Bad Deeds for 4-25-07

Republican Representative’s Aide Accepted Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Gifts from Lobbyist Jack Abramoff – A former congressional aide pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from lobbyist Jack Abramoff in an influence-peddling scandal that has touched the White House, Interior Department and congressional Republicans. The former Republican aide is the fifth congressional staffer to plead guilty in the Abramoff scandal, including two ex-aides to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

Tom Delay’s “Treasonous” Rant Against Harry Reid is Just Plain Crazy – This giggle-fest from Tuesday’s “Tucker” was priceless. Guests Pat Buchanan and A.B. Stoddard simply couldn’t contain their laughter before or after watching a video taped interview with Tom Delay where he claims that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are “very very close to treason.” When the interviewer suggests that treason is a pretty serious charge Tom assures him that he’s right because he “looked it up while we were driving over here, what the definition of treason is.” Pure comedy gold. With video.

US to Make History Trying Alleged Child War Criminal – The U.S. has decided to file murder charges against Omar Khadr, a Canadian national and alleged Taliban fighter who was captured in Afghanistan when he was 15 years old. Khadr’s Pentagon-appointed lawyer says the U.S. would become the first country in modern history to try a war crimes suspect who was a child at the time of the alleged violations if a trial went ahead, and points out that one conspiracy charge against his client is based on acts allegedly committed before the age of 10.

Worker Safety Regulations Dramatically Loosened Under Bush Administration – Under the Bush administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued the fewest significant standards in its history, public health experts say, a trend they credit to the administration’s habit – by now familiar – of appointing former industry officials and lobbyists to regulatory posts. Since Bush took office, OSHA has imposed only one major safety rule, while the only significant health standard it issued was ordered by a federal court. At the same time, the agency has killed dozens of existing and proposed regulations and delayed adopting others.

Bush Supports Alberto Gonzales in Order to Maintain Executive Power – As the White House continues its efforts to maximize its executive power, the president’s willingness to withstand his own party’s disdain for Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales probably springs not from loyalty but from self-interest. Since it is the Justice Department that ultimately passes judgment on questions of presidential power, confirmation hearings for any replacement would be likely to cast new scrutiny on the administration’s past excesses while possibly revealing new, previously hidden abuses of power.

Fox News’ Brit Hume Falsely States That Congress Has NO War Powers – Last night (4/24), Fox News Special Report host Brit Hume said, “In a paragraph of the United States constitution that makes no mention of Congress — the founding fathers decreed that ‘the president shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.’ What Hume is neglected to mention is Article I, Section 8 (Powers of Congress) of the Constitution, which states numerous powers of Congress with regard to the military and war.

Bill O’Reilly Falsely Charges That George Soros Funds MediaMatters.org – O’Reilly charged on 4-23-07, that George Soros funds MediaMatters.org. Media Matters responded: “As previously indicated, Soros has never given money to Media Matters, either directly or through another organization.”

Regards,

Jim