Corrupt Politicians" for 2009

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
8,583
60
48
United States
Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington's "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians" for 2009

Contact Information:
Press Office , ext 305​
Washington, DC Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released its 2009 list of Washington's "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians." The list, in alphabetical order, includes:
Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington's "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians" for 2009 | Judicial Watch

Never would have guessed.
 

Icarus27k

Council Member
Apr 4, 2010
1,508
7
38
Just for the record, from Judicial Watch's "About Us" page:

"Judicial Watch, Inc., a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law."

Source: About Us | Judicial Watch





Sure, it's conservative. There's nothing wrong with that, and it says absolutely nothing about the merits of their claims. Arguing the source is the ad hominem fallacy after all. It just let's everyone know what angle Judicial Watch is coming from.


So let's address some of the claims directly. The Nancy Pelosi/jet stuff is absolute bunk, as is shown from more objective sources such as FactCheck.org. The jet stuff is a recycled false accusation against Pelosi from all the way back when she became Speaker in Jan. 2007.

Source on the FactCheck.org debunking of the jet stuff: Plane False | FactCheck.org
 
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FiveParadox

Governor General
Dec 20, 2005
5,875
43
48
Vancouver, BC
Re: Dishonest Accusations of Corruption

The Honorable Representative Nancy Pelosi (8th District of California), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has spent amounts comparable to former Speakers of the House on travel and accomodation. As a national leader, it is understood that Ms. Pelosi is going to need to travel across the United States of America and abroad in the performance of the role and functions of the Speakership. Such expenditures by the Speaker are on par with spending levels of her predecessor, so this accusation is debunked, unless ironsides would like to agree with me that the conduct of the Republican Party of the United States has also been so massively scandalous and atrocious as suggested here.

As for the accusations of corruption against The Honorable Representative Christopher Dodd (2nd District of Connecticut), Judicial Watch suggests his corruption is based on the fact that there is an oustanding complaint lodged against the representative — by Judicial Watch itself, which clearly undermines the organisation’s own credibility.
 

Icarus27k

Council Member
Apr 4, 2010
1,508
7
38
In 2009, Judicial Watch tried to refresh the Pelosi jet accusation by getting more info on Pelosi's travel via filing Freedom of Infomation requests. The only new part of the story Judicial Watch came up with was the concept of boorishness, rudness, or "sense of entitlement". However, these emails that purportly show this boorishness aren't from a "Pelosi aide" as JW claims. The emails are from the House of Representatives employee tasked with preparing travel for all members of the House.

It's a position in the House that, while located in the Speaker's office, is more independent like the Clerk of the House or the Chaplain of the House. It's not like Nancy Pelosi's personal secretary calling up solely on Pelosi's behalf.

So it doesn't say anything about Pelosi specifically.

On the subject of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, Judicial Watch leaves out that Jackson was an informant to federal prosecutors in investigations against Rod Blagovich, the latest of which was six months before Blagovich was arrested.

The following quote from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald seems to apply to candidates for the vacant U.S. Senate seat that didn't know that Blagovich and other people were talking about them.

"There may be people who had no idea what was going on...who had no idea they were being discussed. We ask that the press in particular not cast aspersions. This complaint is only about the two people who were charged."

And yet, we have some press (Judicial Watch) doing exactly what the chief prosecutor says they shouldn't do.

If the prosecutor says there is no corruption there (which is what he comes close to doing, as much as he reasonably can since he doesn't know for sure), that seems pretty cut and dry that it's not there. I'm sympathetic to the idea "All politicians are corrupt", but when such redeeming evidence such as the corruption prosecutor offering a defense exists, I have to take note of it.

Source: Jackson, Jr. may have been working with feds to investigate gov. | abc7chicago.com
 

Bar Sinister

Executive Branch Member
Jan 17, 2010
8,252
19
38
Edmonton
Excuse my lack of understanding regarding corruption in the USA. But if the people on the list are actually corrupt have any of them faced criminal prosecution? If not - why not?
 

FiveParadox

Governor General
Dec 20, 2005
5,875
43
48
Vancouver, BC
Excuse my lack of understanding regarding corruption in the USA. But if the people on the list are actually corrupt have any of them faced criminal prosecution? If not - why not?

No, they haven’t.

Because they are only corrupt according to the “conservative, non-partisan” (that’s an interesting combination of terms) Judicial Watch.