Here and There

All the political blogs are citing this article in today’s Washington Post. I don’t usually like to chime in on such well-covered news bits, but I read the article this morning over two cups of coffee (it’s long — I clock it at 3,122 words), and, well…wow.

Aside from being really good journalism, this story is an eye-opener. It details the intricate money trail leading from and surrounding Jack Abramoff and Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), catching Indian casinos, dead British lawyers, Russian oil executives, and even DeLay’s wife in its net.

A related story comes out of the Associated Press today, and is being reported in papers and on websites all over the place.

It reveals that Abramoff could be ready to offer a plea next week, exposing, according to the story, up to 20 members of Congress and their staff.

To be non-partisan for a moment, I welcome this revelation. I think exposing corrupt public officials would be a great way to ring in the new year.

What really blew me away in the Post story was the deception involved in individuals and so-called non-profits. While claiming to be working for such lofty goals as “moral fitness,” the U.S. Family Network was apparently being used to funnel money from wealthy foreign energy executives back to one of the most powerful members of the U.S. Congress.

True, none of us is above temptation, but DeLay (the main public official in the story) is sworn to act on behalf of his constituents. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone from Sugar Land, Texas (the district DeLay represents), but I doubt seriously they’re as full of shit and as evil as their Congressman. Good riddance, “Hammer.”

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