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Summer Fever of Corruption
- Filed under: Congress, Local, National Landscape 2008, Scandalous
- Date: Jul 30,2008
"Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell." I don't think there will be any objections to working that classic reference into a post here. Anyhow….
I'm not sure that anyone was shocked (or even remotely surprised) by Monday's joint FBI and IRS raid in Cleveland. How could you be? Everyone has known for a long, long time how the game is played in Cuyahoga County. The top two targets are County Auditor Frank Russo and County Commissioner and Chairman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Jimmy Dimora. The FBI served search warrants at the Cuyahoga County administration building, the data center, the county engineer's office and the homes of the two gents named above. The federal investigation revolves around on allegations that Dimora and Russo, among other things, traded jobs and county contracts for improvements to their own homes and properties.
Jill at Writes Likes She Talks has PDF's of the search warrant and items taken during the raids.
Cleveland Scene (who recently merged with the Free Times) ran an absolutely great piece on Jimmy Dimora back in January of 2007. This excerpt from the piece summed it up pretty well: But this is how things work in Jimmy's county, where a check with enough zeroes can take care of anything. He's an old-time political boss in the truest sense of the word. Yet while the urban bosses of old made sure to care for the people before fattening up themselves, Jimmy forgot the part about the people.
Typically when the FBI swarms on your office and house, that is not a good sign. They just don't do it to do it.
And on all top of this, the morning the story comes out, the house of Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman goes up in flames early that same morning. Ruled arson. Not even going to speculate on that.
"Probably just a Republican attempt to (fill in the blank)," is the line we might hear from a few Democrats. Sometimes that works. It won't this time. Not when basically every elected official in the county is a Democrat. But it won't matter politically. A new batch of Democrats will rise to power in the county and the same story will be written on a blog by someone in approximately 20 years.
On a side note, I was in Cleveland for the first time since October yesterday. It is about as bad I remembered it.
However, Republicans have their own problems to worry about in Alaska………..
Then Tuesday, the long awaited indictment of Ted Stevens (R-his house and bank account) in Alaska finally came down while I was participating in lunch activities with some former co-workers.
Facts on the case in a brief summary: The facts are these: In 2000, Stevens ordered an extensive home-improvement project that nearly doubled the size of his house. The contractors who did the work were told to send the invoices first to VECO Corp., an oil-field-services company whose two top executives have pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators. VECO then sent the bills to Stevens, which he paid out of a separate account set up for the project. Even if VECO sent Stevens all the invoices it received (and that remains an open question), there is no question that Stevens involved himself in a shadowy financial arrangement with a company known for its corrupt practices.
This is one seat that should stay in Republican hands forever, but maybe not now. For too long Ted Stevens has used his office to benefit Ted Stevens. It's about time he left the political scene. May as well do so now, before he is forced to do so. Republicans should try to force Stevens out and rally around whoever wins the GOP Primary August 26nd if it isn't Stevens (David Cuddy looks like the best GOP alternative right now). And if Stevens wins the primary, well, this seat is as good as gone. He sure isn't stepping aside then because he will think he can win - the man has an ego the size of the state he represents (term used loosely). He will lose the seat and lose a safe Republican seat in the process. Job well done.
Hopefully after 2006 the people that make the critical decisions within the GOP have learned their lesson. Stevens is a symbol of everything that voters perceive is wrong with our party. If he is somehow found "not guilty" of the criminal charges, he is still guilty of being ethically challenged. Only 100 lucky people in this entire country can be United States Senators. Ted Stevens should not be one of them. Hard working GOP Senators (like John Sununu, John Cornyn, and others) don't deserve to be lumped together with Stevens. Now they will.
I've have often criticized Stevens in the past, so I am not doing any bandwagon jumping: Here, here, here, and here.
13 Responses for "Summer Fever of Corruption"
Steven's departure will be an overall loss for Alaska, but it is time for him to go and our governor has been slowly and steadily distancing herself from Stevens.
Whether or not the Stevens 08 campaign side down the road will stay up remains to be seen.
I've been listening to WTAM and 90.3 WCPN's coverage of the scandal, which have both been excellent. No word yet from Dimora or Russo. Hopefully the indictments are handed down quickly because Cleveland cannot afford to have their county government in limbo while they wait. Dimora is supposed to be at a county meeting on Thursday and I'd imagine he'd have to issue a statement by then.
The wheels of justice have certainly turned slowly in
Stevens' case, though I am sure this has nothing to do with being a senator!! On second thought, the sad fact is that they turn too damn slowly most of the time, regardless.
Maybe 2008 could be his prison uniform number.
I second Kyle's comment re: CPN coverage. I don't know what your rules might be, if any, but I would suggest providing a link to their resources. I got the links to the warrants etc. from the PD.
I have something to ponder. I live in Parma and I have often wondered how J. Kevin Kelley could afford his lifestyle. This is the IT guy in Russo's office that was also raided. He also sits on the Parma City School Board. I am just an average guy who asked: "How can Kevin Kelley afford to 1/4 millions dollar homes on the islands plus his 150-200K home in Parma on just a gov't salary and school board salary? If I can notice, don't you think the FBI could notice? Also, these fat cat politicians live like John Gotti and flaunt their money and homes in all of our faces. These things should make you sick. I am sure there will be something to come of all of these FBI raids.
Looks like the hammer finally dropped. Whos next?
Like I said, the FBI just doesnt swoop in for no reason.
Ben,
I brought this to a newer post like you asked. My response to PartyIntegrity.
I have answered this fool before. He or she wants to ignore reason and the truth. Let him or her rant.
All I can say is I got involved in Parma politics in 2004 when my wife and I helped open a privately funded BUSH/Cheney Headquarters. I still feel as if the energy,time and resources expended during that time were the greatest gift I could give to my Country and my Beloved President. I didn't even know who the hell Debbie Lime was nor could I care now. I have fought the Parma Democratic Machine (which is infamous e.g. Wickapedia- political machine) from 2004 thru 2007 I have publicly referred to them as Tammany Hall. Any one who truly knows me knows how I thoroughly enjoyed fighting Tammany Hall.
I find it very interesting that now some of them will meet their fate at the hands of the FBI and IRS.
GOPFlame:
This post may be a little off topic about our particular discussion. I agree that you fought the Parma Democratic Machine from 2004 to 2007, but if you fought so hard how can you say you didn't know who Debbie Lime was? She was the candidate running against Dean DePiero in 2-0-0-7 for mayor. If you were so entrenched in fighting the Machine than you would have known exactly who Debbie Lime is. If you were a member of PARRG (which I know you were) then you would have been involved in trying to get Republican Money for the democrat Debbie Lime. PARRG (Parma Area Republicans for Good Government) was set up to give money to whomever they wanted Deomcrat, Republican, or Independent as long as it was for "Good Government". Am I correct about this? Just answer this: Were you involved with PARRG duing 2004-2007? If your answer is yes you cannot claim to not know who Debbie Lime is, nor can you deny that PARRG wanted Republican money for Debbie Lime. Nice try.
Someone just emailed me to ask me if I was "PartyIntegrity" and I want to publicly state that I am NOT PartyIntegrity. I am The Nose.
Political,
I am thoroughly convinced that you get your information second hand. It makes me wonder if you even do or ever did live in PARMA. Dean Depiero ran unopposed for mayor in 2007. I was campaign manager for the Kevin Wayne Rumes for Judge in the Parma Municipal Court race that year. I can assure you he is a Republican.
Yes in 2007 DePiero did run unopposed. I think Debbie Lime ran against Depiero as an independent in 2003. PartyIntegrity must be confused. GOP, I would just quit arguing with the person. Seems to be a waste of hot air.
Cuyahoga County Republican officials should not be giving donations to democrats!
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