In These Times's The ITT List was recently named one of the top 5 campaign blogs for its coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

Hooray for Hookergate!

By Dave Mulcahey

On April 27, Republicans awoke to a PR disaster. Tucked away on page A6, a brief Wall Street Journal article updated the saga of former Rep. Randall “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.), who was convicted in March of taking bribes. Investigators were expanding their inquiry to determine whether, in addition to the $600,000 he pocketed from defense contractor Brent Wilkes, Cunningham had… return to article

  • subscribe to print magazine

  • Zoom OutZoom In Reader Comments (4)

    Page 1 of 1 pages

    To take advantage of this developing story politically, Democrats would have to grow a set of balls quick.

    As it stands now, they are most likely going to avoid this story as “too unseemly” to use against Repugnicans. Heaven forbid Democratic leadership stoop down to the level of Repugs and sling some of the slop (in terms of lies, accusations, character assassinations that are the standard style of Repugs) that Repugnicans don’t hesitate to use against Dems.

    If any sense of actually taking advantage of this oppty. to further clarify the culture of corruption the Repugs brought to Washington develop, you can be sure the Repugs will dig up some lone, unconnected Dem. from the past who can be accused of behaving just as badly.

    Of course, two wrongs don’t make a right, but Repugnicans aren’t interested in right. They are only interested in getting away with the same slimy acts that got them into power.

    I look forward to the posts from the brain-dead, butt-suckers for Bush, Repugnican posters as they do exactly that. LOL

    Of course, because they will be so full of themselves, they will miss the simple fact that - Two wrongs do not make a right. Democratic mistakes, misdeeds do NOT justify or make acceptable bad behavior and illegal activities on the part of today’s Repugs. 

    Those that break the law, ignore the law or pay politics like Goss did and disregard our national security structure cannot have their misdeeds minimized or excused merely because a couple of members of the party NOT in power did similar things.

    We all are judged by our own actions, and the fact that someone else did what we did can never be used as an excuse.

    No misdeed, bad policy, stupid mistake or scandal that can be blamed on Dem. decisions of the PAST can justify the stupid, bad policies or purposeful corruption that exists today in Repugs.

    Especially since they claimed to be the party of virtue and morals. They’re supposed to set the standards. Instead of trying to trying to be no better or worse than their competition.

    Of course it’s not always Repug butt slugs employing this tactic. Sometimes our conservative press gets in on the action. Just recently I saw Pig Russert the talking potato head on Face the Nation. In all seriousness he tried to paint the Abramov scandal as much Dem. as Rep. because both parties accept millions in support from lobbyists.
    Hmmm, there are lobbyists and Abramov. They are not one in the same. Also one Dem or two receiving money from Abramov does not equate to out and out illegal donations by Abramov to Repugnicans.
    Especially since there are no quid pro quos in terms of policies pushed by the Dems. as there were on the Repugnican sides.

    I do wish Dems. could take this opportunity and use it to further shine the light on Repugnican cynical lack of morals and values, but I’m not holding my breath.

    United States Posted by johnnyincentx on May 15, 2006 at 10:41 PM

    Reminds me of the Monkey Business - that cost a presidential election. . .

    Of course, both Dems and Repubs are whorehoppers, nothing new there!

    United States Posted by wolf on May 16, 2006 at 3:51 PM

    dems don’t have to do anything, just sit back and watch the repubs self destruct .

    United States Posted by brian28 on May 17, 2006 at 10:01 PM

    I’m still trying to get my mind around this latest scandal. The author (Mulcahey) seems to give the blogosphere credit for digging out the trash about the Watergate Hotel from the Cunningham scandal. But I wonder a little further.

    It sure seems odd that this connection to the CIA comes around the same time that the phone record collecting is reported in USA Today and that the Bushies nominee was in charge of the NSA and that phone record keeping. And the supposed buzz about a power game between John Negroponte and Porter Goss.

    One wonders if Negroponte had the Watergate dirt long before the bloggers and was just waiting to leak it when best for him. This just seems to be normal conservative poiltics. I’d be shocked if the cons surrounding Negroponte were unaware of the cigar smoking pimps of the CIA hanging at the Watergate Hotel. This probably was cons vs cons, the more powerful cons winning.

    One also must wonder if this is spy vs spy, NSA vs CIA. And one wonders whether one agency (NSA) is using information for political reasons rather than the line of crap we get (terrorism) against the other agency (CIA).

    I highly doubt that the complete story will ever be uncovered. So the winners would be Negroponte and his flunky Hayden (if confirmed to CIA post), so it’s easy to assume that Negroponte was behind the leak.

    United States Posted by Jon B on May 19, 2006 at 5:58 AM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
     

    Retreive lost password »

Article Appeared in this Issue

Full contents
Past issues

Also by Dave Mulcahey
Popular Discussions