Burns (R - Loonybin) blames Demos for Abramoff coverage

[struggle4progress]

By JENNIFER McKEE
State Bureau, Lee News Tuesday, January 10, 2006

HELENA (LEE) -- Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said Monday his political enemies are behind newspaper reports linking him to confessed felon and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Burns, who is on a media tour of Montana this week, also said he has no intentions of dropping out of the 2006 U.S. Senate race, quashing a rumor that has floated around both Helena and Washington, D.C ...

Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, reported Monday that speculation is swirling that Burns may drop out of the race.

The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have reported Burns is among four lawmakers caught up in an ongoing Justice Department investigation into influence peddling surrounding Abramoff and his partner, Michael Scanlon ...

http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2006/01/10/news/wyoming/aed81f1fb459d4e1872570f2006117ec.txt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Let me get this straight

If a repuke is caught breaking the law, it is a Democratic plot to get bad publicity for the GOP. But if the repukes sponsor a million dollar fishing expedition that nets one blow job, that's democracy, fairness, and the law at work.

[Bluzmann57]

3. By Golly I think you've got it!

Repubs do what they want, when they want, however they want, and to whomever they want. The last president had enough nerve to...gasp!...empower minorities, women and working stiffs. We can't have that now can we? A blasted womanizer. How low can one get? Ah forget it. All it'll do is piss me off.

[stevedeshazer]

2. Nuttier than a squirrel turd. Why did he return his donations, then?

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/12/16/build/state/25-burns.inc

In reversal, Burns to return money from indicted lobbyist

<snip>

WASHINGTON -- Retreating under fire, Republican Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana said he will return about $150,000 in donations that he received from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his clients and associates.

Democrats have criticized Burns, who is up for re-election next year, for his connection to the lobbyist at the center of a federal probe that has entangled at least a half dozen lawmakers and Bush administration officials. Earlier this week, a spokesman for Burns said the senator would not return the money because it had already been spent.

"The contributions given to my political committees by Jack Abramoff and his clients, while legal and fully disclosed, have served to undermine the public's confidence in its government," Burns said.

Burns' link to Abramoff has created a flurry of headlines in his home state. Burns had a 48 percent approval rating in a November poll conducted by Montana State University-Billings, one of his lowest approval ratings since the university started asking the question.

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So, which is it?

[havocmom]

4. Between soaring fuel prices, crony politics & Abramoff, Burns is toast

with the 80% right leaning folks in my county. Not only should he drop outta the race, he would do well to stay the hell away from here.

Folks are seriously pissed about things. They finally figured out the invasion was purely for profit and they are tired of having to send food, water and armor to kin in the military! They can't afford the diesel to farm and ranch. Wheat combiners told them last fall they would not be here this fall to harvest wheat unless fuel costs go down. They are sitting at their ledgers and they KNOW they are NOT doing as well as they were a few short years ago. They are not happy about the prospect of kids having no future but the Army. They have already buried some of them. Too many of the area first responders have been called up and there is nobody protecting the homeland around here because of it. Now, they are faced with the undeniable fact that the GOP is a bunch of whores... Oh, and they aren't happy about government snooping without the proper paperwork. Haven't heard ol Conrad condemning bushco violations of the Constitution.

Much as we like having Senators with seniority, both ours are probably gonna get replaced in the coming elections. Max won't fare much better that Conrad when his term is up.

But DEMS to blame? Sorry Conrad. Look in the mirror. THERE is the root of your problems. The fact that the scandal is getting any play at all is a miracle. Has more to do with the huge load of evidence and sheer audacity of the GOP finally overwhelming their media control than anything the DEMS have done to expose you!

Throw in the towel, Burns. When they hate you around my town, Montana is done with your whoring ways!

edit: typo

[Lefty48197]

5. Burns got about $150,000 from Abramoff.

Wonder where Abramoff got the money he gave to Burns?

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050402/NEWS01/504020308/1002


"WASHINGTON — Democrats are hammering Montana Republican Sen. Conrad Burns over his ties to a Washington lobbyist accused of cheating American Indian tribes out of millions of dollars.

The Montana Democratic Party this week called on Burns to return campaign contributions he received from wealthy casino tribes when they were clients of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his business associate, Michael Scanlon. Federal disclosure reports show that Burns received $150,090 from six tribes when the two men represented them from 2000 to 2004."