Who is the Most Corrupt Republican? 
Recently the corruption spotlight shone brightly on the longest serving Republican senator of all, Ted Stevens of Alaska.
Stevens had become the "King of Pork". The word "pork" in Senate terms defines pet projects of House and Senate members for an assortment of cash for the people who put them in office.
Stevens had sent a series of huge sums back home to Alaska as the "King of Pork". His most notorious achievement was the Alaskan Bridge that led to nowhere.
Margaret Carlson, writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer August 2, wrote the following:
"The elder Stevens squandered his 40 years in Congress over $250,000 worth of home improvements, including a new first floor for his house, which was raised up on stilts to accommodate it, a garage, wrap-around deck, plumbing and electricity, furniture, and an outdoor Viking grill.
"It doesn't sound like a big enough payoff for the trouble he's in. Unlike cash, you can't hide a stainless-steel gas barbecue, at least not if you're going to get any use out of it."
The competition for most corrupt Republican federal legislator heated up during the Bush Republican reign of error.
Lest we forget that high roller Congressman Randy Cunningham of California. He gained notoriety for his Louis-Philippe commode, a Rolls Royce and a yacht. He is serving time these days in one of sunny California's crowded prisons that overflow with shady people.
Then we must not forget former Congressman Robert Ney of Ohio, who kept himself busily occupied exchanging legislative favors that benefited that colorful character drenched in corruption, Jack Abramoff's Indian casino scam.
The "King of Pork" Ted Stevens indictment says that he "used his office on behalf of VECO including meetings to discuss building a natural gas pipeline and multiple federal grants and contracts to benefit the company."
Prosecutors, however, did not include any bribery charges against Stevens, yet brought seven criminal counts for failing to disclose improper gifts, but not to worry.
Margaret Carlson explained where gay sex scandals rate compared to big cash bribes and heterosexual scandals:
"A full ranking of congressional sins would put gay sex at the top (Idaho Senator Larry Craig and former Florida Congressman Mark Foley, both quickly abandoned); heterosexual sex (bad but not fatal, with Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana surviving his extensive dealings with the D.C. Madam); and way, way down, corruption. You can practically be caught with a bag of cash, as Democratic Representative William Jefferson of Louisiana was (in his freezer) and continue serving."
KEYWORDS: Ted Stevens, Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney, Jack Abramoff, Republican Political Corruption
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