Blunt Claims Strong Support for GOP Post (one of the 13th Most Corrupt)

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/12/AR2006011200953.html

WASHINGTON -- Missouri Republican Roy Blunt claimed Thursday to be just short of the tally required to succeed embattled former Majority Leader Tom DeLay as the No. 2 Republican in the House, even as a potential dark horse candidate mulled a race.

Blunt issued a statement claiming more than 100 supporters in the race, though his roster of supporters willing to make their names public contains fewer than 70 lawmakers. To win the race to replace DeLay, R-Texas, requires 116 votes, a majority of the 231 member House GOP conference.

Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., was inching toward a decision on whether to join the race, saying candidates Blunt and Rep. John Boehner won't move aggressively enough to drive the party, which is shaken by ethics scandals, out of its doldrums.

An aide to Boehner said the Ohio Republican and chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee has 86 committed supporters.

...more...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002519065_ethics25.html

excerpt:

• Rep. Blunt, R-Mo.: He was criticized for trying to insert provisions into bills that in one case would have benefited a client of his lobbyist son and, in the other case, the employer of his lobbyist girlfriend, now his wife.

[babylonsister]

1. Would that be until he too is indicted?

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BLUNT_THE_DELAY_...

Blunt, DeLay Share Abramoff Connections

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Roy Blunt and the man he wants to succeed as House majority leader, Tom DeLay, shared similar connections to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and to corporate lobbyists.

Blunt, R-Mo., wrote at least three letters helpful to Abramoff clients while collecting money from them. He swapped donations between his and DeLay's political groups, ultimately enriching the Missouri political campaign of his son Matt.

And Blunt's wife and another son, Andrew, lobby for many of the same companies that donate to the lawmaker's political efforts.

With House Republicans worried about a budding corruption scandal tied to Abramoff's favors to lawmakers, DeLay, R-Texas, announced Saturday he would not try to regain his majority leader's post in upcoming party elections.

DeLay was forced to step down last year under party rules, after he was charged with Texas felonies in a state money laundering investigation. Blunt has temporarily filled the position and now is competing to be DeLay's permanent replacement.

more...

[catmandu57]

2. Even if he survives indictment

His return to the house won't be very easy. We're not in the mood in this state to give the blunt family anything papadoc as well as babydoc.
I don't know if the people in papadoc's district would support a democrat, but if another sane repub ran in the primary I really think that they would trounce him.
His kid babydoc blunt has this state so fucked up it's going to take a long time to fix it.