Jim "the Joos" Moran (D-VA and several large banks) has been someone who's checkered career I've followed since 2002, when the news broke that he sponsored a precursor to the bad bankruptcy bill - four days after MBNA gave him a $447,000 debt-consolidation loan.
Wouldn't you love to have been a fly on the wall during the meetings with that lobbyist?
I'm already a reprobate Democrat in many people's eyes, and I'm genuinely sorry about that. I think of myself as a strong believer in Democratic values and have some small hope for the future of the party. But in this case, I'm going to step further off the reservation and ask people to go visit the site of Moran's opponent Tom O'Donoghue, the GOP candidate for the 8th CD seat in Virginia.
He's a veteran, and seems like a decent guy. It wouldn't hurt to toss a few bucks his way.
How can he be worse than Moran?
Why am I doing this?
Here's Moran's history, as I've blogged it.
Took $400K from MBNA and then sponsored a bad bankruptcy reform bill.
Blamed American Jews for the Iraq war.
Today, Instapundit points to an undelivered weapons system that has cost $37 million dollars - with the strong support of Moran, delivered for a $17,000 contribution.
If you want to have some fun, go check out the goodbyejim.com site - it's got an astounding set of stories about Rep. Moran.
His wife is a real estate developer, seeking a HUD grant and financing - do you think she'll get it?
Now while he's probably among the worst in Congress, we ought to see some progress by the Democrats in cleaning their own house, right?
Wrong.The time to criticize the Republicans’ “culture of corruption,” a Democratic refrain for nearly a year, is at an end, Pelosi said; Democrats need to begin promoting their own vision of America.I'm going say that I called this one when I posted back in 2002:
WHY MY OSTENSIBLE PARTY, THE DEMOCRATS, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE BUSH'S CORPORATE HISTORY AGAINST HIMSo if they won't turn him out, it's up to the voters.
At some point, the Democratic Party leadership will get the idea that there's a market for genuine reform, and clean our house. I'll keep kicking them until they do. Want to help?
[Update: Corrected dumb typo "Murtha" for "Moran"]
Typo:
"...with the strong support of Murtha, delivered for a $17,000 contribution"
s/Murtha/Moran/
The Rs have been cleaning house for quite a while. The Ds are late to the show.
The delay on Jefferson says it all.
I knew Jim Moran when we both were Financial Management Interns for the Department of HEW in 1969-70, and saw him from time to time after that until 1974. I have no "dirt" on him from then that comares with what he's up to now; but I can say that it doesn't surprise me at all.
This site has the most comprehensive list of Jim Moran's ethical issues:
http://www.morantics.com/
OK, US political system question. Are there party primaries for sitting members wherein you could support a different Democrat challenger? Or is that only for seats the party does not yet hold plus executive level positions?
Joe,
In most states, and certainly California, partisan offices would have a "primary" for any party nomination that is contested regardless of whether or not the incumbant is one of the contestants. The incumbant has no automatic immunity from challenge within his/her party albeit few seriously funded ones unless the incumbant is very controversial.
Note that some local offices may be "non-partisan" and so would not have party nominations.
"Or is that only for seats the party does not yet hold plus executive level positions?"
Not sure what this part means, Joe, but note that the US Constitution does not permit congressmen to also hold office in another branch of the federal govt.
And in 04, we endorsed his primary opponent on this site at the post that I can finally link to because it's far enough down that I won't break the main page...
A.L.