Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thanks to Alcee Hastings
I had been completely unaware of the connection between moose hunting and racism and anti-Semitism until Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL) pointed it out, to applause, in front of a group of Jewish and black Democrats in Florida yesterday, saying:
It now seems so obvious, I'm kicking myself for not noticing it before.
Of course, in a just universe, Hastings would just be getting out of jail about now rather than be the 7 time Representative for Florida's 23rd District. As it is, he is merely an impeached judge who disgraced his office and continues to disgrace his constituents.
“Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through.”
It now seems so obvious, I'm kicking myself for not noticing it before.
Of course, in a just universe, Hastings would just be getting out of jail about now rather than be the 7 time Representative for Florida's 23rd District. As it is, he is merely an impeached judge who disgraced his office and continues to disgrace his constituents.
Labels: Palin Derangement Syndrome
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 10:24 AM 
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I, too, am a moose "stripper",,,lol
In 1981, Hastings was charged with accepting a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a lenient sentence and a return of seized assets for 21 counts of racketeering by Frank and Thomas Romano, and of perjury in his testimony about the case. He was acquitted by a jury after his alleged co-conspirator, William Borders, refused to testify in court (resulting in a jail sentence for Borders).
In 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives took up the case, and Hastings was impeached for bribery and perjury by a vote of 413-3. Voters to impeach included Democratic Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, John Conyers and Charles Rangel. He was then convicted in 1989 by the United States Senate, becoming the sixth federal judge in the history of the United States to be removed from office by the Senate. The vote on the first article was 69 for and 26 opposed, providing five votes more than the two-thirds of those present that were needed to convict. The first article accused the judge of conspiracy. Conviction on any single article was enough to remove the judge from office. The Senate vote cut across party lines, with Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont voting to convict his fellow party member, and Arlen Specter voting to acquit.[1]
The Senate had the option to forbid Hastings from ever seeking federal office again, but did not do so. Alleged co-conspirator, attorney William Borders went to jail again for refusing to testify in the impeachment proceedings, but was later given a full pardon by Bill Clinton on his last day in office.[2]
In 1981, Hastings was charged with accepting a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a lenient sentence and a return of seized assets for 21 counts of racketeering by Frank and Thomas Romano, and of perjury in his testimony about the case. He was acquitted by a jury after his alleged co-conspirator, William Borders, refused to testify in court (resulting in a jail sentence for Borders).
In 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives took up the case, and Hastings was impeached for bribery and perjury by a vote of 413-3. Voters to impeach included Democratic Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, John Conyers and Charles Rangel. He was then convicted in 1989 by the United States Senate, becoming the sixth federal judge in the history of the United States to be removed from office by the Senate. The vote on the first article was 69 for and 26 opposed, providing five votes more than the two-thirds of those present that were needed to convict. The first article accused the judge of conspiracy. Conviction on any single article was enough to remove the judge from office. The Senate vote cut across party lines, with Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont voting to convict his fellow party member, and Arlen Specter voting to acquit.[1]
The Senate had the option to forbid Hastings from ever seeking federal office again, but did not do so. Alleged co-conspirator, attorney William Borders went to jail again for refusing to testify in the impeachment proceedings, but was later given a full pardon by Bill Clinton on his last day in office.[2]
I've had moose and I helped dress one out 30 years ago, but I have never hunted one, yet. The only thing more depressing than the thought the people voting Hastings into office do not know his history is the thought that they do.
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