Quotes of the Morning: Distractions

“With all this discussion about Representative Foley and his affection for a little underage lovin’, the Republican party is looking hard for something to draw media attention away from the pedophile in the House of Representatives. Luckily such an opportunity has shown itself. Thank you Curt Weldon for creating a new scandal to avoid the old one. It is always a relief to see just another scandal about greed and nepotism.”
-Skippy

“The FBI is investigating whether Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., used his influence to secure lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter, two people familiar with the inquiry said Saturday.
The inquiry focuses on lobbying contracts worth $1 million that Weldon's daughter, Karen Weldon, obtained from foreign clients and whether they were assisted by the congressman, they said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidentiality of the criminal investigation.
Weldon, a 10-term Republican from the Philadelphia suburbs, long has denied any wrongdoing, and his top aide Saturday said no one had notified him of an investigation.”
-Associated Press, October 14, 2006

“Weldon’s office reacted with outrage late Friday night, denying that an investigation is under way and claiming the report is an attempt to influence the Nov. 7 election.
‘There is no investigation,’ said the congressman’s spokesman, John Tomaszewski. ‘There is no formal investigation and there is no inquiry. There’s nothing. This is nonsense, ludicrous.’ Tomaszewski said neither Weldon nor anyone in his office has been contacted by the Justice Department.
The sources of the story said the FBI obtained evidence over the last few months suggesting that the congressman may have broken the law by assisting Karen Weldon in obtaining overseas contracts. One source, described only as a law enforcement official, said Weldon hadn’t yet been told of the inquiry.”
-Of the Times, October 14, 2006

“Oh Curt.. Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you they would have had to distract us using the War in Iraq, and trust me, no one wants to think about that…”
-Skippy

“At least 83 people were killed during a two-day spree of sectarian revenge killings, as Iraq's government said Sunday it was indefinitely postponing a much-anticipated national reconciliation conference.
Separately, the U.S. military reported the deaths of a Marine and four soldiers.
-Associated Press, October 15, 2006

“Luckily Fearless Leader is still on top of things.. He will make sure that the Republican Party comes out on top with his leadership and keen, incisive mind..”
-Skippy

“The official White House line of supreme self-assurance comes from the top down. Bush has publicly and privately banished any talk of losing the GOP majorities, in part to squelch any loss of nerve among his legions. Come January, he said last week, ‘We'll have a Republican speaker and a Republican leader of the Senate.’
The question is whether this is a case of justified confidence -- based on Bush's and Rove's electoral record and knowledge of the money, technology and other assets at their command -- or of self-delusion. Even many Republicans suspect the latter.”
-Washington Post, October 15, 2006

“Yes, Fearless Leader understands.. If we just refuse to talk about the chance of defeat in the election then we can’t lose. So far that logic has worked out nicely for us in Iraq, so why wouldn’t it work in the elections?”
-Skippy

“Three U.S. soldiers were killed Saturday when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, the U.S. military said in a statement Sunday. Their deaths raised the toll to 49 U.S. troops killed so far for the month, putting October on track to be one of the deadliest months in the war for American soldiers.”
-Washington Post, October 15, 2006