or kickbacks. This means trouble.

If there are bribes or kickbacks, it may not be as bad as if there are not. Duke Cunningham was outright corruption. It's easy to say he was a bad apple.

Murtha may be entirely different. he may be doing things that are perfectly legal - though apparently illegitimate. THink of the House Banking issue. Legal, yet flagrant abuse.

It's that kind of thing - the systematic abuse - that is what makes big problems. Murtha may be the icing on the cake. If 300 house members are doing this, there WILL be problems.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[quade 4]

Quote

If 300 house members are doing this, there WILL be problems.

Don't you kind of assume that 435 do this at least subtly every day?

I can't think of a single member that is 100% squeaky clean and above reproach. I assume a little shenanigans is just par for the course and let's face it, if a contract didn't hit some donor somewhere along the line, wouldn't that be a little odd? Can't we assume that every major company in every major district donates at least some small amount of money to just about every race and even to multiple candidates in the same race just to cover their asses?

What would concern me is something quite a bit more flagrant. I'd list some examples, but that's been done to death.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[lawrocket 3]

Of course. It's like assuming that lawyers are squeaky clean. It don't happen like that. Nobody is.

The problem is the seeming utter abuse. Johnstown PA happens to land a lot of defense contractors and federal contracts. Again, I bring up cats like Rostenkowski. Ford himself defended Rosty as a guy who did things the way they'd always been done and didn't change with the times.

Times are a changin'.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

It appears the Murtha - and scores of others - may have been earmarking in favor of campaign donors.

Well, that's what the "donations" are for, isn't it? You pay off your congressman so he sends you government money.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[airdvr 210]

Although not illegal, immoral, or unethical, you have to check out Murtha's airport.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7415354

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wayneflorida 0]

Good. He deserves jail time.

I'm sure a lot of Marines feel the same way.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Heck Rook and Missy don't have that!

Maybe Murtha should take up skydiving!

Subsidized rigs, C-130 with leather recliners, lots of extras

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Certainly nothing on the scale of say KBR.

That would be the KBR that is not even in the top 10 list for uncompeted contracts, yes?

Gotta love that knee-jerk ideology, though.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706