If you haven't seen this, it's a pretty good list put together by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. They list the scandels as well as a good profile on each polititian. I love the map in corner showing where each one is from. Fun stuff.

Interesting you will not see Foley on the list, as sex scandels are not given as much importance as fiscal responsibility.

R_Flagg

http://www.beyonddelay.org

The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress

Dishonorable Mentions

Jordan, do you want to comment on "CREW?"

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I'm confused? CREW?

A little later... 

Don't know much about CREW....scanned through the WHO WE ARE though.

Jordan .

Kelly

How Do You Live Your Dash?

Check out the Kids' blogs:
The CaleBlog and the Zoe Blog

Okay, I'll take it from here. This list has about as much validity as asking Borat to name the 10 most important Kazakhstanis. (Borat = #4) Now you should know by reading my Foley comments, I do not subscribe to that scandal being a plot against Republicans in Congress. But when billionaire George Soros -- self-declared arch-nemesis of Bush -- funds the group (CREW) who lists the 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress, well, myself, I'm just not inclined to pay the list much mind. There is nothing I dislike more than transparent partisanship posing as neutral mild-mannered public interest groups just giving you the facts, ma'am.

If I saw a similar list but with all Democrats with only TWO Republicans (one recently nabbed with $90,000 dollars in his freezer), I'd have the same hesitant reaction. I'd want to know WHO was behind generating the 'expose.'

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

ah thanks for the info Susan. I saw the list and figured it wasn't a non-partisan group LOL

Speaking of corrupt members of Congress - this in today:

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061011/D8KMO6NG0.html

Jordan .

Yes, CREW is part of the vast left wing conspiracy to disgrace the republicans. (Like their help is needed) jeez, an actually interesting list brings out the conservative defense in quick! We all know "accroding to GOP research" is non-biased and reliable!

Anyway......anyone in NM following the Patricia Madrid/Heather Wilson race? Put these two in a cage and watch them scratch each others eyes out.

R_Flagg

R_Flagg, you disappoint me with this comment. Oh well, maybe it was a joke and I don't have a good sense of humor. If not, I fail to understand the relevance of this kind of LEAP -- Vast Left Wing Conspiracy to Disgrace Republicans.  I mean seriously, I said nothing of the kind and this sort of overstatement hampers communication.

Once again, all I'm saying is when you post THE 20 MOST CORRUPT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS as a thread one month before a highly contentious election; two terms into a highly contentious presidency; would you NOT expect a little scrutiny of the source of that list? Come on. 

Honestly speaking, R_Flagg, did you think this list was beyond reproach and factual?  Did you not think there might have been some partisan biases reflected in the list? That's all I'm saying. I don't like tit for tat games so I'm not going to seek out the companion piece to this list from some GOP site and really, I defy you to find when I have done that in the past either as it's something I make a conscious effort to avoid.

Quick story.  Back when the Iraq War began, I ordered a set of cards from a website called News Max.  I found the cards from a link from a link from a link and knew nothing about the site.  For as many years since that purchase, I end up with probably 4 or 5 emails a day with right wing propaganda headlines.  You know what I do with it?  Spam folder-delete.

Same thing with the TV talking heads.  I see a duo being 'interviewed' about whatever subject.  One is a right wing radio host and the other is a left-wing radio host.  I turn it off.  Democrat versus Republican 'strategists = same thing.  I do not want to hear the predictable party lines and find it a complete waste of time. 

Hmph. Well, I never. But I hope I've made myself clear. If I weren't a cold-blooded reptile of a conservative Republican I might even have hurt feelings over this.  As if, huh?  If my grandmother had balls...

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Come on Susan, last time I checked we were brother and sister in the National Sarcasm Society. You sure have changed and gotten all sensitive on me (I don't care)

No, really I'm just looking out for the fiscal conservative viewpoint (if any are left) out there which seems to get lost in the partisan politics these days. That is honestly the only reason I posted the list, I had no other motives other than to bring up that the current leadership has no fiscal responsibility to their constituents. You don't see me jumping on the Foley bandwagon do you? I just don't have anymore faith left in GOP leadership to handle the basics. Call me crazy liberal!!!!!! (I only voted democrat one time in my life)

I want you to know you are my favorite cold blooded reptile cobra conservative and I wouldn't have it any other way!

R_Flagg

Sniff. Well, okay then. You're right, R_Flagg, I shouldn't get all namby-pamby like some wild-eyed librul. I can take it! It's just sometimes the ex-Sadinista in my soul gets a little touchy.

Besides, I did agree with my hometown gal, Maxine Waters, inclusion. Whadda wench!

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Yeah, becuase we should pay attention to a list a left-wing funded group puts together. Since they aren't partisan and all.

We all know that the current GOP leadership has screwed up fiscally. BUT we also know that a Democratic leadership would result in teh same problems -- but higher taxes.  

Jordan .

Hey Jordan,

First, I don't think everyone has to pay attention to anything and I didn't know it was a left wing funded group. I only thought the information contained was well written, interesting, and brought something new and a little more realistic to light. I could care less about the Foley scandal which is really a ridiculous thing to bring the GOP down on if it does.

Also, I still maintain my republican registration although I find myself voting on the side of Libertarians since the GOP leadership has really let me down. (I maintain my registration simply to vote in the primaries to hopefully elect better canidates) I only wanted to dicuss the current problems that this country faces with out of control spending and corrupt leadership. Not all, but many issues that I think are serious really seem to get swept under the rug these days as the war in Iraq, Foley, stealing elections, 9/11 conspiracies, or whatever are the dominant issues.

We ALL don't really know that that democratic leadership would have screwed up so bad fiscally because they have very little power and that scenario isn't a reality. I don't personally think the democrats would have done much better, but I expected FAR MORE from the republicans that hold the majority of power and run on the core belief of fiscal conservative spending like they did in the nineties!! (I want Newt back!!)

I think just about everything you or anybody posts on this board is biased towards their own partisan beliefs but I still find the information enlightening.

R_Flagg

"I don't personally think the democrats would have done much better, but I expected FAR MORE from the republicans that hold the majority of power and run on the core belief of fiscal conservative spending like they did in the nineties!! (I want Newt back!!)"

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THE GOP IS IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW FOR NOVEMBER.

I agree with you. Completely and totally agree. I expected FAR MORE from the GOP too with having the majority. They lost their way, and the fiscal conservative base of the GOP has been screaming about it for the past few years. The GOP can only blame themselves for low GOP voter turnout this year. And if they lose Congress, then they only have themselves to blame. Partly Bush. Not Iraq. GOP may lose Congress this year, not because of disillusionment with the war, but unhappy GOP voters who are fed up with the GOP leadership. there's not enough indepdenent voters anymore to swing the election (and most independents only vote every 4 years). This election is about base turnout, and the GOP is having a hard time because they've ticked off so many GOP voters.

I look at teh glass half full. I have to have a silver lining. I do believe the Democratic party would've prolonged the recession, and do think their ultimate response to terrorism woudl've been half-hearted after Afghanistan. They would've ballooned the govt more than the GOP did. And now I think about what a Democratic run Congress will look like for teh next two years. It's going to be painful. Gridlock (which is usually a good thing IMO), but millions of dollars wasted on endless committees investigating everything from 9/11 mishaps to Iraq to who "dookied in the urinal." If the Dems want to keep their power after November, they need to lead, not be Monday quarterbacking.

Oh, I do miss Newt. He's really beginning to speak up too which is great.  When polls are taken and they don't attach names to the describptions, Newt is always up top.

Jordan .