Senate Ethics Chair Barbara Boxer Wants To Put Rep. Don Young in Jail?
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Apr 16, 2008 4:00pm
Rep. Don Young is looking at a world of trouble right now. He is accused of illegally adding a $10 million dollar earmark to a 2005 transportation bill after it had been signed off on by the House and Senate. And that has made Sen. Barbara Boxer, chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, fighting mad. Howie has more:
Barbara Boxer chairs the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, which is a pathetic joke. David "Diapers" Vitter? Nothing, although he publicly admitted breaking the law. Ted Stevens? Nothing, although the FBI and several other agencies have been searching his home in conjunction to a widespread corruption conspiracy that has tainted most of the Alaska GOP (including his son Ben). Pete Domenici? Nothing, even though he used his position as a senator to threaten a U.S. Attorney and attempted to force him to take on a punitive political role and, failing that, conspired with Heather Wilson, Alberto Gonzales, Karl Rove and others to fire the upright Justice Department official. Larry Craig? Next to nothing, although he actually pleaded guilty to a crime. The Senate certainly takes care of its own; and really well. Remember all those senators who were taking bribes from Jack Abramoff? Well Abramoff is in prison. Not one senator has even been admonished.
That isn't to say Boxer doesn't do anything regarding ethics. In fact, right now she's trying to figure out how to go after Alaska's arch-criminal Don Young on ethics charges. No, I don't mean arch-criminal, Senator Ted Stevens; I mean Congressman Don Young. She's promises to figure out a way of making this constitutional-- she'll fail-- since the House takes care of its own ethical lapses (or doesn't) and the Senate... well the Senate is supposed to watch its own 100 miscreants.
Lord knows, she's my senator and she's a 100 times better than DiFi for the Democratic caucus, but fer cryin' out loud, Barbara: clean up your own house first.
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She might be "a 100 times better than DiFi" but
that hardly means she's not worthless herself.
Government inaction or government in action
Unless these assholes actually murder someone, they will never be held accountable. Every now and then they throw a big fish in jail, while the little fish rob us blind. Hell, we should all be politicans. Easy life!
I'm not impressed with Boxer, Feinstein or Pelosi. I think they all need to be replaced.
Good intentions and public expressions of outrage do not constitute corrective measures. If you are going to go after Young, do it. Put his slimy ass in jail and the other Tammany Hall bastards like Stevens too. If you don't intend to follow through then spare us your righteous indignity because you just became a co- conspirator in the problem.
If young illegally adding a $10 million dollar earmark to a 2005 transportation bill after it had been signed off on by the House and Senate he has commited a crime in gross violation of the constitution.
I'm with Paul, and I am (supposedly) represented by all three he mentions. Boxer is a fake liberal - makes a lot of noise, no action. Feinstein is a Republican in Democratic clothing. Don't even get me started on Nancy, "off the table" Pelosi. she should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a freaking rail.
Replace them all and HANG 'EM HIGH!
Being from Alaska, I can say if Don Young were in prison the world would be a better place.
Now, if Ted Stevens were in prison, the world would be a Utopia.
Where are our patriots who put America first? They don't even go after members of the OTHER party anymore! What the hell are we doing to ourselves here?
I join those above regarding Boxer, Feinstein, and Pelosi. They need to go, as most of them do. We Democratic voters were duped in 06. Yeah, yeah, I know...not enough majority votes...blah blah. But they still could have attempted to do something and it would have been on record. "off the table", my ass.
I`m not impressed with any Senator woth the exception of Russ Feingold,Sherrod Brown(my freshman Senator form Ohio)Boxer and Leahy sometimes,Kenedy once in a while,and that`s about it.
Ethics for most politicians is an illusion at best.I can`t wait for Senator Tweety form Pennsylvania in 2012.Should be good for laughs along with the end of the Mayan calender.
She can't clean up her own house, she's a dem, they are as hypocritical as the GOP
100 x 0 = 0
cd @ 6:
He actually just changed the wording WRT what the $10M would be for. And what law does this break? In fact, what law would he have broken if he flat-out added the item?
That Boxer is wasting her time on this is very sad. It's also rather pathetic.
check out
dropdon.com
he makes all us alaskans look dumb..did u know he was voted the dumbest member of the house?
Well, Good for Babs, but nothing will come of it.
Why, You Ask?
Because they are all crooks, We would need a whole new Congress.
♥♥♥♥♥
Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:
*29 have been accused of spousal abuse
*7 have been arrested for fraud
*19 have been accused of writing bad checks
*117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
*3 have done time for assault
*71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
*14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
*8 have been arrested for shoplifting
*21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
*84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year Can you guess which organization this is?
GIVE UP YET?????
IT IS THE 535 MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. The same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. You gotta pass this one on!
Well, if the people we elect to make sure the system runs and is honest won't even play by their own rules... then, really, ya got nothing. Certainly not any kind of real system of checks and balances that works. This is an example of our governments rot from within. I like Barb and I hope something comes of this. But I don't expect anything will besides maybe a little bit of political lip service and a few days orgies worth of media handwringing/finger pointing.. And of course all the political spin doctors will try to present their take on it to help their particular candidate for whatever look good. But real reform or real consequences for any of these miscrant? Naw, not really expecting that. I don't know how ya roter-rooter out all the slime in all three branches of our government and not completely destroy everything, but seems like that's about the only thing likely to get rid of this corrupt infestation..............seems like......JD
♣Bangkok Bob♠ @ 15:
Miss the point much?
One of the biggest problems right now is that the Article I and II branches are not doing all of their own jobs and only their own jobs.
But, despite this, you think that it's a good thing that the Senate Ethics Committee, which has zero jurisdiction over the behavior of a representative, is looking into the actions of a representative.
Fine.
Name one thing the Dems have accomplished since 07 to dramatically turn things around the way they promised.
Other then TURN AROUND.
Paul @ 4:
Talk about feeling entitled. These three take the cake.
Don Young should be (and will be) sitting in jail! Once the thugs leave the white house, maybe then we can return to the rule of law and reinstate our democracy? The down side is that the constitution will no longer be used for toilet paper at the white house - drat!
First list for me all of the Repukes who voted for the things the Dems tried to pass please?
L.A. Confidential @ 19:
If these three need to be replaced, then let's begin with every sycophantic lockstep criminal Republican holding office.....thank you.
Billy @ 1:
Ya beat me to it and more power to you for that. The idea that any of the three 'Year of the Woman' DiFi, Boxer or Pelosi are anything other than what they are...
Lebercrats, DINOs, FAUX Republicans has mystified me for years.
They all need to go.
And as soon as possible. When Boxer sent me an email about Kyl-Lieberman that was ecstatic to the point of hysteria....
Well, maybe even Ahnuld would be better. Funny, that he hasn't been any worse than Davis.
Are you starting to get the picture?
Democrat = Republican....pretty much.
As I see it, 50% of the Repukes in office have participated in criminal activities and should be impeached and sent to jail. So let's be fair here, if that's at all possible for you to do....
JTM @ 13:
Once a bill has been aproved by the Senate NO ONE save maybe the President has the right to change it in the slightest.
L.A. Confidential @ 18:
I'm waiting for the list......
And then we can begin a discussion on Dumbo's vetoes.....
cd @ 25:
Granted, but without a functioning Dept. of Justice, what can anyone do? Justice will not be served until this cadre of lairs and crooks evacuate the white house.
Dumb questions from a Canadian:
Isn't it a conflict of interest for the House and Senate to police the ethical conduct of their own members?
If the US government is based on 'separation of powers' and 'checks and balances', why isn't ethical oversight of the the Legislative Branch entrusted to an entity at arms-length to the Congress, such as the Justice Dept.?
Anybody?
This is some progress over the "strongly worded letters" and "open letters" that have been recently all too frequent. Such letters are what the weak send to the powerful. But we're talking about a party whose head, The Preznit, ignores Congressional subpoenas out of hand. If only to slow this investigation to a grinding halt like so many others, we know whose side Justice will take on this issue.
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
At what point does her inaction, and that of others, to federal crimes make them accomplices? I want Nancy Pelosi "Taken Off the Table", as well as others that think more of their future, than the future of their country. Unfortunately for California, we here have what has been called a "Stealth Primary". Although the low turnout could favor those that are more passionate about politics.
100 x 0 is still 0
this is bullshit grandstanding and utterly meaningless.
Doesn't the next Congress get seated about a month before dumbass leaves office? My fantasy is in that time all of the new reps will do nothing but work on his impeachment.
John Tighe @ 33:
May not be so much of a pipe dream after all?
The fact is: Even on the worst hair day of the worst democrat in Congress, they are still heads & shoulders above ANY Republiscum in all respects. After all the party of the GOP - Grand Old Perverts - is simply that full of hypocritical bible thumpers praising the lord while soliciting prostitutes, seducing minors, and trolling public restrooms....that's just for starters.
I can't wait for Vitter, Hastert, Foley, and toe-tapper to get their "just desserts".
did anyone else hear that Dennis Hastert has been implicated (or fingered) in some illicit sales of arms to Turkey?
I stand corrected: It wasn't implicated in the sale of arms (although I'm sure they're all doing that) but his involvement with drug trafficking with Turkey.
What truly is the legacy of this administration ? But more importantly, what does the future hold for our politicians that come out of office, only to make closet deals enriching themselves and their families to the tune of millions ? I am not a wealthy person, but I am happy to learn another language and travel abroad. However, where are the Arab-speakers in our offices of power, the wings where policy is shaped not by an expatriate that believed that locals who had suffered under the regime of a despot would welcome him with open arms ? I ask you simply, do you believe that the Chinese will simply bend to your whims, because you accuse them of being undignified regarding the rights of their citizenry ? Is America blameless ? Read a little Chomsky and you quickly become skeptical of the effects of our foreign policy. Is there no one left to break us down ?...
Their constituents say "jump", the Wimpocrats say "go away, we're the leaders and you're just advocates".
The far-right says "jump", the Wimpocrats say "how high"?
"Republiscum", that's pretty good; I also like "Republicants"(they don't believe in government, so they can't govern). I'm sure I'm not the first to think of that last one.
osiris @ 29:
If a Senator speaks loudly enough the DOJ will be forced to take action.
cd @ 26:
Incorrect.
If your understanding of the process extends only as far as "I'm Just a Bill," then pack it in. You can correct spelling errors, etc, as long as you don't change intent.
You also missed my actual question. What law did he break. Name it. Give the number. That there's nothing that allows an action does not mean that there's a law that says you can't.
But, with all that said, please don't over-read what I'm saying. He is slime. He is corrupt. And I'd love it if he were in jail. But claims that he broke a (nonexistent) law or investigations by people (such as Boxer as chair of the Senate Ethics Committee) who have no jurisdiction do not help one bit.
cd @ 42:
Oh, please. Have you been paying NO attention? The DoJ won't enforce House subpoenas. And you think mere noise will make them act?
This is not True. Those bullets are an urban legend type email. Not true.
♣Bangkok Bob♠ @ 16:
bingo
She's my senator, too, but I think we should cut off the health care benefits for all national legislators until they start doing their jobs.
JTM @ 44:
There are only 100 US Senators in the world.
If you think any one of them can't raise a stink then pack it in.
Can someone remind me why the Democrats deserve any more respect than the Republican's again? I just forgot.
Maybe she's angry that Young thought of doing it first?
Is it just me? At least SOMEONE is making a big deal about this egregious abuse of the legislative process. At least Sen. Boxer is raising the issue. Instead of disparaging her for raising an issue about corruption, we should all be calling our Representatives in Congress and push them to demand an ethics investigation.
Martin Luther King didn't have the authority to change Jim crow legislation, either. But he raised enough hell about it to get the people who could change the law to actually follow through and do it. So stop being cynical, stop shitting on Barbara Boxer, and go call your Representative in the House to demand an ethics investigation. Get involved!
He actually just changed the wording WRT what the $10M would be for. And what law does this break? In fact, what law would he have broken if he flat-out added the item?
once a bill has been passed by the Congress, it can not be changed in any way, shape or form. That't the law this rethug Young broke. Period, end of discussion.
These very powerful and influential Democrats make themselves ineffectual because their
HUSBANDS are heavily invested in CHINA. Going after the most China-friendly administration to date is not good for the family business.
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