March 14, 2007 Ruidoso, NM
Senator Domenici at least guilty of stupidity
Ned Cantwell Looking Askance
Article Launched: 03/13/2007 10:29:25 PM MDT
Say it's not so. Go ahead, tell me Pope Benedict is going to become a Methodist. I can handle it.
Send me a brochure that says Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are leading a summer camp for teenage girls, and I'll go along with it.
You say Tiger Woods hits a banana ball, Dick Cheney has an open mind, Elvis was tone deaf, Hemingway couldn't write? Works for me.
Just don't try to tell me our beloved Senator of 34 years, Pete Domenici, he of the pristine political past and solid national reputation for somehow being above it all, above all the nasty nitty gritty of the grimy world of politics - yes, that Pete, the hero of the New Mexico Republican party, is, gasp, involved up to his neck in an ethics flap.
Indeed, such is the case.
Political blogger Joe Monahan captured the mood:
"More shock waves buffeted our Enchanted Land Wednesday as shocked observes tried to absorb the news that New Mex-ico political icon Pete Domenici has been forced to hire a criminal defense lawyer to defend himself before his colleagues in the U.S. attorney scandal."
Should the political bloggers association give out awards for action verbs and snappy adjectives, my friend Joe picks up the plaque. But "scandal?" I don't know. Scandal is taking 18-year-old interns on overnights. Scandal is letting lobbyists buy you a house in return for favorable legislation.
Here's what Pete did. He called U.S. Attorney David Iglesias before the November election. Domenici says the call was simply to inquire about the status of an investigation. Iglesias tells a different story. He says the Domenici call, and a similar one from Congresswoman Heather Wilson, were intended to pressure him to hasten an investigation that would bolster Wilson's reelection campaign.
It may not be a scandal but is was dumb, plain dumb. It smells to high heaven. The Senator has since admitted such in a statement of apology that admitted no ethical violation but indicated mea culpa for the appearance of impropriety.
One thing is sure. The episode has sullied Pete's reputation and maybe his future. Democrats are salivating as they search their ranks for someone who might now challenge this man once believed to be invulnerable.
Iglesias has since been fired and he told a federal panel his ouster was political, that Domenici pressured him to bring indictments against prominent Democrats.
Baloney, say others. They contend David Iglesias pretty much botched the job as U.S. Attorney, couldn't get things moving, needed to go. For his part, Domenici claims to have recommended Iglesias be replaced several months before the controversial call. That would seem to be strong evidence if the Senator can produce a letter or other evidence to back up his claim. We've not seen such at the time of this writing.
Whatever the case, Pete Domenici has hired a big gun lawyer to represent him in an ethics investigation. Lawyering up, as they say, is not in itself indicative of anything but the fact the Senator recognizes the gravity of his situation. It's kind of like a New Mexico criminal suspect hooking up with attorney Gary Mitchell. You know the guy's in deep dodo.
Speaking of dodo, Heather Wilson made the same type of call to Iglesias, and finds herself buffeted by those shock waves Joe Monahan noted. Stay tuned. Meanwhile...
You were kidding about the Pope turning Methodist, right?
Syndicated columnist Ned Cantwell - ncantwell@beyond-bb.com
Pete is one of the few politicians I actually admire and respect now he gets into trouble. Oh well
Senator Domenici at least guilty of stupidity
Ned Cantwell Looking Askance
Article Launched: 03/13/2007 10:29:25 PM MDT
Say it's not so. Go ahead, tell me Pope Benedict is going to become a Methodist. I can handle it.
Send me a brochure that says Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are leading a summer camp for teenage girls, and I'll go along with it.
You say Tiger Woods hits a banana ball, Dick Cheney has an open mind, Elvis was tone deaf, Hemingway couldn't write? Works for me.
Just don't try to tell me our beloved Senator of 34 years, Pete Domenici, he of the pristine political past and solid national reputation for somehow being above it all, above all the nasty nitty gritty of the grimy world of politics - yes, that Pete, the hero of the New Mexico Republican party, is, gasp, involved up to his neck in an ethics flap.
Indeed, such is the case.
Political blogger Joe Monahan captured the mood:
"More shock waves buffeted our Enchanted Land Wednesday as shocked observes tried to absorb the news that New Mex-ico political icon Pete Domenici has been forced to hire a criminal defense lawyer to defend himself before his colleagues in the U.S. attorney scandal."
Should the political bloggers association give out awards for action verbs and snappy adjectives, my friend Joe picks up the plaque. But "scandal?" I don't know. Scandal is taking 18-year-old interns on overnights. Scandal is letting lobbyists buy you a house in return for favorable legislation.
Here's what Pete did. He called U.S. Attorney David Iglesias before the November election. Domenici says the call was simply to inquire about the status of an investigation. Iglesias tells a different story. He says the Domenici call, and a similar one from Congresswoman Heather Wilson, were intended to pressure him to hasten an investigation that would bolster Wilson's reelection campaign.
It may not be a scandal but is was dumb, plain dumb. It smells to high heaven. The Senator has since admitted such in a statement of apology that admitted no ethical violation but indicated mea culpa for the appearance of impropriety.
One thing is sure. The episode has sullied Pete's reputation and maybe his future. Democrats are salivating as they search their ranks for someone who might now challenge this man once believed to be invulnerable.
Iglesias has since been fired and he told a federal panel his ouster was political, that Domenici pressured him to bring indictments against prominent Democrats.
Baloney, say others. They contend David Iglesias pretty much botched the job as U.S. Attorney, couldn't get things moving, needed to go. For his part, Domenici claims to have recommended Iglesias be replaced several months before the controversial call. That would seem to be strong evidence if the Senator can produce a letter or other evidence to back up his claim. We've not seen such at the time of this writing.
Whatever the case, Pete Domenici has hired a big gun lawyer to represent him in an ethics investigation. Lawyering up, as they say, is not in itself indicative of anything but the fact the Senator recognizes the gravity of his situation. It's kind of like a New Mexico criminal suspect hooking up with attorney Gary Mitchell. You know the guy's in deep dodo.
Speaking of dodo, Heather Wilson made the same type of call to Iglesias, and finds herself buffeted by those shock waves Joe Monahan noted. Stay tuned. Meanwhile...
You were kidding about the Pope turning Methodist, right?
Syndicated columnist Ned Cantwell - ncantwell@beyond-bb.com
Pete is one of the few politicians I actually admire and respect now he gets into trouble. Oh well