Ex-Bush official GUILTY in lobbying scandal

[Chadman]

Ex-Bush official guilty in lobbying scandal
Reuters

WASHINGTON - A U.S. jury on Tuesday convicted a former Bush administration official of four counts of lying and obstructing justice in the first trial to be held in connection with the influence peddling scandal of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

On the fifth day of deliberations, the jury found David Safavian -- a former chief of staff at the General Services Administration -- guilty of four of five counts of lying and obstructing justice. He was not convicted of one count of obstructing investigators.

Safavian, who showed little emotion as the verdict was read, was found guilty of lying about his relationship with Abramoff and his knowledge of the lobbyist's interest in acquiring properties from GSA, the property managing agency for the federal government.

The jury also found that he lied to a GSA ethics officer and concealed his assistance to Abramoff and obstructed justice in an agency investigation.

Safavian faces up to 20 years in prison for the four counts. Sentencing was set for October 12.

Copyright 2006*Reuters News Service.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

who is David Safavian?
--and what is chief of staff at the General Services Administration?

Let me understand this--you have concern some unknown and an unknown job is convicted

but have no prob with Clinton convicted of muliple felonies-- his national secerity advisor pleading guilty to---
"Sandy Berger, President Clinton's national security adviser, admitted in federal court that he deliberately took classified documents out of the National Archives and destroyed some of them at his office."
--- his attorney general opted to defend Saddam--
---and then consider those that had indictments coming down and didn't live to make it to trial--and you think this is headline news--your killing me Chad

 

[StevieD]

B-B-B-B-UT Clinton! Great defense Dogs
Unfortunately the disgace and pain Bush's Occupation of Iraq, a country that never attacked us nor had the means to, has brought upon the country outshadows anything Clinton ever thought of doing. Keep it up. B-B-But Clinton....

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Stevie --We have to listen to your "opinions" of how Clintons Admin was one of best ever--and this admin is most corrupt ever---

--I think it only fair you can listen to the "facts" on issue.

On issue of guy above-little doubt he's quilty and stupid--he should have went the route of Reid and said yea I took the money and I'm not giving it back.

 

[StevieD]

I never said Clinton's Admin was one of the best ever. I have many faults with Clinton. The Communications Act for one. Don't go putting words in my mouth because a Bushlicker was found guilty and you have to try to divert the attention to Clinton. This ain't about him.

 

[Chadman]

who is David Safavian?
--and what is chief of staff at the General Services Administration?

Let me understand this--you have concern some unknown and an unknown job is convicted

but have no prob with Clinton convicted of muliple felonies-- his national secerity advisor pleading guilty to---
"Sandy Berger, President Clinton's national security adviser, admitted in federal court that he deliberately took classified documents out of the National Archives and destroyed some of them at his office."
--- his attorney general opted to defend Saddam--
---and then consider those that had indictments coming down and didn't live to make it to trial--and you think this is headline news--your killing me Chad

First of all, when did I say that I have no problem with Clinton being convicted of multiple felonies? I'm not sure what you are referring to, exactly, but if that is the case, it would be wrong and a problem for me. I don't hold any double standard when it comes to breaking the law, although there certainly are differences in what laws you break, etc. What Sandy Berger did was wrong. The fact that Clinton's atty general decided to do something after leaving office - what does that have to do with anything here, or with Clinton? Nice try. So, I guess Bush should be blamed and be responsible for what Safavian did WHILE he was in office? At least that is of some sensible lineage, if you will. You know, it does get a little old that you continually bring up Clinton in a vast majority of threads that deal with current issues and problems, Dog. We talk about that a lot, but you continue to do it...and I think its symptomatic of the current right wing operation. Deflect, blame, admit no wrongs - EVER. I've admitted I have problems with some of what Clinton did and didn't do, and some of us try to look at what is going on NOW, and facing current facts. When your standard line of dealing with Bush problems is to compare and blame Clinton, it really gets weaker and weaker, in my opinion. But you know that, and you don't care. I honestly am now thinking that you realize that much of what goes on now is very hard to defend - if possible at all - and the only thing you have to throw out is Clinton. Stevie's "B-B-B-B-UT Clinton!" assessment is actually pretty spot on at this point.

Who is Safavian and why does this matter? Is that the question or deflection? Here's why it matters. It matters for several reasons. First of all, he's not directly in trouble for being a chief of staff, it is for what he did as Federal Procurement Chief. He was nominated to the position by Bush - another in a line of dubious personal nominations to important positions by this President. It is an illustration of the current culture of corruption (which has nothing to do with Clinton) and how deeply it reaches in this administration. You act like this guy was no big deal. He oversaw distribution of more than $300 billion ANNUALLY in government spending, for issues like the Iraq war and Katrina. He is now convicted of lying and obstructing justice in his dealings with Jack Abramoff, who touches most of the high-level members of the Republican party and this administration. Who knows what else he was a part of? But I can just deal with the face issues - they are more than bad enough. He has had dealings and set up partnerships with other administration officials in his business career. He is known to have conducted lobbying efforts for Muslim extremist leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. You know, the terrorist guys Bush is so worried about all the time. Guess that's no big deal, either.

I realize that you'd prefer these "no big deal" things remain hidden and seem unimportant, Dogs. I know the administration would. This guy was pretty plugged in to some important people, nominated by Bush, and was convicted of lying and obstructing justice - and had control of more than $300 billion of our taxpayer money yearly. It's important, it's more of the same with this administration, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Bill Clinton.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Clinton was convicted of multiple felonies? Wha???


http://groups.msn.com/RushversusReality/rvrjulc.msnw

"He was charged with (1) obstructing justice in the Paula Jones case, and (2) providing "perjurious, false and misleading testimony" before Independent Counsel Ken Starr's grand jury. The Senate acquitted Clinton on the perjury charge by a vote of 55 (not guilty) to 45 (guilty). Sixty-seven votes are needed to convict."

Lying about a blow job and war profiteering to the tune of Billions of taxpayers dollars are moral equivalencies?

yeah, but, but...Bubba got a blow job.