rssPosts by Jonathan J. Cooper
Indicted Politicians by the Numbers
We were looking over TWI’s Congressional (dis)Honor Roll of members of the House and Senate who have been indicted and we wondered, What do all these politicians have in common? Can we find some consistent characteristic that draws these guys to break the law (or More…
The Congressional (dis)Honor Roll: 1798 – 2008
With his indictment today, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) joins a congressional (dis)honor role that includes many illustrious members of of the House and Senate. stretching back to 1798. TWI got to wondering just how many congressmen had been indicted before Stevens. The answer: at least 100. Stevens takes his place More…
Members of Congress Charged With a Crime, 1798 – 2008
After the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, on July 29, 2008, TWI got to wondering how many members of Congress came before him. The answer: at least 100. Stevens shares the list with characters like Sen. John Smith, D-Ohio, who, around 1807, was indicted for treason as a co-conspirator More…
Railroad Tracks Lead to Obama
Our friends at The Colorado Independent take a look at railroad companies’ sudden interest in political conventions. Two of them, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, have each given more more than $1 million to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The companies aren’t saying More…
State of Play: Politicizing Justice
A Justice Department investigation report released this morning found that the Justice Department illegally took politics into account in hiring career prosecutor and immigration judges. The report blames top aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales — but says Gonzales was largely unaware of the hiring practices. The report details More…
State of Play: Auto Woes
Ford Motor Company today posted an $8.7-billion loss, it’s largest-ever single-quarter shortfall. The company earned a $750-million profit in the same quarter last year. In an attempt to respond to changing American tastes and boost sales at home, Ford announced it will convert several North American factories in order to More…
State of Play: Obama’s Middle East Tour Part II
Sen. Barack Obama’s Middle East trip continues to dominate this week’s political news. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave Obama’s campaign a boost when he old a German news magazine that he supported Obama’s timetable for withdrawing American troops. Obama also met with al-Maliki More…
State of Play: Jackson Criticizes Obama
First the news broke that Jesse Jackson was caught criticizing Barack Obama on an open microphone. Even before we knew what he said, Jackson was on CNN apologizing for his "crude" remarks. Fox News, which had the tape, hyped it all afternoon before ultimately airing Jackson’s rebuke for Obama: “See, More…
State of Play: Colombian Hostages Freed
In an operation described in the press as "stunning" and "daring," Colombian military commandos rescued 15 hostages from a Colombian rebel group after years of captivity. The hostages, including three Americans and a French-Colombian politician, had been held in remote jungles by the FARC, a group on the State Dept.’s More…
State of Play: McCain Heads to Colombia
In what is likely the first-ever flight from Indianapolis to Colombia, Sen. John McCain’s campaign charter will head to South America today, where the presumptive Republican nominee will try to flex his foreign policy muscles. McCain will meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and tour a naval base in Cartagena More…
