Is It A Culture Yet?

Investigators Say Speaker’s Aide Hindered Inquiry of Hill Security Contracts

Two former House committee investigators who were examining Capitol Hill security upgrades said a senior aide to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert hindered their efforts before they were abruptly ordered to stop their probe last year.

The former Appropriations Committee investigators said Ted Van Der Meid, Hastert’s chief counsel, resisted from the start the inquiry, which began with concerns about mismanagement of a secret security office and later probed allegations of bid-rigging and kickbacks from contractors to a Defense Department employee.

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The inquiry began in late 2003 or early 2004 and was authorized by former Appropriations Chairman C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., and the panel’s top Democrat, David R. Obey of Wisconsin. The probe focused on the office entrusted with ensuring continuity of Congress in the event of a terrorist or other attack. That office had grown from a sleepy Cold War relic to one that was spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year on numerous security upgrades on and off Capitol Hill in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist strikes and anthrax attacks the following month.

The investigation was carried out by members of the Appropriations panel’s Surveys and Investigations team, which looks into charges of waste and abuse.

Let's be honest here. Ten days left till E-day. Are there any Republicans left who are willing to deny that their own party has presided over the biggest culture of corruption to pervade American government in the last 50+ years? (and probably much more, but I'm too overworked to document this one)

Watching Maher on HBO last week puts this in perspective. Stephen Moore of the Club for Growth was the Republican counterweight. He offered up the predictable "all politicians are corrupt" talking points. Pointed out that in 1994, Democrats had the House bank scandal (which also affected some GOPers, but never mind such details!) and also the problems with the House post office. Yeah, postage stamps and the K-Street Project. There's a fine moral equivalency if there ever was one.

Also. Has anyone spotted a Republican talking about an actual idea or policy proposal this cycle? Just asking, is all.