Senator 'Bitch' McConnell Works 4 Bribery

[disrupter]

McConnell [Ear]marks funds for contractor
FIRM UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BRIBERY
By John Cheves
JCHEVES@HERALD-LEADER.COM

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is pushing $25 million in earmarked federal funds for a British defense contractor that is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and suspected by American diplomats of a "longstanding, widespread pattern of bribery allegations."

McConnell tucked money for three weapons projects for BAE Systems into the defense appropriations bill, which the Senate approved Oct. 3. The Defense Department failed to include the money in its own budget request, which required McConnell to intercede, said BAE spokeswoman Susan Lenover.

BAE is based in Great Britain but has worldwide operations, including a Louisville facility that makes naval guns and employs 322. McConnell has taken at least $53,000 in campaign donations from BAE's political action committees and employees since his 2002 re-election. United Defense Industries, which BAE purchased two years ago, pledged $500,000 to a political-science foundation the senator created, the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville.

In June, BAE confirmed that the Justice Department is investigating possible corruption in its Saudi Arabian deals. According to British media reports, BAE set up a slush fund with hundreds of millions of dollars in a Washington, D.C., bank to bribe Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan in order to win weapons contracts. Bandar, who heads the Saudi National Security Council, has denied the allegation.http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/214167.html

I don't know that he was 'technically' bribed, but he earmarked for a firm both under investigation & notorious for bribing officials, so it is certainly an open question.

$53,000 USD certainly taints impartiality or his doing this for the voters he is supposed to represent.

[paulm]

How is getting $500,000 for the University of Louisville not representing his state??

When did 'under investigation' become 'guilty'?

How is $53,000 in campaign contributions a personal bribe?

[disrupter]

I read through the story & i think you are confused.

The 500,000 is money United Defense Industries pledged to the U of L.
What he is getting is 25 Million for BAE which purchased UDI.

The story doesn't say the U of L will or will not get that pledged money.
But even if it takes 25 million to get 500,000, better to give the 500,000 directly to the U of L & save 24.5 million.

yes?

It stinks like old fashioned corruption to me.

[paulm]

Just good old fashioned politics...
you give my campaign 53,000

I get you a lucrative contract

you pledge 500,000 to my constituents.

political science 101... that's how things get done.

[disrupter]

exactly, & that's what is wrong with it.

[paulm]

Welcome to the real world... Our government was designed to be that way.

[disrupter]

Should we be calling you Dr. Sleaze?

Do you casually roll around in your Feces too?

Excuse me, this is not 'good enough',
this isn't even close.

It is NOT acceptable.

I guess one has to lower one's standards to become a Republican.

[Moby]

Should we be calling you Dr. Sleaze?

Do you casually roll around in your Feces too?

Excuse me, this is not 'good enough',
this isn't even close.

It is NOT acceptable.

I guess one has to lower one's standards to become a Republican.
That's a little harsh ain't it? His comments are valid for the subject matter.

Careless and wrong but a vote for Cheney was a vote for far more corruption then this. No one running for the white house had a stronger background of corruption then Cheney. Remember, Fred and Rudy weren't running then.

No need to attack so harshly.

[disrupter]

If protesting the Iraq war makes me a 'Basher of the United States'

I think this sucker got off light.

He was reading bogus stuff that wasn't even in the article.

Sloppy thinking will not be permitted.

[paulm]

Should we be calling you Dr. Sleaze?

Do you casually roll around in your Feces too?

Excuse me, this is not 'good enough',
this isn't even close.

It is NOT acceptable.

I guess one has to lower one's standards to become a Republican.

W T F are you talking about:confused:

[disrupter]

You sound like you want us to casually accept rotten corrupt government as 'business as usual'.

After you got the details of the story wrong?

I don't care how long someone has been 'raping their own mother', we should stop it in any event now.

[paulm]

You sound like you want us to casually accept rotten corrupt government as 'business as usual'.

After you got the details of the story wrong?

I don't care how long someone has been 'raping their own mother', we should stop it in any event now.

It appears you've taken a little trip to Mars?!?!?! who the hell are you talking to??

IF you're referring to the 'you-scratch-my-back... I'll-scratch-yours' way business gets done in D.C. I'm sorry to have been the one to have burst your bubble. That is the way everything gets done... by ALL office holders... regardless of affiliation... Democrat, Republican, Independant, Libertarian, etc... The government was designed that way.

I did get the details... McConnell was the headline, not the story.

Sounds like you want 'pure-as-the-driven-snow' representatives/government officials... they don't exist. Never have, never will.

[disrupter]

The one missing the 'back scratching' is the voters,
the ones ANY 'back scratching' should be about.

McConnell is working for a corporation & NOT for his district & more importantly his voting [& non-voting] constituents.

AND THAT IS THE STORY.

The story that seems to be without end.

But government must be about more than just backscratching, it must embody the best aims for its society, humanity & life.
otherwise it is inevitably suicidal.

[Moby]

It appears you've taken a little trip to Mars?!?!?! who the hell are you talking to??

IF you're referring to the 'you-scratch-my-back... I'll-scratch-yours' way business gets done in D.C. I'm sorry to have been the one to have burst your bubble. That is the way everything gets done... by ALL office holders... regardless of affiliation... Democrat, Republican, Independant, Libertarian, etc... The government was designed that way.

I did get the details... McConnell was the headline, not the story.

Sounds like you want 'pure-as-the-driven-snow' representatives/government officials... they don't exist. Never have, never will.
While this is true the amount of take has increased 1,000%. Not 100% but 1,000% in a very short time frame.

Growing up inside the beltway you learn that the people that care the least about you and your family (after you vote) are the politicians. I'm aware of that. However, this administration and the people have increased the corruption to record numbers. They've increased it by 10 times in under a decade.

I expect them to take a little but they're taking 10 times more then before and no American should be willing to except that although many people have just rolled over and said "OK, as long as you keep gays from getting married".

[paulm]

McConnell is working for a corporation & NOT for his district & more importantly his voting [& non-voting] constituents.

I disagree, but it's ok to disagree... especially since were talking about matters of opinion anyway.

But government must be about more than just backscratching, it must embody the best aims for its society, humanity & life.
otherwise it is inevitably suicidal.
Sorry to pop your balloon... it ain't. NO government lives up to those standards.

I posted this elsewhere, but it seems appropriate here: We are such a nation of crybabies that we demand our government be all things to all people at all times and scream for their demise when they aren't and push for their containment when they are.

To add to that... we, as a nation or a people, do not have a single clue as to what we want. We want our government to be tough, but don't hurt anyone... lenient, but punish 'the bad guys', work for the common good, but what about ME? I'm sure you could add to this little rant as well. :)