Abramoff, Kidan & Boulis

remember not long ago when the repugs kept saying that they were more scared of abramoffal than traitorgate - we need to remember that there's a lot more than lobbying and indian casinos involved.

Josh has this:

"Back in September, Big Tony was arrested at his home in Howard Beach, New York and later transferred down to Florida where he is now awaiting trial for Boulis' murder. During that time, beside visits from family and attorneys, Big Tony received only one visit.

Who? Right. Adam Kidan."

Hopsicker offers this:

"Because whatever else Abramoff is remembered for, he is sure to go down in history as the man who gambled the reputation and prestige of the national Republican Party on the uncertain outcome of a murder trial that Court TV's Nancy Grace should really sink her teeth into, placing the GOP squarely in the middle of somebody's deadly earnest Mob War.

To get some idea of the immensity of Mr. Abramoff's accomplishment, one need only picture Ed Meese and Dick Cheney going to the mattresses.

Nothing less than the future of the GOP rides on the uncertain outcome of a murder trial in Florida this Spring of three men accused of the gangland style slaying of the one man who stood in the way of Jack Abramoff's ascension into, if not heaven, then at least the realm of the Titans: Sun Cruz gambling czar Gus Boulis."

Speaking of mobbed up, let's not forget our good friend Mr Hastert:

"DAVID SHUSTER: "But the Speaker himself may be in some political trouble. Abramoff held fundraisers for Hastert. And after one event at Abramoff's restaurant that raised $21,000, the House Speaker sent a letter to Interior Secretary Gayle Norton pressuring her to stop a casino in Louisiana. That new casino would have competed with an Abramoff client."" (link)

and

" House Speaker Dennis Hastert became the latest lawmaker to dump campaign contributions from clients of high-flying lobbyist Jack Abramoff, giving about $70,000 to charity Tuesday." (link)

Apparently Denny was so concerned about 'appearances' that he was happy to depart ways with $70,000 - but he isn't so worried about appearances that he is hoping to ride out the VF bribery claims when all he has to do is disclose his campaign contributions - and he doesn't even have any excuse for not disclosing...