Bob Ney the latest politico to learn the hazards of messing with golf

There are a slew of great things about golf that true fans recognize. Of course, there’s the professional game, where we get to see players like Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam do things in competition that shatter our minds.

For most, the main thrill of golf is much more personal. Face it, there’s no way to adequately describe to a non-golfer the thrill and feelings of inner satisfaction of breaking 100. Or 90. Or 80. Or even scoring a par or birdie on a tough hole.

Still, there’s one other thing golf has recently shown that it brings to the table for both fan and non-fan - it’s become the great political equalizer.

You see, politicians of this great nation have become completely, staggeringly, pass-out-at-the-dinner-table drunk on their own power, with very little constraint. The average American sees this, but for the most part looks away, as they would with a drunk uncle that they used to think fondly of.

Need to torture people to get information?

That’s cool, that doesn’t really affect us who aren’t currently being tortured.

Want to spy on Americans without a warrant?

Fine, no one would ever take advantage of that.

Want to accept a free golf trip in exchange for your vote?

Ok, stop everything. What in the hell is wrong with you? We’ve been golfing, we know how expensive it is. Time to investigate.

That’s what Ohio Rep. Bob Ney ® found out, as he has agreed to plead guilty to a pair of charges as part of a deal with the Justice Department in which he will cooperate with its ongoing influence peddling investigation.

Ney has been under investigation for many months as part of the government probe into corruption and bribery by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who, along with business partner Michael Scanlon, pleaded guilty within the last year to bribery charges

Ney and his staff allegedly receiveda golf trip to Scotland among other things, in exchange for support on specific bills.

And that’s what got him. Because if there is one thing many Americans know, it’s that the average golfer would gladly saw off his own head to get a free golf trip to Scotland. Getting a free trip in exchange for your vote? That’s borderline death-sentence stuff right there.

The Abramoff investigation continues on, as golf continues to take more victims. Tom DeLay broke every law in the book and he was basically praised for it. He took free golf trips from Abramoff and now he’s desperately trying to keep himself off ballots in Texas.

Becaue we Americans will put up with a lot. But no amount of rhetoric will save a politician once we find out golf was involved.

–WKW