Twitter Responds To The Opening Of The Republican Graft Store

See post below (updated).

(Most tweets via Raw Story)

As I said, we are entering an era of epic corruption. https://t.co/nXMSyOiYfR

— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) January 3, 2017

https://t.co/wIOndTi1H5 Today's reminder that "drain the swamp" is eliminationist rhetoric against liberals, and not about corruption.

— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) January 3, 2017

I know, when I heard "drain the swamp" 1st thing I thought of was making it harder 2 expose congressional wrongdoing https://t.co/FgR8XjRR3D

— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) January 3, 2017

Let me guess: it was a burden on the job creators. https://t.co/RIKLScLHhc

— Bill Harnsberger (@BillinPortland) January 3, 2017

This is like a bank manager knowing his brother is going to rob the bank so he fires the security guard. @HouseGOP #GOP have #NoEthics pic.twitter.com/p81qdRcWTW

— Theo Marshall (@ImTheoMarshall) January 3, 2017

The trough is open for bidness. Belly-up to the bar, boys, nothing's gonna stop you now! https://t.co/LTPfyTzDjU

— Tengrain (@Tengrain) January 3, 2017

Truly, may the past be prologue:

Anyone done story yet abt how 3 of last 4 GOP Speakers have gone up in legal/ethical flames? cc @SpeakerRyan https://t.co/INgwyFbbED

— Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) January 3, 2017

The Graft Store's Swamp Location Is Now Open (UPDATED)

In one of the first acts of the House Republican caucus, its members voted to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics.  The office was created in 2008 after the lobbying scandals involving "Black Bag" Jack Abramoff. The secret vote was held on Monday, a national holiday, at a secret meeting of the caucus.

The office currently has free rein, enabling investigators to pursue allegations and then recommend further action to the House Ethics Committee as they see fit. 

Now, the office would be under the thumb of lawmakers themselves. The proposal also appears to limit the scope of the office’s work by barring them from considering anonymous tips against lawmakers. And it would stop the office from disclosing the findings of some of their investigations, as they currently do after the recommendations go to House Ethics. 

The vote to declaw the OCE was orchestrated by several members who felt they had been wrongfully accused of unethical behavior by the OCE, according to several sources in the room. The sources said several members currently or formerly under the OCE's microscope stood up to support the pitch, which was eventually adopted by a vote of 119 to 74.

Led by their most egregious grifters, the House Republicans are eagerly setting the tone for neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump's Russo- Republican kleptocratic administration.

They have met The Swamp and it is them.  Same as it ever was;  same as it ever was.

UPDATE:  The Republicans' move was so manifestly sleazy, even "Black Bag" Jack called it out.

UPDATE II:  The worms turn --

Following a public outcry, and criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, House Republicans reversed course Tuesday on drastic changes to the independent Office of Congressional Ethics. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) offered a motion to restore the current OCE rules, and that was accepted by the GOP conference.

The Graft Store will open at a later date when the heat is off.

UPDATE III:  And you know who the dimwit, normalizing media is crediting with this reversal, right?  Meanwhile, here's the real reason they backed down.

(Image: via Wonkette)

"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.)

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)

Gov. Walker Aide Under Investigation

Randian Koch-sucker and Wisconsin Gov. Scott "Too Much Johnnie" Walker may have a corruption scandal on his hands. Cynthia Archer, a top aide to Walker until her recent abrupt resignation, had her home in Madison raided by law enforcement agents, including the F.B.I. Archer is under scrutiny as part of a wider investigation into allegations that public monies were used for partisan political gain while Walker was Milwaukee County executive prior to his unfortunate election as Governor.

Oh, yes - Walker has now retained legal counsel. Bwahahaha!

(Photo: "Open for Business", indeed!)