Congress Critters at the trough.

We all have this vague feeling about politicians, that chances are they are either dirty, or lack the fortitude to follow through on all of those glorious promises they made. Maybe they don't have... what was that word Madeline Albright used... oh yeah... they don't have the cojones.

Then, it is not surprising that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) can always keep their list of the 15 Most Corrupt Members of Congress. One of the functions of the big losses that the Republicans took in 2008 is the fact that now the Democrats outnumber the Republicans on this list. As for this info, you might say that a little frog reminded me.

Nor is it surprising that there are four critters on that list from So Cal. Two white male Republicans (Jerry Lewis-41st CD and Ken Calvert 44th CD and two black female democrats (Maxine Waters 35th CD and Laura Richardson 37th CD). It might be a shock, however, that Richardson made it on to the list so quickly. You generally need to have been around Washington for 4 or 5 terms to be so honored.

I guess that this backs up what Alex says about the LA County Democratic Machine. Big City politics at it's worst turns out a string of self serving slickers and then keeps them in office solely because they are the incumbent.

At least we had a good Green make a run for the 37th CD when Richardson first got elected. I sure wish that Daniel had won.

It isn't over until it is over

Last night, this country chose a new president. It made major changes in the makeup of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where 433 of 435 seats were up for grabs. The other two were in the 2nd and 4th Congressional Districts in Louisiana. Earlier planned runoff elections were cancelled due to Hurricans Gustav and Ike made enough of a mess that the runoffs were moved to Nov. 4 and the general election for these seats to Dec. 6.

Green Malik Rahim will be running on December 6. Click Read more! and I will tell you why this is now the most important election in the country.


In the Democratic Party runoff last night, the incumbent, William Jefferson defeated local media personality Helena Moreno.

• William J. Jefferson

  92,086

  56.76%

  
  

• Helena Moreno

  70,159

  43.24%

  
  

Here are some facts you need to knew. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CRES) named William Jefferson as one of the 10 most corrupt politicians in Washington. This is what they have to say about him.

On June 4, 2007, Rep. Jefferson was indicted on 16 criminal counts, including two counts of conspiracy to solicit bribes, two counts of solicitation of bribes by a public official, six counts of honest services fraud by wire, one count of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, three counts of money laundering, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of racketeering. The indictment stems from multiple instances in which Rep. Jefferson agreed to perform official acts for 11 different companies in return for bribes payable to him and his family members. The indictment was the culmination of a criminal investigation that began in approximately March 2005.

Folks, Jefferson's trial begins on December 2, just four days before the election. You might wonder how someone can face this and still win? Well, last night, Sen. Ted Stevens won re-election to the Senate from Alaska after being convicted on corruption charges this month.

While Jefferson has been rebuilding his family fortunes, Malik Rahim has been rebuilding NOLA. When government could not keep the lights on during Hurricane Katrina, Rahim and his Common Ground non-profit did. When government could not keep it's promises to rebuild New Orleans, Rahim has gotten over 2,000 home rebuilt or refurbished.

I know we all have some degree of election fatigue right now, but this is one election that we have to win. Rahim needs all the help he can get and then some. That is why I now have his campaign highlighted in the right side menu of the home page. Just go there, click his name and make a contribution.

Pete McCloskey has been quoted as saying that "Politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed frequently... and for the same reason." We now have a chance to change one very dirty diaper.