In Pacific Islands, Mixed Feelings About a Lobbyist's Work

Oh the hubris of Jack. The house of cards is falling!

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/06/politics/06abramoff.html?th&emc=th

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands, May 5 - Jack Abramoff, the Washington lobbyist under criminal investigation, used to say that the government here needed his services because it was the only American territory without a nonvoting delegate to Congress.

But in previously unreleased documents, Mr. Abramoff described how he worked hard to kill a bill in Congress that would have given the islands a delegate. He did so by exploiting his ties to Republican House leaders, including Tom DeLay of Texas, the majority leader whose travels arranged by the lobbyist have raised ethical questions.

writes Jack:<snip>

"Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet privately with Speaker Newt Gingrich and was able to raise the issue of the desire of the C.N.M.I. for more latitude in dealing with its own affairs," he wrote in his sales pitch to Governor Tenorio. "The speaker responded favorably to the C.N.M.I.'s position, in keeping with his own belief in stronger local control."

"I had a direct role in shaping much of the agenda which ultimately brought the Republican Party to control of the Congress last year," Mr. Abramoff said in his proposal. "I have longstanding relationships with many of the Republican members of Congress."

What scum. I hope he rots in a jail for a very long time eating bad food and wearing orange jumpsuits

:woohoo: