Georgia Earmark Controversy?

iconUS Rep Bishop’s link to earmark raises questions | AP

Relatives of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop were employed by a local youth program to which he steered federal funding, and state authorities have launched an investigation into possible misappropriation of funds at the program.

Bishop claims he didn’t know his stepdaughter and her husband worked there, but this was before it was discovered that their checks were directly deposited into his wife’s bank account. Where did she think that money was coming from?


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11 responses to “Georgia Earmark Controversy?”

  1. odinseye2k Avatar
    odinseye2k

    “I’m not sure why Creighton was having his paycheck deposited into his mother-in-law’s account, but “weird” isn’t necessarily unethical.”

    True. I guess the follow-up question is what did Creighton do for the money? Was he a real employee or a “contractor?” Because the latter would *really* smell.

  2. odinseye2k Avatar
    odinseye2k

    To add to the Gingrich thing – once he and a couple of others from the moderation faction get a little bit of Rush’s blood on the floor (figuratively speaking), that is when we are going to see far more interesting action and divisiveness within the GOP.

    And once that happens, Obama and the Dems get a lot more leverage to yank away random votes for the agenda. It’s going to be a multidimensional problem, with various players very conservative on some things and with us on others (think of Dingell’s split between fuel efficiency standards and universal health care, both in line with his UAW base and Detroit Auto).

    But, it should be easier with Republicans in play than without.

    Now, if only we could get David Broder to feed Gingrich’s ego by naming him a “nonpartisan statesman” or some other rubbish…

  3. JerryT Avatar
    JerryT

    I’m not buying this as a scandal (yet). I’m not sure why Creighton was having his paycheck deposited into his mother-in-law’s account, but “weird” isn’t necessarily unethical.

  4. odinseye2k Avatar
    odinseye2k

    “You think Gingrich’s comment was calculated to divide the GOP into with him and against him?”

    I think it’s less that and he wants to be a party leader again. And he doesn’t like the direction things are going. So, that’s going to put him in confrontation with Rush and his squad sooner rather than later.

    It’s also consistent with this whole “bipartisan” kick he’s been on for the past couple of years (I actually went to a YDG / CRG joint thingee hosted by his daughter). Now, his version of bipartisan (like most GOP) is more along the lines of “why do you keep fighting my ideas?” but he’s at least making noises.

    So, yeah, I see it more likely that Gingrich is mounting a deliberate challenge to Rush rather than just getting caught saying something dumb on camera when he thought no one was listening.

  5. Zaid Avatar
    Zaid

    You think Gingrich’s comment was calculated to divide the GOP into with him and against him? That’s interesting. Either way, I will enjoy seeing the crazies tear eachother apart. It would really help if the GOP at a national level just kinda went away and made it so that Dems. have solid control over Congress again and most of the political battles would be within primaries. It would be a great way for Democrats to sort things out and move past the DLC.

    I think those Democrats who demand that their base tow the party line (ahem UGA Young Dems) no matter what should realize that the kind of infighting we have never gets as ugly or divisive as what we’re seeing the GOP right now. Thinking a policy is too friendly to corporate contributors and making it known in a sane fashion a la David Sirota is a lot better than throwing molotov cocktails at eachother, wary of pissing off a psychotic radio host’s fans.

  6. odinseye2k Avatar
    odinseye2k

    I doubt it. It looks like Newt’s out to pick a fight. Same with Ron Paul, although his beef goes back to the Primaries of last year.

    Newt has nothing to lose by pissing off Rush and everything to gain. Guys like Cantor and Steele think (and may know) that they need the nutjob contingent to stay in power. Newt’s probably banking on his ability to steal a few of them while taking over the sane remainder of the GOP (which, while small, is still larger than Rush’s base).

  7. Zaid Avatar
    Zaid

    And…

    http://ugaliberal.blogspot.com/2009/03/newt-bashes-limbaugh-how-long-until-he.html

    What’s the betting pool like for how long it takes for him to apologize? My Congressman did it within a day I think.

  8. Zaid Avatar
    Zaid

    The Good Old Boys need a Madoff to show ’em how corruption’s done.

  9. odinseye2k Avatar
    odinseye2k

    Well, there’s your answer for the Bishop as Ag Secretary story …

    Also, what is it with all this penny-ante crap? You hear about these guys in trouble for tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    C’mon, if you’re going to abuse your office, I want to see seven figures at least.

  10. bankimoon Avatar

    Time to go Sanford.

  11. Mouth of the South Avatar
    Mouth of the South

    Yeah, not good.

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