http://boxer.senate.gov/...
Boxer, Kerry and Lautenberg Push for Full Disclosure of White House Contacts with Abramoff
February 2, 2006
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John Kerry (D-MA) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today offered an amendment expressing the sense of the Senate that the White House should provide the public with a thorough account of the meetings the President, his staff, and senior executive branch officials had with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Boxer said, "The public's confidence in the government has been rocked by widespread reports of corruption involving Jack Abramoff and federal officials. Despite the President's rhetoric in his State of the Union address, the White House's refusal to fully disclose information about their dealings with Jack Abramoff simply exacerbates the problem. It's not just George Bush's White House- it's the people's White House- and it is long past time they got an unobstructed look into their own government. If the President has nothing to hide, there shouldn't be a problem."
On January 3, 2006, Abramoff pled guilty to conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion charges, and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their investigation of a number of public officials.
According to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, the President does not know and does not remember meeting Jack Abramoff. But documents show that in May 2001, the White House arranged an event on behalf of the group "Americans for Tax Reform" that both the President and Abramoff attended . There is also a trail of documents that show that Abramoff asked some of his clients for $25,000 to go to the event with the funds going to Americans for Tax Reform.
In addition, according to press accounts, Jack Abramoff and his lobbying team had nearly 200 contacts with the Bush Administration in the first 10 months they were in office. Still, the White House has refused to fully disclose information.
Kerry said, "The American people have a right to know what influence Jack Abramoff had on the President and his Administration. We can't restore faith in government and reform Washington, if Americans see the White House refusing to answer the most basic questions about their connection to a corrupt lobbyist. It's important to the country to let the sunshine in and get the truth out." Kerry sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and every Cabinet Secretary on January 20 requesting this information, as well as an explanation of any changes in federal policy based on administration officials' contacts with Abramoff.
Lautenberg said, "The President needs to clear the air and answer these questions about his relationship with Jack Abramoff. The claim that the President didn't know Mr. Abramoff doesn't seem to hold water. The American people need to know if the White House knew that Jack Abramoff was charging his clients $25,000 to meet the President."
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Something arrived in my Google Alerts yesterday, entitled "Is John Kerry the next Al Gore". What followed was quite alot of freeper right wing garbage about Kerry becoming unhinged, probably the author reacting to the fillibuster and such. I couldn't read down too far. My brain started to hurt.
But still, the title itself was interesting, I thought. Take away the Right Wing attitude toward both Kerry and Gore, and just think about the question. Is Kerry the next Al Gore? I sure hope so. That, in my eyes, would be high praise indeed. I must admit that they've reminded me of each other during the last year in their actions and speeches. Both went to Lousiana with aid. Both gave some damn fine speeches this year.
In fact, Gore's reaction to the nuclear option and the GOP insistance that they'd never used the fillibuster against a nominee before ("HELLO!?") reminded me of Kerry's reaction to Sen. Chaffee's comment that he'd never seen anything like what Voinovich did during the Bolton vote. Kerry replied, "WHAT?! You mean you've never seen someone STOP, and THINK?!"
Yessiree, being the next Al Gore would be a fine thing to be. I wouldn't expect your average wingnut to understand that of course, but there you have it.
In case you'd like to torture yourself, here's the link to the article I was talking about.
http://www.nationalledger.com/...
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Making this sort of a diary wapatoli, I just noticed this cartoon on my photobucket account as I rattled around in there looking for pictures for this hear diary. Made me cry... again. Damn it! It's been two fucking years! WHEN does it stop hurting!?
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Meanwhile, Mr. Personality:
made the news today with this bit of idiocy:
http://www.alertnet.org/...
"I brought the gavel down at 10. I was the only one in the room," Bolton said. The United States has just assumed the rotating presidency of the 15-nation council for the month of February.
"I believe in discipline. I think daily briefings constitute a form of intellectual discipline. Starting on time is a form of discipline," Bolton told reporters. "I failed today."
"I took a list of when they (council members) came in," Bolton said. "We started just before 10:15."
As part of a plan to modernize council operations, Bolton proposed that ambassadors gather daily at 10 a.m. for a briefing on the latest global political and peacekeeping developments.
Some ambassadors grumbled they already had too many commitments to attend daily sessions and others suggested perhaps two such briefings a week would suffice. Council members agreed to discuss the idea further on Friday.
If he were any tighter, he's have to shove a pipe up his ass to fart. Geez.
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In other news, after such long service and considering all he's done in the fight on terrorism, Bat Boy would like it known that he was none to pleased to have been singled out during the State Of the Union Speech.