Elsewhere in US politics, the Cunningham/Wade/MZM deal...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/images/050705duke.jpg

"I didn't do anything you goddamn communists! Now excuse me, I have to go hide."

(As, indeed, he did.)

World War II veteran Whitey Mettam sat on a folding chair near the stage and listened with his one good ear. The 84-year-old Encinitas man said Cunningham was "a politician" in the tone some people reserve for a plate of cold pancakes.

"I wish he was man enough to show up, but it would have been terrible to have a demonstration and people throwing eggs," Mettam said.

Then there was this:

Jeannine Bonnet took her grandchildren MaKenna Browne, 5, and Connor Browne, 7.

"My husband was worried," Bonnet said. "He said 'Keep them close. There will be protesters.' "

But only one protester showed up. Al Rodbell of Carlsbad mingled with the crowd and talked quietly to as many journalists as possible, sharing his belief that Cunningham's real estate deal had deadly repercussions in Iraq.

Ah sweet paranoia.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/14/congress.cunningham/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Rep. Cunningham won't seek re-election amid contractor probe

Thursday, July 14, 2005; Posted: 7:44 p.m. EDT (23:44 GMT)

(CNN) -- Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-California, under federal investigation over his relationship with a defense contractor, announced Thursday that he won't seek a ninth term in Congress next year but will finish the remainder of his current term...

actually, here's a pretty good anecdote. my friend's dad was in the navy w/ him. friend's dad went on to become an ace fighter pilot (shot down five jets in vietnam) and a top gun instructor. cunningham went on to become, well, a corrupt pol. but the story is that apparently he goes by randy "duke" cunningham because that was his nickname in the navy ... but my friend's dad says that nobody called him "duke", everybody called him randy, even though cunningham spent lots of time pestering everyone to call him "duke". so "duke" is a self-given nickname.

anyway, more like randy "douche" cunningham, right?

i still feel sorry for him. what a loser!

and

The Hammer can smell his own:

"Duke Cunningham is a hero," DeLay said during a press briefing Tuesday. “He is an honorable man of high integrity."

Washington's power players have always bragged about being well-wired, but for disgraced former congressman Duke Cunningham, "wired" wasn't just a figure of speech. In a week when legislators are focused on the question of who else might be brought down by ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s cooperation with prosecutors as he seeks lenient sentencing over his two federal guilty pleas this week, sources tell TIME that in a separate investigation, ex-Rep. Cunningham wore a wire to help investigators gather evidence against others just before copping his own plea.

Increased Incumbency Advantage as a positive development
This section is a stub. You can help by adding to it.

Kitty Kelley, of all people, interviews Cunningham's ex-wife.

"But he just doesn't understand," she said. "He claims he's innocent, that he's been railroaded by the government, that he shouldn't be in prison. He says he signed the plea agreement under duress." She shook her head. "He even thinks he will be pardoned by President Bush."

His cellmates probably have all asked for earplugs by now. (When Bush's term ends and he realizes he's going nowhere, said cellmates likely will ask for industrial strength models.)

Hmm:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and 12 other members of Congress have been subpoenaed to testify in the trial of a defense contractor charged with bribing jailed former Rep. Randy ``Duke'' Cunningham.

All of the lawmakers said they do not intend to comply with the subpoenas.

The subpoenas were sought by attorneys for contractor Brent Wilkes, who faces a trial in San Diego on more than 30 counts of bribery, fraud, money laundering and conspiracy in connection with his relationship with Cunningham.

...

In addition to Hastert, R-Ill., Wilkes' attorneys are seeking testimony from:

-House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri

-Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Ill.

-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.

-House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo.

-House Appropriations defense subcommittee chairman John Murtha, D-Pa.

-California Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter, John Doolittle, Darrell Issa and Jerry Lewis. Hunter chaired the Armed Services Committee and Lewis chaired the Appropriations Committee in the last Congress.

-Republicans Reps. Peter Hoekstra and Joe Knollenberg of Michigan. Hoekstra chaired the House Intelligence Committee in the last Congress.

-Democratic Rep. Norm Dicks of Washington.

Nothing new, just some latest stuff about Foggo with documents etc. A true patriot, that one.

He's back!. Well, still behind bars and all.