On Nov 28 2005, Randall "Duke" Cunningham Calif-R pleaded guilty to tax evasion, conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud in federal court in San Diego. He resigned from the House in an official letter sent to Gov Schwarzenegger and the Clerk of the House on Dec 6 2005. The Cunningham-MZM (Mitchell Wade)-ADCS Inc(Brent Wilkes) Scandal was "over" or so many hoped, the mechanisms and people of the earmarks-for-contributions machine are still in place, the PMA investigations proves it as does the fact that PMA was founded and owned by ex-House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense staffer Paul Magliocchetti. So why bring this "old" news up? Because it has relevance here and once more the majority of the public has rewarded (or gifted) our more corrupt representatives in gov't (in particular the Washington establishment) with the gift that keeps on giving; forgetfulness (or short attention span if you will, what were YOU thinking of, VOTES?). And why speak of ONLY a Republican? I'm NOT we speak of GREED here, Repub happens to be Messr Cunninghams' political association, but even he and others be they Republicans or Democrats would & could cross party lines for a genuine just cause or sizeable profit for themselves, their families and the well connected amongst them.

The fact that Dem. Loretta Sanchez and sister have opposed the PMA investigation is of no surprise as per this article, they took PMA money willingly (and as of this date have NOT returned it, charitable donations NOT withstanding). So many others have too, and there lies the dark things that are clearly wrong with Washington and what they do to exploit the earmark process to their on ends. Earmarks are not the evil here, they do good in the right, uncorrupted hands, but due to the anonymity afforded those who add them to bills the intent and motives of these earmark submissions makes it difficult (but not impossible) to "follow the money". The PMA may be now defunct, but the very people who made it what it is are merely reconstituting themselves into their next enterprise to stay close to those in power, in particular those of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Greed knows no boundaries, limits or party lines as the past has shown Dems & Repubs have joined up often to personally profit at our the taxpayers expense and in the case of the Cunningham Scandal the safety of our sons & daughters in the armed services, through the ability to force, coerce the Pentagon to accept sub-standard/overpriced material, systems and services that take funds away from vital pay, support and services to those who serve our great country while standing in harms way for us all. To those who continue to abuse earmarks for personal gain; may you and yours be pursued, prosecuted and HUMILIATED to the FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW as was the case of "Duke-stir".

In closing, annoyed that I appear to be the first and possibly the ONLY commentor of this article, I am not surprised, I did mention the gift that keeps on giving didn't I?

• reply

On Nov 28 2005, Randall "Duke" Cunningham Calif-R pleaded guilty to tax evasion, conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud in federal court in San Diego. He resigned from the House in an official letter sent to Gov Schwarzenegger and the Clerk of the House on Dec 6 2005. The Cunningham-MZM (Mitchell Wade)-ADCS Inc(Brent Wilkes) Scandal was "over" or so many hoped, the mechanisms and people of the earmarks-for-contributions machine are still in place, the PMA investigations proves it as does the fact that PMA was founded and owned by ex-House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense staffer Paul Magliocchetti. So why bring this "old" news up? Because it has relevance here and once more the majority of the public has rewarded (or gifted) our more corrupt representatives in gov't (in particular the Washington establishment) with the gift that keeps on giving; forgetfulness (or short attention span if you will, what were YOU thinking of, VOTES?). And why speak of ONLY a Republican? I'm NOT we speak of GREED here, Repub happens to be Messr Cunninghams' political association, but even he and others be they Republicans or Democrats would & could cross party lines for a genuine just cause or sizeable profit for themselves, their families and the well connected amongst them.

The fact that Dem. Loretta Sanchez and sister have opposed the PMA investigation is of no surprise as per this article, they took PMA money willingly (and as of this date have NOT returned it, charitable donations NOT withstanding). So many others have too, and there lies the dark things that are clearly wrong with Washington and what they do to exploit the earmark process to their on ends. Earmarks are not the evil here, they do good in the right, uncorrupted hands, but due to the anonymity afforded those who add them to bills the intent and motives of these earmark submissions makes it difficult (but not impossible) to "follow the money". The PMA may be now defunct, but the very people who made it what it is are merely reconstituting themselves into their next enterprise to stay close to those in power, in particular those of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Greed knows no boundaries, limits or party lines as the past has shown Dems & Repubs have joined up often to personally profit at our the taxpayers expense and in the case of the Cunningham Scandal the safety of our sons & daughters in the armed services, through the ability to force, coerce the Pentagon to accept sub-standard/overpriced material, systems and services that take funds away from vital pay, support and services to those who serve our great country while standing in harms way for us all. To those who continue to abuse earmarks for personal gain; may you and yours be pursued, prosecuted and HUMILIATED to the FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW as was the case of "Duke-stir".

In closing, annoyed that I appear to be the first and possibly the ONLY commentor of this article, I am not surprised, I did mention the gift that keeps on giving didn't I?

• reply