It seems like the Abramoff story is still gaining ground. According to
Raw Story, the
Wall Street Journal is reporting that Abramoff’s assistance with prosecutors
could now implicate 60 lawmakers:
It remains unclear which lawmakers prosecutors are looking at, and also
how persuasive Mr. Abramoff could be in helping to make potential cases
against any of them stick. A onetime chairman of College Republicans — a
close ally of such party luminaries as Tom DeLay, Ralph Reed and Grover
Norquist — Mr. Abramoff says he has information that could implicate 60
lawmakers.
View complete article
here.
Well that number has increased by 300% over the past 24 hours.
The bandwagon is still loading up of lawmakers returning money given to them
by Abramoff:
WASHINGTON – President Bush, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and
his successor Roy Blunt Wednesday joined the growing list of officials
shedding political donations from Jack Abramoff, the once powerful lobbyist
who has agreed to testify in a broad-ranging political corruption
investigation.
Article continues
here.
Perhaps Roy Blunt should be looked at a little closer with his ties to
Abramoff. Something had to spark this comment by Newt yesterday:
And former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) called on House
Republicans to elect a new majority leader to permanently replace Rep. Tom
DeLay (R-Tex.), Abramoff’s most powerful ally in Washington, who faces a
trial on unrelated criminal charges of violating Texas campaign laws.“Unequivocally, the House Republicans need to select a new majority
leader in late January or early February,” said Gingrich, who cited
revelations in The Washington Post that a public advocacy group organized by
DeLay associates had been largely financed by Russian energy interests.
View complete article
here
Examples like this is a strong reason for recall amendments to be added to
our Constitution. At a time when a large number of our politicians could be
involved in trying to sell our government to the highest bidder we need a
further form of checks and balances. This one to leave the people of the country
as the ultimate voice. Sure the price to run a special recall election would be
high but I am sure it would not even come close to the cost of having to
investigate our politicians. It would also provoke some lawmakers to follow the
rules and laws a little more closely for fear of losing their job at any time.