Candidates become enmeshed in CIETC
April 21st, 2006 at 09:04am Freeda
Last week Yepsen reported that Nussle has called for an independent, non-partisan, neutral, [other fantastical modifier] Office of Inspector General who can “probe allegations of wrongdoing.” Yepsen likes it:
It’s a good idea for two reasons. First, taxpayers need a neutral party to investigate things. Can a Democratic attorney general or a Democratic county attorney fairly probe the scandal in a Democratic administration? On the flip side, can a Republican auditor or U.S. Attorney fairly scrutinize Democrats?
…
The second reason is to clear someone’s name. Politics is full of accusations today. Sometimes, the charges are followed by official investigations.
However, even supposing that such an office could be created and successfully meet these high-minded standards, I’m pretty sure that Nussle’s campaign staff wouldn’t qualify for the position. The Skinny is reporting:
Jim Nussle’s gubernatorial research team is devoting significant resources on the CIETC scandal, trying to tie Mike Blouin and Chet Culver to the debacle. “Team Nussle is prepared to slaughter [the Democratic candidates], the Polk County Democrats and the South Side Machine,” a Nussle insider told us. “They are all busy shooting themselves in the foot, but Nussle will have a wealth of ammunition for a few kill shots.”
Nice. Gun metaphors.
And, lest you fear that Fallon would be left out of the mix, Civic Skinny this to say:
Next week could be the make-or-break moment for candidate Ed Fallon’s campaign, we’re told. Last week, it was his turn on the CIETC scandal. On TV, in front of all of Central Iowa, Fallon claimed he had known about this for years and had the documentation to prove it. “Now we’re going to call him on it,” said one lawmaker. “And if the Legislative Oversight Committee, which has been conducting the meetings, feels he in fact does have the information he claims to, he will be the next star witness for the committee. This will add to his underdog image - not as a person who couldn’t get things done as a result of not exposing them first - but as someone who is always beat down and swatted away like a fly, and now could be seen as somebody who just might actually know what the hell is going on.” However, if Fallon fails to produce on this, he can kiss his campaign goodbye, we’re told.
It will be interesting to see how this all turns out, although frankly it isn’t going to make a difference here: Grinnell has early satellite voting next Friday (and we don’t read the news).
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Entry Filed under: Miscellaneous
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3 Comments Add your own
1. Rob Sand | April 21st, 2006 at 12:51 pm
FYI, CityView is way off with this. They misunderstood what it was that Ed was referencing- he was actually referring to other wrongdoings at CIETC, and we’ve been in touch with CityView to correct this. Whether or not Ed testifies, and what he says, really shouldn’t make much of a positive or negative impact on the campaign.
2. Chase | April 21st, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Yeah, that part of the Civic Skinny really struck me as reckless when I read it.
3. Hannah | April 21st, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Sounds like they should be put in a corner with the S&B and be given a stern talking to.
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