Confused about the growing Abramoff/Scanlon scandal? Listen to this!

[Up2Late]

Today, on the WHYY radio show "Fresh Air" Terry interviewed One of the New York Times investigative reporters who has been covering this, and this is huge! You have got hear this if you have the time.
It's 40 minutes.

Here's the link and the rundown below:

Abramoff, Scanlon and the Influence of Money

Listen to this story...(at link above)
by Terry Gross

Fresh Air from WHYY, November 30, 2005 · The grand jury investigation of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff has taken many twists and turns in recent months. While investigators are still determining the extent of Abramoff's influence with lawmakers of both parties, an associate of Abramoff's has pled guilty to conspiracy.

Michael Scanlon, who became Abramoff's business partner after being an aide to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), admitted to conspiring with an unnamed lobbyist to defraud clients of millions of dollars and to bribe a member of Congress and other officials. As part of his plea deal, Scanlon agreed to repay $19.6 million to the Indian tribes that were his clients. The tribes paid Abramoff and his firm $80 million in fees. Reporter Philip Shenon has been covering the case for The New York Times.

The main investigation is continuing -- and it has broadened to include Abramoff's ties with congressmen and a White House budget official among others. Court papers filed earlier this month allege that Scanlon and Abramoff sought to offer and provide things of value, including money, meals, trips and entertainment, to public officials in return for agreements to perform official acts.

The latest revelation in the story concerns Senate Indian Affairs Committee Vice Chairman Byron Dorgan. A lawyer for the Louisiana Coushatta Indians has told The Associated Press that in 2002, Abramoff instructed the tribe to send $5,000 to Sen. Byron Dorgan's political group. The suggestion came weeks after the North Dakota Democrat supported an Indian school construction program.

<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5032567>
(more and the audio interveiw at link above)

[Warpy]

1. Uh Huh, now Google "Abramoff Reed Dobson"

and see what you get. Those two sanctimonious frauds are in this about as deeply as one can get without being Abramoff, himself.

I really don't care how many DINOs get dragged down with the guy, as long as those two go, too.

[Up2Late]

3. Oh yeah, Ralphie used to sleep on Jacks couch, it's that close. Plus...

...did you ever hear Scanlon's e-mail he sent during the Clinton Impeachment, talking (talking about President Clinton at the time) about Kicking a guy when he's down?

He's not a nice man.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. Thanks!

I'll listen right now!

[Up2Late]

4. So? Crazy huh?

This mess is definitely going to stretch into the 2006 Election.

[Jane Austin]

5. I believe that attorney for the Indian tribe who implicated Dorgan just

happens to be a Republican lobbyist.

Surprised?

Dorgan has always supported Indian causes, including schools.

[Up2Late]

7. Who are you talking about? my short term memory's not so good.

The Attorney I mean, and are you talking about Byran Dorgan?

[JPZenger]

6. Excellent Interview - Worth Listening to

The link above is to a great interview with a New York Times investigative reporter. He gets to the meat of the scandal in an interesting way. My favorite part was where Terry Gross quoted a Scanlon email about kicking a guy when he is down:

"This whole thing about not kicking someone when he is down is BS -- Not only do you kick him -- you kick him until he passes out -- then beat him over the head with a baseball bat -- then roll him up in an old rug -- and throw him off a cliff into the pounding surf below!!!!!"

Of course, Scanlon was a top staffer to Tom Delay.

[Dark]

8. They said the same thing about Plame, that it would bring down Bush

and the Repubs.

[Al-CIAda]

9. ...and that isn't over is it? Debbie downer...nt