CALLING DENGRE!!!!!

In an interview today on MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell-Greenspan, gets Carly Fiorina to try to name "one single legislative accomplishment" on energy in his 26 years in DC by John McCain.

Video below the fold.

So lets see John McCain cleaned up his party of Corruption. Well lets look at his record.

http://www.washingtonspectator.com/...

Yet McCain limited the scope of his investigation to lobbyists who had given money, gifts and trips to members of Congress. His did not allow the committee to investigate any member of Congress. He busted the pimps and johns but granted immunity to the prostitutes who provided services in exchange for money and favors.

Senator McCain seemed to impose other limits that are hard to explain. He somehow failed to call several major players in the Indian gaming scandal to testify before his committee and never fully explained why.

Eric Cantor wasn't one of the prominent names in the MSM's McCain veep sweepstakes. The pundits focused on people like Mitt Romney, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal--you know, the usual suspects.

But tonight we read that McCain is vetting Virginia congressman Eric Cantor. Cantor's been mentioned before, parenthetically, but now they're getting serious. Which raises two questions: 1) Why now? 2) Who the hell is Eric Cantor, anyway?

(cont'd)

John McCain is a Corruptionist. He is a politician who has protected and upheld corrupt practices throughout his political career. The recent trust of his lobbyist laden and Rovian directed campaign is just the latest example from a career that has always been more hype than action, more spin than substance.

John McCain is an empty old man chosen to lead the parade in this cycle when years of lies, corruption and divisive politics are finally catching up with the Republican Party and the conservative movement. McCain got the nod because he has always been trusted to create the illusion of action, while actually doing nothing. When examined, his legislative "accomplishments" are thin and shallow—like McCain himself.

McCain and his fellow corruptionists have one path to victory. They must run the dirtiest campaign in American history. It is ugly and it will get worse. Get ready, because McCain is surrounded by the architects of the Conservative Wrecking Crew destroying our Nation and he is one of them.

To the jump...

For almost a decade I have been tracking Jack Abramoff and the Culture of Corruption and since I became uid 9214, I’ve written about that work here on Daily Kos.

Recently, I came across a major link between Jack Abramoff and the modern Conservative movement that I had over looked.

I have known for a very long time that Jack Abramoff functioned as a Bag-man for the VRWC. I knew his roots went deep—back to the late 1970s, and that much of his work has always been crafted and executed in the shadows. I knew he played a part in the Iran-Contra Affair (working in the basement of the WH with Ollie North) and that he was a lobbyist for the Apartheid era South African Secret Police. I knew he was a dedicated movement conservative who wanted to establish One-Party Rule in the USA. I knew that he almost succeeded.

Hiding in plain sight was that fact that—for the last three decades—Jack Abramoff was also involve in a Domestic Spying program privately run and financed by his fellow co-conspirators on the Right.

Interesting!

And then I found out that puppets were involved.

To the jump...

Somebody has to say it, so I will:

John McCain is a grifter and a scoundrel.

He has built a career on a carefully crafted myth breathlessly repeated by his base of sycophants in the press. You know the hype: McCain the Maverick, McCain the Reformer, McCain the Straight Talker, McCain the ______ (insert worshipful drivel here).

Keep in mind that the same folks who sold George W. Bush and his failed policies to America are now working the streets to sell the myth of McCain—"the last honest man in politics".

Those willing to look behind the curtain will find a John McCain that has always surrounded himself with the most corrupt players on the political stage and kept himself one step ahead of exposure. His Abramoff investigation cover-up is a case in point (for details see this Diary).

Another one is the growing scandal swirling around his chief foreign policy advisor, Randy Scheunemann.

Randy shapes McCain’s foreign policy and—surprise—that policy helps Randy’s former and future clients. Ca-ching!

This, you need to know about.

To the jump...

Ralph Hall, TX-04 Congressman, believes among other things that the Energizer Bunny is real, you can change political parties at any point in life, Jack Abramoff never influenced him and that the Cold War was still going on in 1996. Well we don't know about the Energizer Bunny part, but the other things are part of his repertoire of denial.

Luckily, Hall has a challenger, .Glenn Melancon that has a good grasp on the issues. We know that this is a long shot of long shots, but Ralph Hall is plenty vulnerable. Melancon and Hall faced off in 2006, but the climate is ripe for change this year.

This Essay is #2 of 3 written by George about his opponent, Doc Hastings.  For more about George and his campaign for Congress, visit his site here.  If you live in the 4th Congressional District, don't forget to vote for George in the August 19th Primary!

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In 1996, Jack Abramoff, then a member of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, targeted my Congressman, Doc Hastings, for lobbying, while Hastings served on the House Natural Resources Committee. [1] Abramoff, and his team of lobbyists, then represented the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, a South Pacific territory of the United States. [2] Abramoff’s firm received millions for its lobbying efforts on behalf of the Commonwealth. [3]

What's the latest?  I haven't been able to get the latest scoop in months.  Thought this had the potential to rerail McCain.

The changing of the guard in Colorado has come in a fast and furious fashion - I'd love to hear from others in the comment section that have seen the Democrats flip the state legislature, a Senate seat and the Governor's mansion since that craptastic day in November 2004.  It's been a nearly complete rout of the Republicans.  But we still have one left.

As far as I'm concerned, Wayne Allard has been a black eye for Colorado since his ascension to the United States Senate in 1996.

But this Time article from 2006 sure didn't help.

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein rose to prominence in the journalistic community during the early 1970's.  Originally investigating a common burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, they ultimately uncovered a political scandal that brought down a President.

Today, we have our own Woodward and Bernstein and their names are; Larisa Alexandrovna and Muriel Kane.  

Yes, there is a difference between these two journalistic teams; Woodward and Bernstein's work was published and became front page material.

Follow me after the flip for a look at the work of an investigative team that uncovers a scandal larger than Watergate...

So, the news breaks that Phil Gramm is "resigning" as John McCain’s economic advisor. And like all members of his Corruptionist Party he whines as he leaves the spotlight for the shadows.

In truth, he isn’t going anywhere. It is a play for the rubes in the cheep seats and the well-trained media sycophants who make up McCain’s "base". McCain can no more quit Gramm than he can quit Bush or quit his very long record of enabling and protecting corruption in politics. Despite a well crafted myth to the contrary, Curveball McCain is running to continue the policies of Gramm, Bush, Gingrich, DeLay, Norquist, Abramoff, Black and the long, long list of Republican grifters who have built their identity, careers and livelihood on the destruction of our Constitution and our Government.

Together, they are The Wrecking Crew and they must be stopped.

To the jump...

This is breaking political news and the details will be forthcoming later today. Once again, McCain's association with Abramoff, whether direct or through channels is brought to the fore. This time, one of his top bundlers has an Abramoff association..it's actually a very close association.

I believe that it is now time for McCain's involvement in the Keating 5 scandal to be brought out of the closet and explored again for all to see and scrutinize.

Have you ever wondered about the seemingly endless scandals that have become an everyday attribute of Conservative rule?  Have you ever been appalled by the incompetence smothered with a thick coating of self righteous greed?

Have you ever thought that these endless scandals can’t be an accident, or random coincidence?  

Well, wonder no more. It is by design.

In August, Thomas Frank will have a new book out.

It is called "The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule" and it helps to explain why there is so much failure and corruption when Republicans are in charge—it is part of their plan.

The August issue of Harper’s Magazine has an essay adapted from the book. This is perfect reading material on the way to or from Netroots Nations or whenever you can get your hands on a copy.

To the jump...

Thirty years ago I was one of thousands who had joined the Longest Walk.

This morning, another group of walkers reached the White House as they finished the Longest Walk 2.

I wrote about both walks in a Dairy the other night:
30 years ago, I walked to DC and changed my life...

This morning I joined the walk for the last few blocks on the way to the White House and the circle that gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue. I thought I would share a few photos of the event:

To the jump...

Thirty years ago I was walking across Pennsylvania and Maryland. I was on my way to Washington DC and I was not alone.

I was one of thousands who had joined the Longest Walk.

This was a spiritual walk of protest—a call to action to oppose Legislation in Congress that would strip the indigenous peoples of America of their rights, land and Tribal Sovereignty. The Walk was led by Native Americans, but representatives of all races and many Nations joined in solidarity to fight this attack on justice, dignity and human rights.

In 1978 I had no idea that joining the Longest Walk would change the arc of my life, but it did.

Tonight, another group of walkers are on their way to DC and the Longest Walk 2 should reach the White House Friday morning. I plan to be there.

I want to honor the path that the Longest Walk set me on. I want to honor all of those who have chosen to set themselves on a path of change, a path of action and the fight for justice as we work to take this Country back.

To the jump...

Yesterday there was lots of discussion about McCain's habitual high-stakes craps playing.  That was prompted by the observation McCain is so scrupulous he reports 14 bucks in interest as a line item on his 1040, yet he has NEVER reported any winnings or offsetting losses, even though we know he has been an habitual high-stakes gambler for many years.
 
Most of that conversation concentrated on tax implications, questions of judgment, or moral lapses.  We barely touched on the potential corruption angle.  

I want to focus on the corruption angle now because I found something interesting in the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act Database.

Remember those marathon gambling sessions in 2005?  We know he was often in the company of Wes Gullett, a former staffer and now a lobbyist.  If you check the client list on the web site for Gullett's firm you find  nothing strange there -- now.  However, look at their former clients and things get more interesting...

Talking Points Mirror Public Opinion Research Paid for through
Indian Tribe Contributions arranged by Jack Abramoff

During her Senate career, Kay Bailey Hutchinson has been little more than paid shill to the oil and gas industry, and last weekend’s performance was no different. She appeared on Fox News to blame Democrats for high gas prices and call for the expansion of oil drilling. I would not have expected anything else from Hutchinson, But in the interest of being "Fair and Balanced," Fox news anchor Chris Wallace might have pointed out to his viewers that during the 2006 election cycle Hutchinson was the leading recipient of Oil and Gas Industry largess, pulling in $323,186, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.   During her career in the Senate, she has received more than $2 million in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry, making her the top congressional recipient since 1990.

No one should be surprised by what Hutchinson said, but it is worth noting that her talking points sound a lot like the work of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA), the now defunct Republican green-scam group connected to Jack Abramoff and ill-gotten Indian tribe donations.