Not good for the GOP; Great for America

One might say that after about 50 years of being in control of the House of Representatives the Democratic Party deserved to lose control of the body -- not for their policies, but for the petty corruptions the last and biggest of which was problem the check-kiting scandal.

But being overachievers in the art of corruption, as opposed to the wankery which cometh naturally, the GOP has managed to catch up with amazing efficiency and take sleaziness to a lofty new plane. The plea bargain of Michael Scanlon has huge implications for the House Leadership and several key members, almost all Republican.

Investigators are looking at half a dozen members of Congress, current and former senior Hill aides, a former deputy secretary of the interior, and Abramoff's former lobbying colleagues, according to sources familiar with the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Because of his central role in much of Abramoff's business, Scanlon could be a key witness in any trials that arise from the case.

Scanlon had been in discussions with prosecutors for six months before Friday's announcement that he was being charged with one count of conspiracy as part of a plea agreement. He entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle yesterday and agreed to pay restitution of $19.7 million, Scanlon's share of fees from four tribes named in the charging documents.

He admitted that he or Abramoff offered bribes on behalf of clients over a period of four years, and at one point during the proceedings he corrected court filings that mistakenly noted that the illegal acts began in 2001. "My client informs me that some of the overt acts are actually in 2000," said Scanlon attorney Stephen L. Braga.

With all of their policy initiatives, especially the White House's repeated clusterfuckery (what have they done as an achievement other the scare enough people to get them reelected? What on earth is "better" after any of their actions?) the GOP is blowing itself up.

So far the most predominant GOP rejoinder is "Oh yeah? Well at least we have a plan". Nobody seems to understand that in the Fall of 2006, the populace will likely unite in saying...and that's the problem!"

For now, though the punditry doesn't like it, I see nothing wrong with the Democrats saying that their plan so far is, NOT TO BE ASSHOLE INCOMPETENTS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS!

Seems to me like its better to be accused of having "no plan" than already demonstrating you have a clearly disastrous one.