Unfair sentence by Riverlove

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

All crooked politicians deserve the death penalty.

It's equivalent to treason.

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Sunday, November 15, 2009 5:49 AM

DREAMTROVE

River

He wasn't just embezzling, which is normally tolerated in Washington, he was embezzling while black.

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Sunday, November 15, 2009 5:56 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

In my opinion, the answer here isn't to reduce the sentence of the corrupt politician, but to increase the sentences for rapists and pedophiles.

Otherwise the bar is being moved in the wrong direction.

I DO think that race played a role in this case, unfortunately.

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:35 AM

FREMDFIRMA

Usually I find PN's images to be offensive, annoying and ridiculous, tho on occasion amusing..

But the picture of that kid really speaks to me.

That particular problem, paying for the comfier lives of the generations ahead of me, was a major factor in my misanthropy towards this society and it's people - and a deciding factor in a lack of any kind of respect for my "elders".

It's also some small part of the driving force behind my will to make sure future generations get a better world, a better shake, than we got.

Don't they deserve something better than the future of OUR failures ?

-F

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Sunday, November 15, 2009 11:26 AM

MAGONSDAUGHTER

I think there has got to be a better way than imprisonment for non violent crimes, especially when the crimes are ripping people/nations off - which frankly is a bit of case of the pot calling the kettle black *erhum*

But you Americans, you seem to love locking people up, or injecting them with lethal substances.

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Sunday, November 15, 2009 12:13 PM

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

I don't have a big problem with that sentence. If he were a crack dealer and got caught with $90,000 worth of crack in his freezer, he'd be doing a helluva lot more than 13 years.

It's not that he's black, and it's not that he got caught taking bribes. It's that it was systemic - he'd been doing it a lot, for a long time, and he got just plain stupid and arrogant about it.

Maybe we should lock up MORE of our "representatives", and they'd maybe think about not doing shit like this quite so much.

Let's look into Steve Buyer next. :) "No sir, theyr'e not booing you - they're yelling 'Booooooo-yer! Booooooo-yer!'... Yeah, that's it."

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Monday, November 16, 2009 9:14 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Quote:
In my opinion, the answer here isn't to reduce the sentence of the corrupt politician, but to increase the sentences for rapists and pedophiles.

Quote:
It's that it was systemic - he'd been doing it a lot, for a long time, and he got just plain stupid and arrogant about it.

That about says it for me. Can't speak to the racism part, I tend to think that's not the case; there are cases that speak to the opposite as well.

But I don't think locking them up would help. I think politicians get seduced by their own sense of power and fame, and like anyone else, given enough of it, get stupid. In this case I don't think jail is a deterrent...the mentality of "It won't happen to me" is too prevalent.

I have no answers; voting them out doesn't work, only replaces some of them with others who'll do the same; calling them out obviously has no effect whatsoever, given the enthusiastic greetings by their fellow party members by obvious sexual transgressors; and locking them up wouldn't work because of the above...unless we can find a way to lock up ALL of them who get away with illegal activities...but wouldn't that mean nobody in office?? I tend to think virtually all of them get away with something or other, be it huge or small. I could be wrong, of course...

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Monday, November 16, 2009 9:26 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Make it mandatory that whatever crime a politician is convicted of, carries the maximum sentence for said crime.

No extenuating circumstances, no parole, and no time off for good behavior.

Id also like a pony.

But imagine it... A politician caught smoking weed, goes in for 15 years.

How long until the laws would be changed?

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Monday, November 16, 2009 9:45 AM

Quote:
unless we can find a way to lock up ALL of them [the politicians] who get away with illegal activities...but wouldn't that mean nobody in office??

Hmm... I don't normally even like the idea of imprisonment since there's more productive punishments and because it's even MORE productive to try a smidgen of prevention... But this actually sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 9:59 AM

RIVERLOVE

Seven other black Congressmen are under investigation for criminal activity. Article says no whites under investigation. The House members under investigation: California Democrats Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson, Reps Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Donald Payne (D-NJ), and Del. Donna Christensen (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) and Charlie Rangel. They're all Dems. What's happened to Pelosi's house?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/are-black-lawmakers-bein
g-set-up/under-investigation/

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:15 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Its such a shame how badly black Americans are treated in politics...

Can't we all just get along?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Barry

*sniff

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:25 AM

Hmm.

On one hand, being politicians, and being that I have absolutely no trust towards politicians, there's probably some warrant for these investigations.

On the other, it is VERY suspicious that these guys are the only ones being investigated, and that the ethics panel is full of Southerners.

The idea of a House Ethics Panel is hilarious though. The representatives on the panel are probably more crooked than anyone else.

Ah, people thought this would solve the problem? Elect people and give them the power to write themselves out of laws, then have them elect some people along their number to make sure there aren't abuses?

The obvious outcome is either the ethics council will look the other way, or they'll either pursue charges based on their personal agendas or be used to fulfill someone ELSE'S agenda. They have no motivation to keep things clean, because Americans are dumb enough to keep voting for the incumbent over and over again... Not that voting for someone else would make any difference.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:25 AM

RIVERLOVE

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Its such a shame how badly black Americans are treated in politics...

Can't we all just get along?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Barry

*sniff

I find it impossible to believe that ONLY black Congressmen & black Congresswomen are under investigation. No white people of either party are crooked? That dog don't hunt.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:29 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Could be that the investigators haven't gotten around to anyone else yet..

Or, that those under investigation are less able to intelligently hide their misdeeds.

But, Im sure its easier to scream racism to throw attention off of what these people are being investigated for.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:32 AM

RIVERLOVE

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
... Not that voting for someone else would make any difference.

We'll find out next year. Congressional approval rating is around 25%. Pelosi's numbers are worse. Should be interesting next year.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Or, that those under investigation are less able to intelligently hide their misdeeds.

...

Since this one was clearly offered up without any internal review, I'll do it for you for free this time.

You do realize that you are talking about 7 black people, AND you also just suggested that they reason they're being investigated is that they're less intelligent? Less intelligent than WHO? As I understand it, this is most of the black members of the house, which means the rest of the house are...?

Again, I don't think you intended that one, I think you were comparing them to the other crooks. But seriously, Wulf, that's how easy it is to misconstrue what you're saying. If you want to catch less accusations about being racist, work on your clarity a little bit.

Quote:
But, Im sure its easier to scream racism to throw attention off of what these people are being investigated for.

I wasn't doing that. Notice how I said that being politicians, there's probably a darn good reason to investigate them?

In any case, even if these seven were the only people the committee has gotten to, think about what that suggests. That means, out of other cases of political abuse of power, they have built the best case against these seven people. Assuming they DID hide their illicit activities, and they're politicians, that duty comes with the office, then this suggests that these seven were looked into more closely than anyone else at first. Why. Think about it.

Southern Reps, southern constituents... Politics is all about image, what message are you trying to send? The fact that there are seven black people here is a MESSAGE. Were the geography different, you can bet the first investigation would not have come up with SEVEN BLACK PEOPLE. A different panel would have tried to look "fair," and to reduce the accusations or racists.

These guys are trying to bring on the accusations, first because their constituents would support them, and second because they're trying to bring out the play of the race card to paint their opposition as people who cry wolf.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:54 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

"Since this one was clearly offered up without any internal review, I'll do it for you for free this time.

You do realize that you are talking about 7 black people, AND you also just suggested that they reason they're being investigated is that they're less intelligent? Less intelligent than WHO? As I understand it, this is most of the black members of the house, which means the rest of the house are...?

Again, I don't think you intended that one, I think you were comparing them to the other crooks, but seriously, Wulf, that's how easy it is to misconstrue what you're saying. If you want to catch less accusations about being racist, work on your clarity a little bit."

Ok, what I meant, to be more clear this time, is that these 7 people were (maybe) less able to cover up their crimes, because they were more blatant and easier to prove.

"I wasn't doing that. Notice how I said that being politicians, there's probably a darn good reason to investigate them?"

Wasn't saying YOU, specifically. Just that this whole thread is about how these 7 are being investigated ONLY because they are black.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 10:56 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
He wasn't just embezzling, which is normally tolerated in Washington, he was embezzling while black.

It would have been ok if he'd been working for ACORN.

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 11:03 AM

Quote:
Ok, what I meant, to be more clear this time, is that these 7 people were (maybe) less able to cover up their crimes, because they were more blatant and easier to prove.

Exactly, and I knew that's what you were saying. I'm just pointing out to you, this is how those arguments get started, because when you don't specify, everyone else assumes what you mean is "because they're black." I had to think about it a few times before I figured out what you were really trying to say, and most people aren't going to bother beyond the first reading to try to look deeper into what you're trying to say beyond taking offense at the initial interpretation.

Then people jump on that, and bait you some more, until you accidentally say something else you don't mean, or you get angry and say stuff you do mean, but then regret.

I'm just trying to save you some frustration here by pointing out that you weren't getting your point across as clearly as you'd like. Also because it's frustrating for me sometimes to watch these threads get derailed.

Now, back on topic, I'd be very interested to know just what the charges are for these seven.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 4:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Its such a shame how badly black Americans are treated in politics...

Can't we all just get along?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Barry

*sniff

I find it impossible to believe that ONLY black Congressmen & black Congresswomen are under investigation. No white people of either party are crooked? That dog don't hunt.

What's going on with U.S. Representative Steve Buyer? Isn't he being investigated yet? And if not, why not? His "foundation" has taken in well over $800,000 for a "scholarship fund" that has never given out a single scholarship to anybody, but that HAS sent Buyer all over the world to play golf. And the main contributors to that "scholarship fund" foundation? Corporations that have pending legislation in Buyer's committee. Seems the only way to get a fair shake from Buyer is to buy it.

And then there's Senator John Ensign, who had his family pay his mistress $96,000 and got her husband a job lobbying Ensign, a clear violation of Senate rules.

And let's not forget former senator Ted Stevens. Or Congressman Mark Foley. Yup, seems the white men of the Republican party have had their recent share of investigations and scandals, both in the House and in the Senate.

So are you saying if the Obama White House launches investigations into lawbreaking white congresspeople, it will be "racist" for doing so?

Mike

Work is the curse of the Drinking Class.
- Oscar Wilde

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Monday, November 16, 2009 5:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:

Or, that those under investigation are less able to intelligently hide their misdeeds.

Because they're black? Is that why you think they're "less intelligent"?

Quote:

But, Im sure its easier to scream racism to throw attention off of what these people are being investigated for.

"These" people?

You know how you start talking, and then people start calling you a racist asshole?

You're doing it again. Your fingers are typing. Might want to see to that.

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Monday, November 16, 2009 5:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
Quote:
Originally posted by dreamtrove:
He wasn't just embezzling, which is normally tolerated in Washington, he was embezzling while black.

It would have been ok if he'd been working for ACORN.

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.

So if he'd been working for, say, Blackwater or Goldman Sachs, it would be perfectly okay for him to have been "embezzling while white", right? I mean, it's not as if white people EVER commit crimes, right?

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:28 AM

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:

In my opinion, the answer here isn't to reduce the sentence of the corrupt politician, but to increase the sentences for rapists and pedophiles.

Otherwise the bar is being moved in the wrong direction.

Who says politicians aren't rapists and pedophiles?

Legal Maxim: "The law is like a spider web -- only small flies are captured. Larger bugs pass right through."

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:34 AM

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
... Not that voting for someone else would make any difference.

We'll find out next year. Congressional approval rating is around 25%. Pelosi's numbers are worse. Should be interesting next year.

Hopefully Cindy Sheehan will run again. Seems election fraud is how Pelosi beat her last time.

Can Sheehan learn to play hardball?

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:41 AM