Ethics: Public accountability |
Efforts to assert public control over officials who abuse the powers of their offices, private or governmental. Watch-dog agencies and whistle-blowers; investigations of malfeasance or incompetence, attempts to impeach, prosecute, recall officials.
12/22/08 If you won't prosecute offiaisl for crime, you're going to continue to get official crimes: Glenn Greenwald attacks the "logic" of avoiding impeachments and prosecutions by the impulse to "move on," to concentrate on present and future problems rather than dwell on the failures of the past. What we get from this impulse is that we guarantee that officials are going to the continue with past misdeeds. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/20
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Analysis & views: 12/22/08 If you won't prosecute offiaisl for crime, you're going to continue to get official crimes: Glenn Greenwald attacks the "logic" of avoiding impeachments and prosecutions by the impulse to "move on," to concentrate on present and future problems rather than dwell on the failures of the past. What we get from this impulse is that we guarantee that officials are going to the continue with past misdeeds. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/20 12/19/08 Difficulty of policing the police is shown in St. Louis case in which two city police officers stayed on the job despite persistent corruption charges until they were finally arrested. 8/13/08 Three strikes and you''re out, unless you're the President of the United States and then any number of "strikes" (war deaths) of malfeasance will be forgiven: Vincent Bugliosi, in an interview, complains of the "media blackout" of his latest book which is a prosecutor's brief in favor of impeaching George Bush for war crimes, in stark contrast with the heavy publicity given to his earlier books, like that on serial killer Charles Manson. http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/08/bush-manson-and-the-media-blackout/ 8/13/08 Democrats show a twist in their morality in their treatment of John Edwards:. The DNC's decision to "un-invite" Edwards to address its upcoming convention after exposure of his extra-marital affair reveals, says Stephen Zunes, the hypocrisy of the party's "moral" judgment, having welcomed him to its 04 convention and even nominating him for Vice-President after his unrepentant stance in favor of going to war in Iraq which might be considered a greater "moral" lapse than an adulterous episode. (Dont tase Zune, bro! -- as Andrew Meyers got tased at the University of Florida for his public complaint that Democrats like John Kerry didn't support war crimes impeachment for Bush when Clinton had faced impeachment for "getting a blow job.") http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/12/10941/ 7/30/08 Mike Gravel: Bush and Cheney don't "deserve" impeachment: Though the former Democrat and presently Libertarian Gravel has supported the Kucinich articles of impeachment, he now questions what could be accomplished by impeachment and suggests instead that the President and Vice-President "deserve" a trip to The Hague to face war crimes trials for having instigated the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=64862§ionid=3510203 6/18/08 A presidential candidate calls for campaign of support of Kucinich articles of impeachment: No, not McCain nor Obama, the nominees-apparent of the Republicans and Democrats, but Cynthia McKinney, the leading and likely candidate of the Green Party, who calls for a "mass mobilization" of progressive forces in support of these articles. http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=668&Itemid=1 3/18/08 Why was Wall Street so delighted when Spitzer fell? Greg Palast thinks it's because Spitzer, a former crusading prosecuter, was pressing for public exposure of the Wall Street and White House cabal behind the decline of such as Countrywide and Bear Stearns in the country's subprime mortgage lending scandal. In the "coincidence" of the day, the Justice Department was busting Spitzer for paying $4300 from his own checkbook to a high-end prostitute for personal services, while Federal Reserve Chairman was writing a check for $200 billion of public funds to bail out the "predatory lenders" who were responsible for the mortgage crisis. http://www.gregpalast.com/elliot-spitzer-gets-nailed/#more-1979 3/14/08 A New York Congressman sits out his own "town hall forum" on impeachment. An overflow crowd at Judson Memorial Church in New York's Greenwich Village area hears Ray McGovern and other speakers in favor of impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney, but congressman Jerrold Nadler neither attended nor sent any representative to "hear" what was said at the hearing. http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/031008a.html 1/4/08 When an employee of the Wackenhut Corporation, charged with guarding a nuclear power facility in Pennsylvania, observes guards sleeping in a "ready room," he tells his superiors only to be told to be quiet and be a "team player." He then videotapes the sleepers and the result is said to "shake" the nuclear industry. 12/7/06 10 Boston police officers are transferred from the city's central evidence warehouse are transferred as auditors try to determine extent of theft, including large quantities of missing OxyContin. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/12/07/hub_police_drug_probe_broadens/ 11/9/06 William Safire on the 110th Congress controlled by Democrats: "Committee chairmen like Charles Rangel of Ways and Means, John Dingell of Energy and Commerce, Barney Frank of Financial Services and others will crowd the airwaves with hearings grilling contractors and torturing accused torturers." Let's hope! http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/opinion/09safire.html?th&emc=th 10/25/06 Wyoming Congresswoman, campaigning for re-election and challenged about a campaign contribution from Tom DeLay, says to her wheel-chair bound opponent, "if you weren't sitting in that chair, I'd slap you." http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2006/10/24/news/top_story/.txt 10/5/06 If the terrorists don't get you, Alcee Hastings will: Although the popular south Florida congressman has no opposition in his 06 re-election bid, Republicans make him an "issue" for opposing Democratic candidates for other seats. Back in 1991 (when Congress still cared about "ethics," remember?), he was impeached by Congress from a federal judgeship even though he had prevailed in a corruption trial. Elected to Congress in 92, he stands to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee should Democrats regain control of Congress. So...don't vote for (any) Democratic candidate in the whole U.S. of A. lest this "corrupt" person move into a sensitive leadership position and we are thereby less protected from the terrorists. (It's called Desperation 101). 10/4/06 Charges of corruption, bid-rigging and favoritism lead to federal grand jury investigation of Hartford CT Housing Authority. http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-housing1004.artoct04,0,7407990.story?coll=hc-headlines-home 10/3/06 Rush Limbaugh suggests that Mark Foley was "set up" by the Democrats and decries a Democratically-coordinate "orgy and orgasm" about the matter in the media. http://mediamatters.org/items/200610020013?src=newsbox-www.crooksandliars.com 10/1/06 What did they know and when did they know it? Real scandal of Mark Foley case emerges as House leaders Haskert and Boehner are accused of having known about and covered up knowledge of Foley's e-mails to House pages. Faced with re-election battles in a few weeks, many Republican members are urging investigation and even suggesting that any cover-up leaders should "step down." Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/.html New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/washington/01foley.html?hp&ex=homepage 8/6/06 Brent Wilkes, "deal maker," is under investigation for "greasing the palms" of a number of members on Congress in the process of securing defense contracts for his company. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/washington/06wilkes.html?th&emc=th 7/25/06 Senator Arlen Specter, repulsed in stem cell research effort, turns on Bush administration, planning to introduce legislation for judicial review of Bush's "signing statements." Tony Snow, White House spokesman, shows the glibness of his boss in responding: "A great many of those signing statements may have little statements about questions about constitutionality. It never says, 'We're not going to enact the law.'" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060725/ap_on_go_co/signing_statements 7/10/06 Whistle-blower's efforts against EPA are soon to be featured in a film produced by Danny Glover. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/09/AR2006070900741.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email 5/18/06 Chapel Hill North Carolina City Council votes unanimously to impeach Bush: http://www.agrnews.org/?section=news&news_sectionmpeachment 5/15/06 Bad apple in Democrats' barrel? West Virginia congressman apparently used his position on House Appropriations Committee to enrich himself: 5/13/06 Karl Rove's indictment by grand jury said to be imminent; tells White House he will resign when that happens: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051206Y.shtml 5/11/06 Crash of ValuJet airliner in Everglades 10 years ago led to unprecendented improvements in aviation safety as criminal prosecutions held the industry liable for the accident: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14550556.htm 4/26/06 "When in the course of human events..." Our Declaration of Independence lays out a course for citizen action under conditions of governmental tyranny that needs sincere attention today. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0425-31.htm 4/17/06 GAO study shows Pentagon is giving "performance awards" to defense contractors who are behind schedule and over cost: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060416-093121-3157r 4/11/06 Greg Palast crafts an "indictment" of the "perps" in the Plame leak case: from Libby to Bush. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0410-23.htm 4/9/06 Prosecution in Libby trial places him and the Plame leak at the center of a "concerted" effort by the White House to discredit critics of Administration's war plans in Iraq: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/08/AR2006040800916.html?referrer=email 4/8/06 Lindoff says impeachment clock ticks toward midnight with revelation of Bush's role in the leak of secret intelligence: http://counterpunch.org/lindorff04072006.html 4/7/06 Opinion: Second thoughts on a Bush impeachment: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/14287566.htm 4/7/06 Elected Democrats are wary of Bush impeachment after the leak development, even whike local level members are embracing the idea: http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/04/07/_impeachment/ 4/7/06 Defense filing in Libby case claims that Bush and Cheney approved leak of prewar Iraqi intelligence information: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/07/washington/07leak.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin 4/6/06 Who watches the watch-dog? St. Petersburg newspaper reveals that Citizens Against Government Waste takes large donations from lobbyists for companies they are supposedly "watching": http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/05/Worldandnation/Questions_of_financia.shtml 4/4/06 Facing likely defeat for re-election, DeLay to give up his seat in Congress: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/washington/04delay.html?th&emc=th 3/31/06 Arguing for censure,.John Dean says Bush's misdeeds are worse than those of Nixon: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1790540 3/25/06 Impeachment sentiment is strong in small New England towns: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/24/AR2006032402248.html?referrer=email 3/15/06 Senate Judiciary Committee grills oil industry executives on mergers and high gas prices: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/14/AR2006031400603.html?referrer=email 3/13/06 Senator Feingold proposes censure of Bush over domestic surveillance; Republicans denounce as "stunt." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002861549_censure13.html 3/8/06 Four Vermont Towns vote to impeach Bush: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0307-11.htm 3/6/06 FBI conducting extensive investigations of journalists who may be involved in leaks of government secrets: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/04/AR2006030400867.html?referrer=email 3/6/06 White House pressures CDC not to release study showing high levels of human contamination from rocket fuels: http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0303-08.htm 3/3/06 Senate committee rejects bill to set up independent ethics oversight office for Congress: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/02/AR2006030202146.html?referrer=email 3/2/06 Students in New Jersey high school place Bush on "trial"; conservative alumunae object: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0302-04.htm 3/1/06 San Francisco supervisors vote to ask Democratic members of Congress to support impeachment proceedings against Bush: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0301-02.htm 3/1/06 Garrison Keillor supports move to impeach President Bush: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0301-34.htm 2/27/06 Conyers' lengthy report on grounds of presidential impeachment lays out a document for the historical record: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0227-30.htm 2/27/06 IRS audits and clears Texans for Public Justice of alleged tax violations, an investigation alleged to be in retailation for group's attack on DeLay practices: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/26/AR2006022601227.html?referrer=email 2/27/06 U.S. Army largely ignores Pentagon audit of excessive charges by Halliburton subsidiary, pays most of disputed charges: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/international/middleeast/27contract.html?th&emc=th 2/21/06 Intelligence agency whistle-blowers tell House committee of being punished for their activities: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0221-10.htm 2/21/06 White House pressures Congress to avoid investigation of domestic wire-taps http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/AR2006021901031.html?referrer=email 2/20/06 AG Gonzalez says he won't step aside in Abramoff case: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021706S.shtml 2/18/06 Defense in Abramoff case asks sentencing delay during which he would "cooperate more": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/17/AR2006021701949.html?referrer=email 2/17/06 Senate rejects wiretapping probe: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602155.html?referrer=email 2/16/06 Ruth Coniff: grounds for Bush impeachment: http://progressive.org/mag_conniff0206 2/16/06 Bush government spent $1bn on image http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.asp?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-1785_1880851 2/15/06 Cheney's slow and unapologetic response to hunting accident creates problem for GOP: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/14/AR2006021402137.html?referrer=email 2/15/06 White House pressure may stop congressional probe of NSA domestic spying: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/14/AR2006021401812_pf.html 2/15/06 National security whistle-blowers allege retaliation in congressional testimony: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0215-12.htm
2/14/06 Why we need an independent war profiteering commission: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0214-22.htm 2/14/06 Former Justice Department official helps defend AIPAC-connected lobbyists accused in espionage case: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021301905_pf.html 2/14/06 White House allowed delay in reporting of Cheney hunting accident: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021300452.html?referrer=email 2/13/06 TomDispatch's latest roster of whistle-blowers who have been punished for their exercise of professional integrity: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0213-26.htm 2/13/06 Whistleblowers and witch-hunts: http://counterpunch.org/brauchli02132006.html 2/11/06 Ex-FEMA head Brown blames his superiors for inadequate New Orleans response: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021000267.html 2/9/06 Bush administration interferes with scientific study to support policies: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020801991.html?referrer=email
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Analysis & views: 12/16/08 New website is started to urge resignation of Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom on issue of ethics violations. http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/36092309.html 9/3/08 Karl Rove dines at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Virginia Beach, and gets convicted of multiple crimes: ; In the heart of this military installation, a small band of peace activists from nearby Norfolk convene a mock trial and convict the diner inside of orchestrating the propaganda offensive that took the U.S. into the Iraqi war, of revealing the identity of a covert CIA agent, and also of arranging to fire U.S. attorneys who would not cooperate with the Bush administration political agenda. Rove is not worried, says he only regrets there were not "more people" at the trial. http://features.csmonitor.com/backstory/2008/09/01/qpeacenik/ 11/4/06 Right there in Cooper City, Jeb goes to dinner: Governor's office investigating claims that local officials wined and dined together before public meetings, suggesting violations of Sunshine Law and possibility that lawmakers did their business while intoxicated. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15926503.htm 10/4/06 Fact Check checks out Rep. Clay Shaw's claim that his opponent in Florida's 22nd congressional district (south Florida), Ron Klein, is a "registered lobbyist" who lobbies the state legislature; and finds the claim basically false, since his lobbying has been only at the local county level. http://www.factcheck.org/article443.html 7/2/06 School children and other visitors to Florida legislature get an eyeful in observing lawmakers who "vote" even though they aren't present in House or Senate chambers and use colleagues to "push their buttons" for them. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=60298 You can vote at this link whether you approve of this practice. 3/13/06 Gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher's long-time ties to a "shady" automobile insurance firm are subject of an investigative report: http://www.newtimesbpb.com/Issues/2006-03-09/news/news_2.html 3/12/06 Where the sun don't shine in the sunshine state: public agencies withholding public access to governmental records: http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03031206.htm 3/6/06 State legislature begin session with many efforts by special interest lobbyist to enact their agendas but they may be over-shadowed by hurricane relief issues: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14018313.htm 2/11/06 Governor fires state prisons boss, D.O.C. investigations widen: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13845295.htm 2/9/06 State officials debate whistle-blower's claim that personnel data on state employees was out-sourced and subjected to threat of identity theft: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS02/602090329/1011
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Analysis and views: Jacksonville: 1/28/07 Over the last 4 years, taxpayers in Jacksonville FL have footed the bill for more than $193,000 for city officials to entertain themselves and guests at sports events and concerts. Was it worth it? http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012807/met_7601320.shtml Miami: 1/26/07 New Miami-Dade system of a "strong mayor" for the county gives the mayor an early test of his actual strength as a 10-2 majority of county commissioners votes to remove police from the "corruption beat" and the mayor threatens to veto, which can be overridden by a "super-majority" in the commission. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16548572.htm Palm Beach Co.: 12/3/06 Officials of Palm Beach County tourism bureau are scrambling to try to explain extremely generous payments to themselves as re-imbursements for travel and entertainment involved in promoting county tourism. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2006/12/03/.html Miami-Dade Co.: 11/29/06 Another south Florida official charged with corruption, as Opa-locka City Commissioner elected on a "reform" platform is arrested for using city issued charge cards for personal use and other financial irregularities. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16118966.htm Jacksonville: 11/3/06 Corruption or campaign gimmick? Member of Vote Jacksonsville, which supports return of Navy to Cecil Field on next week's ballot, files ethics complaint against Mayor John Payton, saying his opposition against is based on his family's financial interests; Mayor says there is a "firewall" separating his public actions from his private interests. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110206/met_5961836.shtml West Palm Beach: 11/2/06 U.S. Attorney in Palm Beach is developing an extensive prosecution case against former County Commissioner Tony Masilotti centering around his relationship with a local developer. West Palm Beach: 10/31/06 Other corrupt office-holders take note: Tony Masilotti, former chairman of Palm Beach County Commission, resigns and offers to plead guilty to charges not yet framed by U.S. Attorney, in which he will be accused of violating state's law against "honest services fraud," by which those who use their public offices for private gain can be prosecuted in the absence of actual bribe. http://www.bocanews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=17846&category=Main%20Headline%202 Palm Beach County: 10/29/06 In Palm Beach County, it's not just Mark Foley: a city commissioner and county commissioner have recently resigned in disgrace, and one of them is headed for jail. All three being Republican, it adds to the GOP's election "woes." Miami: 7/27/06 Accountability 101: Miami Herald series on mismanagement in Miami-Dade Housing Agency leads to ousting of MDHA officials. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15131211.htm For Part 4 of the Herald series, "Flipping Homes for Profit," see: http://www.miami.com/multimedia/miami/news/archive/housing/part4/index.html Miami: 3/15/06 Miami Herald says City Manager Arriola in violation of Miami-Dade County ethics rules for failure to disclose investments: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14100373.htm Miami: 3/13/06 Embroiled in controversy about his role in a multi-million dollar class action suit to benefit 7 plaintiffs, Miami's City Manager Arriola seems to be secure in his job: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/Issues/2006-03-09/news/feature.html Miami: 2/16/06 Miami Mayor and a City Commissioner are business partners, Commissioner pushes for raise for Mayor: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13883728.htm 2/5/06 In secret deal, seven plaintiffs get rich settlement for themselves, leaving 80,000 plaintiffs in class action suit against city of Miami without relief: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13792722.htm
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