Santa Brought Me an Early Present!

The full Senate voted unanimously this morning to convict Federal District Judge Thomas Porteous on all Articles of Impeachment!  He was immediately removed from the bench and will be denied his $174, 000 per year pension.

You may recall that his primary defense centered around the notion that most of the things he and his cronies were accused of doing occurred while he was sitting on the state bench, so the feds shouldn't have any problems with them.  The very brazen idea!!

As a resident of southeast Louisiana, I have only this to say:  Merry early Christmas to me!

Since they actually voted to boot out one of their own, maybe they're not all crooked in D.C..  

What am I saying?!?  They almost sucked me in!  (See: Charles Rangel.)

Congressional Shenanigans Are Getting Tiresome -- UPDATED

UPDATE -- GUILTY!!!  Guilty on 11 counts by consensus, you self-righteous, pompous, slimy, oily-haired reprobate!  Suck on that for awhile as you contemplate your ignominious future.

Bring on Maxine!!!


Standard definition of "Hand in the cookie jar" -- "If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong."  UsingEnglish.com.

Pictorial definition of hand in the cookie jar:

Just who the devil does he think he is?!?!  How can one human being possess so much gall to complain about how "his family has caught hell," and to suggest that the 27-month investigation is somehow a calculated mistreatment of the Royal Rangelness?  And, then, he strides out of the hearing before proceedings begin like a petulant little boy. Once again, the hand in the cookie jar analogy leaps to mind. I wonder why?


Plus, have you ever noticed how politicians always seem to have some "legal defense fund" to finance a defense to charges of wrongdoing against the taxpayers?  A fund that they are permitted to do fundraising to supply?  How about taking out a signature loan or mortgaging some property or, heaven forbid, dipping into your savings?!?! 

Next up?

I guess we can harbor little doubt that the ol' race card will be trotted out, saddled up, and ridden like a racehorse in Maxine the Mouth's hearings.

Watching how we handle them with kid gloves, and watching how we continue to elect them and their ilk, I'm convinced that we have unwittingly annointed our career politicians as a regal class in America.  That, folks, is sad. Very sad for us.  And it must stop.

Better Check the Limit on That Race Card!

This is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. The Daily Show's “Senior Black Correspondent” Larry Wilmore discovers that "The Race Card" is maxed out and explains how that happened -- and what can replace it. It even gets in a dig at my jailbird former Congressman, "Dollar Bill" Jefferson! WARNING: Adult language.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Race Card Is Maxed Out
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
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H/T to Legal Insurrection. (Ya gotta love one of the comments at LI -- "The race card has gotten used so much that its [sic] now a punchline.") Heh.

Bearing a New Moniker, "Jailbird Bill" Will Take Extended Junket to Federal Penal Facility

That man wearing the deer in the headlights expression is "Dollar Bill" Jefferson, my former Congressman (the one who preceded Anh "Joseph the Turncoat" Cao), and he's going to have a new nickname from here on out: "Jailbird Jefferson."

Thirteen years worth of new nickname.

In passing sentence on Jailbird Bill yesterday, federal Judge T.S. Ellis, III, stated:

"Public corruption is a cancer that needs to be surgically removed. . . . I have no doubt you have led an extraordinary life; you have accomplished a great deal. . . . It makes this even all that much sadder for me and many others. Obviously you are a man of great gifts. It is a tragedy these gifts have been squandered."

Jefferson's attorneys have asked that he remain free pending appeal, which will probably take up to three years, because he's not a flight risk (translation: he has surrendered his passport) and is a "strong family man." In other words, William Jefferson could be described as an honorable man, worthy of retaining his freedom until the last possible moment.

Wasn't the same said of Brutus and the gang before their little -- forgive me -- tea party at The Forum? But, then again, was not Brutus fighting corruption rather than living it? Whither lives, "honor?" Not, I would suggest, in the Jefferson household. (Nor in the White House, but we won't go there today).

He'll probably do his time in a minimum security federal "camp," but he will be incarcerated and he will actually be doing penance for abusing the public's trust. Though short of the maximum requested by the prosecution, Jefferson's sentence is the longest imposed to date for Congressional shenanigans. Judge Ellis also warned that Jefferson's sentence would serve as a "beacon" that abuse of the public's trust will carry a price. A dear price -- at least a baker's dozen of years in our short time on this Earth for one miscreant.

Someone needs to poke Charley Rangel and point out that Jailbird Jefferson once thought himself bulletproof, too. Run and dodge, Congressman Rangel -- run and dodge.

Charles Rangel: Whither the Ways and Means Committee?

Congressman Rangel, allow me to re-introduce you to your former Ways and Means co-committee member, William "Dollar Bill" Jefferson. In light of your recently escalating financial and ethical woes, y'all might want to have a little tete-a-tete about potential outcomes.

Oh, and if he recommends an offbeat use for your freezer, I'd decline the advice if I were you. Just sayin'.