The Republican Excuse-O-Meter
This fall's top five scandal-tinged congressmen and their "official" reasons for retiring.
Of the more than two dozen retiring members of Congress, some will be dearly missed (Godspeed, Chuck Hagel!), while others...not so much. Democrats are absent from our list not because they have a franchise on good behavior (we're talking to you, "Dollar" Bill Jefferson), but because few are retiring this year and none of them are actually under indictment.
Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.)
Why: Under investigation in connection with the Jack Abramoff and Brent Wilkes scandal
In His Words: "I needed to not run again."
About Time: His long history of blurring congressional and family business included paying his wife nearly $200,000 in fundraising commissions.
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Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.)
Why: Passing the torch to Duncan Jr.
In His Words: As Hunter mounted a doomed campaign for the presidency, a spokesman announced, "Congressman Hunter does not intend to run for two offices simultaneously."
About Time: With ties to Brent Wilkes and Duke Cunningham, Hunter has long been accused of swapping earmarks for campaign cash. Duncan Jr. seems poised to follow in his father's footsteps, already receiving contributions from the beneficiaries of Hunter-sponsored earmarks.
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.)
Why: 35 excellent reasons, according to his indictment
In His Words: No comment.
About Time: Fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, extortion...'nuff said.
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.)
Why: Ask his Nicaraguan real estate agent.
In His Words: "I need to give my family the time needed to be a full-time dad and full-time husband."
About Time: Accused of using his congressional clout for private profit, Weller masked the extent of his Central American land dealings.
Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.)
Why: Got caught
In His Words: "[I] need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family."
About Time: Before he was felled by a drunk driving and adultery scandal, Fossella had a rep for mixing business with pleasure, using campaign funds for things like ski lessons for his family.
Comments
I am 52 years old and i can not remember any other administration that has had as many indictments as the present one.We have seen politics like third world countries have and so much corruption.Hopefully Obama can bring our country out of the stone age and in to the new age.
I know he's not a Congressman, but what about Republican Dan White? This former police officer and San Francisco supervisor murdered Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, then blamed it on having eaten too many twinkies.
You missed the most important name on the list! If a third term were allowed, given his popularity ratings, don't you think GW would have "decided to spend more time with his family"? And that the Repub's would gladly have PAID him to do so? Paid even more than the bank bail out, if that's what it took!?
ObombAnations Policies are the same as Hillary Clintons!!!! The 911 Incident was created by Bill Clinton!!! Hillary was involved in the Oil for Food Scandal in Iraq which includes Oboma Marc Rich and they all side with Terrorists William Ayers!!! Prophecy has been foretold and the US will sink in Ruin as Rome and you Blind Idiots allowed the Government to deceive you once again!!! You're appeased at what you believe to be an Historical Moment!!! Enjoy your High because Catastrophy will strike by the Hands of the Infidels, YOU, which blame will be put upon the Blind People!!!! The Clintons Gores.... were intent on destroying this Country, Summon the Victims of 9/11 They'll tell you!!!! This Country has Bred nothing more than Fat Lazy Incestual Inbred Idiots!!! Your own Offspring are Idiots!!! The Media are Paid Stooges otherwise they'd have to suffer the Wrath of Political Assassins such as Obama's Chicago Thugs and Bill Clinton's Political Assassin Killers!!!! They Kill the Aware!!!!
"My" Congressperson, Don Young of Alaska, is as tainted as any of these folks, yet somehow we're stuck with him again, when all the polls showed he was finished after 34 years. Coupled with the apparent reelection of Ted Stevens, found guilty of seven felonies, and the deplorable antics of Sarah Palin, I am ashamed to be an Alaskan.
OJ Simpson is a Prime example of what the Majority of Blacks think!!! And now the Majority of Blacks vote for ObombAnation!!! OJ was Praised for beating so called White Man's Rap and beating and murdering his White Wife!!! Where is he NOW!!! Martin Luther King was supposedly for the Equal Rights of All except the White Women (Prostitutes) he beat claiming to be a God and who by chance recited the same BS as MLK, ObombAnation!!!! The Judgment is in error!!! Equality will never be!! War is always inevitable!!! Racial and Sexual issues were calming until this Election Thanks mainly to Bill and Hillary Clintons Greed of continuing the Power of the Rich (Elite) over the downtrodden and the soon to be Inauguration of the Wrong Man as President!!! Laws of the Jungle shall Prevail!!! Hope you enjoy The Clinton/Obama subsidized Trailer Park because to them you are all Trailer Trash as Women are Murderers committing Abortions as Men declaring War!!! Brought upon yourselves and the Ignorant leave only One Option for the Elite to maintain Rule over the Down Trodden as the saying The Cleansing!!! Africa is a Prime Example to the Extent of how House Cleaning is Performed!!! Enjoy
They're all criminals after 8 yrs. service to our country at whatever political/public svc job they hold. There should be a mandatory release or discharge at 8 yrs & then they would be barred from public svc for a period of 10 yrs. Then they could serve an additional 8 yrs. More than enough to be considered satisfactory tenure in the public's eye. And with that requirement, they wouldn't be as tempted to lean towards second hand ultra profitable shady dealings, at the expense of the American taxpayers. in this way accountability would be held at a maximum and cheating for profit becomes less attractive because any intentional oversight or devious act could be almost instantly traced back to the perpetrator. its a small thing but past history shows absolute power corrupts just read the afore article
the republican excuse o meter. these people needed to be rooted out & quickly that shows anyone can be tempted & if they are of low quality they eagerly dive into the most open pocket
think about it forty years plus service?? thats enough time to make more friends in low places than to meet good people in high places???
crime in America really does pay, ask any American politician or cocaine dealer, preferably theirs!!!
Exactly why this Country is Doomed!!! Majority of so called Americans are Stupid at Math!!! Stock Market Crashed due to the Speedy Record Highs under False Premises!!! Build a House Foundation on Freshly laid soil What happens to the Foundation!!!! Bill Clinton Trained within the same Time Period as Bin Laden in the CIA why do you suppose he let him go Multiple times!!! You figure it out Inbred Idiots!!! Clinton's created 9/11 but Ultimately 9/11 was your Faults and now we have to put up with an Inbred Idiot!!! Thought Bush was Bad He actually helped this Country where as The Clinton's and ObombAnations created more Deaths and Suffering along with the Killing of the Innocent 40,000,000 plus Abortions!!! You Decide who is the Greatest Evil and you were suckered by the Lack of your Intelligence!!! Take Economics better yet start School all over again!!! From Preschool and this time don't ditch school
Excuse-O-Meter
Submitted by Luis Navarro (not verified) on Mon Mar. 30, 2009 11:15 AM PDT.
appshopper.com/entertainment/excuse-o-meter
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