A MYSTERY FOR HISTORY

Bush/Cheney caring for the faithful

Ever hear of Lester Crawford? Well, listen up. Tis a
nefarious story that breeds wonderment & dismay. Les
is about 67, married w/children, DVM from Auburn,
Ph.D, pharmacology, U. of Georgia. Dep. commish of
FDA, 2/25/02, Commish, 7/15/06, resigned 9/15/06,
"effective immediately".

Now for a taste of mind-boggling devilment. When
Les was nominated for deputy Commish in 2002, by
Bush/Cheney, he was being investigated for making
false statements to Congress and have an affair
with an employee of the agency.

Just prior to being nominated by Bush/Cheney for
Commish in 2006 Lester was being investigated for
financial improprieties & false statements to Cong-
ress. Not withstanding the above, the Repugs on the
Senate Health Committee & the controling Repug
senate confirmed ol' Les & sent him to both jobs.

Two months after becoming boss Dearest Daddy Craw-
ford resigned his office (Sept,'06. In October of
'06 he pled guilty in Federal District Court to
falsely reporting ownership of the companies
stock he regulated & failing to declare income
from stock options. Methinks Les Baby had a heluva
time with the truth.

A few questions: Isn't this corruption gone amuck?
Who vetted this liar & crook & sent an O.k. to Bush
to nominate him? Has Bush ever checked into to this?
Did Cheney have any part of the vetting? Who was
chair of the Senate Health that approved him? What
are the names of Committee members that voted for
Les?

Know how much time he was sentenced to? NOT a single
day. He got probation & a fine. How did he get before
that judge who has a rep as one not afraid to put a
guilty person in the hoosegow? Why is the sentence so
totally out of sync with the crime?

There are a couple of "ughs" in this mis-carrriage of
justice. After Lester resigned he was given a job as
a lobbyist for Political Directions,Inc., a govern-
ment relations and strategic communications firm. It
was a 1995 invention, but seems to be a Repug strong-
hold for the errant faithful. Ace reporter Miami
Maria wants to be turned loose on this one.

And the second "ugh" is fairly obvious, but brutally
true. That paragon of perfection, Lester Crawford,
donated 10 grand to the Grand Old Party.

You think you or I could get away with what he did
and be given a job & probation?? We'd be sent to Bagdad.