NYT: House Speaker Suggests Ethics Refresher

[DeepModem Mom]

House Speaker Suggests Ethics Refresher
By CARL HULSE
Published: December 8, 2005


WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 - In a sign that Republican leaders are increasingly anxious about the image of the House after bribery convictions, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert raised the prospect on Wednesday of new ethics training for lawmakers.

House members and aides said Mr. Hastert broached the subject in a closed-door session with House Republicans while they discussed former Representative Randy Cunningham, the California Republican who pleaded guilty last week in an extensive corruption case that has stunned colleagues.

"The speaker wants members on both sides of the aisle to understand the nuances of House rules," Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for Mr. Hastert, said about the plan.

Mr. Hastert's proposal indicates that senior Republicans, who have previously dismissed criticism of House conduct and links to lobbyists as politically motivated, are taking the question more seriously.

While his proposal is preliminary, some Republicans applauded it. Representative Joel Hefley of Colorado, a former chairman of the ethics panel, said lawmakers' current hourlong orientation course on rules was not enough. Others said the rank-and-file had some strong sentiment that Republicans needed to make clear that they were for strict adherence to a code of conduct that builds confidence....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/politics/08ethics.html

[Brooklyn Michael]

1. the "nuances" of House rules?????

Oh for Pete's sake....how about just, y'know...

don't do anything illegal

....just for starters.

[rodeodance]

2. oh for pete's sake!

[soothsayer]

3. Um, I think they're all lawyers, and they all know exactly what

they're doing. We're not talking about teensy tinsy ethical quandries---we're talking about crimes!

[MaineDem]

8. They're not all lawyers

My Congressman worked in a paper mill as a union laborer.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Thank you dennis

I needed a chuckle this morning. republicans contemplating the meaning of ethical behavior; why its downright Saturday Night Liveish! We're just wild and crazy conservative ethical guys! Actually dennis its obvious you and your kind need a refresher in the nuances of not getting caught. However, as always, you all know your base. The lemmings who wished limbaugh the best of luck in his road to recovery so he could get back to hating without slurring his speech will surely ask God to bless you conservatives on your road to recovery. Who can lose with a base like that?

[gratuitous]

5. Uh huh

Just as there are no atheists on the eve of the big math test, there are no corrupt Republicans while people are looking. I like how Hastert thinks the Democrats need a "refresher" on ethics; it's been the Democrats on the House Ethics Panel who have been pleading for an investigation into the corruption of the House leadership. The oh-so-virtuous Republicans are the ones who voted down resolution after resolution.

But now, just 11 months until the next election, the Republicans gots religion again! Hallelujah, brothers and sisters!

[dogfacedboy]

6. This must be why Hastert pulled this stunt.

Because the Tom DeLay trial is expected to take place during the first couple of weeks of January, 2006, Hastert has delayed the House going back into session until the END of January, allowing for the possible return of Cockroach DeLay to his "leadership" position. I guess Hastert feels that waiting for that piece of rat crap DeLay is more important than dealing with the day-to-day business of running our nation. There's your ethics for you.

[shawn703]

7. So is Denny saying Republicans have no moral compass?

Come on now, if they need to learn that taking bribes is wrong, what are they doing lecturing everyone else on morality?

:eyes:

[AllegroRondo]

9. Thats what happens when Repubs control the House.

[feminazi]

10. it's hard werk knowing right from wrong!

:dilemma:

[katty]

11. NOW dennyboy??!! tad late?! how about a group intervention...

in federal court.