Corruption Personified

MtSmalls · #1 07-28-2005, 11:34 AM

Tom Delay. Living proof that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

AFTER the close of discussion in committee on the Energy bill, Mr. Delay felt it appropriate to insert a 30 page amendment to bill. That is the amendment will go to the floor, but NO ONE will have voted to add that amendment to the bill.

What's in the amendment you might ask? a $1.5 billion fund for "Ultra Deep Water and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources". In short, it would allow the oil and gas industry to apply for grants from this fund for virtually any exploratory purpose deepwater or not. This is not the unusual part.

The unusual part, is that the amendment contains instructions to "contract with a corporation that is constructed as a consortium" for at least 75% of the fund. In almost every circumstance in history a fund this large would be managed directly by the government. Who would be the leading candidate for this juict government contract? The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA). Which just happens to be housed at the Texas Energy Center in Sugar Land Tx, Mr. Delay's home district. Halliburton and Marathon Oil are among the members of this 'consortium'. Oh, and the bill allows for the consortium to keep up to 10% of the fund for "administrative purposes", in excess of $100 MILLION.
Oh, and members of the consortium, who sit on the board, are also free to apply for these "grants".

#2 07-28-2005, 01:21 PM

ouch...that's all i've got to say. i absolutely hate people sometimes...makes it easier to be a poker player though.
ouch

Felix_Nietsche · #3 07-28-2005, 02:07 PM

If you going to claim Tom DeLay is corrupt then you HAVE TO accuse 99% of all US politicians are "corrupt" because ALMOST all of them try to bring 'pork' in their districts.

Sorry, it is not corruption. It is 'bringing home the bacon' which has been an tradition of American politics for 200 years. The only federal US politician that I know of who does not play the pork game is Ron Paul (Republican of Houston,TX). Ron is a former libertarian presidential candidate and a medical doctor. His nickname in congress is "Dr. No" because he votes against any bill that that has even ONE unconstitutional provision.

stealyourface · #4 07-28-2005, 02:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
His nickname in congress is "Dr. No" because he votes against any bill that that has even ONE unconstitutional provision.

[/ QUOTE ]

OH MY GOD!!! THAT IS TERRIBLE!!!

nicky g · #5 07-28-2005, 02:14 PM

"If you going to claim Tom DeLay is corrupt then you HAVE TO accuse 99% of all US politicians are "corrupt" because ALMOST all of them try to bring 'pork' in their districts.

Sorry, it is not corruption. It is 'bringing home the bacon' which has been an tradition of American politics for 200 years."

I agree that it is widespread (amongst both parties) and an old tradition, but it is a type of corruption in my opinion. This is also a particularly flagrant example of it.

#6 07-28-2005, 02:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If you going to claim Tom DeLay is corrupt then you HAVE TO accuse 99% of all US politicians are "corrupt" because ALMOST all of them try to bring 'pork' in their districts.

Sorry, it is not corruption. It is 'bringing home the bacon' which has been an tradition of American politics for 200 years. The only federal US politician that I know of who does not play the pork game is Ron Paul (Republican of Houston,TX). Ron is a former libertarian presidential candidate and a medical doctor. His nickname in congress is "Dr. No" because he votes against any bill that that has even ONE unconstitutional provision.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is hypocritcal and you know it. If it was a democract that was doing this, you'd be all over how this is another example of the evil democrats/liberals blah blah blah. This type of nonsense should be unacceptable no matter who does it.

Felix_Nietsche · #7 07-28-2005, 02:25 PM

I agree that it is widespread (amongst both parties) and an old tradition, but it is a type of corruption in my opinion.
************************************************** ******
You are consistent and I can respect that.
I don't respect the DeLay bashers who attack DeLay on this pork while their favorite politicians do the same thing.

I think a lot of 'pork' is corruption because it violates the US Constitution.
e.g. Ted "Uncle Ted" Stevens (Repub. Alaska) who got money for a $1.5M bustop. The interstate commerce clause of the US Constitution can not be cited to support this expediture of federal funds. I'm a Repub but I'd like to see Stevens tarred-and-feathered (Literally! Yes, I mean literally. I miss the good old days when American citizens would tar and feather corrupt politicians. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]).

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?i...C-RSSFeeds0312

ptmusic · #8 07-28-2005, 02:26 PM

Felix, are you a fan of Tom Delay? Do you defend him against all he's been accused of in the past year?

-ptmusic

Felix_Nietsche · #9 07-28-2005, 02:27 PM

This is hypocritcal and you know it. If it was a democract that was doing this, you'd be all over how this is another example of the evil democrats/liberals blah blah blah. This type of nonsense should be unacceptable no matter who does it.
************************************************** ***
Not so. Read my reply to Nicky G on Ted Stevens (Republican, Alaska) $1.5M bus stop.
Somehow I doubt you will admit that you were wrong to accuse me of this...

FishHooks · #10 07-28-2005, 02:52 PM

I agree its very hypocritical, pork barreling happens all the time and with both parties, I think it needs to be reguladed badly by both sides. How do you stop it though? These people were elected by their districts to help them out and thats what their doing, but at the expense of the county. Its a hard thing to regulate because it has gotten so out of hand, and its not second nature for congressman to "bring home the bacon". This is why I believe is stronger state govt's and less federal government. More money would be going to each state and then they could do what they want.