Repugnican Hypocrisy 101

Every time there is an election at the local, regional, state or National levels we invariably hear candidates trying to outdo each other with how "tough on crime" they are. "Get tough on crime"(or simply "tough on crime") is a slogan often used by supporters of law and order political platforms. Users of the term generally advocate for changes to the legal system that would increase sentence lengths and other punishments for criminals. Proponents of "tough on crime" measures often describe those not in favor of such measures as being "soft on crime".

Most of us will agree that Repugnicans seem to spend more time spewing the "tough on crime" line than do Progressives. I think thats because Progressives want to actually do something about crime instead of just strutting around crowing about it.

As an example look at some of these statements by the person now living in the White House when he wanted to sound like he was "tough on crime" when he was running for Al Gore's job in 2000.


Tough love means consequences for committing crimes
Bush told the Fraternal Order of Police he would be the candidate of “tough love.” “The men and women in uniform understand that if you break the law, there will be a consequence. In order to have a safe country, we’re going to stand by the men and women who wear the uniform.”
Source: CNN.com Sep 20, 2000

Bush’s Texas is a bad place to be “young and irresponsible”
A major plank in Bush’s gubernatorial campaign was a commitment to toughen the juvenile justice system. He did precisely that, tripling the number of inmates in state juvenile prisons, lowering the age at which juveniles can be sent to adult court, and increasing the maximum sentence for youthful offendors. [Bush has said], “When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible.” Clearly, if one is going to be “young and irresponsible,” Texas is not the place to do it.
Source: Glenn C. Loury, New York Times editorial, p. A19 Aug 24, 1999

More prisons, privately built; more restitution
Gov. Bush supports the following principles concerning prisons:
Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons. End parole for repeat violent felons. Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.
Bush says that the Texas, “parole board has effectively ended parole for repeat violent offenders.”
Source: Vote Smart NPAT 1998 Jul 2, 1998

Supports mandatory sentencing and strict parole.
I am proud that our state is tough on crime. We have the highest incarceration rate in the nation. We have tough mandatory sentences for those convicted of crimes, and short leashes for those on parole.
Source: www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/faq_index.html 12/31/98 Dec 31, 1998

To hear Bush talk he's the meanest son of a bitch in the valley and nobody and I mean NOBODY will mess with him. You break the law around the chimp and you go to jail.

That being the case, lets look at the issue of J.Steven Griles former Deputy Secretary of the Interior brought to you by our friends at Greenwire

1. ETHICS: Griles seeks community service with motorized-recreation group (06/15/2007)
Dan Berman, Greenwire senior reporter
An organization with connections to the Interior Department, motorized recreation industry and the Walt Disney Co. is holding a position open for former Interior Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles if he's sentenced to community service for lying to Congress in the Jack Abramoff investigation.

Griles, 59, wants three months home confinement, 500 hours of community service and a "reasonable" $15,000 fine when he is sentenced June 26. Half the community service would be with "WOW - Wonderful Outdoor World," in the position of national counselor and strategic planning coordinator. In that post, Griles would raise money, develop new public and private partnerships and conduct outreach to the government and media.
The request was part of a voluminous filing with Judge Ellen Huvelle of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The package includes 91 letters supporting Griles from former Interior Secretary Gale Norton, two Reagan-era secretaries, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R), Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.), coal industry executives and a possible Senate nominee from Wyoming, among others.

"It's a small world after all," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. "The idea that Steve Griles would consider this community service suggests the line in his mind of corporate service and community service doesn't exist."

The other half of Griles' community service would be with Operation Coaches and Warriors, which assists injured veterans of the Iraq war.

"A prison sentence is not needed to punish Mr. Griles and ensure that his crime will never be repeated," Griles' statement reads. "The prospects of resulting public service after this conviction are dim if not nonexistent. It is equally unlikely that Mr. Griles will ever be able to pursue a career as a lobbyist as he has been convicted of obstructing the same body he would be lobbying for clients."

In March, Griles pleaded guilty to withholding information from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2005 about his meeting Abramoff through Italia Federici, president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy. Griles was dating Federici at the time (Greenwire, March 23).

The felony charge could land Griles in prison for a maximum five years and carry a $250,000 fine. Justice Department attorneys recommended a 10-month sentence. Half of that would be served in a federal prison, according to DOJ's nonbinding recommendation to the court.

WOW agreement with Interior

If the sentence recommendation is accepted, Griles would work for an organization with close ties to the Interior Department. In 2003, Interior, U.S. EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the American Recreation Coalition and Disney signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to "work together in partnership on issues of common interest and to jointly plan and implement mutually beneficial programs and activities."

As deputy secretary at the time, Griles directly oversaw the four Interior agencies who signed the document.

The National Park Service is a current sponsor of Wonderful Outdoor World, as are the Forest Service, Disney, the Coleman Co. and others, but WOW is spearheaded by the American Recreation Coalition, an organization that promotes access for recreation on public lands.

In a letter to Judge Huvelle, Derrick Crandall, the longtime head of the American Recreation Coalition, said Griles has already assisted in developing ways to "dramatically augment WOW beginning this summer."

Crandall also noted he worked with Griles on expanding the mission of the Bureau of Land Management, "supporting both recreation and wildlife programs," and on expanding the Take Pride in America program.

According to Griles' statement with the court, WOW is seeking to expand its operations and program offerings and needs a man such as the former deputy Interior secretary. "WOW needs an individual with Mr. Griles' management expertise and knowledge of the outdoors," the statement says.

WOW is seeking a candidate who could raise at least $500,000 in contributions -- either in-kind or in cash, according to court documents.

"Unlike other camping and recreation programs, WOW brings the wonders and excitement of camping and the environment directly into the neighborhoods and communities of the children most in need," according to Disney's Web site. "This innovative new approach provides young people with the basic skills and encouragement to enjoy further outdoor experiences."

In developing his sentence, Griles asks Huvelle to, "consider his 24 years of public service, his longstanding and demonstrated commitment to volunteerism and the community, and his reputation for integrity and honesty."

Prison time may also deter others from testifying before Congress and cooperating with the legislative branch, Griles argues, noting fears of being embarrassed or ambushed under the media glare. For instance, Indian Affairs Committee staff withheld documents from him before he testified in November 2005, Griles argues, limiting his ability to prepare and refresh his memory of various events.

"I can't believe a judge will look at this and say, 'Oh, what a great idea,'" said Beth Daley of Project on Government Oversight. "He's basically going back to being a lobbyist for his community."

Letters of support

The 91 letters supporting Griles reflect his friendships and contacts made through an extensive career in government and industry, including three former Interior secretaries and a litany of senior former government officials and industry executives.

"The reality of Steve Griles is in many ways different from the public perception," wrote former Interior Secretary Gale Norton. "His powerful size and bearing seem intimidating, but those who know him realize he is a compassionate and caring person. He helped co-workers who were struggling. He was encouraging and upbeat when people got discouraged."

Norton noted she and Griles had a very positive working relationship while at Interior. "Many men would have difficulty working with a woman as a superior, especially a woman he had once outranked," Norton wrote. "Steve instead was supportive and encouraging. We had one of the best, if not the best, working relationships of any secretary and deputy secretary in the administration" (emphasis original).

Several writers noted Griles sacrificed higher pay in the private sector to return to Interior in 2001 as Norton's deputy and noted his insistence on reimbursing costs for dinners, drinks or entertainment so as not to allow an appearance of impropriety.
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) wrote about riding horses with Griles in Idaho and Washington's Rock Creek Park. "We have shared many trails, and I have come to recognize that he is a genuine man who is proud of his service to the people of our nation," Otter wrote.

Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) noted Griles' help on coal miners health legislation and reauthorization of the abandoned mine lands program last year. "His voice now strains under the sorrow and regret he bears for his infraction. I believe a sentence of community service will benefit this nation much more than will his imprisonment."
Tom Sansonetti, former assistant attorney general for the environment and natural resources division, and a rumored nominee to replace the late Wyoming Republican Sen. Craig Thomas, also supports Griles.

"Steve is the consummate public servant," Sansonetti wrote. "He took on huge, complicated, and often unpopular, tasks for Secretary Norton within the Interior building, such as the complex and high-profiled Cobell case involving the management of Indian Trust Fund monies."

Sansonetti's successor was Sue Ellen Wooldridge, who married Griles on March 26. Wooldridge resigned in January amid news reports she purchased a South Carolina vacation home with Griles and a ConocoPhillips lobbyist, months before DOJ and the company agreed to settle charges it violated the Clean Air Act.

Among the other 91 requests for leniency include letters from Reagan-era Interior secretaries Don Hodel and William Clark; Craig Manson, former assistant Interior secretary for fish, wildlife and parks; Dan Kish, senior adviser to House Natural Resources Committee ranking member Don Young (R-Alaska); Bill Horn, a Reagan-era assistant Interior secretary and lobbyist; former U.S. EPA acting Administrator Marianne Horinko; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley; James Cason, Interior associate deputy secretary; Ann Klee, former U.S. EPA general counsel and former counselor to Norton; Bennett Raley, former assistant Interior secretary for water and science; and Dale Hall, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"It is worth noting that in a city where supporters of persons touched by political scandal scurry away, dozens and dozens of Mr. Griles' supporters from throughout his life have come forward to ensure that the court has an accurate and full view of who Mr. Griles really is," Griles' statement reads.

Everyone of the scum balls who have written letters asking for the court to be lenient on this man who obviously has nothing but contempt for the rule of law is a Repugnican. Some of them, Don Hodel, Gale "Bucky" Norton, and Ann Klee, are some of the most despicable Repugnicans you could imagine. (I'm surprised that James Watt didn't chime in - and after 6 years of Bush appointees I actually wish Watt was back). They all speak the Bush line which, given his propensity for being "tough on crime" is amazing because you'd think they would want Steven Griles behind bars sooner rather than later.

But they don't. They want everyone BUT them behind bars. Just like they want everyone BUT their kids to go to Iraqnam and be killed for Bush's lies.

This entire affair is enough to make you sick. I hope Griles winds up in jail for 7 years with a room mate equipped with an 18 inch cock with the words "For Steve" tattooed to the head.The rest of these crooked bastards deserve the same thing.

We're already seeing this "everyone but us" mentality on being tough on crime in the swarm of fools writing for leniency for Scooter Libby. We can expect this to increase as more and more of the Repugnican Party winds up in jail for breaking the laws they want the judges to be tough on.

And remember. It was George Bush during the campaign for Al Gore's job in 2000 who said he wanted to "return honor and dignity to the White House." Sorry, Dubya. There's more to restoring honor and dignity than lying about a sloppy blowjob from an intern.