Rick Renzi: Corrupt Master of Fear & Smear

Rick Renzi, is one of the few Congressman who received money from convicted felon Jack Abramoff and has refused to give it back! So now in Arizona we have a Congressman using money stolen from Indian tribes to campaign in Indian Country.

Now Renzi,R-AZ,D1; is sending out a automatic phone message, this robocall says: Ellen Simon (his opponent) got a little secret she doesn't want you to know. "This is as close to any issue Renzi has discussed: His opponent has 'a secret.' His opponent is a bad person.

Although in the national this is a little noted race it could be a victory for Democrats that could turn control of the House of Representatives over to them. As national poll numbers about the number of House seats "in play," vary widely -- and therefore even Democratic victory counts -- the poll numbers on Renzi v. Simon also vary widely: Last month she was 13-points down; the most recent poll now says she is 3-points ahead!? It's hard to tell where the lies and distortions begin and end, even with the poll numbers and (we have to fear) maybe even with the vote count.

But one things for sure, Rick Renzi's slimy and undocumented innuendo (Ellen's 'little secret,') his broadcasting of her husband's ex-wife's affairs (how can this possibly be Ellen's responsibility or within her control -- in fact perhaps it's one of the valid reasons her husband divorced), and Renzi TV ads are as repugnant as someone else's dirty and stained laundry.

It's part of the general Republican strategy of 'fear and smear.' Not a singe word about a single issue has been mentioned by Renzi and he has refused a public debate.

If you write to Renzi about the War in Iraq or NSA domestic spying, or with objections to the military commissions that now endorse torture and violate the Geneva conventions as well as destroying our justice system, Renzi writes back about his getting funding for a local road. This is all he has to say about anything: "I built six miles of highway," as if these pittance could not be done by anyone else.

Even Renzi's pork is pathetic: more like bacon crumbs left over from DC's orgy of spending, than even a decent pork roast.

In Renzi TV ad his biggest (false) accusation is that Ellen Simon supports NAMBLA! Great, the Republican have the reality of a gay sexual Congressional predator feasting on a pool of Pages, and it's Ellen Simon accused of advocating predatory homosexuality. He's also accused Simon supports as being convicted felons, when it's Republican congressman and lobbyist who have been the real convicted felons this year.

Facts and issues don't make a difference to Renzi, it seems.

Arizona does have a Real Hero, BTW, Pat and Kevin Tillman, who both joined the Army after 9/11. Pat Tillman initially got some national attention because he was a NFL player, and later because of his unfortunate death (now admitted to be by friendly-fire)

Kevin Tillman, formerly of the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, wrote an incredible letter this week, published online, in which he said: “Somehow, the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtue-less, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country. Somehow, this is tolerated. Somehow, nobody is accountable for this.”

Renzi was asked about this. He said he got some bacon crumbs for a road.

Well, at least he's photogenic; that appears to be one of his few values.But he's met his match on that too.