John Doolittle

Rep. John Doolittle is retiring to spend more time with his defense attorney.

Funny how the GOP spent the last several years trying to spin their corruption problems. Now they are trying to clean house, and on deck - Rep. John Doolittle.

Of course the two deserting Bush now are John Doolittle and Pete Domenici, two people facing tough re-elections as well as investigations into their own backgrounds.

While the media is talking about this recent rash of desertion by warhawk Republicans, the Democratic leadership is wondering if they will put up or shut-up. Nancy Pelosi had this to say:

Another senior Republican senator has broken with the failed Iraq policy of President Bush. Senator Domenici’s March 2008 timetable is consistent with the legislation Democrats have proposed as recently as June 29 to redeploy our troops and reflects the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Yet President Bush and most of his party in the House and Senate remain firmly committed to a policy that has failed and a war without end.

Senator Warner’s benchmarks, Senator Lugar’s declaration, and the realization by Senators Domenici and Voinovich that a change is needed in Iraq demonstrate bipartisan support for an end to the war. Now the question is whether they will join in a bipartisan way in voting to change course in Iraq and to bring our troops home? For those in Congress who have yet to speak out, the question is: how long until you respect the wishes of the American people to end this war?

Aravosis also has the statement released by Harry Reid on the same subject.

So will we see more of these people desert Bush by September, and if they do will they finally stand up for change? The poll I have been running for the past month asks that very question, and it appears most people don't believe the Republicans will change course. I am with those people, as the typical actions of a Republican is totally dictated by politics. Sadly this is the worst kind of politics - they will put their party above the security of our nation and the lives of our soldiers.

From Roll Call via Think Progress:

In a second blow to House Republicans this week, the FBI raided a business tied to the family of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing investigation into the three-term lawmaker.

Details of the raid on Patriot Insurance Agency in Sonoita, Ariz., were not immediately available. Renzi’s most recent financial disclosure form lists the business as an asset belonging to his wife, Roberta, and valued at $1 million to $5 million.

Little is known about the inquiries into Renzi’s activities, but according to media reports the Justice Department has been running a two-track investigation into Renzi regarding a land deal, as well as a piece of legislation he helped steer that may have improperly benefited a major campaign contributor. It was not immediately clear which investigation the raid pertained to, and neither his attorney nor his spokesman could be immediately reached for comment.

As a result of the raid, Renzi is stepping down from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee, according to a statement from his office obtained Thursday evening by Roll Call.

“Today, the FBI came to my family’s business to obtain documents related to their investigation,” Renzi said. “I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth. Until this matter is resolved, I will take a leave of absence from the House Intelligence Committee. I intend to fully cooperate with this investigation.”

CREW is also reporting that an Arizona U.S.A. who was investigating Renzi was fired:

Last September, CREW named Rep. Rick Renzi as one of the most corrupt members of Congress in our report, "Beyond DeLay."  Last October, the Associated Press reported that Renzi was under federal investigation for a land deal.  In December, Paul Charlton, the U.S. Attorney in Arizona who was investigating Renzi, was fired.  Speculation is growing about whether the Renzi investigation led to Charlton's dismissal

I believe we have more than coincidence here when we now have two attorneys who are involved in corruption cases against GOP congressmen losing their jobs. Considering how many lies Gonzales has been caught in, him saying that these were not connected is most likely just another lie.

We also find out a few more details on Doolittle's "resignation" from the Appropriations Committee yesterday:

Doolittle, who was GOP conference secretary in the 109th Congress, voluntarily surrendered his seat on the coveted Appropriations panel. But GOP aides said Republican leaders made clear that if Doolittle failed to quit on his own, they would move to throw him off.

So it wasn't as much a "resignation" as it was an agreement.

I believe the most ironic part of all this is the fact that these actions are coming on the same week Gonzales had to testify. It sounds like someone pulled some strings to get the ball moving faster.

Raw Story has the details.

The FBI has raided the home of Republican Congressman John Doolitle according to Roll Call (via the Muckraker):

The FBI has raided the Northern Virginia home of Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), according to Congressional sources. No details are publicly available yet about the circumstances of the raid, but Doolittle and his wife, Julie, have been under federal investigation for their ties to the scandal surrounding imprisoned former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Time to bring ethics back into focus. Time to remind the people why they voted for Democrats.