I really don’t know what good Federal election laws are if nobody is going to enforce them. It was infuriating that nobody ever investigated Joe Lieberman’s huge slush fund following the 2006 general election, so hopefully they’ll get around to this:
Contributions from associates and friends of now-indicted garbage executive James Galante to the 2004 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman have sparked the interest of federal investigators.
Lieberman’s bid for the White House took in at least $14,000 from Galante, his associates and their relatives in the fall of 2003,
according to a Courant review of campaign records.The contributions to Lieberman, a longtime Democrat who became an independent in 2006, are similar to allegedly bundled contributions to three Republican officeholders that earlier this month led to state charges against Galante, who is also facing a 2006 federal racketeering indictment.
What’s more, people familiar with the campaign matters say, the names of Lieberman, the three Republicans and about a dozen other Connecticut and New York politicians have turned up on what the FBI loosely refers to as a “ledger” that agents seized from Galante’s office while investigating mob influence in the trash industry.
Meanwhile, Lieberman raked in $2.5 million in donations from real estate interests from 2001-2006. Curious now that there’s quite a bit of weirdness surrounding the Stamford real estate deal that just netted his family $17 million dollars, and Joe was executor of the trust.
Any connection?
Enquiring minds want to know, Joe.
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Jane!
I”ll tell the other pups
Yech.
…which is a commentary on Lieberman, I hasten to add!
Wouldn’t it be good Liarman got indicted. Does anyone know what CT rules are on replacing Senators who resign?
He really is a GOP, sleazy donors and all.
Something stinks….
Fishy real estate deals? Republics were really upset about those in the 90’s. Where are they now?
I fear that Republics will continue to get away with blatant hypocrisy.
LS @ 7
that would be Lieberman
And Senator Obama chose Holy Joe as his mentor. Hmmm.
Joe’s not the only R in trouble for dealing with Galante At least this one is an admitted R.
petedownunder @ 5
The Governor (currently R) would appoint a replacement until I believe the next election.
Any way we could encourage further investigation?
scory @ 10
And that is becoming evident.
Slummy Joe, I wonder if he uses the same General Contractors as his former BFF, John Rowland? Inquiring minds…
Something is swirling around out there…Edmunds/Turkey…Hastert/Turkey bribe and now his departure earlier than planned…Turkey/Iraq/PKK…Turkey/Armenian Genocide redux…9/11…Brewster Jennings…exposure of VPW…
Some kinda big Court Boullion….
Wait, it’s all backwards. How could Mr. Civility himself (still the object of my eternal comtempt, btw) play Goofus to this Galante fellow?
petedownunder @ 5
Calling CT Bob!
Anyone know what happened to the “investigation” into Lieberliar’s “walking around money” in the 2006 primary?
First of all, I write this in sorrow more than anger, but it still feels good to think, type, and say it:
Traditional political graft for Connecticut’s finest anti-Democratic Connecticut-for-Lieberman Indendepent holier-than-thou sanctimonious senator?
Say it ain’t so, Joe.
And pass the fuckin’ popcorn.
First 2008 House Democratic retirement (who is not moving up to a Senate race):
[snip]
I’m continually amazed at how cheaply politicians sell themselves. Don Young sold that Florida highway for what, $40k? Mitch McConnell sold his sloppy ass to those British crooks for $53K plus $500k to his charity? Jay Rockefeller went down for $42k? Maybe our Lieberdweeb shows character for holding out for $2.5m, although he happily licked the garbage barrel clean for $12k.
These are all bribes, folks, or the term has no meaning. Get money, do something.
The only way to stop it is to pass a law saying that if you have taken money from a firm who stands to benefit from legislation, you may not vote or influence any laws relating to the topic.
newspaperbrat @ 18
Repub. governor Jodi Rell. Don’t lick your chops just yet.
Yeah, key words.. Republican Governor…
Not sure if this has been mentioned but MSNBC hosts another Democratic debate tomorrow night.
LS @ 16
Maybe related to Sibel Edmonds saying she will defy the gag order and “spill the beans” all of it.
link
punaise @ 17
timbertoes
I read somewhere else that he had childhood polio and finds it is getting more & more physically exhausting to do his job. So apparently nothing untoward going on here.
RevDeb @ 23
Whatever it takes (legally) to get Joe out of the Senate and a long way from Reid and the rest of the D members of the gang of fourteen!
Shorter Jowls: “I take all major credit cards and cash is the same as credit.”
Charges uncertain in Blackwater shooting
OT, but gosh…
Jo Fish @ 24
A few states require the replacement senator be of the same party as the departing one. No idea whether CT is one of those.
Lieberman in Turkey with McCain 1/4/02:
“I expressed the point of view, which I think is felt by many in the United States, that the war against terrorism will not end until Saddam Hussein is removed from power in Baghdad. But I also wanted to assure Prime Minister Ecevit and Foreign Minister Cem that anything that the United States does in this regard should be done in consultation with the Turkish government, which has an obvious security and commercial interest in these matters. And that from my own point of view, a change in regime in Baghdad, which I think is so critical to the security of the United States, does not mean that the territorial integrity of Iraq should in any way be changed from what it is today.“
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/ava…..te_001.htm
neokneme @ 31
I just read that story. Protecting their own once again.
neokneme @ 31
And they still won’t find out the ‘truth.’ Anyone wanna bet?
Steve-AR @ 26
Edmonds is looking for a “mainstream” media outlet to tell her story???
In my world, FDL is the highest-rated media outlet there is. Maybe Sibel would like to spill the beans here at FDL? Worth an offer perhaps?
OT, but of general interest: Volunteering: for pay and/or for community
Just trickles down, doncha think? Money, money, money…
We need state laws to recall before this ever happens again. This man is a fraud………
Tancredo (R-Co) not running for re-election to Congress in ‘08.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.co…..ction.html
bonkers @ 36
If anyone gives her a venue, they will need a lot of lawyers and money to fight the wrath of “our” government. Any one or group that helps her violate the “State Secrets Act” would be in a world of hurt.
bonkers @ 36
I loves the idea of an invitation from our fearless Jane & Redd to Ms. Edmonds. ;~)
I like slummy-joe however
Lieber Trash Talk
Take Out The Lieber Trash
Dumpster Dive with Joe
Eureka Springs @ 42
The effluent life of Joe.
newspaperbrat @ 41
Whoops – h/t to steve@40 – not such a good idea after all. :>(
peanutbutter @ 32
Most states use gubernatorial appointment, the main exceptions being OR, WI, MA and AK.
Even if CT was a state that appointed a new senator from the same party, what party would that be in this case?
Recent brief ThinkProgress post: Career prosecutors opposed Siegelman prosecution
Think Progress:
Career prosecutors opposed Siegelman prosecution.
Alabama GOP operative Dana Jill Simpson recently charged that Karl Rove and his allies pushed the Justice Department into prosecuting former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D) prior to a major election. Harpers’ Scott Horton now reports that the “most experienced and senior career prosecutors” opposed the Siegleman prosecution, yet the Justice Department pushed the case forward “with blunt political force”:
I can’t make up my mind which I care more about. “Slummy Joe” or his deep roots to the DLC.
Loo Hoo. @ 47
I care about Karl Rove,
warcriminalAnyone else just catch Newt on All Crap Considered? He’s touting his new book, “Contract On That Ho Yo Mama Earth” in which he now claims leadership of “mainstream environmentalism.” See, back in the ’70s, the Sierra Club and its ilk attempted to go green through litigation, regulation, big government and trial lawyers. (Why they went that route was unexplained.) Nixon was the first green President, and Gore makes the problem too big but his solutions are too small. The solution is, of course, nuke plants, just like our role models the French and the Japanese, which will allow us to GET TO HYDROGEN!! Now that’s the big kind of global thinking that Republicans have always espoused! They’re the party of ideas!
(Did I miss anything? Did Robert Siegel challenge him on even one point?? Is this still the politics of demonification?)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 48
It’s all connected, like Aspen roots.
Raph Levien @ 45
eCAHN @ 28
Post-polio syndrome? It’s hit a lot of people, and for some of them it’s really bad.
the Slummy Joe appellation is an insult to blighted urban areas.
Raph Levien @ 45
Would serve them right! Let’em find a qualified Connecticut for Liberman candidate.
Perhaps that would give the people of CT second thoughts about allowing a candidate to essentially run and be defeated in a primary under one party and create his own party to have a second chance in the general election.
Were I a resident of CT, I would work to change the law that allowed this to happen.
P J Evans @ 53
Apparently so.
http://fe49.news.sp1.yahoo.com…..omthehouse
awaiting the Edwards video….
ticking….
ticking….
ticking….
The hell with Joe, bring on the mo’
Slummy Joe and the DLC? As Molly Ivins might have retorted: The DLC? ‘It’s all just bidness.’ And yes, I’m zeroing in on another DLCer.
Just caught the last minutes of Chris Dodd’s appearance on Matthews Hardball that is worth catching on the replay. Dodd is in fine form and Matthews quite deferential IMHO.
punaise @ 54
Agreed. The contempt I feel for HoJo can’t be measured.
That this smarmy f**k dares to lecture the rest of us on civility, morality, etc., just increases that contempt.
Prairie Sunshine @ 57
Have you checked his website?
I’m perfectly happy that for once a transcript was released first ;-). Usually I’m the one tapping fingers for a transcript!
Eureka Springs @ 51
That’s right. And we’re left holding the bag.
I want someone; anyone, to rationalize that the DLC and their cohorts are progressive.
Dammit!! This really pisses me off…
“WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month’s deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians, The Associated Press has learned.
As a result, it will likely be months before the United States can — if ever — bring criminal charges in the case that has infuriated the Iraqi government.
“Once you give immunity, you can’t take it away,” said a senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.”
http://ap.google.com/article/A…..QD8SJ45NO4
I like the question mark after …..on the take?
how many of our congress are not taking contributions they know to be illegal? 2, maybe 3%? How many locals? more or less?
Almost all is an acceptable answer. Almost all corrupt
Oklahoma kiddo @ 63
My dismissive comment about the DLC is: the 90s, they’re over, soooo over.
peanutbutter @ 61
Meanwhile Blitzer & Co. just wrote him off as a viable candidate….what liars!!!!
LS @ 64
It does get the dander up!
Condi needs to go. Now!!
LS @ 69
she’d have insisted on better oversight if she was in charge of the State Department or something
LS, isn’t it amazing? That election is OVER as far as the media is concerned, and a ballot hasn’t been cast yet.
I’m so sick of the media and their horserace coverage. Then they wonder why they are held in contempt.
eCAHNomics @ 66
You’re indicating the DLC is irrelevant? If so how do we account for the fact that their candidate is projected to be the next president of the most powerful nation in the world?
Joe, all mobbed up?
Say it ain’t so, Joe, say it ain’t so!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
grumbles @ 38
Senators and Representatives are considered Federal Officers so recall does not apply, even for those states that have recall provisions. It would take a Constitutional Amendment.
I wonder if the immunity promised to Blackwaterians by the State Dept applies to all investigations. Isn’t the FBI doing a separate probe?
How and why does the State Dept. have authority to offer immunity to anyone?
Eureka Springs @ 76
yeah anyway, is there a lawyer in the house?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 72
I didn’t mean to imply that the DLC’s power is over, but rather that they’re so out of touch with reality. Sorry for the inartful syntax. Actually, the implication is exactly the opposite-that we’re stuck with something so stuck in the past. That and all our other problems.
dakine01 @ 74
Some states (AZ is one) require office-seekers to pledge when they file that, if victorious, they’ll abide by the state’s recall provision, even though they are federal officials. Not sure how that would play out in court, but the court of public opinion would be tough.
Elliott @ 70
Negroponte is in charge of Blackwater at the State Department. I’ll bet you anything Blackwater is his “baby”…he’s a freakin’ maniac and probably set up all the militia activities in Iraq just like El Salvador.
Grrrrrr……
Breaking:
TPM saying Obama will (definitely) vote against Mukasey.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
TeddySanFran @ 75
As I commented over at Emptywheel’s TNH:
Oh…this is an enlightening article:
http://www.opednews.com/articl…..tment_.htm
“Will the information State Department e-mails obtained by ABC News and subsequent investigations by the LA Times lead to Obstruction of Justice and eventually to impeachment proceedings? Did the White House know about all of this?
The above cited Emails discuss how a regional State Department official WAS complaining about a number of incidents where Blackwater guards were reported as opening fire upon innocent civilians.”
The view here is that the struggle for the heart, mind and soul of the Democratic Party which is transpiring now, is a conflict between traditional Democrats, and their progressive partners, and the DLC and “The Third Way” (’Republican-Lite’ I think some here refer to it as). I do not believe this to be an over simplification.
PW upstairs.
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/29…../#comments
FYI, New post(age) upstairs
I don’t, and never did, take Obama for a serious candidate in the national elections.
At best, Obama is a Neocon-MSM-Clinton stalking horse designed to suck up votes and thereby separate Hillary from her nearest serious competitor, namely, John Edwards.
I wonder if this Galante is related to the swift boater Paul Galante.
I’ve been away from FDL for some time, as my favorite poster wasn’t posting so much for a while. But lately she’s back, and she’s STILL giving shit to Holy Joe. I love it!
And she doesn’t buy Holy O’s bullshit either! I hope she can flush Obama into the Ct for Lieberman Party. (Shouldn’t that have been the Lieberman for Ct Party? Or did ego man actually have a moment of honesty?)
Rock on, Jane! I’ve missed you.
I’ve been following the Galante case with interest.
Besides running a garbage company, Galante sponsored an auto race team and owned a minor league hockey team. I find that combination of activities curious.
How many Russians played on the hockey team, I wonder. Also, what incentive did Galante have to pay them above the salary cap imposed by the hockey league?
Keep an eye on this one.
I promise you immunity. Howe can the state department promise immunity? They don’t have to power to immunize anyone from the law. That’s rubbush.
oh baby! the next best thing to having bush and cheney in jail would be having LIEberman in jail.
.
Formerly Undecided asks the right questions…in CT contractors, property sales, gargage collection companies are common elements tied to the Mob. I am certain that the Lieberman administration has made a deal with the Mob for years..CT.RI. NY…all Mob terrotories – I hope someone can investigate this and follow the money..the money doesn’t lie…
I should have wikipediaed the guy first check out Galante’s bio here confirms the Mob hypothesis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Galante
One last thought to share-given the Bush Administration has secretly taped over 46,000 persons’ telephone records, isn’t possible that they have also garnered to their advantage the discussions that folks like Lieberman would not want dislcosed publically-like their negotiations with the Mob (possibly set up with the FBI’s consent?). Or that Lieberman has entered into some sort of exchange (blackmail?) to follow the Bush administration? How many other Senators these days are involved in negotiations with known Mob gangsters where the FBI/DOJ does not at least investigate let alone prosecute them? Even these guys aren’t that dumb….
The thing to remember is that if Lieberman was found to be guilty of any wrongdoing then he would be widely described as being a “Former Democratic Presidential Hopeful” and thus more evidence that both parties are the same so … we might as well vote Republican.
God I am getting cynical
yowzer @ 92
Maybe, but seeing KKKarl in leg-irons would make my day too.