To Abramoff, African Client was “Monkey Coloney”
Jack Abramoff was a devout and observant Jew, we’re told. But his religiosity slipped at times — especially when talking about the clients he considered his marks.
For instance, the tiny African nation of Gabon — whom Abramoff tried to swindle for $9 million in exchange for setting up a meeting with President Bush — he referred to as “a monkey coloney [sic].”
We already knew his pet name for some Native American tribes (“troglodytes”), although apparently his nefarious sidekick, Michael Scanlon, didn’t know what the word meant. âWhat am I, a dictionary? 🙂 Itâs a lower form of existence, basically,â Abramoff e-mailed Scanlon. Just to be clear, Jack added that the indians were “morons.” (Roll Call)
Ney: Please Take My Kodachrome Away
The pictures don’t lie, which is a shame for Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), who’s been accused of embroidering the truth himself. Now, the Cleveland Plain Dealer publishes more evidence that Ney met with the Indian tribes he denies ever knowing: a photograph of Ney (freshly sunburned from his illegal golfing trip to Scotland, natch), smiling and posing with two Native American pals from the Tigua — the Tribe that Ney Forgot. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Hard Luck: Limbaugh Held on Viagra Charges
Rush Limbaugh was detained for about 3 1/2 hours at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities said they found a bottle of Viagra in his possession without a prescription….”We believe there may be a second degree misdemeanor violation, which is possession of certain drugs without a prescription, because the bottle does not have his name on it,” [spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Paul Miller] said. A doctor had prescribed the drug, but it was “labeled as being issued to the physician rather than Mr. Limbaugh for privacy purposes,” Roy Black, Limbaugh’s attorney, said in a statement.” (AP)
Gov’t Wastes $2 Billion on Katrina Response
“Among the many superlatives associated with Hurricane Katrina can now be added this one: it produced one of the most extraordinary displays of scams, schemes and stupefying bureaucratic bungles in modern history, costing taxpayers up to $2 billion.” (NYTimes)
Waxman: The FDA, Failing to Do Anything
Warning letters to drug firms are off by half; seizures of mislabeled or dangerous products down by nearly as much. Even seizures of medical devices like defibrillators and pacemakers was sharply down. FDA chief explains they’re only looking at “most serious violations.” (NYTimes)
Analysis Finds E-Voting Machines Vulnerable
“Most of the electronic voting machines widely adopted since the disputed 2000 presidential election “pose a real danger to the integrity of national, state and local elections,” a report out Tuesday concludes. There are more than 120 security threats to the three most commonly purchased electronic voting systems, the study by the Brennan Center for Justice says. For what it calls the most comprehensive review of its kind, the New York City-based non-partisan think tank convened a task force of election officials, computer scientists and security experts to study e-voting vulnerabilities.” (USA Today)
Minor Deletion Kneecaps Earmark Reform Bid
“[T]he removal of two words from the House-passed billâs definition of earmarks has some conservative Republicans asking why the change was made and worrying it will open up a new loophole for pork projects.” (Roll Call)
Bad News for TX GOP: Judge Says DeLay “Withdrew” From House Race
“A federal judge hearing a ballot dispute Monday involving former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay said he thinks that DeLay withdrew from the November election, indicating potential trouble for Republicans who want to name a replacement candidate.” Democrats are trying to force DeLay — who resigned from Congress and vowed not to run again — to stay on the ballot, all but ensuring their party would win his old seat in November. (Houston Chronicle)
DeLay Testifies He Lives, Votes in Va. in Texas Residency Case
“DeLay testified in federal court that he has registered to vote in Virginia and that he cast a ballot in that state’s recent primary. He said he has a Virginia driver’s license, has state tax withheld in Virginia and lives in a condominium in Alexandria, Va. Lawyers for the state Democratic Party pointed out that DeLay and his wife still have a home in Sugar Land near Houston. DeLay acknowledged that he spent the weekend there but testified that his wife is devoted to helping abused and neglected children and that she is continuing that work in the Houston area.”
Clients of Lobbying Firm Under Investigation Contributed $6 Million to Lewis and Appropriations Committee
“Clients of a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm under federal investigation have contributed at least $6.2 million to the campaigns and political action committees of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis and other committee members…. Lewis, a California Republican, has close ties to the firm of Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White. Former aides work there, and firm partner Bill Lowery, a former congressman, served on the appropriations committee with Lewis and remains a close friend. Since 1997, Lewis has received more than $917,000 from Copeland Lowery lobbyists and their for-profit clients, or approximately 15% of contributions the Center identified. Lewisâs haul is 11 times larger than that of the appropriations committeeâs ranking Democrat, Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, who has taken in about $83,000.” (CRP)
Making the Back-Room Case for War with Iran
WarandPiece’s Laura Rozen reports on the secret effort by a couple of Pentagon flunkies, a neocon wonk and a congenital liar of an arms dealer to cook intel in support of a U.S. invasion of Iran. (Mother Jones)
Lawyers for Apprehended Miami “Terrorists” Claim Entrapment
As expected, lawyers for some of the seven men charged with terrorism in Miami say the FBI entrapped their clients, inventing the case against them. (Reuters)
Bush, Cheney Assail Media over Bank-Data Program
“President George W. Bush on Monday denounced as “disgraceful” the revelation by the media of a secret U.S. program that tracks international financial records in pursuit of terrorists.” (Reuters)
Court to Hear Arguments in Boehner v. McDermott Taped Call Case
“A federal appeals court has agreed to hear new arguments in a case involving an illegally taped telephone call leaked to reporters by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash. In an announcement late Monday, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said all nine judges will hear McDermott’s appeal of the taped call case, which dates back nearly a decade. Arguments will be heard in September, the court said.”
