Comments on: Ney Pleads Guilty, Plans To Resign

First Lawmaker To Confess Crimes In Abramoff Lobbying Scandal

[lacraft]

Check into Roy Blunt while you are at it...very close friend and associate of others who are involved!

[lacraft]

Congress should pass the necessary legislation that will work retroactively and not permit Ney to collect any congressional pension!...what an insult to American public!

[pendragon679]

Unfortunately, this smacks of "too little, too late" to make any real difference. Here in Ohio, we've known for years that the one-party rule that's been so prevalent in the state was driving us to ruin-and I've only lived here 8 years! Really, the level of corruption within the past 8 years has been phenomenal, from the great election buy-out of 2000 to the current debacle. And I see no real end in sight unless the voters of this once-great nation begin to grow some balls and vote the bums out! BTW, term limits are written into the Constitution (remember the Constitution? It's that piece of paper that starts "We the people..."). The current mess we're in is the result of a complacent electorate that would rather maintain the status quo ("Stay the course!") than vote for change. Want change in our government? Then go to the polls on November 7th and ask yourself one question: AM I BETTER OFF NOW THAN I WAS 4 YEARS AGO?

[tejasdemo]

osidebear...you said it perfectly !

[mjv2944]

If they ever really really investigate our congress, there probably won't be anh incumbents as they will be in jail. Its time to stop all the corruption and real campaign finance reform is the answe along with term limits. Do you really think that Bryd is an effective senator? Term limits time has come and it time to drop the hammer on lobbyists.There are a lot of well qualified and HONEST people that cannot run because of the costs. Can you image how TV and print media would scream if they lost all that advertising, even though each ad is the same, only the name & party changes. Its time to take back America. Repubs and dems have sold us out.

[frankly6]

The answer is to take corporate and special interest money completely out of the political process. We need publicly financed campaigns. We can all see that the fruit is rotten but it's time to take a look at the roots.

[osidebear]

As a Democrat who thinks the Republican dominance of our government is ruining this country, I tend to be pleased with the constant, day-after-day tales of GOP corruption and incompetence. I've got my fingers crossed that changes are going to come.

As an American, which for me trumps party affiliation, it makes me sick to see what is happening to our government. And the realist in me knows that this corruption is pervasive on both sides of the aisle. I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that the relentless pursuit of personal gain (power, money, status) is what is driving our country into ruin.

[frankly6]

Real campaign finance reform will have to come from an overwhelming public demand. The new system of pay and play politics was refined and perfected by the Republicans but would largely remain in place if and when the Dems take over. There would be some important reforms, like simple congressional oversight and less corruption, but the way things are financed may well stay the same without public outcry.

[talkingham]

I'm reminded of the old days of Nixon, when ads asked would you buy a used car from this man?

Now, it's more like would you buy a used and abused government from these people?

The amount of corruption is so large there is no way it can be portrayed in a month of newscasts. And the goofy trashy stuff gets lost too, like the Russ Limbaugh Viagra thing at the airport-- just why did he need Viagra in the Dominican Republic? What's down there that requires Viagra?

Musings aside, if these republicans are the architects of the new voting machine system in this nation (and they are), shouldn't someone be investigating everything they've rigged with that? They will do anything to win this election because they do not want any real investigations into their scams.

[oleander8]

"This is political nonsense put out by the Democrats in an inappropriate attempt to influence the election,"

I am sick unto death of this inability of Republicans to take responsibility for their actions.

The overriding problem with passing laws that will remove money as the driving force behind elections is that the congress makes the laws. The inmates are running the asylum!

If I EVER vote Republican again - someone, please slap me.

[heresmy2cent]

Most of these scumbags are lawyers by profession before they decide to become "political leaders."

As laywers they craft the laws to make sure that they can wriggle out of most any fix they may get into and ensure that they will reap every benefit imaginable.

The laws (like giving pensions to convicted felons) won't change unless laws are created to do so. Don't expect these rats to do anything to jeopardize the dream-like conditions and perks that they have created for themselves.

[huskerarmy]

"It's time to buy back our government..."

The question is, can we win a bidding war with Halliburton?

[huskerarmy]

"Its all about the money, nothing more, nothing less."

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! And we have a winner!!!

[frankly6]

It costs so much money to run for congress these days that by the time they get there they are completely sold out. We need to take corporate and special interest money out of the process completely. If we finance congressional races then honest people who really want to serve will be attracted into government. It's time to buy back our government. It would be far cheaper than all the earmarks, pork and corruption that we pay for now.

[houser123]

Can anyone count the number of times this comment has been used in recent weeks, "This is political nonsense put out by the Democrats in an inappropriate attempt to influence the election." The republicand cant deny the allegations, they only question the timing. Seems its OK with Norquist to "Starve the Beast" as he states to taxes and the government as long as his organization does not starve. Its all about the money, nothing more, nothing less.

[drgoodwin12]

This is absurd,"Despite his admission of criminal activity, Ney, 52, is entitled to collect a congressional pension." in addition why is it that all politicians get light sentences to white collar jails?If an average citizen had done the same they would be serving a tougher sentence in a regular prison.That is where Ney and any other congressman,president or V.P. should receive and I am being kind due to the fact that they were elected to abide by the laws of our country.Actually life imprisonment in a not so cozy prison,no library,no athletic activities just a bed and three meals a day is all any prisoner deserves.

[observantx]

I believe it was Mark Twain who once commented that "We have the best Congress that money can buy"

[huskerarmy]

Another one bites the dust... and another one's gone, and another one's gone... another one bites the dust. The party of greed and lust has lost another general from the ranks of the plutocrats army.

[xccoach]

And the beat goes on.......