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Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject: Renzi and The Republicans |
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 Extortion and money laundering are usually the province of gangsters, not Western Congressmen. That changed yesterday with the indictment of GOP Representative Rick Renzi of Arizona on charges that he used his seat on the House Natural Resources Committee to enrich himself through a trail of payoffs on land deals.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Renzi used his clout to push land sales that could then be traded for other property owned by the federal government. Companies that wanted to trade acreage in exchange for federal land they considered promising for mining opportunities were encouraged to buy property belonging to one of Mr. Renzi's business partners. In return, they were promised a smooth ride with the committee on the land swaps. When the sales went through, the Congressman allegedly got a cut of the proceeds from his pal, at least $733,000.
Mr. Renzi has already said he isn't seeking re-election this year, and his lawyer said yesterday that "We will fight these charges until he is vindicated." But the indictment alone will remind many voters of the kind of corruption and arrogance that contributed to the GOP's defeat in 2006. Other Republicans are still under investigation for misusing Congressional power, and further indictments can't be ruled out.
The Renzi episode is the residue of what might be called the Tom DeLay era of Congressional rule, when keeping power for its own sake became the GOP goal. Current Republican leaders, now and perhaps for years to come in the minority, tell us they resent our antiearmarking editorials. But Republicans aren't going to win back voter trust if they don't once again become the party of reform and modest government, instead of dubious land swaps. |
Indeed. For Republicans, these could not be bleaker times. As a Republican voter myself, I have become resigned to the fact that the Democrats have Congress and the White House all but rapped up this election cycle. In fact, I'd even wager that Republicans will spend quite a bit of time in the minority. The dirty swamp that Tom DeLay created and left behind still lingers unfortunately. Even Trent Lott is being investigated by the Feds. The Republicans should start get used to being in the minority and start rewriting a new contract for America and hopefully a contract with some lasting integrity.
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd even wager that Republicans will spend quite a bit of time in the minority. |
Oh, forty - fifty years doesn't have to seem like a long time if you keep in mind how long people live nowadays. Who knows, maybe it won't be that long. Maybe massive deficits, fiscal irresponsibility, unnecessary wars and attacks on civil liberties will come back in fashion sooner than you think. It could be Americans will get nostalgic for a time when they were held in international contempt. You can never tell about these things. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| The US has been hated and resented since the end of the cold war. |
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blaseblasphemener
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| The US has been hated and resented since the end of the cold war. |
You're not much for nuance. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Well if those who hate and resent the US hate and resent the US even more for defending itself then they can go jump in a lake. |
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Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
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| I'd even wager that Republicans will spend quite a bit of time in the minority. |
Oh, forty - fifty years doesn't have to seem like a long time if you keep in mind how long people live nowadays. Who knows, maybe it won't be that long. Maybe massive deficits, fiscal irresponsibility, unnecessary wars and attacks on civil liberties will come back in fashion sooner than you think. It could be Americans will get nostalgic for a time when they were held in international contempt. You can never tell about these things. |
And this is part of the problem with the Republican Party. People think Republicans are only about fiscal responsibility. Indeed, a recent poll suggested that over 55% thought the Democrat Party was about fiscal restraint. Why Republican members of Congress overloaded bills with pork, (Ron Paul included) I'll never know. Even the Executive fumbled the ball w/ Rummy, who turned out to be a better bureaucrat than SecDef.
While I'm disappointed with the Republican Party generally, this doesn't mean I'm upset with any specific Republican. I really like Peter Roskam; although I am stuck with Rahm 
Anyways, the Republican Party is the party of lower taxes, smaller government, strong national defense and, yes, even fiscal restraint. The Republicans have just lost their way and they lost their values; those two reasons are why the the Republicans will be in the minority for the foreseeable future. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Ayatollah Khomeni came to power when Jimmy Carter was president.
How many problems has that cause for the United States? What has the cost of that been? Probably worse than anything the Republicans have done. That sort of event that the US has to deal with the consequences of which when a liberal is in power because liberals can't be trusted on national security. |
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Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
Ayatollah Khomeni came to power when Jimmy Carter was president.
How many problems has that cause for the United States? What has the cost of that been? Probably worse than anything the Republicans have done. That sort of event that the US has to deal with the consequences of which when a liberal is in power because liberals can't be trusted on national security. |
Yes Joo, most Republicans and even indies will agree that that liberal democrats are clueless on issues concerning national security. However, this thread is about the wide gap between the Republicans' espoused values and their enacted values. I am looking for insight on how to bridge that gap. If you are concerned about bridging that gap, it would be helpful to offer some insight in achieving that goal instead of repeating some old talking points. -- No offense intended. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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McCain has good record on the subject despite what the NY Times tried to show. The best the Republicans can do is go for more candidates like McCain.
As for the rest there more than a few demoratic scadles. Republican scandles are coming to light more cause they are the party in the white house now.
The Clinton adminstation had plenty of scandles and I am not talking about Monica.
http://www.google.co.kr/search?complete=1&hl=ko&q=marc+rich&btnG=Google+%EA%B2%80%EC%83%89&lr=
The deficits that the US now sufferers are the result of bad luck more than anything else. The 1990s was a very easy time for the US. The stock market boom in the 1990 was the major reason for the budget surpluss at the time.
Last edited by Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee on Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:44 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| The US has been hated and resented since the end of the cold war. |
There were a few months there post-9/11 when we were actually quite well liked. I think that's one of the reasons the Dems will have control for awhile.
Oh, and it's spelled SCANDAL. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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like when?
You mean when France had the article we are all Americans?
You ought to read what the same writer wrote just a few days later.
that the US had the sympathy of the world after 9-11 is a myth.
http://www.travelbrochuregraphics.com/extra/the_falseness_of_antiamericanism.htm
Anti-US feeling hits Chelsea's Oxford studies
Chelsea: In New York when planes struck
Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of the former US president, says her studies at Oxford University have been overshadowed by anti-American sentiment in the wake of the 11 September attacks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1647176.stm |
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Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| McCain has good record on the subject despite what the NY Times tried to show. The best the Republicans can do is go for more candidates like McCain. |
Certainly McCain is the best shot the Republicans have at gaining the White House. Despite what talk-show radio says, McCain has great confidence among Republicans at large, veterans in particular. McCain also enjoiys wide support among many indies as well. I'd reckon that McCain would have an easy chance against Hillary. Though it seems he will have an uphill battle against Obama. Nevertheless, McCain is the best shot the Republicans have at keeping the White House.
| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| The deficits that the US now sufferers are the result of bad luck more than anything else. The 1990s was a very easy time for the US. The stock market boom in the 1990 was the major reason for the budget surpluss at the time. |
Glad to see you're a fan of Supply-Side economics. It has been proven true time and again, at least for the last 25 years. If the Federal Government wants to increase its revenues, it must lower taxes and decrease regulation. Might sound counter-intuitive to some libs, but it's been proven true.
Last edited by Pluto on Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Pluto
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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[Double Post]
Last edited by Pluto on Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
McCain has good record on the subject despite what the NY Times tried to show. The best the Republicans can do is go for more candidates like McCain.
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Yet the right-wing "establishment" was bashing him nonstop until the NY Times piece came out this week. Not a good sign for the GOP. Hasn't it dawned on them that the American public is more for "traditional" GOP values such as fiscal restraint and strong foreign policy and less about the morality police?
Sadly, if McCain doesn't win in November, GOP leaders will probably come to the conclusion his ideas were his downfall. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| ...it must lower taxes and decrease regulation |
In the spring of 1789..."France's debt was only half as great as Britain's and less than that of the Dutch Republic...The Catholic Church didn't want to pay taxes, nor did the privileged classes of France; thus, while the country itself was actually prosperous, the government treasury was frequently empty." (Jay Winik "The Great Upheaval" 2007)
And we all know how that ended. |
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