Buh Bye Senator Stevens

[Oilwellian]

During a secret meeting to discuss what prosecutors say was a dirty deal to keep Alaska oil taxes low, two oil contractors said they had a powerful ally coming to town who could help build support for the plan: Sen. Ted Stevens.

The FBI played a videotape of the 2006 meeting Tuesday in a corruption trial against former Alaska House Speaker Pete Kott, who is accused of taking gifts and favors in exchange for supporting oil interests.

In the grainy video, VECO Corp. executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith can be heard talking about how to ensure passage of an oil tax bill. If approved, the bill would increase chances that a natural gas pipeline would be built, a deal that could mean huge profits for VECO.

Now, not that name: Bill Allen. And remember that criminal investigation Stevens is already the subject of? The one where the oil services executive renovated Stevens' home for him? Yeah, same guy: Bill Allen.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/052899.php

[shraby]

1. Why are official tapes always grainy?

If I took family tapes that bad, I'd be forced to either buy a new video camera or let someone else take over.

[tabasco]

2. Are there enough prisons in America for all the republican crooks?

There need to be quite a few republicans behind bars after the end of the criminal Cheney/Bush years or it will all happen again.

[melody]

4. A boom industry - GOPrisons n/t

[Mojambo]

3. Good riddance. Stevens is about as dirty as they come. n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Oh, the sweet irony.....

the Law & Order crowd couldn't build prisons fast enough, because of course they're more profitable than investing in schools. Now, they'll have to build a special prison just to hold all the republi-crooks.

[LeftishBrit]

6. There is an old joke, originally applied to various Eastern Europaean countries

but I will adapt it to the current situation:

Bush and Cheney were making official visits. Their first one was to an elementary school. They were told that the school was in serious financial difficulties, and each gave 5 dollars to the school fund, as a token gesture. Then they visited a secondary school. They were told that the school was in serious financial difficulties and each gave 10 dollars to the school fund. Their next stop was at a prison. They were told that the prison was facing financial difficulties, and Cheney wrote a cheque for 500 dollars. "Why did you do that?" asked a startled Bush. "Well, when we get out of office, we won't be going to school...."