Anybody else remember the scandals that launched Gingrich's career?

[Recursion]

This was a quarter century ago, so it may be fuzzy, but it's kind of funny to look back. Gingrich was railing about how the Democratic-controlled House was just full of corruption and scandals.

For instance, Congressmen get a stamp of their signature called a "frank". If you put it on an envelope, the USPS must deliver it like it is properly-stamped mail. It is supposed to be used for official communications only, but some Congressmen were letting staff send personal letters with them.

Oh, also: the House bank didn't charge fees for overdrafts, and some Congressmen were deliberately writing checks for more than their account held at the time, knowing that their next paycheck would put their account back in the black.

I kind of miss quaint scandals like that.

[blogslut]

1. That toad is responsible for Fox News

Murdoch was under investigation for possible shadiness from when he bought his original FOX stations. Murdoch gets into the publishing business and offers Gingrich a book deal plus a $4,500,000 advance - Gingrich had bargained up from $2,000,000. The investigation is dropped. FOX News goes live the next year.

[braddy]

2. It wasn't covered by their next paycheck, they could use the money for years.

[bottomofthehill]

4. Oddly enough

It was not a bank or a credit union, more of a cooperative of Members money. No FDIC protection and no banking regulations. It was a bank in name only.

[Recursion]

6. "Clearinghouse" is the technical term I think

Yeah, just a giant money co-op.

[Loki Liesmith]

3. The check kiting scandal

And the house post office

I knew that would be watergated to hell and back as soon as it hit the news.

[bottomofthehill]

5. What really launched his career were his attacks on the then House leadership

He attacked Speaker Wright for a book deal that paled in comparison to the book deal he went on to cut and attacked Speaker Foley’s sexual orientation as he never had children. He was also able to capitalize on the Clintons Health are Express program, the House passing a BTU tax that the Senate. Ever took up and the don’t ask don’t tell policy.

[mopinko]

7. and buying congressional seal goodies w the postage money,

and passing them out like candy.
ah rosty. i miss that stuff, too.

and remember when rosty's limo got mobbed by a bunch of seniors because they were talking about cutting ss?

cool fact- ya know who organized that protest?

jan schakowsky and her hubby, bob creamer. a guy who went to prison for floating checks to keep his non-profit alive.

good times.

[Recursion]

8. I was a page in the House in the early 90s. Rosty was a piece of work.

I remember when the ancient Jamie Whitten (D, Methuselah) would bring his ballot to the voting kiosk and Rostenkowski would say, "Oh, no, Mr. Whitten, you meant to vote Aye, and re-mark it for him."

For that matter, remember Traficant? That was at least an actual scandal.