The Cave Man Speaks

"Republicans seem oblivious. Given the Democratic strategy on this issue -- a laser-like focus on the personalities and specific practices of the current crop of Republican investigatees -- it boggles the mind that GOP members are about to make Roy Blunt their majority leader. There is a reason why Howard Dean was celebrating Blunt's rise Tuesday and why some Democrats in the Great Hall yesterday were gleefully joking that they hoped to soon add a 'Blunt Reform' plank to their package.

"Think of just about any current scandal involving a Republican in Washington and Blunt is at the center of it. To wit:

"Abramoff. Blunt signed three letters to Interior Secretary Gale Norton asking her to stop the Choctaw Indians from opening a casino that would have competed with the tables of Abramoff's Indian clients. Blunt personally met with Abramoff or his fellow lobbyists (the records are unclear) when Abramoff was working the Mariana Islands issue. . . . Blunt had 'friend of owner status' at Abramoff's Signatures restaurant, meaning he ate for free.

"K Street Project. Blunt was DeLay's liaison to K Street -- he was DeLay's DeLay.

"Alexander Strategy Group. Blunt was closely associated with the now disbanded firm run by ex-DeLay aides who are at the center of the Abramoff investigation. A detailed report put together by Public Citizen notes that 'Ten of Blunt's biggest contributors have hired the Alexander Strategy Group as their lobbying firm' and that the firm did some $500,000 in fundraising and consulting work for Blunt.

"Duke Cunningham. Blunt reportedly flew four times on the corporate jets of companies run by Brent Wilkes, the defense contractor accused of bribing Representative Cunningham with millions of dollars in cash and gifts.

"Pay to play. Blunt once mysteriously added a provision beneficial to tobacco giant Altria, for whom his wife and son are lobbyists, to a Homeland Security bill. (It was removed when it became public.)"

My question is, how many lawmakers have similar records?

In a "GOP Lameness Watch," Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum spotlights "what may be the lamest criticism ever of an elected official:

" Republicans mounted a fierce counteroffensive . . . accusing Mr. Reid of using his Senate office to prepare political documents.

" 'Does Mr. Reid think that using an official government office for political purposes is ethical?' asked Brian Nick, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee .

"Do Republicans really think they're going to score points by accusing Reid of the dastardly sin of using his office to prepare attacks on the opposition? Lee Atwater would be ashamed."