General Discussion

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

34. Why does the system reward someone so easily blackmailed with a rise to power?

Fri May 29, 2015, 04:40 PM

May 2015

Why can't the system indict and convict someone so powerful for the far larger crimes he commits?

If I recall, Dennis had a run-in with the US Attorney for IL a few years ago.

There was a little matter involving bribery of House Speaker Hastert by Turkey. Hastert was nailed along with several GOP Congressmen in an FBI investigation of foreign influence peddling by various Mideast countries. For some unexplained reason, the former House Speaker wasn't one of the Members indicted. Could this be justice delayed? Hastert Wiki:

A September 2005 article in Vanity Fair revealed that during her work, former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds had heard Turkish wiretap targets boast of covert relations with Hastert. The article states, "the targets reportedly discussed giving Hastert tens of thousands of dollars in surreptitious payments in exchange for political favors and information." A spokesman for Hastert later denied the claims, relating them to the Jennifer Aniston-Brad Pitt breakup. Following his congressional career, Hastert received a $35,000 per month contract lobbying on behalf of Turkey.

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Highlight:

The Hastert results are in. Come see if you're a winner! [View all] JaneyVee May 2015 OP

Notice how he didn't give up until the word got on the street. Baitball Blogger May 2015 #1

Sick fuck. JaneyVee May 2015 #2

LATimes Has It Now... WillyT May 2015 #3

I called buggery yesterday. AngryAmish May 2015 #4

or "duggary" cyberswede May 2015 #14

Speaking of "duggary"... KansDem May 2015 #22

Excellent use of the word! d_legendary1 May 2015 #26

Just like Josh Duggar, he held onto his position until the very last. Rex May 2015 #5

What if Mr. A was a student in his class malaise May 2015 #8

Actually, that was my assumption. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #24

One more ReTHUG scumbag hoisted malaise May 2015 #29

It was a male student. eom MohRokTah May 2015 #25

You're thinking small. Gore1FL May 2015 #42

LOL malaise May 2015 #68

It was a minor. HooptieWagon May 2015 #57

I'm grave dancing for Hastert malaise May 2015 #69

If that's the case TlalocW May 2015 #81

So what did I win? lonestarnot May 2015 #6

I think the prizes were a choice of either: misterhighwasted May 2015 #36

Of course it was sex... SoCalDem May 2015 #7

Forgive him for he has sinned. Exilednight May 2015 #19

Me too! Generic Other May 2015 #65

Yes. It was a mistake he made when he was "young and irresponsible." City Lights May 2015 #30

I tend to think of it as 'young and juicy.' Shrike47 May 2015 #47

What if they end up in the same jail cell! misterhighwasted May 2015 #38

His Twitter bio is gold: peecoolyour May 2015 #9

They won't forget about you now nt nichomachus May 2015 #11

What a narcissitic creep! Baitball Blogger May 2015 #12

Awww, poor thing! City Lights May 2015 #32

and going to the bank malaise May 2015 #33

I wonder if Hastert's creepy CSPAN call was related nichomachus May 2015 #10

I bet so, and I bet a name/names aren't far down the road. MerryBlooms May 2015 #17

Watch his neck carefully in that video malaise May 2015 #70

I may be misremembering but I swear Skidmore May 2015 #13

Cannonfire noted some of the rumors in 2006 starroute May 2015 #50

He covered up for Foley back in 2006 malaise May 2015 #71

So was it an underage student? nt sufrommich May 2015 #15

Probably. daleanime May 2015 #21

Depends of the age of consent then...BUT SoCalDem May 2015 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author MerryBlooms May 2015 #16

Rumors circulated for YEARS... nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #18

Link? nt Logical May 2015 #60

What to rumors and what people said in private nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #62

See #50 above. Skidmore May 2015 #72

Thanks!!! nt Logical May 2015 #74

I missed that nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #75

So...THAT's what they mean by the 'Hastert Rule'. progressoid May 2015 #20

And the Illinois Statute of Limitations has run out. MohRokTah May 2015 #23

As Tricky Dick used to say, though. roamer65 May 2015 #77

Where did Hastert get $3 million for the payoff aint_no_life_nowhere May 2015 #27

He's been a lobbyist for years, iirc from Rachel Maddow. There's a lot of money in that. nt Hekate May 2015 #37

Might be 100% true bluestateguy May 2015 #28

More republican duggary? workinclasszero May 2015 #31

TeaBaggery? TeaDuggary? blm May 2015 #43

Why does the system reward someone so easily blackmailed with a rise to power? leveymg May 2015 #34

Want to bet that Bruce was on Coach Hastert's wrestling team? Hekate May 2015 #35

rumors for years gwheezie May 2015 #39

:( bravenak May 2015 #40

Didn't Hastert derail the Foley investigation?? Angry Dragon May 2015 #41

yes he did. mopinko May 2015 #54

Yes, yes he did nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #66

Methinks they doth protest too much! Ford_Prefect May 2015 #45

Ew. I'll just bet that Huckabee won't say that Jesus forgave him for THAT. catbyte May 2015 #46

A winner am I, sadLy enough. Shrike47 May 2015 #48

What are the chances dhol82 May 2015 #49

Yup! gvstn May 2015 #78

Whoa! dhol82 May 2015 #79

Wheaton College Mz Pip May 2015 #51

I won I won! d_b May 2015 #52

The other potential scandal here is that the GOP put this man just two steps from the Presidency aint_no_life_nowhere May 2015 #53

sucker bet. mopinko May 2015 #55

Yes, it is as I suspected. I heard this rumor DECADES ago, before Hastert became Speaker, back MADem May 2015 #56

Me too, though later than you nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #64

Yet another Republican pedophile. Gee, what a shock CanonRay May 2015 #58

I wish Bill Maher was on this week aint_no_life_nowhere May 2015 #59

Hastert the Unspeakable. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2015 #61

Nope Kalidurga May 2015 #63

So, did Hastert initate the Hush Money?? Or was it blackmail?? HereSince1628 May 2015 #67

Unless the other person asked specifically for the money -- AND there's a record of it nichomachus May 2015 #73

Diseased old white right wingers pffffft katsy May 2015 #76

Coach and long showers... Historic NY May 2015 #80