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CORRUPTION UPDATES 27 December 11th to December 15th, 2006 The CORRUPTION UPDATES reviews corruption in the news. News Stories from California, the Nation and the World are abstracted below, and followed by commentary and references. |
CORRUPTION UPDATES 27
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1) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE LA TIMES, 12-11-06:
2008 hopefuls woo Bush clan donors, aides
McCain, Romney seek edge that family's GOP network could provide.
By Peter
Wallsten
Times Staff Writer
December 11, 2006
“WASHINGTON —
With the Bushes preparing to stand down from a quarter century in
top elected offices, a frenzied competition has erupted in the
Republican Party over who will inherit a fundraising and
vote-getting machine built by the family over the years into one of
the most valuable assets in modern politics.”
“The
fight for the Bush family mantle demonstrates that, even after the
plunge in the president's popularity and the GOP's thumping in the
midterm election, the family network remains the single most
powerful force in Republican Party politics.”
“While
the 2008 hopefuls are vying for the Bush family's fundraising and
field organizing network, a more complex question is whether they
want to be seen as inheriting the Bush political ideology. Widely
criticized for starting the Iraq war
and running large budget deficits, President Bush's brand of
conservatism is in disfavor.”
“The overt
indicators of jockeying for the Bush political assets have come in a
series of announcements from the McCain and Romney camps, boasting
of support from national- and state-level supporters with a variety
of Bush family ties.”
“Romney has presented himself as the strongest conservative in the race and the most viable alternative to McCain, who is distrusted by many conservative voters for his breaks from the party line and past opposition to Bush. By aligning with Jeb Bush, Romney is associating himself with a popular brand of conservatism.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
GOP HOPEFULS ROMANCE BUSH MACHINE
DADDY BUSH AND FRIENDS PLAYING KINGMAKER
Wealth and power do not bring wisdom. The Bush family's political machine reflects this fact. As does the Democratic Leadership Council. The Dems and Repubs are both dependent on political machines based on wealth and power. These machines produce political leaders that serve their machines, not the voters.
We can argue that this is bad, and complain. Or we can make one clean, quick adjustment to our campaign finance laws, starting here in California. We must break the link of bribery between these mafia-style political machines and our politicians. We should attack political corruption as Bush attacks “terrorism,” by attacking their sources of funding.
Our initiative will remove bribery as a legal political tool. Our initiative restricts non-voters within the proper limits of their free speech rights, which excludes them from directly corrupting (bribing) the candidates and elections where they have no right to vote.
Both the Bush machine, and the Dems machine, must be prevented from robbing the voters of their Constitutional right to select, and elect, their own candidates and representatives.
Join the Committee for Democracy in this fight.
2) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE WASHINGTON POST, 12-12-06:
“Democrats Freeze Earmarks for Now”
Leaders Want Lobbying Changes Enacted
By Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, December
12, 2006; Page A03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121101305.html
“Democratic leaders declared a temporary moratorium on special-interest provisions known as earmarks as they attempt to cope with a budget crisis left by the outgoing Republican-led 109th Congress.”
“ "We will work to restore an accountable, above-board, transparent process for funding decisions and put an end to the abuses that have harmed the credibility of Congress," the chairmen said.”
“The biggest victory would be for those lawmakers who have crusaded against earmarks, or home-district pet projects. Virtually all of the bills that pass the Senate and House appropriations committees contain such projects. For the fiscal year that began in October and will end Sept. 30, the slate will be wiped clean.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
DEM LEADERS TO REFORM CONGRESS?
Why didn't the Dems institute a permanent ban on earmarks? Earmarks are the primary way politicians pay off bribes. They are a clear manifestation of political corruption. Any real effort at reform would eliminate earmarks.
The Dems hesitation to end earmarks is a reflection of the importance of earmarks to the Dems. The Dems use earmarks to payoff their bribers, just like the Repubs.
The article mentions this temporary freeze came from Dem “leaders.” If the Dem “leaders” are anything like John Murtha, we can guarantee that there will be no real attempt to end earmarks. All Dem reforms will be symbolic and short term.
Murtha was Pelosi's failed candidate for second position in Dem House Leadership. Murtha is now Chair of Appropriations, and in this position has control of the House's purse.
This is very disturbing, as Murtha is noted for trading his ethics, and the votes of his little mafia, for earmarks. This is especially disturbing since the Dems tried to minimize corruption as an election issue. The Dems are now forced to hypocritically mouth the words of reform, by the majority of voters who named corruption as the top issue in the last election.
The Dems heard the voice of the voter and are going say what the voters want to hear, but do nothing substantive to break the link between special interest bribes and the politicians. The unstated fact beneath all the Dem talk of reforming corruption, is that earmarks are what politicians use to payback their bribers. The earmark is a response to corruption and bribery. The Dems are not even addressing the Bribery that triggers corrupt earmarks.
The last thing the Dems want is to stop the flow of bribery money, now that they are going to get the victor's share. Both parties live off of the bribes that triggers a legislator to bestow an earmark on their sponsor. Stopping the original bribery payments that trigger earmarks is not on the table.
The Dems are not proposing substantive reforms. The Dems are trying to repair the appearance of propriety, while ignoring the bribery which caused the corruption.
When the Dem noise about corruption reform dies down their words of reform will disappear, and all of this Dem talk about reform will come to nothing.
Other Articles about Murtha, Pelosi, and Porking Dems
Corruption Updates 3, “Media Reports: Both Parties Corrupt”
Corruption Updates 5, 1st article on page, Dems try to ignore corruption as election issue, see, “Corruption fails as Campaign issue...,”
Corruption Updates 14, 10th article down on page. “Murtha trades his vote, and ethics, for pork,”
Pelosi does earmarks well and often, LA Times, 11-13-06, “Speaker-to-be is no stranger to earmarking,” (abstract at LA Times archive, #52 under Richard Simon search)
Corruption Updates 19, 1st article on page, “Top Recipients of Lobbyists Bribes are Leadership of Both Parties”
Corruption Updates 19, 3rd article on page, “PARTIES AND THEIR BRIBERS WORK TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE RESTRICTION”
Corruption Updates 20, 1st article on page, 10-25-06, “PELOSI FUNRAISING FRENZY ASSURES SPECIAL INTEREST DOMINATION OF GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT OF WHICH SIDE WINS IN NOV”
Corruption Updates 20, 6th article on page, “DEMS RECEIVE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES ANTICIPATING VICTORY IN NOV,”
Corruption Updates 21, 8th article on page, “Dems Big Chance to Reap the Rewards of Corruption: Political Victory Opens Doors of Lobbying Firms to Demo Insiders,”
Corruption Updates 22, 6th article on page, “MONEY WINS IN ALMOST EVERY POLITICAL RACE”
Corruption Updates 24, 6th article on page, 12-4-06, “POLITICIANS WHO BRIBE POLITICIANS ARE LEADERS UNCONTESTED CANDIDATES REDISTRIBUTE BRIBE MONEY TO BUY PLUM COMMITTEES AND CHAIRMANSHIPS”
Corruption Update 26, 1st article on page, “Time to Party, just bring the Checkbook,” LOBBYISTS SEE NO CHANGE UNDER DEMS CORRUPTION PRESENTED AS FORCE OF NATURE, DEM CORRUPTION NATURAL”
Corruption
Updates 27, 2nd article on page, “Leaders Want
Lobbying Changes Enacted” (fake,
superficial reforms)
Corruption Updates 28, 1st article on page, 1-2-07: “LOBBYISTS HIRING-BRIBING DEMS SHIFTING FUNDS AND PERSONELL TO DEMS ASSURES NO REAL CHANGES”
Corruption Updates 28, 4th article on page, “Bush and Dems Fight Over Earmarks”
Corruption
Updates 30, 2nd article on page, “REID
TRIES TO KILL REAL EARMARK REFORMS: RENEGADE SENATORS
EXPOSE DEMS FAKE EARMARK REFORM BY GIVING IT REAL TEETH, DEMS FIGHT
TO KILL REFORM, AND PRESERVE EARMARK CORRUPTION ” Fake
earmark reforms of dems rejected!
Corruption
Updates 31, 4th article on page, “FAKE
EARMARK REFORM IN SENATE CONTINUES: EARMARKS
NOT RECOGNIZED AS CORRUPTION ITSELF”
CU 44, 5: "Fake Reforms of Democrats: No Change in Who Runs Washington"
3) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE LA TIMES, 12-12-06:
Ex-aides allege abuse of power
“Rep. Gary Miller of Diamond Bar exercised political muscle for personal gain, they say.”
By William
Heisel
Times Staff Writer
December 12, 2006
“With
community activists packed into the Monrovia Community
Center one winter night in 2000,
U.S. Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) implored City Council members
to purchase 165 acres he owned in the foothills and turn the land
into a wilderness preserve.”
“Earlier that day,
according to interviews with former Miller staff members and
official correspondence reviewed by The Times, Miller asked one
staffer to find a way to place one of the councilmen — a
pawnshop owner with no parks experience — on the prestigious
National Park System Advisory Board.”
“A real
estate developer and one of the wealthiest members of Congress,
Miller, 58, routinely asked his staff to handle personal errands,
such as helping his children with schoolwork, searching for rock
concert tickets and sending flowers to family members and friends,
according to documents reviewed by The Times.”
“Federal
law prohibits members of Congress from using their staff for
anything other than official work.”
“Miller has
also collected nearly $25,000 a year in rent from his campaign
committee in each of the last three elections by using the offices
of his real estate development firm in Diamond Bar as his campaign
office.”
“Under federal election law such rents
are considered self-enrichment unless a member can demonstrate that
the private offices were used for legitimate campaign purposes.”
“Miller's corporate office, located in an office park in Diamond Bar, doubles as his campaign office. But this November, the presence of campaign activity was impossible to discern from the front office. There were no posters, pictures or bumper stickers for constituents. There were no yard signs out front, no campaign volunteers calling people to get out the vote. On election day, Miller was out of the office, a secretary said.”
“He has come
under scrutiny in his district and in Washington for a series of
recent votes and other maneuvers that public watchdogs said were
ethically and legally questionable.”
“In August
2005, Miller helped allocate federal funds for street improvements
near a development he co-owned in Diamond Bar. In the same bill, he
helped insert a provision to close an airport in Rialto used by
emergency medical personnel and private pilots, opening up the land
to development by one of his largest campaign contributors, Lewis
Operating Corp.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
MILLER, R-CA, USING OFFICE FOR SELF ENRICHMENT
TAX FUNDED STAFF ACTING AS PERSONAL SERVANTS
Mr. Miller is a stereotype of the spoiled, corrupted characters our system of politics moves into positions of leadership.
Rich, spoiled, and dishonest, Mr. Miller seems to have no limits to his greed and vanity. His greed is being exposed by investigations into tax fraud, and his vanity is being exposed by his staff, which resented being made into personal servants.
The tax fraud and the misuse of his staff is compounded by the fact that the tax fraud was made possible because Miller was likely misusing the power of his office and position to pressure the buyer. The taxpayers are paying the wages of his staff to support his political office, not to provide Miller with personal servants.
The only way we get honest leaders is to change how we elect politicians. The rules must be changed so we are assured that our representatives represent their constituents, rather than wealth and power.
Only by eliminating political bribery can the honest character of the American people be represented in Congress. Our political funding system encourages the election of politicians who's only skills are lying and cheating. But that is all we can expect from a campaign financing system that is based on bribery, and rewards thievery and fraud.
For more on Mr. Miller, See:
http://www.answers.com/%20Gary%20Miller%20
Corruption Updates 34, 6th article on the page, "FBI Looking into Millers Deals"
4) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE LA TIMES, 12-13-06:
Nuñez wants use of badges probed
“The Assembly speaker acts after lawmaker Mervyn Dymally attracts notice by issuing the official-looking shields to supporters.”
By Dan Morain and Evelyn Larrubia
Times Staff
Writers
December 13, 2006
“SACRAMENTO — Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez
is calling for an inquiry into at least one lawmaker's practice of
distributing official-looking badges to supporters and
contributors.”
“Although Nuñez did not
name any lawmaker, he issued a sharply worded letter aimed at
Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton). Through his aides, Dymally
has been handing out "Assembly commissioner" badges to his
supporters.”
“Dymally's aides have placed orders
for shields for at least 30 people, according to records obtained by
The Times. The badges contain a likeness of the Assembly's official
seal and read: "California State Assembly Commissioner."
The Assembly does not recognize such a post. A 1968 law makes misuse
of the seal a misdemeanor.”
“Although not all badge recipients contributed to the lawmaker's campaigns, a dozen people who received badges have donated more than $25,000 to Dymally since 2003.”
“Dymally declined to discuss the issue for this article, though he issued a statement saying: "I am not aware of any connection between the badges or campaign contributions." Earlier this year, he said, "Everybody in town has one of these badges. There is nothing special about it." ”
“...has donated
$8,500 to Dymally since 2003 and recalled that Dymally swore him in
as a "commissioner" at a dinner.”
“After
law enforcement authorities opened an inquiry, Dymally sent letters
to recipients asking them to return the badges or dispose of them,
adding, "Please be advised that any exhibition of the badge
will constitute a misdemeanor." ”
“Some
recipients said they complied with his request, but others have not,
including one businessman who noted that Dymally did not offer to
refund a $500 contribution that he thought was expected in order to
obtain the badge. Campaign records filed with the state show no such
contribution.”
“ "If it is a commemorative
badge, how come it doesn't say 'commemorative' on it?" asked
the businessman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, concerned
about retribution by the lawmaker.”
“Several
recipients, including developer Scott Suh, gave no money. Suh, a
trade deputy under former Mayor James Hahn, said he was sworn in as
an Assembly "commissioner" and recalled that it seemed
"official." ”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
DYMALLY BADGES FOR PAYOFFS TO BE PROBED
POLITICIANS EMBARASSED THAT EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE
American politics seems complex, but it can be described with two words: Bribery-Payoff. In this case, Dymally traded prestige, and a feeling of special authority, for bribe money.
This is exactly the same as trading bribes for earmarks. The only distinction is what the briber wants in return for their money. Most bribers want more money, but some prefer to purchase prestige and authority.
The disturbing fact behind this sale of police authority is that all of our government is for sale, if you have the money. Our top level politicians will sell legislation, influence with government agencies, our safety laws, our foreign policy, judges, and appointments to high office, for the big bucks, to the highest bidder.
At the bottom of the barell we have local politicians who sell their local powers of legislation and influence, for smaller bribes that the top level politicians get. But local politicians, like Dymally, will throw a badge into the deal!
Dymally was selling the raw authority of an official badge. It is clear that the badge was intended to bestow special treatment, judging by how Mr. Pirikana Likivu Johnson, an associate of Dymally, used his Dymally badge to interfere with the police, before he was arrested for drunkenness and using a false badge.
Previous Article on Dymally Badges:
“Man Held in DUI had badge issued by Dymally...,” Corruption Updates 24. 9th article on page.
Also see how LA and Riverside Sheriffs distributed fake badges to supporters:
Corruption Updates 11, 6th article down.
5) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BBC, 12-14-06:
Egypt cracks down on Brotherhood
Thursday, 14 December 2006, 11:51 GMT BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/middle_east/6178841.stm
“One of the top leaders of Egypt's opposition Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, has been detained.”
“Police also rounded up about 10 other prominent members and dozens of students in dawn raids.”
“ "The number of students arrested was not specified, but it could be as high as 180," a security official told the AFP news agency.”
“ "At least three professors and several student leaders were taken during this sweep," a Muslim Brotherhood official said.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
EGYPTIAN DICTATOR CHANGES CONSTITUTION
FARCE OF AMERICAN “DEMOCRACY” EXPOSED BY AMERICAN SUPPORTED DICTATORSHIPS
6) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN AL AHRAM, 12-28-06:
2007: Redrawing the map
“President Mubarak's proposal to amend 34 constitutional articles curtails the growing political role of the Muslim Brotherhood, writes Gamal Essam El-Din”
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/826/fr2.htm
“ “Opposition and independent circles see the proposals as an attempt to curtail the growing role of the Muslim Brotherhood in political life.”
“ "The letter did not mention independents, another blow to Brotherhood," argues Rabie. "The harsh security crackdown suggests that the regime has given a green light to remove the Brotherhood from political life." ”
Above all...Mubarak has refused to amend Article 82 to make the appointment of a vice president an obligatory matter. The refusal to appoint a vice president since coming to power has led to growing speculation that Gamal Mubarak is being groomed to succeed his father, rumours both Mubaraks have denied.”
EGYPT LEADING THE WAY FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN MIDDLE EAST
AMERICAN
DICTATOR CRACKS DOWN ON DEMOCRATIC DISSENT
While Bush is talking up spreading democracy in the middle east, we support three dictatorships there, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, which actively suppress democracy in their own countries, with our economic, military and political power.
This fact proves that Bush and his war in Iraq had nothing to do with democracy, and never did. Our attack on Iraq has one goal: To provide the resources for the United States to continue the massive expansion of our population that has gone on for the last 40 years, for the next 40 years. It's that simple.
Simply stated, if we do not control the world's oil, our irresponsible growth of the past 40 years will come to a screeching halt. This is a classic case of domestic irresponsibility triggering international irresponsibility.
The incredible wealth, power, and luxury our Corporate ruling Class enjoys is the direct result of four decades of irresponsible domestic growth.
They have lowered wages with a massive immigration. And they kept the money. They have drained our schools of their educational value by flooding them with foreign children, paying nothing for the burden their cheap labor has put on our schools. And they kept the extra profits that replacing Americans with cheap labor has generated.
Now, after using foreign labor to avoid paying the cost of doing business for generations, our corporations have left us with wrecked roads, schools, and hospitals. We have a huge population who's only claim to citizenship is Obedience to Power, and the desire to be a “consumer.”
We have a foreign population that was allowed into the country because they could be depended on to give away our working class standards of pay and benefits. The result is the concentration of wealth and political power in the hand of very few people.
We now have a foreign working class that has no influence to demand the wages, medical, or education infrastructure that their overwhelming numbers stole from working Americans.
The politicians and their corporate sponsors have gotten richer and more powerful by keeping the money that should have been spent to build the infrastructure this massive growth required. But that was the plan.
Our greatest loss in this scam is the loss of the political power and wealth of the American Working Class. The American working class used our democratic system to hold wealth and power accountable, and force them to pay the costs of doing business. Those days are over.
That balance between American social classes has been destroyed, and the rich and powerful are no longer required to pay the social costs their business, and their foreign workers, generate.
Now we have neither an American working class, nor a democracy.
As this foreign group is incorporated into our system of political corruption, we are witnessing “citizens” trading their votes to politicians for the promise of an open border, and citizenship for all who demonstrate obedience to the boss, and a greed for consumer products.
Who will pay to subsidize the social costs of foreign workers so American Corporations can enjoy the benefits of a cheap laboring class?
Bush looks to Iraq to
secure the resources necessary to fuel our irresponsible expansion
for the next 40 years, at the same pace as the last 40. And
democracy in Egypt, and the US, are going down the toilet.
For more on the abandonment of Egyptian Democracy by the US:
Rice interviewed by Al Ahram, Hypocrisy of American supported “Democracy” highlighted:
Corruption Updates 18, 7th article on page, “FOR MODERATE DEMOCRACY EGYPTIANS BELIEVE DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT IS NOT A REAL CONCERN” (of the United States)
“Egypt Sends Sadat's Nephew to Prison for Defaming Military,” Corruption Update 21, 3rd article on page, states that:
“The United States had at one time talked about Egypt as leading the way toward democratic reform in the Middle East. But with the chaos in the region, and the political uncertainty in Egypt, officials in Egypt said the United States has dropped all pressure to make democratic reforms.” Now compare that with our latest rational for the Iraq war: “We Will Spread Democracy across the Middle East.”
For further developments on the toleration of the suppression of democracy by the American sponsored dictatorship in Egypt, see,
“Egypt Cracks Down on Brotherhood,” Corruption Update 27, 5th article down.
“2007, Redrawing the Map,” Corruption Update 27, 6th article on page.
This article describes Mubarak's suppression of democracy through Constitutional amendments.
Corruption Update 30, 7th article on page, “Egypt detains Brotherhood backers”
Corruption Updates 31, 10th article on page, “Pakistan US DICTATORSHIPS CONTINUES TO FUEL “TERRORISM”
Corruption Updates 32, 1st article on page, “RICE THANKS EGYPTIAN DICTATOR FOR REGIONAL SUPPORT”
7) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE LA TIMES, 12-3-06:
FEC fines Swift Boat, MoveOn
“It says the '527' groups crossed the line with overtly partisan 2004 campaign activities.”
By Richard Simon
Times Staff Writer
December 14,
2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-swiftboat14dec14,1,4300495,print.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
“WASHINGTON
— In 2004, Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth played a
highly visible role in the presidential campaign by running ads in
key states questioning the Vietnam War record of the Democratic
candidate, Sen. John F. Kerry, and charging that "he cannot be
trusted." ”
“Likewise, the MoveOn.org Voter
Fund criticized President Bush, repeatedly referring in its ads to
his "failure of leadership." ”
“But
those overtly partisan activities crossed the line, the Federal
Election Commission ruled Wednesday, fining both groups —
along with two affiliated with the League of Conservation Voters —
for failing to register as political committees, which have much
stricter fundraising rules, and for raising millions of dollars over
the limits that apply to such committees.”
“The Swift
Boat group was fined $299,500, the MoveOn group $150,000, and both
League of Conservation Voters groups $180,000”
“ "Effective enforcement of the campaign finance laws cannot be established through a case-by-case approach that resolves massive violations of campaign finance laws more than two years after a presidential election with a fine that is a small fraction of the millions of dollars illegally spent to influence the election," officials of Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center said in a statement. They had joined a third watchdog organization, the Center for Responsive Politics, in filing a complaint against the Swift Boat group in 2004.”
“It was unclear
how the fines would affect 527 groups, which rose in prominence
after a 2002 overhaul of campaign finance laws placed limits on
direct contributions to political parties but allowed unlimited
contributions to groups that advocated on behalf of issues.”
“Wes Boyd, a MoveOn.org founder, said he welcomed the
FEC "clamping down on pop-up 527s, set up just to influence
elections and funded only by big money." ”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
SHADOW PARTIES FINED
PARTY FRONT GROUPS MOVEON AND SWIFTBOATES FINED
This clampdown on shadow parties is long overdue. Free speech is being used as cover by these partisan groups to channel their wealth into elections to the detriment of the rights of the voter.
These partisan groups are designed to support candidates and influence elections by bypassing contribution limits. The heart of the problem is that our polity contains a critical ambiguity, a contradiction, between our claims to be democratic, and what we really are, which is democracy for sale to the highest bidder.
We say we are a democracy, but we allow special interest bribes to legally control our parties and politicians. We say we are a democracy, but private wealth has replaced the voter as the determining factor in political success.
Moveon and Swiftboaters represent the latest evolution by wealthy individuals trying to buy victory in our elections. Let's get serious about protecting our democracy, and restrict political contributions to individuals qualified to vote in the election.
Until we resolve this contradiction, between democracy and bribery, our values will continue to be betrayed by our practices. Wealth and power will continue to buy political victory, and political policy and legislation will continue to serve the special interests ahead of our people.
America will continue to give democracy a bad name here, and around the world, until we align our practices with our values.
Also see,
“Unregulated Groups put Millions in Election,” Corruption Updates 21, 2nd article on page.
On how money assures political victory, see,
“Deep Pockets carry the Day,” Corruption Updates 22, 6th article on page.
8) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BBC, 12-15-06:
Criticism of ditched Saudi probe
“Opposition politicians have attacked the UK's Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) decision to drop a corruption probe into a defense deal with Saudi Arabia.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/business/6181977.stm
“Prime Minister Tony Blair said national security had dictated the SFO's decision but the Liberal Democrats said cash had been put before principle.”
“The SFO had been studying a 1980s deal between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.”
“Reports said the Saudis had threatened to pull out of a new £6bn deal with BAE unless the probe was brought to an end.”
“Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb has called the SFO's decision "outrageous and disgraceful".”
“The SFO's decision to end the investigation comes after repeated suggestions that the Saudis were angered by the probe, and were threatening to pull out of current plans to buy 72 Eurofighter planes from BAE for £6bn”
“Liberal Democrat peer Lord Goodhart told the BBC's Today programme that he thought the government had given in to blackmail.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
BRIT GOVT HIDES BRIBES TO SAUDIS
ARMS SUPPLIER BAE BRIBES COVERED UP
How much clout does Saudi Arabia have? The above example of Saud clout reminds us that the majority of the hijackers on 911 were Saudi subjects. Osama is a Saudi. It seems we may have attacked the wrong countries, as Iraq was not involved in 911, and the majority of the people of Afghanistan were fairly unaware of Al Queda, being more concerned with the challenges of survival in the stone age the Russians bombed them into. That leaves Saudi Arabia.
911 was a product of the contradictions within Saudi culture and middle eastern history. The borders and rulers of Saudi Arabia were created by Western Europeans at the close of WWI.
The British strove to maintain control of the region's resources and politics until the end of WWII.
After the war, the middle eastern desire for independence was crushed by dictatorships backed by either America or Russia. Despite being frozen between America and Russia during the cold war, National independence movements rose across the middle east, and were consistently attacked by America, Britain, and Russia. But independence was inevitable.
The rise of independence in Syria, Iraq, and Iran is hated by the West. These countries offer proof to the the people of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt that they are capable of governing themselves, without a Western supported regime to control them, and their resources.
Rather than being a friend to this region as it emerged from the yoke of Western Imperialism, America has offered them a new yoke. And their people hate it.
The whole world has entered a post-colonial period. Except the United States. We seem to be the only nation that does not understand that “Globalism” is no more than an evolution of the older colonial and imperial systems of control. But with a twist.
Instead of marching into your country, we fund and arm a dictator to do it for us. We establish economic and political control of your country through proxies. And their people hate it.
Despite our certainty and confidence in our own righteousness, and the perfection of our system, there are many people around the world who do not believe we have the right to intervene in their domestic affairs, let alone fund and arm the dictators that have seized power in their countries. And they hate us.
When a group of Saudi men, funded by Saudi oil-dollars, and led by a Saudi man, smash airplanes into buildings, we act confused, like we don't understand. “They hate freedom,” the simple minded people in our country tell each other. No, they hate the country that has stolen their sovereignty from them.
Then we use this confusion as cover to attack Afghanistan and Iraq. It's tragically ironic that this further angers the average joe in the middle east, encouraging even more hatred and violence against the US. Our invasion also destabilizes the hold of the Saudi Arabian, Jordanian and Egyptian governments on their own people.
Our invasion shows the middle east that we will step out from behind our proxies, and march in ourselves. This is really, really bad for the American dictators in the middle east. Any ambiguity about our intentions has passed, and the people of the middle east can see the web of American political and military influences for what it is, and it is not democratic. And it supports their dictators.
The Royal Family in Saudi Arabia are in a delicate position. If they lose the support of the West, the guns and oil dollars, they will lose their heads. If they go “native,” and represent the interests and beliefs of their own people, America will lose control of the world's oil market.
So when Saudi subjects
smash buildings with airplanes, it's not the fault of Saudi Arabia.
When Saudi Arabia wants bribes, they get them, and there will be no
substantive investigation. And when the people of the middle east
cast off their remaining western dictators, we are going to have
hell to pay.
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of Page
9) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NY TIMES, 12-15-06:
Blair
questioned on peerages for pay
For
police to probe sitting premier is unprecedented
-
Alan Cowell, New York Times
Friday, December 15, 2006
“(12-15) 04:00 PST London -- The British police interviewed Prime Minister Tony Blair Thursday as a witness in a scandal over accusations that high honors were traded for political contributions. The idea of the police questioning a prime minister struck British journalists as virtually unheard of.”
“Blair was the latest in a series of ever-higher-ranking officials to be questioned by the police about accusations that his Labor Party offered to grant prestigious peerages, seats in the House of Lords, to donors who made long-term loans and other contributions worth $27 million to the party coffers before the 2005 national elections.”
“British prime ministers are entitled to nominate commoners to receive peerages, knighthoods, and other honors for various reasons, including service to their political party. But the practice of offering such favors in return for money was outlawed in 1925 after Prime Minister David Lloyd George had become notorious for the sale of honors to raise money for his Liberal Party.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
POLICE QUESTION BLAIR ON PEERAGES FOR PAY SCANDAL
A FINAL SCANDAL CLOSES IN ON BLAIR
I have a novel proposal: Since British, like American politics, is a game of corruption, let's pre-arrest politicians.
Figure it like this; The way things work today, we would be crazy if we did not acknowledge that if you are a politician, you are a prime suspect for corruption and bribery.
Under my system, conviction would be based on winning an election, the assumption being that elections identifies not the politician who represents the people, but the politician who sold themselves to the special interests most successfully. So, straight to jail with the “winner.”
As it stands today, legal campaigns, run by the “book,” are almost entirely based on bribery. So we should change the system to acknowledge this fact.
Why wait forever for lengthy investigations, political fights, trials and an eventual coverup? In this country, the corrupt politicians are protected by the political and legal system. So, let's change the system.
Who will lead, you ask? Well, maybe we should appoint the candidate who received the least amount of bribe money.
That's not democracy you say? It's not democracy when winning is dependent on bribery, I say.
Let's arrest them when they win. Let's celebrate them when they lose.
Corruption Updates 13, 9th article on page, “Want to be A Lord? British Tories Selling Peerages”
Corruption Updates 14, 7th article on page, “Donors Police Quiz Top Blair Aide”
Corruption Updates 14, 8th article on page, “Tories Accused Over "Secret Cash"
Corruption Updates 27, 9th article on page, “Police Question Blair on Peerages for Pay Scandal”
Corruption Updates 37, 2nd article on the page, "BBC Peerage Scandal Coverage Censored
10) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED
IN THE LA TIMES, 12-15-06:
Ex-union chief gets jail for aiding councilman
By Peter Y. Hong, Times Staff Writer
December 15, 2006
“The former president of the union
representing Los Angeles school workers was sentenced to six months
in jail Thursday for illegally diverting union funds to the 2003
political campaign of disgraced Los Angeles City Councilman Martin
Ludlow.”
“Lawyers for Janett Humphries, 63, had
argued for home detention because she has Alzheimer's disease, a
diagnosis confirmed by her psychiatrist, who testified at the
downtown sentencing under subpoena.”
“Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Marcus said Humphries' crime was too serious for her to avoid jail. "Plain and simple, if she is not sent to jail, it would be making the statement that it is OK to break the rules to help a candidate win," he said. "I don't see electronic monitoring as punishment that fits the crime." ”
THE
COMMITTEE SAYS:
JAIL FOR CORRUPT LA UNION BOSS
6 MONTHS FOR BOSS WHO CLAIMED CORRUPTION WAS NORMAL PRACTICE
Also see,
“Tale of Union and Politics now in Jury's Hands,” Corruption
Updates 21, 1st article on page.
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