Note To Repubs - Big Time Trouble Heading Your Way

The NYT is reporting that Jack Abramoff is attempting to broker a deal with prosecutors in return for him flipping on his buddies in th Republican Party. Right now they are focusing on how jobs were obtained for Congressional aides at powerful lobbying firms in exchange for legislative favors. However this section of the article really intrigued me. Investigators are said to be especially interested in how Tony C. Rudy, a former deputy chief of staff to Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, and Neil G. Volz, a former chief of staff to Representative BobNey of Ohio, obtained lobbying positions with big firms on K Street. The hiring pattern is "very much a part of" what prosecutors are focusing on, a person involved in the case said. Another participant confirmed that investigators were trying to determine whether aides conducted "job negotiations with Jack Abramoff" while they were in a position to help him on Capitol Hill. Prosecutors are trying to establish that "it's not just a ticket to a ballgame, it's major jobs" that exchanged hands, the participant in the case said. Also under examination are payments to lobbyists and lawmakers' wives, including Mr. Rudy's wife, Lisa Rudy, whose firm, Liberty Consulting, worked in consultation with Mr. Abramoff, people involved in case said. What began as an inquiry into Mr. Scanlon and Mr. Abramoff's lobbying has widened to a corruption investigation centering mainly on Republican lawmakers who came to power as part of the conservative revolution of the 1990's. At least six members of Congress are in the scope of the inquiry, with an additional 12 or so former aides being examined to determine whether they gave Mr. Abramoff legislative help in exchange for campaign donations, lavish trips and gifts. Republican corruption - the gift that keeps on giving. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see not only the upper-crust of the Republican Party go down, but Norquist ("death squad Grover") and the ("christian?") Ralph Reed as well. Both are as slimey as they come. Between this and "Duke" Cunningham singing like a bird, I would say many in the Republican Party that was supposed to bring "clean government" to Washington are scared shitless and holding their breath waiting for the other shoe to drop.