AM Feed - July 18: Rep. Jerry Lewis Spends Heavily on Legal Fees
Hot Topics
- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) is feeling the heat from a federal investigation into his ties with Bill Lowery, a lobbyist: Lewis spent $200,000 in legal fees last month alone. The congressman chairs the House Appropriations Committee, and is drawing scrutiny for earmarks authored under his reign that have benefited Lowery’s clients. Not surprisingly, Lowery has been a top contributor to Lewis’ campaign coffers. In an ironic twist, Lewis is now using these same campaign funds for his legal defense. [link]
- The appearances of conflicts of interests in California are piling up: Matthew Dowd, a top political adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) is also pocketing money from AT&T to manage that company’s marketing strategy. So what’s the problem? Right now, Schwarzenegger’s office is in negotiations on legislation that could be worth billions to the company. “If AT&T hired Dowd to sell TV, and Dowd also has been hired to sell Schwarzenegger on TV, you’ve got to wonder if Dowd also is selling your governor on AT&T’s legislative agenda for TV,” said Andrew Wheat, research director for Texans for Public Justice. Dowd formerly served as a top strategist to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004. [link]
- Rep. Katherine Harris’ (R-FL) troubles are continuing as well. Earlier this week, another round of her campaign staff bolted the premises, continuing a disturbing trend. Included in the exodus was former campaign manager Glenn Hodas, who held the job for just three months. Hodas described Harris as uncontrollable. Then, just days later, Harris announced a decision to retract $100,000 of the money she’s personally donated to her Senate campaign. The reason? She needs to refurbish her house in Washington, DC. [link]
Quote of the Day
“Yo, Blair!” – President Bush’s greeting to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as captured on an open microphone.
Morning Snark
- Is Bush’s greeting to Blair a sign that he’s been studying world diplomacy by watching “Rocky IV”?
Comment
- Heaven help us….this man is “leader of the free world”.
— Jeannine Jul 18, 11:38 # - Free world may be a misnomer when you examine the practices of our esteemed congressmen who seem to be charging fees in exchange for legislation.
— jen Jul 18, 11:43 # - It is very disturbing to think this man is the most powerful individual on earth.
— Jyl Barber Jul 18, 11:45 # - Have you guys heard that Bush groped German Chancellor Angela Merkel? It’s beyond humiliating to have this fuck represent us around the world.
— John Jul 18, 11:47 # - I wanted to say that although “Yo, Blair” is inappropriately informal, I believe that it’s not even worth mentioning. Of course, Bush lacks dignity, but that’s not the reason our country and the rest of the world are facing serious consequences (as a result of our president’s actions). It is the arrogance behind this greeting that is so scary. It colors every terrible, dangerous decision he makes.
— robin Jul 18, 12:29 # - I just can’t get hot and bothered about this. It was an informal moment, suposedly off the record, and may have been a perfectly acceptable tone of familiarity between them. Only they know that. With all the real reasons to hate Dubya’s policies and actions, nothing is gained by focusing on this. It’s trivial.
Groping Merkel is more than trivial, but I really doubt it happened.
— Reep Daggle Jul 18, 13:44 # - I beg to differ with you about the importance of Bush’s language no matter where he is. He is the leader of our country and street language should be beneath him. Also, he claims to represent Christianity-
didn’t I hear time and again that God speaks through him? When he took this country to war, he sent each of our fighting men and women booklets instructing them to pray for HIM daily, even what to pray for each and every day in the week; and they were to fold a page just so and mail it back to him so he would know for sure that they were praying for him! Has everybody forgotten the beginning of the war-well, it has been a long time. Of course, it’s been a long time since Bush declared victory too, hasn’t it?
— Mildred Burgess Jul 18, 16:05 # - John I agree that Bush has a lot more faults than his lack of dignity, but he is a true embarrasment when he says the assinine things he does. He is so bad I turn my head when he has one of his stupid Press Conferances. That kind of persoma can not help us with the other leaders of the word. I imagine they think they can put anything over on us. Maybe they are right.
— Rosalie Stern Jul 19, 08:53 #
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