If we want the culture of corruption to end people like Ney should be forced to serve time in the general population of a real prison. This will enact immediate ethics reform

You know, when I first read that a Garth Brooks song was quoted by the inmate, I naturally assumed it was "I got friends in low places".

I was not expecting "But I's have had to miss the dance".

I am not kidding.

Hmmm. I missed the part of the judge's sentence where Ney was denied access to uppercase letters. Does he get them back after he serves his time?

(Yes, I admit it. I'm being petty.)

Despite finding a "higher power" the guy is deep into denial.

Maybe while in prison he can avail himself of some therapy.

It's common knowledge in my field that when sociopaths are incarcerated, they become depressed. So possibly the depression will allow the guy to see the TRUTH.

Truth AND consequences. Many more Repub "successful sociopaths" (meaning white collar crime and apparent "success") need both!

Heaven knows this band is one of the largest bands of sociopaths ever! And we are ALL experiencing the consequences!

One other thing. Republicans hate big government and big government spending until it comes to time build and supply the prisons corrupt Republicans are sent to. Tennis anyone?

Was this letter written by a 3rd grader? I can't believe this was written by a former member of Congress. And, I'm not being petty. I'm just astounded that he would allow something like this to go out with his name attached.

This is as bad as, if not worse than, Duke Cunningham's writing. Does it have anything to do with the fact that both of them are Republicans?

A better song to quote would have been:

Breaking rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won.

Apparently, they have email, TVs and a movie theater.

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=972

Maybe he can get in shape in the weight room. Work his way up to data entry for $40 a month.

Wouldn't that be swell?

A crook is a crook but not in America. We have two classes of prisons for crooks in this country. I'd like to know the difference in costs for incarcerating Ney in the country club, and the cost for one who was not a corrupt politician but jailed in a real prison.

Approximately 9000 days in jail for screwing America for$90000.

Approximately the same sentence he woulda got for carrying one rock of crack cocaine for personal use (which woulda pooched mostly only his life). Crack dollar value ten to twenty bucks.

The USA needs sentencing guidelines that give at least one day in lock-up for each dollar bribed or stolen. I would prefer sentences of one day per dollar of public effect . . . Only I can't figure out how to keep the bastards live long enough to serve out their 9000 century sentences.

Im totally trying for a jailhouse autograph. Put it right next to my Traficant (who signed his glossy with the p.s. "beam me up" in silver Sharpie). What a wonderful addition to my collection. Does anyone have the Duke's addy???

Referring to "things that happened" is not the mark of sincerity. Is there a form of recovery that does not place value on taking responsibility?

Point taken.Another common phenom of early recovery is continued self deception,denial,minimization and rationalization...human defense mechanisms to protect against too much (unbearable) self awareness. AA members often say it took them five years of sobriety to get "out of the woods."
If he stays straight (not an easy or common accomplishment),he may see himself more clearly. That other prominent Repug who hasn't had a drink in years (they say ),demonstrates the old AA saying ,"you can take the alcohol out of the fruitcake ,but you've still got a fruitcake." That's one of the reasons that treatment centers recommend AA for aftercare. Drying out is the merest beginning of the process. Untreated sober alkies are "dry drunks" and notoriously angry ,un-self-aware people. Sound like anyone we know?

Touching on the lack of CAPS issue as it bugged me, too:

I am guessing that Bob Ney is a fourteen year old girl . . . No. There is a notable lack of little hearts dotting the "I's". This can't be the reason.

I am guessing that Bob Ney lacks postive self-appreciation and displays a markedly devalued sense of self worth . . . No. Bob Ney is sociopathically impressed with himself so that can't be it.

Perhaps Bob Ney is pathetically stupid and does not know what the 'Shift' key does and can not be held liable for the crap that his secretary should be doing . . . Close but not mean-spirited enough for this jackhole.

What gets your vote?

One of the great ironies of the hill hiring process is that it in large part depends on a writing sample. Staff is clearly held to a different standard than the members. This guy would need cliff's notes for schoolhouse rock.

Why don't these guys (perps) take the time to find God before they do the crime?

I sure hope he gets raped with a cactus.

"you got a purty mouth, toupee-boy."

I live in Morgantown, and am a former resident of Ohio. If I went over to the prison, do you think he would see me? Feel free to e-mail (drinkingclub at gmail.com) me any questions you would like me to ask him, and if he will see me, and answers any of them, I would be happy to report back to tpmmuckraker.com.

Why is it that every time one of these corrupt, usually Rethuglican, politicians gets caught displaying a lack of moral and ethical principles, it is always blamed on alcohol or substance abuse? Can't these people own up to anything? They seem incapable of coming clean and taking responsibility for their ethical failings..."the alcohol (or fill in the blank) made me do it". This is bogus! Let's put aside the question of whether there is any truth to these excuses or not, which I doubt. While alcohol/substance abuse can certainly cloud one's judgement, I find it hard to swallow that it would suddenly cause an otherwise morally and ethically principled individual to act in a manner totally inconsistent with their character and principles, repeatedly and habitually, not just in an isolated moment of "impaired judgement". It just doesn't pass the smell test for me. And this from people who claim they value "personal responsibility" above all else as a personal virtue. Please!

Although a therapist might say that this behavior and the denial of it are part of "the disease", I wonder which comes first, the disease of addiction or the "disease" of moral turpitude.

These are also the same people who routinely play the "religion/moral values" card, as Ney does so pathetically and transparently, above. As noted in a number of posts, there really is no apology or heartfelt acknowledgement of guilt or remorse. Saying he's sorry for "things that happened", just doesn't cut it. These people use religion just like they use/abuse their public office. I think John Dean hit the nail on the head in his book, "Conservatives Without Conscience", in characterizing these people as right-wing authoritarians and in Ney's case, a double-high, social dominator. One of the main character traits of such people, according to self-reporting on anonymous questionaires, is amorality. The letter is basically a feeble attempt at a whitewash, offering up a list of his self-perceived accomplishments, more excuses and shameless appeals to the sympathy of friends and 'many others in the district who have lost all' (as if he fits in that category!).

But, the thing that irks me the most about this is the tired "born again" trick at the end where he says "my family and my life is starting anew, thanks for being part of it". It doesn't matter what these clowns do, they think they get to erase the slate and get another "do-over", managing to rise from the ashes like a phoenix to sin again. It reminds me of the line in that great Frank Zappa song about Jimmy Swaggart (who can forget that creep?) where he says, "I made a mistake, now I sinned". Until they get caught there is no sin, but once they do, the flood of insincere contrition and crockadile tears flows in torrents! Shame on us if we are fooled again.