NationStates Jolt Archive

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1402227

The felony conviction of conflict of interest means state Rep. Jeff Habay, 39, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, will lose his state pension and could be removed from office by the Legislature.

Could be removed? Could?

But hey, there's no culture of corruption here. Keep moving.

After the verdict, Habay said the case was the result of a political witch hunt.

Uh, you can only say that BEFORE you're convicted, jackass.

Habay faces a second trial next year on 21 counts that allege he concocted a story about receiving a suspicious white powder in the mail and directed his staff to investigate his adversaries on state time.

He did get anthrax in the mail! The proof is on a recording Rove got while bugging his own (Rove's) office!

Even though I do support Republicans...

They need to take his ass out. That's bullshit.

Uh, you can only say that BEFORE you're convicted, jackass.
So all the people who were burned at the stake in Europe (No witches were ever burned in the US) were actually guilty?

So all the people who were burned at the stake in Europe (No witches were ever burned in the US) were actually guilty?

While you're right (his logic is flawed) this isn't a case I'd step up to defend.

So all the people who were burned at the stake in Europe (No witches were ever burned in the US) were actually guilty?

Were those witches affluent legislators found guilty by a jury of their peers under due process?

True, juries can make mistakes, but please.

While you're right (his logic is flawed) this isn't a case I'd step up to defend.
Which is exactly why I am going to. I like this kind of stuff.

Were those witches affluent legislators* found guilty by a jury of their peers under due process**?
*Actually, yes, numerous times the wealthy members of the community would be taken down by large groups of lower levels.
**Which is known to fail in both directions, we have a system of appeals for a reason.
Could be removed? Could?

But hey, there's no culture of corruption here. Keep moving.
Considering that he is up for Probation to 15 months (<-max), yes we are talking about a "could."

Which is exactly why I am going to. I like this kind of stuff.


*Actually, yes, numerous times the wealthy members of the community would be taken down by large groups of lower levels.
**Which is known to fail in both directions, we have a system of appeals for a reason.

Considering that he is up for Probation to 15 months (<-max), yes we are talking about a "could."

I assume you're trying to be funny? You usually do a much better job...

I assume you were as concerned about Tookie...

Lets see counter arguments? Liberal Bias in the media, look at Clinton, look at Hillary, 9th Ciruct, 9/11....

Did I miss any? ;)

Lets see counter arguments? Liberal Bias in the media, look at Clinton, look at Hillary, 9th Ciruct, 9/11....

Did I miss any? ;)

uh...stay the course?

I assume you're trying to be funny? You usually do a much better job...
Not funny, not now. This does amuse me, but on a different level then "funny."
I assume you were as concerned about Tookie...
What, you mean Tookie was allowed to keep his seat in the state legislature too?
I was quite in favour of Tookie getting the chop just so people'd quit using his name seriously and whinging about what a great man he was. Ugh.

I only defend those whom everyone else has abandoned, the refuse left when the popular causes have been through and taken their fill of martyred saints and decent thugs.

Not funny, not now. This does amuse me, but on a different level then "funny."

What, you mean Tookie was allowed to keep his seat in the state legislature too?
I was quite in favour of Tookie getting the chop just so people'd quit using his name seriously and whinging about what a great man he was. Ugh.

I only defend those whom everyone else has abandoned, the refuse left when the popular causes have been through and taken their fill of martyred saints and decent thugs.

I mean, Blair and Jo were so mean to Tookie, and what was up with those roller skates?

I mean, Blair and Jo were so mean to Tookie, and what was up with those roller skates?
GODDAMMIT! Nonsequitors and derailing the argument into LaLa Land is my job, not yours! Find your own schtick.

Are there no crooked or corrupt Democrats in Congress or anywhere else in government only Republicans?

GODDAMMIT! Nonsequitors and derailing the argument into LaLa Land is my job, not yours! Find your own schtick.

Ah, but I set it up so seamlessly, on my own thread no less!

Are there no crooked or corrupt Democrats in Congress or anywhere else in government only Republicans?

They're politicians. What do you think?

In all fairness, yes, but not as many right now. Right now the Republicans have a very corrupt group in office. most of the reason for this is their focus on lobbyists and the large amout of money thrown around there.

We know liberals can be just as bad, and when they are I hope we're all as angry about that (although I expect most won't be) then.

You do realize that above 90% of congress is guilty of various misdemeanors and felonies, or suspected thereof right?

<snip>
Strange how you never mention all the shit Democrats get into. Could it be you're just being biased? Nooo. Never happen! HA! :p

Strange how you never mention all the shit Democrats get into. Could it be you're just being biased? Nooo. Never happen! HA! :p
It's not like Gymoor's been trying to pass himself off as a centrist and then posting things about those evil leftists. No, wait, it would be rightists...I must have been thinking of someone else...

It's not like Gymoor's been trying to pass himself off as a centrist and then posting things about those evil leftists. No, wait, it would be rightists...I must have been thinking of someone else...
I doubt it.

Are there no crooked or corrupt Democrats in Congress or anywhere else in government only Republicans?

You do realise that it would be easier to find the honest ones right?

Most of congress has done something "naughty"

Strange how you never mention all the shit Democrats get into. Could it be you're just being biased? Nooo. Never happen! HA! :p

Gee, when a Republican is in trouble, I talk about the merits of the case. When a Democrat is in trouble, I talk about the merits of the case.

Rarely do I resort to whining the "liberal" equivalent of "but Clinton..."

I give you credit Eut, you do have some "liberal" beliefs, but they're so compartmentalized from the majority of your biases that you're almost politically shizophrenic rather than moderate.

I give you credit Eut, you do have some "liberal" beliefs, but they're so compartmentalized from the majority of your biases that you're almost politically shizophrenic rather than moderate.
I didn't realize that "schizophrenic" was a political position. :eek:

Actually, I don't often criticise Republicans on here because the rest of you do such an excellent job of it. :D

I didn't realize that "schizophrenic" was a political position. :eek:

Actually, I don't often criticise Republicans on here because the rest of you do such an excellent job of it. :D

Damn typos.

I'll give you that last sentence.

I'll give you that last sentence.
Gee, thanks! Had me worried there for a moment. :rolleyes:

I love this shit! OMG, the Republicrats are corrupt! :eek: :p

So we should give them more power, and (of course) more control over money they take for us. Somewhere, there's an all-knowing intermediary who involves itself (beyond 2 party bickering) with the sole concern of doing the "right thing".
Not the "right for me" thing.

:p :p :p :p

You do realize that above 90% of congress is guilty of various misdemeanors and felonies, or suspected thereof right?
We may, but the voters aren't, obviously.

I love this shit! OMG, the Republicrats are corrupt! :eek: :p

So we should give them more power, and (of course) more control over money they take for us. Somewhere, there's an all-knowing intermediary who involves itself (beyond 2 party bickering) with the sole concern of doing the "right thing".
Not the "right for me" thing.

:p :p :p :p
Eichen! How many times I gotta tell ya ... don't be takin' dem drugs when yer posting! :D

You guys/girls ever notice that when this shit hits the fan, it's only the centrists that show up?
The far left and right must have corruption on "ignore". :rolleyes:

Eichen! How many times I gotta tell ya ... don't be takin' dem drugs when yer posting! :D
I wish I had some dope. :(

I love this shit! OMG, the Republicrats are corrupt! :eek: :p

So we should give them more power, and (of course) more control over money they take for us. Somewhere, there's an all-knowing intermediary who involves itself (beyond 2 party bickering) with the sole concern of doing the "right thing".
Not the "right for me" thing.

:p :p :p :p

I agree that solving things doesn't involve the transfer of more power.

Nor does it help when officials enter the process with the presupposition that the process doesn't work anyway, all of this with the agreement of their supporters.

Somewhere there's a happy place where "doesn't solve all our problems" and "might as well do the right thing anyway" meet.

Wow. You're going into STATE legislature territory? Do you know how much shit various Dem legislators are in also? Like the Attorney General (that's the head of law enforcement, for you non-Americans) in Wisconsin getting busted for drunk driving? Or the Pennsylvania senator calling Republicans "faggots"? Or the infinite number of bribery and campaign finance violations? Get real.

Somewhere there's a happy place where "doesn't solve all our problems" and "might as well do the right thing anyway" meet.
That's called fiction. You've been participating enough in political discussion to have come to that conclusion. It comes down to "less is more".
Let the people fuck themselves up, without state force, if you wanna be pessimistic about it. At least there's a tad of dignity in that.

I'm not thrilled with the whole "human condition thing" anyways, but we have to deal with it apporpriately. And granting massive power to we fallible monkeys isn't the answer.
JMHO.

That's called fiction. You've been participating enough in political discussion to have come to that conclusion. It comes down to "less is more".
Let the people fuck themselves up, without state force, if you wanna be pessimistic about it. At least there's a tad of dignity in that.

I'm not thrilled with the whole "human condition thing" anyways, but we have to deal with it apporpriately. And granting massive power to we fallible monkeys isn't the answer.
JMHO.

Oh please, this level of malignant mendacity is only tolerated in one other family of professions, and that is entertainer/athlete, and at least they aren't rewarded for incompetence (unless you count Kevin Costner.)

We all die eventually, but that doesn't mean we should swallow a bottle full of pills. Politicians will lie and cheat, but that doesn't mean we have to be blase about it.

Low expectations are part (but not all,) of the problem, and you know it.

Politicians will lie and cheat, but that doesn't mean we have to be blase about it.

Low expectations are part (but not all,) of the problem, and you know it.
Really? That's when (without telling) you give away the fact that you're American.

We always settle for the lowest common denominator. But I'll play along.
You'e right; The glass is half full. ;)

Really? That's when (without telling) you give away the fact that you're American.

We always settle for the lowest common denominator. But I'll play along.
You'e right; The glass is half full. ;)

There are several examples in our history when we didn't settle (nothing recently, but still...)

There are several examples in our history when we didn't settle (nothing recently, but still...)
I haven't lost hope. But I haven't put on rose-colored glasses for this admin. either, nor given leniency for the other crooks.
I'm steadfast. And realistic. Therefore, my belief in minarchism follows.

Power is far, far worse than crack. You just can't get a "little hooked".
History teaches us that, again and again, and we'll repeat this lesson.
I know you agree (at least a little bit). You don't come off as pro-big-gov.
Or maybe I'm misreading you. It's the internet, and I'm not suprised here.

I haven't lost hope. But I haven't put on rose-colored glasses for this admin. either, nor given leniency for the other crooks.
I'm steadfast. And realistic. Therefore, my belief in minarchism follows.

Power is far, far worse than crack. You just can't get a "little hooked".
History teaches us that, again and again, and we'll repeat this lesson.
I know you agree (at least a little bit). You don't come off as pro-big-gov.
Or maybe I'm misreading you. It's the internet, and I'm not suprised here.

I'm kinda anti-big everything.

I'd like to see more tax money go tot he local and state levels and much less to the central government...but this would likely drastically reduce the defense budget, so the conservatives who pay lip service to reducing the power of the central government would never go for it. I fear that transferring power from the government to business concerns solves nothing, and a suspect any power vacuum would be claimed by business.

It's a shitty and complex state of affairs, but mankind as a whole does seem to be moving, in fits and jerks, towards a more peaceful and tolerant direction.

Most of all, rather than focusing on ideology, I would like to see a concerted effort to reduce waste and inefficiency. Technology has helped us do that, to a certain extent.

I just don't know. I guess I'd be in a position of power if I did.

I'm kinda anti-big everything.

I'd like to see more tax money go tot he local and state levels and much less to the central government...but this would likely drastically reduce the defense budget, so the conservatives who pay lip service to reducing the power of the central government would never go for it. I fear that transferring power from the government to business concerns solves nothing, and a suspect any power vacuum would be claimed by business.

It's a shitty and complex state of affairs, but mankind as a whole does seem to be moving, in fits and jerks, towards a more peaceful and tolerant direction.

Most of all, rather than focusing on ideology, I would like to see a concerted effort to reduce waste and inefficiency. Technology has helped us do that, to a certain extent.

I just don't know. I guess I'd be in a position of power if I did.
Although I think a lot of what you've said is misguided/unrealistic, I agree with most of it. Perspective is a game of mirrors. We prolly agree moe than you'd like to think.

Although I think a lot of what you've said is misguided/unrealistic, I agree with most of it. Perspective is a game of mirrors. We prolly agree moe than you'd like to think.

It's hard to give what you say weight when you are so vague. If I'm being unrealistic, spell it out.

And I have no problem agreeing with you, as long as you give me reason. :D

It's hard to give what you say weight when you are so vague. If I'm being unrealistic, spell it out.

And I have no problem agreeing with you, as long as you give me reason. :D
We don't jive on the first paragraph. It's moe about perspective, since we both seem to accept the same facts. It's what we do with them, I guess.