Posted by
Arnie on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 10:16:09 AM
If it’s not the republicans crying about democrat ethics, then it’s the democrats crying about republican misconduct. And the people say power corrupts, and it does. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.
“The Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) says 96 members of Congress from 33 states have used their offices to "financially benefit" family members. The list includes 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans.” From The Washington Times. Some of this is just nit picking, and some of it is serious ethics violations.
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The CREW report cites 17 members of Congress, 11 Democrats and six Republicans, who "used their campaign funds to make campaign contributions to relatives." In addition, two-dozen lawmakers, 10 Democrats and 14 Republicans, have family members who actively lobby Congress.” But we the people don’t trust any of them. The recent gallop poll gave congress an approval rating of just 29%. In March of 2005 it was a bit better at 37%. But, and this furthers the low approval rating, congress just does not care what the people think of their behavior. Or, if they do pretend to care, it’s only for the approval of the loudest voices, the loudest noisemakers from the lobbyists and the special interest groups, or a special voting block. What kind of special news reports do we get from the mainstream press? Not much. Who cares, it’s not as important as Paris Hilton, which the people got inundated with her latest updated tear of remorse.
“In the November 2006 election, the voters demanded congressional ethics reform. And so, the newly appointed chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is now duly in charge of regulating the ethical behavior of her colleagues. But for many years, Feinstein has been beset by her own ethical conflict of interest, say congressional ethics experts.” Read more.Let’s see now. Diane Feinstein resigned her chairmanship of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee (MILCON) in January. Since then how much of an investigation has been into her ethics violations of funneling millions of military contracts to her husbands firms while she was chairperson of MILCON? There appears to be a shield of protection surrounding her behavior. Paris Hilton got more coverage.
What is needed is a similar program, which our public school administrators have been operating under, it's called “zero tolerance” rules, it allows absolutely zero infractions. No touching allowed.
Lots of talk and that’s about it folks. There will be no zero tolerance in Washington. Otherwise, there would be zero representatives in Washington.