There is an old saying that insists people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Harry Reid is living in a glass house and he has thrown enough stones to shatter the place.
During the past year, Dingy Harry Reid has constantly told us of the Republican culture of corruption. He has pointed fingers and every time there is a hint of impropriety by a Republican, ol' Harry is there to point his finger and discuss the culture of corruption. Anyone with a brain knows Harry Reid is neck deep in corruption and that is the mind boggling thing. No, not that he is corrupt, but that he would make so much noise and draw attention to himself. He is almost standing on a street corner yelling "I am corrupt, come and get me."
When the Jack Abramoff scandal broke, Democrats, led by Reid, were in a full frontal assault with their "culture of corruption" claims. They quieted down a bit when it was learned that many Democrats had taken Abramoff money. In short order, politicians everywhere were returning Jack Abramoff money as if it were coated with anthrax spores. That is, they all turned it in, except Dingy Harry. Reid received more than $60,000 in Abramoff money but said there was nothing wrong with him keeping it. The money was donated to Reid by a group who later benefited from his involvement in an issue they needed resolved. But to Harry, this was okay, he had done nothing wrong, and the only people America needed to worry about were Republicans.
Harry Reid has also been the recipient of expensive ringside boxing tickets while legislation was being considered that might effect how boxing was regulated. The Nevada Athletic Commission, which gave Reid the tickets, feared they would lose authority if the legislation passed. Reid tried to justify his actions:
He defended the gifts, saying that they would never influence his position on the bill and he was simply trying to learn how his legislation might affect an important home state industry. "Anyone from Nevada would say I'm glad he is there taking care of the state's number one businesses," he said. "I love the fights anyways, so it wasn't like being punished," added the senator, a former boxer and boxing judge. Washington Post
It would appear that Republicans who accept gifts are obviously doing it for personal gain but when Reid does it, well he would never let those things influence him. There is a very important lesson learned the hard way over the years and that is even the appearance of impropriety is wrong. It does not matter what a person is doing if the appearance is that the person is doing something wrong. Often in the professional world, perception is reality and when people think you are doing something wrong, then you are.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Kelly
Nice start Big Dog, I will come back with more comments after a better review. You couldn't pick a better story, though.
2 - Kelly
Big D, this is an EXCELLENT article that well ties together some of the random elements of Reid's dealings. Sadly, there is so much more to report on the guy. I'd love to see you do another piece just upon his family corruption.
Good job.
K
3 - Arch Conservative
Yes this is a good article Big Dog.
I bet you won't hear any condemnation from the left though. They ignore corruption among their own. I mean William Jefferson had 90K in bribes in his freezer and no one has asked him to resign yet.
Harry Reid is a hypocrite in addition to being a world class left wing douchebag.
Exposing the heathen, hypocritical left is hard work but someone's gotta do it. Keep it up Big Dog.
4 - aprove
maybe it could not be beter said
5 - Georgio
I didn't read your article because I love dogs and I know a sick one when I see them..AS far as Ried being dishonest that would not surprise Me one bit..90% of politicians are immoral with no values at all and I mean both parties..They don't go into politics to serve their country they go into it for power sex and money..does anyone really think the religious right will vote Dem because of Foley HELL NO and we Dem's will vote Democratic because we want to rid the Country of the stench from the Republicans .
6 - Marklan
Harry Reid is a fine politician with more integrity in his little finger than all of GOP and its toadies put together. His honesty and decency shine like a beacon of virtue in a cesspool of Repuklican vomit that's hellbent on dragging the country down into a pit of fetid slime.
7 - Nancy
I'm a 'Leftie' and I'm sick & damned tired of EITHER SIDE and BOTH sides' corruption. The whole damned congressional cesspool is corrupt, with the possible (altho unlikely) except of extreme newbies like Obama who haven't had time to absorb the attitude of entitlement & being above the law that most of them seem to have developed from being allowed to stay in office for TOO DAMNED LONG! They ALL need to be subject to term limits: no more than 6 terms for the House, and 3 terms for the senate. If in 12 years someone can't get something substantial done, then s/he isn't going to, and that person is just turning in to a professional pol-congressmaggot, hooked on power & concerned ONLY with re-election. They also need to have the provision that allows them to retain their fat, overgenerous lifelong congressional pensions revoked if they are convicted or plead guilty to any crime. I almost went thru the roof when I found out that even tho Ney has pleaded guilty to bribery, etc. he still gets to keep his big, fat retirement & lush benefits package he gets for having been in congress! THAT is a scandal as well! Goddamn. How many of US rank-&-file workers are allowed to keep our pensions & benefits if for whatever reason WE go to jail? Hell, we can't even count on keeping them if we never go to jail. This stinks. They all stink.
8 - RICH
To hear the democrats rail against Republicans amuses me. Evil is evil, crooks are crooks, but not in their eyes. They lack the moral authority to raise children.
9 - Kelly
I didn't read your article because I love dogs and I know a sick one when I see them..AS far as Ried being dishonest that would not surprise Me one bit..
Sounds like a case of Dog Flu...better put some ice on it!!
10 - Kelly
Harry Reid is a fine politician with more integrity in his little finger than all of GOP and its toadies put together. His honesty and decency shine like a beacon of virtue in a cesspool of Repuklican vomit that's hellbent on dragging the country down into a pit of fetid slime.
BRAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!! Nice one! No matter what your guys do, they are perfect? Sounds like the old Communist take on Stalin, Mao & Pol Pot!! Now, 175 million dead later....lol
11 - Kelly
Nancy, there is one difference. The media has a natural "Dogleg Left" that makes them miss Liberal corruption every time!!
12 - Georgio
The Dog with the flu is Big Dog and RICH read the comments again ..we called both parties crooks..something you haven't the guts to do .
13 - Big Dog
Those who decided not to read the article before commenting (why have the information before forming an opinion) probably missed the last paragraph:
Regardless of party, it is time to clean out those who betray the trust of the citizens of this country. It is time to hold them all accountable and to ensure that they understand that they work for the citizens and not the other way around. It is time to get rid of any politician who has been involved in unethical or criminal behavior. It is time for the people of America to take back the country and that starts by taking back the government.
Which part of REGARDLESS OF PARTY is too difficult to understand?
14 - window pane
Reid is a lefty scumbag. When he and Pelosi take charge there will be an orgy of criminality going on in DC. They'll let their lefty cronies sit in their seats for the right price.
Hey, anybody see where John "President of France" Kerry compared himself to Reagan running for Prez?
That nut is trying again and making excuses for it. Crawl in a Frenh bunker you lefty windbag!
15 - Nancy
I think it's time to clean BOTH parties & BOTH houses of congress. Total, ZERO tolerance. Except the catch is that congress would have to legislate it for themselves, and that they'll NEVER do.
16 - Lee Richards
A fair and accurate article. Nancy is right about term limits being desperately needed. Elections aren't effective as term limits because incumbants have a huge advantage over challengers in raising money and giving away pork, on OUR dime. Speaking of pork: This congress is a pig sty and it doesn't make a bit of difference whether the smelly hogs' tails curl to the left or right.
17 - Dave Nalle
BD, much more solid than some of your recent pieces which lean a bit too much on anger and too little on hard facts. Nice to see you going into more depth.
I don't think Reid should be punished for his corrupt activities or his Abramoff money. The truth is he really didn't do anything all that bad. But bringing this out is important because it puts the various other Abramoff accusations in context. The truth is that NONE of them did anything all that terrible and the whole issue is just another manufactured scandal with little substance.
Dave
18 - gonzo marx
well now Dave, the convictions of Safavian and Ney tend to show that there IS a problem here
and Reid shoudl be scrutinized the same as the rest, if ethics of laws were violated, then nail the bastard...same as any other
now Big Dog sez in the original Post...
*Regardless of party, it is time to clean out those who betray the trust of the citizens of this country. It is time to hold them all accountable and to ensure that they understand that they work for the citizens and not the other way around. It is time to get rid of any politician who has been involved in unethical or criminal behavior. It is time for the people of America to take back the country and that starts by taking back the government.*
Quoted for Truth
nuff said...
Excelsior?
19 - Big Dog
Thanks Dave,
Interestingly, when I write opinion or satire they are my opinions or satirical and tend to either be angry, thought provoking, or humorous.
When I write a news piece it contains research and facts. Just my way of using the different categories effectively.
20 - Dave Nalle
well now Dave, the convictions of Safavian and Ney tend to show that there IS a problem here
No, they show that there's the perception of a problem and punishment to satisfy the salivating masses. That doesn't mean that the problem is real or that we should care. Going after Abramoff recipients specifically is ridiculously selective. They either need to give up on going after corruption, or go after the entire lobbying system. Picking one lobbyist and his allies is hideously unfair.
As for Abramoff, what he really ought to be prosecuted for is ripping off his clients, not whatever bribes he made. Until they change the system completely it's going to be built on bribery, either 'acceptable' though established channels and restrictions, or under the table. And the differentiation of the two is essentially arbitrary and meaningless.
Dave
21 - gonzo marx
well Dave...we will just have to disagree...
i think those Conviction swere based upon specific Violations of specific Laws...
now, we can Agree that the entire Lobbying syustem is fucked up and is hurting our Republic more than possibly any other single Item...
if i were the Galactic Overlord, i'd make it so that NO lobbyist can meet with ANY elected representative, or their staff except in their official Office, with an appointment, and with an opposing party staffer in the room with them...
that would solve the Problem...but it ain't gonna happen when you leave the wolves in charge of the hen house
but i digress...
Excelsior?
22 - Dave Nalle
Gonzo, when virtually identical actions under slightly different conditions can lead to jail time while under other conditions they are legal, the laws are the problem more than the actions are.
Unlike you I think the solution to this problem is not to enforce bad laws mindlessly, but to replace them with better laws.
Dave
23 - gonzo marx
first, virtually is NOT identical..by definition
second..you misprepresent my position...
i'd like to see the Laws both enforced and checked over... not enforcing a Law is piss poor Policy and erodes the force of Law in a society
so, similiar to the "terrorism bill" that retroactively exonerates foloks who broke the Law at the time...i reject the Concept
sure, fix the Laws, but this does NOT excuse those who violated it in the first place from their own personal Responsibility...
ever...
Excelsior?
24 - Dave Nalle
Gonzo, to enforce a bad law is oppression dressed up in the mantle of legitimacy, and a government which enforces bad law is a tyrrany. As citizens were are obligated to refuse to obey bad law and to demand that our government not enforce bad laws and replace them with good laws as quickly as possible.
Are you not familiar with the work of Montesquieu? He had it right when he wrote “Useless laws weaken necessary laws”.
Dave
25 - gonzo marx
well Dave, when you try and compare outright fucking bribery with a Citizen's responsibility towards civil disobedience in the face of tyrannical rule...
i just get all flustered...
i mean, that's some serious balls to even try that conflation here... be very clear, i mean the bastards on both sides who have convicted for bribery...
are you trying to pur forward that laws against a public official taking a bribe are bad or tyrannical?
or am i more correct in understanding that your point is there is such a fine line between legal and illegal bribery that why the fuck shoudl we enforce the distinction?
if i missed a Possibility, or indeed, the entirety of your Meaning...please explain
ifi got it right, i still applaud the sheer ballsiness of the Attempt... even while sticking with my normal Ends versus Means bit...
Excelsior?