Another example of Republican arrogance and their priorities. The fact that this guy is so comfortable he willingly had his photo taken with a known lobbyist beside a Gulstream Jet on his way to a 5-star European golfing trip paid for by corporate interests, shows status quo. Shocking that America would put up with this, quite frankly.

I wonder if any of them thought of paying their own way? Congressional rules specify they have to pay only the cost of a first-class ticket on a commercial flight, not the real cost of a private chartered jet. It's hard to see how the Congress can have a "lobbying reform" bill without addressing that. It would be nice to see ABC look into that.

I wonder whether corruption or the massive and growing federal debt is the biggest threat to our democracy, and whether Congress cares about either?

I think the pay for these positions should be high enough that it isn't a huge sacrifice to serve in congress. But it should be 10 years in prison for violation of public trust. I have no sympathy for that Louisiana congressman caught with money in his freezer, and evidence against him in his office. It is precisely behavior like that that leaves us disillusioned with our so-called leaders.

There should also be similar rules to the ones I follow in the private sector about the "appearance of impropriety". Delay taking rides on corporadoes' private jets to resorts seems to have that appearance.

Why, oh why, can't politicians control buying and selling without being bought and sold themselves?

Maybe we should just remove the financial incentive to bribe officeholders?

Free market anyone?

Ralph Reed is the Devil Himself..

Shock! Shock! Shock!
Ralph Reed on an airplane with al-kee-hol??!!
My, My, what a terrible sin for this fine christian leader!
What a joke that people would listen to that twerp.

From Cheney and Supreme Court Judges chumming around together immediately prior to a case he had interest in to this, it never stops. It has gotten so that "prove it" is the standard now, instead of the mere appearance of impropriety. If anyone thinks that there is anything that can be done to really solve these issues they are wrong. Our country has turned a corner in the last 5 years and there is no going back. This is coinciding, however coincidentally, with the global "revaluing" of our country. We aren't the white palace we used to be. Too bad too. It was great while it lasted. "Leadership" has thrown our children's future away for the price of green fees and hotel accomodations in far-off places. I hope they choke on all of their money.

I believe that is a revolution going on in this country. Enough Republicans are decent enough that they know that the price of getting a Republican control of all three branches of government with the eroding of our democracy is too high of a price. I belive that both sides of the aisle need to do jail time for engaging in illegal activities and violating the publics trust.

And yes, I do believe that when exit poles and the actual voting results show as much discrepecy as they had in the 2004 election, something illegal has take place.

If the world can accuse the Ukraine's of fraudulant voting results when that happens there, then why not here?

I love if-then phrases like, If Abramoff called his Indian clients, "monkeys and morons", then Ralph Reed called his "christian" supporters...fill in the blank as it will come out someday. If "christian" supporters ever understand how much they were used by the corrupt and greedy republicans, then will November 2006 be the largest "punishment" election we have ever enjoyed in these great "ole" United States?

This not NEWS...These people are crooks

Who is passenger 9, and why is their name redacted? No more secrets. Governement for the people by the people includes knowing all there is to know. Period.

What we have is a total lack of ethics as demonstrated by this group of scum taking a trip they know would be illegal. A spit in your face for Americans that work every day to pay for these trips. Throw all these bums out of office.

Enjoy my homage to this debacle, which I have titled "Red State Blues."

This isn't a Republican problem - it's a Congressional problem. And it will never be solved. Asking the Congress to address ethics is like asking the CIA to investigate itself. Washington politicians feel like that are entitled to whatever they can stuff into their pockets.

A case and a half of beer... for a morning flight...with omelets and bagels??? Are these guys drunks, too?

The second link in the above story is not working. Source appears to have been removed.

I'm guessing that passenger 9 is the minor in the picture...

"Enough Republicans are decent enough that they know that the price of getting a Republican control of all three branches of government with the eroding of our democracy is too high of a price."

Oh to be that young and naive again!

" If "christian" supporters ever understand how much they were used by the corrupt and greedy republicans, then will November 2006 be the largest "punishment" election we have ever enjoyed in these great "ole" United States?"

The key word here is 'understand'. These people don't 'understand' things or seek to 'understand' them...they have the bible and thats all they need.

This isn't news. These are the slimiest repesentatives and leaders of government our country has ever seen! Nixon was a jewel compared to these guys. The raw arrogance and total lack of touch with the American people is beyond words. Between the debt, trade deficit, education system mess, horrible bankruptcy law, and our open border policy, we are doomed as a nation.

Another Republican scandal, barely covered by the conservative news media. Who else is crooked? For the foreseeable future: Zero tolerance for Republicans