Here, let me get this out of the way for the kooks:

Well this is thewaye the kerrupt adminnastrashun runz itz biznes. Their all kriminils--they shud be lokked up.

I typed it just like axis, teenage, and Barney, so none of them would be confused. Have a nice day. War

Im a dyed in the wool republican, and LOVE President Bush.

BUT
the self destructing republican party led by Mc Lame and the rest of the RINOS has totally made me lose all interest in politics.

Im sick of the lack of border protection.
Im sick of the amnesty/ give away to ILLEGALS.
Im sick of us taking all the heat for katrina.
Im sick of not fixing social security
Im sick of unanswered accusations about Iraq.
Im sick on being smashed unceasingly by the rats for ANYTHING and NO rebutals.
Im sick of the RHINOS actually taking sides with the dims, only to be smashed by them in return.
Im sick to see the ONCE proud republican party paralized in the glare of the dimocratic spin machine.
I dont even know if ill vote this time, But I do know NO MONEY !!

Is it the position of the Congress that those buildings on Capital Hill form a sanctuary from the law? They could keep evidence there like; papers, money, hell even dead bodies and be immune from search?

What's disturbing to me is that it's coming from both sides of the aisle. I saw reports that said they were threatening the Justice Departments funding to make them give back the papers! I think that the President should have handed it over the the Supreme Court. Let's define these rules for all to see.

I notice that the Democrats don't have rules to remove corrupt leaders from positions of authority like Republicans do. I wonder if they'll force Jefferson off his leadership positions if and when he's indicted. I have to wonder - because they don't have the same rules as the GOP.

I'm all for term limits. If it's good enough for the President, it should be good for Senators and House members.

Not only do they get old and aristocracy-like, incumbency has an unfair advantage. They stay in office by doling out OUR MONEY. Most is given out to keep themselves in power; not for the public good. Few are unseated.

What a gig.

Actually I think mayhap be that Ah type this way cuz of the rednek spell checkr.

Wow! You really don't have a clue, do you??? When a Republican gets charged, indicted, or accused of wrongdoing, you act like it's an MSM conspiracy...but if a Democrat is corrupt, they are all corrupt. Then you cut on people for being in Congress too long. Hey, news flash, they are all elected. It's obvious their consitituents like what they are doing in Congress or they wouldn't vote for them. I got a quarter for you so you can go buy a better brain.

It's obvious there is corruption on both sides of the aisle. You guys are the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black. Enjoy your majority status while you can, guys, because thankfully the majority of the country isn't as blind to the truth as you are.

Well, one thing's for sure: the Congress won't pass any Constitutional Amendment for term limits, much less on a two-thirds majority. That leaves the other method, where two-thirds of the state legislatures (34 states) call for Congress to convene a Constitutional Convention to discuss the matter.
Half the laws we live under wouldn't have been passed if the Representatives and Senators would have actually had to live under them!

Up until recently I've never been much of a fan of term limits. My thinking was that it would ensure our government would be run by a bunch of amateurs. Then again amateurs are better than seasoned crooks. This is getting ridiculous. I'm not inclined to vote for any incumbents in the foreseeable future.

Actually, I am becoming a huge fan of term limits. Not only would it cut down on the influence of special interests, elected officials might be able to concentrate on what they were sent to Washington to do- legislate. As it is now, politicians use their office and proximity to power to fundraise. This gives them an inherent advantage over opposition candidates, as does the fact that gerrymandering has resulted in custom-carved districts, which almost guarantee the party holding the seat will retain it, regardless of performance in office. About 90% of incumbents stay in office, regardless of performance.

Lets face it there's widespread corruption in
BOTH parties, and it often continues after they leave office and become industry lobbyists. I'm sick of congressmen sending former employees to work for prominent lobbyists, then acting like innocent lambs brought to slaughter when the arrangement starts to smell.

I'm a Democrat, but any politician that brazenly takes bribes like Jefferson did should join Randy Cunningham in the slammer asap. If the FBI needs to search congressional offices to get him and others like him out, so be it. Partisanship should have no place in this discussion.

BTW, its nice that Rep Hastert finally remembered that the Constitution has a separation of powers clause in it!

As S.B. 2611 clearly shows, the rule of law means nothing to many people in Congress. Felonious acts on the part of illegal trespassers, such as fraudulently claiming someone else's Identity and/or Social Security number are glossed over as if the act was inconsequential. Hiring illegal trespassers and paying them "under the table" to avoid legal obligations such as Federal and State Income Taxes, Unemployment Insurance, Workman's Compensation, and other benefits is simply looked at by the Senate at least, as a cost of doing business and not worthy of legal penalties.

A Congressional Representative slapping/punching a Capitol Policeman doing their job to secure the premises is allowed to go unchallenged. Driving intoxicated into a police barrier and staggering out of the car is poo-poo'ed as the "victim" of a drug addiction is allowed to go on his merry way. Driving a car off a bridge, leaving the scene of the accident, and allowing someone to drown without notifying the authorities until several hours later is no big deal to some politicians. And being caught on audio and videotape accepting bribes while in their official capacity as a Congressman seems to ruffle no one's feathers.

But God forbid someone actually exercise their oath of office and go after any of these people! The hue and cry becomes enormous.

Term limits? No! As citizens, we get a chance to let our voices be known every two years for Congressmen and every six years for Senators. It is OUR fault that they stay in power and are allowed to grow increasingly isolated from the public that they claim to represent. The two parties have locked up any viable alternatives by gerrymandering and instituting eligibility requirements that are difficult, if not impossible, to meet.

It's time that voters take down these vapid, blowhard, arrogant bastards and vote them out of office by voting for any third party option out there. If the citizens of this country spent as much time and took as much interest in watching and responding to Congress as they do in watching and participating in American Idol, things would turn around really quickly. Instead, the public seems intent on gorging themselves on the boob tube and ignoring where this country is headed. The public is kept obese and doped up (or doped down in the case of our educational system), so when people are "fat and happy," there's little motivation to make things better...

Term limits won't change the fundamentals. It would be just another law that would be ignored by those who make them.

Screw the Republicrats! Screw the Demublicans! Screw term limits! Get off your fat ass and vote them out on every occasion you're given to do so. If you don't vote, don't bitch. Go back to watching American Idol, and leave the heavy lifting to the Americans who care about this country more than which moron makes it through this week's airing of AI...

Laws need to be followed and wrongdoing needs to be punished regardless of political party. However, what would have been the result had another branch of our three coequal branches preformed a similar raid? What if congress sent their police force into the White House? There were legal attempts being made to get the seized documents but the fact that these legal channels take time to pursue is no reason to violate the law to obtain them.

Ron,

Well, when Cunningham got caught, there were no GOP defenders of him...what you are mistaking is things like the bogus indictment of DeLay for a real corruption case...

Yah Ron, leave it to you to turn a story on a corrupt Democrat into an attack on Republicans. Oh wait... didn't keefer nail that with the very first post?

You guys are pathetic. Talk about a culture of corruption? When Republicans are indicted, REPUBLICAN rules demand their removal from leadership positions. Not so the Democrats. Republicans seem to have a better handle on at least that aspect - can't you even agree to that? Without attacking us?

or is the hatred too deep and blinding for that now?

Hey, The Big Weenie's back! Not a welcome, just an observation.

I couldn't figure out what got Ron's knickers in a knot---there was a comment on the Dems trying to deflect attention away from the fact of one of their own being caught actually doing something very wrong (as opposed to being the target of a thinly disguised smear campaign) but as that is totally obvious, it's hard to see what got him all wound up.

The point about Cunningham is crucial--when he got caught, he was soundly denounced by the Republicans, who called for his resignation and a trial. There was no effort to cover up what he had been doing, or keep evidence hidden.

I knew when the Dems started using the "Culture of Corruption" thing it would come back to bite them in their collective butts. Every party, everywhere, is going to have a few bad apples, but the Dems have been basing their politics on ritualistic corruption for decades now, and it was awfully bold/stupid of them to call attention to corruption in politics---particularly when they started attacking Republicans for acts they had been committing themselves, openly, for just as long.

From Mayor Daley to the abundance of Byrd buildings to the total mess that is Louisiana/New Orleans, the effects of institutionalized Democratic corruption are blatant. I'd almost have more respect for them if they'd just say "Yeah, we're crooked---get over it" than this mealy-mouthed pious whining about the occassional conservative with his hand in the cookie jar, as if they are so deeply shocked they can't stand it.

One problem with career politicians is that they get farther and farther away from the realities of life. Look at Teddy--he went from callow college boy to callow Senator without a blink or a hiccup (well, with lots of hiccups, but....) He has never had a real job, never had to meet a payroll, never had to budget anything with real dollars, never had to show up on time or have any real responsibility. He's been spoiled-rotten royalty his entire life, as the Baby Kennedy and then in the Senate.

Worse, the Dems scorn those who have actually worked for a living. The last two Republican national tickets featured two men who had actually worked for a living, and had scorn heaped upon them---one was too successful, one not successful enough. Their choice of national leader was one who had dabbled, briefly, in real life via a few months in the Navy, but who had been groomed his whole life to be a career politician.

I don't know if mandated term limits are the answer---if they are, it has to be across the board, not a state-by-state thing. Maybe 18 years in the Senate is enough to learn the ropes, and then do a good job, before being sent back home to find a real job.

I do agree that the hiring of former legislators for lobbying positions creates a big ethical problem.

I've always been for term limits. While it'd be nice if the voters actually took responsibility for those they elected it's not going to happen. Too many folks don't give a darn about politics so if there's not a mechanic in place to keep career folks out nothing is going to change.

Heck, even if the term limit is 5 terms that still gives senators 30 YEARS in office! I wish I had that kind of job security!

First, Hastert is not a Democrat. I thought that was just a little obvious, but somehow you've spun this into a Democrat deflection.

Second, there is a CAPITOL POLICE who does have jurisdiction here. WHERE ARE THEY? Anyone have any insight into why Gonzales has stepped into the Capitol Police's jurisdiction? This is the body who is supposed to investigate criminal activities within the legislative branch, maintaining the separations of power.

Does anybody follow the constitution anymore>

The system has been corrupted by capitalism. Capitalism did not exist until well after the USA was founded and few firewalls were put into place to prevent it from distorting the political process. The system can eat itself alive if it wants to by withholding money from this branch or department or that agency. You can term limit anybody after two years, four years or 6 years, by voting them out of office. That is if "money" doesn't make a politician permanent by using gerrymandering. Peace

congressive--The Capitol Police don't conduct investigations for bribery. Also, they tend to treat our elected officials as pampered VIP's, and seldom hold them to the same standards of conduct that affect the rest of us.

No wonder these "public servants" believe they are above the law. Corruption and bribery should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for abusing the public trust. Unfortunately, these types of investigations drag on interminably, and are often used as partisan IED's. It makes me nauseous. We should be able to come together as AMERICANS and throw these bums out!

Congressive - that is a misreprentation of the law. The FBI investigates these crimes. Don't forget, many of these crimes take place OFF the hill. The FBI has jusidiction everywhere in the United Staes for federal crimes.

Where in the Constitution do you read anything about the Capital Police, the FBI, or understand that a congressman could be immune from search on Capital Hill? Did you notice by the way that one of Jeffersons aids was convicted this week?

Ignorance or mis-information?

First of all, a federal grand jury indictment is not the same as an FBI investigation. The Republicans stood up for Jefferson because they felt it was a violation of the Constitution in the matter of separation of powers, being that the FBI is part of the Executive branch.

Secondly, I'm not backing up Jefferson. He should get kicked out of office and the fact that a sting caught him red-handed is proof enough for me.

Third, if the DeLay indictment is so bogus, why don't you write a letter to the Houston department of justice and let them know. I'm sure they'll drop the case for you. I'm sure you have more facts than them and I'm sure you know DeLay well enough personally that he would never do anything wrong. Sticking up for him with the same amount of fact I have is just stupidity.

what you are mistaking is things like the bogus indictment of DeLay for a real corruption case...

-- Bogus indictment of Delay Mark? Is that why the GOP immediately after wanted to put new ethics rules into place that among other things would have criminalized things such as Delay's K Street project? - Because he was innocent and the K street project was on the up and up?

Even the GOP say the K street project for what it was and it embarassed them. Too bad you can't.

The complaint being made now is that for the FBI to raid a Congressional office is to violate the power and privileges of the Legislative Branch

Screw that... When was it a privelage to take a bribe? The man was busted on video and had 90k stuffed into his freezer.

He should be removed from office!

The Capitol Police website says their jusridiction runs "throughout the entire United States, its territories and possessions, and throughout the District of Columbia." so apparently they are not just Pensylvania Ave. Keystones.

The constitution is the framework mandating the separation of powers. The Capitol Police came into being in 1828 as a mechanism to maintain this separation, so of course the Capitol Police are not in the constitution, only the mandate they fulfill is there. They could be disbanded and replaced by the "LegisCops" or whatever, as long as it maintained separation.

Gonzales is the Executive. Separation is not maintained.

But, again, how does Hastert play into "Democrats are trying to deflect attention from just how corrupt they are"?

Frist says is all ok with the search.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/28/congress.raid.ap/index.html

Here in Nebraska, just This Year alone, 20 of 49 Senators cannot return because of term limits. Hopefully the next group won't saddle us with an additional $400-million in unfunded spending like these jerks just did. It was time for this "ruling class" to go!

The system has been corrupted by capitalism.

Your brain has been corrupted by tweaking. War

Question-would Gonzales and the FBI search the office of Bob Ney, Tom Delay or Conrad Burns? Or is the executive branch using the FBI for a partisan attack on Democrats to highlight THEIR corruption?

Congressive-forget the Captol Police-they are congressional toadies who treat elected officials with kid gloves. Bribery is a federal offense-thus is investigated by the FBI

The Capital Police is not the national police force tasked with keeping Congress honest any more than the Federal Marshals are the Courts private Police force.

Really - the ignorance here is too much. Capital Hill is NOT a sanctuary from arrest and search. Now, when a Congressman is actually in the House while in session - then maybe you have a claim. But his or her office? Nope.

Almiranta said: "The point about Cunningham is crucial--when he got caught, he was soundly denounced by the Republicans, who called for his resignation and a trial. There was no effort to cover up what he had been doing, or keep evidence hidden."

Well, to be fair, he wasn't denounced by Republicans until after he was indicted, and really then only once he copped a plea. And boy, the Cunningham story positively exploded onto the scene, and it happened only once a San Diego newspaper got wind of a curious real estate deal. Then boom, within a month the feds were on him like flies on poo. But apparently his smarmy enterprises had been going on for years -- at least 10. And it is becoming abundantly clear that there is much left to be uncovered.

Right from the start it was apparent that there were some huge numbers involved in the Cunningham "kerfuffle", which alone suggests that the problem went rather deep. He was just a House Rep, after all. And though he was well-positioned to help grease the wheels, he didn't exactly hold the purse strings. Since his plea we've heard much more about that whole caper -- Mitchell Wade, Brent Wilkes, Dusty Foggo, poker games and prostitution rings -- And we are likely to hear more still. Perhaps much more. At any rate, it's fairly obvious that it wasn't just a matter of "one bad apple".

Heaven knows where the Jefferson story will lead. But I understand the freakin' SEARCH WARRANT was 95 pages long! That kind of thing, like the numbers involved in the the Cunningham saga, sets off bells in my head. I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover that there's more here than meets the eye. Much more.

There's a saying that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link". Thus, when attempting to investigate allegations of bribes, graft and corruption, the investigation would necessarily target the weakest link. Cunningham folded like a house of cards. Apparently Jefferson is poised to do the same. I think it's reasonable to suggest that both Cunningham and Jefferson are about as dumb as rocks. Less dumb people are harder to catch. That doesn't mean smarter people are less guilty, it just means they are less likely to be blatant about it.

My understanding is that Jefferson's money came from some "Nigerian interests". Nigeria is a terribly corrupt regime. They are also sitting on a lot of fossile fuel resources which are of interest to several multinational energy corporations. What does THAT suggest to you? My understanding is that Cheney's new chief of staff, David Addington (he replaced Scooter) was among the White House's chief critics of the raid on Jefferson's office. This is getting to be Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland) stuff -- curiouser and curiouser.

Ricorun.

Wow, that is the best use of unsubstantiated innuendo I've ever read. It takes real courage to go so far out on a limb without any facts to back you up. Bravo! A corrupt Democrat means Cheney and his people are involved. Bravo! Again Keefer nailed it in the first post.

Actually, Kahn,Cheney did come out against the search, after Rep. Hastert expressed his outrage with that and other things Bush has done that have upset him .(he was apparently very upset that Porter Goss, a close friend of his was summarily dismissed by the administration) It was in the Washington Post last week, and on MSNBC

I always enjoy the Canadian commentary on military and foreign policy affairs. The irony is so delicious. When's the last time the Canadian military really did anything...60 years ago? When's the last time Canada had a foreign policy issue or opinion that anyone in the world gave a rip about? Clubing seals perhaps?

The Capital Police is not the national police force tasked with keeping Congress honest any more than the Federal Marshals are the Courts private Police force.

Really - the ignorance here is too much. Capital Hill is NOT a sanctuary from arrest and search. Now, when a Congressman is actually in the House while in session - then maybe you have a claim. But his or her office? Nope.

-- No its not. However if the separation of powers allows the executive branch to raid congress, then the opposite must also be allows and if congress wants something from the executive branch, then the capital police must also be able to storm in and take it from the white house.

It has to work both ways, otherwise you have a serious imbalance.

I always enjoy the Canadian commentary on military and foreign policy affairs. The irony is so delicious. When's the last time the Canadian military really did anything...60 years ago? When's the last time Canada had a foreign policy issue or opinion that anyone in the world gave a rip about? Clubing seals perhaps?

-- Typical conservative mentality. Just because we are not mass murderers and war mongers like you and instead send troops in as peace keepers you fault us.

A canadian can go nearly anywhere in the world without fear and be welcomed. Most of the world is ready to stone americans they see in their country. Thats says it all right there. I would rather be welcomed and appreciated then hated and have terrorist fly planes into our cities. Right now, those few people that hate canadians do so only because of our relationship with the US.

But its ok, its clearly up to a Democrat to fix the horrible mess you Republicans have left and to repair the relations with the allies. Republicans have turned america into a near isolationist state. Democrats will fix all your boo boos and put things right though.

Its pretty sad though when Democrats need to act like parents to their messy Republican children, wiping their bottoms when they mess their shorts and wiping their dirty little faces. Not to mention spanking your little bottoms when getting caught with your hands in the cookie jar. Maybe one day, you will learn from all your past mistakes as we do and actually be able to run a country responsibly, instead of running it into the ground.

Kahn said: "Wow, that is the best use of unsubstantiated innuendo I've ever read."

It does read that way, doesn't it? Actually, what I was trying to say is that I wouldn't be surprised if Demublicans are involved in the Cunningham saga, and I would be surprised if Republicrats are involved in the Jefferson saga. But as you pointed out, I don't know anything with surety.

Axis

That is because to LEAD you have to make tough decisions and sometimes use force. It's great that Canadians can go anywhere in the world.

When the crap hits the fan, though, the world isn't calling on Canada to save their asses. They call on us.

DEAL WITH IT!

baloney

nancy pelosi is calling for him to step down, while Denny Hastert is the one crying foul.

tell 'em kritter. See, the difference in Democrats and Republicans is that when a Democrat is indicted we ask him to step down. When a Republican is indicted, the RNC sends out their 'He didn't do it' talking points.

Axis...you're calling Americans "mass murderers". Pretty sad considering if it wasn't for us, you guys wouldn't even be around. We do more good for this world then any other country.

You're typically ungrateful leftist scum.

axis - I wish they taught our laws better in Canadian schools - eh?

TWO branches of government were involved here - eh?

The Executive Branch (FBI) asked for a search warrant from the Judicial Branch. THAT IS the balance of powers - eh? Two branches keeping the thirds power in check - eh?

And for your information, the Congress subpoenas stuff from the Executive branch all the damn time. Oops – sorry – eh?

Under the ridiculous rules that people have been inventing here to attack Republicans and defend a crooked Democrat you’d think a Congressman could kill someone with impunity on Capital Hill.

Kahn

You're just a hoser for not knowing the ways of the Great White North, eh?

Now crack me open a barley pop and borrow me some money because I need to kill these mosquitos...big as birds they are, eh?

That is because to LEAD you have to make tough decisions and sometimes use force. It's great that Canadians can go anywhere in the world.

-- Lead? Is that what you believe you are doing? The only thing you are leading is a campaign to conquer the middle east.

America was a REAL leader under Clinton, and Daddy Bush. A leader against torture, illegal rendition, lawbreaking, tyranny and human rights abuses. Now you condone most of all that america stood firmly AGAINST just 6 years ago.

When the crap hits the fan, though, the world isn't calling on Canada to save their asses. They call on us.

-- Is that what the world did? They asked you to drop 50 000 bombs on Iraqis cities killing 120 000 to a million innocents? Is the world calling on you to drop nukes on Iran, killing more countless innocents?

No one asks you to do anything, you just go ahead and do it regardless.

Right now the world as a whole stands against what America is doing and what it stands for. This is why muslims turn on you, because of your overly aggressive foreign policies. America was messing with their business, killing their citizens for decades before they brought the fight to you.

The Executive Branch (FBI) asked for a search warrant from the Judicial Branch. THAT IS the balance of powers - eh? Two branches keeping the thirds power in check - eh?

-- Correct. What I am saying is that the opposite is true and congress must also be able to go to the court and raid the white house.

Axis....now it's 120,000 innocent dead? Last week you said 100,000 then you said 200,000 and now it's back to 120,000.

Your credibility seems to change with the rising tides. Interesting.

No Axis, when push comes to shove and real action needs to be taken, it's the USA that has to do it. And in the process that makes friends in some places and enemies in others. That's the way it goes.

Yeah, Clinton...what a guy. Rwanda...wonderful. Bosnia...is that fixed? The UN and those clowns...talk about a culture of corruption. Terrorism...totally unchecked.

Tell me again what Clinton and Daddy Bush actually DID? Please, tell us all.

Axis....now it's 120,000 innocent dead? Last week you said 100,000 then you said 200,000 and now it's back to 120,000.

Warrior, no one knows exactly as the army is covering up the official numbers, but the red cross has it with a dead minimum of 100 000 and a maximum of a million.

No Axis, when push comes to shove and real action needs to be taken, it's the USA that has to do it. And in the process that makes friends in some places and enemies in others. That's the way it goes.

Ok, fine then bomb saddams palaces and the army barracks and military targets, don't start dropping 6000 bombs on civilian cities.

What places are you making friends? UK sided with you now Blair is history because the people want nothing to do the the US and its policies. Iraq: People want to kill you, Iran: people want to kill you, China, Russia, N. Korea, Syria, the same story.

All I see you doing is making enemies everywhere. Alienate your allies, act unilaterally, slaughter your enemies civilians.

You have lost all world support and are becoming an isolationist state.

On 9/11, the world was with you. Bush has pissed that ALL away and now NO ONE is with you. Most want nothing to do with you anymore and the rest all want to kill you.

Great job President Bush!

Axis, I fear you are right. Perhaps, Warrior Nation is so blinded by patriotic xenophobia and unrequieted Bushlove, that he can no longer see America as other countries see us. If it is so right for us to be in Iraq for so-called "humanitarian" reasons, why come out against our presence in Bosnia, which was also for humanitarian reasons?

I do miss what America was under Clinton- a citizen of the world, with a reputation unmatched by any other nation in upholding human rights and opposing torture. We had eight years of prosperity ending with a huge budget surplus. We were a force for peace in the Middle East, and were still involved in negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

Now we faced economic instability with our enormous budget and trade deficits. The forces of globalization which have been largely unchecked, are leading to ever greater inequality in this country. Will we wake up in a few years and realize that the middle class has disappeared?

Yes, kritter, its a hell of a mess and it will take at least 3 terms of a responsible democratic president like clinton to fix it.

Thats why its important to impeach bush and Dick so as to avoid another 2 years of damage to america.