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**Matt W** · Mar 4, 2006, 04:34 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4773160.stm

Quote:

A Republican congressman in the United States has been sentenced to eight years in jail for taking $2.4m (£1.4m) in bribes from a defence contractor.
Randy "Duke" Cunningham - a 64-year-old decorated Vietnam War pilot - pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion.

Cunningham accepted cash and gifts including a Rolls-Royce, a yacht and $40,000 Persian rugs in return for doing favours and awarding contracts.

The case is one of several corruption scandals involving senior Republicans.

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff says he will name numerous congressmen who accepted millions of dollars worth of bribes from him - mostly Republicans, but also Democrats.

Osborn F Enready · Mar 4, 2006, 06:56 am

1 down....................... yea, we are still waiting, why stop there?!!?!?

casual timmy · Mar 4, 2006, 07:20 am

I love the fact that Abramoff is singin like a bird. And I love how both Cheney and Bush are trying to tell everyone " I only met him once or twice " ...

oh really? keep singin Jack!

bishop · Mar 4, 2006, 12:31 pm

cunningham definitely got a just punishment imo..

i can't wait to see who jack ends up naming... the only thing i'm worried about is seeing the people bush ends up pardoning as his last act of emporer.

lili462 · Mar 4, 2006, 01:23 pm

put them all in jail

Osborn F Enready · Mar 4, 2006, 01:24 pm

I hear that Bishop. Time will tell, but I am not holding my breath.

bishop · Mar 4, 2006, 02:06 pm

i'm really just hoping that since these guys are very rich and well-connected, that they'll litigate for such a long time that a new president will be in power by the time they're convicted and sentenced.. despite them being a corrupt club, i can't see anyone but bush sticking his neck out to pardon these sob's..

of course, people like libby and abramoff could also try to cut a quick deal while bush is in office - with guarantees from bush that he'll pardon them before his term is up. that's what i would do if i was a guilty, well-connected piece of shit like those guys..

Clarence · Mar 4, 2006, 03:14 pm

I'm glad that finally someone was actually punished. The problem is, why is the only one being punished the only man (of the accused) who actually served his country? I mean, guilty (no doubt) but...Should he be first in line?

Osborn F Enready · Mar 4, 2006, 03:49 pm

Quote:

Clarence said:
Should he be first in line?

I say:
I know what you are saying, but since they had enough to prosecute, and was so compliant to acknowledging his misdeeds he should be used to root out all offenders that he has knowledge of.
(the entire system, in my guess)

I think the sentence fit the crime, as long as he is co-operative in helping arrest the rest of the violators, and the facillitators of the violators.

I wonder how much energy consumption in Washington has gone up since this scandal broke originally, from all the shredders being run by other corrupt lawmakers erasing the records of their misdeeds......

Scribbler1 · Mar 4, 2006, 03:59 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Clarence

I'm glad that finally someone was actually punished. The problem is, why is the only one being punished the only man (of the accused) who actually served his country? I mean, guilty (no doubt) but...Should he be first in line?

Someone has to go first. The sad thing is when situations like this occur the ones who have yet to be caught learn and cover themselves a little better. Even if this guy was the only one TAKING bribes there must have been a number of people IN government who knew about it. They are equally responsible, IMO.

But of course we all know the Dukester was the ONLY lawmaker to take bribes and Abramoff was the ONLY lobbyist to GIVE them, so all is well in Washington once again and Congress can now go about the people's business free from these tedious and counterproductive interruptions.

Nono · Mar 4, 2006, 05:00 pm

As long as you have House members having to have themselves re-eclected every two minutes or so -- and thus on non-stop campaign -- and as long as you allow Big Money to control the election process, politicians will go on needing money, even the less sleazy among them.

It's the effin system that requires root-and-branch overhaul.
But I ain't holding my breath either.

gr8fuldaniel · Mar 4, 2006, 05:47 pm

Randy is a member of the "Torture is Good Club", Right?

His own karma will bite him on the ass. But maybe not anytime soon. He will most likely go to a country club for a few years. Poor baby.

Poor, Poor crybaby

Strange San Diego calling right now :) Wonder if its him?

san Diego Union Story:

"Ex-congressman may go to 'Club Fed' if he's lucky"

(I dont have any doubt. You think they will put him in Folsom or San Quentin? :rolleyes: )

RickSp · Mar 4, 2006, 06:22 pm

Duke was arrogant and stupid, with all the subtly of an armed robber. He was the easy one - the low hanging fruit. The rest of corrupt will not be as easy Duke Cunningham, regretably.

IndieC · Mar 4, 2006, 07:13 pm

Oh what a suprise... a corrupt politician!! On to the next "breaking news" story...

Boetie · Mar 4, 2006, 08:16 pm

Quote:

IndieC posts: Oh what a suprise... a corrupt politician!! On to the next "breaking news" story...

And what might that next breaking news story be? You attending a party being thrown for Cunningham and you singing, "for he's a jolly good fellow." :rolleyes:

IndieC · Mar 4, 2006, 08:25 pm

Maybe if I were in the US I might treat myself to it, but I think I'd rather go and have a cup of tea with dear old Tony to be honest. Oh no... he's corrupt too. You just don't get what you pay for any more do you?

Boetie · Mar 4, 2006, 08:36 pm

I heard how Tony made idiots out of that popular band in your country. I think the band's name was Oasis.

IndieC · Mar 4, 2006, 08:47 pm

I think Tony has made an idiot of everyone excpet the Queen... Oh no! Her as well...

His most famous one for us students was when he said in his election manifesto back in 2001 that he would not introduce top-up fees. 3 years later he introduced them. The only reason he won the last election was because the Conservatives couldn't get their act together and elected the self-declared vampire (according to Private Eye... hehe gotta love it!) Michael Howard. Maybe in 3 years' time we'll get lucky!

Mar 4, 2006, 06:56 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,873	1 down....................... yea, we are still waiting, why stop there?!!?!? Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

Mar 4, 2006, 12:31 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	cunningham definitely got a just punishment imo.. i can't wait to see who jack ends up naming... the only thing i'm worried about is seeing the people bush ends up pardoning as his last act of emporer. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Mar 4, 2006, 01:23 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
lili462 Bitchin'! Location: ohio Posts: 210	put them all in jail It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on peersonal freedom is what it is, okay?. Keep that in mind at all times, thank you.

Mar 4, 2006, 01:24 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,873	I hear that Bishop. Time will tell, but I am not holding my breath. Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

Mar 4, 2006, 02:06 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	i'm really just hoping that since these guys are very rich and well-connected, that they'll litigate for such a long time that a new president will be in power by the time they're convicted and sentenced.. despite them being a corrupt club, i can't see anyone but bush sticking his neck out to pardon these sob's.. of course, people like libby and abramoff could also try to cut a quick deal while bush is in office - with guarantees from bush that he'll pardon them before his term is up. that's what i would do if i was a guilty, well-connected piece of shit like those guys.. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Mar 4, 2006, 07:20 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
casual timmy up in your gut Location: austin texas Posts: 37	I love the fact that Abramoff is singin like a bird. And I love how both Cheney and Bush are trying to tell everyone " I only met him once or twice " ... oh really? keep singin Jack!

Mar 4, 2006, 03:14 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
Clarence pregnant with truth Posts: 2,400	I'm glad that finally someone was actually punished. The problem is, why is the only one being punished the only man (of the accused) who actually served his country? I mean, guilty (no doubt) but...Should he be first in line?

Mar 4, 2006, 05:00 pm	#11 (permalink) (top)
Nono Throbbing Member Location: Old Europe Posts: 7,322	As long as you have House members having to have themselves re-eclected every two minutes or so -- and thus on non-stop campaign -- and as long as you allow Big Money to control the election process, politicians will go on needing money, even the less sleazy among them. It's the effin system that requires root-and-branch overhaul. But I ain't holding my breath either. "I wish I was as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything." -- Viscount Melbourne

Mar 4, 2006, 05:47 pm	#12 (permalink) (top)
gr8fuldaniel Fire the Liars Location: California Posts: 7,090	Randy is a member of the "Torture is Good Club", Right? His own karma will bite him on the ass. But maybe not anytime soon. He will most likely go to a country club for a few years. Poor baby. Poor, Poor crybaby Strange San Diego calling right now :) Wonder if its him? san Diego Union Story: "Ex-congressman may go to 'Club Fed' if he's lucky" (I dont have any doubt. You think they will put him in Folsom or San Quentin? :rolleyes: ) ~~ Helpful Linx * Huff Post * WRH * RAW STORY ~~

Mar 4, 2006, 06:22 pm	#13 (permalink) (top)
RickSp Volcanic Erupter Posts: 9,589	Duke was arrogant and stupid, with all the subtly of an armed robber. He was the easy one - the low hanging fruit. The rest of corrupt will not be as easy Duke Cunningham, regretably. Rick "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis

Mar 4, 2006, 07:13 pm	#14 (permalink) (top)
IndieC Igneous Magma Location: UK Posts: 303	Oh what a suprise... a corrupt politician!! On to the next "breaking news" story... "Never before in the history of warfare had destruction been so indiscriminate and universal" - makes you think of Hiroshima... -H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

Mar 4, 2006, 08:25 pm	#16 (permalink) (top)
IndieC Igneous Magma Location: UK Posts: 303	Maybe if I were in the US I might treat myself to it, but I think I'd rather go and have a cup of tea with dear old Tony to be honest. Oh no... he's corrupt too. You just don't get what you pay for any more do you? "Never before in the history of warfare had destruction been so indiscriminate and universal" - makes you think of Hiroshima... -H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

Mar 4, 2006, 08:36 pm	#17 (permalink) (top)
Boetie Hot Lava Posts: 1,227	I heard how Tony made idiots out of that popular band in your country. I think the band's name was Oasis.

Mar 4, 2006, 08:47 pm	#18 (permalink) (top)
IndieC Igneous Magma Location: UK Posts: 303	I think Tony has made an idiot of everyone excpet the Queen... Oh no! Her as well... His most famous one for us students was when he said in his election manifesto back in 2001 that he would not introduce top-up fees. 3 years later he introduced them. The only reason he won the last election was because the Conservatives couldn't get their act together and elected the self-declared vampire (according to Private Eye... hehe gotta love it!) Michael Howard. Maybe in 3 years' time we'll get lucky! "Never before in the history of warfare had destruction been so indiscriminate and universal" - makes you think of Hiroshima... -H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds