Harsh criticism of Abramoff’s eagerness to deal with brutal dictators, from the Weekly Standard. Seriously. (subscription only)
You can’t make this stuff up, alas: In 2003, according to Philip Shenon’s November 10 story in the New York Times, ex-lobbyist and onetime GOP wunderkind Jack Abramoff–who, besides being under indictment in Florida on wire fraud and conspiracy charges, is the subject of ongoing investigations by the Justice Department and the Senate Indian Affairs and Finance committees–offered to arrange a meeting between President Bush and Omar Bongo, president of the West African nation of Gabon since 1967. Abramoff’s price: $9 million.
…
Bongo didn’t accept the offer. But the letter got us thinking: What sort of man earns Jack Abramoff’s “high regard” and “admiration”?
From the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Gabon edition, circa 2003:
The Government’s human rights record remained poor; although there were some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained. The Government continued to limit citizens’ ability to change their government. Security forces reportedly beat and tortured prisoners and detainees, prison conditions remained harsh, and security forces sometimes violently dispersed demonstrations. Arbitrary arrest and detention were problems. Authorities routinely infringed on privacy rights. The Government continued to restrict freedom of the press and movement. Violence and societal discrimination against women and noncitizen Africans continued to be problems. Forced labor, child labor, and trafficking–particularly in children–remained problems.
It’s not all bad, though: According to the State Department report, “there were no political killings during the year.” Fine company Abramoff was keeping.
Abramoff is a blight. That the Weekly Standard sees the problem shows just how badly the Republican party needs to get unstuck from this gooey mess of a scandal.
***Update***
Now with links.
* Safavian won’t go down quietly
* Polunatic has a casting list of the whole sordid drama, with the odd exception of members of Congress. It’s the sort of list where if you assembled all of the people into one room, they might manage to cheat, brutalize and swindle each other to death and thereby save the courts of the world a great deal of trouble.
ppGaz
We are not hearing about the positive things that Jack has done. Has the left completely taken over at this blog now? Sheesh, can we have some balance? Why does everything have to sound like it is copy coming from the Bash Bush Society?
Boombo
I’m proud to announce that we’ve turned a corner on political killings.
yet another jeff
Casinos are considered a school of hard knocks, are they not? What about all the schools of hard knocks he’s built?
Krista
shit…now why does that sound so familiar???
Krista
It also shows that they should probably not have associated with amoral reptiles like Abramoff in the first place. Judged by the company you keep, and all that rot. I wonder how many politicians are currently (and quietly) trying to disentangle themselves from similar “blights” in a pre-emptive effort to cover their asses.
Geek, Esq.
Abramoff violated the 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt not get Caught.
See also Libby, Scooter; cf. Rove, Karl.
Horshu
Why is it necessary to attempt to balance discussion of a very, very large criminal investigation into a man by additionally mentioning the good things he may have done? Do I care if Abramoff adopts kids or gives to charity? Well, I wouldn’t regardless, but even if I did, it would not matter in the context of his criminal case.
John Cole
Because one DougJ is not enough. Thanks PPGAZ.
Doug J’s Army of Snarkness strikes again.
ppGaz
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, I say.
stickler
If the Weekly Standard has turned on a Bush Administration insider, it’s a sign that they recognize the threat he poses. This, coming from a neocon journal, is of course too late and the aftereffect of a stupid choice. But it’s verification of just how serious Abramoff must be to the Bush cabal.
Faux News
ppGaz: I just received an email begging me to help a Mr. Lindsay or Nelson (he used both names) Chucks with $25 Million dollars belonging to ex President Charles Taylor of Liberia.
Which brings me to your style of pertinent and timely questions:
Why are we not hearing about the POSITIVE things Prez Taylor did for Liberia? You are correct, the LIBRUHLS have taken over the blogs. Thank God for you and Darrell.
Polunatic
Thanks for the link. Consider the post a work in progress. I’m trying to find time to go through the 300 odd pages of Abramoff related e-mails and other exhibits released to the public as part of the Senate’s Oversight Hearing on Lobbying Practices at indian.senate.gov/ (although it looks the link to the documents is not working). Glad I downloaded and printed them!
John S.
LOL
Perhaps DougJ is really Bruce Campbell.
Tim F.
…and again.
ppGaz
Yee haw! I caught my first fish!
Hot damn.
Derek Flint
LOL! This blog is turning into a much needed daily source of hilarity, first Dougj and now ppGaz,too funny…
Thanks John!
pmm
It would be an interesting experiment in absurdity if all commenters on balloon-juice went for the ‘satire’ approach pioneered by DougJ. In some cases, the quality of the arguments would actually improve…
DougJ
This is just further evidence of the left-wing bias at the Weekly Standard. I don’t mind their steadfast opposition to the war and their cozying up to the Michael Moore crowd, but now they’re trying to criminalize bribery, wire fraud, and execution-style slayings. Have they no shame?
Steve S
Let’s find what Pat Robertson has to say about President Taylor…
cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/11/national/main562915.shtml
Of course the United States ought to assassinate that guy from Venezuela, right Pat?
They probably eat toads, too.
Oh dear, now we get to the heart of the matter.
Thank God for moral clarity.
Krista
Actually, Horshu, DougJ (and his disciples) tend to post satirical comments not to elicit a solely emotional response, but to stir debate, and to prod people to defend their viewpoints with renewed vigour. There’s a difference between what they’re doing (stirring the pot) and what you just did (looking for a fight.)
Steve S
Now about them schools…
Steve S
DougJ is not fishing for a flame war. He’s basically repeating Republican talking points in a context which makes them just sound absurb and funny.
I think humor is the most powerful weapon in politics. People don’t listen to logic, they prefer emotional arguments and humor has the best chance of persuading people to your side of an argument.
John Cole
A series of comments has been deleted by request. No more mention from anyone.
And DougJ is not just reciting GOP talking points, for goodness sakes.
Sojourner
They are true patriots. I salute them.
DougJ
Thanks you John.
Jcricket
Nothing to see here folks. Move along :-)
Oh, and a 2% conviction rate for Iraqi’s we’ve jailed. More specifically, a 50% conviction rate for those that have been tried (about 650 convictions), while the remaining 13,000+ rot in jail.
So, let’s say those stats hold. That means 7,000 potential insurgent recruits. America, fuck yeah.
DougJ
I’m actually a little freaked out by the deleted comments that dare not speak their name. I probably won’t be back for a few weeks.
But keep snark alive.
Steve S
Of course not! He’s reciting them in a context that makes them sound absurd and funny. :-)
ppGaz
We were going to try to teach it to Darrell. However, it was found to be easier and cheaper to teach a gorilla to play Hamlet.
jaime
Ambramoff was just being generous to the tribes: A real indian giver.
Krista
O Captain, my captain!
Faux News
Steve S: but this Mr. Lindsay/Nelson Chucks from Nigeria personally assured me that the $25 he was holding for Prez. Taylor was untainted money and he merely needed my bank account numbers to transfer this money back to Taylor :-)
Doug J: You have a lad with a bright future on the conservative radio/tv talk circut. I can see you on Faux News sitting next to SERIOUS big minds of the right such as Jeff Gannon as you both easily and eagerly shred the pitiful Librhuls. For a small fee perhaps Mr. Abramoff can introduce you around the DC talk circut.