THE CUNNINGHAM SCANDAL JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE

This morning when I read the WASHINGTON BLADE story about admitted felon, bribe-taking San Diego Republican Congressloon Randy "Duke" Cunningham also admitting to having had sex with men, I was so embarrassed that I kind of buried it in an inconspicuous update on an old Cunningham posting. I remember when I'd hear someone saying really reprehensible, villainous characters like Roy Cohn or Joseph McCarthy or even Hitler were homosexuals I would think "Oy, don't we already have enough problems with public perceptions without being associated with psychopaths like these?" But, of course, I guess it just goes to show that homosexuality fits no stereotypes and that along with caring, decent, normal gay people, there are also criminals and unsavory types like McCarthy and Cunningham.

Today Jason Vest over at GovExec.com has a story proving that the Cunningham bribery scandals have only scratched the surface. "Federal investigators in San Diego have made it clear that while just-resigned Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham pled guilty last week to taking bribes from defense contractors, their public corruption probe will not stop at Cunningham. Numerous current and retired CIA officials say they will not be surprised if the investigation touches the CIA in general, and it's third-ranking official in particular."

The focus in DC has been on what the unscrupulous right-wing extremist did for his contractor pals as an influential member of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, but the real damage well may have been what he was able to achieve as a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. CIA executive director Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, the guy who approves the contracts, has had a long, close personal relationship with Cunngham's two bribers, ADCS and MZM, Inc.
    

As I've been pointing out for months, the Cunningham scandal is FAR, FAR GREATER than a piddling few million dollars in bribes that he admitted to. His behavior goes to the pervasive Republican culture of corruption that the arrogance of power has allowed to flourish in the heart of our government. This man was advance-selling presidential pardons to convicted Republican criminals. And yet no mainstream media is willing to ask Bush what his cut was. Cunningham is going to prison but his misdeeds will still be under investigation when Bush pardons him as he leaves office.

And if Nancy Pelosi, and even a lowlife like Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), are worrying, publically, about the possibility of serious national security breaches coming out of Cunningham's avarice and treachery, there is probably a LOT more there than is in the newspapers.


MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE: MORE FILTH FROM CUNNINGHAM

Crooked Republican contractor Brent Wilkes served as San Diego campaign chairmen for every corrupt right-wing hack that came along, from George W Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger to his best pal, disgraced Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (who he gave at least $630,000 in bribes to, but probably much, much more). He has contributed over a million dollars in bribe money to the most notorious bribe takers in Congress, Tom DeLay and Jerry Lewis-- in return for around $100 million in sweet government contracts for his ADCS, Inc. Today's SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE paints a sickening picture for anyone, regardless of political party, who loves this country and brings up a certain high class whore house for Republican politicians he was running in DC.

Meanwhile southern California's newly right-wing-oriented L.A. TIMES has begun the whitewash, trying to engender sympathy for the vicious war-monger Cunningham by excusing his years and years of gross criminal behavior by speculating (idiotically) that he only started taking bribes-- or at least bribes in the 6 and 7-figure range-- after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.