“Ethics Reform” or “Star Chamber?”
March 11th, 2008 at 11:46pm Leo Pusateri
As Congressman Eric Cantor reports, the U.S. House today bypassed its own rules in passing a nefarious sham of a bill cloaked under the guise of “ethics reform:”
House Democrats had crafted legislation, an ethics bill in name only, that will do nothing to clean-up Washington. In fact, many non-partisan experts believe that it will only further empower the special interests.
Tonight, on the House floor, House Democrats were headed towards defeat. They were opposed by a bipartisan coalition of Members, who wanted to work towards meaningful ethics reform, rather than accept the empty rhetoric offered by the House Democrat Leadership. At the end of the vote, the bipartisan coalition had prevailed; yet, Speaker Pelosi held the vote open and strong-armed less senior Representatives into voting her way. This action violated House rules that were enacted in January of last year.
This “ethics reform” bill will create an unaccountable, supposedly “independent” commission comprised of six people that will serve as personal pit bulls that can bring forth charges against congressmen anonymously without probable cause, with no chance for the accused congressman to face their accusers!
In an interview with Laura Ingraham today, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-6th CD) tells of the “kangaroo court” that this bill will create in the House of Representatives:
(click to listen)
Now I’m for getting rid of unethical congresscritters just as much as the next guy. But what Pelosi’s plan amounts to is an unaccountable, un-elected “commission” who in effect will have the power to do the bidding of special interests by putting forth trumped-up charges with no probable cause; with no mechanism for due process for the accused, nor any way for the congressperson to even know by whom he or she is charged, much less face their accusers. In other words, as Ingraham stated, Pelosi and Co. are willing to extend more rights to terrorists in Gitmo than their political enemies in the Halls of Congress.
Leave it to the perpetually ethically-challenged Nancy Pelosi to turn an “ethics bill” into an unethical travesty of justice.
Entry Filed under: Congress, Corruption, Democrats
13 Comments
1. Obama08 | March 11th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Deleted–off topic.
2. Kahn | March 12th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Obama2008,
Viking ships were “clinker built”. Called knorrs, they were long and slender and had a large square sail. The were shallow and rather like a large canoe with two bows (pointy front ends). They were steered with a single oar from the side. They were swift and capable of long voyages (attested to by the historic voyages of Vikings to North America and through the Middle European river systems to the East. However, they could not carry large cargos. Hence, the need to raid and pillage on the way.”
I mean - since we’re ignoring the topic, you hate filled windbag. You never did answer these questions…
Tell me Obamas top five accomplishments?
Tell me Hillary Clintons top five accomplishments?
Explain to me why you and your party won’t attack Kennedy for killing wind power and why YOUR party won’t overturn those laws?
Explain to me why your party refuses to build nuclear plants? The ones in France seem OK - would their system not be OK?
Explain to me why there are no new hydro-electric plants even being considered?
Explain to me the Constitutional Logic behind the “Fairness Doctrine” and “Campaign finance Laws”.
Explain to me how welfare and subsidized housing has not led to the deterioration of the inner city and its family structures?
Explain to me on what day exactly a fetus becomes a human, and why you don’t think it deserves the “reasonable doubt” standard you’d give a mass murder suspect?
List the drugs and great inventions to come out of any communist nation or strongly socialist nation?
Explain how you think taxing and restricting pharmaceutical companies will make them sink millions of dollars and tens of years into developing new drugs that you plan to limit the profits of?
3. Kahn | March 12th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Or you could post on the Democrat McCarthy-like Star Chamber your fascist leadership wants to put in place. Whichever.
4. Obama08 | March 12th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Deleted - off topic.
5. Almiranta | March 12th, 2008 at 2:16 am
I am appalled at the very idea of “anonymous” accusations being made against members of congress.
Remember not too long ago, when an effort was made to try terrorists in military tribunals rather than in courts, because of the dangers to witnesses who would testify against them? And the absolute firestorm of hysterical outcry from, you guessed it, the Left, about the “violation of Constitutional rights” these poor butcherers would suffer, not being able to face their accusers.
But let a Dem Congress suggest a way to let them go after their own, and the radical Left is all for it.
If once, just once, a radical Lefty would even APPROACH even-handedness, would just consider applying the same rules to everyone, it would be so refreshing. Surprising, yes. Astounding, even. But a great change of pace.
6. Magnum Serpentine | March 12th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Star Chamber is what happened when george and dick were ordered by big oil to have a meeting in which big oil informed george and dick that they would jack prices up by 4 bucks a gallon and they would do nothing to stop them and george and dick said SIR YES SIR!!!
I have a solution to the ethics issue. Make all offices in Congress and the President, 1- 4 year term. That means if Ron Paul or Ron Reagan were elected President, they would serve 1 term of 4 years and would not be able to serve again. The same for congressmen like the future senator Matt, He would serve 1 term of 4 years in the senate and would not be able to run again. But thats for every one, Senators, Representatives, and the President.
We would have no problems or a lot less problems than we do now.
I am not sure what to make of the latest ethics issue. Is this a court they want to bring about and will it be a rubber stamp court like the FICA court is now?
7. Freedom1 | March 12th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Outrageous! Liberal fascists!
8. Joe | March 12th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Nice mark. Delete comment #1 and #4, but don’t delete #2.
At least show a touch of class in deleting OFF TOPIC comments from both sides.
But hey… I’m sure this will get deleted for complaining about how your “policy”.
9. Dems Pass Ethics Bill - U&hellip | March 12th, 2008 at 11:08 am
[...] Blogsforvictory has more: This “ethics reform” bill will create an unaccountable, supposedly “independent” commission comprised of six people that will serve as personal pit bulls that can bring forth charges against congressmen anonymously without probable cause, with no chance for the accused congressman to face their accusers! [...]
10. js | March 12th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Ethics reform will continue to be ineffective until they out law corporate lobby.
11. Michael | March 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I noticed that Senator Reid, the majority leader of the Senate has announced that he will oppose a bi-partisan effort to swear off earmarks for one year. And people like him are supposed to define or reform ethics? Sure.
12. Genghis | March 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
“Explain to me why you and your party won’t attack Kennedy for killing wind power and why YOUR party won’t overturn those laws?
Explain to me why your party refuses to build nuclear plants? The ones in France seem OK - would their system not be OK?
Explain to me why there are no new hydro-electric plants even being considered?”
Explain to me why your party who controlled the WH, Congress, House and Senate just a short time ago has done nothing about these issues?
13. Kahn | March 12th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Joe, maybe it’s because I was demonstrating to NiP that he was off topic, and reminding it that it refused to answer even the basic questions about its own positions and party.
But seriously, you liberals don’t see any problem with the Democrats in Congress putting a sham kangaroo court like this in place? Besides hating us (we get it) you are actually defending this on its merits?
When should we start sewing the yellow elephants on our coats?