Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Et Tu, Diane?

If David Keene is right, California Senator Diane Feinstein is another corrupt oinker stealing money from the U.S. taxpayers. A lot of money:

The problems stem from her subcommittee activities from 2001 to late 2005, when she quit. During that period the public record suggests she knowingly took part in decisions that eventually put millions of dollars into her husband’s pocket — the classic conflict of interest that exploited her position and power to channel money to her husband’s companies.

In other words, it appears Sen. Feinstein was up to her ears in the same sort of shenanigans that landed California Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R) in the slammer. Indeed, it may be that the primary difference between the two is basically that Cunningham was a minor leaguer and a lot dumber than his state’s senior senator.

If Keene’s analysis is correct, Feinstein advocated — from a very powerful perch — contracts which put millions of dollars into the pockets of she and her husband. The most charitable possible interpretation is that there was a severe and (illegally) undisclosed conflict of interest, whether or not it was abused. Appearances suggest much worse: the active advocacy of contracts that directly benefited her.

Why on earth hasn’t the Senate Ethics Committee sanctioned her? And why isn’t the news media all over this egregious corruption?

Oh, that’s right — she’s a Democrat. She’s exempt from petty moral and legal concerns, because she’s got, you know, truth and justice on her side…

One begins to wonder if California should start importing some politicians from Mexico, in order to reduce the levels of corruption…

Tree. Rope. Corrupt politician. Some assembly required…