"Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast"
-Oscar Wilde		 Brilliant at Breakfast title banner "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself."
-- Proverbs 11:25
"...you have a choice: be a fighting liberal or sit quietly. I know what I am, what are you?" -- Steve Gilliard, 1964 - 2007

"For straight up monster-stomping goodness, nothing makes smoke shoot out my ears like Brilliant@Breakfast" -- Tata

"...the best bleacher bum since Pete Axthelm" -- Randy K.

"I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum." -- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (1954-2015), They Live
Monday, October 03, 2005

Jack Abramoff: A one-man Octopus
Posted by Jill | 6:58 AM

If there ever was a shandeh far di goyim, it's Jack Abramoff. I'd guess that before it's all over, Abramoff's dirty fingerprints will be all over most of the Republican scandals now cooking. Just a hunch.

Here's a sampling of how Abramoff's tentacles are everywhere:

1. Britain:

explosive civil servants have been asked to ensure it remains "sealed".

The 79-year-old former Premier is said to have met Congressman Tom DeLay in Britain while he was on a suspected favours-for-freebies scam.

In return for his free holiday, DeLay - who resigned as Republican leader of Congress last week after being accused of laundering political funds - allegedly backed legislation favourable to lobby groups.

Disclosing that US authorities were seeking aid from UK counterparts, a secret Home Office briefing says: "One visit to the UK involved a meeting with Mrs Margaret Thatcher.

"Evidence is sought from her about that meeting and her involvement in the alleged deception and violation of US criminal laws."


2. Guam:

KUAM News broke the story in 2001 about how the Superior Court of Guam entered into a contract with California-based attorney Howard Hills, who in turn hired Abramoff to assist in the lower court's efforts to prevent the passage of House Resolution 521. That legislation would amend Guam's Organic Act by giving the local Supreme Court administrative control over the entire Judiciary.

The lower court paid more than $400,000 to Hills, who turned the money over to Abramoff.

Just last month, the Los Angeles Times reported a federal grand jury on Guam was at one time investigating Abramoff for his lobbying activities here including his alleged secret arrangement with Superior Court officials for lobbying work. During KUAM News interviews in 2002 then-Superior Court administrator Tony Sanchez initially denied claims of hiring a lobbyist, only after KUAM presented Sanchez copies of more than thirty checks worth $9,000 each written to Hills and a lobbyist registration form clearly showing Abramoff had been hired to lobby public policies related to issues of judicial and legal structures for states and possessions, did Sanchez fess up.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney's Office on Guam had refuted the allegations made in the L.A. Times article, saying Black was not demoted.

The office also alleges the newspaper article was filled with errors. As for today's New York Times article, a former Black colleague in Guam was quoted as saying, "Whatever the motivation in replacing Fred, his demotion meant that the investigation of Abramoff died."


And of course there's the murder of Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, from whom Abramoff and Adam Kidan purchased SunCruz casinos. TPM Cafe sums up this little goodie:

followers of the Jack Abramoff and Adam Kidan indictment story may remember that Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, whom Abramoff and Kidan bought SunCruz casinos from for $147 million back in September 2000, was murdered in a "gangland-style" hit in February 2001. This was about 2 months after Boulis stabbed Kidan with a pen, and Kidan claimed Boulis was trying to kill him. (The Sun-Sentinel has a useful timeline of Boulis' life here.) Last Tuesday, three men were charged with the murder of Boulis, and on Wednesday a fourth person was indicted whom the three tried to hire to kill Boulis. What's particularly noteworthy is that two of the three charged were on the SunCruz payroll. Anthony "little Tony" Ferrari's company was paid $95,000 for security services, and Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello's company was paid $145,000 for catering and beverage services.


If Clinton had connections to guys like this, the Republicans would be all over him. But of course, there IS no longer an opposition party in this country, so everyone associated with Abramoff -- including Tom DeLay, will probably emerge unscathed.

*Sigh*
0 comments
Bookmark and Share