Dems Don't Know Jack

So the point that people claiming that Abramoff was bi-partisan scandal try to make is that Abramoff's Indian clients were giving money to the Dems as well as the GOP. This of course misses three facts that are supported below by the numbers:

1. They didn't start giving to Dems because of Abramoff, they were already giving money to them because;
2. These state have Democratic lawmakers with whom the tribes had a pre-Abramoff relationship and;
3. After Abramoff the tribes donations to the GOP shot up dramatically. Meanwhile the donations to Dems often leveled off or dropped.


1) Tribe: Saginaw Chippewa (Michigan)
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 9/2000): $371,250
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 9/2000): $285,000
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (9/2000 - 2003): $191,960
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP (9/2000 - 2003): $401,500

2) Tribe: Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 9/2000): $61,320
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 9/2000): $48,560
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (9/2000 - 2003): $64,000
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP(9/2000 - 2003): $162,590

3) Tribe: Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 4/2001): $1,000
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 4/2001): $750
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (4/2001 - 6/2004): $40,500
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP (4/2001 - 6/2004): $168,750

4) Tribe: Pueblo of Sandia (New Mexico)
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 3/2002): $24,000
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 3/2002): $15,000
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (3/2002 - 6/2003): $18,500
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP (3/2002 - 6/2003): $11,500

5) Tribe: Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (California)
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 7/2002): $371,250
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 7/2002): $400,200
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (7/2002 - 6/2004): $70,000
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP (7/2002 - 6/2004): $216,708

6) Tribe: Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma)
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 1/2003): $35,470
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 1/2003): $6,050
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1/2003 - 12/2003): $250
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1/2003 - 12/2003): $0

7) Tribe: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 1995): $4,600
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 1995): $31,000
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1995 - 2004): $409,273
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1995 - 2004): $884,927

New Website! HOORAY!!!

I'm thrilled to announce that the Cass County Democratic Party finally has a website I'm not embarrassed to show (probably because it was professionally developed, instead of me trying to do it.)

So please check us out at http://cassdems.org

And I want to thank the fine folks at Logical Imagination for their work. They do outstanding work, and I can't say enough about how great they are.

Abramoff Cuts a Deal

Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist at the center of the Tom Delay scandal, will plead guilty to reduced charges in return for helping the feds in their Congressional investigation.

This is big, from all appearances Abramoff was the hub for all bribery and influence peddling in Congress, if it happened he knows who did it, and for how much. So we're finally going to get the dirt on the likes of Tom Delay, and unfortunately some Democrats as well. But this going to hurt the GOP a lot worse then us.

Put Your Two Cents In

With the 2006 General Assembly preparing to go into session soon the Star is asking Hoosiers their thoughts on what needs to be changed. Interesting that most of the issues aren't one that talk about much, gas prices, health care.

Mitch's web based yes-men must still be on holiday.

Merry Christmas

And a happy Hanukkah.

Yeah I said it.

Link goes to a very funny satire by Matt Tully at surmising what Mitch's Christmas letter must have read like.

A Chance to See What Fort Wayne Thinks

The above link is to the Allen County Libertarian Party website, and they have a poll up on what Hoosiers feel should be the priority for the 2006 General Assembly. Go on over and check it out.

But then come back, I'm not recruiting for the Libertarians.

But... But... Bill O'Reily Says You Hate Christmas

It's nice to see the ICLU defend itself (and it's big brother the ACLU.) You can say what you want about them, and I haven't always agreed with their viewpoints, but it's important to counter-act the lies and distortion from the Fox News "War on Christmas."

And there is a lesson in this for all members of the Democratic Party and progressives everywhere: You have to defend yourself against the lies. Stop letting them spread this muck and assume that people won't believe it.

Mitch Doesn't Care What You Think

Or what the South Bend Tribune for that matter either.

I'm not sure what surprises me more, that Mitch thinks he can get aways with this bold faced arrogance, or that nobody in Indianapolis media will call him on it.

Tell Mitch that Hoosiers Should Own Indiana's Roads

Please take a moment to fill out this petition telling Mitch that selling our highway system to out of state (and most likely out of the country) bidders is a bad long term proposition for Indiana.

The Sciences of Global Warming

The Economist has pretty good article on what science we need to look at when interpreting the effect of global warming. It is surprising in and of itself that The Economist even recognizes global warming, but that it also reports on some of the different theories of fighting global warming, including one from Princeton that would call for great restriction in carbon dioxide production.

At any rate it's a good read for those like me who haven't really paid much attention to the science of global warming.