Give Me a Break
Nobody likes losing something they care about. Children, when they are still learning the basic tenets of sportsmanship, often go to great lengths to avoid losing. They will claim ignorance of the rules or change them altogether to suit their desired end: victory. A die roll of six will somehow become seven for the most obscure of reasons, not the least of which is "opposite day." Their bodies somehow repel imaginary laser beams in the reenactment of "Star Wars," and they will never be "it," because at the precise moment they were tagged, they remembered to cross their fingers. When caught eating cookies from the cookie jar, they sit with wide eyes in denial of what is plain as day to anyone with half a brain. Implied in his denial is the thought that maybe, just maybe, he can get away with it. When you punish the child for disobedience and lying, they get mad at you for not letting them get away with it.
Which brings me to Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA).
Jefferson was caught accepting a bribe of $100,000 from an FBI agent. The bribe came in a leather briefcase in $100 bills. There is video of him accepting this money. He was caught on tape promising political favors in exchange for the money. Two of the people who bribed him have already pleaded guilty to this specific crime. By all accounts, if this were a Columbo episode, it would be the shortest in history.
But what was Jefferson's response? He claimed that some holy writ of "separation of powers" forbids the Justice Department from enforcing the law Jefferson violated.
For the purposes of this discussion, I'm going to assume there are properly passed laws that forbid representatives from accepting bribes. The Constitution authorizes Congress to remove the President from office for accepting or offering bribes, but it is silent on bribery for the House. It does authorize the House to expel a Congressman from office with the consent of 2/3 of that House, but it does not immunize that member from punishment for crimes. It is entirely possible that a House member be arrested and convicted of a crime, and have that member serve out the remainder of his term from a prison cell. Not likely, but possible.
"Separation of Powers" forbids the President from encroaching on Congressional or Judicial powers, and vice versa. It does not put a wall of separation between them that forbids any branch from carrying out its proper duties if it happens to involve a member of another branch. For example, the Constitution grants legislative authority to Congress. Therefore, it would be a violation of the separation of powers doctrine for either the Executive or Judicial branches to draft its own legislation. It does not forbid the President from enforcing the laws Congress passes, or judges from finding people guilty or innocent of violating the laws Congress passes.
What seems to have riled up several members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, including Speaker of the House Hastert (R-IL) is that the FBI, under warrant, raided Jefferson's House office to gather evidence that was under subpoena. Not that anyone would have a problem with the raid if it were on an ordinary citizen. No. Being in Congress apparently gives these people special immunity from prosecution for crimes. Far from this raid being a violation of the "Separation of Powers" doctrine, this seems to be a prime example of it.
I think it's high time we sent every one of these people packing. With the exception of Ron Paul (R-TX) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), they are so thoroughly corrupted as to be completely unfit for office.
You might think that your congressman is good because he "brings home the bacon." Let me tell you something. If this is your stance, you are as guilty of accepting bribes as he is. Your currency is your vote, which you give in exchange for federal pork in your locale, and in exchange for passing out favors to you that are paid for with your own money, your congressman gets to keep the office that grants him the entitlements, favors, and--in some if not many cases--bribes he so enjoys.
Wake up, America. Your country is disappearing before you and you don't have the courage to stand up to those who are stealing your heritage.
Which brings me to Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA).
Jefferson was caught accepting a bribe of $100,000 from an FBI agent. The bribe came in a leather briefcase in $100 bills. There is video of him accepting this money. He was caught on tape promising political favors in exchange for the money. Two of the people who bribed him have already pleaded guilty to this specific crime. By all accounts, if this were a Columbo episode, it would be the shortest in history.
But what was Jefferson's response? He claimed that some holy writ of "separation of powers" forbids the Justice Department from enforcing the law Jefferson violated.
For the purposes of this discussion, I'm going to assume there are properly passed laws that forbid representatives from accepting bribes. The Constitution authorizes Congress to remove the President from office for accepting or offering bribes, but it is silent on bribery for the House. It does authorize the House to expel a Congressman from office with the consent of 2/3 of that House, but it does not immunize that member from punishment for crimes. It is entirely possible that a House member be arrested and convicted of a crime, and have that member serve out the remainder of his term from a prison cell. Not likely, but possible.
"Separation of Powers" forbids the President from encroaching on Congressional or Judicial powers, and vice versa. It does not put a wall of separation between them that forbids any branch from carrying out its proper duties if it happens to involve a member of another branch. For example, the Constitution grants legislative authority to Congress. Therefore, it would be a violation of the separation of powers doctrine for either the Executive or Judicial branches to draft its own legislation. It does not forbid the President from enforcing the laws Congress passes, or judges from finding people guilty or innocent of violating the laws Congress passes.
What seems to have riled up several members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, including Speaker of the House Hastert (R-IL) is that the FBI, under warrant, raided Jefferson's House office to gather evidence that was under subpoena. Not that anyone would have a problem with the raid if it were on an ordinary citizen. No. Being in Congress apparently gives these people special immunity from prosecution for crimes. Far from this raid being a violation of the "Separation of Powers" doctrine, this seems to be a prime example of it.
I think it's high time we sent every one of these people packing. With the exception of Ron Paul (R-TX) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), they are so thoroughly corrupted as to be completely unfit for office.
You might think that your congressman is good because he "brings home the bacon." Let me tell you something. If this is your stance, you are as guilty of accepting bribes as he is. Your currency is your vote, which you give in exchange for federal pork in your locale, and in exchange for passing out favors to you that are paid for with your own money, your congressman gets to keep the office that grants him the entitlements, favors, and--in some if not many cases--bribes he so enjoys.
Wake up, America. Your country is disappearing before you and you don't have the courage to stand up to those who are stealing your heritage.
posted by Cameron Beck at 6:08 AM
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