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Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-01-10-ethics_N.htm

No one punished under congressional ethics rules
Updated 14h 34m ago | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions |

By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Nearly three years after Congress approved sweeping ethics rules to "drain the swamp," as incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put it, no member of Congress has been punished for wrongdoing.
In that time, allegations of sexual misconduct and financial impropriety have been lodged against lawmakers. The most serious rebuke in the past year: a "letter of qualified admonition" to Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., after the Senate ethics panel concluded he misled lawmakers and inappropriately offered to raise campaign funds for then-governor Rod Blagojevich as Burris sought the Senate appointment. "Three years later, it's the same old, same old," said Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in January 2007 and quickly approved ethics rules that barred lawmakers from taking gifts or meals from lobbyists and their clients. The action came largely in response to the scandal of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to providing gifts to public officials in exchange for favors.

Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said lawmakers are held to the "highest ethical standard" and pointed to the independent Office of Congressional Ethics as one example.

The office, authorized in March 2008, vets complaints and sends them to the House ethics committee for final action. It launched 25 investigations during the first nine months of 2009, the most recent data available. Nine were sent on to the ethics committee for further action.

The committee has acknowledged 10 pending cases, including an inquiry into Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and whether he failed to disclose rental income and improperly solicited donations for a public service center named in his honor. Spokesman Emile Milne said Rangel "looks forward to the conclusion of the review he himself requested."

Although the ethics committee has not taken any disciplinary action, Fred Wertheimer of the watchdog group Democracy 21 praised the independent office.

Pedro Ribeiro, a spokesman for Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House ethics panel, declined comment since the panel's work is confidential. Natalie Ravitz, a spokeswoman for Senate ethics chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said, "There are always going to be those who criticize our work" but the committee is doing its job.



-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
 
   
Made in us
!!Goffik Rocker!!





(THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)

Seems like most are still in the stages of investigation, and the only real action has been the Burris case, which is still ongoing is it not?

----------------

Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad 
   
Made in us
Hangin' with Gork & Mork






"Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics"

I love incredibly generic names for PACs.

Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
 
   
Made in us
Executing Exarch






Dallas, TX

Honestly, does this surprise anyone?

DR:80+S(GT)G++M++B-I++Pwmhd05#+D+++A+++/sWD-R++T(Ot)DM+
How is it they live in such harmony - the billions of stars - when most men can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds about someone they know.
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Made in us
Dwarf High King with New Book of Grudges




United States

Good on them. Lie, cheat, and steal.

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. 
   
Made in au
The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





In Western Australia the political scandal of the year broke over a claim that minister claimed an additional day's living away from home allowance than he should have- totalling about $200.

Seriously, your politics are just so much more fun than ours.

“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”

Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. 
   
Made in gb
Journeyman Inquisitor with Visions of the Warp




York/London(for weekends) oh for the glory of the british rail industry

Ever with the big political scandal we have had here of politians claiming to much money back, Washington DC is a disgraceful place, gettting rid of lobbyist and the power of a few corporation would dramatically clean up US politics at least get rid of the hookers

Relictors: 1500pts


its safe to say that relictors are the greatest army a man , nay human can own.

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Avatar 720 wrote:Eau de Ulthwé - The new fragrance; by Eldrad.


 
   
Made in gb
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Inside your mind, corrupting the pathways

BluntmanDC wrote:Ever with the big political scandal we have had here of politians claiming to much money back, Washington DC is a disgraceful place, gettting rid of lobbyist and the power of a few corporation would dramatically clean up US politics at least get rid of the hookers


The hookers are probably the least diseased part of the political system though...

   
Made in au
The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





BluntmanDC wrote:Ever with the big political scandal we have had here of politians claiming to much money back, Washington DC is a disgraceful place, gettting rid of lobbyist and the power of a few corporation would dramatically clean up US politics at least get rid of the hookers


The hookers need to stay, if only to keep the interns safe.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/01/12 08:55:00


“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”

Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. 
   
Made in us
Bane Knight





Washington DC metro area.

Don't you dare take away the best travel game in DC.
some people play 'I spy', we get to play 'spot da ho'.
Wait...you mean on capitol hill.


Its what we get for allowing a governing body to police itself.

Special unique snowflake of unique specialness (+1/+3versus werewolves)
Alternatively I'm a magical internet fairy.
Pho indignation *IS* the tastiest form of angry!
 
   
Made in us
Dwarf High King with New Book of Grudges




United States

Oldgrue wrote:
Its what we get for allowing a governing body to police itself.


The alternative is?

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. 
   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

Let me do it.

-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
 
   
Made in us
Dwarf High King with New Book of Grudges




United States

But then you'd be in government, and your head would explode from the paradox.

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. 
   
Made in us
Bane Knight





Washington DC metro area.

Independent third party investigation would be nice.
Expecting any sort of transparency or accountability from a self-policing body is idealistic.

Do I have a better idea? Not while I'm at work. :(

Special unique snowflake of unique specialness (+1/+3versus werewolves)
Alternatively I'm a magical internet fairy.
Pho indignation *IS* the tastiest form of angry!
 
   
Made in us
Dwarf High King with New Book of Grudges




United States

Oldgrue wrote:Independent third party investigation would be nice.
Expecting any sort of transparency or accountability from a self-policing body is idealistic.

Do I have a better idea? Not while I'm at work. :(


So is believing that independent, third-party investigation can exist.

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. 
   
Made in us
!!Goffik Rocker!!





(THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)

dogma wrote:
Oldgrue wrote:Independent third party investigation would be nice.
Expecting any sort of transparency or accountability from a self-policing body is idealistic.

Do I have a better idea? Not while I'm at work. :(


So is believing that independent, third-party investigation can exist.


It can, the government just can't know about it. I've been putting radium pellets in peoples tea for years after discovering they were corrupt.

----------------

Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad 
   
Made in us
Fireknife Shas'el






Richmond, VA

dogma wrote:Good on them. Lie, cheat, and steal.


Agrees

 
   
Made in us
Preacher of the Emperor





Everyone shocked by this raise your hand. Now everyone look around, see anyone with their hand raised? Yeah, those are the total idiots in your area.


mattyrm wrote: I will bro fist a toilet cleaner.
I will chainfist a pretentious English literature student who wears a beret.
 
   
Made in au
Sneaky Sniper Drone




A cardboard box on your doorstep

As most Australian's would usually say when politics is mentioned "Who bloody cares" politics don't need that much attention, it destract's from what is best for your country.

I Eat Apples  
   
Made in us
Alluring Sorcerer of Slaanesh





Union, Kentucky United States

Alfred McMango wrote:As most Australian's would usually say when politics is mentioned "Who bloody cares" politics don't need that much attention, it destract's from what is best for your country.


SEE I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE MOVED BACK THERE WITH MY FAMILY!!! plus as all of my mates would state australian women love american men makes a 2 on 1 easy and very FUN... now to wait for my future divorce (on a side note is this why it's so damned hard for me to get my future children duel citizenship?)

Listen, my children, as I pass onto you the truth behind Willy Wonka and his factory. For every wonka bar ever created in existance, Mr. Wonka sacraficed a single Oompa Loompa to the god of chocolate, Hearshys. Then, he drank the blood of the fallen orange men because he fed them a constant supply of sugary chocolate so they all became diabetic and had creamy, sweet-tasting blood that willy could put into each and every Wonka bar. That is the REAL story behind willy wonka's Slaughter House!  
   
 
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