Former GOP fundraiser Tom Noe found guilty

Another one bites the dust.

The GOPcontinues to go down, down, down, down.

DDN Coin dealer Tom Noe was found guilty Monday afternoon of stealing at least $2 million from a controversial state investment, a scandal that helped defeat ruling Republicans in the midterm elections.

The jury returned the verdict in its third day of deliberations. It was announced shortly after 4 p.m. in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Rep. Arza Apologizes, Resigns House Seat

Who's Apologizing Now?
Florida State Rep. Ralph Arza, who was also charged with felonies, retaliating against an witness and all kinds of stuff not worthy of a State Representative - DUH. Apparently, Dude tried to use the "Mel Gibson" defense (meaning "I was drunk and didn't mean it").

On another note, betcha Mel didn't know that the "Mel Gibson" defense would be his legacy....

SS: State prosecutors charged Hialeah Republican Arza, 46, with one felony count each of retaliating against and tampering with a witness. Arza's cousin, 25-year-old Paulino Barbon Jr. was also charged with the same two counts. Both men could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted....``What he did was reduce himself from a respected state lawmaker to the level of nothing more than a common street thug,'' Rundle said.

Earlier in the day, Arza apologized for his actions, asked for forgiveness and said he hoped his resignation would show he accepted the consequences of the messages. He said he didn't want to distract from the work of the Republican-dominated Legislature. ``I did something that obviously I wish I could go back and erase,'' the former high school football coach and history teacher told reporters as he stood flanked by family and supporters.

Getting fired by a Lobbyist?

Ken Mehlman, on the request of Jack Abramoff, had this guy fired. It's never ending with these guys.

LAT: October 16, 2006WASHINGTON — For five years, Allen Stayman wondered who ordered his removal from a State Department job negotiating agreements with tiny Pacific island nations — even when his own bosses wanted him to stay.

Now he knows. Newly disclosed e-mails suggest that the ax fell after intervention by one of the highest officials at the White House: Ken Mehlman, on behalf of one of the most influential lobbyists in town, Jack Abramoff...."Mehlman said he would get him fired," an Abramoff associate wrote after meeting with Mehlman, who was then White House political director.

Bob Ney pleads guilty

Another corrupt, greedy, dishonest GOP congressperson bites the dust....Bob Ney, Republican congressman, will be gone in no time (Rove will see to that!)

AP: "...Ney confessed his wrongdoing in a federal courthouse a few blocks distant from the Capitol, where until recently he wielded a chairman's gavel. The first charge accused Ney of conspiring to commit "honest services" fraud, a combination of mail and wire fraud often used in public corruption cases. The second count charges Ney with not revealing his gifts from Abramoff on financial disclosure forms.

Ney acknowledged accepting all-expense-paid and reduced-price trips to play golf in Scotland in August 2002, to gamble and vacation in New Orleans in May 2003 and to vacation in New York in August 2003. The total cost of all the trips — in which others, including some aides, participated — exceeded $170,000, prosecutors said.Ney also admitted accepting meals and sports and concert tickets for himself and his staff."

Crooks and Pedophiles in the GOP

Who's coming out swinging now?

The Dems seem to FINALLY be getting their fightback on. Here's a clip from today outlining all the GOP scandals (C&L)