Casino Royale, Three Card Monty Style

On MSNBC.com right now, a story about lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s efforts on behalf of some LA and MS tribes who also run casinos. They wanted a closed party and greased some serious palms trying to keep it that way.
Jeez, I wish I’d known about it! I’ve got tons of paper and pencils, with nothin’ but time.

Dear Sec. Norton ~
I love your hair. Coincidentally, I also love westerns. In my extensive research, I have noticed that most of the IndiNative Americans’ antipathy comes from drinking and gambling (witness the “Hekawi Indians”, who were well documented in the epic PBS series “F-Troop”). Therefore, it’s my conclusion that they don’t need to do any more of it. So I agree with Senator Reid. Make sure everyone knows I wrote you.
Sign me: ‘Sister, Tree Hugging’
(with two e’s, so’s they get the ‘pay to the order of’ right)

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, held a fundraiser at Abramoff’s Signatures restaurant in Washington on June 3, 2003, that collected at least $21,500 for his Keep Our Majority political action committee from the lobbyist’s firm and tribal clients.
…Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002, also signed by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. The next day, the Coushattas issued a $5,000 check to Reid’s tax exempt group…Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations between 2001 and 2004.
…Hastert ultimately collected more than $100,000 in donations from Abramoff’s firm and tribal clients between 2001 and 2004. His office said he never discussed the matter with Abramoff, but long opposed expanding Indian gambling off reservations and was asked to send the letter by Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La.
McCrery sent his own letter as well, and collected more than $36,000 in Abramoff-connected donations.
…Louisiana Sen. David Vitter received $6,000 from Abramoff tribes from 1999 to 2001 and refunded it the day before he sent one of his letters to Norton in February 2002
…DeLay received at least $57,000 in Abramoff and tribal donations between 2001 and 2004.
…Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, received four donations totaling $5,500
…The Abramoff donations dwarf those made by Keating. At least 33 lawmakers wrote letters to Norton and got more than $830,000 in Abramoff-related donations as the lobbying unfolded between 2001 and 2004, AP found.

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