Abramoff is gonna plead GUILTY - possible 5-7 years, new NYT article 12/22

[stop the bleeding]

But after a lengthy bargaining phase, Mr. Abramoff's lawyers and prosecutors in the Florida case appear closer to resolving several of the central issues in the plea deal, in which the defendant would receive a reduced prison sentence - most likely in the range of five to seven years, though that is fluid - in exchange for pleading guilty and agreeing to testify against his former associates.

Mr. Abramoff was indicted in Florida on Aug. 11 on charges stemming from his purchase of a fleet of casino boats in 2000. Prosecutors said Mr. Abramoff and a business partner, Adam Kidan, falsified documents and lied about their financing in order to complete the purchase. Mr. Kidan pleaded guilty last week, leaving Mr. Abramoff to face six criminal counts and up to 30 years in prison as case's sole defendant.


Read more here….

12/22/2005 Lobbyist Nears Terms on Plea Deal -- ANNE E. KORNBLUT - nytimes.com

[stop the bleeding]

1. Hello people - he is gonna plead GUILTY - let the games begin

[MN ChimpH8R]

2. This is going to be good

Especially watching the chorus line of Repukes doing the perp walk. No way is Abramoff going to risk 30 years in the pokey - he will rat them out each and every one. :popcorn:

[Warpy]

4. I don't trust him

Sorry, but this guy is scum, a sociopath and a zealot. He may fink out a few moderate GOPs, a few minor media figures, and a bunch of DLC Dems, but he's not going to fink out the real players in this scam, the people whose orders he's been following.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope that Earle's subpoena of Wilkes's records is putting some fear into all the money launderers out there enriching GOP party coffers.

I just don't think so. I think this is just hedging his bet that he'll be pardoned at the last minute during Stupid's final days in office, that if the pardon fails to come through he'll only have to do a couple of years when good behavior in the joint is factored in. I just don't think he's going to give the investigation any of the real information.

[stop the bleeding]

7. I am being cautious as well, these bastards will sacrifice a few to

give the appearance of justice. But like you said there are other elements out there that may bring more people down.

Another idea that has me on the hope side is the fact of the the Kidan and Scanlon agreeing to plea deals,

Scanlon agrees to plea but still faces up to 5 years jail and 19 million dollars in Restitution.

Kidan in his plea was not as stiff as far as possible penalty's but like Scanlon he is so inter-connected that it makes me want to grab more popcorn.

so on one hand we have top figures with a mountain of info and on the other hand we don't know what the details of the "deal" is gonna be.

[frazzledmom]

17. Um... there is a paper trail a mile long

it's not like Abramahoff is going to be able to pick and choose who he rats on.

[stop the bleeding]

I agree with you on those points and in a realistic and just world

these crooks would have been long gone, but getting back to the Twilight Zone I would not put anything past our governemnt and I guess that is what I was trying to say.

Either way you better go out and get about 3 different kinds of popcorn for this show.

[Kingofalldems]

18. If he is caught in one lie

His ass is grass. Makes it much much more likely he will tell the truth.

[Just Me]

26. Yup! Additional charges of obstruction and stuff could be levied.

He is in a corner AND caged in.

[Pithy Cherub]

3. Would love to see the offer of Proof he used to

get such a reduction.

Defense Lawyers unite - there are a ton of republican *Clients* awaiting your call at the Bush Culture of Corruption Crime Center. Operators standing by to match the appropriate lawyer with the republican potential felon most likely to spend a million bucks defending themselves!

[nomaco-10]

5. Scanlon cut a deal long time ago.....

and he's been spilling his guts. They used Scanlon to put the squeeze on Abramhoff. Between the two of them cutting deals, there must be a pretty large dragnet being assembled over congress. A story to watch for your veiwing pleasure in the coming year.

[leftofthedial]

6. how many of us would willingly trade 5 - 7 years in a "country-club" jail

for a decade or two living like royalty, accumulating tens or hundreds of millions of dollars and having damnably usable dirt on some of the most powerful men on earth?

[Warpy]

8. Not me, although at least in prison I'd get healthcare

I'm just not able to screw people over, to lie, to cheat, and to rob. I got through higher education without cheating a single time. I return any extra change I get from a dozy clerk. I find a wallet, I contact the owner. I can't lay claim to anything that isn't mine.

I'm just not wired that way.

[leftofthedial]

10. cost-benefit-wise

Abramoff comes out pretty damned good.

[donkeyotay]

12. Really. He ought to be plea-bargaining down from hanging to life in prison

For his role in destroying our country. And all these evil ratbastards should be relieved of their offshore treasure troves. After all, they stole it from us while gaming our democracy.

[leftofthedial]

13. democracy has been devoured whole

by capitalism and its spawn, corporatism

[stop the bleeding]

14. no doubt

[kenny blankenship]

15. 5 to 7 is what you get for one felony count of felony-something-or-other

By every report I've heard, this person could be charged with dozens or even hundreds of felonies.
But there's the problem. The guy is so guilty of so many things that if you charge him with half the stuff he's guilty of he'd have no incentive to make a deal for testimony.
In order to get his testimony against the real perpetrators, people who actually betrayed public trust etc., you have to let him walk.

[stop the bleeding]

16. I love MXC especially Kenny blakenship - you soo funny

[kenny blankenship]

19. But I'm very different offscreen ! I have ideas and plans!

I want to branch out you know, do some real dramatic acting for once. I see myself maturing in the business as a 'romantic male lead' actually-or maybe I could direct...

Vic is really a boat anchor for me on the show, he just tells me to say the first thing that comes to mind and acts like I said something atrocious. I don't know why the producer lets him get away with that but it seems to work for him. Whenever I bring a prepared statement to the set, something I want to get off my chest, a speech or a list of demands to be read on air, they beat me up and Vic sits on my head and farts--so then it's back to ad-libbing my lines. I feel like such a clown.

One day I'll be a star though, a real writing-directing-acting triple threat. My costume smells funny 'cause they never wash it.

[stop the bleeding]

20. But you are a Star - sinkers or floaters?

[kenny blankenship]

21. You know what's funny? Guy was the one who thought of that event

But they never let him do a run-through example on camera, because he's ususally leaves his barn door wide open, that's so farmer Palmer and his 5 daughters can get inside to milk the bull.

You won't see many shots of Guy below the waist on MXC--and there's a good reason for it.

[stop the bleeding]

22. Hey I have been joking and now I am starting to take you seriesly

there is no way that you are the real Kenny Blankenship????!?!!?!?

[kenny blankenship]

23. But who is the real Kenny Blankenship? That's what I wonder sometimes

stardom, if this is stardom, has its price. Some days you wonder is this my life? What did I trade in exchange for this. Also hookers still cost money, in fact prices just go up when you're famous.

Many of the Great Ones wondered who they were, really were. Cary Grant admitted that everyone wanted to be Cary Grant--including himself. Says a lot, so people tell me. And Montgomery Clift was cleft by the needs of his inner being, which he usually took care of at bars near the Hudson River piers, and the false external role of Monty Clift, actor, star, legend of the silver screen, heterosexual. And Eastwood, did he really know what he wanted when he said "Go ahead, make my day" ? I don't think so.

Who is really Kenny Blankenship? I may be the last to know, and maybe I'll get old searching for that answer. But right now I have to take care the most painful elimination of the day, so I'll be "logging out".

[stop the bleeding]

27. until next time: Don't get eliminated!

[entanglement]

24. Well said

A wretch like Abramoff shouldn't get away so lightly

[nomaco-10]

9. Someone that doesn't want to spend 20 yrs.....

in jail when they can get out in five if all they have to do is turn on some of the most "powerful men on earth". People like Abramhoff have no conscience, they'd sell their Mother for a buck and sleep like a baby at night. They have no problem ratting out anybody in exchange for a huge reduction in their sentence so they can get out and spend their ill gotten gains that much sooner. Besides, when you turn on the most powerful people in the world, you don't have to fear them anymore, they will have no power.

[zbdent]

11. What will * have to lose

by pardoning him ? He's already shown respect neither for the law nor the Constitution . . .

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. I hope he takes the entire repuke party down with him! TAKE THEM

ALL! Merry FITZMAS! Happy Holidays!:hi: