Just a minor point - I believe Blair Hull was Obama's opponent in the Democrat primary to run for the US Senate, not the IL state senate.

Brzezinski is an Obama supporter not an advisor, pretty big difference.

One word for BKO-crook

Correction-"BHO".

bm wll shrtl b ndctd ndr 18 SC 1346, whch s th sm prvsn ndr whch Rzk ws cnvctd.

Thr wll b MN cnts n bm's ndctmnt, mr thn thr wr n Rzk's. Ths wll gv dtls bt n f th ndctmnts, cncrnng th brd lgsltn whch bm spnsrd s prt f crmnl ntrprs. Bth Rzk nd bm r mmbrs f th Srn Mf, whch trds--crprtl--ndr th nm Gnrl Mdtrrnn nd s hdd b Ndhmch.

dn't thnk nd t dd tht f bm s lctd, th Srn mf wll b rnnng th ntd Stts Gvrnmnt. Ptrck Ftzgrld, hrr p.

Blw s dscssn f th brd lgsltn b vln Prngl, wh pblshd vr dtld srs n bm's crms t pdnws.cm. Ths rtcls hv bn ctd rnd th wrld.

Fllwng hr dscssn s lnk t dscssn, ls rprdcd, f 18 SC 1346, whch, gn s th sctn ndr whch bm wll b prsctd.

Frst, vln's dscssn:

Th vdnc prsntd n "Tn Rzk's] trl fcsd n hs nflnc vr ffcls n gttng mmbrs ppntd t th Brds. Prsctrs dd nt dscss hw th lgsltn gt pssd tht nbld th Plnnng Brd t b st p n w tht llwd fr th ppntmnt f mmbrs t rg th vts t bgn wth. Tht prt f th schm wll lkl b dtld n ftr ndctmnts, prbbl strtng wth Blgjvch. Blgjvch sgnd th llns Hlth Fclts Plnnng ct wth n ffctv dt f Jn 27, 2003. Hwvr, bfr h cld sgn th ct, bll hd t b pssd b th llns Hs nd Snt. s dscssd fll n Crtn Tm Prt , bm ws th nsd g n th snt wh pshd thrgh th lgsltn tht rsltd n th ct. bm ws ppntd chrmn f th Snt Hlth nd Hmn Srvcs Cmmtt. Th mnt th bll ws ntrdcd, t ws rfrrd t hs cmmtt fr rvw. Th spnsrs f th bll ls srvd n ths cmmtt wth bm. Wthn mnth, Chrmn bm snt wrd t th fll snt tht th lgsltn shld b pssd. n M 31, 2003, Snt Bll 1332 pssd nd spcfd tht th "Brd shll b ppntd b th Gvrnr, wth th dvc nd cnsnt f th Snt." Th lgsltn rdcd th nmbr f mmbrs frm 15 t 9, pvng th w fr th ppntmnt f fv-blc mjrt t rg th vts. Th crrpt mmbrs ppntd ncldd thr dctrs wh cntrbtd t bm. Mchl Mlk gv bm $10,000 n Jn 30, 2003 nd dntd $25,000 t Blgjvch n Jl 25, 2003. Mlk ls gv bm nthr $500 n Sptmbr 2003. Frtn Mssd dntd $25,000 t Blgjvch n Jl 25, 2003, nd gv ttl f $2,000 t bm n dffrnt dts. ftr h ws ppntd, Dr md lmnsr cntrbtd ttl f $3,000 t bm. lmnsr dd nt gv mn t Blgjvch. Whn th frst p-t-pl schm ws pt n pl, nd th pplctn fr pprvl f nw hsptl ws sbmttd, th Dprtmnt f Hmn Srvcs, lng wth fr thr llns gncs, snt rcmmndtns tht th prjct shld b pprvd vn thgh xprts sd th hsptl ws nt ndd. Drng th trl, Rzk's ttrn prsntd n ml xchng t th jr tht hntd t bm's rl n sttng p th schm. Th xchng shwd tht bm nd svn thr tp llns pltcns cnsltd n th lgsltn pssd n 2003 nd wr nvlvd n rcmmndng th mmbrs fr th brd. Mtthw Pckrng wrt th mm t Blgjvch's gnrl cnsl, Ssn Lchtnstn, n bhlf f Dvd Wlhlm, frmr chrmn f th Dmcrtc Ntnl Cmmtt, wh hdd Blgjvch's 2002 cmpgn fr gvrnr. Pckrng sd h nd Wlhlm hd "wrkd clsl" vr sx mnths wth stt lgsltrs. Th mm rcmmndd th ppnts lstd bv nd sttd, "r ttchd rcmmndtns rflct tht nvlvmnt" wth th pltcl ldrs. Th prsns ppntd t rg th vts, ncldng ths wh cntrbtd t Blgjvch nd bm, r cprtng n xchng fr mmnt r lghtr prsn sntncs. Fds sht dwn p-t-pl schms. nl tw p-t-pl schms sccdd bfr th Fds swpd n nd sht thm ll dwn. Blgjvch dd nt rcv th $1.5 mlln frm th Plnnng Brd dl bcs th hsptl ws nvr blt. Bt bm rcvd $20,000 frm th frst kckbck pd n th pnsn fnd schm nd th strw dnrs sd t fnnl th $10,000 pmnts, l Mlf nd Jsph rmnd, ls md $1,000 cntrbtns t bm's fld rn fr Cngrss n 2000. n ddtn, rmnd gv $500 t bm's snt cmpgn n Jn 30, 2003. n th smmr f 2005, rmnd's sn lndd n ntrn pstn n bm's Wshngtn ffc. bm ls rcvd cntrbtns fr hs snt cmpgn frm th tw prsns ppntd t rg th vt n th pnsn fnd brd. n Jn 30, 2003, Jck Crrgl cntrbtd $1,000, nd th thr ppnt, nthn bbd, dntd $500 n Jn 30, 2003, $250 n Mrch 5, 2004, nd $1,000 n Jn 25, 2004. Th prsn chsn t fnnl th kckbck n ftr schm, Mchl Wntr, dntd $3,000 t bm n Jn 30, 2003. ll ths ppl r ls cprtng n xchng fr mmnt r lssr prsn sntncs bt prsctrs pntd t drng clsng rgmnts tht ppl wh ntrd nt grmnts wth th gvrnmnt r rqrd t tll th trth r ll dls r ff.

nd nw th dscssn f th lw ndr whch bm wll g t prsn, 18 SC 1346:

< hrf="http://www.grm.cm/_lbrr/dwnlds/NPPrtcl-Fb2006.pdf." rl="nfllw">http://www.grm.cm/_lbrr/dwnlds/NPPrtcl-Fb2006.pdf.

Ths rtcl prvds brf gdnc s t th mnnr n whch crts hv ntrprtd 18 .S.C. § 1346, whch gnrll prvds tht fr prpss f fdrl ml nd wr frd sttts (18 .S.C. §§ 1341 nd 1343, rspctvl), "schm r rtfc t dfrd" nclds "schm r rtfc t dprv nthr f th ntngbl rght t hnst srvcs." Spcfcll, ths rtcl xmns th mnnr n whch crts hv ntrprtd th brd lngg f § 1346 n crcmstncs tht d nt nvlv th xplct brbr f pblc ffcls.
.
Bckgrnd
18 .S.C. § 1346 ws nctd n 1988, fr prpss f rvrsng th Sprm Crt's dcsn n McNll v. .S.,483 .S. 350 (1987). n McNll, th Sprm Crt vrrld lng ln f lwr crt dcsns b hldng tht th fdrl ml nd wr frd sttts dd nt ncmpss schms t dfrd ctzns f n ntngbl rght t hnst gvrnmnt srvc frm pbc ffcrs. d. t 355. B nctng 18 .S.C. § 1346, Cngrss rstrd "hnst srvcs" wthn th mbt f th fdrl ml nd wr frd sttts, mnng tht schm t dprv th pblc f "hnst srvcs" b pblc ffcl cld b pnshd s ml r wr frd (ssmng, f crs, tht sch n nstrmntlt ws sd s prt f th schm r rtfc).
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Jdcl ntrprttns f th "Hnst Srvcs" Frd
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Gnrl Prmtrs f th Sttt
Nt srprsngl, th mjrt f css tht hv nlzd th "hnst srvcs" frd st frth n 18 .S.C. § 1346 hv nvlvd th brbr f pblc ffcls, whr th chrg ndr § 1346 s n ddtn t thr chrgs. Hwvr, thr hv bn nmrs prsctns ndr § 1346 gnst pblc ffcls (nd ths wh hv crrptd pblc ffcls) fr trnsctns tht d nt nvlv trght brbr, bt whch nnthlss nvlv th prvsn f csh r gfts t pblc ffcl n xchng fr th pblc ffcl's xrcs f pwr n bhlf f th ndvdl r ntt prvdng th grtt.
Crts hv rcgnzd tht th trm "hnst srvcs," s sd n § 1346, s ncrdbl brd, bt th sttt hs srvvd rptd chllngs ssrtng tht t s ncnstttnll vg, wth crts rsrtng t "cmmn sns" sg f th phrs "hnst srvcs." n rjctng cnstttnl vd-fr-vgnss chllng t th sttt's wrdng, n crt pnd tht "[c]ncrt prmtrs tlnng th dt f hnst srvcs shld nt b ncssr. . . . Th cncpt f th dt f hnst srvcs sffcntl cnvs wrnng f th prscrbd cndct whn msrd n trms f cmmn ndrstndng nd prctc." .S. v. RBrk, 837 F. Spp. 162, 171 (S.D. W. V. 1993), ff'd. 58 F.3d 961 (4 th Cr. 1995). nthr crt dmnstrtd lttl ptnc fr th dfndnt's vd-fr-vgnss chllng n th cntxt f kckbck schm, hldng tht "[]t shld b pln t rdnr ppl tht ffrng nd ccptng lrg sms f mn n xchng fr ct cnclmn's vt s tp f cndct prscrbd b th lngg f § 1346." .S. v. Prds, 98 F.3d 1266, 1283 (11 th Cr. 1996). Nnthlss, crts hv rfsd t llw § 1346 t b sd s "ctch-ll" tht sbjcts vr nthcl r llgl ct t fdrl ml nd wr frd prsctn. S, .g., .S. v. Blm, 149 F.3d 649, 654-56 (7 th
Cr. 1998) (ntng, ntr l, tht "nt vr brch f fdcr dt wrks crmnl frd"); .S. v. Wlch, 327 F.3d 1081, 1107 (10 th Cr. 2003) ("th rght t hnst srvcs s nt vltd b vr brch f cntrct, brch f dt, cnflct f ntrst, r mssttmnt md n th crs f dlng"). Rcgnzng th dffclt f ntrprtng th ndfnd phrs "hnst srvcs," crts hv ttmptd t stblsh gnrl crtr tht mst b stsfd t sccssfll ssrt n "hnst srvcs" frd clm. n f th ldng crcts ntrprtng th scp f th hnst srvcs frd s th Frst Crct Crt f ppls, whch hld tht: Frst, . . . hnst srvcs cnvctns f pblc ffcls tpcll nvlv srs crrptn, sch s mbzzlmnt f pblc fnds, brbr f pblc ffcls, r th flr f pblc dcsn-mkrs t dscls cnflcts f ntrst. Scnd, . . . th brd scp f th ml frd sttt . . . ds nt ncmpss vr nstnc f ffcl mscndct tht rslts n th ffcl's prsnl gn. Thrd, nd mst mprtntl, . . . th gvrnmnt mst nt mrl ndct wrngdng b pblc ffcl, bt mst ls dmnstrt tht th wrngdng t ss s ntndd t prvnt r cll nt qstn th prpr r mprtl prfrmnc f th pblc srvnt's ffcl dts. .S. v. Czbnsk, 106 F.3d 1069, 1076 (1 st Cr. 1997) (mphss ddd) (ntrnl cttns nd qttns mttd), (dscssng th Frst Crct's prr dcsn n .S. v. Swr, 85 F.3d 713, 724 (1996). Th Svnth Crct hs hld tht "[m]ss f ffc (mr brdl, mss f pstn) fr prvt gn s th ln tht sprts rn f th mll vltns f stt lw fdcr dt . . . frm fdrl crm." .S. v. Blm, 149 F.3d 649, 655 (7 th Cr. 1998). Th crt wnt n t nt tht "n lmst ll f th ntngbl rghts css dcdd . . . (bfr McNll r snc § 1346), th dfndnt sd hs ffc fr prvt gn, s b ccptng brb n xchng fr ffcl ctn[,]" bt ls ntd tht "[s]crt cnvrsn f nfrmtn rcvd n fdcr cpct s frm f frd gnst th wnr f tht nfrmtn." d. ccrdngl, th Svnth Crct smmrzd ts tst fr n hnst srvcs frd s fllws: "[]n mpl dprvs hs mplr f hs hnst srvcs nl f h msss hs pstn (r th nfrmtn h btnd n t) fr prsnl gn" (mphss ddd). d. t 656-57.

When is your endorsement coming? Throw your weight around, JT.

bm wll shrtl b ndctd ndr 18 SC 1346, whch s th sm prvsn ndr whch Rzk ws cnvctd.

Thr wll b MN cnts n bm's ndctmnt, mr thn thr wr n Rzk's. Ths wll gv dtls bt n f th ndctmnts, cncrnng th brd lgsltn whch bm spnsrd s prt f crmnl ntrprs. Bth Rzk nd bm r mmbrs f th Srn Mf, whch trds--crprtl--ndr th nm Gnrl Mdtrrnn nd s hdd b Ndhmch.

dn't thnk nd t dd tht f bm s lctd, th Srn mf wll b rnnng th ntd Stts Gvrnmnt. Ptrck Ftzgrld, hrr p.

Blw s dscssn f th brd lgsltn b vln Prngl, wh pblshd vr dtld srs n bm's crms t pdnws.cm. Ths rtcls hv bn ctd rnd th wrld.

Fllwng hr dscssn s lnk t dscssn, ls rprdcd, f 18 SC 1346, whch, gn s th sctn ndr whch bm wll b prsctd.

Frst, vln's dscssn:

Th vdnc prsntd n "Tn Rzk's] trl fcsd n hs nflnc vr ffcls n gttng mmbrs ppntd t th Brds. Prsctrs dd nt dscss hw th lgsltn gt pssd tht nbld th Plnnng Brd t b st p n w tht llwd fr th ppntmnt f mmbrs t rg th vts t bgn wth. Tht prt f th schm wll lkl b dtld n ftr ndctmnts, prbbl strtng wth Blgjvch. Blgjvch sgnd th llns Hlth Fclts Plnnng ct wth n ffctv dt f Jn 27, 2003. Hwvr, bfr h cld sgn th ct, bll hd t b pssd b th llns Hs nd Snt. s dscssd fll n Crtn Tm Prt , bm ws th nsd g n th snt wh pshd thrgh th lgsltn tht rsltd n th ct. bm ws ppntd chrmn f th Snt Hlth nd Hmn Srvcs Cmmtt. Th mnt th bll ws ntrdcd, t ws rfrrd t hs cmmtt fr rvw. Th spnsrs f th bll ls srvd n ths cmmtt wth bm. Wthn mnth, Chrmn bm snt wrd t th fll snt tht th lgsltn shld b pssd. n M 31, 2003, Snt Bll 1332 pssd nd spcfd tht th "Brd shll b ppntd b th Gvrnr, wth th dvc nd cnsnt f th Snt." Th lgsltn rdcd th nmbr f mmbrs frm 15 t 9, pvng th w fr th ppntmnt f fv-blc mjrt t rg th vts. Th crrpt mmbrs ppntd ncldd thr dctrs wh cntrbtd t bm. Mchl Mlk gv bm $10,000 n Jn 30, 2003 nd dntd $25,000 t Blgjvch n Jl 25, 2003. Mlk ls gv bm nthr $500 n Sptmbr 2003. Frtn Mssd dntd $25,000 t Blgjvch n Jl 25, 2003, nd gv ttl f $2,000 t bm n dffrnt dts. ftr h ws ppntd, Dr md lmnsr cntrbtd ttl f $3,000 t bm. lmnsr dd nt gv mn t Blgjvch. Whn th frst p-t-pl schm ws pt n pl, nd th pplctn fr pprvl f nw hsptl ws sbmttd, th Dprtmnt f Hmn Srvcs, lng wth fr thr llns gncs, snt rcmmndtns tht th prjct shld b pprvd vn thgh xprts sd th hsptl ws nt ndd. Drng th trl, Rzk's ttrn prsntd n ml xchng t th jr tht hntd t bm's rl n sttng p th schm. Th xchng shwd tht bm nd svn thr tp llns pltcns cnsltd n th lgsltn pssd n 2003 nd wr nvlvd n rcmmndng th mmbrs fr th brd. Mtthw Pckrng wrt th mm t Blgjvch's gnrl cnsl, Ssn Lchtnstn, n bhlf f Dvd Wlhlm, frmr chrmn f th Dmcrtc Ntnl Cmmtt, wh hdd Blgjvch's 2002 cmpgn fr gvrnr. Pckrng sd h nd Wlhlm hd "wrkd clsl" vr sx mnths wth stt lgsltrs. Th mm rcmmndd th ppnts lstd bv nd sttd, "r ttchd rcmmndtns rflct tht nvlvmnt" wth th pltcl ldrs. Th prsns ppntd t rg th vts, ncldng ths wh cntrbtd t Blgjvch nd bm, r cprtng n xchng fr mmnt r lghtr prsn sntncs. Fds sht dwn p-t-pl schms. nl tw p-t-pl schms sccdd bfr th Fds swpd n nd sht thm ll dwn. Blgjvch dd nt rcv th $1.5 mlln frm th Plnnng Brd dl bcs th hsptl ws nvr blt. Bt bm rcvd $20,000 frm th frst kckbck pd n th pnsn fnd schm nd th strw dnrs sd t fnnl th $10,000 pmnts, l Mlf nd Jsph rmnd, ls md $1,000 cntrbtns t bm's fld rn fr Cngrss n 2000. n ddtn, rmnd gv $500 t bm's snt cmpgn n Jn 30, 2003. n th smmr f 2005, rmnd's sn lndd n ntrn pstn n bm's Wshngtn ffc. bm ls rcvd cntrbtns fr hs snt cmpgn frm th tw prsns ppntd t rg th vt n th pnsn fnd brd. n Jn 30, 2003, Jck Crrgl cntrbtd $1,000, nd th thr ppnt, nthn bbd, dntd $500 n Jn 30, 2003, $250 n Mrch 5, 2004, nd $1,000 n Jn 25, 2004. Th prsn chsn t fnnl th kckbck n ftr schm, Mchl Wntr, dntd $3,000 t bm n Jn 30, 2003. ll ths ppl r ls cprtng n xchng fr mmnt r lssr prsn sntncs bt prsctrs pntd t drng clsng rgmnts tht ppl wh ntrd nt grmnts wth th gvrnmnt r rqrd t tll th trth r ll dls r ff.

nd nw th dscssn f th lw ndr whch bm wll g t prsn, 18 SC 1346:

< hrf="http://www.grm.cm/_lbrr/dwnlds/NPPrtcl-Fb2006.pdf." rl="nfllw">http://www.grm.cm/_lbrr/dwnlds/NPPrtcl-Fb2006.pdf.

Ths rtcl prvds brf gdnc s t th mnnr n whch crts hv ntrprtd 18 .S.C. § 1346, whch gnrll prvds tht fr prpss f fdrl ml nd wr frd sttts (18 .S.C. §§ 1341 nd 1343, rspctvl), "schm r rtfc t dfrd" nclds "schm r rtfc t dprv nthr f th ntngbl rght t hnst srvcs." Spcfcll, ths rtcl xmns th mnnr n whch crts hv ntrprtd th brd lngg f § 1346 n crcmstncs tht d nt nvlv th xplct brbr f pblc ffcls.
.
Bckgrnd
18 .S.C. § 1346 ws nctd n 1988, fr prpss f rvrsng th Sprm Crt's dcsn n McNll v. .S.,483 .S. 350 (1987). n McNll, th Sprm Crt vrrld lng ln f lwr crt dcsns b hldng tht th fdrl ml nd wr frd sttts dd nt ncmpss schms t dfrd ctzns f n ntngbl rght t hnst gvrnmnt srvc frm pbc ffcrs. d. t 355. B nctng 18 .S.C. § 1346, Cngrss rstrd "hnst srvcs" wthn th mbt f th fdrl ml nd wr frd sttts, mnng tht schm t dprv th pblc f "hnst srvcs" b pblc ffcl cld b pnshd s ml r wr frd (ssmng, f crs, tht sch n nstrmntlt ws sd s prt f th schm r rtfc).
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Jdcl ntrprttns f th "Hnst Srvcs" Frd
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Gnrl Prmtrs f th Sttt
Nt srprsngl, th mjrt f css tht hv nlzd th "hnst srvcs" frd st frth n 18 .S.C. § 1346 hv nvlvd th brbr f pblc ffcls, whr th chrg ndr § 1346 s n ddtn t thr chrgs. Hwvr, thr hv bn nmrs prsctns ndr § 1346 gnst pblc ffcls (nd ths wh hv crrptd pblc ffcls) fr trnsctns tht d nt nvlv trght brbr, bt whch nnthlss nvlv th prvsn f csh r gfts t pblc ffcl n xchng fr th pblc ffcl's xrcs f pwr n bhlf f th ndvdl r ntt prvdng th grtt.
Crts hv rcgnzd tht th trm "hnst srvcs," s sd n § 1346, s ncrdbl brd, bt th sttt hs srvvd rptd chllngs ssrtng tht t s ncnstttnll vg, wth crts rsrtng t "cmmn sns" sg f th phrs "hnst srvcs." n rjctng cnstttnl vd-fr-vgnss chllng t th sttt's wrdng, n crt pnd tht "[c]ncrt prmtrs tlnng th dt f hnst srvcs shld nt b ncssr. . . . Th cncpt f th dt f hnst srvcs sffcntl cnvs wrnng f th prscrbd cndct whn msrd n trms f cmmn ndrstndng nd prctc." .S. v. RBrk, 837 F. Spp. 162, 171 (S.D. W. V. 1993), ff'd. 58 F.3d 961 (4 th Cr. 1995). nthr crt dmnstrtd lttl ptnc fr th dfndnt's vd-fr-vgnss chllng n th cntxt f kckbck schm, hldng tht "[]t shld b pln t rdnr ppl tht ffrng nd ccptng lrg sms f mn n xchng fr ct cnclmn's vt s tp f cndct prscrbd b th lngg f § 1346." .S. v. Prds, 98 F.3d 1266, 1283 (11 th Cr. 1996). Nnthlss, crts hv rfsd t llw § 1346 t b sd s "ctch-ll" tht sbjcts vr nthcl r llgl ct t fdrl ml nd wr frd prsctn. S, .g., .S. v. Blm, 149 F.3d 649, 654-56 (7 th
Cr. 1998) (ntng, ntr l, tht "nt vr brch f fdcr dt wrks crmnl frd"); .S. v. Wlch, 327 F.3d 1081, 1107 (10 th Cr. 2003) ("th rght t hnst srvcs s nt vltd b vr brch f cntrct, brch f dt, cnflct f ntrst, r mssttmnt md n th crs f dlng"). Rcgnzng th dffclt f ntrprtng th ndfnd phrs "hnst srvcs," crts hv ttmptd t stblsh gnrl crtr tht mst b stsfd t sccssfll ssrt n "hnst srvcs" frd clm. n f th ldng crcts ntrprtng th scp f th hnst srvcs frd s th Frst Crct Crt f ppls, whch hld tht: Frst, . . . hnst srvcs cnvctns f pblc ffcls tpcll nvlv srs crrptn, sch s mbzzlmnt f pblc fnds, brbr f pblc ffcls, r th flr f pblc dcsn-mkrs t dscls cnflcts f ntrst. Scnd, . . . th brd scp f th ml frd sttt . . . ds nt ncmpss vr nstnc f ffcl mscndct tht rslts n th ffcl's prsnl gn. Thrd, nd mst mprtntl, . . . th gvrnmnt mst nt mrl ndct wrngdng b pblc ffcl, bt mst ls dmnstrt tht th wrngdng t ss s ntndd t prvnt r cll nt qstn th prpr r mprtl prfrmnc f th pblc srvnt's ffcl dts. .S. v. Czbnsk, 106 F.3d 1069, 1076 (1 st Cr. 1997) (mphss ddd) (ntrnl cttns nd qttns mttd), (dscssng th Frst Crct's prr dcsn n .S. v. Swr, 85 F.3d 713, 724 (1996). Th Svnth Crct hs hld tht "[m]ss f ffc (mr brdl, mss f pstn) fr prvt gn s th ln tht sprts rn f th mll vltns f stt lw fdcr dt . . . frm fdrl crm." .S. v. Blm, 149 F.3d 649, 655 (7 th Cr. 1998). Th crt wnt n t nt tht "n lmst ll f th ntngbl rghts css dcdd . . . (bfr McNll r snc § 1346), th dfndnt sd hs ffc fr prvt gn, s b ccptng brb n xchng fr ffcl ctn[,]" bt ls ntd tht "[s]crt cnvrsn f nfrmtn rcvd n fdcr cpct s frm f frd gnst th wnr f tht nfrmtn." d. ccrdngl, th Svnth Crct smmrzd ts tst fr n hnst srvcs frd s fllws: "[]n mpl dprvs hs mplr f hs hnst srvcs nl f h msss hs pstn (r th nfrmtn h btnd n t) fr prsnl gn" (mphss ddd). d. t 656-57.

"Well, one of the key figures in getting Rich his pardon was Eric Holder, who was the #2 man in the Justice Department.."-jt

A key...-er figure in getting Rich his pardon was one I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Marc Rich's personal attorney (and BFF) of over 10 years. In fact, congratulations were telephonically conveyed by brand new V.P Chief of Staff "Scooter" Libby from the Vice President's own office in the White House(!). Embarrassing testimony ensued, of course. (see Pinkerton's coverage in Time(?) of the Rich pardon hearings, viz. Scooter's testimony.)

Epilogue: then Scooter was given a spit bath in time for Plame to be "safely" smeared by a clutch of GOP amnesiacs.

Your comment reminds me of Teddy Moore Kennedy's Democrat primary opponent when he first ran for the Senate: "If my opponent's name were Edward Moore, his candidacy would be laughed at as a joke." At that time Teddy's brother was President, and the Kennedy name carried him easily to victory. BHO has the advantage of being a "clean" (according to Joe Biden), articulate black candidate whose record is so thin that his opponents didn't have much to tag him with, other than his decades long close relationship with radicals and race haters. His "change" is coincidentally the exact platform that every Democrat candidate has run on: salvation through more taxes and more gov't program. Maybe he can continue to sell Hope (hype?) but there won't be any real change from what the Democrats have been pushing for the last 60 years.

I agree, Sen. Obama has no 'plan for change' unless you want the change to mean that we slip more into socialism than freedom of being a self governing nation (ie: we the people are in charge)

I noted the headline of the article as change is only 'skin deep'... I take a literal look at that headline. It's ironic; for years America was told don't judge by the color of skin pigment. (very true) I recall the words of Martin Luther King Jr. "I have a dream, that one day men will not judge men by the color of their skin but by the depth of their character." So...what is the headline by the MSM on Obama winning the dem nomination? Obama
the first "black" to win dem nomination (or something of that effect) and that's all people are seeing...THE SKIN COLOR...

No matter that Obama believes abortion of innocent life is "a choice"

No matter that Obama has yet to figure out we have men and we have women 'for a reason' that there is a difference in the sexes and that
good society recognizes why one honors the 'love' between man and woman. That one need not 'marry' to be respected...that love is not about 'sex' - therefore, there is no reason to allow two of the same gender to marry and be given monetary reward.

Obama is not for fighting the real oppressed persons in Iraq but seeks only a 'subjective'
peace at home - looking the other way at how
persons in other nations have lived with terror on a daily basis. Everyone 'hates war'
but to deny the existence of evil on others,
just to have a 'false peace' for a time; is
naive.

Before one can speak of making changes, one needs to first change their own ideas. Obama
is of liberal mind. To insist that Roe v Wade
was 'right law' and then state he is a Christian, is to state 'he lacks understanding' of what Christian is about.
Another irony, Mr. Obama speaks of separation of church and state yet Mr. Obama very early on, wanted to stress the point he's of a certain church. ??? So really, Mr. Obama knows in his head why it's important to belong to a faith practice, but he's not connecting 'the practice of faith' to 'life itself' ... why we are on this earthly journey and why LIFE is sacred. NEW LIFE...for 'the old' does pass away. A look at China's one child policy and how now, after the earthquake they 'might' begin to understand - LIFE is sacred...and it can't be replaced at a government 'decree'

'the flesh' is of no avail...it perishes, the Spirit is what brings life...and any who don't honor the Spirit of Love that brings LIFE to a society; is 'not at all' for 'the littlest guy'
A woman's body is her body when it remains her SINGLE body; once she decides to unite with another, it is no longer 'just her body' ...
Mr. Obama can't understand this notion.

dude .. I ain't a obama supporter but you got some very biased views there. Goodluck & God Bless!!

BryanD; Libby did indeed play a role in Rich's exoneration. I was dismayed that Libby would represent such scum as Rich. A good question is this: Why is Libby's role condemned by the left as a means to berate the right, rather than a condemnation by the left based on principle? Back when Clinton pardoned Rich, left AND right were appalled. Now Libby's role is only used in the context of political bashing.

But Libby was Rich's lawyer too. Isn't it a lawyer's job to represent the interests of their client? If I remember correctly, Holder had no such compelling interest, other than personal - if you're familiar with the history at all.

THIS is sure change for the GOP that's more than skin deep! Take a look at this YouTube re Alaska Gov Sarah Palin (as Veep for McCain)-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfiOSCfY44&eurl=http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/

to the one who said "dude" you have some biased views there...after my blog; I'm assuming that was directed at my blog but perhaps it was directed at the main article. [not sure]

If it was directed to me, let me provide the definition of 'bias'

bias: To influence in a particular typically unfair direction; prejudice

Quite simply: if there is any 'bias' out there,
it is found in the MSM; who attempts to influence in the direction of 'liberal' and writes so as to favor one candidate over another, simply because that candidate is of a certain party. The D party.

The use the 'political correct terms' of
pro-choice rather than state as is: this candidate favors aborting the unborn. They
use 'tolerant' in place of understanding that certain actions are not going going to reap
the individual a good life but merely a temporal in-the-moment 'fun' ... ie: they
condone actions that reap a bad end eternally speaking.

Hard for some to fathom it; since that catch phrase of the 60's 'do your own thing' but
There is right action and there is wrong action. One bears 'good fruit' (good results)
the other puts persons on a slippery slope of
misery that's hard to climb out of. (concisely: the slippery slope is called SIN;
Self Indulgent Nature)

Any who condones someone in their wrong ideas; is not 'for' but against your having a good life.

Something democrat politicians out for self haven't yet figured out; you can't MAKE the poor become wealthy. They can't. I can't. No one can MAKE someone 'get wealth' ie: have.
IMPOSSIBLE.

You can give a man a fish; and you've taken care of need 'for a day' ...tomorrow the man is back asking to be fed again. IF however, one were to TEACH how to do...THEN, you have
INDEPENDENCE. Does the democrat politician want the American citizen who has not to become 'self' sufficient? Of course not!
If 'the poor' begin accepting responsibility for thier own lives; the democrat politician
is out of 'a job.' [there's only so many lawyers to go around and so many books to write on how BAD life is]

LOL (that means laugh out loud) Those who vote for a democrat who says "I can make your life better" is a bit uhmmm...well; non-experienced in life.

Contrary to some minds; being handed a bunch of dollars isn't going to 'better' them. If a
truly wealthy man won a million dollars in the lottery and a very poor guy won the same amount, It's my bet - in one year - the wealthy person would have MORE than what he started with; and helped more persons around him in the process.

The poor guy; naturally, must first take care of his own basics. BUT; in the poor man's mind, who equates esteem with having - he would not buy a used car but a nice comfortable "stylish" car, He wouldn't buy a
small condo of maybe two bedrooms but a 5 bedroom home with swimming pool, He would
go to the fanciest restaurants and be LAVISH
with the tip, he would take a REALLY NICE vacation (after all, he deserves it he would muse) [no day trips or just an occasional
local vacation in a 'simple condo' for a week]
And, I am assuming he would treat all his friends to NICE gifts; which is very generous
except that ...well, without understanding, the gift isn't going to make his friends happier. Maybe 'temporarily' but

HAPPINESS that lasts is within. It is God.
and God within, gives all one needs to be happy. Self Control to say NO to temptations:
be it drink, cigarettes, or pornographic shows.
He gives the Spirit of Understanding and a knowledge of how to live life (pursue learning, and grow a skill and one can take care of self and others also; which does much for the esteem)

When much is given; much is required...that means unless you understand WHY you were able to acquire - the wealth is fleeting...lost quickly...and one is back to dependency on another.