In Other Shenanigans...

In Other Shenanigans…

NEW YORK — February 3, 1998 — There's news out there! Now that the Lewinsky-realted dust is finally settling down a bit, we can all catch up on some other Beltway shenanigans that got buried in the "coverage."

A House Oversight task force has found no basis for nullifying the 1996 victory of Orange County Democrat Loretta Sanchez over blustery hard-right nutcase "B-1 Bob" Dornan. Removed from the House floor last year for abusing his "retired congressman" privileges, the loudmouthed Dornan claimed "widespread" voter fraud in his defeat; while the House did find some evidence of voter fraud, it looked to be so small as to be inconsequential.

Sanchez called the decision "a victory for the citizens and voters of Orange County.… This has never been about fraud -- because there was none."

A shame the task force didn't say word one about allegations that ol' B-1 was tied to anti-Hispanic race-baiting activities — not to mention that the guy comes across as not playing with a full deck. Both facts may account for Republicans being unusually quiet about the decision. Even shameless self-promoter Dick Armey had little to say outside the usual bureaucratese.

Dornan, predictably, remained "defiant" in the form of a statement released by his attorneys [with our asnides in brackets]: "While I am disappointed that the committee will not call for a special election [while I am disappointed that the voice of the people expressed in free elections will not be overturned], nonetheless it is clear that the committee findings vindicated what I have stated all along [good thing they didn't look into my campaign practices or private comments on those damn 'Spanics], which is that the citizens of the 46th Congressional District were victimized by systematic, widespread voter fraud. [I represent the defense industry, not minorities, so any Spanish speakers who voted for me were defrauded]."

Have a nice life, Bob.

A move by the GOP to rename Washington National Airport after Ronald "The Great Napper" Reagan is under way — and creating an opportunity for wheeling and dealing between the parties.

Norquist gladhanding The Great Napper
One reason we object on principle — the idea came from none other than crooked GOP fundraiser Grover Norquist.

Flashback to American Politics Journal, November 11, 1997:

Norquist and Barbour arranged for Norquist's "Americans for Tax Reform" -- in a highly detailed scheme -- to

launder $4.6 million of RNC money through "Americans for Tax Reform" accounts in order to cloak the

expenditure as an independent advocacy mailing.

Federal law prohibits coordination of such political activity between politics parties and so-called independent
organizations like "Americans for Tax Reform." But Republicans have abused this law for years. I know, I was
trained at the presidential level by the Republican National Committee myself in 1980.

Norquist and the RNC claim there was absolutely no coordination between them, but extremely detailed evidence
show them to be liars.

To add insult to injury over the proposed airport renaming, remember that Reagan was the union-basher-in-chief who fired PATCO air traffic controllers during a strike in 1981. In today's New York Times, Randy Schwitz, executive vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said that given the choice "I'd rather have a hot poker in my eye. The wound was created 17 years ago, when he fired 11,000 controllers. It's like dumping salt on that wound."

The good news is that Democrats are trying to stick it to the GOP on this issue by renaming FBI headquarters after Robert F. Kennedy. Republicans are giving that one a big "no way" for now, but look for some interesting dealmaking on this issue down the line.

And the GOP may deal — they are looking for as many big ways to honor the fading Reagan as they can. But not this way, guys — an honor tainted by the presence of Norquist is no honor at all.

Who says state politics is no fun? You know we couldn't resist include at least one good shot at the "Hogan's Heroes" team over at the Independent Counsel's office and their pals: the Washington Post reports things were hopping during yesterday's session of Maryland's House of Delegates — and Linda Tripp was the issue.

Yesterday's session got a bit out of control when Republican Robert L. Flanagan criticized a letter Democrats sent to Howard County State's Attorney Marna L. McLendon urging the immediate prosecution of Linda Tripp for illegally taping conversations with Monica Lewinsky.

Democrats erupted. One called it "a slam dunk felony violation." Another accused the Maryland GOP of "partisan chicken shit politics."

McLendon, a Republican, said that she would hold off on a decision whether or not to prosecute Tripp until after Ken Starr completes his "investigation."

Four words of advice, Marna: no guts, no glory.

As for the Maryland House of Delegates, after reading today's story we get the feeling Bob Dornan would've felt right at home.

'Nuff said.

- Dave "Doctor" Gonzo