What The Hell Is Wrong With Republicans?

So, everybody is aware of the big news on Capitol Hill today: Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay resined his seat in the US House of Representatives and is dropping out of his re-election capaign. This coming after he was indicted in Austin, Texas by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle for conspiracy and money laundering charges related to the infamous "K Street Poject" he helped get started.

Tom DeLay's Harris County Sheriff‘s Department Mug Shot

Washington Post
September 29, 2005
DeLay Indicted in Texas Finance Probe

A Texas grand jury indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) yesterday on a charge of criminally conspiring with two political associates to inject illegal corporate contributions into 2002 state elections that helped the Republican Party reorder the congressional map in Texas and cement its control of the House in Washington.

The indictment forced DeLay, one of the Republicans' most powerful leaders and fundraisers, to step aside under House rules barring such posts to those accused of criminal conduct. House Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the third-ranking leader, was elected by Republican House members yesterday afternoon to fill the spot temporarily after conservatives threatened a revolt against another candidate considered by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

DeLay's former House Majority leader position went to Representavtive John Boehner (R-OH). You'll remember Boehner as the guy who went around on the House floor handing out Big Tabacco checks on the House floor back in 1996.

House Majority Leader John Boehner

New York Times
1996
Bob Herbert

One day last summer Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, chairman of the House Republican Conference, decided to play Santa Claus.... In any event, Mr. Boehner took it upon himself to begin handing out money from tobacco lobbyists to certain of his colleagues on the House floor.

Boehner stopped handing out the checks only "after being questioned about the practice by two freshmen who'd heard about the handoff on the House floor."

You'll notice that DeLay refused to turn himself into the Travis County Sherrifs' Department, where Earle's juristiction resides. He truned himself into the Harris County Sherrifs Department. You'll also notice that even though this "mug shot" was officially released by the Harris County Sherriffs Department, There is no visible booking identifiers in the image.

But, I am not here to discuss DeLay, I am writing today about all of the corruption and theivery and down right lawlessness that is embbeded in the Republican party.

In January, Claude Allen, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy resigned rather suddenly, to "spend more time with family."

President Bush And Claud Allen

White House
February 9, 2006
President Thanks Domestic Policy Advisor Claude Allen for Service

Claude Allen has been a trusted advisor since 2001. As Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, he worked hard to improve the health and welfare of all Americans. During the past year, he has served as my top domestic policy advisor at the White House and has helped develop policies that will strengthen our Nation's families, schools, and communities.

So, I guess all the teachers out there can thank Allen for the sorry state of our school system and the utter failure that is called No Child Left Behind.

President Bush, Karl Rove and Claude Allen

Chicago Tribune
March 10, 2006
Former White House adviser arrested on retail theft charges

The police said Allen, who was arrested Thursday, was seen Jan. 2 leaving a department store in Gaithersburg, Md., with merchandise for which he had not paid. He was apprehended by a store employee and issued a misdemeanor citation for theft, police said.

But, as it turns out, Allen wasn't just involved in a little shoplifting, as he was given a citation for on January 2. No, he was running a whole entire scam at Target stores.

Claude Allen's Montgomery County Sherrifs Department Mug Shot

Montgomery County Department of the Police
March 10, 2006
Gaithersburg Man Arrested for Theft Scheme

On January 2, 2006, a Target store Loss Prevention Manger observed an unknown man enter the store located at 25 Grand Corner Avenue in Gaithersburg. He was observed in the store with an empty Target bag in a shopping cart. The man was then seen selecting merchandise throughout the store and placing items in the Target bag. He put additional items in his cart. The man then went to guest services where he produced a receipt and received a refund for the items he had just selected from the store shelves. After receiving the refund he left the store without paying for the additional merchandise in the shopping cart. He was apprehended by the store employee.

Of course, since this is the actual police report, no specific amount of stolen goods is given. It is just stated "Allen had been receiving refunds in an amount exceeding $5,000 during last year." But, we don't know yet if he has been doing this for longer than a year.

I was completely stunned when I heard this report. I understand all of the money stuff in Washington, but petty teft? A shoplifting scam? This guy was one of Bush's right hand guys. Allen literally had the ear of the leader of the most powerful country in the world. WHat was he thinking?

Then, this one comes in:

Department of Homeland Security Deputy Press Secretary Brian J. Doyle

WTSP - Tampa Bay's 10 News
April 4, 2006
Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Arrested on Polk County Charges

Brian J. Doyle, DOB 4/7/50, the Deputy Press Secretary for the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's Office of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., was arrested this evening at his residence in Silver Springs, Maryland, on 23 Polk County charges related to the use of a computer to seduce a child and transmitting harmful materials to a minor. Doyle's arrest is the result of a joint investigation by the Polk County Sheriff s Office, working with Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jerry Hill s office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General s Office.

Yes, you read that correctly. Doyle was trying to solicite sex from what he thought was a 14 year old girl. Luckily it turned out to be an undercover Montgomery County Sherriffs Deputy.

Doyle is nothing more than your average ordinary pedaphile. He should hang for this.

So, now this is where it gets weird. If you MapQuest directions from 7200 block of Cliff Pine Drive in Gaithersburg, MD, Claude Allens home and the city of Silver Spring, MD, Brian Doyle's residence, you find out they are only around 22 miles from each other.

Check for yourself.

You can't make this stuff up!