Say it loud, Tim and Chris! One must certainly regard an ex-con cult-leader with strong financial ties to mega-churches and Republican senators with more than just wariness and distrust. Moon and his pet senators and "Christian" cult-leaders are just as thick as Abramoff's gang around Washington -- and just as deadly to the American democratic ideals.

Howard needs to be crystal clear on this point: not only is it not true that Democrats took money associated with Jack Abramoff, the Indian tribes that contributed to Democrats were also victimized by Abramoff. Fortunately, there's a whole paper trail from Abramoff that shows just how little he cared about them and how much he cared about their money.

The GOP and their enablers (Blitzer, Russert, Matthews, etc.) will try very hard to spin the guilt by association argument, but as Patrick Fitzgerald said, "That talking point won't fly."

Gee, somebody screwed over the Native-Americans? There's a first. The contempt that Abramoff had for the people he was supposed to represent was palbable.

The Repugs are going for the "big lie." It's all they can do. They'll scream "you did it too" long and loud and a significant portion of the People will believe them.

Keep this message alive. I don't care how many times you, Tim, or Dean has to yell it. We need to keep this way out in front!

I for one will be writing a letter to my local newspaper concerning this talking point. I hope others on this blog will do the same.

Glad to see this addressed on the blog. We need to defuse that talking point before the 'heads' run with it on nightly news.

Although it is certainly true that many Democrats received money from groups that hired Abramoff to be their lobbyist, those groups were victimized by Abramoff as much as the American people and our democracy. This is a vital point that must be discussed. Making this point is not being dishonest but just being precise. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being linked to the victim of a crime and that is the only thing that can be said about any Democrat who received a contribution from the Tiguas or any of the other tribes, groups, or organizations that hired Abramoff to be their lobbyist. Those groups have been hurt enough; let's not say that every dime they have ever contributed is dirty just because they had poor judgment in choosing a lobbying firm.

We cannot say that "Democrats also took money from Abramoff" and "these people were victimized like his clients."

Either they took money OR they were victimized. You cannot court a lobbyist or his clients, take his or their money, and then claim victimhood.

That dog won't hunt.

Either they took money OR they were victimized. You cannot court a lobbyist or his clients, take his or their money, and then claim victimhood.

There are four lawmakers under investigation in connection to Jack Abramoff -- Tom DeLay, Conrad Burns, Bob Ney, and John Doolittle -- all Republicans.

Your point is false:

1) There is no evidence that any Democrat took a contribution from Jack Abramoff. Ever. Abramoff was a Bush Pioneer who donated directly and exclusively to Republicans.

2) While Democrats have received contributions from Abramoff's lobbying groups and his clients, there is a big difference between accepting contributions from groups linked to Abramoff, which is legal and proper, and taking contributions in exchange for official actions, which is illegal, and which is at the heart of the ongoing investigations.

The GOP desperately wants this to be a bipartisan scandal so they don't go down alone.

Your dog won't hunt.

Why aren't the Democratic Congressmen and women putting forth a Congressional Reform Package? Or are you going to let the Republicans beat you to it?

Why aren't the Democratic Congressmen and women putting forth a Congressional Reform Package? Or are you going to let the Republicans beat you to it?

Why aren't the Democratic Congressmen and women putting forth a Congressional Reform Package? Or are you going to let the Republicans beat you to it?

There is one coming. Both parties are sure to produce their own reform packages but simply announcing intent to reform won't be enough. The big step will be to find out how each group intends to enforce their reforms.

Otherwise, it's all just for show.

From an email alert from Campaign for a Cleaner Congress

Hot Off the Presses

• While lawmakers are seeking to downplay their ties to Jack Abramoff, a new Associated Press story once again firmly links the lobbyist to former majority leader Tom DeLay, and raises the specter of bribery. In 2001, DeLay tried to push the Bush administration into closing an Indian casino that competed with an Abramoff client – and he took action shortly after the client contributed to DeLay’s political action committee. DeLay sent a letter to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft demanding that a casino operated by the Alabama-Coushatta tribe be closed. Abramoff was working for the Louisiana Coushatta tribe. Ashcroft did not move to shutter the casino in response to the letter, but it was closed the following year after a lawsuit filed by then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn, now a US senator.
• Meet the new boss? Rep. Roy Blunt, who is vying to replace Rep. Tom DeLay as House majority leader, shares many ties with his indicted predecessor. Blunt moved donations between DeLay's political groups and his own, and also collected money from three former clients of Jack Abramoff. Blunt also wrote at least three letters on behalf of Abramoff's clients.
• Blunt's main competition for the majority leader position is Rep. John Boehner, who usually spends his winter vacation on a sailboat in the Caribbean with lobbyists. This year, Boehner tried to show his dedication to cleaning up Congress by passing on the trip - a gesture that, at this point, means relatively little.

Rep. Blunt helps out Abramoff clients and Rep. Boehner takes lavish Caribbean vacations with lobbyists - at this point, why not try replacing DeLay with Ken Lay?

To read more about these stories on the Daily Hammer blog here: http://www.cleanercongress.org/blog/

Yes, IM, it isn't nit-picking to note, accurately, that no Democrat received any money from Abramoff. But you are correct that some of Abramoff's influence surely must have extended to those who took substantial sums from his clients. Those clients were probably advised to spread their money around the way they did. Whether they got anything for it is an open question. Abramoff also employed a few former Dem staffers; why would he have done so unless he wanted an entree to their former bosses and associates?

A "Contract With America" style approach would work pretty well in 2006, if the Democrats can get behind policies and rules that cut out the play-for-pay ethos in Congress. It will hurt. People like us may have to make up the difference in campaign funding. It'll be a group effort. Maybe a "clean government fund" run by the DNC could help wean electorally vulnerable Dems off the questionable campaign contributions. We need to not only look cleaner than the Reps, but to actually be clean.

The other day a Republican Senator was ask if he felt like Abramoff scandle would destroy the Republican Party? He said, No! Abramoff was trying to destroy Democrats. Then the host ask if he believed in a One Party Democracy? He said, At this time I do.

"There are four lawmakers under investigation in connection to Jack Abramoff -- Tom DeLay, Conrad Burns, Bob Ney, and John Doolittle -- all Republicans."

You need to read more.

"A Justice Department investigation into influence-peddling on Capitol Hill is focusing on a "first tier" of lawmakers and staffers, both Republicans and Democrats, say sources close to the probe that has netted guilty pleas from lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Law-enforcement authorities and others said the investigation's opening phase is scrutinizing Sens. Conrad Burns, Montana Republican; Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat; and Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, along with Reps. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona Republican, and Bob Ney, Ohio Republican.

Perhaps if you got out more instead of buying into partisan political baloney, you might know the facts to argue on, instead of being shown up.

Your dog won't hunt. In fact, he died.

That list is totally misleading. I want to see one that is just Abramoff or his firms donations, leaving the tribes out of it. There is nothing unusual or wrong for Oklahoma Dems OR Repubs to take money from tribes. Abramoff or not, Native American nations have as much right to donate to politicians as anybody else. Especially in Oklahoma, where the tribes are a real political force.

"say sources close to the probe" and "and others said" when will we learn? what sources? what "others"? Karl? Tom?

From a MD Dem Party letter:

Where is the missing $200,000 Abramoff money?

Overlooked in the massive Jack Abramoff corruption scandal is the fact that Abramoff is a Maryland Republican and ran his criminal enterprise through a phony Maryland company named by the federal prosecutors in Court filings.

Abramoff founded "GrassRoots Interactive" (GRI) in Silver Spring, MD, with his friend and fellow Republican Ed Miller, who now serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ehrlich! Miller has been identified publicly as part of the investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, yet Ehrlich continues to pay him with your Maryland tax dollars.

The federal charging documents say that Abramoff used Miller’s company, GRI, to defraud a major corporation of millions in dollars intended for lobbying, but instead the money went into Abramoff’s pocket. However, the same charging documents say that almost $200,000 of that money did not go to Abramoff, and is still missing after it went into GRI, the company Miller founded!

Select the documents below to read the criminal Court documents on the Miller/Abramoff company, GRI and the missing $200,000!

From these documents it is clear that GRI, Miller and Abramoff not only defrauded their client, but Abramoff also pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion. The question is, was the State of Maryland also defrauded in this scheme, and did Miller and Abramoff also avoid their legal responsibilities under state laws? Even though 13 field offices of the FBI are conducting a wide-ranging, ongoing investigation of Abramoff, the Governor has not only failed to launch a parallel State investigation, he has one of the main actors in this scheme working on his senior staff on the government payroll!

Since the Governor refuses to do his duty to protect Maryland taxpayers, yesterday I sent a letter to the Maryland State Prosecutor calling for an investigation by that independent office. Click here to read the letter to State Prosecutor, Robert Rohrbaugh.

If you want to lend your voice and call on Rohrbaugh to investigate if Marylanders have been defrauded by Miller and Abramoff, you can contact the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor.

I think it is outrageous and an insult to Maryland taxpayers that we are paying the salary of Ed Miller, and the Governor has not explained his role in the Abramoff debacle. Last week I called on Governor Ehrlich to fire Miller.

If you agree that taxpayers should not be paying the salary of someone at the center of the Abramoff criminal investigation -- who may have defrauded the State of Maryland through a scam company set up under Maryland law -- I hope you will contact Governor Ehrlich and demand he fire Ed Miller.

All of this is yet another reason to end the culture of corruption in Washington and Annapolis, and elect a Democrat as Governor of Maryland.

http://www.mddems.org/pdf/abramoff1.pdf
http://www.mddems.org/pdf/edmillerinvestigation.pdf

Let the Washington Times check all they want!!!!
I hope they do. I hope Every media source does, and finally prints the truth!

There are ZERO Democrats who took Abramoff money

Just take a look at his listed donations on Open Secrets here and here.

There isn't a Democrat on the list.

It is true that some employees of the large lobbying firms he worked at and some of his clients gave to Democrats as well the GOP. These are the Abramoff-connected donations that we read about in the press. They are always separated from Jack by two or more degrees and most often the connection is a single thread.

The same is not true for the GOP.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/12/28/1655/0100

(Click on Reid and Dorgan's name, you will see where their money came from, dollar for dollar)

Abramoff: The House That Jack Built

http://www.thinkprogress.org/abramoff

Washington Times?

I hope everyone is taking notes. This is just another example of the regressive media trying to confuse and trick the public into believing the desperate republicans' talking points.

Ind. Minded,

I would like to see some back up on your allegations of Whitewater ties to Clinton! I do not recall one single one convicting him or wife.

I would like to see what your reference of Republicans attempt at witch hunting, via investigations, which turned out to be Nothing, had to do with Clinton. All they did was waste our time and money praying they could find something.

I also do not recall seeing evidence of any payoffs to get out of a sexual harassment trial.

If there was, it doesn't occur to you, maybe there somebody took money because they knew they could not win in court? Why will you not give Clinton the benefit of the doubt, yet are only too eager to jump on he was bad?

You see, this is why you probably was called a troll. Your off the cuff accusations .

And let's say for the sake of arguement you even were true, and he did some foolish things. (I don't agree, but want to run this by you).

You don't think that all the good that Clinton did, via turning deficit into surplus, had great World respect and almost achieved peace for the first time in decades in Israel and in Ireland and other countries? His welfare program, his education programs. How was your 401K plan and stock portfolio? As good as mine? They all far offset anything on the other side.

Did you take the time to read my 7:10 links, which back up the assertion that Dems are NOT involved in this corruption, or perhaps you think you just know better than everybody else.

What on earth do you think you gain, by coming in here and trying to make sure everybody is just like you and wants to make sure the World understands the Democrats are as bad as Republicans? WTF does it matter at this point?

Are you a sports fan? Do you make sure you point out to everyone when one of your team members walks with the ball, or was clearly not on base when called safe, etc? Because that is what you are doing over here. nobody asking you to lie, just 'so what'! We don't care how the game is won, only that we win the game! Our children and our country is counting on it.

All of these scandal you would think might hurt the GOP in 2006 except never rule out the Deibald Factor. No matter how condemning the reports are against the Republicans I am convinced Karl Rove views it this way. Why should the GOP worry as long as they, the Republicans, win at the polls? Many people subscribe to the theory that they intend to accomplish this via crooked voting machines. While Democrats in congress continue to press for a paper trail, the Right Wing majority continues to deny this. Permitting instead the ever growing installation of electronic Deibald voting machines in more and more states across the country. Meaning -- no matter what progress we make in awakening the populace to the disgusting ways of the Bush Regime -- the Far Right can win regardless and thereby maintain their hold in the House, Senate and Presidency.

"The article Amasa_Aranjo referred to came from today's Washington Times. It does not say what the sources were..."

True - the story WAS in The Washington Times. That's where I found it. If it was in The Washington Post or NY Times, would you believe it then?

If it shows up, I will post it. How about that?

Second - I do not remember the NY Times NSA surveillance story mentioning who its sources were.

However, those "sources" are now under investigation by DoJ.

As soon as those sources are exposed, I will post their names as well.

"never rule out the Deibald Factor."

You can never rule out that people do not want to vote for a party whose chief platform is "the other party is corrupt" and "we will impeach Bush if we get control of the House."

That is not a prescription for victory - it is prescription for disaster.

How do I know? As the Republicans what happened in 1998.

You make a very valid point, AmAr. They stole 2000 and 2004, why would they change? http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002261.htm

I think the fact that two brothers, tied to the Republican Party, who control two companies, Diebold and ES&S, that count 80% of the votes in America, explain how they've stolen many elections. HAVA plotted the fraud. I can not believe that we've out-sourced our elections to partisans.

I think the Diebold/ES&S factor helps explain why the Republicans are so bold in breaking laws, re-writing rules, and wrecking the country. They know they can't lose with the partisan election companies working for them. The have no accountability, and they know it.

How else could we go from a record surplus in peace time, to record deficits and a cooked up war? The vote is rigged. Gore had more votes in FL, then Kerry had less votes while being endorsed by even Republican newspapers? No way! And we know Ohio was rigged, as Wally O'dell promised. Truth be known, Kerry trounced Bush. The evidence grows. We MUST have non-partisan, fair elections next time.
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/

PamB, to me, your last paragraph is repsesentative as to why I think we keep losing elections. "We don't care how we win the game, only that we win the game"? Does that include lies and distortions of truth?

You don't know me, Ind, but if you did you would know that Ethical behavior is VERY important to me, and if only both parties would play the game fairly. I am very proud that my CT has put in the first Campaign finance laws in the nation. I look forward to it bringing about a cleaner gov. here.

By saying it's whether we win or not, I am not calling for lies or distortions . What I AM calling for, is people like you not keep Bringing UP the fact that, "oh, well, we have to remember Clinton did stuff too".

The Republicans bring up Bill Clinton in every other sentence. Have you watched the trolls here? They ALWAYS come back to Clinton.

My point to you is, one way or the other we do not need our own deliberately bringing up Clinton! Leave it alone. And if he is brought up to you in your debates with Republicans while campaigning for Casey, then by all means if you want to agree with them, do so.
Just don't be the one running around first saying, "oh, yeah, Clinton's era did these same things".

This next election in the Fall, is probably the most important one I can remember in my life. Why? Because if we do not win back the majority, or very close to it, we are done as a party. They will continue with their adjenda to turn back every single benefit Democrats have put in place in this country. They will take it that the nation wants Republians and their dismantling of SS and Medicare, and Big Brother spying on them. They will think corporations and the wealthy should get massive tax breaks and not have to respond to environmental issues. They will believe that separation of Church and State is no longer what people desire.

So PLEASE do everything in your power to Boost up this party, not try and take it down.

My mother used to say, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all ! Keep Clinton's era out of it.

Well, Indy, Don't know if you are new to Campaigning or not, but when I just worked on a local campaign recently, my candidate refused to have her campaign based on any smearing. We continued to merely hold out what she stood for.She won. So I am saying that a campaign can be won by Positive reinformcement.

Now , you seem to think this site and the bloggers who come here are nothing but building our campaigns on bashing bush, DeLay, etc.

Tim and the other moderators do a good job posting threads of interest. Right now, the alito situation is the big one of the day. You have missed many on Libby, DeLay, etc. These were of interest, and to point out facts of these situations. If they were negative, well not much could have been said to the contrary.

There have been many threads on Howard Dean's responses to Republican speechs and actions. His 50-State Strategy has been followed with interest. Especially to those in the States which got left out of DNC help last election.
This is a BIG positive stategy building effort on the DNC part.

At this stage of the upcoming elections, outside of incumbents, the DNC cannot take sides until the Primaries are over. Their job is to build up candidates and help their campaigns once getting the nod. So whatever positive adjenda you are looking for at this stage is not here. If you continue to check in, after May conventions and named candidates, the fight will begin in ernest.

The Contract with America? I do not believe that something like that is even on the table, and if it will be, is not something that has been put together as yet. Plus, as time goes by, there is more and more to put into it, as Corruption and deceit grows.

so what I am saying to you is, you came here with the wrong idea of what you would find.

The DNC is not bashing bush. If they put out a thread or subject which is clarifying and showing facts on something about him, it is not to bash but to inform. Do not hold them responsible for frustrated bloggers.

good luck in your campaign. It is exciting to work with someone on their campaign. I understand that Santorrum won mainly because he spent a great amount of time going door to door. I hope Casey and his supporters will do that also.

It would seem to me that one of the best ways to further the DNC agenda regarding 2006 elections, is to not let the Republicans look as though they are taking the lead on the ethics/lobbying reforms.

Another way would be to put Murtha is the fore-front. Right now Murtha is one of the most positive figures in the Democratic party.

IndependentMinded

Not everyone thinks the same!
Use multiple messages. Don't limit your options. Your style works with some while another style works with others. Believe it or not- THERE IS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS.

GOP Scandal....GOP Scandal....GOP Scandal
GOP Scandal....GOP Scandal....GOP Scandal

Like most of you here, I firmly believe this is a GOP scandal, but there will be a few Dems dragged into it. That's life. The next step now is to move forward with TRUE REFORMS and ENFORCEMENTS by both parties, preferrably led by the Dems.

Everyday a new person comes in here with the same RNC talking points.

There is a difference between indian tribes and Jack Abramoff. If one wants credibility, please make the distinction. If one wants to talk about lobbyists, campaign finance, or the DLC (corporate Democrats), that is alright by me. But please; make the distinction. A little truth goes a long way.

http://www.thinkprogress.org/abramoff

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Late-Edition-Dean-JackA.wmv

That Amasa sure is jelous of Democrats because we don't ride on the tails of the Christian Coalition! Yet we are more moral and more Christ like than any of those that support the Republicans.
Does this remind you of Grade School conversations between Teachers(Democrats) and the School bullies?(Republicans) especially Amasa? They will never learn how to be a good person until they repent.

The Democrats are just as guilty. I believe that both sides deserve to be accountable. But here is the rest of the story for all of the hypocritical Libs.

washingtonpost.com
Democrats Also Got Tribal Donations
Abramoff Issue's Fallout May Extend Beyond the GOP

By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Derek Willis
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, June 3, 2005; A01

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and an associate famously collected $82 million in lobbying and public relations fees from six Indian tribes and devoted a lot of their time to trying to persuade Republican lawmakers to act on their clients' behalf.

But Abramoff didn't work just with Republicans. He oversaw a team of two dozen lobbyists at the law firm Greenberg Traurig that included many Democrats. Moreover, the campaign contributions that Abramoff directed from the tribes went to Democratic as well as Republican legislators.

Among the biggest beneficiaries were Capitol Hill's most powerful Democrats, including Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.) and Harry M. Reid (Nev.), the top two Senate Democrats at the time, Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.), then-leader of the House Democrats, and the two lawmakers in charge of raising funds for their Democratic colleagues in both chambers, according to a Washington Post study. Reid succeeded Daschle as Democratic leader after Daschle lost his Senate seat last November.

Democrats are hoping to gain political advantage from federal and Senate investigations of Abramoff's activities and from the embattled lobbyist's former ties to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.). Yet, many Democratic lawmakers also benefited from Abramoff's political operation, a fact that could hinder the Democrats' efforts to turn the lobbyist's troubles into a winning partisan issue.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see the Abramoff controversy impact both parties," said Tony Raymond, co-founder of PoliticalMoneyLine.com, which gathers lobbying and campaign finance information.

Democratic lawmakers who responded to inquiries for this article said that any money they received from the tribes had nothing to do with Abramoff. They were quick to say they did not know the man.

Federal investigators are examining the millions of dollars in lobbying and public relations fees that Abramoff received from the tribes. They are also looking into his dealings with members of Congress and their staffs, lawyers involved in the inquiry said.

Most lobbying firms here are bipartisan, to give their clients access to key lawmakers of both major parties. Abramoff's group was no exception. Although he was recognized as a Republican lobbyist who was close to DeLay and other party leaders, Abramoff was careful to add at least two Democratic lobbyists to his group during his five years at Greenberg Traurig. By the end, seven of his lobbyists were Democrats.

"Lobbying shops typically direct contributions to both parties because they want contacts on both sides of the aisle," said David M. Hart, a professor of public policy at George Mason University. "Lawmakers in the minority can also have a lot of clout."

According to documents and tribal officials familiar with the Abramoff team's methods, the lobbyists devised lengthy lists of lawmakers to whom the tribes should donate and then delivered the lists to the tribes. The tribes, in turn, wrote checks to the recommended campaign committees and in the amounts the lobbyists prescribed. The money went to incumbents or selected candidates in open seats.

Because of the makeup of his team and the composition of Congress, the Abramoff lobbyists channeled most of their clients' giving to GOP legislators, according to a review of public records. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), chairman of an Appropriations subcommittee that frequently deals with Indian matters, received the largest amount from the tribes as well as from the Greenberg Traurig lobbyists who helped direct those donations: $141,590 from 1999 to 2004, the study showed.

But Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) ran second, with $128,000 in the same period. From 1999 to 2001, Kennedy chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which solicited campaign donations for House candidates.

The Indians' largess flowed to higher-ranking Democrats as well. Senate Democratic leaders Reid and Daschle each received more than $40,000 from the tribes and from lobbyists on Abramoff's team during the period. Gephardt got $32,500.

Of the 18 largest recipients of tribe contributions directed by Abramoff's group, six, or one-third, were Democrats. These included Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), who chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2001 to 2002, and Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (N.D.), a leader in Indian affairs legislation.

Over that period, while Abramoff and his lobbyists directed nearly $4 million in funds from the tribes to lawmakers, they also gave from their own pockets. Two-thirds of the total went to Republicans and one-third was handed out to Democrats, according to The Post's calculations.

The six wealthiest tribes that had hired Abramoff's group were the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Tigua Indian Reservation.

Greenberg Traurig declined to comment. An Abramoff spokesman said: "Each tribe has its own protocol for approving political contributions made by the tribe. Mr. Abramoff and his team provided recommendations on where a tribe should spend its political dollars, but ultimately the tribal council made the final decision on what political contributions to make."

Democratic lawmakers sought to distance themselves from Abramoff.

A spokesman for Kennedy said the congressman's donations from the tribes "have nothing to do with Abramoff." Kennedy traces the money's genesis to his family's long-standing commitment to Indian causes, to the fact that he co-founded the Congressional Native American Caucus in 1997, and to his personal relationship with Mississippi Choctaw Chief Philip Martin, whom Kennedy met in 1999 on a fundraising trip for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "They just became close friends," said Kennedy spokesman Sean Richardson.

James Patrick Manley, Reid's spokesman, also asserted that Reid's connection to tribes was remote from Abramoff. He said that Reid does not know Abramoff. But Abramoff did hire as one of his lobbyists Edward P. Ayoob, a veteran Reid legislative aide. Manley acknowledged that Ayoob helped raise campaign money for his former boss. Lawyers close to the Abramoff operation said that Ayoob held a fundraising reception for Reid at Greenberg Traurig's offices here.

"There's nothing sinister here," Manley said. Reid is a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee with strong relations with Indian tribes, he explained.

Daschle was familiar with another of Abramoff's Democratic lobbyists, Michael Smith. According to Steve Hildebrand, who was Daschle's campaign manager last year, Smith "helped with a lot of Democratic campaigns." In addition, Daschle was a favorite of Indian tribes and received donations from 64, including five Abramoff clients. "We took about $150,000 in this last election cycle from Indian tribes around the country," Hildebrand said. "Tom is viewed as a champion of Indian issues. We have nine tribes in South Dakota, and they worked hard for him."

Murray also was said to have never laid eyes on Abramoff. "Our office has not had any contact with Jack Abramoff," said the senator's spokeswoman, Alex Glass. "She's been active in Indian health care and in supporting their sovereign governments; that is why they decided to contribute to her. They see her as an advocate."

During the time Murray chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Abramoff's major tribes were significant contributors. Election reports show that the grand total from the tribes to that committee in 2001-2002 reached $175,500.

In March 2001, Dorgan held a fundraising event during a hockey game in a skybox leased by an Abramoff company at MCI Center. But the senator said he believed that the box was controlled by Greenberg Traurig. The event was organized by Smith, the Democratic fundraiser, he added.

"I was unaware that Abramoff was involved," Dorgan said.

Staff writer Susan Schmidt contributed to this report.

© 2005 The Washington Post Company

The NY Times headline today, "Glum Democrats Can't See Halting Bush on Courts" brings me such a visceral reaction that I had to write. It's simple: oppose everything he does. Stand up and fight for what you believe in. So what if you get outvoted by the rabid Republicans -- at least you can sleep at night knowing that you did what is right in your heart. If I taught my children to give up a fight just because they were at a disadvantage, I would be doing them a horrible disservice. I have been a Democrat my entire life, but I am sickened by your "he's got the votes so let's give up before we even have a chance to fight" mentality. Bush is raging out of control, and you sit by and watch it happen. I'm sure you've heard the story of putting a frog in water and slowly turning up the heat. The frog doesn't notice that he is slowly being boiled to death, but if you drop a frog into already boiling water, it will die immediately. If Bush dropped in at this point in time and suddenly instituted his campaign to ransack the economy of the United States and give it all to the wealthy, abused the Constitution, and began a ruthless campaign to overtake the middle east's oil by killing, torturing, and violating every tenant of human rights, he would be yanked from office, impeached immediately, and hopefully tried for treason. WAKE UP. Save America from this wicked, wicked man.

He's an evil bully, and you've got to stop acting like a victim trapped in the cycle of abuse. You can get out of it -- just have the balls to say enough is enough. Follow through. He doesn't represent the majority of this country. Polls are worded so carefully that they don't reflect what most Americans are worried about.

Ask them directly if they feel violated when their phone is tapped. Ask them if torture aligns with their Christian values. Ask them if they think it's right that they are gouged at the gas pump while the oil companies get higher and higher profits? Ask a poor family or an elderly person if they like having to choose food over medicine. Ask them if Bush's excuse of "fighting terrorists" justifies raping our country? Ask them if they raised their children to kill. I think you would get a much different picture of what Americans truly think. My husband has talked to many people who live in rural parts of Red States, and they do not believe in what Bush is doing.

Get off your ass and fight. Waiting for an election eleven months away and placing all of your hopes on winning is the coward's way. So what if Alito is ultimately confirmed -- as long as you oppose him with your vote, you will be living out your convictions. If enough of our elected officials take a stand, it will make a difference. Passively giving up because you think you can't win is not the way I raise my children. Would your mother be proud of you? I think not.

Fight. Fight with all of your might. You might get knocked down, but get up and fight again. Get a backbone and do right by all of us.

DownTheMiddle:

OH, WE HATE GEORGE BUSH! WE HATE THE GOP! MOST OF ALL, WE HATE LOSING!

Libs, get used to it. Your personal attacks on Judge, and soon to be, JUSTICE Alito, and left his wife in tears. Liberal AP News tried to blame that on Sen Graham, and NOT on DNC Cohorts and upstanding role models like "Driving & killing under the influence, Racial clubber Teddy Kennedy" and Chucky "let's not violate Civil Rights unless I want to dig up dirt on someone" Shumer (SP).

Now we want to talk about this scandal. This one might have more GOP members, and they should be ASHAMED. Yet, I see Dingy Harry Reid and Helmet Head Dorbin on this list, too, as well as other Dems, so they're NOT clean on this one, either.

GOP should be above this, though, and the rules should get tougher. But, do we kill lobbying all together? Not so sure...both sides are guilty, but DNC LOSERS are trying to turn this into "yet another GOP scandal," and I think the public is tired of hearing about it. Again. That's all DNC is good for these days, like little dogs (Pelosi), nipping at the heals of people walking in the house, or insane moron Dr. Dean...YEEEEE-AHHHH!

GOP will, again, come out on top in 2006 AND 2008. Billiary can't win, not if Dr. Rice runs. Dr. Rice is much more accomplished than Sen. Clinton, who's just another liberal feminist NAG in the Senate. Dr. Rice, besides her vast education, has been National Security Advisor, and is now Secretary of State. Billiary couldn't even get a Dem-controlled Congress to sign off on her health-care debacle when she was First Lady. Let's not forget her being the Only First Lady to have to appear before the Grand Jury, like her Impeached Man.

GOD Bless America, President Bush, Our Brave Fighting Men and Women, and GOD Bless the GOP!
J. CAREY
U.S. ARMY
(Proud to Serve)

Posted by GOPsoldier on January 16, 2006 at 04:30 AM

Johncook:

Get used to losing, Pal. Oh, by the way, I belive in doing what it takes to get "Terrorists and those assisting them" to talk. Hey, don't forget "Grandma having to eat dogfood stories." That's an old favorite out of p. 69 of the DNC Playbook, right after BIG OIL, BIG PHARMACISTS, and the like. You are so possessed and visceral, bless your heart...

For you libs who so value Civil Liberties...they don't do you much good IF YOU'RE DEAD! You guys want to have a Terrorist Bill of Rights. Why not go show your support and love for Saddam! You sure don't care much for our Soldiers...

I'm going to go order a Club Gitmo T-Shirt from my Rush Limbaugh website. I just LOVE tweaking hypocrite liberals - you-know-who-you-are, so go stand in front of your Bubba and JFK memorials, and chant we can win, we can win...right.

CapeCodOrca :

Great article, but these hypocrites pay NO attention to the TRUTH. They're too busy being plotting, as always. Let them enjoy being glum...
GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY PRESIDENT, AND OUR SOLDIERS! Oh, yes, GOD BLESS THE DNC LOSING AGAIN IN 2006 and in 2008!

J. CAREY
U.S. ARMY
(PROUD TO SERVE)