Who cares?

[FMJeff]

<p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/30/reid.ethics.ap/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/30/reid.ethics.ap/index.html</a></p><p>Maybe it's just me, but does anybody care if a congressman gets a couple of ringside tickets? Fuck man, its public service, let the guy enjoy a fight or two. I can imagine a helluva lot worse in terms of ethics violations than a fucking boxing ticket. Why is this news? Why is this MAJOR news?</p>

[Death Metal Moe]

<p>You honestly needed to ask this question out loud?</p>

[A.J.]

<p>Because rules are rules.&nbsp; Government employees are allowed to accept gifts under a certain value -- which tickets like these far exceed.&nbsp; A couple of years ago, Mike Espy, Clinton's first Secretary of Agriculture, pretty much had to resign because he accepted free Super Bowl&nbsp;tickets.&nbsp; </p><p>And Harry Reid had dubious connections to boxing and gaming.&nbsp; The scene in <em>Casino </em>where DeNiro gets denied a casino license was reportedly based on a hearing chaired by Harry Reid when he was the Nevada Gaming Commissioner.</p>

[HBox]

<p>This is an issue because he has ties to the Nevada boxing commission, voted on bills related to them afterwards and went to this particular event with two senators who handled the situation correctly. I wouldn't call it a major issue, certainly not compared to what else is going on in Congress, but still.</p>

[HBox]

<a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000772.php" target="_blank">Maybe it is actually nothing.</a><br />

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>If this was somebody in Bush's cabinet, woiuld you be saying the same thing? </p><p>Or are you just upset that the &quot;Culture of corruption&quot; argument that Dems planned on using this fall is falling by the wayside?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And please consider these questions and answer them honestly, which is the way I mean them.</p>

[HBox]

<p><span class="postbody">Or are you just upset that the &quot;Culture of corruption&quot; argument that Dems planned on using this fall is falling by the wayside?</span></p><p>One corrupted Congressman and a boxing ticket is an incredibly small drop in the bucket compared what has gone on with the Republicans.<br /></p>

[angrymissy]

<strong>Bulldogcakes</strong> wrote:<br /><p>If this was somebody in Bush's cabinet, woiuld you be saying the same thing? </p><p>Or are you just upset that the &quot;Culture of corruption&quot; argument that Dems planned on using this fall is falling by the wayside?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And please consider these questions and answer them honestly, which is the way I mean them.</p><p>If it was somebody in Bush's cabinet, yes I would say the same thing. My indigination toward congressional scandals doesn't extend to topics as ludicrous as fucking sports. I could give a shit what happens to boxing. It's not important to me, and it's not important to this country. </p><p>And no, I am not upset, because I do not feel its falling by the wayside. Jefferson aside, there really isn't much to discuss regarding Democratic corruption. This Reid story, which isn't really a story anyway, is just an attempt by GOP newsmakers to drum up some more scandal for the opposing team, and it's not working. </p><p>Now, take Abramoff and aids to Bush taking lavish trips to Scotland in exchange for fasttracking GOP initiatives...well...that's just juicy.</p>

[Ndugu]

<p><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003021339_webabramoff26.html">http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003021339_webabramoff26.html</a></p>