Blame Anybody but the Liar

Nick Coleman is apparantly one of two people who doesn't want to see the Dean Johnson affair shelved, despite the ethics complaint being dropped and Johnson's public apology on the floor of the senate. Coleman doesn't want it dropped because he doesn't think the minister who recorded the conversation has been demonized enough.

One lesson from the fight over Sen. Dean Johnson's comments about same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court is easy: Preachers should be patted down and body searched by security officers.

Right. Not Dean Johnson's fault. He should be able to lie openly to constituents without fear of being hoisted up by his own petards. Got it.

Then there is this guy, who wants to go after the judges. Let's make sure we have this straight. The justices say there was no conversation. Johnson says there was no conversation. Why are we investigating the justices while the liar has been let off scot free?

Are We Still Talking About That?

The NSA wiretapping "scandal" is such a non-starter. There have been so many rulings on the subject there should be little question as to the legality or the necessity of the program. It appeared there for awhile that the Dem's had come to their senses on the issue.

Russ Feingold has since tickled "the base" though, and they have decided to pursue it further. It still makes no sense. The best they could ever possbily hope for is a court to say the issue is "murky." There is absolutely no way any court will call the program "illegal."

Not to mention, public opinion on the wiretapping program is consistently high. There is no passion amongst the electorate for an impeachment proceeding over a program that most think the U.S. should be conducting.

Nevertheless, it was reported today that Feingold is inviting John Dean, who compares the NSA program to Watergate (huh?), to a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Power Line, which has owned this issue from day one, notes an interesting irony that does link the two examples of wiretapping.


...when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Nixon's surveillance in internal security cases was illegal in United States v. United States District Court, 407 U.S. 297 (1972), it specifically distinguished between the case before it and surviellance involving foreign intelligence. The Court said that its holding did not apply to surveillance for purposes of foreign intelligence gathering, as is involved in the NSA program:

[T]he instant case requires no judgment on the scope of the President's surveillance power with respect to the activities of foreign powers, within or without this country.

The above ruling is just as clear as all the others. Thanks to Dean for inspiring its examination.

Power Line has also been following the absolutely outrageous reporting being done on the hearings by Eric Lichtblau at the NYT. Credibility at zero.

Enjoy.

Did Karl Rove Write "Real Security?"

Rank and file democrats have to be feeling a bit underwhelmed with “Real Security: The Democratic Plan to Protect America and Restore Our Leadership in the World." The document is comprised of election year retreads and a basic promise that, no matter how much they might think Bush is screwing up the world, they will change little to nothing of his policies.

And, of course, if elected they will work to impeach Bush.

It's amazing they needed all of ten pages to lay out the masterpiece. Then again, via Hugh Hewitt, there appears to be plenty of what we elitists in the biz call "white space." The Shape of Days explains:

...it’s really only five pages, because half the pages are in Spanish. Spanish on one side, English on the other. Like stereo instructions. I guess restoring our leadership to the world is something you can get at Ikea.

Except the first page is just a title card, and the second page is just a blurb. So really it’s only three pages.

The Democrats’ comprehensive plan for restoring the blah blah and protecting some other thing is actually three PowerPoint slides.

The other night at a city council meeting, a wastewater expert explained to the city the source of their inflow problems. He too had a PowerPoint presentation. It was about 12 slides including an understanding of the problem and proposed solutions.

Without that understanding or those solutions he probably could have limited the presentation to three slides too...if you get my drift.

Thanks Sharon, I'll Raise My Own Kids

Sharon Stone is getting alot of press today for suggesting Hillary Clinton's overpowering sexuality is too threatening for an American populace that, according to Stone, must be unaware that womyn can, and do, have sex.

Being part of the "conservative right" that Stone suggests feels threatened, I can say that I am totally shocked to learn that women are sexual creatures and would certainly never have deduced that from gazing upon Hillary.

Interestingly enough though, Stone contradicts herself the very same day with her sexual advice for young girls.

"If you're in a situation where you cannot get out of sex, offer a blow job."

Aside from the fact that Stone appears to obsess about sex to an unhealthy level, it is hard to grasp that any self-respecting feminist would tell girls they are so powerless they might as well just give up the hummer. Further evidence that feminism has gone completely around the bend.

Straight from the assinine to the downright dangerous, Stone is also passing on a myth that puts kids right in harms way.

I tell them (what I believe): oral sex is a hundred times safer than vaginal or anal sex.

What Stone believes, and irresponsibly passes on to children, is at odds with reality.

The Options Project found that 7.8% (8 of 102) of recently infected men who have sex with men in San Francisco were probably infected through oral sex. Most of these men believed that the risk was minimal or non-existent.

And that's just AIDS. There are also the rest of the bunch:

Chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea and the human papilloma virus (HPV) are other common STIs that can be passed through oral sex.

Interestingly enough, the article begins by stating "A lot of teens see oral sex as pretty much risk-free."

Apparently Stone is one of those teens, despite being what? 50?

Stone is dangerously misinformed and her advice will only hurt, emotionally and possibly physically, any girl who has the misfortune to have no one better than Stone to guide them through life. Although, Stone isn't above inserting herself even in that situation.

I was in the store the other day and I watched a young girl trying on clothes, showing her abdomen. Her mother was trying to talk to her about not being inappropriately luring...Her mother walked away, and I said to the girl, 'I'd like to give you a two-minute conversation about sex.'

God help Sharon Stone if she ever tried that stunt with one of my daughters in the presence of my dearly Befuddled. Louie has no problem saying no and can assert herself physically if need be. Stone might play a bad-ass in movies; Louie is one.

Stone is described as an "activist raising AIDS awareness." Advising girls to succumb to sexual pressure by offering oral sex, and doing so cuz' it's like way safer insures only that Stone will be needed in her activist role for the foreseeable future.

Can we stop shoving mics in front of celebrities yet? Huh? Can we?

Sean Penn Plays With Dolls

Sean Penn just went from humorously creepy to dangerously creepy in a single press release. While he certainly isn't the only person to have an Ann Coulter doll, its how he uses it that disturbs.

"We violate her. There are cigarette burns in some funny places..."

Feminist groups are falling all over themselves to be the first to not express outrage at the glee with which Penn takes in dehumanizing womyn.

Interestingly enough, when I get angry at political pundits I...I...well, I guess I don't do much of anything. But kudos to Penn for finding such a healthy way of expressing his rage.

A Nic Watch Update

Tim Blair offered a few previously unrecorded nicknames over the course of the last month or so. Here they are:

President Smirkyburton W. Pretzeljesus

Satan’s Jew-Baby Oil Whore’

Oiljesus W. Pretzlerstein

The once great art of Bush-nic appears to have waned in recent months. But Blair carries on, preserving this great art form for the next generation. The world should celebrate artisans like Blair, who provide joy and force critical thought through their important work.

Only Six Months Until Next Season

I can't articulate how irritating it is that this backstabbing North Dakota groupie was right about the Gophers. He was also right about the camera work, but he understated the bad officiating by a factor of five. He wraps up the game about right though:

This one definitely makes the Top Ten Worst Gopher Losses Ever and may even challenge for a spot in the Top Ten Worst Minnesota Sports Losses Ever.

The boys looked flat and totally uninspired in their 4-3 overtime loss to Holy Cross. What a waste of a year. Honestly. What good is all the work if you can't get inspired for the national tournament?

Coach Lucia noted that, even had his team won, there was little evidence they had recovered from their WCHA coma. They would almost certainly have gotten crushed tomorrow night had they advanced.

Still, that doesn't mean I have to jump on the NoDak bandwagon like some other hockey whores.

Wait. Ya it does.

Besides, if the Fighting Sioux win it all rooting for them has the added bonus of watching the NCAA have to celebrate the most hated logo in all of college sport. That would be gratifying enough to cause me to uncurl from my current fetal position.

Boy Goes to Church

The Boy made his first trip to the Excel Center Tuesday night and saw the Wild beat Calgary 3-1. The third goal was an empty net so it was a close game. Gaborik set a new single season high for goals on the night he was a captain for the first time, and we got a chance to see Jordan Leopold in an NHL jersey. Man I miss that guy. Another former Gopher, Erik Westrum, also wore the home greens for the first time.

The highlight for us was Rolston's goal in the second. A breakaway that ended with a sweet move right at our feet.

Although The Boy was pretty excited about going to see the Wild, I have to admit I was probably more excited to bring him. I even brought a camera, not my usual MO. I got him to pose long enough to get the shot above, which I thought turned out pretty good.

Our family dentist offers us a game every year which I generally have declined because we owe him money for one thing or another. I couldn't resist the chance though, to take The Boy to a game, especially since he has gone so completely over the moon for it over the last few months. He knew more of the players names than I did.

I had a blast. Thanks Doc.

Johnson Calls Shenanigans!

The Star Tribune's Patricia Lopez covers Dean "Mayday" Johnson today and you gotta love the lede on this one.

Rejecting calls to move on, Senate Republicans allege that Dean Johnson lied about conversations with Supreme Court members about Minnesota marriage laws.

Did I miss something? Is the story really the Republicans unwillingness to just let this one slide?

Even better is Johnson's Farva-like response:

"I expect this is just further political shenanigans."

Frankly, after all the outright lies told by Johnson lately, I could stand some relatively harmless shenanigans. Shenanigans like this:

In the complaint, the senators go farther than any elected official has yet in the controversy, saying flatly that Johnson "has repeatedly lied" and that he has violated a permanent Senate rule that prohibits members from conduct that "betrays the public trust or that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor or disrepute."

If I'm not mistaken, Republicans called shenanigans first. Too bad they couldn't have found a way to get that in the article.

UPDATE: Heaven forbid Mayday's stain on our representative government pass without Brian Melendez, who calls Johnson's act an "unguarded comment," getting a chance to blast the character of a minister.

The minister who secretly taped Senator Johnson’s comments in a private meeting is a petty opportunist. His covert deception exposes the extremists pushing the same-sex amendment as people of weak principles.

Ya, really. The gall. To think that Dean Johnson can't crisscross the state asserting false collusion with the State Supreme Court without some petty extremist having to record it all.

I think we can officially start calling Brian Melendez a two-bit character assassin. Between petty ministers and our un-American lying veterans he's earned it. It's a wonder he can say this with a straight face:

The Republican Party’s actions are morally and politically reprehensible.

If only Brian Melendez could take an honest appraisal of Brian Melendez. He would almost certainly have to fire himself.

At least Mayday has given up on the shenanigans theory, and none too soon.

"The ethics complaint filed against me today is being taken seriously. We have a process in place in the Minnesota Senate which I respect. I intend to let the process work."

I think this just got intereting.

Mayday...Mayday...Mayday..

I have been of the opinion that the Minnesota DFL is on much stronger ground than the national party. It seemed very strange when Brian Melendez attacked state Republicans using a national issue like Iraq, and in such a dishonest and divisive way, when people in Minnesota are so desperate for state government that moves at a reasonable pace. People perceive a "do nothing" legislature and are weary of extra sessions and political bickering.

The DFL seemed focused on that before Melendez called veterans and their families "un-America liars."

Things have degenerated since Melendez' remarks and today brings the news my former Representative, Democrat Loren Jennings, will do four years for mail fraud and money laundering. He earned it.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson was nailed delivering assurances to religious leaders that the State Supreme Court would deliver a favorable outcome on gay marriage. Things have gone downhill for Johnson since then.

First came his teary-eyed apology for "embellishing" the turth.

Today, Johnson admitted that was not true. He said he had a casual conversation in the Capitol with one justice who made a fleeting reference to the marriage law but did not make a commitment to vote a certain way on it.

"I will admit the words that I said on that tape were poorly chosen," he said. "They were not totally accurate."

But Johnson said he did not "lie" about the matter.

Johnson's apology prompted a response from Chief Justice Russell Anderson, delivered even as Johnson was enjoying a vote of confidence in the Senate.

Calling from an out-of-state family vacation, Anderson told reporters emphatically that "I have talked with every member of my court, including the former chief justice and we have not had conversations with Sen. Johnson about DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) or how we might decide any matter relating to it. This just never happened. It [the alleged conversation] never occurred."

Now it looks as though Johnson's embellishment story was simply more embellishment. Or...a total lie. No sign yet of the "fake but true" defense, but I've got a feeling about this one.

Via MDE, Republican Party Chair Ron Carey has now started a website designed to try and keep all of Johnson's stories straight. And - almost immediately and literally as I write this - "fake but true" indeed emerges.

"'But Johnson said he did not 'lie' about the matter. To lie requires 'intent to deceive,' he said, while 'embellishment is sanding off of the truth.'" (Bill Salisbury, "Tearful Senate Leader Sorry For Supreme Court Gay Marriage Flap," Pioneer Press, March 17, 2006)

See? Johnson was delivering the truth, but was forced to embellish it in order to make the truth more readily apparent. I hope he doesn't pull a muscle.

Somehow, the DFL has managed to go from riding high to sinking fast in but a few weeks since the unofficial election season bell tolled. How did they do that?

How do they do that?

I'm Not the Only One

Apparently I'm in good company with my confusion regarding exactly who is running the show on the left. Even E.J. Dionne is confused.

Turning a minority into a majority requires both passion and discipline. Bringing the two together requires effective leadership. Does anybody out there know how to play this game?

With each passing day it looks more and more like they do not. It's amazing what decades of a bully pulpit and a freindly media have done to the once powerful Democartic Party. Unable to articulate what the party is about, a widening fracture over ideals, and an inability to coordinate fundraising and data.

Where's the Love?

Opinion Journal has interesting insight from Jonathon Gurwitz. I haven't paid much attention to Kos or the minions for awhile, but apparently they have been busy financing campaigns against...other Democrats.

...in January, the conservative Club for Growth endorsed Mr. Cuellar, its first ever Democratic endorsement. And as President Bush entered the House chamber for the State of the Union address, cameras captured his hearty embrace of Mr. Cuellar. The endorsement and the image were widely disseminated, igniting a nationwide liberal campaign to defeat Mr. Cuellar. Influential bloggers Markos "Kos" Moulitsas and Duncan "Atrios" Black led the charge, joined by kindred Web sites. As much as $500,000 poured into Mr. Rodriguez's coffers during the final six weeks of electioneering. Liberals touted the effort as the ultimate mobilization of the "netroots"--the indomitable synthesis of grassroots organization with digital potency.

In the March 7 primary, Mr. Cuellar won with 53% of the vote to Mr. Rodriguez's 41% (a third candidate taking the rest). He increased his margin of victory over Mr. Rodriguez in 2004 in 10 out of 11 counties, besting his principal opponent by nearly 5,600 votes--despite the efforts of the netroots activists.

There goes that half million. Into a primary. Against a popular incumbent Democrat. Reid and Pelosi at odds with Dean. Dean a day late and a dollar short. Hillary bailing out of the DNC.

Does anybody know who is in charge? Is anybody?

Don't Mess With the U.S., We'll Give You Bird Flu

I know America is a powerful country and all. In fact, America's power can be accurately ascertained by the level of self-loathing to be found within her borders. But not even I thought we were this powerful.

Besides, I thought all of our super-secret biological forces were fully involved, spreading the AIDS virus to minorities and African countries.

Almost Worth Moving to North Dakota

Midweek provides a momentary respite for the hockey fan in Minnesota. Last weekend Cretin-Durham Hall proved to be the team that could handle Grand Rapid's size and even dominate it. They take the state high school championship in one of the most lopsided games I can remember, 6-0.

Lou is right about one thing. The quality of state hockey players is definately on the rise.

This Friday the second Gopher season continues. Since it is likely that a WCHA team will again win the NCAA title (WCHA teams have won five of the last six), the WCHA Frozen Five championship this weekend should be a preview of the national champ. The Gophers tune up on Friday against the winner of St. Cloud State vs. UMD, to be played the Thursday prior. They will face the winner of North Dakota vs. Wisconsin on Friday.

They come into tournament season ranked 1st in the nation in no less than three polls.

Next weekend, NCAA regionals start, and the west regional will be in North Dakota. Engelstad arena is a great political story actually. One of the premier hockey venues in the nation if not the world, it was financed by rich alumnus Ralph Engelstad. It was built conditionally though. With the school under great pressure to lose the team name Fighting Sioux, Englstad insisted that the UND keep the traditional team name or lose the money and the arena.

The Sioux are under constant pressure from the NCAA to change their name. The NCAA exercised a ban that could have forced UND to cover all team logo's within the arena for the West Regional; no easy task given Engelstad's insertion of the logo somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 times throughout the arena. That effort failed last fall, but another promised to crescendo a couple of months ago. Pulling a trick from the Democratic Party's magic bag though, the NCAA recently decided not to decide on the issue.

And thus, Englestad Arena has become a $104 million beacon against the forces of political correctness. Certainly exactly what its namesake had in mind.

Despise the Troops, Hate the Mission

This is a comment left at The Red Voice responding to the fact that no one in Hollywood bothered to even mention the troops at the Oscars.

Why on earth should the people at the Oscars have to mention the poor, uneducated morons who went off to expand the empire? Should they give a thumbs up to all those brave men and women who are dutifully torturing Muslims around the world? Should we take our hats off to the brave men who drop cluster bombs on civilians so that we can have access and control of Iraqi oil?

If the redneck white-trash at this blog didn't know, Hollywood is against this war. And there is no reason to interupt the glamor and spectacle of the Oscars to mention the poor idiots in the gulf who are just following orders.

I don't even know if this guy, "Bill," is for real, but if he is, how sad for him.

Nothing Else Like It

The Tournament got going in earnest today. And once again the hockey gods are paid homage in the greatest tournament of its kind. In the final game tonight, Roseau lost to Grand Rapids, 7-4, in the hardest hitting of the games by far.

Roseau's a great story. 2,500 people. Three indoor ice arenas. That's a hockey town. So is Grand Rapids though, and they have Patrick White, who had four goals tonight. He had 46 points on the season, and is big and fast.

I only saw the late game tonight, but Grand Rapids looked daunting. Size enough to put the fear of God into some of the big city teams with a little of that northern Minnesota thunk and White has j.u.m.p.

Blaine, Cretin Durham Hall, and good ol' Hill Murray (pictured) round out the semi-final contenders.

I'm taking off tomorrow to go watch the rest of the tourney from the undulating confines of a hot tub.

This weekend a new state high school hockey champ, the WCHA Final Five next weekend and the NCAA's close enough to taste.

Somebody pinch me.

Coleman and Oscar Trivia

Took part in a conference call with Senator Norm Coleman and about 15 other journalists on Monday. It was pretty hard to get a word in edgewise.

Coleman talked of preserving ag spending which doesn't really do much for me as it is generally the richest of the farmers that soak up most of the subsidies.

He also talked at length about the methamphetamine provision in the Patriot Act, which made the Drudge Report today.

...the bill takes aim at the production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that cannot be manufactured without a key ingredient of everyday cold and allergy medicines. The bill would impose new limits next month for how much relief a person can buy over the counter.

And beginning Sept. 30, it'll take a flash of ID to buy that medication.

I applaud Senator's Feinstein and Talent for putting it in there. While I am not sure the Patriot Act is the appropriate place, any measure that has the possibility of ceasing production of the most destructive drug in the midwest is welcome.

In fact, our own sheriff credits meth as the driving force behind his newly formed SWAT team. If anybody is wondering what has kept me from posting this week, it was this rather lengthy feature piece on the team. A thanks to operational commander Juneau and Sheriff Rivard for letting me tag along for training exercises and for being so candid about the squad. Writing about and photographing the SWAT team was a real treat.

I did not get a chance to ask Coleman's thoughts on Minnesota DFL party chair Brian Melendez' characterization of veterans and families speech as "un-American lies." Maybe next time.

Now. Trivia.

What's the one thing viewers didn't get to see at the Oscars?

Curiously missing from Oscar night's festivities was any reference, even in passing, to the 150,000 brave Americans currently risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let me be the second in red state America to say "screw you Hollywood," and thanks Ann, for pointing that out.

Busy

It's been a pretty busy week, but since you're here, Power Line has an interest post up about the state of the Iraqi police and Iraqi journalism. It sounds like the Iraqi's did a pretty nice job during the mosque bombing.

Check it out.

Liberal Larry is an Uninformed Jerkweed

Even Blame Bush is able to see that the media blew the story on Katrina. Unfortunately, he sees it from the other direction.

They called me an idiot. They said I was crazy. They filed a restraining order prohibiting me from coming within 500 feet of them. But now my right-wing grandparents are eating some serious geriatric crow, for recently obtained videos prove once and for all that Bush not only knew about the existence of Hurricane Katrina days in advance, but personally steered the storm into New Orleans to kill as many poor, inner-city Blacks as possible.

Up until now, the Shrub has maintained a false façade of bumbling incompetence as an obvious insurance policy against future indictments. In these leaked videos, however, members of Bush’s administration can be seen orchestrating every minute detail of the deadly hurricane; plotting its size, the path it would take, the amount of rain that would fall, and even the speed of the winds.

Larry, Larry, Larry. Don't watch the news anymore? AP has entirely changed their story. I guess that means that Bush's "false facade of bumbling incompetence" remains intact after all. Hah!

One Down, Two to Go

On the strength of a 7-0 shelacking of the UMD Bulldogs, the Golden Gophers won the MacNaughton Cup tonight.

It ends a regular season that started slow, but has ended with the Gophers playing better than even I imagined they would be. Since getting swept by the Badgers the weekend of December 3, the Gophers are 17-1-1, including road sweeps of both the Badgers and the Fighting Sioux.

The Gophers received the trophy, set it at center ice, gave the salute, and promptly skated into the locker room leaving the tropy to be collected by an equipment manager. Clearly a squad on a mission well beyond the regular season title.

Playoff season starts officially next weekend. Two more titles, the WCHA championship, and the national championship, still out there. God I love this team.

Congrats to seniors Gino Guyer, P.J. Atherton, Peter Kennedy, Chris Harrington, and Andy Sertich on their senior night. Great careers here all.

Another Pointless Oscar Weekend

Various authors have weighed in on the weekend's opportunity for Hollywood to pat itself on the back for how enlightened and brave they are. Try Krauthammer's excellent column on the lie of Syrianna, which includes a description of the script and how at odds it is with reality.

On the very night the Oscars will be honoring ``Syriana,'' American soldiers will be fighting, some perhaps dying, in defense of precisely the kind of tolerant, modernizing Muslim leader that ``Syriana'' shows America slaughtering.

And,since it pisses the reality-based community off so much, here is a hilarious excerpt from Ann Coulter's Oscar predictions.

After consulting with the Yale admissions committee, the awards committee will give the Oscar to ... "Paradise Now," a heartwarming story about Palestinian suicide bombers. How good is it? Al-Jazeera gave it 4 1/2 pipe bombs. It's Air Syria's featured in-flight movie this month -- go figure! I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but let's just say there won't be a sequel.

If these aren't enough to keep you busy over the weekend while I binge on hockey, here is the column from Minnesota's own Katherine Kersten, on an entirely different subject.

Something momentous is happening here in the home of prairie populism: black flight. African-American families from the poorest neighborhoods are rapidly abandoning the district public schools, going to charter schools, and taking advantage of open enrollment at suburban public schools. Today, just around half of students who live in the city attend its district public schools.

Somebody should tell Kersten that this isn't really happening. Inner city families actually love their schools and are more than willing to forego education in order to preserve the relevence of these schools. They don't want anything better, and they certainly could not benefit from a voucher system.

They recognize that protecting the system is more important than any selfish desire to...say...educate their children.

Sure to be Interesting

I am scheduled to take part in a conference call between Minnesota journalists and U.S. Senator Norm Coleman on Monday morning and I am pretty psyched about it.

I hope to ask him about a couple of issues that are ramping up locally, like the future of farm subsidies and the ad controversy, but I am only one of many so, we'll see.

Readers can expect a full report on the substance of the conversation Monday night.

John Conyers Has Been Busy

The Hill is reporting today that the Republican Culture of Corruption, once again, may not be quite as Republican in nature as the Democrats would have you believe. John Conyers appears to have a nice little racket going out of his office.

• In 2002, Conyers’s aides in D.C. were sent to Detroit to help his wife, Monica, win a state Senate seat. While she lost that election, she won a seat last year on the Detroit City Council.

• On June 2, 2003, Conyers forced Maher to spend a day campaigning for Keith Williams, who won a seat on the Wayne County Commission. She became fed up and drove off after going door to door to distribute campaign literature for a few blocks.

• Carol Patton, a legislative counsel on Conyers’s personal staff, was hired in 2003 to help Williams and to help JoAnn Watson in her bid for Detroit City Council. Patton still works for Conyers and earns more than $44,000 per year, according to the 2005 House statement of disbursements.

• In a Dec. 22, 2004, letter, Maher said Conyers staffer Melody Light “conducts her law practice (charging legal fees) out of the congressional office. … She has in effect hung out her shingle on [Conyers’s] office door.”

Maher and Rooks said that Conyers tasked staffers in his district office with taking care of his two young boys, John and Carl.

“If he asked you to do something, you knew you had to do it,” said Rooks, 54, who administers a homeless shelter in Detroit.

Of course, Conyers is black, so this is all likely just a racist attack pushed by evil Republicans bent on power and the oppression of minorities.