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House ethics enforcers leave Congress mired in the muck |
2010-03-10 |
Committee members find ways to excuse colleagues' bad behavior. What does it take for a member of Congress to get in real trouble with the House ethics committee? Quite a lot. In fact, only one lawmaker -- Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. -- has merited even a wrist slap since Democrats were swept into the majority in 2007 on a wave of voter revulsion to scandals engulfing Republicans in Congress. Back then, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed through more stringent rules, vowed stricter enforcement and famously promised to "drain the swamp." Well, she's going to need a bigger pump. So far, the supposedly invigorated bipartisan House ethics committee has:
Sadly, there is nothing new about ethically challenged lawmakers or ethics committees that act more as enablers than policemen. The solutions, too, have been obvious for a long time. The House needs an OCE with real investigative powers, an ethics committee that actually cares about ethics, and a speaker willing to stand up for strict rules when powerful members get caught breaking them. Until honest, ethical members take a stand, the sleazy behavior so accepted on Capitol Hill will continue to tar them all. |
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
#4 She didn't intend to drain it. She has dredged it so now it's deeper and the water "cleaner" so as not to endanger the Dems that are wallowing in C Musso's hot tub. |
Posted by: Alanc 2010-03-10 19:14 |
#3 She didn't drain the swamp. She's turning into a Hot Tub. |
Posted by: Creating Mussolini9716 2010-03-10 19:09 |
#2 [Pelosi] promised to "drain the swamp." Well, she's going to need a bigger pump. Or someone who is up to the task. Or a much, much smaller swamp as the result of the November 2010 election. |
Posted by: JohnQC 2010-03-10 17:55 |
#1 Comparing Swamp Thing to Congressvarmints? I suspect you'll be hearing from Cousin Swampy's lawyers about this. |
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-03-10 14:42 |