The admission by Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California to being guilty of taking $2.4 million in bribes is merely the latest example of what most people probably already know: both political parties in Washington, D.C., have more than their fair share of corruption.
Cunningham, 63, is an eight-term Republican congressman and decorated Vietnam War veteran. He recently entered guilty pleas in San Diego federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion. In so doing, he said, "I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office." He faces 10 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
When asked whether he had accepted bribes for helping to secure Defense Department contracts, Cunningham said, "Yes, your honor." Cunningham used his membership of the House intelligence committee and the appropriations sub-committee that controls defense spending to secure the bribes.
The revelation of corruption by Congressman Cunningham comes on the heels of embarrassing indictments against Republican Congressman Tom Delay of Texas, serious questions about potential favors rewarded to Vice President Dick Cheney's Halliburton Company, and several other potential mud holes for an already tainted GOP.
Not that the Democrat Party has any room to gloat: the memory of watching only the second president in U.S. history impeached (Bill Clinton) is still fresh in most people's minds.
That corruption is rampant in Washington, D.C., surprises no one. What is surprising, at least to me, is how so many people, especially people calling themselves Christians or conservatives, seem so willing to tolerate it! It seems that the only time people get exercised about corrupt politicians is when it is within the "other" party. Until they are disgraced, liberals only bemoan Republicans and conservatives only fault Democrats.
As long as the American people constantly reelect their individual congressmen, nothing will change in Washington, D.C. The longer politicians stay inside the Beltway, the more potential for corruption there is! So, why do we allow our elected representatives to become career-politicians? It's stupid!
Whether we like our congressman or not, we should not let him or her stay in Washington, D.C., more than just a few years. Eight years is more than enough for any politician, party affiliation and ideology notwithstanding. Less is even better! As for U.S. Senators, we should send them home after only one term! The senate is a menace, and that's putting it mildly.
Let's get honest: career-politicians are killing us! And it doesn't matter one iota if he or she is a Republican or Democrat! They are killing us!
Something else we should do is pass a law cleaning out all of the bureaucrats and lobbyists from inside the Beltway every couple of years! But that's a subject for another day.
© Chuck Baldwin
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