The Biggest Political Scandals Of 2008

In terms of political scandal, 2008 might not have been the sleaziest or the dirtiest year. After all, a corrupt president wasn't forced to resign or impeached. A decorated Marine didn't help sell arms to Iran and FBI officials didn't dress up as Arab sheiks to trap elected officials.

But who can ever purge their minds of the indelible image of Eliot Spitzer keeping his black socks on during his romps with high-priced prostitute Ashley Dupre? And who can forget Rod Blagojevich's impressive use of the f-word and even-more striking Elvis pompadour?

So, follow along and enjoy this slideshow of the political scandals of 2008:

• • • • • • • Former presidential candidate John Edwards' political future and reputation were tarnished when he admitted having an affair with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter (pictured to left of Edwards in 2006) amid accusations that he had fathered her newborn baby.

Comments

[ethancorso]

I don't condone Edwards actions, but at the same time I hope that he is able to return to politics at some point. He was a tireless advocate for the poor, and (along with Elizabeth) among the most ardent supporters of health care reform. He still has a lot to offer his country.

[Cherubim]

Ethancorso, the Church say Amen.

[peacekitten]

the truth shall set us free. this is the truth.

[Clare53]

Blago looks just like an ewok.

[InfoWarriorNY]

Ra w Story
Decem ber 18, 2008

A career Army officer who survived the at tacks of 9. 11 claims that no evacuation was ordered inside the Pent agon, despite flight controllers calling in warnings of approaching hi jacked aircraft nearly 20 minutes before the building was struck.

According to a time-line of the att acks, the FAA notified NORAD that AA Flight 77 had been hijacked at 9:24 a.m. The Penta gon was not struck until 9:43 a.m.

On behalf of retired Army officer April Gallop, California attorney William Veale has filed a civil suit against former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Cheney and former US Air Force General Richard Myers, who was acting chairman of the joint chiefs on 9. 11. It alleges they engaged in cons piracy to facilitate the ter. rorist at tacks and purposefully failed to warn those inside the Pent agon, contributing to injuries she and her two-month-old son incurred.

[JamesR.]

zzzzzzzzz

[Bitsko]

As an Air Force brat I was brought up to never believe anything an Army officer says, particularly one who is trying to make a little extra dough in retirement. These k00ks are a dime a dozen on cable TV with their UFO and 9/11 theories.

[LiseLives]

zzzzzzzz

[RobertaInCT]

I didn't read it but I'll trust your judgment on this, zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­zzz

[InfoWarriorNY]

Hahaha

no kidding

you snooze you lose

[Bitsko]

Your words are as a fluffy pillow.

[JamesR.]

LOL Great metaphor.

[InfoWarriorNY]

Right.

But they'll nag at you when you wake

ROLF?

[kevenseven]

Do you have the slightest idea of how large the Pentagon is? How many people are in there at 9 am?

An evacuation would have got people killed in different places They were safer in their offices.

I was in downtown DC that day. Everybody got in their cars and drove out onto the streets and then sat there for three hours. They would have been safer in the buildings.

I don't know if any of what you say is true, and I don't care. I do know that it proves nothing.

[zippitydoo]

Something very strange just happened..­..........­...I was responding on this thread and I was to ssed into the palinbaby thread....­..........­.....WT F ?.........­..???

[Bitsko]

Well, that's a new one on me. Trying to think of a punch line...

[LiseLives]

LOL - !! we're waiting ....

[myangeldog1]

Welcome back!

[peacekitten]

similar things have happened to me before. wound up somewhere totally strange.

it was though their system of wormholes wasn't working properly..­....

[zippitydoo]

Am I really John Malkovich?­?????Yipee­eeeeeee!!

[shockmagog]

Never mind that. I'm preparing a delicious chocolate souffle.
http://fruitfly.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/petri48cake012.jpg?w=320&h=250

[zippitydoo]

or me??? thanks....­but i would rather have the wine......­...please?­........

[LiseLives]

LMAO - !! "never mind that" - LOL !

[Clare53]

Been happening all day. Posts have also been disappearing then coming back. Crazy day.

[InfoWarriorNY]

Check it out. Me and a couple buddies won a demolition bid on a 47 story stee l-framed bl d'g

We came in like $10 million cheaper than competitors

Our plan is to take the elevator up, get off at a few floors, use our bic lighters to to light a few fi res in waste baskets, and take the elevator down

Should come down on it's footprint with no collateral damage

Oh and we're counting on the steel to break in uniform lengths that will fit on our 18-wheeler

ROLF?

[JamesR.]

Read and learn jujucarazy:

http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia08272007.html

[InfoWarriorNY]

Left Gatekeeper

[Bitsko]

Live with it, learn from it. Never trust just one source, even if it's Plutarch. A library is a terrible thing to waste.

[kevenseven]

Take about 10,000 gallons of high test fuel with you.

And if that does not work, try ramming it with a vehicle that weighs 200 tons moving at 500 mph.

And do us all a favor. Don't get out of the vehicle.

[SCG]

Good night everyone. Happy trails to you.
http://www.royrogers.com/happy_trails.html

[LiseLives]

Such a perfect choice of music, to ease us all - have a great night !

[SCG]

Don't forget Roy Roger's Riders Club Rules:

1. Be neat and clean.
2. Be courteous and polite.
3. Always obey your parents.
4. Protect the weak and help them.
5. Be brave but never take chances.
6. Study hard and learn all you can.
7. Be kind to animals and take care of them.
8. Eat all your food and never waste any.
9. Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.
10. Always respect our flag and our country.

[kevenseven]

God. I get here, and everybody takes a powder.

Were it not for my overweening ego, I might feel slighted.

[SCG]

I thought I enter by bowing out?

[Chillinout]

It IS all about you.

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't conspiring against you.

[LiseLives]

LOL - !

[luvobama]

Sleep tight.

[HappyIdiot2008]

Good night all. I have had a great time tonight. Tomorrow is a new day. See you then! :o)

[Bitsko]

Ciao, you happy idiot you!

[Misha-in-Texas]

Good night Happy. I'll see ya'll tomorrow too.

[Pronto]

Happy dreams, Happy. :)

[LiseLives]

Bon soir, monsieur 'appy !

[Chillinout]

Good night!

[pangurban]

2008 vindicated my faith in my own instincts. I always thought there was something a bit off about Edwards. Lo and behold.

[Pronto]

He's just a good, solid, caring families man.

[scandals-n-skeletons]

heh

[Cherubim]

Yes, he is.

[Vinca]

THE JOHN EDWARDS STORY, IS A DROP IN THE OCEAN, COMPARED TO THE MIKE CONNELL , POSSIBLE HOMICIDE STORY

[peacekitten]

one united states right wing senator has been convicted on seven criminal counts.

another right wing senator is preparing his defense from the charges the f.b.i. is pursuing against him.

a g.o.p. vice president has admitted in public that he not only knew about, but ordered and condoned known w.a.r crimes, and is still walking the streets, unindicted.

a g.o.p. secretary of the treasury has been busy handing out billions in bonus money his buddies while three members of the g.o.p. were so determined to break the back of organized labor that they didn't care that in order to do so, they would vaporize the jobs of 3 million people, plus do away with every voice in the market place the average worker ever had, even if they had to destroy the whole country to do it.

and what do we have?

a picture of a man who had an extramarital affair, the one people whose business it was being his family and the woman involved headlining this story.

if our priorities are that s.c.r.e.w.­e.d up, then we deserve the a$$fvcking we have had for the last eight years. why we are letting scandal mongers and right wing z.e.a.l.o.­t.s continue to control the agenda after all we've just been through, i don't understand.

[myangeldog1]

Thank you peacekitten for putting these issues proper perspective.

[peacekitten]

you're very welcome, my friend. it's a real head shaker, that's for sure.

[LiseLives]

So agreed, it's not even funny - !

[peacekitten]

and it's' not even getting into the whole mccain/palin trainwreck, the looting of the treasury by contractors to the military, the fact that b l a c k w a t e r now has a large enough force to constitute a standing army within our borders that is for sale to the highest bidder, and they are putting together their own navy, one of our greatest cities was wiped off the map, unemployment is at a 26 year high as far as we know, we are on the very of a complete economic meltdown, and some people in the lower income brackets who would directly benefit by it, are still protesting of having all the would-be kings pay income taxes proportionate to what they take from society. not to mention of course, the singing and tap dancing talents of ever increasing numbers of right wing congressmen, provided they are provided the right restroom setting.

the list is just endless. and what does even this place, a so-called "liberal" blog do? put up a picture of a man who got an expensive haircut (which he can afford) and had an affair (a matter for him and his family to sort out).

it's MIND-BOGGLING.

[Coinyer101]

wow. marked as fav.

[peacekitten]

thank you.

[pangurban]

He was having holy cards printed up for himself all while he was cheating on the mother of his children who is battling cancer. Don't think I would want to entrust my security to him.

[lag0061]

Edwards is the King of Sleaze for this year-and this has been a sleazy year!
Is he that babydaddy?

[scandals-n-skeletons]

Because they have all the money and.......­.....money is power and power is money.
This bailout was the final nail in our co f fins.
I honestly don't think anything will change until there3 is revolution­.......and I dont mean writing and phoning our reps. Most of them are in on the sc am.

[Joyful Woman]

She looks simple and ridiculous in the background holding up a camera as if she's a real filmmaker. Oh my..ROFL!

What is she peering at so intently?

[progressivepam]

How about the murder of Mike Connell, who was about to testify about how the Republicans stole the election in Ohio in 2004. Oh wait, the media forgot to cover it, so it's not a scandal!

[Misha-in-Texas]

I don't understand why that didn't get more press.

[peacekitten]

right wingnuts control the media.

[Carolab]

Because it's huge, that's why. Why hasn't Norah Dannehy, special prosecutor into the firings of the U.S. Attorneys, released her report yet? These were the e-mails Connell was asking Spoonamore how to erase from the hard drives. Who do you suppose Connell went to meet in D.C. before his plane crash?

[zippitydoo]

You are so right on! WTF????

[myangeldog1]

Absolutely.

[Carolab]

And now it's not up on HP either.

[rogerse]

Your tin foil hat must be on a little tight.

[Carolab]

And you have obviously not read enough about this matter.

[myangeldog1]

NOPE!!! I've been following this since the beginning. It's for real.

[phoenix2000]

Gotta work in tha morning. It's been fun!! G'nite!!

[HappyIdiot2008]

Goodnight Sweets! Sleep tight. Tomorrow will be another fun-filled day.

[HumeSkeptic]

Good night, phoenix.

[LiseLives]

Goodnight, you Phoenix, you !!

[Pronto]

phoenix - can you take Happy with you?

[Chillinout]

Nite!

[abby4ever]

As I said...

LiseLives See Profile I'm a Fan of LiseLives I'm a fan of this user permalink
Possible exception ??? LOL - So glad he's not here & that any new ones will SHOW US how smart they are -
Posted 11:12 PM on 12/29/2008

- + abby4ever See Profile I'm a Fan of abby4ever I'm a fan of this user permalink
He will be here any moment. Make your report out now and keep it reduced at the bottom of your screen, then when he starts up, give it it a click.

Posted 11:27 PM on 12/29/2008

ZaMementoZa See Profile I'm a Fan of ZaMementoZa I'm a fan of this user permalink
Yo, Wassup Pronto? How is it going, homie?
Posted 11:04 PM on 12/29/2008

[LiseLives]

No, ahem, Abby - zaza.wawa.­mama isn't here - everyone who's here will SHOW US how smart they are - see ? From now on, for me, there is no more zzzzz - only smart, adult people who will prove it.

[abby4ever]

Oh all right, he isn't here.

(But Rosemary's baby is.)

:]

[Chillinout]

Okay, no more woowoo baiting for me.

It's just that sometimes I like to have a little free entertainment. And the things they say are hilarious and so easily disproved.

[kevenseven]

What, did I miss the show?

[Chillinout]

Yep.

Look farther down this page and the two or three pages preceding this one.

[athenasword]

I apparently am getting here too late!

[LiseLives]

I, too, will concentrate on the people I know & in whose intelligence & judgment I trust -

[myangeldog1]

I think it's human to question something so unprecedented. It may be some peoples way of tryng to make sense out of an otherwise nonsensical situation.

[LiseLives]

Def. human to question it & even to be skeptical - but, lots of info. to be found from the actual people who designed & constructed the bldgs. - also at the Pentgon, the plane split into several pieces - there were remains spread all over the bldg.

[HeIsTheOne]

Last night's confusion was bad enough. Burlington coat hook's theories are exhausting me even more.

So glad we are who we are again. My pre-alzheimer's brain is thankful.

Good night kids. Be well. hito

[phoenix2000]

Goodnite! :)

[Chillinout]

Nite!

[LiseLives]

Goodnight HITO ! - (I'm not far behind you - I can't do "kindergarten" again tonight) -

[HeIsTheOne]

Love you Lise. Probably won't be on tomorrow night. Got my millionaire sis and husband coming for dinner. YIKES! I live in squalor compared to her high falutin ways. Wish me luck!

[Misha-in-Texas]

Good night. I'm about out of here too.

[HappyIdiot2008]

You are one smart person sweets. Peace :o)

[HeIsTheOne]

I hope you change your name on Friday for the new year .... You should!