In a post from earlier today, John Hinderaker noted how House Democrats are keeping Andrews Air Force base hopping with their various taxpayer subsidized junkets around the world (and I'm not talking about Syria). Although the House Dems ran against the "culture of corruption" in Congress, the subtext apparently was their desire to gain control of the institution in order to take maximum advantage of that culture. The story of politicians running against corruption only to succumb eventually to the very corruption they oppose is familiar one. What's unique here is the absence of a transition period -- when it comes awarding themselves perks at the taxpayers expense, the Dems have hit the ground running.
But a closer look shows that the Dems never really curtailed their corruption when they were out of power. As noted here and here, leading House Dems including Jack Murtha, William Jefferson, John Conyers, Bennie Thompson, and Alan Mollohan have been major players in the culture of corruption.
The 12 years during which the House Dems were out of power could not have been pleasant. High caliber members like Dick Gephardt and Vic Fazio, despairing of the party's ability to recapture the majority and put them in a position where they could do good (as they see it), eventually left in frustration. Many who stayed probably did so because of the perks available even to minority members, as well (in some cases) as the opportunities for personal enrichment. Perhaps they figured that being a congressman beats working for a living; perhaps they were not much in demand in the business world. In any case, now that their power has been restored we shouldn't be surprised to see stories like the one about their travel excesses.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. This has been a common practice for our congressional leaders. Nothing new....
But it must stop. If the average American has to
pay for their vacations, then there is no reason
that they can't.
Take pride congress, if this is a common practice.
Apologize publicly, promise that it will stop.
Americans and the world will respect you for owning
up to making a mistake.
I just wish our president understood that.
David at 8:08PM on Apr 16th 2007
2. Mirengoff,
Are you admitting that Republicans ran a corrupt ship ... of state? I can't quite tell. You haven't mentioned names like Safavian, Cunningham, Delay, Crawford, Buckham, Foggo, Ney, Wade, etc.. Remember the coolest thing about "Duke": he actually had a menu of bribe prices for votes! That's Republican customer service!
Now that the (D)'s are in a position to pull the same nonsense, why don't you and your f(R)iends admit you supported corruption so that we will take your reasonable complaints about (D) corruption seriously? You look pretty silly complaining about (D)'s when you continue to defend guilty (R)'s or disregard their stories entirely. Or maybe you guys should just wear red jerseys with (R) stenciled on.
Cheers,
lil_turk at 8:21PM on Apr 16th 2007
3. The CONS of the CONservative Party Need To Go Away
Everyone knows that the CONservative Party is defined by the first syllablke in the word CONservative.
More specifically, our CONservative Party has taken the word "corruption" to such a high level that it is unreachable.
Therefore, it sure is a shame that you CONservatives would even dare to be the Pot calling the Kettle Black.
But what I really wish is that all of the CONServatives would find an exotic place and keep their Azzezs of Evil there perpetually. In fact, those leading us, plus lets not leave out Halliburton and KBR, already have nearly bankrupted us. So what more can America give to the CONServatives?
OOOps, I forgot. The blodd of our innocent troops.
So this "spin" trying to inflame us about some trips most likely paid for with private money just isn't going to fly.
And it is truly an insult to try to imply that minority Congressmen and women have found a new source of wealth in these trips. You should be ashamed. But then again, you belong to the CONServative Party.
E.Barnes at 8:31PM on Apr 16th 2007
4. ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE SLIME. I ALWAYS VOTE. I AM ALMOST 63 AND HAVE ONLY MISSED VOTING IN TWO ELECTIONS IN MY LIFE. I VOTE FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.
JACK STULTZ at 10:31PM on Apr 16th 2007
5. Notice how often AOL posts these anti democrat stories. When Bush ran against Gore they invariably had a picture of Bush striding forward confidently on thier opening pages and some demeaning comment on Gore. Apparently they are continuing with their smear campaign. The fact that they have to give thier product away now that they have lost so many subscribers doesnt seem to bother them. Isn't that curious. Who owns AOL now...
b at 9:04PM on Apr 16th 2007
6. HAHAH! Those sissy Democrats are beating the snot outta the redumblicans. The best they (redumblicans) can come up with is less pertinent than the pot calling the kettle black. HAHAH! BRAVO Pelosi! Take a few extra days on me.
Bob Smity at 12:24AM on Apr 17th 2007
7. More right wing propaganda,trying to label all democrats as corrupt as the corporate loving neocons,cos they use jets.Just another absurd nazi piece of propaganda!The bush administration promised smaller government and then gave us the biggest most wasteful government in our nations history.Then as sone as bush got in the whitehouse he began his deliberate and systematic destruction of the balanced budget,for all his rich friends and the international bankers.Bush and the republicans are fascists through and through,who are out to subjugate the american people by economic hocus pocus!
The very underpinning of the republican/corporate financial agenda is to shift wealth to the elite and to "equalize" the world's work forces.That doesn't mean bringing other nation's workers up to our level,but depressing the American standard of living to the status of Wal-Mart greeters!
Eric at 9:21PM on Apr 16th 2007
8. This is more neocon neonazi spin,of the fox news style.
Fox news better known to many by it's other names the nazi channel,the hitler channel,and it's most regonizable, the propaganda channel.I am sure fox news will be running this spin story 24/7 on their most deceptive faux news programs!
Eric at 9:27PM on Apr 16th 2007
9. You think this is a Fox news propaganda. Hello-it is happening-and call it right wing spin. How do you change facts? It happened-do you think a group of right wing conspirators gathered a bunch of high ranking Democrats and sent them on Spring Break? Are you serious? It is called same old same old.
Power drives the beasts-Left or Right wings.
julie at 9:53PM on Apr 16th 2007
10. Well, if we're on the subject of corruption, lets not forget Dick Chenny's daugther is running the State Dept's Middle East Policy, and guess what, she's doleing out billions to Haliburton and the like, and guess who's stock shares she is going to inherit? Tax free thanks to her dad and George. The Democrats are rank amatures when it comes to ripping off the public. It takes a party of the right wing business community to make ripping off the Americans (and sending the money to off-shore tax havens like Kuwait) and industry all on its own.
jmhatch at 9:57PM on Apr 16th 2007
11. Paul
Apparently Bill and Hilary taught their tribe well in the way they robbed the white house on the way out and hid all of the goods in their New York trailer. They had to conceal their pornographic exploits before, but now that they are in control they are putting on their political strap-ons and preparing for serious business. Like any priest that would allow Nancy to receive the eucharist, no child will be left behind!
dalosophy at 10:31PM on Apr 16th 2007
12.
Amazing any fool can write a blog, so its time to bite back. when Republicans take trips its fact finding, and when Democrats take trips its a junket. As stated many times before, its best to say nothing then to let all your readers know, you're a fool. Hey knucklehead MSNBC has a spot open.
Bite the loser back at 10:43PM on Apr 16th 2007
13. dems taking perks,,,,how about dicky boy flying all around Daytona Florida showing his grandson the sights at our expense, wow in air force two.
James Dyle at 10:45PM on Apr 16th 2007
14. To Paul Mirengoff -
Good morning ! I see you have awaken from your 6 year slumber. Looks like you missed all the fun your heroes like DeLay, Cunningham , Ney, and their good buddy Jack Abramoff had at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer. Do you think the national debt got to 9 TRILLION DOLLARS by itself ? No, it took a few bridges to nowhere and a whole bunch of other pork filled projects to get there - and guess what ? It was done while the House, Senate, and the Presidency were all under the control of the Republican Party. Suprised ? I'm sure you are. Then again maybe you were too busy researching and checking out all the "facts" you found about that big "heckling" story you were working on about Michael Ware. Make sure you let us all know how that turned out won't you ?
max at 10:56PM on Apr 16th 2007
15. Thanks AOL for again showing your true stripes. Congressional fact finding trips have never been limited by party affiliation. You continue to bash Democrats while turning a blind eye to similar conduct of Congressional Republicans. This is not corruption - this is standard Congressional operating procedure. Why not focus on how the Republican administration has routinely violated our Constitution while the previous republican Congress facilitated such violations?
Steve Koehler at 11:01PM on Apr 16th 2007