" No forgiveness for wayward Congressmen, and I'm getting disgusted with the whole human race!"> God
by Gunther Schnitzel
How many Congressmen can 46 pounds of hooker phone records buy? It's been a rough year for politicians. Just one month after Rep. William Jefferson (D) was indicted on 16 counts of bribery and fraud, Sen. David Vitter (R) has become the first member of Congress officially ensnared in the controversy surrounding the so-called D.C. Madam -- Deborah Jeane Palfrey.The Louisiana senator released a statement apologizing for his patronage of Palfrey's alleged prostitution ring. The disclosure of Vitter's involvement in the scandal came when Palfrey was granted permission to publish the phone records of her escort service, Pamela Martin & Associates.
"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter said in his statement. "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there with God and them.
Although Vitter's indiscretions are just coming to Washington's attention this week, SALON reported on rumors of the affair just before his election in 2004. That report quotes the senator's wife, Wendy Vitter, as saying in 2000, "I'm a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary [Rodham Clinton]. If he does something like that, I'm walking away with one thing in my hand, and it's not alimony, trust me."
Most of these 'sinners' claim that God has forgiven their 'indiscretions'. True?
We sent a fax to St. Peter saying we heard only from the transgressors. We asked if God HAS forgiven these corrupted hypocrites. We were surprised and pleased to receive a response.
In the reply, St. Peter said he discussed the matter with God, who said that the statements from David Vitter, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, William Jefferson, Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Rick Renzi, Dan Rostenkowski, Tom DeLay, Gerry Studs,.... in all, more than a dozen convicted felons who were formerly members of Congress, as well as scores of others in high places who said they "asked for, and received His penitence," are just adding another lie to their portfolio.
" Sure, they asked for forgiveness, but God has more important things to do, than forgive this corrupt group. The answer is 'No,' said St. Peter. "Also, God asked me to correct some other misinformation that those who pretend to speak with him are spreading."
"He never authorized a State Religion. He never told those writing the Constitution that the United States is a Christian Nation....or that China is a Buddhist nation, or that Italy is a Catholic nation, or that Iraq is a Muslim nation, or India a Hindu one... All these religions were invented by man, God had nothing to do with that nonsense. He never authorized any government to legislate what a woman could do with her body. He never told Moses that the Ten Commandments were to be posted in schools and court houses. He never authorized those fake televangelists who claim to speak in His name, to collect money for their Mercedes and their wife's jewelry. He never discussed or authorized the war with Iraq with Bush. In fact, God is totally disgusted with the way Earth is turning out, and He's devoting full attention to Callisto, a moon of Jupiter, where he is evolving some new... and hopefully better, life forms."
The fax disappeared right after we read it, so you'll just have to take our word on this story.
Politicians this year have echoed the sentiment of the American people that we need substantial change in the way that politics is working in Washington and around the nation. The fact that “the system is broken” is widely accepted. But no new President -- or Congress -- elected in 2008 can change much as long as corruption prevails. Bribery of public officials and the corruption of public office must be stopped. Let’s do just that!
Do not for a moment believe those who say “but bribery is already illegal.” In fact, it has been institutionalized by corrupt politicians. Most specifically, corruption has been legalized in the way that political campaigns are funded and conducted “under prevailing law” Real change can only come if the power is returned to the people, rescued from the hands of lobbyists and special interests motivated by greed rather than the public good.
We therefore propose the below Constitutional Amendment to prohibit bribery and the sale of public office. The effort here is to make politics an honorable profession. “Politicians” are too often demonized -- unless they have been dead long enough to become “statesmen.” Many of our elected officials were motivated by public service when they began their careers and are very uncomfortable with the prevailing system. But if they fight the system, they know they will be out-campaigned by others who are better financed by special interests and will lose office.
But, how can we get such an amendment passed under the prevailing system? It would seem impossible -- but it is not.
We suggest that you forward this amendment to ALL of your elected officials (national, state, and local) and ask them to support it. If they do not respond, or if they try to argue that prevailing law is enough, refuse to vote for them -- ever! Vote only for candidates who are pledged to support this idea. Remember that Constitutional Amendments must pass the proper number of State legislatures as well.
We suggest that you forward this amendment to each candidate for the Presidency (or any office where you vote) in all political parties, and say that you intend only to vote for persons who supports the REAL change that this amendment can make. Do not vote for anyone, even the candidate of your favorite party, if that person is unwilling to change the present broken system.
If you have not been voting due to disgust with the system, register now! Register as “independent” if you wish, but put good government before political affiliation.
Constitutional Amendment against Bribery
1) Bribery of any public official of the United States or of any of the several States shall constitute a felony. The solicitation or receipt of bribery by such persons shall constitute a felony and is a high crime against this Constitution. This amendment shall not be construed to lessen the seriousness of any crime covered by existing legislation.
2) The public offence of bribery includes the offering or giving of payment in any shape or form that it may be a motive in the performance of official functions for which the proper motive is a conscientious sense of duty as accepted by such public official by his or her Oath or Affirmation to support this Constitution.
3) The same laws against bribery that currently affect appointed officials in each jurisdiction, shall also affect elected officials and judges. Bribery may not be disguised in the form of gifts to family members or associates, campaign contributions, or commitments for future employment.
4) Public office involving policy-making functions or policy implementation, may not be bought or sold. This applies to governmental positions of the United States and of the several States. The buying or selling of such a public office shall constitute a felony under this Constitution. Persons seeking elective office shall not spend in such pursuit of election a sum of personal funds that is more than half of the salary to be earned while in that office; to do so shall constitute an effort to buy public office.
5) Honest government, being necessary to the security of a free State, elected public officials shall be paid salaries that are independently adjudged to be commensurate with their responsibilities.
6) The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Such legislation need not be signed by the President.
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For purposes of Googling, etc., this amendment is cited as the “gilroyinitiative”
Do not for a moment believe those who say “but bribery is already illegal.” In fact, it has been institutionalized by corrupt politicians. Most specifically, corruption has been legalized in the way that political campaigns are funded and conducted “under prevailing law” Real change can only come if the power is returned to the people, rescued from the hands of lobbyists and special interests motivated by greed rather than the public good.
We therefore propose the below Constitutional Amendment to prohibit bribery and the sale of public office. The effort here is to make politics an honorable profession. “Politicians” are too often demonized -- unless they have been dead long enough to become “statesmen.” Many of our elected officials were motivated by public service when they began their careers and are very uncomfortable with the prevailing system. But if they fight the system, they know they will be out-campaigned by others who are better financed by special interests and will lose office.
But, how can we get such an amendment passed under the prevailing system? It would seem impossible -- but it is not.
We suggest that you forward this amendment to ALL of your elected officials (national, state, and local) and ask them to support it. If they do not respond, or if they try to argue that prevailing law is enough, refuse to vote for them -- ever! Vote only for candidates who are pledged to support this idea. Remember that Constitutional Amendments must pass the proper number of State legislatures as well.
We suggest that you forward this amendment to each candidate for the Presidency (or any office where you vote) in all political parties, and say that you intend only to vote for persons who supports the REAL change that this amendment can make. Do not vote for anyone, even the candidate of your favorite party, if that person is unwilling to change the present broken system.
If you have not been voting due to disgust with the system, register now! Register as “independent” if you wish, but put good government before political affiliation.
Constitutional Amendment against Bribery
1) Bribery of any public official of the United States or of any of the several States shall constitute a felony. The solicitation or receipt of bribery by such persons shall constitute a felony and is a high crime against this Constitution. This amendment shall not be construed to lessen the seriousness of any crime covered by existing legislation.
2) The public offence of bribery includes the offering or giving of payment in any shape or form that it may be a motive in the performance of official functions for which the proper motive is a conscientious sense of duty as accepted by such public official by his or her Oath or Affirmation to support this Constitution.
3) The same laws against bribery that currently affect appointed officials in each jurisdiction, shall also affect elected officials and judges. Bribery may not be disguised in the form of gifts to family members or associates, campaign contributions, or commitments for future employment.
4) Public office involving policy-making functions or policy implementation, may not be bought or sold. This applies to governmental positions of the United States and of the several States. The buying or selling of such a public office shall constitute a felony under this Constitution. Persons seeking elective office shall not spend in such pursuit of election a sum of personal funds that is more than half of the salary to be earned while in that office; to do so shall constitute an effort to buy public office.
5) Honest government, being necessary to the security of a free State, elected public officials shall be paid salaries that are independently adjudged to be commensurate with their responsibilities.
6) The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Such legislation need not be signed by the President.
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For purposes of Googling, etc., this amendment is cited as the “gilroyinitiative”