posted on April 10, 2002 05:32:31 AM new
From local newspapers-" The executive director of Virginia's Republican Party was indicted Tuesday on charges of illegally intercepting telephone conference calls involving Gov. Mark Warner and other democrats. Edmund A. Matricardi III, was charged with two counts of illegal wire interception and two counts of attempting to use the contents. He was released without bail. He could get up to 20 years in prison if convicted of all charges. Matricardi resigned Tuesday from his post, state GOP chairman Gary Thompson said. The telephone calls involved a discussion among Warner, top legislative democrats, their aides and attorneys of a court fight over redistricting."
Nothing is as un-American as undermining the two party system of democracy. Spying on the other party is tantamount to having one party just like the Communists. This guy should have bail set at $10,000,000 and be sentenced to life if convicted.
posted on April 10, 2002 07:07:21 AM new
I think it took the indictment to get him to resign. This isn't the land of Washington/Jefferson anymore. Afterall, a lot of Republicans tried to offer us Oliver North as a Senate candidate not too long ago.
posted on April 10, 2002 10:16:26 AM new
It always AMAZES me what People will Risk Everything over. Arthur Andersen being a good example ("Well they were being paid a Million a week" as my spouse says, that's a drop in the Bucket to Andersen Now). I know they Think They Will NEVER get Caught, BUT sometimes they do, and when it comes down it's 10 Times worse Than they imagined.
posted on April 10, 2002 12:24:31 PM new
If anyone from Anderson goes to jail they will likely spend less time than someone who sold a small amout of pot. They will serve it in a minimum security prison where they will enjoy an atmosphere that includes all sorts of recreation - possibly even a chance to work on their golf game - and have all their ill gained millions wsaiting for them after they spend a few months at the Federal Spa.
No bars and bare metal toilets and lock downs.
posted on April 10, 2002 01:03:51 PM new
That's just the point that I was about to make, gravid. Add to that, that BOTH political parties give this sort of nonsense a wink and a nod because they are usually in hip-deep as well. It's an old crime strategy: you involve those who would prosecute you in the crime that you are committing. That way, even if you get caught, you know that they will be too afraid to do anything other than try to look good to the public.
Perhaps, if Enron's and Arthur Anderson's cupable employees/owners had several body parts forcably removed and then have them thrown into a dark hole incommunicato for twenty years, it might send a message to others to not do this sort of thing.
posted on April 10, 2002 11:38:16 PM new
docpjw: I'm with you on this. I've never understood why people would risk everything for a buck (or a million bucks).
When I was in elective office, one of the many things that kept me as totally honest as a human could be was sheer terror over seeing my name in a negative headline.
Even then, the newspaper pilloried some of us for voting our consciences; it did it with editorials painting us as mavericks and letting the editorial cartoonist have his way (with his artist brushes)with our less-than-perfect bodies and looks. That hurt badly enough; I can't imagine how it would have hurt to be caught doing something illegal.
