The Real Scandal

If Jack Abramoff flips it's going to make Plamegate look like a jaywalking ticket:

Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say.

Mr. Abramoff is believed to have extensive knowledge of what prosecutors suspect is a wider pattern of corruption among lawmakers and Congressional staff members. One participant in the case who insisted on anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations described him as a "unique resource."

If by "unique" you mean "a movement conservative with ties to practically every lawmaker in the GOP." Abramoff is not a bipartisan figure. He was the National Chairman of the College Republicans, serving with former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed and Americans for Tax Reform lobbyist Grover Norquist. His influence over Washington is the culmination of a 20-year project to push the conservative agenda. The overwhelming majority of contributions in the Indian gaming scandal are to Republicans. Spreading it around to people like Byron Dorgan (who returned the money and advocated the same position before getting anything from Abramoff) does not give a fig leaf of bipartisanship, and it's simply ridiculous to think so.

If this plays out the way it could, it is not hyperbole to suggest that the Democrats would regain the majority of the House of Representatives BEFORE the 2006 elections. That's how many Congressmen could be indicted.