Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's Dirty Dealings Unearthed

Harry Reid is found to have made quite a lot of money on property he didn't even own. He was involved in a deal in Nevada in 1998 where he bought parcels of land, then sold them to a friend and took a stake in a LLC, none of this was disclosed or properly documented for the Washington ethics watchdogs, apparently. When the land was re-sold in 2004, Reid collected almost three times his initial investment, despite having no ownership claim. The other principle in the deal was Jay Brown, who is suspected of bribing officials to get the land re-zoned - increasing its value dramatically.



This guy has always been an interesting case, he's a Real Republican in many ways (often fiscally conservative), and a true-blue Democrat in others. He doesn't usually vote along party lines, and has made some nasty comments about partisans in the past.

So, either the guy is a real human being, or a real scam artist adept at the balancing act. This story seems to portray him as more of the latter rather than the former. His refusal to discuss the issue with the AP speaks volumes as far as I'm concerned, but he may just be smart enough to know he can't adequately defend himself without preparation. The timing of this revelation is suspect, coming on the heels of the Foley debacle, and so close to the elections.

Whichever the case may be, it seems he has slipped up in this case. His failure to disclose his land deal will have consequences, in the court of public opinion if nothing else. It remains to be seen which party will benefit more from his problems - his voting record is fairly unique. He's been a critic of GW Bush for some time, and had a lot of choice words when it became clear that the intelligence that dragged us into Iraq had been manufactured. If these stories keep breaking, independents might just have a fighting chance during the mid-term elections, and more importantly, in 2008. People are rapidly becoming disillusioned with the political status quo, and rightly so. It's high time, IMO, to dump the career politicians and partisan weenies, and elect some real representation.

[edit on 11-10-2006 by WyrdeOne]

They are all dirty...

The true humor in this is that he is one of the most outspoken Democrats, proclaiming loudly the dishonesty in the Republican party...

It would almost be funny, if it was not so pervasive.

Semper

[edit on 10/11/2006 by semperfortis]

I so love a good mud slinging fest in washington...
They both lose, we win...

Please Oh please... keep them slinging till the whole house of cards comes down...

semper
Isn't that always the way? The ones with the most to hide, and the most to be ashamed of, spend the most time trying to deflect attention by passing public judgement on their peers.

It's a good bet that the guys who talk most about morals have the least going for them in that respect.

Lazarus
I couldn't agree more.

I hope they sling so much mud they drown in it, and then maybe, just maybe, we can get some real representation in Washington.

Where are the independents in all this? They should be taking these scandals as free tickets to the land of good publicity, and they don't seem to be eager to jump on the plane. What gives?

Is it because there aren't enough of them? Maybe some well-intentioned Reds and Blues who have become sickened by the antics of the system ought to jump ship, so to speak, and strike out on their own?

sorry wyrde but to go independent in this country is like saying "dont worry, I just dont want to be in office anymore" pretty much. sad fact, but how many congressmen are independent? senate? ever been a independent president? that about sums that up.

by the way, Im all for independents, so dont think Im saying dont be independent, im a libertarian which isnt part of the two party system, so Im just saying it how it is.

You can't say that. He's a Democrat. Isn't it illegal to criticize Democrats these days? Isn't criticizing Democrats a hate crime these days. Let's face it, both parties are only out for themselves at the cost of the other and the citizens of the US.

I never have trusted Mr. Reid. When the revelation came out a couple of months ago about him accepting ringside seats to boxing matches worth $ thousands, and not reporting them as gifts, I figured that was just the tip of the iceberg and it was just a matter of time until the real dirt started to come out.

I'm with Laz. Let the truth be known though the heavens fall!

On the down side, though, with all the revelations of corruption coming out on both sides of the aisle in Washington lately, it may be not be long before a suitcase nuke goes off somewhere nearby, just to take our minds off of things.

Illegal to criticize Democrats? Oh thats funny. Do you do stand up?

While I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised by this little tidbit... do you really trust a rag owned by the moonies?

Actually sounds like an attempt to distract the public from the Foley scandal. Trouble is a little profiteering simply does not compare.

So now corruption at the highest levels of government is okay, because it's a matter of scale?

My God, you know your country has hit rock bottom when you're willing to tolerate scam artists and cronies because at least they're not chesters.

:shk:

Seriously though, this is an attempt to distract from Foley, I think you're absolutely right, but it's not going to have that effect.

It's going to make even more Americans turn away from the Red and Blue hypocrites.

I really do think that in the overall scheme of all things political, a politician getting caught with his hand in the till, while obviously wrong does pale when compared to a politician trying to get into a teenagers pants (male or female) that by, their position are responsible for. Especially when they've (the politico) made a name for themselves as a defender against the very thing they were caught doing. And when you have that a leadership that knew and looked the other way...well sticky fingers doesn't even come close.

The thing is with Foley's power, compared to that of a teenager on their own for the first time, his behavior could be considered intimidation... and any attempt to get sex based on intimidation is essentially rape, and sticky fingers doesn't even come close to that. It has already come out that he had sex with one kid after they left the page program.... what's next, he was buggering them while they were in it? That is probably the next thing to come out and they are already trying to divert attention from it.

[edit on 11-10-2006 by grover]

I don't think the scale should trump principle.

Each act should be considered on its (lack of) merits.

Foley did wrong.

Reid (apparently) did wrong.

No free passes in a just society, yaknow?

Originally posted by grover
I really do think that in the overall scheme of all things political, a politician getting caught with his hand in the till, while obviously wrong does pale when compared to a politician trying to get into a teenagers pants (male or female) that by, their position are responsible for. [edit on 11-10-2006 by grover]

Perfect example of the excuses from the left. Oh, well, it really wasn't that bad compared to (fill in the blank). Heard it over and over again about Clinton. and great democrat role models like Ted Kennedy (murder/manslaughter?) and Barney Frank (running a page brothel out of his house) are still there standing tall and proud. Yep, seems like only Republicans ever have to pay the piper and resign.

Wyrde One has it right - principle does trump scale every time.

Originally posted by grover
I really do think that in the overall scheme of all things political, a politician getting caught with his hand in the till, while obviously wrong does pale when compared to a politician trying to get into a teenagers pants (male or female) that by, their position are responsible for. Especially when they've (the politico) made a name for themselves as a defender against the very thing they were caught doing. And when you have that a leadership that knew and looked the other way...well sticky fingers doesn't even come close.

That type of thinking reminds me of the mother who was ok with her teenage son's excessive drinking because at least he wasn't on drugs. I'm not minimizing what Foley did, however, I don't believe in excusing the lesser of two evils.

Corruption in Washington is the norm. What would be refeshing would be to find an honest and decent person among the Beltway Bandits.

Originally posted by darkelf
What would be refeshing would be to find an honest and decent person among the Beltway Bandits.

you can find pleanty of them...just go to a cemetary, Im sure youll find at least one guy that tried to run for office and was killed.

Especially the ones that ran against Clinton..



Semper

I'm going to have to agree that both parties are full of criminals. The way the system is set-up, a politician has to be corrupt to gain any sort of position.

It's like the war on drugs (not mary jane, I think that should be legal). We can't win, but we have to catch who we can. Citizens have to make an effort, although it will never really make a difference. The corruption is institutionalized.

At the end of the day, you have to pick which criminal is going to implement the policies you want for your country, when they are not lining their pockets. You have to choose, in your mind, which one is the lesser of two evils.

There is a sweet taste of enjoyment when the hypocrites on either side is exposed.

But this being October, I'm going to reserve my judgment on the accuracy of this charge.

[edit on 11-10-2006 by curme]

There is a very distinct commonality between lawyers and politicians and it deals with their lips moving and their hands under the table.

Greed and ambition effects all and certainly is not restricted to "party."
Not buying into that choice between two evils bit though....

Parties don't matter you tell me which is worse.

Chincery or intimatdation for sexual purposes. I never said or implied what Reid is accused of doing was alright because he was a Democrat or what Foley did was wrong because he was a Republican.

*note: (Reid is accused in a highly questionable newspaper....Foley resigned for what he did, not for what he was accused of doing... understand that....BIG difference)

If Foley was a Democrat and Reid was the Republican, I would still say that Foley's crimes were worse.

Kinda like lying about a BJ on the side and lying our way into an unneccessary and unprovoked war.

But see Grover....

You proclaim some equality and non partisanship then.... You make that statement.

Kinda like lying about a BJ on the side and lying our way into an unneccessary and unprovoked war.

You justify that as a BJ on the side when in reality it was an Intern, duped by a Man in Power, and sexual related....

Yet you crucify Foley.

I know you too Grover, on here anyway. That is why this is so transparent. It's not because he is Gay, no to you this is irrelevant as it should be...
You see a difference because he is a Republican.

It is plain as day...


Semper

Does it make a difference that the intern was 22 at the time???