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Representative William Jefferson Watch: Federal Prosecutors Lay Out Their Case Against Jefferson
Democrat Representative William Jefferson, Louisiana
Prosecutors Lay Out Case Against Jefferson
Before searching Rep. William J. Jefferson’s New Orleans home in August 2005, FBI agents confronted him with a video that showed him accepting $100,000 from a government informant, according to a prosecution document filed yesterday in federal court in Alexandria.
Afterward, the Louisiana Democrat sank back into a couch in his living room and “with total dejection remarked ‘what a waste,’ ” according to the government account, which did not elaborate on his comment.
Jefferson then “questioned how his reputation could survive” and expressed concern whether the search warrant affidavit could be permanently sealed to keep the information from being made public, according to the document.
Meanwhile, on the same day, FBI agents found $90,000 of the $100,000 in marked bills in Jefferson’s freezer at his Capitol Hill home. The government alleged that Jefferson took the money from a Virginia businesswoman who was working as an informant, to bribe a Nigerian official in a business deal.
The pretrial document provides a glimpse into the public corruption investigation’s early months. It was among 14 answers filed yesterday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alexandria in response to motions filed this month by Jefferson’s lawyers.
Why haven’t Nancy Pelosi and her cohorts in the House Democrat caucus insisted on Jefferson’s resignation?
After Jefferson was confronted by the FBI, all Jefferson was concerned with was shielding his misdeeds from the public.
Real nice……….
Previous:Michael Ramirez on Democrat Representative William Jefferson
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Boehner Seeks Jefferson Expulsion from the House
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Jefferson Will Be Indicted
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Freezer Burn
Representative William Jefferson Watch: GOP Objects to Jefferson Homeland Security Seat
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Jefferson on House Homeland Security Committee
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Tale of Friendship, Ambition and Betrayal
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Appeals Court Rules Jefferson Has 2 Days to Review Documents
Representative William Jefferson Watch: FBI Raid on Jefferson’s House Office Legal
Representative William Jefferson Watch: “Trying to Protect Their Ownâ€
Representative William Jefferson Watch: Jefferson Refuses to Quit Ways and Means Committee
Representative William Jefferson Watch: GOP Challenges FBI Raid of Jefferson’s Office
Representative William Jefferson Watch: “There are Two Sides to Every Storyâ€
Representative William Jefferson Watch: FBI has BRIBES on Tape
Technorati Tags: WilliamJefferson
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Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Failure to Launch
Graphic Courtesy of California Majority Report
Flap’s California State Senator, Tom McClintock has a piece on the apparent failure ?(apparently there are on-going efforts) of the attempt to change how California Electoral College Presidential Delegates are chosen.
A Republican effort to apportion California’s electoral votes by congressional district looks like it is faltering, and that’s a very good thing. The proposal is a classic example of the cynicism, defeatism and short-sightedness of many who are misguiding the GOP today.
Giving up on ever regaining a Republican majority in California, some party leaders apparently decided it would be clever to change the apportionment of the state’s electoral votes from its traditional winner-take-all rule to a process that assigns 53 of California’s 55 electoral votes by congressional district. Instead of the Democrat nominee automatically taking all 55 votes, the Republican could take 20 or so votes. What’s not to like?
Here’s what’s not to like. Congressional and legislative districts are apportioned not by voters or citizens, but by population – weighting the vote heavily toward urban districts with high concentrations of ineligible voters. For example, in the 2004 Presidential election, 109,000 votes were cast in Loretta Sanchez’ heavily Democratic 47th Congressional District race, while more than twice that number, 277,000, were cast in Dana Rohrbacher’s Republican 46th Congressional District. Just 66,000 voters put Sanchez in Congress; 171,000 voted for Rohrbacher.
A voter in Sanchez’ district has more than twice the weight as a voter in Rohrbacher’s – in a congressional race. In a statewide race, however, every vote has exactly the same weight. That’s why Republicans have had far more success over the last 30 years in electing Republican governors than Republican legislatures.
So why in the world would Republicans want to replicate this heavy Democratic skew in presidential races?
True, if ONLY California did this it would mean a few more electoral votes for the Republican candidate WHEN the state went Democratic. But if every state followed suit, the election of a Republican president would become much more difficult.
And there’s one other thing to consider: the Democrats only have carried California since GOP presidential candidates stopped contesting the state in 1992. True, in 2004, George W. Bush would have received 20 of California’s 55 electoral votes (assuming the presidential vote mirrored the congressional vote). But in Republican years it works more dramatically against Republicans: even though George H. W. Bush carried California in 1988, Dukakis would have snatched 27 of California’s (then) 47 electoral votes – a substantial majority – had this rule been in effect then.
Fortunately for the Republican rocket scientists who dreamed this one up, the Democrats’ knee-jerk opposition may have saved them from themselves. Now, hopefully, they will turn their attention to actually contesting California again in an open battle of ideas, rather than relying on too-clever-by-half political schemes.
Tom is correct that this scheme is too clever by half. If this system were to be adopted nationwide the GOP would be at a disadvantage.
Flap supposes the intense opposition in California by the Democrats is more from Hillary’s folks than Democrat activists who are attempting the exact same change in North Carolina.
However, there are reports that this initiative is NOT dead.
Stay tuned……..
Previous:Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Is it OVER?
Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Bush and Rove Did It
Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Initiative in Circulation for June 2008
Electoral Reform California Initiative Watch: Schwarzenegger Cool To InitiativeElectoral Reform California Initiative Watch: Field Poll – 47% Favor vs. 35% Oppose
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes Part II
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes
North Carolina Ready to Change Electoral College Presidential Selection Rules for 2008
Technorati Tags: Electoral Reform California, Electoral College, GOP, Democrats
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Newt Gingrich Will NOT Run for the Presidency
Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks, as he kicks off three days of policy workshops, at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 in Atlanta.
Gingrich Says No to White House Bid
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will not run for president in 2008 after determining he could not legally explore a bid and remain as head of his tax-exempt political organization, a spokesman said Saturday.
“Newt is not running,” spokesman Rick Tyler said. “It is legally impermissible for him to continue on as chairman of American Solutions (for Winning the Future) and to explore a campaign for president.”
Gingrich decided “to continue on raising the challenges America faces and finding solutions to those challenges” as the group’s chairman, Tyler said, “rather than pursuing the presidency.”
This was inevitable.
Gingrich’s statement that if $30 million could be raised that he would consider a run for the Presidency against a field of candidates many of whom have been campaigning for over a year was ludicrous.
So, who benefits with Newt out?
Rudy and McCain. Is Fred Thompson even campaigning?
Previous:
Newt Gingrich Watch: Time to Jump Into the Race
Newt Gingrich Watch: Quote of the Day
Hillary Clinton Watch: Newt Gingrich Calls Hillaryâ€FOOLISHâ€
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Rudy Giuliani Video: Rudy in Santa Barbara California Part 3
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=zjzE1YAbDKo[/youtube]
Rudy Giuliani at Joe’s Cafe, Santa Barbara, California, September 27, 2007
These videos are from two days ago when Flap attended a Giuliani public event after a mega fundraising luncheon at the Santa Barbara Biltmore Hotel.
The crowd pressed and everyone wanted a photo op with the Mayor. At times Rudy’s staff was pushed out of the way by the crowd – except his BIG bodyguard.
The second video is the news presser held outside Joe’s:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=5ueDcoOyofQ[/youtube]
The Mayor has unbelievable energy and vigor. After this event he flew to Lancaster, attended two events there and then flew to Las Vegas for a fundraiser at the Venetian.
Later in the evening/early morning, Hizzoner flew back to Los Angeles where he spent the night. His next event was at 10 AM where former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan endorsed Rudy at his restaurant, The Original Pantry.
What a schedule.
Previous:
Running With Rudy at National House Party Night
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Former California Governor Pete Wilson Endorses Giuliani for President
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy in Santa Barbara California Part 2
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy in Santa Barbara California
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Catches Mitt Romney in New Hampshire
Former California Governor Pete Wilson to Endorse Rudy Giuliani for President Tomorrow
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Day By Day by Chris Muir September 29, 2007
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Technorati Tags: Day By Day, Chris Muir