November 30, 2005
NOW THAT'S WORTH IT:
Bribery's Scope a Surprise: Observers marvel at the array of gifts that Rep. Cunningham received in exchange for contracts. (Tony Perry, November 30, 2005, LA Times)
Constituents and others marveled at the list of luxury items that the four unnamed co-conspirators lavished on Cunningham since 2000 in exchange for his support in landing lucrative government contracts — things at odds with Cunningham's preferred image as an American hero and a man of simple tastes. They include:• A Rolls-Royce and $17,889.96 for its repairs
• A cut-rate deal on a GMC Suburban
• A $1,500 gift certificate for a set of earrings
• Use of a corporate jet, valued at $8,166
• Resort vacations worth $10,000
• Silver candelabra, antique armoires, Persian carpets and custom oak and leaded-glass doors worth more than $50,000
• A leather sofa and a sleigh-style bed for $6,632
• Two Laser Shot shooting simulators worth $9,200
• A 19th-century French commode, valued at $7,200
• A graduation party at a Washington, D.C., hotel for his daughter worth $2,081.30
Although the sale of the congressman's Del Mar Heights home to military contractor Mitchell Wade was hidden through a corporate screen, details about the gifts and cash payments were easily found in bank records and documents seized at Cunningham's Rancho Santa Fe home.
"It was entirely predictable [that Cunningham would be charged] after the house deal became public," said San Diego lawyer Stanley Zubel, leader of Californians for a Cleaner Congress. "But nobody had a clue that the bribery was as big as it was, and as systematic over years. It evokes outrage."
So many of these guys just get caught up on technicalities or go in for a little pilferage around the edges--it's a real pleasure to see a guy with sense enough to belly up to the trough. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 30, 2005 8:19 AM
The dollar amounts prove that this man was of the highest integrity. California voters should be proud of him.
Posted by: h-man at November 30, 2005 8:31 AMI'm just trying to picture him driving around in the Rolls or lounging on board "The Dukster" is Chesapeake Bay just bawling away like a baby in the same manner he did at Monday's announcement of the plea deal (Cunningham could have taught Bill Clinton a thing or two about tears-on-demand during that news conference).
Posted by: John at November 30, 2005 8:53 AM• A Rolls-Royce and $17,889.96 for its repairs
They gave him a car that didn't run? Had been in an accident?
• A 19th-century French commode, valued at $7,200
And a used sh*tter. This man is an idiot.
Posted by: AllenS at November 30, 2005 9:06 AMWhat dedicated crooks know: Never steal anything small.
Posted by: Luciferous at November 30, 2005 10:14 AMShouldn't that be a "Freedom" commode?
Posted by: Foos at November 30, 2005 10:18 AMAllenS -
The Rolls Royce + repairs can be explained: Rolls just aren't reliable in any ordinary sense of the word, and to own one, even a new one, is to repair it incessantly. Reminiscent of Fiat which stands for 'Fix It Again, Tony'.
I think Al Goldstein, of all people , published an article about Rolls Royce ownership many years back.
Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at November 30, 2005 12:25 PMMy husband and I were laughing ourselves sick yesterday thinking about how silly Cunningham must look driving around in a Rolls Royce and exposing his baggy old body to the world sunning on a berthed yacht.
Around here, for some reason, we have a lot of very long limos with blackened windows carrying who knows what fabulous celebrity to who knows which fabulous playground. Their appearance causes great mirth among the unwashed, we being card carrying members there of.
I remember that article. (I just read Hustler for the articles...) Apparently a Rolls-Royce never breaks down, rather it "fails to proceed." By the way, you do all know that Randy Cunningham was the first American ace in Vietnam. Wretchard's got a great post up:
Posted by: joe shropshire at November 30, 2005 1:17 PM"Cunningham was the first American ace in Vietnam."
People rarely do anything (well) that they don't want to do or anyhting that they arn't predisposed to do. We tend to lionize these guys, war hero, great baseball player, etc, but the reality is Cunnigham was probably an idiot with the right mental makeup to shoot down enemy planes, thats all.
Judging by the fawning press professional athletes recieve, you would think they were moral, spiritual, and intellectual warriors of the first order. They are not.
I know people that wash toilets and mop floors and our thankful they have the job. My point, I don't know.
Posted by: Perry at November 30, 2005 8:34 PM