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Doug, you're either trying the bait me or make me barf my breakfast from laughing. I ain't bitin'(but some orange juice burned my nose.)

Savage, you're up late today.

I'm not trying to bait you. For elected officials to make decisions you don't like is not necessarily corruption.

Using elected office to furthur the interest of you and yours while compromising others whom you are nominally representing is corruption. At the very least conflict of interest should be recognized and abstension of vote should be considered. Would you not agree?

Thanks Doug, for finally recognizing the corruption in the republican party.

Corruption in any governmental system is a by-product of the rampant cronyism that pervades as a result of badly written ethics rules, which, of course, are written by those in power.

It's time that a citizens action committee close the loopholes and demand that the politicians act with transparency. It doesnt matter if they're democrats or republicans- wrong is wrong.

Unfortunately, at the National level, republicans are tripping over themselves to return tainted "Abramoff" money, now that he's pleaded guilty. An Ethically-minded politician would never have accepted the money to begin with- and if he or she did, he or she should have given the money back to the donor or to charity the minute he was indicted.

It's sad to see that money still rules the day in DC. Unfortunately, this also pervades our state government as well, and in my mind, all those who act with money and power in mind need to be removed from office.

To be a steward of the public trust is an honor. It's not a ticket into the millionaires club.

I don't know if district safety is going to help all of the Republicans in 2006.

They've managed to piss off a lot of even their own constituencies as a result of not living up to their "contract for America (with a little help from Hillary's healthcare reform)" that catapulted them into majority power in the HR in 1994 and evenutally, the Sentate, and both policy making branches in 2000.

I think there's a good chance for the Democrats to take back at least the HR in 2006 and here's why:

Republicans have refused to vigorously address 1)illegal undocumented workers & families that have invaded our country, 2)are fiscally irresponsible, just look at the soaring deficit, and 3) manufacturing jobs losing out to overseas outsourcing. These are the issues that have impacted largely the white middle-class who typically vote Republican.

These lobbying scandals or the potential of scandals haven't helped either. T. Delay, former Repub Leader in the HR, in my opinion, was a little sleaze bag who typified the Republicans desire to maintain the status quo instead of changing government.

If they lose in 2006, they only have themselves to blame.

Jim, that's why I don't belong to either major party. My Unaffiliated party never has scandals.

Jon, a whipping would be good for Republicans in Congress. Same for Democrats in the state legislature.

No, Savage, I don't agree. You've accused school board members of supporting the choice plan for personal financial interests. Where was the evidence of that? And it is not "corruption" for a public official to support a policy that is seen as benefiting some constituents over others. That happens all the time: a rezoning, an annexation, a tax increase in conjunction with greater school spending (benefiting people with kids rather than those without). Sorry, I don't put Dot Kearns in the same category as Tom DeLay or Jim Black.

Jim,

Out of fairness to the Republicans, there's some Democrats who also rue the day they accepted money from Abrahamoff.

Come on and be fair, prior to last week's indictment this guy's money was the same as any other lobbyist's funds were in Washington. Very green with lots of contingencies attached to the gifts.

There's a reason why the NARAL gives to Senator Ted Kennedy and not Senator Shelby.

To get this influence out of Washington, the fund raising process will have to be drastically changed, and that won't happen in my lifetime.

School demographics always finally goes back to property values, which of course is financial interest Douglas! It's Realty 101. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it IS!!!! Realtors make their money off this. Don't you find it ironic then that a realtor decides to re-shuffle the deck, and this reshuffling of the deck just happens to help the demographic at her neighborhood school?

Doug,

I got your message. I've been traveling and otherwise slammed. I've misplaced your direct line, but would be happy to talk with you when you get a chance. Give me a call.

DFL

The hazards of anonymous blog posting: The latest commenter calling him or herself "Skeet Club Savage" is using a different email address. The writer appears to be a different person. If you have to use pseudonyms, please be original.

Doug! You must have miss this story about power with the republican preachers trying to save the Republic. Talking about greasing the judical wheels with holy oil to get the Judge in! I can see the headlines later today after Judge Alito makes his appearance before Senator Spector and his committee.

" Judge Alito slips off hearing chair after 1 st question from Senator Spector about God"

" Judge Alito hurt in accident at hearing! Senator Kenndy claims Big Oil behind accident"

" Judge Alito slides into first base after 2 nd question after Senator Hatch says he is impress with the Judge's story about baseball"

" Judge Alito claims to be a God holy oil fearing Justice, but claims to have no inside information on how to rule in the future"

" Capital Senator Guards disappear! FBI claims they were called to God on a misson"

Ministers Say They Blessed
Seats Ahead of Alito Hearing
By JUNE KRONHOLZ
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
January 5, 2006 7:20 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Insisting that God "certainly needs to be involved" in the Supreme Court confirmation process, three Christian ministers today blessed the doors of the hearing room where Senate Judiciary Committee members will begin considering the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito on Monday.

Capitol Hill police barred them from entering the room to continue what they called a consecration service. But in a bit of one-upsmanship, the three announced that they had let themselves in a day earlier, touching holy oil to the seats where Judge Alito, the senators, witnesses, Senate staffers and the press will sit, and praying for each of the 13 committee members by name.

"We did adequately apply oil to all the seats," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, who identified himself as an evangelical Christian and as president of the National Clergy Council in Washington.

Rev. Schenck called the consecration service the kick-off in a series of prayer meetings that will continue throughout the confirmation hearing.

Capitol Hill police said they weren't aware that the three had entered the hearing room earlier, but added that hearing rooms typically aren't locked because "they're not of interest to anyone." Lt. Dominick Costa said the Judiciary Committee room will be swept for bombs and perhaps for electronic bugging equipment before the hearing begins.

The three ministers insisted they weren't taking sides in the Alito debate. "This is not a pro-Alito prayer," insisted the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition. With abortion, public prayer, gay marriage and right-to-life issues among those topping public debate, however, "God…is interested in what goes on" in the nomination hearing, Rev. Schenck said.

The two men, along with Grace Nwachukwu, general manager of a group called Faith and Action, read three Psalms outside the committee room, knelt to say the Lord's Prayer and marked a cross in oil on the committee door before leaving.

Rev. Schenck said he and Rev. Mahoney had blessed the same room before hearings for Chief Justice John Roberts last year. That hearing "went very well," Rev. Schenck said.

Write to June Kronholz at june.kronholz@wsj.com

Remember when the talk of term limits was all the rage. Although I'll admit to some short comings I feel that term limits address the very issues raised about both Washington and Raleigh. If the idea is raised again you'll hear the "professional" politicians of both parties whine about the loss of experience but Doug is right, power corrupts. Term limits tend to make it harder to accummulate power.

"Doug is right, power corrupts. Term limits tend to make it harder to accummulate power."

But the founders were more right than Doug! They were right about no term limits for the anti-constitutional factions that attack and seize power by nipping and chopping away at the constitutional powers that limited those factions.

Why do you think that the appointment of the federal judical were for life terms, instead of limited terms apply. Simple! They could not be touch by those factions who control that power. If those factions were to control the political judgement of the judical federal system. Than other factions that oppose the central factions within the system could remove them by the process call "impeachment!" We the people" were given term limits in the constitution..it is call 4 years for the Pebs or people's house and 6 years for the wise ones or Senators, where the people voted to remove the unfit or keep the fit to rule the state. As to the President, The constitution limited the Presidental powers to that of commander of chief for the defense of the country and minor authority with the congress setting the laws and rules for the power to rest with the people. If the commander chose to break the consitutional powers as given by the people. The person controling the presidental office could be remove by the people at his election date or again impeach once more if the office broke the very laws that office swore to uphold. That is why Franklin and the founders said " Blind them to chains of the Consitutiton"

So shall we impeach Slick Willie for being stupid with a personal addiction problem or you whether have George listing in on Slick Willie without a warrent to hear what Slick's newest move will be? Who cares anybody since it is just a piece of paper as quoted by our Commander in Chief and screw the founders as to what they knew. Right?