Archive for: May, 2006

I Call Bullshit

May 26 2006 Published by under Congress, Crime, News Media

CrimeCongressThe USA Today Debate today is a good one. On one side, you have a very good read about Congress’ lack of concern for our civil rights, but their impassioned protection of their own. On the other side, you have a laughable op-ed from Dennis Hastert.

If the information we have read about the behavior of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., seems as obvious to a jury as it does to me, he deserves to be vigorously prosecuted. I do not want to do anything that will interfere with that prosecution.

Except bitch and moan about the warrant and the search, and support a 45-day delay in the prosecution because the next warrant may or may not have your name on it. Other than that, you won’t do anything to interfere. But then, not doing anything has been sort of the hallmark of an institution left to police its own members.

The FBI explained that the documents seized in the Jefferson case were subpoenaed nine months ago. His home was raided by the FBI in August of 2005. The investigation has been public knowledge for quite some time. An aide negotiated a plea agreement and began offering testimony against Jefferson in January.

Yet it was only one week ago that the House Ethics Committee felt it was necessary to begin an investigation.

It is glaringly apparent, to even the most casual observer, that the Congressional Ethics/Investigation system is broken. When Duke Cunningham has a “bribery menu printed on Congressional note cards“, and William Jefferson is caught on tape accepting a suitcase full of cash, and yet the House ethics committee waited almost a year to investigate Jefferson, and, apparently did not ever launch an investigation into Cunningham, you have a problem.

Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I, at this point, am so sick of seeing articles detailing the dirty deeds of members that I would be in favor of a blanket investigation into the whole lot of you.

The lesson here is “Get your House in order, Mr. Speaker, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation will do it for you.”

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House Judiciary Approves Net Neutrality

May 25 2006 Published by under Congress, Legislation, Net Neutrality, The Internet

House Judiciary passed the net neutrality bill (HR 5417) out of committee today. That would seem like good news for the net neutrality crowd, but it may not be. There is a good possibility that bill will never see a floor vote.

With the House Energy & Commerce Committee passing their version as part of the telecom reform package (HR 5252 – The COPE Act), there are now competing versions of net neutrality working to floor consideration. It’s likely some agreement will be reached behind closed doors.

The Senate actually has a fairly reasonable approach to this. The Stevens bill, as drafted, directs the FCC to study the issue and report back to the Senate with their findings. If the net neutrality crowd is right, and this behavior is rampant, then the FCC should find plenty. If not, the Senate will discover they’re trying to legislate a non-problem.

In any event, if either version in the house makes it through a floor vote, and the Senate passes something that looks like the Stevens draft, there will be a lot to work out in conference.

(Disclaimer: While I work for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, this post should in no way be construed as an official position of the Association. Thoughts in this space are mine and mine alone and do not reflect the views of my employer.)

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Cable Television Is Not A Civil Right

May 25 2006 Published by under Cable, Congress, Government, Legislation, Programming, Television

CongressTelevisionLegislationWhen did cable television become a civil right?

Senator McCain and Kevin Martin are advocating government “solutions” to encourage a la carte programming. They believe that cable should be offered on a per channel basis. On a strictly logic basis, I agree with them. However, their argument inserts the heavy hand of government into my television habits and that is more repellent to me than paying for channels I don’t watch.

The fact is, I don’t often watch broadcast television. I’m a fan of Lost, the Monday night line up on CBS (with the exception of that stupid Christine show) and My Name Is Earl. other than that, I could care less about the broadcast line up. So I choose to subscribe to cable.

That’s the key phrase… I choose to subscribe. They have offered me a product and I decided to buy it. I have also chosen to subscribe to Satellite radio. I looked at what was available for free, found it lacking, and bought a better alternative.

Neither of these was a forced purchase, and neither of the products was government subsidized. As a result, I don’t expect the government to step in and negotiate a better deal for me. Further, I am afraid of a government that feels it needs to do that.

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Dennis Hastert – Is He Or Isn’t He?

May 25 2006 Published by under Congress, Crime, News Media

NewsCrimeCongressABC News says he’s under investigation.

Hastert’s lawyers, in a rather testy letter, say he’s not.

Three questions remain. One, in a face off between the MSM and a bunch of lawyers, who do side with? Two, is this the reason Hastert got so spun up about the FBI raid on Jefferson’s office, or a reaction to his comments? Three, am I the only person in Washington who is not under investigation?

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Nuttiness

May 24 2006 Published by under Congress, Crime, Government

CrimeCongressIf I am ever accused of a crime, and the police come to my house with a properly executed search warrant, I’m going to claim intimidation at the hands of the executive branch. Is it just me, or has Congress lost it?

William Jefferson is under investigation for bribery. He has, allegedly, been caught on tape accepting $100,000 in cash, which was later recovered from his freezer. He has been stonewalling the investigation into his corruption.

So the FBI executes a warrant and searches his Congressional office. Now the rest of Congress (the austere body that refuses to investigate its own bad apples and instead sit around drinking martini’s together at The Palm) is spun up because this is a terrible precedent.

No, it’s not!

This is what the rest of the nation lives with every day. If police suspect you committed a crime, and subpoena your records, they come to your house immediately to get them. They don’t give you nine months to jerk them off.

Jefferson should be in jail already, but because he’s a member of the most powerful country club on earth, he’s still in Congress, and likely still selling our country to whoever can line his pockets.

For the rest of those in Congress, I am reminded of a scene from the movie Liar! Liar!. When a client asks for legal advice after multiple arrests, Jim Carrey responds, “Stop breaking the law, asshole!”

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