Gov. Bill Owens will be joining the long list of politicians who have dumped campaign gifts from toxic lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
In fact, the Samaritan House should be expecting a $250 gift from the guv sometime soon.
It turns out “The Man Who Bought Washington,” as Abramoff was dubbed by Time magazine, also was a contributor to Owens’ 2002 re-election campaign, according to records.
Abramoff, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion, gave $250 to Owens in late October 2002. Abramoff has admitted to defrauding his clients, and then conspiring with others to bribe some of our highest elected officials with his ill-gotten gains.
Owens, who wasn’t unaware of the donation until last Friday, said he’s never met Abramoff, nor has he ever spoken with him.
Props or patriots?
Next time Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave sees a photographer, she’d better check who’s standing behind her.
The Fort Collins Coloradoan recently ran a picture of Musgrave that had left-wing bloggers panting for days. The photo was of Musgrave introducing a uniformed Marine at the Larimer County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner.
It was a nice photo – campaign brochure quality, in fact. And that had some bloggers seeing red. Military regulations strictly limit the participation of active, uniformed military personnel at partisan events. Some saw it as just another example of Republicans using military vets as props.
But a Marine Corps spokeswoman told the Coloradoan that just being honored at an event isn’t against regulations, and organizations from both parties have sought to honor returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans – as they should.
The Larimer County GOP pulled its Marine photo from its website, but it can still be found in the www.talkingpointsmemo.com archives.
Allard weighing in
Congressman Bob Beauprez‘s gubernatorial bid will get U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard‘s stamp of approval this morning at the state Capitol. All of Colorado’s GOP congressional delegation has now endorsed Beauprez over rival Marc Holtzman.
Look who’s talking
Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, one of President Bush‘s harshest critics and a key figure in the ongoing Plamegate scandal, will be the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Larimer County Democrats’ Presidents’ Day dinner.
Wilson wrote an op-ed in 2003 suggesting the administration had twisted intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Weeks later, his wife, Valerie Plame, was outed by columnist Robert Novak as a CIA agent. For details, go to www.larimerdems.org.
Party on
It’s still safe to crack open a cold one and cruise through Wyoming – as long as you’re a passenger. Lawmakers again killed a bill that would have banned passengers from having open containers of alcohol in vehicles. Heck, only five years ago did lawmakers make it illegal for drivers to drink.
By the numbers
In his first year, Sen. Ken Salazar introduced 83 bills, resolutions or amendments, and 39 were passed by the Senate, according to his 2005 annual report. His office also logged 158,334 “constituent responses.” The top five constituent concerns: judicial nominations; environment; health care; foreign policy; and Social Security.
Change of scenery
With his boss leaving D.C. soon, Congressman Beauprez’s press secretary Jordan Stoick left his job last week and now works for West Virginia Rep. Shelley Moore.
Rudy still numero uno
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, dubbed America’s mayor in the days after Sept. 11, is still tops with most Americans. A new poll says the possible Republican presidential candidate is the country’s most popular politician. Rising Democratic star Sen. Barack Obama was second, followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain and Secretary of State Condi Rice. Former President Bill Clinton was fifth.
Dan Haley (dhaley@denverpost.com) is a member of The Post’s editorial board.
