A Noble Profession

Political society exists for the sake of noble actions
- Artistotle

I wonder what the ancient greek guy would make of this lot?

Once-powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to conspiracy and wire fraud stemming from his 2000 purchase of a gambling boat fleet. The plea by Abramoff, 46, before U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck came a day after Abramoff entered guilty pleas to three other federal charges as part of an agreement with prosecutors requiring him to cooperate in a broad corruption investigation into members of Congress.

How noble of him to plead guilty. After Tuesday's guilty pleas he said "Words will not ever be able to express my sorrow and my profound regret that I've been caught for all my actions and mistakes." According to AP, Abramoff raised over $100,00 for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign and was therefore given one of those Republican "pioneer" awards. A Republican spokeswoman has confirmed that Bush will now be nobly giving $6,000 of that money to charities.

Perhaps we should update Aristotle for the twenty first century. How about:

Political society exists for the sake of politicians

Hmm, maybe.

Our UK politicians are also the very essence of nobility.

A Labour Party campaign manager punched and grabbed the throat of a Tory activist on the eve of the 2005 general election, a court has heard. Labour Party worker David Harding is alleged to have set upon Robert Benham, parliamentary assistant to Romford Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell.

Not just big John who likes it rough and noble then (allegedly)?

There's nothing nobler an honest civil servant though.

The Home Office is investigating a claim that immigration officials have granted visas to foreign nationals in exchange for sex. The Sun reported the allegation by a former administration officer at the Lunar House immigration processing centre in Croydon, south London.

Slightly dubious on this one since it's sensible to question the reliability of anything reported by the Scum. I'd say let's wait for the investigation but, well, an investigation under New Labour? I just can't bring myself to write that such a thing could be noble, even when I'm being sarcastic. The investigation might conclude that there's nothing in these allegations. If that happens, how can we, the British public, tell whether that's a genuine conclusion or a political cover up? It's surely impossible.

I've thought of one for New Labour.

Political society exists for the sake of obfuscation.

I wonder why so few young people in the UK want be be politicians when they grow up?

Tags: News, Politics, Ambramoff, Mad world