Making my New Year Happy
 

It will be funny. There will be more hypertechnical defenses than seen at most mob trials. I predict the Phrase of 06 in the beltway will be "But I did not violate the [insert legislative body/agency]'s rules."

Making my New Year Happy
 

I remember all the buzz about Heidi Flies' little black book. Whatever became of that?

Making my New Year Happy
 

:D I think I like 2006.

Making my New Year Happy
 

Fair point. I read somewhere recently the theory that this may peter out not because there's no wrongdoing, but because prosecutors will pursue this and bring down the worst offenders, but will find themselves holding their powder once it becomes clear that continuing would materially change the current balance of power. See, e.g., Abscam.

Making my New Year Happy
 

So you're thinking it's not the career DOJ folks who'll finish up the job?

Making my New Year Happy
 

I don't see the same tolerance for powder holding that existed in Abscam days. If there were, Scooter'd still have a job.

But I still agree that this will be a non-event. People are bored with catching politicians lying, unless its the chief exec. Bush's people are students of Watergate - they weren't stupid enough to get close enough to a dirty bastard like Abramoff to have any dirt rub off...

All we'll probably get out of this mess is some toothless lobbying reform bill. I predict McCain, in an amazing turnaround from his days of taking cash from Chuck Keating, will champion the bill.

And it will be as good for lobbying as McCain Fiengold was for fundraising.

Making my New Year Happy
 

Well, they'd better wrap it up quick, because if a Dem. takes office in 2009, the calculus may change.

Personally, I don't see how they could hold too much powder. The evidence will come out somehow or another, so the only question is how generous the deals the cut are.

Making my New Year Happy
 

Didn't she mostly cater to Hollywood types? I don't think anyone gets too agitated over whether Charlie Sheen is paying for pussy.

Whether people get agitated about the things Abramoff has to say is an open question -- it depends how nasty they are, and how much anyone pays attention.

I do think this has some legs. If it dies, though, I suspect it will be because neither party presses it too hard -- as they both have something to lose. That would be sad.

Making my New Year Happy
 

Well, John McCain hasn't shyed away from pissing everyone else in Washington off.

Making my New Year Happy
 

Years ago my knee jerk reaction to this would be - no one could be that stupid. But after witnessing many scandals, seemingly intelligent people can do you really stupid things. Speaker Wright, Rostenkowski etc. Or Gingrich having an affair during the Lewinsky scandal.

But sending an admission to a crime into cyberspace- doesn't get much dumber than that.

Making my New Year Happy
 

do you know how many posts shape Shifter had made already?

Making my New Year Happy
 

Aw, c'mon. It's not like the put it on paper or anything.

Making my New Year Happy
 

For some reason those books are not made public. I have a good friend that is pretty high up in the District Attorney Office in LA. He told me they broke up a gay prostitution ring in LA. The guy running the organization not only had complete computer records of the people who used their services, but had a detailed accounts of what their specific sexual requests were. The guy used modern client servicing software that included a detailed description of what the client did on his "trysts" so they would know how to service him the next time. He said the lists and the requests would blow you away.

However, my friend could not tell me who was in it or what they did.

The so called "experts".
 

I was watching the Chris Mathew Show, and of all the "experts" he polled (I think is was fifteen political commentators - all the big names) said they all thought that Hillary had the Dem nomination sowed up. The only person that many of them thought had even a glimmer of hope to beat her was George Allen of Virginia. One interesting point they made was that Hillary will raise sixty million for her Senate race and will use only twenty for the race, and will be able to use the other forty for her presidential run.

On the Repub side they thought McCain pretty much had it wrapped up. They said that he had made his piece with the Religious Right. However, it was pointed out that when McCain was asked to list one of his heroes he said Charles Darwin. I don't know if that is true, but if it is - whoa Nelley.

The so called "experts".
 

2.
:D ;)