Choctaws CEO and Pickering. Two quitters in two days. Abramoff?

[Maddy McCall]

Two bigwigs in Mississippi in two day--less than 24 hours apart.

Chip Pickering announced that he won't run for office in 2008--this rising star in the REpublican party, who was expected to take Trent's senate seat in 2012:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070817/NEWS/708170367

Chuck Miller, president and CEO of the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise, resigned today:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070817/BIZ/70817015

I've got the feeling that something huge is about to break, regarding these two men. I'm not well acquainted with the Abramoff dealings, so any of you who can explain it, please please chime in on how this could all possibly be connected.

I was kinda hoping that Larry Flynt might somehow be involved with the Pickering announcement, I have to admit.

What's up? What do y'all think is going on? I'd love to hear your theories. :D

[yardwork]

1. It does seem like there are a lot of folks "retiring to spend more time with their families" lately.

Rove, Hastert, Pickering, and CEO of the Choctaw corp. Interesting. Very interesting...

[merh]

2. You forgot Pryce in Ohio

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3454929

Maddy your second link is weird - check it out.

[Maddy McCall]

3. I hope it isn't to porn or sumtin.

Checking it out right now.

:hi:

[yardwork]

4. Yes, I was thinking about her - but she doesn't seem to have Abramoff ties

The others do. Maybe Pryce does too!

[Maddy McCall]

5. I know next to nothing about the Abramoff stuff.

Could someone give me a cliff's notes version so that I can have a starting point to read more?

Thanks!

[merh]

9. basically the con was, there was no support for the legislation

so they needed to hire Abramoff and staff to lobby for them.

Wiki pretty well covers it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Abramoff

[merh]

7. there is a connection

On September 12, 2003, Pryce wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton about a Louisiana casino proposal. In the letter, Pryce, the number four Republican in the House, said that Interior Department approval of a casino proposed by the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians would "set forth a dangerous precedent" and encourage "reservation shopping" by tribes. Republican Whip Roy Blunt sent a similar letter to Norton dated May 21, 2003. A third letter, dated June 10, 2003, was signed by Blunt, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Republican Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor. Identical wording appears in all three letters.

http://www.politicalfriendster.com/rateConnection.php?id1=5407&id2=2551

[yardwork]

10. Oh very interesting! I didn't realize that Pryce was involved.

Something big is in the works.

[rodeodance]

6. maybe they were the 'friends' of the Gov who cashed in on Katrina money>

[Maddy McCall]

8. I honestly think that this is going to be bigger than that.

What Barbour did (and continues to do) is despicable.

But I think that this is going to be directly tied to Abramoff, and that it must be huge, because Pickering was set for life in the Senate after Lott was to retire in 12.

Wonder if we'll hear more in the Friday afternoon news dump?