Fear of blackmail is rampant in DC...

[Arkham House]

...or so I heard today from a relative who works there and is close to several high-level Dems. He said that it's like the days of Hoover all over again, and that if impeachment does happen, the White House has privately assured them that it'll go nuclear, that they--the Bushies--are desperate and have no scruples, and that one prominent Dem has been blackmailed already, and that this is one reason for said Dem's playing footsie with the White House...but the climate of fear is very strong. My relative should know...and this explains a lot...

[Sherman A1]

1. Wouln't be surprised at all.

[rocktivity]

2. Well, duh--when you rule out incompetence, stupidity and naivete

Fear is the only remaining logical explanation.

:scared:
rocknation

[shance]

8. None of what has happened has been incompetence. Thats the rich man's excuse.

And its not working any longer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. This is not new

a US Senator told me this a while ago

I told them, go public

[rocktivity]

7. Maybe we the people can give them amnesty!

Offer to support them no matter what they've done in exchange for an impeachment vote. Maybe a web site could be set up where they could write in what they're being blackmailed about!

:headbang:
rocknation

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. It is a very closed off culture

and they don't get it... you go public and all that power that the blackmail has goes away

During that conversation anthrax also came up

[OzarkDem]

49. What did they say about anthrax?

Did they think it possible Bush would pull that stunt again?

[hfojvt]

16. won't happen

some of them are involved in dog fighting and others in solicitation of a minor. :hide:

[CoffeeCat]

43. Why don't they go public???

I just wrote a lengthy post about this, below in this thread.

How can these elected officials watch our democracy being destroyed just
to keep secret their crimes and embarrassing escapades?

How can all of them collectively do this?

Don't any of them realize that if they all banned together and went public--
the American citizens would hail them as heroes for coming forward and saving
the nation? The focus would be on the blackmailers, not on the blackmailee crimes.

America would support them and be eternally grateful.

With that said, I know my Senator is being blackmailed. He's a progressive.
Paul Wellstone was his best friend. He called a press conference during the
Terry Schaivo debacle. He sided with BushCo and the press conference showcased
his support for the administration. I've never seen my Senator look so defeated
and discombobulated. I knew right then and there--that someone strong armed him
into doing this. My Senator looked like he wanted to throw up.

This has to end. This has to end NOW.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Gee I wonder if that prominent Dem is Pelosi?

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Would not shock me

actually she said it is off the table after she met with our fearless leader

[Arkham House]

9. I'm from New England, if that'll give you a hint...

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. It does

:rolleyes:

[JerseygirlCT]

26. Are we talking about George's boy-toy up here? That would

confuse me, b/c, he's just not that interesting!

Mediocrity squared.

[defendandprotect]

17. Pelosi and Daschle, for one? And her husband/wealth entanglements?

Barbara Mikulski took a beautiful shot at Diane Feinstein at one of the Democratic investigative hearings . . . re Diane's investments -- I think she said millions? -- in defense contracts?

[skids]

46. Leiberman?

...not that he isn't an asshole even without being blackmailed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

62. I don't think he would be the one holding back impeachment though

Do you?

[skids]

71. I don't see anything about impeachment...

...in the OP's claim about the current blackmail, only in future threats. Just "playing footsie with the white house" and not related necessarily to impeachment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

72. What do you think the blackmailers would be attempting to prevent?

Impeachment was the first thing that came to my mind.

[skids]

73. A solid senate majority with no threat...

...of losing majority ownership of the senate? Lieberman's flexed that threat.

[shance]

5. That's interesting. The whole world will be destroyed because of Congress's indiscretions.

Time to be grown ups or all of Congress should be impeached.

[defendandprotect]

19. Well, looking at the amount of criminal corruption -- Hastert, for one? . . .

Yeah -- they should probably all be impeached.

Lots of involvement, it seems, with arms running and drug trade --
official corruption.

[shance]

53. Yes.

Like your user name btw.

Welcome to DU.

:)

[lvx35]

11. Hmm. I wonder how that could be defused.

I've always been a fan of an open sexually tolerant culture precisely because all this family values bullshit does is create powerful secret groups who violate said values, and pull the strings of anybody else who does through blackmail. So if they have sexual stuff, Its best for them to be open about it. If its financial it will pale in comparison to Bush.

The other category is what if its fiction? This is 2007. I would like to see some hollywood wizard put together a video of George Bush receiving surprise buttsecks. Then release it with full disclosure its a fake just to show how real fakes can be. Enough to plant a seed of doubt in the minds of people who could be fooled by other fake forms of evidence if they were advanced as real.

[Individualist]

12. Any legislator who allows fear of blackmail or fear or anything else

to take precedence over doing what is right should step down so he/she can be replaced by someone who has the courage to do the right thing.

[defendandprotect]

20. Actually, they say that Ted Kennedy has been threatened for years --

and I agree . . . you have to say then get out --
But we don't know exactly what the threats are: to his family, naturally.

Chappaquidic seems to be part of that -- a Noxon set up?

[Subdivisions]

13. I don't care what shrubco has on anyone. This Nation is more

important than any one person's indiscretions.

[defendandprotect]

22. Agree -- but fears of being "outed" for instance re gays, can't be denied . . .

the fear is there -- perhaps not so much as in the past -- but still there.

[Subdivisions]

58. Which is a shame because,

being gay does not fall into the category of "indiscretion". It's a shame that some people still deign to place it there.

[Gman]

14. That's about the only valid explanation left for the foot-dragging

on a lot of things. I'm no impeachment fan, but the Dems are way too timid for a lot of other things right now. If nothing happens next week regarding inherent contempt, that might be the only explanation left.

[WillyT]

18. Allow Me To Put This On The Greatest Page, Because I've Believed This For Some Time Now !!!

BIG ASS :kick:

[Skidmore]

21. Well, maybe we could really clean house then.

If all the rot was cleaned out at the same time, we might stand a chance. I really don't care if they are being blackmailed at this point. Over what? Sex? Alcoholism? Drug problesm? They're willing to sell out the whole nation for what exactly.

[defendandprotect]

24. No -- I think it's more -- especially $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ --

I mean look at the Cunningham corruption -- and the arrogance he displayed in taking the $ with no thoughts of getting caught!!!

They know the cops are called off the block and those on duty aren't doing anything but maybe taking a bribe from you --

[libertypirate]

36. It's not money..... The money is cover for other things.....

The other thing depends on what your pleasure....

It is not rocket science..

[leftchick]

69. I agree, this is more about money than bribery

it is easier for those in power to sit back and rake in the dough than to do the noble thing.

[bbgrunt]

51. well, it might not be for individual piccadillos--it might be

a threat of another MIHOP or nuclear strike at Iran. It is possible that the threats are against our country in general although the more basic type of blackmail for individual frailties is much more likely.

[WHAT]

75. or both?...

and money, too.

If so, it would be nice to grasp the ratio for leverage and recognizing the fractal seams.

[libodem]

23. Blackmail

just what we need in time of war. This shit is tiresome. Spy vs spy vs spy. I hope whom ever is doing the 'holing it over your head' action is the one that gets it.

[tridim]

25. Blackmail for Republics, threats for Dems

I made a suggestion last night that maybe we should give the Republics a blackmail reprieve until BushCo is Impeached.

Starting from scratch might be the only option if the whole lot are corrupt.

[glitch]

27. And where blackmail and bribes don't work - threats on family and home. nt

[defendandprotect]

29. If we succeed in knocking this one down, we have to be VIGILANT about keeping it --

and that means really opening up this government so we can see it --

and what's really going on --

[defendandprotect]

30. It would be great to see the wiretapping list of names come tumbling out . . .

somebody has it --

[tom_paine]

28. Though your evidence is anecdotal, I have long suspected this to be true

What else, besides keeping Filthy Little Nobodies in line, was and is Total Information Awareness and Warrantless Wiretapping for?

[Megahurtz]

31. Greeaat.....

Just wonderful.:sarcasm:

[madokie]

32. If I was a betting person I would bet on there being blackmail being used by the * cabal

nothing else explains all that is and has been going on.

[Nothing Without Hope]

33. Collecting blackmail material is bound to be one of the main uses of the WH spy

network & NSA spying machine. National security? These criminal creeps? Nope, it's all control and profit.

[bdamomma]

34. where is Larry

flynt and that list?

[KittyWampus]

35. Dems playing footsie w/WH? I think you're post is full of crap. Blackmail is certainly possible

but mostly I think you need to go into more detail or your post is just ancedotal crap.

What high level Dems?

Your post has as much credibility as the DU'ers who post how they have inside information we're going to attack Iran in 2 days.

[Lochloosa]

37. Thank you

saved me a lot of typing

[BattyDem]

38. I was talking to somone earlier today about the reluctance of the Dems ...

to impeach Bush. I said, "Why isn't anyone addressing the most obvious reason: Bush is wiretapping everyone. He has most likely wiretapped every Democrat in Washington and he's probably blackmailing many of them."

Seriously ... I don't understand why one of the biggest threats of wiretapping - political espionage and the subsequent blackmail - has not been mentioned. It seems like a no-brainer to me. :shrug:

Has anyone talked about this at all? Randi ... Keith ... Malloy ... Hartman? I don't mean a casual mention ... I mean a detailed discussion.

[flashl]

47. I agree with your assessment

Things began to become increasingly suspicious to me starting with 9-11. Does anyone remember seeing on television Congresspersons evacuating the Capitol building after a report of another unknown airplane?

I felt deeply ashamed as our fearless leaders were seen around the world running down the steps with fear on their faces, bumping into each other as they tried to get into vehicles to escape the building. After that very disturbing scene Congresspersons were seen aimlessly wandering, for hours, around Washington, DC.

Although I was in shock on 9-11, this surreal scene at the Capitol was very revealing to me on many levels. Through my own fog, the only thing that came to mind was they are being put on notice. Of course, later came the anthrax scare that remains unresolved. Then, leading up to the Iraq war resolution, members of the UN made complaints about wiretaps against this administration. It seems that no one paid attention because it was JUST the UN complaining.

Years later, wiretapping became an issue when it was learned that the focus was on U.S. citizens. At that time, it was made to appear that it was John and Jane Q. Public who had to worry. Sometimes, I think we just have to read through the lines to understand that perhaps the ‘wiretapping on U.S. citizens’ probably included Congress and the story was their way of letting us know what was going on.

[yellerpup]

67. Valid observation, flashl.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[flashl]

89. Thanks. n/t

[butterfly77]

77. I also remember some congressmen have a press conference after...

the anthrax attack and I remember seeing mitch mc connell's smirking face looking as though he was happy instead of being afraid of something.

[Nikki Stone1]

88. Flash, there was a 5th plane reported at Dulles airport by local news media

It never made the national media but the ABC local affiliate in DC was reporting a 5th plane at Dulles which was eventually brought down at National.

[flashl]

90. Thanks for the info

I couldn't remember which airport reported a lost plane. For whatever reason, I wanted to say the plane was traveling down the Potomac.

[Karenina]

39. Ya think?

:freak:

[Annces]

40. Well at this point

if they had any spine whatsoever, they would find a way to get the truth out about this administration. What about patriotism. So you are being blackmailed, what about if you have to go to Iraq and fight? Don't the dems have a single mole.

[CoffeeCat]

41. Then these blackmail victims are TRAITORS!

Any Congress member who stands around as the United States and our democracy is destroyed---in
order to keep secret their sexual cavorts and criminal dealings---is a selfish, disgusting,
TRAITOR to this country.

They are JUST AS BAD, IF NOT WORSE, than the scumbag thugs who are running this country.

Their job is to serve "We the People" and to represent us. Any elected official who treads
lightly on BushCo to save their own skin--is only serving themselves, as they create disaster,
suffering and a dark reversal of history for millions of citizens in this country and also for
future generations.

HOW DARE THEY!!!!!!

Don't these elected officials realize that if just ONE of them was courageous enough to come
forward--that all of this would end today. Blackmail is only effective if the victims lie
down and take it.

Stop behaving like victims--Congress members--and start representing the interests of America
and her citizens like you promised to do!

[Rosemary2205]

42. Your post contains no proof whatsoever - just baseless hearsay.

And yet it is so totally believable. Amazing isn't it. Your bit of 3rd hand info fits so perfectly into what we already know about this bunch of thugs that there's no basis on which to DOUBT it.

What a sad time for America.

[Arkham House]

80. If I had proof, I wouldn't print it...

...I'm not an investigative reporter, and I don't feel it's my job to accuse any specific individual of anything. I already regret an insinuation I made against one individual, in an answer earlier in the thread... Folks can believe or not. I believe my source, and he's in a position to know. My purpose here is to give some insight into our "rulers". (I might add, if I had proof against the *blackmailers*, I'd reveal it in a second, if I could somehow keep their victims safe...) You know--we've all speculated about this crew of gangsters over these past few years, and we've all enjoyed, to a certain extent, contemplating their wickedness...but when you come right down to it, I'm naive enough to be horrified at the idea of a White House--*any* White House--using these kind of tactics. I don't enjoy thinking about this, and I hope it's not true. But I think it is, and I think it explains a good deal about the strange politics of our time...

[Jed Dilligan]

44. If they have stuff worthy of being blackmailed over,

I say air it. If it's stupid sex stuff Democrats will shrug and move on. If it's corruption, I want them out!

[baby_mouse]

45. THEN THEY'RE BLOODY WELL GOING TO HAVE TO SUCK IT UP.

My respect for people who cave in to bullies because they're embarassed about something = 0

My respect for people who stand up to bullies DESPITE being embarassed about something = Infinite

Mapping correlation of my views on the matter with those of ordinary people = 100%

[Lindsey]

50. I think Rachel Maddow has discussed this on her show...

I'll try to email her and see if she can dig deeper. I really think this may be what's going on. I don't think sex scandals would be a hugh issue since we're not the party of phoney "family values." However, knowing Rove as we do, I'm sure he has a file on every one... possibly campaign contributions from unsavory sources (eventhough the Repugs have taken them too but as we know it's okay for them but not for us). Also, maybe questionable investments that they've involved themselve in. I don't know. It just seems to me that this makes the most since. I can't only hope that Larry Flynt digs deeper than Sex Scandals......

[madokie]

48. I replied about this yesterday but today I see what you're saying, the FEAR of

not necessarily that its being used yet. I agree.

[TwilightGardener]

52. I can fully believe this, and I think it's targeted to Repubs more than Dems--

look how few are willing to step out of line, both in the House and Senate. Dems have actually been pretty good lately about investigations and speaking against the administration--I don't think the reluctance to impeach is related to blackmail--it's pure political calculation, instead. But the GOPers? Yeah--this administration has them by the short hairs. I have no doubt of that.

[annabanana]

54. Unless they're being blackmailed for TREASON.. I don't give a rat's ass.

Really..
Infidelities and some miscellaneous bribery for financial gain are not as important to me as the preservation of the republic.

[Occulus]

55. There is one and only one single, bulletproof response to blackmail.

Truth.

Go public with that with which you are being blackmailed, make certain the public knows you were being blackmailed, and the blackmailer will have no power whatever.

(I've had to do this once or twice, and it has worked.)

[OzarkDem]

56. Bush came to Cleveland recently

not long after Voinovich began speaking out against the Iraq War. My guess was a meeting with Voino and the local newspaper editors. Voinovich has been involved in a lot of criminal activity over the years and was implicated in the recent Coingate scandal.

Whatever Bush told him, it worked, though I suspect V may have threatened to resign. Not long after we find V voting with Bush on the cloture vote and Poppy Bush announcing he will help V raise money for re-election.

[TwilightGardener]

61. Yep--he seems like a likely target for blackmail, given his recent

switch on Iraq. He's back on board the war train.

[Greyhound]

65. Funny how this is not a problem for Dennis Kucinich.

Hmmm... :think:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

57. That's been my theory for the past 25 years

Only a combination of threats, blackmail, and bribery could explain the abject rollover-and-play-dead patterns that the Dems have followed during the Reagan and Bush administrations.

If they had any guts, they'd all come clean with whatever they're being blackmailed about and then go after the Bushboy full force.

[barbtries]

59. i've suspected but

it sure would be good to see all the shit come to light and be revealed so that the business of being a democracy could resume.

[Vidar]

60. SOP for this regime & Washington in general.

[lovuian]

63. Well when you have access to all records databases and

justice department yes blackmail is easy
I figured that all along

[Greyhound]

64. Same as it ever was. They all wanted to sit in the big chair and regardless

of their vulnerability, they took an oath to uphold and defend The Constitution. Oh, and the one sure-fire way to avoid being blackmailed is to conduct yourself honorably.

[Alexander]

66. So, is Holy Joe on the Madam's list?

That would explain why he went from a moderate Democrat to a pro-Bush ass-kissing Republican wanna-be.

It would also explain impeachment - he would probably jump ship and caucus with Republicans if impeachment proceedings start, if he is being blackmailed.

Larry Flynt also mentioned another Senator was on the list, and the name would shock us all.

[rucky]

68. If they respect the "troops" who sacrifice for a worthless cause...

then they need to be prepared to sacrifice their dignity and cushy career for a very worthy cause.

[Robeson]

70. That's how it's done. As Lyndon Johnson once said....

..."I never trust a man unless I've got his pecker in my pocket."

[devilgrrl]

74. Boy, those "straight & narrow" types that run things sure have a lot of skeletons in their closets.

I'm so glad I didn't hang out with any in high school - they're obviously a bad influence if there is so much that you can actually BLACKMAIL them. :crazy:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

76. I've thought that for several years now

It is the only explanation for why everyone has just backed down time after time.

[Buttercup McToots]

78. I want to know...

Can you tell me please exactly what your not saying?
I promise I will not tell anyone...Besides, I'm a neighbor in CT...
Pleeeease? You can PM me.
Buttercup

ps
I tried to pm but it says you can't receive...

[DemoTex]

79. I've said for years that blackmail is Karl Rove's primary M.O.

Illegal wiretapping and unprecedented secrecy help KKKarl keep politicians (Democrats and Repugs, alike) in line by feeding his #1 political tool: BLACKMAIL.

[momzno1]

83. and we all know that they make good on their threats

Valerie Plame....

[Raksha]

81. The sad and disgusting truth is, they can do a lot more damage

to our side than the Democrats can ever do to them. Because they have the corporate media in their pockets and the Democrats DON'T! Even though a lot of dirt has come out already about Republican sexual deviants, it's THE MEDIA that can catapult the propaganda...OR NOT! We've already seen how they sit on stories that are damaging to Republicans and just let them die, which is NOT the case if the perp is a Democrat. Democrats are at a disadvantage in the smear wars simply because they are Democrats...and they know it.

[treestar]

82. Not believable, whenever something black-mailable comes up, it

is a repuke.

Foley, Vitter, etc.

[Skip Intro]

84. It sounds like you know who the Dem mentioned is. Tell us who it is please.

[whistle]

85. "Let justice be done though the heavens fall!"

...Everyone is covering their ass :wtf:

[judaspriestess]

86. Nuclear?

literally? or just figuratively?

Ya never know with these wackos!!

[Lindsey]

87. kgfnally, I love your suggestion....I never thought about the ramifications

regarding the blackmailers. Thanks for the perspective.

[Buttercup McToots]

91. Bump up

:applause: