"Blowdry Bob" McDonnell Sentenced

Former Republican Golden Boy and Virginia Governor "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell was sentenced to prison today for public corruption:

Virginia Ex-Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison for public corruption. 

A jury found McDonnell guilty on 11 counts of corruption in early September. Prosecutors had recommended that U.S. District Judge James Spencer sentence the former governor to at least 10 years in prison. 

But the Washington Post reported that on Tuesday, Spencer revised that recommendation down to a maximum of eight years because he agreed with the defense that McDonnell did not obstruct justice and that the value of the bribes he accepted did not total more than $121,000. [Ed. note:  Aww.  Give him a cookie!]

McDonnell is expected to serve his sentence at one of the country club low-security Federal prisons and could get time reduced for good behavior.  His wife Maureen, whom McDonnell and his lawyers threw under the bus during the trial, is expected to be sentenced for her role in the tawdriness later in February.  Before his career blew up in his face, McDonnell was a rising star in the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid/ White Supremacist Party and was rumored to be on a short list as a running mate for Willard "Millionaire Mitt" Romney.  The unrepentant McDonnell already signaled that he's going to appeal the conviction in his desperate quest to avoid jail time.

(Photo:  They probably have blow-dryers where you're going, but don't forget to pack the soap-on-a-rope, Bob.)

The Verdict: McDonnells Guilty

The jury has reached a verdict in the corruption, fraud and conspiracy trial of former Virginia Republican Gov. "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell (a.k.a., "Governor Gifty") and his wife Maureen: Blowdry Bob GUILTY on 11 counts;  Maureen:  GUILTY on 9 counts:

Bob McDonnell was found guilty of 11 of 13 corruption charges against him. His wife was found guilty of nine of 13, according to the AP. 

The couple were charged in a 14-count federal indictment with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from businessman Jonnie R. Williams, Sr., who was CEO of Star Scientific Inc. until he resigned on Aug. 4. The Washington Post has an interactive graphic detailing the gifts the McDonnells and their kids received from Williams, including an engraved Rolex, plane tickets, trips, dinners and loans.

The hack Republican grifters face potentially many decades in jail (and yes, we think they'll skate by with much less than the maximums).  Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2015.  Please keep in mind that McDonnell was a living example of the prevalent ethos in the Republican Party:  that the only good reason government exists is as a means of further entitling the entitled, i.e. himself (see also Cantor, Eric); it doesn't exist for the public good, and it doesn't exist for the advancement of any ideal other than the further enrichment of those Republican hypocrites who've mistakenly been put in a position of public trust.  They'll get no sympathy from these quarters.

So, in the meantime, let's give this the musical accompaniment it merits.

BONUS:  Petula Dvorak talks about the McDonnell's trial and the hubris it laid bare (not to mention the outright tawdriness of Blowdry Bob throwing his wife under the bus in a desperate attempt to beat the charges).  Here's an excerpt:

After 24 hours on the witness stand and one of the biggest public displays of wife-shaming in memory, former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell (R) didn’t save himself. Or his wife. 

He had the chance last year to man up and spare his wife and family all this. Prosecutors offered him a single count of fraud that avoided all mention of corruption and any charges against his wife. 

But McDonnell decided to gamble. And everyone lost.

Crime Blotter Update: Arc of Justice Edition

Today we have two updates on court proceedings against ethically-challenged Republicans:

Former Virginia Gov. "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell:

The corruption trial against former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, is set to go to trial this summer after a judge tossed out a motion to dismiss most of the charges against the couple. 

U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer also ruled Tuesday that the former first couple should be tried together rather than apart.

Blowdry Bob's fall from potential Republican presidential hopeful to defendant in the dock has been breathtaking.  And quite satisfying.

Crackpot fabulist, family values man, and conspiracy film maker Dinesh D'Souza:

Conservative writer Dinesh D'Souza has pleaded guilty to charges that he asked two associates to donate $10,000 to the Senate campaign of New York Republican Wendy Long, then illegally reimbursed them. D'Souza has also agreed not to contest any prison term between 10 and 16 months, though he won't be sentenced until Sept. 23...

If he does jail time, you can bet D'Souza will be among the sleaziest inmates no matter where he's sent. Should he receive prison time, a complimentary Hackwhackers Soap-On-A-Rope will be on its way to D'Souza for those communal prison showers.

Sunday News Bits

-- Looks like Rethuglican Gov. "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell's "former" friend/ gifter, bidnessman Jonnie R. Williams, Sr.,  has been cooperating with the Feds in their corruption investigation:

The cooperation is an ominous sign for McDonnell, suggesting that federal prosecutors are focused on trying to build a potential criminal case against him.

--  Happy 52nd Birthday, Mr. President!

-- A happy "welcome back!" to "Gen. JC Christian, Patriot" (a.k.a., "Jesus' General") after a long illness!

Profiles In Chivalry

Beset by numerous conflict of interest problems, Virginia's Rethuglican Governor Bob "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell is now claiming that a private event at the Governor's executive mansion in 2011 that involved Blowdry Bob's financial backer and notorious gift horse Jonnie Williams was orchestrated by his wife.  Blowdry Bob must figure that if he's going down, he'll take his better half with him.  (Mrs. McDonnell hasn't been a slouch in cashing in either, including some expensive gowns and accessories paid for by her husband's PAC).

We're guessing that after throwing his spouse under the bus, Blowdry Bob may have to bed down on the executive mansion sofa for the duration of his term.

(image:  If we knew then what we know now...)

Cartoon of the Day - Blowdry Bob McDonnell Edition

(click to enlarge)

Donations are now being accepted at sticky-fingered Virginia Rethuglican Gov. "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell's legal defense fund, because innocent!  Also poverty!

(Matt Wuerker/ Politico, via gocomics.com)

Probe Cooch, Not Women!

While it's clear that Virginia Gov. Bob "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell's scandal-tainted Governorship is sinking fast -- there's speculation that he may even resign shortly -- it was thought that Rethug gubernatorial nominee and transvaginal probe enthusiast Ken "Cooch" Cuccinelli would escape the taint.  Not so fast. It appears that the same corporate individual that was lavishing Blowdry Bob's family with gifts and favors has been "nice" to Cooch, too. Here are the details.

Maybe it's Cooch that need to be further probed.

(image:  Not so pleasant when the probe's on the other....foot)

Blowdry Bob McDonnell: Blowin' in the Wind?

Ruth Marcus summarizes the earlier case against Virginia Rethuglican Gov. "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell and his family's sticky fingers, but then, she notes, things got worse:

Now comes reporting that raises the story to a new level of outrage: Williams last year gave $70,000 — supposedly a loan — to a corporation owned by McDonnell and his sister; plus $50,000 to Maureen McDonnell in 2011, and $10,000 as a wedding present this year to another McDonnell daughter.

As astonishing is the governor’s technocratic defense: that he is complying with the letter of Virginia disclosure rules, which do not require reporting of gifts to family members. “To, after the fact, impose some new requirements on an official,” McDonnell told a Norfolk radio show, “obviously wouldn’t be fair.”

But gifts and entanglements like these are simply wrong, a violation of the governor’s duty to citizens, whatever the rules. That McDonnell doesn’t get this basic point makes him unfit for office. Obviously.

Rethuglican officials in the Commonwealth are doing an up-tempo version of the Virginia reel to distance themselves from the guy some in the party wanted to run as One Percent Mitt's VP.  That includes uber right-wing Rethuglican Atty. Gen. Ken "Cooch" Cuccinelli, who's running for the Governorship this year, and fears even the slightest connection to the scandal.  Given Cooch's extremist record, that should almost be the least of his concerns.

(Photo:  "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell -  just leave the cash in plain brown envelopes, please.)