by DemFromCT
Realizing that both Blount and Boehner have tainted (not sainted) pasts when it comes to lobbying ties,
Representative John Shadegg of Arizona made a late entry into the race for House Republican leader on Friday, suggesting that his two rivals did not represent a "clean break from the scandals of the recent past."...
He starts out far behind his rivals in rounding up firm commitments for an election among House Republicans now set for Feb. 2, but he holds the potential to shake up the base of support for both men and deny either a decisive first-ballot majority.
Yesterday, Hotline said:
A GOP source outside Rep. John Shadegg's (R-AZ) camp said he had about 16 commitments 1/12 a.m. and would enter the race if he got to 20 (RollCall.com)
The thing will be to see who in the GOP has the longest memeory. They say elephants never forget; that's especially true when it comes to leadership races. If they're smart, they'll avoid the front-runners and run on a reform package. But even if they do, there's going to be a lot of bruised egos. GOP unity was already cracking up on the shoals of reality and a 2006 election, aided and abetted by Bush's low poll numbers (despite efforts of the GOP press office to say otherwise).
The leadership election will likely cause as many problems as it solves, even if Blount doesn't win.
Shadegg isn't really a break from the past. From the Stakeholder:
"Rep. John Shadegg, R- Ariz., along with more than two dozen other members of Congress, signed a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton on Feb. 27, 2002, that helped lobbyist Jack Abramoff's clients. The lawmaker received about $2,500 from Abramoff, his lobbying partners and tribal clients between 2001 and 2004, though no money in the period around which the letter was sent." (Associated Press, 11/17/05)
"And let's check out his maverick credentials. You'll have to forgive me, these are calculated through cq.com which is subscription and doesn't give permanent links for these, but consider my own credibility on the line:
"John Shadegg has voted with indicted former GOP Leader Tom DeLay 92% of the time.
"John Shadegg has voted with President Bush 91% of the time.
"John Shadegg has voted the party line on 98% of "party unity votes," i.e. significant votes that fell along party lines and where Tom DeLay needed him most."
There's much, much more, including the priceless episode where he voted against the Medicare drug bill because he opposed it, but helped round up votes FOR it because it was important to the leadership.
Posted by: Mimikatz | January 14, 2006 at 12:04
Those who shouldn't be put in charge of House lobbying reform: Roy Blunt, John Shaddegg, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and anyone with the endorsement of Club for Growth.
Seriously... is there anyone who is clean? Sheesh.
Posted by: Newsie8200 | January 14, 2006 at 12:23
Don't forget to add into the mix anyone who had connections with Duke Cunningham. Laura Rozen is staying with the Cunningham matter which probably extends outward to defense and intelligence contractors, and which has yet to fully open up. It could be nearly as wide and deep as the abramoff networks.
Posted by: Sara | January 15, 2006 at 02:02