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Today's Must Read
Everybody's in on it -- and I mean everybody. From The Reno Gazette-Journal:
Gov. Jim Gibbons said Monday he’s heard a rumor that Democrats paid the Wall Street Journal to publish stories about his relations with a defense contractor and that the coverage is designed to help Democrats in the 2008 election.Asked about rumors of a conspiracy among Democrats against him, Gibbons said he heard the same thing but did not name a source.
“I have heard that the Democrats have paid to have these Wall Street Journal articles written,” Gibbons said. The Journal has reported that Gibbons is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly accepting unreported gifts or payments from a Reno company that was awarded secret military contracts when Gibbons was in the U.S. House.
Gibbons said he first met the Journal reporter who broke the stories, John R. Wilke, when Wilke was in Elko the night of the debate between Gibbons and Democratic rival Dina Titus of Las Vegas. Gibbons said Wilke was brought to Elko by the Titus campaign.
“When I met this guy, (Wilke), he was brought to Elko by the Dina Titus campaign and that is where I met him. So I don’t know what his agenda is, but there is nothing there with any of these allegations.”
Now, let's take a step back and see how high and wide this conspiracy goes. Not only has the (apparently conservative) Wall Street Journal been paid to write these stories about poor Jim Gibbons, but since those stories revealed a federal corruption investigation into his dealings with a defense contractor when he was in Congress, that means the (ostensibly Republican run) Justice Department is in on it too -- the FBI, the U.S. attorneys' office in Washington, everyone. And how about this for a kicker: Wilke's last story revealed that Gibbons' wife had a consulting contract with a defense contractor for which Gibbons had earmarked millions in federal dollars. There's only one conclusion to be drawn: Gibbons' wife is on it too.
Come to think of it, that cocktail waittress who alleged in October that Gibbons drunkenly assaulted her... she was also on the Dems' dole, for sure. Where does it end?
Not since ex-Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) was brought down by the liberal conspiracy to have him investigated by the FBI has my worldview been so shaken.
Note: It should go without saying that the Journal denies Gibbons' allegation... but anyway the Journal denies Gibbons' allegation.
Comments (54)
nffcnnr wrote on April 10, 2007 9:20 AM:Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you.
JesseLman wrote on April 10, 2007 9:21 AM:Well of course they were paid. Everyone knows the Wall Street Journal is a worthless liberal rag. They're always doing whatever they can to knock down rich, white men whose only crimes are corruption, taking bribes, misusing taxpayer money, not being able to hold their liquor, sexual assault... just another case of the man trying to keep... well, the man down.
Dr. Bonzo wrote on April 10, 2007 9:26 AM:Who'd'a thunk it? A vast, left-wing conspiracy, with that notorious red-flag tabloid (the WSJ) at its core. The mind boggles.
Agjobs wrote on April 10, 2007 9:28 AM:As a registered Democrat for the last 25 years who has worked alot in the party, let me just say this:
Democrats are way to unorganized to pull off these supposed conspiracies. The Democratic Party is a messy, conflicted mass of democratic ideas, and interest groups that are just flat not able to pull this kind of stuff together. However Republicans (and I was a College Republican back in the 70's) train their people from the gitgo to do just this kind of stuff under the assumption that you are just doing what your political enemies are already doing. It's called projection and it is part and parcel of Republican training. That's how you get people do dump all of their personal integrity and do the kind of things that have plagued the party and this administration for years.
codeword: loss as in that's why they have lost their footing in America.
mayan wrote on April 10, 2007 9:33 AM:Agjobs -> the Dems are going to get slammed by these people no matter what. It is just relative to the situation.
I've seen the same wingnut claim that the Dem libruls are the most masterful juggernaut since Stalin, capable of subverting anything and everything in their path to the librul cause. In the next sentence, he claims that they are too disorganized, leaderless, driftless and lacking in principles to do ANYTHING. Cain't win for losing, I reckon.
Bugboy wrote on April 10, 2007 9:37 AM:What does Jim Gibbons saying he "heard a rumor" mean? How is it the Honorable Governor can find the time to discuss "rumors".
Only time will tell if he indeed is under investigation by the FBI. Until that time I expect elected officials to be a bit more about "facts".
And what is he doing but throwing gasoline on his own fire? This sounds exactly like the noise machine in the Plame case "uh, yeah I heard that one too".
Note, Josh, just how fast all the Dem corruption stories have lost traction the last week or so. There is no there there.
security code is public as in public official
Pete wrote on April 10, 2007 9:42 AM:I imagine the hidden hand of George Soros must be involved in some way.
Anonymous wrote on April 10, 2007 9:51 AM:'Democrats are way to unorganized to pull off these supposed conspiracies. The Democratic Party is a messy, conflicted mass of democratic ideas, and interest groups that are just flat not able to pull this kind of stuff together'
Wil Rogers; 'I'm not a member of any organized party. I'm a Democrat'
True 70 years ago and true now. And not necessarily a weakness. The biggest problem this party has has been the attempt to enforce orthodoxy from the DLC/Beltway types. Real Democracy is inherently messy, once you let everyone participate it is harder to exert control. Well we have a word for top down control from a single source. Personally I would be perfectly happy to be described as 'disorganized" as opposed to 'blind fascist follower'
Punchy wrote on April 10, 2007 9:52 AM:Isn't a "gibbon" a type of monkey/ape? How apropos.
What?! wrote on April 10, 2007 9:56 AM:I live in Nevada; many of us disown this guy. Clearly, he will be on his drunken knees praying alongside Kissinger before long.
Bugboy wrote on April 10, 2007 9:57 AM:"Isn't a "gibbon" a type of monkey/ape? How apropos."
Coffee, meet nose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbon
Andrea wrote on April 10, 2007 9:57 AM:I knew that the Wall Street Journal had changed since it acknowledged a few weeks ago that Iraq was in a civil war.
This acknowledgement occurred in the Friday crossword puzzle.
Barbara wrote on April 10, 2007 9:57 AM:Hidden hand of George Soros, or maybe hidden hand of Karl Rove?
Bugboy wrote on April 10, 2007 9:58 AM:sorry haven't figured out the link thing yet
Pili wrote on April 10, 2007 10:03 AM:Whoa. Who knew that all you needed to do was to pay the WSJ to get them to dig into Republican malfeasance. Might be a good investment.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on April 10, 2007 10:05 AM:The Demon-crat are tay-er-eests I tell you. And the anal-probing aliens from South o' the border are involved, too. Iz jus knows it . . . Just let me git my foil hat so I can tell youzall about it.
I take next Thursday at three-thirty in the Gibbon's Going to Rehab Pool.
pj in jesusland wrote on April 10, 2007 10:11 AM:I love that phrase Republicans always use when they want to suggest liberal wrongdoing and conspiracy when there's no evidence, "It raises the question . . ."
Ahh, the smell of desperation in the morning . . .
barrelhse wrote on April 10, 2007 10:25 AM:Ha! I was right! At the time the cocktail-waitress assault story broke, my absolute first thought was: "Oh My God- the Democrats must be paying the WSJ, otherwise none of this makes sense!"
Joel Mael wrote on April 10, 2007 10:30 AM:(code: snake)
Hey Paul,
Some people will be confused by this comment:
"Come to think of it, that cocktail waittress who alleged in October that Gibbons drunkenly assaulted her... she was also on the Dems' dole, for sure. Where does it end?"
TPM is now too important to assume all your readers are regulars who know when you are, pardon the expression, "joshing".
I recommend TPM to lots of people, many of whom are reading HONEST news and comment for the first time.
Thanks for all your work for our country.
Joel Mael
mbbsdphil wrote on April 10, 2007 10:46 AM:Karl Rove's tired recipe: Shout the Big Lie that what defines you is really the action of your opponent.
The Bush version of "It's just politics," will go down in history like Al Capone's lament that, "It was just tax evasion."
Evil Liberal Mastermind wrote on April 10, 2007 11:02 AM:"Not since ex-Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) was brought down by the liberal conspiracy to have him investigated by the FBI has my worldview been so shaken."
(Sneers) Soon ALL will learn to fear and obey the left side of the force!
I am liberal! Hear me roar!
David in Burbank wrote on April 10, 2007 11:17 AM:Howard Dean sent me a check just to think bad thoughts about Gov. Gibbons. This thing goes deep!
Duckman GR wrote on April 10, 2007 11:24 AM:So, what contractor was doing the alleged bribing and paying and what not to Gibbons? And more importantly, can we count on the Justice Department to follow through in this investigation?
Rick Cass wrote on April 10, 2007 11:43 AM:As to the Gibbon/gibbon comment, we don't need no Maccacca moments. Security code, "nose" as in meets coffee.
freejack wrote on April 10, 2007 11:48 AM:It’s the fault of the Liberals that Conservatives can't control themselves.
I don't know why you moonbats can't get that through your soft skulls. It's as simple as Black Hats & White Hats.
Oh, and keep you're incivilities to yourself.
/snark
RobW wrote on April 10, 2007 11:59 AM:And more importantly, can we count on the Justice Department to follow through in this investigation?
IIRC, right around the time the FBI announced it was looking into Gibbons, the USA in Nevada was let go... How odd.
michael mc grath wrote on April 10, 2007 12:11 PM:The scariest thing is considering his laments in concert with the Republicans penchant for accusing the left of it's own crimes.
Cranky wrote on April 10, 2007 12:21 PM:Voter fraud, partisianship, conspiriacy's we have all heard before, but purchasing opinions from the media is a new one. Kinda adds a new light to the actions and motivations of many in the press, doesn't it?
Might I suggest you spend some time reading the back columns of the Las Vegas Review Journal for some barely noticed info on the USA scandal? I think you might some things and strings you might want to follow or pull on. I would enjoying hearing from you if this is of help to you.
C92 wrote on April 10, 2007 12:49 PM:Is it a coincedence that Gibbons' wife runs a consulting company called "Sierra Nevada" based in Nevada and Rep. Doolittle's wife runs a consulting company called "Sierra Dominion" based in the (Old Dominion of) Virginia?
And is it a coincedence that the Doolittles and the Gibbons' are friends and vacation together?
And is it a coincedence that both consulting companies leech off of the husbands' public jobs?
Do we have a little east coast west coast conspiracy here?
efc1918 wrote on April 10, 2007 12:49 PM:Just another example of a Publican (almost surely falsely) accusing Dems of exactly what the Publicans do on a regular basis. They own Fox and seem to have so many major media types eating out of their hands. Thay also have had (and probably still do have) fake reporters like Jeff Gannon lurking about. Then they accuse Dems of planting a story in the WSJ.
Similarly, the DOJ responds to claims from local Publicans about voter fraud. Voter fraud?! Who're the experts at that? Let's look at voter suppression, in Ohio and Florida just for a start.
They castigate Pelosi for talking to Syria, while her trip was sandwiched in between Publican visits to Damascus.
Watch carefully what the Publicans accuse their politcal opponents of doing--it's probably something they're guilty as for doing themselves.
harriett wrote on April 10, 2007 1:30 PM:Rethugs cannot open their mouths without lying. Just like they can't win elections without dirty tricks, and outright stealing. It's simply impossible. And, it's getting easier each day to sit back and laugh at these asshats, as they and their party continue to self-destruct.
Mcboo wrote on April 10, 2007 1:41 PM:LOL! I'm still enjoying the Gibbon/Gibbon post. Thankfully I was not mid-coffee when I read it. But I did find something interesting when I followed the Wiki link provided.
Some species have an enlarged throat sac, which inflates and serves as a resonating chamber when the animals call. This structure is enormous in a few species, equalling the size of the animal's head.
That provides me with an entirely new perspective on the phrase "full of hot air". Thank you.
Sam Thornton wrote on April 10, 2007 2:38 PM:Next newsflash from the Gibbon's camp: "I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior and he has forgiven all my sins, so can't you guys just back off?" Onward to the Twelve Steps.
pj in jesusland wrote on April 10, 2007 2:51 PM:From Wikipedia:
"Gibbons are social animals. Strongly territorial, gibbons defend their boundaries with vigorous visual and vocal displays. . . Most species are threatened or endangered . . .
jimbo92107 wrote on April 10, 2007 3:32 PM:...extrapolating slightly from the Wiki...
When threatened, gibbons sometimes employ a "feces hurling" strategy wherein the threatened animal flings its own foul smelling excrement at the intruder, then points and makes accusing noises, as if to say, "Look what you did, you dirty, stinky beast!"
Feces hurling tends to be effective unless the attacker is armed with a subpoena.
freepatriot wrote on April 10, 2007 3:59 PM:geez, the wall street journal must have hit hard times if they have to accept Democrats' money to bite the hand that feeds them
all the repuglican bribe money must be going towards paying the lawyers lately
how much would it cost me to get the WSJ to print a story saying george bush is a drooling idiot ???
I could spare 20 bucks or so ...
nvmojo wrote on April 10, 2007 8:56 PM:I wonder why his high priced attorney, Lowell (former Abramoff attorney) let him do this interview. If that attorney thinks this will help Gibbons case ...he's not as smart as everyone thinks, and definitely not worth the second mortgage the Gibbons claim they had to take out on their Reno, Nevada home.
Horton Heath wrote on April 10, 2007 11:03 PM:Ah, the Empty Flight Suit runs the mouth connected to his Empty Head once again!
Here's a timely Nevada joke, left over from the pre-election gymkhana:
"Gibbons was out for a drive in Reno. The PD pulled him over and administered a Breathalyzer test.
He blew a 38DD."
Anonymous wrote on April 11, 2007 12:30 AM:I'm sure a Dem somewhere is paying for a WSJ subscription, so there, that proves they're paying for all this persecution of this poor honest Republican!
ryan wrote on April 11, 2007 2:11 PM:at some point there has to be some recognition that conflict of interest applies to spouses as well. I'm in AK and the husband of the new Gov., who's even a (super hot) republican, had enough sense to quit his job with BP as soon as she was elected. Of course now he gets to be a pro snow machine racer (seriously) so maybe his wife getting elected was all the excuse he needed to quit.
pre-amerikkkan wrote on April 11, 2007 4:52 PM:this is hilarious! i needed a laugh after all the bad news about 43 lately.
wsj even. wow. we've got to get to the bottom of this!
thought it was an onion piece for a sec but it is eerily prescient as well. i can see 43 cowering, "there's a conspiracy by the mainstream media to discredit me and dick, blah, blah, blah."
we wouldn't be in the forever war unless the press hadn't simply been a parrot, so i must say, gibbons has a point.
fire that reporter and gibbon's aide too, just for coming up with this idea. lol over and over.
Lexie wrote on April 11, 2007 10:50 PM:Remember this: Whatever they are accusing the Democrats of is exactly what THEY are doing.
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