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AM Feed - June 29: Second Bush Administration Official Charged With Abramoff-Linked Crime

Hot Topics

• A Bush administration official in the Interior Department has been charged with a crime in connection with confessed influence peddler Jack Abramoff. The official in question, Roger Stillwell, handles government business in the Northern Marianas Islands, which had hired Abramoff as a lobbyist. Stillwell was charged with filing a false financial disclosure report. He has admitted to accepting meals and football tickets from Abramoff. This news follows the recent conviction of David Safavian, the former top procurement official in the Bush administration. [link]
• The conservative-dominated Supreme Court handed a win to indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) by ruling that states can re-district their political maps whenever they want – effectively upholding the principle behind the power play orchestrated by DeLay in Texas in 2003. However, it was not a total victory: The court also ruled that the Texas plan violated the rights of Hispanics, and ordered further review of the situation. DeLay’s Texas scheme was clearly designed to shift the balance of power toward conservatives, and Justice John Paul Stevens noted in his dissent: “By taking an action for the sole purpose of advantaging Republicans and disadvantaging Democrats, the state of Texas violated its constitutional obligation to govern impartially.” [link]
• The federal probe into Rep. Jerry Lewis’ (R-CA) ties to a lobbying firm appears to be heating up, as records from a defense contractor have been subpoenaed by federal investigators. Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc. (ESRI) has dealt with the lobbying form of Copeland, Lowery, Jaquez, Denton & White. One of the partners at the lobbying firm, former Rep. Bill Lowery, is a close friend of Lewis. The investigation is targeting “earmarks” requested by Lewis, who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee. [link]

Quote of the Day

“You know, you almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore.” – Reverand Jerry Falwell, during a 6/25 sermon

Morning Snark

• That Jerry Falwell, he always has his finger on the pulse of pop culture. Promptly disproving his “point”: The highest-grossing movie in the country currently stars Adam Sandler.

1. Wonder what the republicans will do when the Democrats start re-districting their political maps any time they want to. Any bets they won’t cry foul?
   — Mildred Burgess    Jun 29, 20:24    #
2. Adam Sandler’s not gay?
   Could’ve fooled old Satan!
   — Beelzebub    Jun 30, 09:54    #
3. I would like to see responses to the constant assertions by conservatives that “the Democrats don’t have any plans of their own, all they can do is criticize.” Following their playbook, they have repeated this so often at every opportunity, that the empty heads of the media either agree when these asserstions are made, or are even parroting this propaganda piece. I am aware of the numerous position statements by groups of Democrats that have been announced, or proposed legislation filed in Congress by Democrats, addressing almost every issue of foreign and domestic policy. At least in the blogasphere we should have a counter offensive going on this major (and effective) propaganda ploy. Please, guys, let’s get on it.
   — Neil S. Hutchens    Jun 30, 15:39    #
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