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CA-25: Was Rep. Buck McKeon’s Sweet Deal With Countrywide Financial a Bribe?
Last Friday at the California Republican Party’s spring convention in Burlingame, CA, Republic Report caught up with Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), who has been leading the investigation into the massive Countrywide bribery scandal.You remember the Flap and Rep. Darrel Issa’s involvement.
A leak to the media that identified three Republicans who are being investigated by the House Ethics Committee has lawmakers and staffers wondering who the source is, and his or her motive.
There are many theories on who, over a four-day period, forked over the names of GOP Reps. Pete Sessions (Texas), Buck McKeon (Calif.) and Elton Gallegly (Calif.) to media outlets in reference to an ongoing investigation into VIP loans given to lawmakers by Countrywide.
The leaks stunned the three legislators, who have all denied accepting special rates on the loans in exchange for political favors.
Some are pointing the finger at House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) for releasing the publicly sensitive information, though his office is pushing back at that notion.
And, you remember the details of the sweetheart deal Rep. Buck McKeon received which I covered here.
Four years after Countrywide Financial became a symbol of the mortgage meltdown, the company and its questionable dealings have become a potent political issue in the Santa Clarita congressional district held by Republican Howard “Buck” McKeon.
Congressional investigators allege that McKeon and Rep. Elton Gallegly, a Republican colleague whose neighboring district includes much of Ventura County, got cut-rate home loans under a Countrywide VIP program known as “Friends of Angelo,” named for the now-defunct Calabasas lender’s former chief executive, Angelo Mozilo.
McKeon received a $315,000 mortgage refinance in 1998 as his family-owned business, Howard & Phil’s Western Wear, was going through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to documents reviewed by The Times. McKeon was no longer involved in the daily operation of the business after his 1992 election to Congress, but he had retained a stake in it. He saw his income plummet in the years before refinancing his Stevenson Ranch home, financial disclosures and bankruptcy filings show.
In spite of that, McKeon received a favorable rate and wasn’t required to produce documentation proving he could repay the mortgage — terms ordered by Mozilo himself, according to documents subpoenaed for a House inquiry.
The McKeons bought the Stevenson Ranch property, a foreclosed home, in August 1997 for $261,000, putting down 10% and getting a loan of $234,900, property records show. In January 1998, they took out a home equity loan of $31,500 through Valencia National Bank, where McKeon had previously sat on the board.
That October, Countrywide approved the $315,000 refinance loan. The loan paid off McKeon’s original mortgage loan and the home equity loan and gave him $46,894 in cash.
Five months later, the couple took out another home equity loan through Valencia, in the amount of $30,000.
Clearly, there was an attempt by Countrywide Financial to influence Rep Buck McKeon and the others. But, why is Rep. Issa refusing to call it a bribe?
Why, because, silly, they are Republicans and they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
As I pointed out yesterday, this involvement of Rep Buck McKeon and his California Assembly candidate wife, Patricia McKeon in the Friends of Angelo Mozilo, Countrywide Financial scandal will be used in both McKeon’s upcoming campaigns.
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The Morning Flap: March 1, 2012
These are my links for February 29th through March 1st:
- National GOP: Romney 40%, Santorum 24%, Gingrich 16%, Paul 12% – Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, coming off his primary wins in Arizona and Michigan, has jumped to a 16-point lead over Rick Santorum in the battle for the Republican presidential nomination. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Romney with 40% support to 24% for the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. This is Romney’s biggest lead to date and the highest level of support any GOP candidate has earned in regular surveying of the race. Two weeks ago, it was Santorum 39%, Romney 27%.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich earns 16% support, closely followed by Texas Congressman Ron Paul at 12%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided. The new findings mark virtually no change in national support for Gingrich and Paul.
- Day By Day March 1, 2012 – Hot | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day March 1, 2012 – Hot
- Recruiters Solicit Young Patients for Texas Medicaid Dentists Outside Food Stamp Offices | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Recruiters Solicit Young Patients for Texas Medicaid Dentists Outside Food Stamp Offices
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: March 1, 2012 – The Morning Drill: March 1, 2012
- AD-38: Former Congressional Staffer Calls McKeon Campaign an All-Cost Frenzy » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: Former Congressional Staffer Calls McKeon Campaign an All-Cost Frenzy
- In Memorium: Andrew Breitbart – R.I.P. | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – In Memorium: Andrew Breitbart – R.I.P.
- RealClearPolitics – As Gingrich’s Hopes Dim, Georgia Offers Potential Spark – RT @RealClearScott: Will Georgia be Newt’s last stand or a spark to revitalize campaign for third time?
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-01 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-01
- KQED Radio’s John Myers moving to Sacramento television gig – KQED Radio’s John Myers moving to Sacramento television gig
- Romney Wins in Wyoming – Jonathan Miller – NationalJournal.com – Romney wins in Wyoming
- Obama Holds 100th Reelection Fundraiser – By Jim Geraghty – The Campaign Spot – National Review Online – The president who is demanding a list of Koch donors just held his 100th campaign fundraiser since April.
- If You Disagree With Obama, He Wants to Know Where You Get Your Money – If You Disagree With Obama, He Wants to Know Where You Get Your Money
- Rush Limbaugh blasted for ‘slut’ comment – Rush Limbaugh blasted for ‘slut’ comment
- GOP Slightly Ahead in Voting Enthusiasm – GOP Slightly Ahead in Voting Enthusiasm
- Two U.S. Troops Killed by Afghan Gunmen – Jonathan Miller – NationalJournal.com – Two U.S. troops killed by Afghan colleagues
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-01 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-01
- Capitol Alert: Assembly Democrats reject Gov. Jerry Brown’s welfare cuts – Capitol Alert: Assembly Democrats reject Gov. Jerry Brown’s welfare cuts
- Christie slams NYPD over Muslim spying program in N.J. | NJ.com – Gov. Christie lashes out at NYPD for its secret surveillance of NJ mosques and Muslim businesses
- Capitol Alert: Assembly Democrats reject Gov. Jerry Brown’s welfare cuts – RT @CapitolAlert: Assembly Democrats reject Gov. Jerry Brown’s welfare cuts
- Bob Kerrey running for Senate in Nebraska – Climbing down from the fence, Democrat Bob Kerrey said Wednesday that he will run for his old Senate seat from Nebraska, soon to be vacated by retiring Sen. Ben Nelson and a major target for Republicans who hope to win control of the chamber in November.
The decision comes on the heels of Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe’s surprise announcement Tuesday to not seek re-election in Maine. And the twin events breathe new life into Democratic hopes of holding onto the Senate.
- CA-26: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Re-Registers as Decline to State from Republican | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-26: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Re-Registers as Decline to State from Republican
- AD-38: Congressional Candidate Catherine Wright Blasts Patricia McKeon for Receiving Campaign Funds from Husband Rep Buck McKeon » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: Congressional Candidate Catherine Wright Blasts Patricia McKeon for Receiving Campaign Funds from Husband…
- Home prices fell in 18 out of 20 major metro areas, but the p… on Twitpic – Home prices fell in 18 out of 20 major metro areas, but the pace of decline appears to be slowing. #infographic
- CA-25: Republican Catherine Wright to Challenge Rep. Buck McKeon | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-25: Republican Catherine Wright to Challenge Rep. Buck McKeon
- Kentucky to Settle for Compromise Methamphetamine Legislation? | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Kentucky to Settle for Compromise Methamphetamine Legislation?
- Santorum Leads Big in Tennessee – A new Middle Tennessee State University poll shows Rick Santorum way ahead in next week’s Tennessee GOP primary with 40%, followed by Mitt Romney at 19%, Newt Gingrich at 13% and Ron Paul at 11%.
- Video: Obama Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: Energy Dept Working To Wean U.S. Off Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Video: Obama Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: Energy Dept Working To Wean U.S. Off Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices
- Poll Watch: Obesity and Chronic Diseases Stable Across the United States in 2011 | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Poll Watch: Obesity and Chronic Diseases Stable Across the United States in 2011
- Odds of a Brokered Convention Are Increasing – We’re finally close enough to Super Tuesday to get a sense of how the overall delegate count might work out in the GOP primary. The end result: Assuming that none of the four candidates drops out of the race, it looks increasingly as if no one will be able to claim a majority of the delegates. The candidate with the best chance is Mitt Romney, but he probably wouldn’t be able to wrap up the nomination until May or even June. The other candidates will probably have to hope for a brokered convention.
- US Stocks: Stocks Add to Losses Amid Bernanke Speech – Bernanke said the job market is still “far from normal” and may require the Fed to launch more stimulus measures, in his semi-annual monetary policy report to Congress. (CNBC.com is streaming this event live.)
Bernanke also added rising gasoline prices will likely push up inflation temporarily, while reducing consumers’ purchasing power.
- Home – American Dental Association – ADA.org – ‘No tobacco products should be exempted from oversight’ – American Dental Association –
- Chu: DOE working to wean U.S. off oil, not lower prices – The Energy Department isn’t working to lower gasoline prices directly, Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday after a Republican lawmaker scolded him for his now-infamous 2008 comment that gas prices in the U.S. should be as high as in Europe.
Instead, DOE is working to promote alternatives such as biofuels and electric vehicles, Chu told House appropriators during a hearing on DOE’s budget.
- News from The Associated Press – RT @AP: Britain says union’s threat to strike during the London Olympics is “unacceptable and unpatriotic.” -EF
- House Democrats have left the Iowa Capitol in protest of gun bills | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs – Iowa House Democrats this morning left the Capitol in protest of two gun bills the Republican majority had planned to debate today that critics contend would make the state part of the “Wild, Wild West.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy accused House Leader Linda Upmeyer of failing to properly inform legislators about planned debate today on the bills. The short notice hindered Democrats from offering amendments to improve the bills, McCarthy said.
But Upmeyer, R-Garner, shot back this morning that Democrats did have adequate warning, and suggested their flight from the Capitol was an attempt to make a political scene.
“Iowans didn’t send us down here just to do easy stuff,” she said. “The Second Amendment is a question that many Iowans would like placed before them. I don’t know why they’re afraid to have a debate on a subject just because they don’t like the subject. That seems ludicrous to me.”
One bill would alter the state constitution to specifically include gun rights. Another would rewrite the law on “reasonable force” so that a person may use force — including deadly force — against someone who they believe threatens to kill or cause serious injury or who is committing a violent felony.
- ‘No tobacco products should be exempted from oversight’ – American Dental Association – ADA.org – The Association urged the U.S. Senate to reject legislation that would exempt “traditional large and premium cigars” from Food and Drug Administration regulation.
In separate communications Feb. 23, ADA officials urged the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to table or vote against S. 1461, and the Association joined dental, other health, religious and social organizations expressing “our strong opposition” to the bill in a letter to the full Senate.
The 2009 ADA-supported Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act authorizes FDA regulation of the manufacture, marketing and distribution of tobacco products. The proposed S. 1461, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2012, would prohibit the FDA from promulgating any regulations involving certain types of cigars.
“There is a strong association between cigar smoking and mortality from oral (mouth) and pharyngeal (throat) cancers,” the Association told the HELP Committee bipartisan leadership in a letter signed by Dr. William R. Calnon, president, and Dr. Kathleen T. O’Loughlin, executive director. “About 8 out of 10 people with mouth and throat cancers use tobacco. Smokers are many times more likely than non-smokers to develop these cancers and the risk increases with the amount smoked and the duration of the habit. On average, 40 percent of those with the disease will not survive more than five years after being diagnosed.
“Taxpayer dollars would be better spent discouraging the use of cancer-causing products, including traditional large and premium cigars,” the Association said. “It is vital that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration be allowed to retain its strong, effective authority to regulate these products.”
- Scott Walker Recall: Wisconsin Governor Narrowly Trails Likely Opponents In New Poll – A new poll finds Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) trailing two likely opponents in a recall election. However, their narrow leads suggest a long road ahead for Democrats hoping to unseat the embattled governor.
According to PPP, Walker’s two potential contenders, Tom Barrett and Kathleen Falk, hold narrow leads over the unpopular governor. The poll shows Barrett with a 49-46 advantage, while Falk has a slight 48-47 edge over Walker.
The poll also found that former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) would have a more commanding lead over Walker than either Barrett or Falk. PPP found that Feingold would hold a 52-45 advantage over the governor. Feingold, however, has said he will not run in the recall election.
- Poll: Wisconsin’s Walker to survive union recall drive – So much for that recall effort. According to a new Rasmussen poll of likely Wisconsin voters, Gov. Scott Walker should survive an effort to throw out his 2010 election, a campaign driven by pro-union activists angered that he limited collective bargaining rights for public employees in a budget-cutting move.
It’s a huge and positive switch for Scott’s fortunes. Opponents made headlines when they easily collected 1 million signatures on a recall petition. Walker this week said he would not challenge the signatures-including names like “Donald Duck”-because there isn’t enough time before the May recall election.
Rasmussen’s poll is the latest done on the election and finds that 54 percent of likely Wisconsin voters at least somewhat approve of the governor’s job, while 46 percent somewhat disapprove. He does good with independents, as 58 percent approve of his performance. The telephone poll of 500 likely voters conducted Monday shows a pro-Walker move, coming days after a Public Policy Polling survey conducted February 22-26 that found the state divided 49 percent-49 percent on the recall.
- The Morning Flap: February 29, 2012 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Morning Flap: February 29, 2012
- National GOP: Romney 40%, Santorum 24%, Gingrich 16%, Paul 12% – Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, coming off his primary wins in Arizona and Michigan, has jumped to a 16-point lead over Rick Santorum in the battle for the Republican presidential nomination. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Romney with 40% support to 24% for the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. This is Romney’s biggest lead to date and the highest level of support any GOP candidate has earned in regular surveying of the race. Two weeks ago, it was Santorum 39%, Romney 27%.
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Recruiters Solicit Young Patients for Texas Medicaid Dentists Outside Food Stamp Offices
Texas Dental Medicaid Office
Welfare dentistry medicaid is big business in Texas. And, while it violates Texas state law, recruiters are actively seeking young patients for Texas dentists at Food Stamp Offices.Thousands of kids get free dental care under Medicaid in Texas. Texas taxpayers foot the bill, including putting crowns on the teeth of toddlers who don’t yet have their permanent teeth.
A News 8 investigation finds that some dentists want that Medicaid business so badly, they hire recruiters to bring in patients.
At a Texas Health and Human Services Office on Masters Road near Dallas, a man quietly stands in the parking lot, waiting for mothers who’ve just received food stamps to emerge from the waiting room.
He is a recruiter. He’s handing out cards for Happy Teeth Dental, just two doors down in the same complex.
At another HHS office across town, two women also wait for new food stamp recipients. They’re handing out cards for Lancaster Dental a few miles away.
And at another HHS office just up the road, Bear Creek Family Dentistry has a small kiosk set up to recruit new patients.
Medicaid parents are regularly solicited by dentists offering free stuff — such as iPods, zoo tickets, and electric toothbrushes — if they take their kids to certain dentists.
It is a little-seen side of Medicaid dentistry, a $1.5 billion business in Texas, where, statistics show, welfare and unregulated free enterprise come together like nowhere else in the United States.
Watch the video expose which is embedded below:
All I can say is wow!
There needs to be some action on the part of the Texas Dental Board to enforce the anti-solicitation law and from the Feds to cut off the spigot of taxpayer money flowing to these dentists.
I know the United States Senate is investigating dentistry medicaid across the country. But, the abuses are rampant and this is before new federal funds will be doled out under ObamaCare’s Affordable Care Act.
Hold on to your wallets taxpayers!
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Day By Day March 1, 2012 – Hot
In today’s public school system, education is like a box of chocolates… -
In Memorium: Andrew Breitbart – R.I.P.
Andrew Breitbart was very young and will be missed.Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles.
We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior.
Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love.
May he rest in peace.
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@Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-01
- Bob Kerrey running for Senate in Nebraska http://t.co/wRyt2GpI #
- CA-26: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Re-Registers as Decline to State from Republican | Flap's Blog – Fu… http://t.co/dtySfahJ #
- CA-26: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Re-Registers as Decline to State from Republican http://t.co/SH03Q29m #
- AD-38: Congressional Candidate Catherine Wright Blasts Patricia McKeon for Receiving Campaign Funds from Husband… http://t.co/AHadyECb #
- AD-38: Congressional Candidate Catherine Wright Blasts Patricia McKeon for Receiving Campaign Funds from Husband… http://t.co/onNjYCgp #
- CA-25: Republican Catherine Wright to Challenge Rep. Buck McKeon | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/5bCrhf7J #
- Kentucky to Settle for Compromise Methamphetamine Legislation? | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/Mdv8hrfr #
- Santorum Leads Big in Tennessee http://t.co/1QqsdPWy #
- CA-25: Republican Catherine Wright to Challenge Rep. Buck McKeon http://t.co/mwbHWa4s #
- Kentucky to Settle for Compromise Methamphetamine Legislation? http://t.co/UBsURJlX #
- Video: Obama Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: Energy Dept Working To Wean U.S. Off Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices | Fl… http://t.co/biCTK5Ot #
- Poll Watch: Obesity and Chronic Diseases Stable Across the United States in 2011 | Smiles For A Lifetime – Tempo… http://t.co/3B8evMpZ #
- Video: Obama Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: Energy Dept Working To Wean U.S. Off Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices http://t.co/czRM85pO #
- Poll Watch: Obesity and Chronic Diseases Stable Across the United States in 2011 http://t.co/kdcqoa0k #
- Odds of a Brokered Convention Are Increasing http://t.co/Nemdd1PR #
- US Stocks: Stocks Add to Losses Amid Bernanke Speech http://t.co/7zsNv0zG #
- Chu: DOE working to wean U.S. off oil, not lower prices http://t.co/Yk02rRuN #
- House Democrats have left the Iowa Capitol in protest of gun bills | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs http://t.co/g8Hn0SUZ #
- ‘No tobacco products should be exempted from oversight’ – American Dental Association – http://t.co/nEGf9Yk1 http://t.co/tlPkw5TW #
- This is becoming a Dem habit | House Democrats have left the Iowa Capitol in protest of gun bills http://t.co/Tk6qIoVx #tcot #
- The Morning Flap: February 29, 2012 http://t.co/WgFcjMIT #
- Students, police clash in Spanish city Barcelona http://t.co/9bu2fw9g #
- Obama administration plan would kill rival bird to save spotted owl http://t.co/5IGkAW6Y #
- Catholic school fires gay teacher planning wedding http://t.co/5xYlzMbJ #
- The Morning Drill: February 29, 2012 http://t.co/D38O9CAj #
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: February 29, 2012 http://t.co/EAFyqq1B #
- Romney Camp Will Haunt Santorum With Robocall Story http://t.co/mwNxdacv #
- Worried Dems pressing Obama on gas prices http://t.co/iEqBrpiB #
- AD-38 Video: Patricia McKeon Tells the Tea Party Why She is Running for the California Assembly » Flap's Califor… http://t.co/zAxzdtqg #
- RE: Dude, Patricia McKeon is an embarrassment to the Republican Brand.
No, wonder GOP registration has fallen to 30… http://t.co/9KLc9DhT #
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-29 http://t.co/sPZ5pG5q #
- Day By Day February 29, 2012 – Par for the Course http://t.co/MENQGfs4 #
- Romney’s sigh of relief – Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball http://t.co/ehgTe0lY #
- 53% of Self-Identified Democrats Voted for Santorum http://t.co/BT65eRlE #
- How Can Twitter Possibly Help Small Businesses? | Networking Exchange Blog http://t.co/VO94RgIG #
- Analysis: Super Tuesday won’t help clear up GOP race http://t.co/zi0G3Ak9 #
- Romney regains footing, shifts focus to Obama http://t.co/59yP4jFp #
- Memo to Republicans: Ignore Ron Paul at your peril http://t.co/1LGnL3Nv #
- Christie As VP Doesn't Help Romney – Quinnipiac University Poll http://t.co/IeEqftWX #
- RT @TheAtlanticHLTH Minty nicotine mouth sprays may help smokers quit: http://t.co/EDh2qwrX #
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-29 http://t.co/v6zFjhzf #
- Can You Balance California’s Budget? » Flap's California Blog http://t.co/EZFCfiaA #
- @michellemalkin What not Mittens? in reply to michellemalkin #
- Can You Balance California’s Budget? http://t.co/1Wah6Yen #
- President 2012: Mitt Romney Wins the Michigan Primary Election | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/jdAaDzcC #
- Update: Romney Wins Michigan – President 2012: Mitt Romney Wins Big in Arizona – Michigan Too Close to Call | Fl… http://t.co/bzFCXIIu #
- President 2012: Mitt Romney Wins the Michigan Primary Election http://t.co/AeGYwoTy #
- Update: Romney Wins Michigan – President 2012: Mitt Romney Wins Big in Arizona – Michigan Too Close to Call http://t.co/3XhJ3E7U #
- Relief from Romney: "We didn’t win by a lot but we won by enough and that’s all that counts." #
- I want Ann Romney to debate Michelle Obama – just sayin' #
- Ann Romney definitely is an asset to Mitt's campaign…. #
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