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JOULESBEEF

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Family Values:Republican U.S. Senator Busted Using Hookers. Wants To Pay Legal Bills With Campaign Money. Three Republicans On Federal Election Commission Don't See A Problem With This.

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As you may know, Senator David Vitter of Louisiana was implicated in the D.C. Madam case and has admitted that he committed a "very serious sin."

Not only is he still serving as a United States Senator from Louisiana, but now he wants to use his campaign money to pay legal bills related to his being subpoenaed in the case.

This guy just can't leave well enough alone.

Anyway, the issue recently went before the Federal Election Commission.[1]

They apparently agreed that he could use campaign money to pay for "$31,341 in public relations costs and legal work related to a complaint filed with the Senate Ethics Committee."

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{"commentId":2558541,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

I really think they should have to turn the left over cash to the general fund.. "Just cause I supported you 4 years ago and you never spent my money, I dotn think you should be able to use it this year after I have gotten to know you"
and definitely not for legal fees.. I mean geez.. I wonder how many values voters will like knwoing he is spending the cash they donated to help vitter beat them unethical liberals to be used to protect a john from a prostitution conviction.
Freaken amazing

{"commentId":2558541,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
  • 10 votes
Reply#1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:08 PM EDT
{"commentId":2559031,"authorDomain":"4dawnash"}

Agreed, joules. Ever since the repubs married the radical right, folks are of course going to take them to task for their lack of morals. This is why I no longer id as a repub. I hate both parties, one because it feels gov. solves problmes and wont stay out of the wallets of working folks while enforcing political correctness. The other is....self explanatory. Vote libertarian or third party. Repubs will abolish abortion and stem cells as much as liberals supporting more welfare will "Cure" poverty. Get the gov. out of religion and philosophical issues about do gooder causes (that never deliver what they promise).

{"commentId":2559031,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"4dawnash"}
  • 7 votes
#1.1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:46 PM EDT
{"commentId":2559313,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

As far as I can see, as long as he doesn't cuss, he's still a "family values" guy. Jesus will forgive him, it was the woman's fault, after all, for making herself "available" and tempting this particular lamb from the flock.

The only thing really surprising here is that the hooker wasn't a man.

{"commentId":2559313,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"transfer"}
  • 13 votes
#1.2 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:11 PM EDT
{"commentId":2559513,"authorDomain":"al-3"}

"The only thing really surprising here is that the hooker wasn't a man."

ROFLMAO... now that's funny.

{"commentId":2559513,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"al-3"}
  • 9 votes
#1.3 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:29 PM EDT
{"commentId":2559855,"authorDomain":"thenuckels"}

If Vitter uses these campaign funds to pay the related legal bills, doesn't this make those contributors 'johns' by proxy? Wonder how that will sit with 'values' voters?

{"commentId":2559855,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"thenuckels"}
  • 8 votes
#1.4 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:00 PM EDT
{"commentId":2560885,"authorDomain":"O-K"}

has admitted that he committed a "very serious sin."

Not only is he still serving as a United States Senator from Louisiana,

If every senator who committed a sin was removed there would be only 2 or 3 left, which may be a good idea.

{"commentId":2560885,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"O-K"}
  • 8 votes
#1.5 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:40 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561447,"authorDomain":"jimdent"}
If every senator who committed a sin was removed there would be only 2 or 3 left, which may be a good idea.

So, does that mean you're ok with using campaign contributions to defend such sins? That is... you know... the subject here.

{"commentId":2561447,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"jimdent"}
  • 8 votes
#1.6 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:45 PM EDT
{"commentId":2565408,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

I don't think anyoen is, I thin ok is just saying if it was a dem apealing to this board the votes would be swaped and this would be posted by bill Harrison instead of me.

and to support OK a bit... apparently this has been common practice for a while.. still my post makes great election fodder.

{"commentId":2565408,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
  • 1 vote
#1.7 - Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:56 AM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":2558795,"authorDomain":"dcuben"}
Republican U.S. Senator Busted Using Hookers. Wants To Pay Legal Bills With Campaign Money. Three Republicans On Federal Election Commission Don't See A Problem With This.

...and this is a surprise, why?

{"commentId":2558795,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"dcuben"}
  • 8 votes
Reply#2 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:27 PM EDT
{"commentId":2562775,"authorDomain":"logdump"}

Maybe they want to set a precedent for future use.......

Wonder if Larry craig is using his same campaign money that way?

{"commentId":2562775,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"logdump"}
  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:33 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":2558909,"authorDomain":"4dawnash"}

It's not a surprise, and I do wish the radical right would learn that repubs care no more far values than any dem. Fact is, members of both parties visit hookers, have sex with strangers, steal our money and divorce. When you start putting politicians out there to preach morals, you are in danger of looking foolish. I vote libertarian cuz repubs worry about stealing religous folks money when in fact they take that money and make promises they know damn well they are not going to keep (abortion will be made illegal, stem cell will be controlled, etc.). Fact is, we need repubs to go back to their roots are they will be revealed as frauds who divorce and have sex with hookers. I am concerned about morals, just like the religous right, but I choose to lead a moral life. I dont expect crooked politicians to spread the word, so to speak. Politicians are immoral period. Honest folks dont go into politics. Repubs were better dealing with welfare and illegals, which can lead a society to total moral and financial breakdown. How about child abuse? In the 90s, this what repubs talked about and took action on. Now it is an obsession with its citizens sex lives. That will defeat the purpose of the relligous right who wants it's repub leaders to be looked as family values types.

{"commentId":2558909,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"4dawnash"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#3 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:36 PM EDT
{"commentId":2562793,"authorDomain":"logdump"}

If you think Libetarians are any better you have another think coming. Having been way up there in politics in my past years they are all that way. I remember a republican telling me he loved to talk to what he called a Jesus freak while he was getting a "Bill Clinton"

{"commentId":2562793,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"logdump"}
  • 2 votes
#3.1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:36 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":2559291,"authorDomain":"al-3"}

Geezus...

Really... if the people of Louisiana are OK with this guy, well... err... umm... hmmm

We have to clean house.

{"commentId":2559291,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"al-3"}
  • 5 votes
Reply#4 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:09 PM EDT
{"commentId":2559420,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

I will support voting out every incumbant.. untilt he goverment learns who is in charge and who is the servants.

{"commentId":2559420,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
  • 7 votes
#4.1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:21 PM EDT
{"commentId":2559450,"authorDomain":"4dawnash"}

But we wont-we put repubs in power and when they fail, we give it back to democrats who will fail again. Dems lost power in the 90s and lost. Most folks were happy until 06 cuz of the war. So our solution is to go back to racical liberal democrats? The solutlion is clear as crystal-both parties are out of touch with mainstream workling AMericans. We need third party rule or we are doomed. The conts. wanted state independence, not federal gov. dominating our wallets and our morals. Unfortunately, beyond values votes for issues like aboriton and gays, repubs offer nothing new and fresh, just promises to good hearted reliogous folks whom they are lying to in order to get political advantages. Dems offfer money and freebies to minority groups, and piss off mainstream voters by overriding the will of the masses. Both parties are toast. Period. you will all continue to be disappointed by dems and repubs. They are outmoded and irrelevant. Repubs think we are in the 50s and dems think we are still in the 60s. They are both in the past.

{"commentId":2559450,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"4dawnash"}
  • 1 vote
#4.2 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:23 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561759,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

we really need more than 2 viable parties that is for sure..
and I'm sorta interested in the ways other governments have to build coalitions between parties.

{"commentId":2561759,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
  • 2 votes
#4.3 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:18 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561831,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

other governments have to build coalitions between parties.

Do you realize how much money this proposal would cost big oil and big pharma in lobbying pushes? All the extra research, extra people to talk the "language" of the particular faction, and then there's the "uniforms", the potential piercings and tattoos...it would be a logisitcal nightmare.

I don't think they'd support it, so we're not likely to see it.

{"commentId":2561831,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"transfer"}
  • 3 votes
#4.4 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:26 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":2559494,"authorDomain":"4dawnash"}

I will support voting out every incumbant.. untilt he goverment learns who is in charge and who is the servants"

I wish this were true, joules, but I have a feeling you will vote for strict democrat, with no thought to a 3rd party. Why not, these new folks give speeches on "change." Joules, if you lean left vote green party. If you lean right, vote libertarian. If you are in the middle of most issues, study the backgrounds and not just the speeches are the letter D or R after the name. Dont jsut vote out the incumbent and replace them with someone even more radical. Study people, not their "speeches" and 10 second commericals.

{"commentId":2559494,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"4dawnash"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#5 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:28 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561774,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

lol you should look at my history better.. I even worked for a local gop campaign one year.. just pretty pissed off about the war. but I have been consistantly republician for president sicne I started voting. I have mixed my vote up a bit in the lower local offices and a coupel of my senators and congressmen, But no I have not only always voted gop for president, but I have been active in politics for a long time..
your right about the third party though, but nah I have no problem votign out incumbant dems, peloci, scum, reid, scum, kennedy scum.. all my reps are republicians but I would vote them out if they were dems.
I am fighting hard for the dems this year cause I think the gop needs a period of reflection.

{"commentId":2561774,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
  • 3 votes
#5.1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:20 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561854,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

I'll have to clarify a bit more.. I have always been a liberal republician, a reagan democrate, a compasionate conservative. I belive we should keep most of our money and the gov spends it with abandon and huge gov is bad, intrusive gov is bad. I belive an able body man can get a job and can put food on the table. I know he can.
Somewhere along the way the gop started to only care about the rich.. the tax cuts went to the top while the jobs went over seas. We have seent he gop not give a crap about privacy or the rule of law or a small fed. WE have seen the gop doesn't give a crap about reducing earmarks, ethics or anything else they claimed to represent.. shoot they even tax me by killing the dollar so gas goes out rageous., increasign inflation and everythign else,.and then they want to take more from me to bail out super rich corps whiel I am busting my butt to make my bussiness sruvive.
Nah I'll deal with the dems for a bit while the gop thinks about why they lost.. when they were right.

{"commentId":2561854,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
  • 4 votes
#5.2 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:28 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561968,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

joules,

Somewhere along the way the gop started to only care about the rich..

Add to the equation the intorduction of pseudo spiritual morality and that's right where they lost me.

{"commentId":2561968,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"transfer"}
  • 6 votes
#5.3 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:44 PM EDT
{"commentId":2563205,"authorDomain":"jimdent"}

I'll jump on this bandwagon... I was a hardcore GOP man most of my life. When they jumped in bed with the "moral majority," they started to lose me. When i figured out that, as part of the middle class, I was unimportant to them, they lost me forever.

{"commentId":2563205,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"jimdent"}
  • 6 votes
#5.4 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:40 PM EDT
{"commentId":2576390,"authorDomain":"al-3"}

I too will add my two cent history to this... I used to vote pub as well, but when it was clear that I wasn't clinging to my bible and gun quite hard enough, they lost me as well.

The war in Iraq was the closer for me. Been against it from day one, and haven't swayed from it. There's nothing conservative about the neocon right wing, and now both sides of the aisle seem complicit in compromising the foundations of this country from many angles.

{"commentId":2576390,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"al-3"}
  • 4 votes
#5.5 - Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:38 AM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":2559892,"authorDomain":"juno"}
I really think they should have to turn the left over cash to the general fund

I think that's a good idea.

The man should pay his own legal fees.

{"commentId":2559892,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"juno"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#6 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:03 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561083,"authorDomain":"ezeques"}

At least if they're in some hookers bed they're not in Congress conspiring to steal more money from me.

And it's a nice job for those who can get it.

{"commentId":2561083,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"ezeques"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#7 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:00 PM EDT
{"commentId":2561860,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

so they need more hookers huh?
and don't have a problem with the campaign donations going for this legal defence?

{"commentId":2561860,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
    #7.1 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:29 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":2562834,"authorDomain":"logdump"}

    I mean this floors me how could anyone even think the money he collected was being used for a campign issue? This is a personal issue not government. He should be jailed for stealing! People donated to him because they thought he would represent them and their values and to spend money from them to improve his image after being caught being immoral is like spitting in their face.

    {"commentId":2562834,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"logdump"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#8 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:43 PM EDT
    {"commentId":2562914,"authorDomain":"logdump"}

    What we need in this country is a centrist party. Most of us are. Now days if you are to the left of the right you are a liberal and vice versa however the majority of the people are not right wing and certainly not left wing. Moderate Republicans and Democrats and the other groups that share this banner should band together and start another party. Then the crazies will have no voice. I was a republican for most of my life but left that party because I saw the hand writing on the wall. That party has no soul anymore. They preached fiscal conservatism balanced budgets don't pass the buck to your children term limits etc. It meant nothing after they got into power. Our system is broken. There is too much influence peddling from the outside into both parties. This leave the average joe out there naked in the cold winters wind because he cannot pay for lobbyists or give them large donations or get them super bowl tickets! Once every 2-4 years you are their darling after that you become a one night stand and you have to put up with that until the next election

    {"commentId":2562914,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"logdump"}
    • 4 votes
    Reply#9 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:55 PM EDT
    {"commentId":2565199,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

    they do act like american is black and white when most of us are gray

    {"commentId":2565199,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
    • 3 votes
    #9.1 - Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:11 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2576481,"authorDomain":"al-3"}
    There is too much influence peddling from the outside into both parties.

    And it goes the other way as well. Our politicians are soliciting their influence to industry. That's really the rub to me... quid pro quo... "I can attach this rider to the bill to help your mega corporation... oh by the way we're having this little fund raiser next week blah, blah, blah." It's happening on both sides of the aisle.

    {"commentId":2576481,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"al-3"}
    • 2 votes
    #9.2 - Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:45 AM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":2563172,"authorDomain":"rameshpv"}
    Ramesh C. Manghirmalani, Danville,CaliforniaDeleted
    {"commentId":2563844,"authorDomain":"RETLAW"}

    Joules--thanks for the seed and interesting discussion.

    How's this for a radical idea: New Law: Representatives and Senators are elected by the state, so lets have the states pay their wage !!! I believe that when a Representative or Senator looks at their paycheck and it is signed by the Treasurer of the state that elected them, they might think more about who they represent rather than the lobbyists who try to buy them. Further, have them live in houses bought and owned by the state and maintained by the state; this cost may run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but is a very small part of the state's budget. Make sense??

    {"commentId":2563844,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"RETLAW"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#11 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:04 PM EDT
    {"commentId":2565206,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

    I have thought of that and I think their pay should be tied to performace.. like a good many jobs.
    I reaqlly don't mind payign them more, giving them more perks (as if they havent got enough) just to totally ban lobbyists influence, and all their "investments" should be handled by a bipartisan blind investment firm.
    Sorry if you want to invest than don't become a senator..w e ill pay you even more so you don't need it.. but it is ridiculous to see how much rich these guys and their families get cause of what is basically insider trading. Congress really gets away with the same thigns we bust other people like martha Stewart for but in congress it is legal,

    {"commentId":2565206,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
    • 3 votes
    #11.1 - Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:15 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2566155,"authorDomain":"transfer"}

    I think both ideas, pay from state and pay per performance, are great ideas. How about combine the two for more effectiveness response to the constintuency. It's highly doubtful that our corporate overlords would allow it, though.

    {"commentId":2566155,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"transfer"}
    • 4 votes
    #11.2 - Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:48 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2566365,"authorDomain":"ThreeCents"}

    Hey have fun with this idea that the senators and representatives are paid from the states that they are elected from. It would be funny to see how long it took for union to be formed, dues paid, strikes...

    By the way, I think unions, in general, are good.

    {"commentId":2566365,"threadId":"338259","contentId":"1777239","authorDomain":"ThreeCents"}
    • 2 votes
    #11.3 - Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:29 AM EDT
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