Republican Scandal, the Gift that Keeps on Giving

Even though I live about 8 miles from the Capital, these last couple of days I've been hearing these strange sounds in the air, a sputtering and grinding sound, the sound of the Republican Gravy Train having some serious mechanical difficulties.

Mitchell Wade, the ex-owner and chief executive officer of MZM Inc., admitted giving Cunningham, a California Republican, gifts valued at more than $1 million and making illegal campaign contributions to two other unnamed lawmakers. Wade pleaded guilty to four counts in federal court in Washington and faces up to 135 months in prison.
Wade's actions were ``quite brazen,'' U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein said at a press conference. ``It was blatant corruption where Mitchell Wade went directly to the congressman and said, `Here's how I'll pay you off.'''

And it's not just Duke Cunningham who might be looking at a prison sentence, but also Katherine Harris of Florida. What a shame that such an upright civil servant like Katherine Harris should get caught in the Republican slime machine, but having sold the integrity of her office in 2000, why not try it again?

And on Friday, Mitchell Wade former president of defense contractor MZM Inc. pleaded guilty to bribing former Rep. "Duke Cunningham and revealed that he'd given more than $50,000 in illegal contributions to Harris, according to the Sun. Federal officials said that most of the campaign money Wade sent to Harris for her successful 2004 campaign for the House was raised by "straw contributing". Wade gave employees money that they then contributed to Harris, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports.

Too bad Katherine Harris is up for re-election in November, there are polls saying that she is trailing her Democratic opponent by a margin of 31 to 53.
Maybe she can ask some of her old friends to toss out some ballots.

Although corruption is disgusting and reflects poorly on our country, the upside to all of this Republican criminal activity is reflected in the polls. The Republican Party appears to be taking the speed train to defeat in 2006. And as for Katherine Harris, I think she would look fabulous in one of those orange jumpsuits.

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