© UnknownPrince Harry addresses the United Nations
Fifteen years ago, as the Bush years waned and political division began skyrocketing, one thing everyone agreed on was that "earmarks" were bad. A trifecta of scandals involving prison-bound congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Republican super-lobbyist (and future Kevin Spacey role) Jack Abramoff, and a $320 million "bridge to nowhere" exposed an intricate system of legalized payoffs both parties scrambled to oppose.
Earmarks, those handy appropriations tools congressfolk used to slip million-dollar favors into the budget, had been ballooning in number for over a decade and looked so bad upon reveal, "corruption and ethics" became the top issue in the 2006 midterms. The Cunningham affair was the worst, featuring a congressman who wrote a "menu" of bribe services (he should have consulted Stringer Bell for legal advice there) and handed out tens of millions in dubious deals to a defense contractor named Mitchell Wade. The San Diego Tribune reporter who broke that story explained:
In return, the contractor showered the congressman with gifts — helping him finance a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, a condo overlooking the nation's capital, exclusive use of a yacht on the Potomac, antiques, private-jet travel and prostitutes.Fast forward to last week.
Comment: Democrats' January 6 Kangaroo Court: Never let the facts get in the way of a useful narrative, nor investigate those who foment action on its behalf.