John McCain, His Lobbyist Gambling Buddy and a Shady Land Deal
By Bill W. Sunday May 25, 2008 8:45amMac Daddy McCain loves rolling the dice (from Connie Bruck's profile in The New Yorker):
"McCain is an avid gambler. Wes Gullett, a close friend who worked for McCain for years, told me that they used to play craps in Las Vegas in fourteen-hour stints, standing at the tables from 10 a.m. to midnight." [...]
Here are the key elements of the story:
- Wes Gullet is an old friend and gambling buddy of John McCain. They rolled dice together in 14-hour-long sessions in Las Vegas.
- Gullet was McCain's campaign manager and top senate staffer and is now a lobbyist.
- Gullet was hired to lobby McCain on the largest land swap in Arizona history, exchanging private land in the wilderness for valuable federally-owned land ready for development.
- McCain, who initially opposed the swap, changed his position and supported it after Gullett was hired.
- The land swap benefited one of John McCain's top fundraisers who has hauled in more than $100,000 for his Presidential campaign.
As Jed explains, this has "all the elements for a great story -- Vegas, gambling, corruption, visually compelling Arizona landscapes, etc. And it's a true story. But with scattered exceptions, the media has ignored it." He's sure not kidding. Could you just imagine what the media would be doing if this involved Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama? Go read it all.
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Boy are you stupid! Anything a republican does is always ok.
With all the election crap going on..is anybody keeping an eye on George and Dick?..just asking..they are up to something...WAKEUP PEOPLE!!!!!
i just read a joke, from chris rock, in the TIME 100 issue:
On John McCain's age: "How you going to make decisions about the future
when you aren't going to be here?"
Dugg It
Crime is fine so long as reslugs benefit.
Besides it's not like they know how to do anything else.
Gullet? You couldn't make this shit up.
Viva Las Vegas
Booze, babes, gambling, and golf.
katy @ 3:
I wish that was a joke.
Elvis Sighting!
How much of an elitist do you have to be to regularly play craps for 14 hr binges? I'm not a gambler but I'm not to sure that's in the realm of hoi polloi.
Evidently, not everything that happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
McCain Sells Out Vets By Brian Beutler
This article appeared in the June 2, 2008 edition of The Nation.
May 15, 2008
The way John McCain tells it, the injuries he suffered at the hands of his captors in Vietnam would have ended his career as a Navy pilot were it not for the help of physical therapist Diane Rauch. And that's basically true: after months of painful treatment, he was well enough to pass his medical screening. But that leaves out an interesting part of the story. In his biography of McCain, Robert Timberg details the treatment McCain received at two naval hospitals. Navy doctors in Maryland were, in fact, McCain's first physical therapists, but they offered a bleak prognosis. Fortunately for McCain, the story of his imprisonment and torture was so widely known that strangers from across the country offered assistance. One of those strangers was Rauch, who provided her services at no charge.
As a vignette, it's charming--a POW, just released from a long and brutal stretch in captivity, finally stumbling upon some good fortune. But it's hardly a working model for veterans' health services. Most vets, after all, need government-provided treatment for the rest of their lives--first, like McCain, at military hospitals and then, unlike McCain, at VA facilities.
Thirty-five years after McCain's return to the United States, the Veterans Health Administration has undergone a sea change. Once a national embarrassment, it is now among the highest-functioning public bureaucracies. In fact, it's the best health system, public or private, in the country. (Military hospitals are a different story altogether, managed not by the Veterans Administration but by the armed services. To many, the words "military hospital" evoke images of the Soviet-style decay uncovered by journalists at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.)
justabill @ 9:
If you've got the money to play for 14hrs straight then I'd suggest you've got the cash to qualify as "elite". But then that's not what that word means in the reslug reality is it? It suggests we'd all better put on our "dumb down" hats for the sake of unity and pretend we're as stupid as the idiots trying to lie to us.
Yet one of Newsweek's top stories falsely accuses David Axelrod of being a lobbyist. Interesting. It's almost as if they have some sort of bias.
Could there possibly be anything more non-conservative, fiscally and ideologically, than a gambling addiction?
Come on babieeeee... Papa needs a gallon a gas... SHIT! Bush and Cheney! Snake-eyes... We crap out again... Brotha can you spare a dime?
A bit off track but good example of where the heart lies (as in big gambler with other people's $) http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/05/joking-abou...
This is very interesting . I wonder if there is evidence of gambling at Indian Casinos,(to my knowledge who are soveriegn entities and under the auspices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs). John Mc Cain was Chairman of BIA involving Jack Abramoff and the Indian casino lobby debacle. Here is an excerpt from HuffPO,article entitled :"McCain Withheld Controversial Abramoff e-mail,"2/25/08,by Sam Stein.
"In the 2006 Senate report concerning Abramoff's activities, which McCain spearheaded, the Arizona Republican conspicuously left out information detailing how Alabama Gov. Bob Riley was targeted by Abramoff's influence peddling scheme. Riley, a Republican, won election in November 2002, and was reelected in 2006.
In a December 2002 email obtained by the Huffington Post -- which McCain and his staff had access to prior to the issuance of his report -- Abramoff explains to an aide what he would like to see Riley do in return for the "help" he received from Abramoff's tribal clients.
An official with the Mississippi Choctaws "definitely wants Riley to shut down the Poarch Creek operation," Abramoff wrote, "including his announcing that anyone caught gambling there can't qualify for a state contract or something like that."
The note showed not only the reach of Abramoff, but raised questions about Riley's victory in what was the closest gubernatorial election in Alabama history.
And yet, despite the implications of the information, McCain and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee sat on the controversial portion of the email. According to an official familiar with the investigation, McCain also subsequently refused to make the email public after the report was released.
There was a brief footnote in the report that quoted William Worfel, former vice chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, saying that Abramoff told the chief of a Mississippi tribe to spend $13 million "to get the governor of Alabama elected to keep gaming out of Alabama so it wouldn't hurt ... his market in Mississippi."
But Riley's name and the details of what was being asked of him were not mentioned once in the 373-page document."---This article is well woth reading in its entirety-including reviewing the actual e-mail itself,which is included in the article itself.
Perhaps the media is waiting for a more opportune moment to spill this story. I've noticed of late that the Bush machine is skipping a beat and unable to hold back the media's thirst for blood. NPR has taken back it's liberal stance. The major networks are less Bush friendly. I see McCain being stomped on.
By the way, if McCain is tied to the casino story I want to see the thing blown onto the front page. I'm sick of the dishonesty, the corruption, the lack of compassion, and unpatriotic behavior that is masked as patriotic (seriously, painting your nails with flags and wearing lapel pins ain't it) and finally the lack of leadership that has sent not just the US into a tailspin but the rest of the world. This is just sick.
Just another senior moment he had. Move along.
I knew it! This goes right along with the McCain's superstitions post that C&L had posted a few weeks ago. On it, people were attributing McCain's many superstitions to his time when he was a Naval Pilot. I thought at the time that McCain's numerous superstitions where more of an indication of someone who is a compulsive gambler. It certainly looks like McCain has proved my assessment about him right.
"Could you just imagine what the media would be doing if this involved Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama"
Let's try this instead--" We can correctly say,with any doubt, the media will not involved Hillary Clinton or McSame or Jr.Bush in any underhand dealings".
Why pick on Obama? Not a Israel Firster but American!
Still don't get it, do you? McBush does not have a gambling addiction just like his wifes non addicted use of pain killers. He never does favors for the non-lobbyists that swarm him, except the occasional BBQ. He never had sex with the hottest lobbyist I've ever seen even though they were inseparable for months. And he does not have any anger issues. If you print that he does he'll kick your ass into next week.
Joe O. @ 19:
Just to clarify this was my comment from the below linked C&L post regarding McCain's many superstitions. I just hope that we never have to find out if my last observation about McCain proves also to be correct. I say we do not give him the chance:
"22 Joe O. Says: It isn’t the fact that McCain is superstitious that concerns me. Its the fact that his whole life seems to revolve around it. I mean, just look at how many superstitions he subscribes to. He has many and to me that sounds like something you might find with a compulsive gambler. Because of this, McCain will be more than likely to gamble with American lives in my opinion simply because he has his lucky rabbits foot or a coin was found sitting a certain way.
Quote This Comment May 5th, 2008 at 6:11 AM - PDT"
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/05/superstition-aint-the-way/#comm...
I don't know if this is merely coincidental, but Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal attended a get together at McCain's home this past weekend. Louisiana is loaded with gambling casinos-both Indian tribal and non tribal. But the casino that blew the lid off Abramoff was an Indian casino tribe in Louisiana,the Coushatta,according to the Stein article.
Well if it were about HILLARY for sure it would be ALL OVER THE MEDIA!!! (or Bill even)...but isn't it lucky that good old Johnnie has yet another Stepford wife model and she's RICH beyond belief so he can just gamble away!!! Just let's NOT have him gambling with our lives....get thee to Las Vegas McCain!
You know, if you add all of McCain's past up you can come up with a pretty good profile of McCain that can be easily exploited by another nation or group. McCain's entire life has been about greed, corruption, ambition and using others to obtain higher positions. For example, McCain dumped his first wife for a more wealthy wife. Next, he tends to go politically with ever which way the political winds happen to be blowing at the time. He has been involved in numerous scandels in the past and now we find that he appears to be a compulsive gambler on top of that. Add that all up and you see a man with zero principles that can probably be turned to your will. For another nation, all you would have to do is find McCain's price.
What about if it were Obama?
Wonderful. First it was the temper, next it was a nuclear first strike on Iran, then it was him being in favor of denying women their right to control their bodies and their paychecks, and now we HAVE to worry about him gambling away Fort Knox on not just Iraq but the craps table??!
He already wants to gamble the Treasury and the military on Iraq/Afghanistan/Iran/China/anybody who looks at him funny.
#26---I wonder if they have gambling casinos in Israel?
Nothing at all wrong with shooting craps for 14 hours straight. Not at all. You don't need to have a lot of money to do that, playing the pass line, the come line, and odds. I've done it myself, starting out with $20.
The land deal, that's something else.
Man,wouldn't that be a hoot if they would have had a photo of McCain and his two spiritual advisors ,standing at the tables with him? Praying for the BIG WIN?
Don @ 2:
Beyond just the usual lining of pockets and maximizing of profits?
katy @ 3:
That was suppued to be a joke?
That was a statement / NOT FUNNY. True and sober question.
14 hours at the craps table - that sounds pretty fucking hardcore to me. As for the land deal, well, remember that the GOP controlled Congress spent how many millions investigating Hillary and Whitewater (to this day, nobody seems to know what the point of that investigation was). You think McCrazy's gonna get the same treatment? Uh-uh, don't think so.
Well, I think it all know what happened when it was an Arkansas land deal. Special prosecutors, 70 million tax dollars and as it turns out the Clintons lost $43,000 on the deal. All was not wasted though, Bill did get a BJ heard round the world. Thank God our tax dollars were used for something useful.
And Obama, well he would get a very nice house and an extra side yard on a sweet deal but it would be so rude and unacceptable to mention the criminal aspect associated with that so they won't.
Ooops! I think "we" all know what happened.
justabill @ 10:
Yeah , but McGambler should stay there ...........
geneHUSSEIN214 @ 32:
Dems with spines could at least hint at it. Of course there's time to deny and coverup, but it looks like they will have to be covering a lot up! Keep up the pressure and the Repubs will dump the Mac.
That's just what we need in a president, someone who is really bad at numbers/statistics (as all gamblers are).
Sounds like the time for a good well placed ad showing McCain, 2 blondes in hand, gambling away and something about lobbyists cash, etc. Maybe McCain can't remember which number he picked because he's getting so old and one of the girls whispering, "John, your number was 7." Camera pans to a close shot of the low cut dress with triple Ds sticking out. McCain muttering, "I love hanging out with my constituency and all their ah ah ah.....friends."
"A Shady land deal"
Didn't McCain attack Bil Clinton over "Whitewater"?
Way to dignify the presidential debate. I love how you can make your dirty political attack but disguise it as merely pointing out the hypothetical hypocrisy of the situation. [deleted--You're welcome to comment on the topic, but you're not welcome to insult the site owner]
Well, he has admitted he knows nothing about money.
Fourteen hours in one place is a long time, though. Someone sits playing World of Warcraft for fourteen hours, people think there's something wrong with them. I guess this is the difference between the elite and the rest of us.
This is wild - I had never, ever heard this about McCain. 14 hrs at a crap table?
But like other comments, when I read about all those weird superstitions and good luck charms, my first thought was of a gambling addict.
I wonder how often, how much, and for how long he has gambled.
If the security video ever ends up on you tube of him standing there for 14 hours....jeez o pete
Gambling losses, tax write-off?
lj @ 43:
Who supplies the chips in the first place !
Royal Vegas match game slot machines at the players choice. Hundreds of exciting gambling options to choose from. Get your free version of the Royal Vegas Casino software now.
Gambling and land swaps boring boring.
what about McCain and the UN condemned, forced evictions of the Dineh-Navajo Indians from their Arizona lands !
this is the real human rights abuse and show of character of McCain.
Given this new revelation regarding McCains fondness for gambling, maybe he should make Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades" his campaign song:
You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools,
But that's the way I like it baby,
I don't wanna live for ever,
And don't forget the joker!
On the other hand, that would be a waste of a perfectly good song, wouldn't it?
ferrofluid @ 45:
Good point. I think McCain is probably part of the super-deluxe-Elite that don't have to use their own money when they go into a casino.
So we've got temper, adulterer and gambler, can the revelation of hookers be that far away?*
*Not counting hot lobbyists.
my concern is how its going to affect the ridiculous UIGEA (unlawful internet gambling enforcement act).
a little background: after bitching and moaning about how federal judges deserved an up-or-down vote, republicans attatched the UIGEA as a rider to an unloseable bill, the SAFE ports act (after the UIGEA had not one but TWO up-and-down votes, which both lost). This happened around election day 2006.
the main sponsors of the bill, one of the john kyl, said that internet gambling was the greatest threat to american children (btw, youtube some of those etrade commercials...are they saying that its so easy an INFANT can buy stock? an exaggeration of course, but think of the implications), but cleared the way for track betting, online lottery ticket sales (referred to by Daniel Negreanu as the 'crack cocaine of gambling'), and fantasy sports. yes, btw, his campaign was sponsored by churchill downs and MLB execs. but why ban casino gambling, specifically poker? cause its a game of LUCK....wait...what?
14 hours at a craps table? Sounds like a shrewd player to not crap out after so long. Also sounds like a non-issue for most people. Move along and find something more substantial.
I would be more interested in HOW he was betting. Was he taking odds and staying close to the house, or was he playing hardways and other garbage bets?
Derek @ 50:
The gambling is but a TINY part of this scandal. Did you even bother to read but the first sentence?
This should trigger an investigation ASAP.
L.A. Confidential @ 6:
And then handing the bill over to your plastic looking wife with the 100 million dollar bank account!
Derek @ 50:
A shrewd player, or some guy with a really rich wife-ie, someone not playing with his own money.
Here is another way that McCain is like Bush. They are both gamblers and not very good ones at that. For example, instead of taking Kenny Rogers advice ("You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away") in Iraq they double up on their bets, only the chips they are playing with are the lives of our servicemen and women.
Not exactly the type of thing most people look for in a leader. As the Stones once sang we "need leaders but get gamblers instead."
Different Anonymous @ 49:
There already were hookers - what do you think he was doing during his "playboy Navy days"?
A little gambling addiction to go along with his OCD.
Just for anyone who isn't paying attention. When a politician makes money in a market or in a casino, that's called a 'payoff'.
It's the most legal and hardest to track way to pay off someone.
It'd be interesting to know how much he won. it's like the 100k that hillary made trading corn futures.
“all the elements for a great story —" How can it have all the elements of a Republican story if he didn't also get caught in flagranti delicto with an other man? Surely "almost all the elements"?
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