POLITICS - GOP, the Party of Corruption

Don't believe the Republican Party, while calming higher moral values, is the supporter of corruption in the federal government? The ripping off of the American taxpayer?

"GOP Kills Bill to Police Halliburton" by Bob Geiger, AlterNet

Republicans in Congress have made it clear they're willing to fight for military contractors' right to lie, cheat and defraud taxpayers.

While Democrats have been complaining for years about the GOP-led Congress abandoning its oversight of the executive branch's wrongdoing, a vote that took place in the Senate last week shows how the Republican desire to ignore fraud and abuse extends right into killing legislation that would help stop defense contractors from ripping off the American people.

And just what were the stern rules that the GOP didn't think their buddies at Halliburton should have to live with? The text of the legislation spelled out that Bush and Cheney's defense-contractor buddies would be in trouble if they did any of the following:

• "Executes or attempts to execute a scheme or artifice to defraud the United States or the entity having jurisdiction over the area in which such activities occur."


• "Falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact."


• "Makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any materially false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry."


• "Materially overvalues any good or service with the specific intent to excessively profit from the war or military action."

The measure called for those found guilty of violating the law to be imprisoned for up to 20 years and be subject to a fine of up to $1,000,000 -- a drop in the bucket for these guys -- or a percentage of their ill-gotten gains.

Is there any real doubt that the GOP is deep into the pockets of Halliburton and other big government contractors? That the GOP is doing everything is can to protect their big contributers from any oversight, American taxpayers be damn? Oh, almost forgot, our illustrious VP is honest and aboveboard "trust me"..... NOT!