Mollohan Under Fire
Back on Group’s ‘Corrupt List’By JOSELYN KING Political Writer
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Fact Box
The 15 Most Corrupt Members of Congress, as compiled by the public interest group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington:
- U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va.
- U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.
- U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.
- U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.
- U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif.
- U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga.
- U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.
- U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill.
- U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.
- U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
- U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
- U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif.
- U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind.
- U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.
- U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Ark.
WHEELING - U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan has been named one of the 15 most corrupt members of Congress by the public interest group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
In a report released earlier this month, Washington-based CREW cited Mollohan's "ethics issues" that "stem primarily from misuse of his position on the Appropriations Committee, from which he has steered hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks to family, friends, former employees and corporations in exchange for contributions to his campaign and political action committees" as a reason for his inclusion on the most corrupt list.
CREW says Mollohan also is the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. This is the fourth consecutive year Mollohan has made the group's most corrupt list.
CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said most of the elected officials on the list are under investigation.
"Most of the investigations obviously have to do with money. That somebody accepted money in return for some kind of legislative assistance or misused their authority and their power to improve their financial status or that of their families," Sloan said.
Allegations of corruption - and reports of a subsequent federal investigation - surfaced against Mollohan, D-W.Va., more than three years ago. That's when the National Legal and Policy Center in Washington issued a report outlining allegations concerning the congressman's dealings with nonprofits in the state and his personal wealth.
No charges have ever been filed against Mollohan, and there has never been an official announcement that he has been cleared of any allegations. The U.S. Department of Justice has refused to respond to repeated queries for comment from the Sunday News-Register over the past several months.
It was the National Legal and Policy Center that first began asking questions about Mollohan's dealings and personal wealth in April 2006. At that time, their findings were turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.
But Ken Boehm, chairman of the NLPC, told the Sunday News-Register that he isn't concerned there have been no announcements from either agency pertaining to Mollohan.
He noted that the federal case against former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich took more than five years before charges were announced. The case was expedited when Blagojevich, who was to appoint the successor to President Obama's former Senate seat, allegedly was found to be offering the seat for financial profit to himself.
Boehm also made reference to the federal case against former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, which was put together quickly.
"It was rushed, there were a lot of mistakes, and the case was overturned," Boehm said of the Stevens case. "And now the people who did the investigating are being investigated.
"But these are different people (investigating Mollohan), and they know how to do their jobs. They don't give out press releases telling where they are on a case for obvious reasons. At some point, they'll tell us what we need to hear."
The National Legal and Policy Center, founded in 1991, is a non-partisan organization that promotes ethics in public life through research, investigation, education and legal action. The center touts the virtues of smaller government and of elected officials who have "character, morality and common sense."
Allegations Against Mollohan
It was first reported by the NLPC in spring 2006 that Mollohan had earmarked $369 million in federal grants to his district for 254 separate projects between 1997 and 2006, and that more than $200 million of that money was directed to five nonprofit organizations staffed by friends and colleagues of Mollohan.
The nonprofits were:
- The Institute for Scientific Research in Fairmont, $108 million;
- The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, founded by Mollohan, $35 million. The Foundation has an office in Moundsville at the former West Virginia Penitentiary and previously had an office in Wheeling at the Wagner Building;
- Canaan Valley Institute, $28 million;
- Vandalia Heritage Foundation, $31.5 million;
- MountainMade Foundation, $3.3 million.
The key employees at the five nonprofits, along with other staff and contractors, contributed a total of $397,122 to Mollohan's campaign and political action committees.
Along with questionable earmarks, the National Legal and Policy Center raised concerns about Mollohan's personal finances and real estate holdings.
The National Legal and Policy Center found in 2006 that between 1996 and 2004, Mollohan omitted or undervalued as many as 260 of his personal assets on financial disclosure forms required of all members of Congress.
The forms, nevertheless, showed a rise in Mollohan's personal wealth from less than $500,000 in 2000 to at least $6.3 million in 2004.
Mollohan attributed much of the increase in his personal wealth to an inheritance from his father, the late U.S. Rep. Robert Mollohan, D-W.Va.
But the figures still didn't add up, Boehm said.
Boehm did much of the initial investigation and found that Robert Mollohan had left his estate primarily to his widow, Alan Mollohan's mother.
And Boehm acknowledged that while the worth of Alan Mollohan's real estate holdings in Washington, D.C., and Bald Head Island, N.C., did more than double between 2000 and 2004, it still did not cover the increase in his reported personal wealth.
"It's a classic case of a congressman directing millions to the people he has financial and political ties to," Boehm said. "That, in itself, shouldn't be allowed. It's a slippery slope. And it looks like if you're a friend of a congressman, you get the checkbook.
"He appears to get so wealthy so fast, and he doesn't have an explanation. That kind of return is what you get on a winning lottery ticket."
Mollohan Still Waiting
Mollohan was the ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee in 2006 when the allegations against him first surfaced. At that time, he stepped down from the committee at the request of now House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
After the Democrats took control of Congress at the beginning of 2007, Mollohan was named chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies - the committee that sets the budget for both the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.
Mollohan vowed at that time he would abstain from any votes pertaining to the agencies while he was under investigation. This year, he nevertheless participated in approving their appropriations.
The congressman is adamant in pointing out that he has never been informed that he is being investigated by the government.
"I can't give you a status of what I don't know anything about," Mollohan said of the investigation. "No one has ever contacted us about it at any time - then or now.
"I can give you the status of the people who perpetrated" the reports of an investigation. "I can give you a status of what kind of political attack you can expect when you do your job on the Ethics Committee and do appropriately address the concerns - even when they involve the majority leader."
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas, was majority leader when Mollohan served on the House Ethics Committee. DeLay was under scrutiny then for his dealings with imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff in the same scandal that sent former U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, to federal prison.
Mollohan, meanwhile, suggests his own situation falls into the category "Good deeds that offend powerful people may result in a reaction you didn't anticipate."
Looking Toward 2010
The National Republican Congressional Committee has the charge of recruiting Republican candidates to run for Congress and directing their ensuing campaigns.
Legal problems surrounding a 14-term Democratic congressman would be of extreme interest to them in their cause, but officials there are aware of no recent legal activity being waged against Mollohan.
"He hasn't been charged," said NRCC spokesman Andy Sere. "But he hasn't been cleared, either."
Sere acknowledged that recruiting quality political candidates to run against long-time incumbents can be a chore, and that this results in "slower-developing races."
"But I am confident at this point that we will have a credible Republican challenger to Congressman Mollohan," he said.
Among those thus far filing as pre-candidates to run against Mollohan in 2010 are Republicans Cindy Hall of Wheeling, Randy Smith of Terra Alta, W.Va., Thomas Stark of Parkersburg and Daniel Scott Swisher of Washington, W.Va., which is near Parkersburg. Democrat R.J. Smith of Dallas in Ohio County said he will challenge Mollohan in the primary election.
None of these candidates has previously held office.
Late last week, current state Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, told the Sunday News-Register he would run for Mollohan's seat next year.
Sere sees the NRCC in 2010 as highlighting Mollohan's recent "no" vote to take all federal funding away from the embattled Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now organization. Mollohan was one of 75 Democrats who voted against pulling ACORN's funding.
"He is certainly not helping his cause with what he is doing in Washington," Sere said of Mollohan. "He is being put in a tough spot.
"The Democrats are in control of the White House, and poll after poll shows West Virginians are not happy with the direction they are taking the country."
Sere noted that Mollohan did vote against recent "cap and trade" legislation before the House, which was opposed by most West Virginians. The bill passed by a 219-212 vote.
"But he didn't make his position known until a couple of days before the vote, and he didn't lead the fight against it," Sere said. "He just stood by and let it happen without saying a word.
"Congressman Mollohan consistently ranks as one of the least independent Democrats in his party. West Virginia is a conservative district, and it is hungry for more independent leadership than what he is providing."
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dmxem20011
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09-29-09 12:23 AM
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The Democrats on this list may as well 4 times as Republicans BECAUSE THEIR CORRUPTION IF CONVICTED IS PURE JAIL TIME. VOTE EM ALL OUT, get rid of these *** clowns
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dmxem20011
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09-29-09 12:19 AM
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skunky: Mollohan does do a lot of good, BUT BOB NEY Stood up for STEEL a lot more than Alan crookedhand did if you remember. Mollohan padded is bank account by nmearly 6 million in under 4 making less than 150,000 a year back then! Get a clue and im sure you work for his in the disrict office!
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Graysongs
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09-28-09 9:34 PM
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Reactionary - What I meant was that, no, they wouldn't cut their own throats, of course, but we could bring back a quick and easy way of doing it for them.
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skunky
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09-28-09 9:23 PM
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I am impressed. You all must listen to talk radio and are very informed. Can you remember when Rep.Mollohan fought for "Stand up for Steal?" He was the good guy then. What happened? You turn your backs on him when he fought for you.
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Reactionary
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09-28-09 8:14 PM
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No such luck Grays. Getting a politician to vote FOR term limits, is like expecting the likes of NANCY PELOSI to pass tax laws that really DO tax the rich! Come on now, 17 MILLIPON DOLLARS--(US)--in STARKIST TUNA STOCK; and she's going to convince ANYBODY WITH A BRAIN that she wants to tax the "RICH" and give it to the little guy? One would have to be the stupidest A/HOLE in the world to believe s h i t like that!
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Graysongs
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09-28-09 7:56 PM
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Reactionary - As to paragraph 3 in your post, that's why I'm looking at going into the guillotine business. Might be a big demand soon.
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Reactionary
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09-28-09 7:51 PM
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Ellis-- I agree with all but the First! We don't NEED term limits. We , as American Citizens ,ARE term Limits! The Bast**ds can't get re-elected if WE don't vote for them. However , I know that there are some really stupid people out there that can't understand that concept. It taxes their brain too much!!! As for getting State or Federal politicians to cut their own throats?.............GOOD LUCK on that one.
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taxpyer
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09-28-09 7:44 PM
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will somebody kick this low life to the curb....why is he still here..wait..somebody keeps voting for the ***off
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EllisWyatt
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09-28-09 7:38 PM
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1. Pass term limits by Constitutional Amendment. 2. Do away with direct election of Senators. 3. Suspend voting rights for non-taxpayers. 4. Force Congress onto a strict Social Security/Medicare retirement. 5. Put a ban on members of Congress, military personnel or Pentagon employees working for any company with which they did business for 3 years after leaving office. 6. Move the working capital to Fargo. Make the working sessions go from Jan. 3rd-June 3rd. 7. Force ALL members of Congress to fly coach or pay the difference out of their own pockets. 8. Make all bills clearly worded and short, all spending listed with sponsors, all bills online, in final form, 72 hours before voting. 9. Vote out ALL incumbants in 2010!
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JamesT
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09-28-09 6:53 PM
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Many people go in politics with little wealth and leave multi millionaires at YOUR expense. Notice how Congress exmpt themselves from th ever laws the lobyist writes for them? Even the Healthcare Bill exempts them from being obligated. Why are the wealthiest members predominately Democrats? Fienstein, Rockefeller, Pelosi. Yeah, they know whats its like budgeting like thier multi trillion dollar spending spree on the backs of voters and thier childrens children. The GOP are guilty as well. The list is a bipartisan one. Of the 50 lawmakers on the The Hill's Rich List, 26 are Democrats and 24 are Republicans. For comparison, there are 256 Democrats in the House and 178 Republicans; in the Senate there are 59 Democrats and 40 Republicans. Rockefeller is heir to Exxon mobile. Don't hera him complaining about gas prices. While Pelosi and Fienstien say the war is an illegal one, they make millions from it in contracts and financial consultants. Reasearch and educate yourselves.
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Honesty
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09-28-09 6:21 PM
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I am a right wing extremist: I am a vet,I believe in My God, I believe in the constitution ,I am pro life,and I am totally agains the move to socialism this administration is pushing down our throats! Dump all incumbants and regardless of who we send to Washington maybe we can get a non party vote on something.Watch congress in session if the votes don't make you sick you are already indoctinronated.They are all working for themselves and their party NOT THE PEOPLE!
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Graysongs
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09-28-09 3:03 PM
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Shark - You're quite correct. The Congress is a law unto itself with phonied-up "investigations" guaranteed to "find no evidence of wrong-going" on the part of their fraternity brothers. These slugs don't file honest tax returns or the required financial statements while they steal our money at the point of a gun. And they're not afraid of us at all. Until they become afraid of us, nothing will change.
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Shark88
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09-28-09 2:48 PM
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This entire article is a big joke. "Most of the investigations obviously have to do with money. That somebody accepted money in return for some kind of legislative assistance..." Oh really? Imagine a politician being motivated by money. Isn't that why they call them politicians? Vote out Mollohan and they'll just replace him with another politician the evolves in to another Mollohan. I'm not aware of Mitch McConnell being under any investigation but the entire Congress is all about money and power. The government has too much money and that is the source of all the corruption. We need strict term limits, reduce the pay and benefits Congress receives, and reduce taxes. That would fix a lot of the problems mentioned in this article. Good luck though getting the politicians to effectively solve any real problems. To do so would put them out of a job.
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Graysongs
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09-28-09 11:02 AM
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Ellis - ACORN is a plantation run by 2 white guys for their own personal gain with all the heavy lifting being done by uneducated blacks. It's pure racist and cynical manipulation by 2 evil white brothers, the Rathke boys. The USE blacks for their own purposes and have them available to go to jail for them if they get caught at any of their various crimes.
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EYEINTHESKY
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09-28-09 10:36 AM
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Its ironic that the list of 15 most corrupt politicians is split equally Dems and Repubs. To start off, vote all these clowns out. Then work on voting out our clowns in the Wheeling City Council, including our do nothing mayor
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BigMike
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09-28-09 9:07 AM
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"I'll be*******if I'm going to let two outsiders dictate who and who may not represent me in Congress." How dare they, that job belongs to the political machine. They'll select who you'll get to vote for. Ain't Democracy wonderful?
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wvhoopie
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09-28-09 6:51 AM
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I find it interesting that some of you posted for twelve hours yesterday. I spent time with my family, football game, and friends. How can you be on here day in and day out for twelve hours a day? Is this what retirement is around here?? What a waste of you time and effort to sit in front of a computer getting fat and old day in and day out. Unreal,.
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EllisWyatt
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09-28-09 5:50 AM
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I find it amusing that ACORN has any defenders left. This is an organization that registered "Mickey Mouse" to vote. So what, the liberals ask, he can't actually VOTE!. Well, maybe not Mickey Mouse but how about Joe Smith? In a large county like Cuyahoga, which suddenly saw an influx of more than 120,000 new voters in a county that has been losing population for years, a Joe Smith could vote. Who would know the difference? Fraud delivered Ohio and Pennsylvania to Barry Sotero. I also find it amusing that ACORN attacks Wal-Mart yet fails to even pay minimum wage to its' workers. For example, ACORN offered workers in New Mexico $25,000 per year for a 54-hour week, or $8.90 per hour (below the $9.50 minimum wage). It offers no health benefits to employees, fights union organizing efforts and pays employees so little so that "they can understand and have sympathy for the people they are trying to help". Vote Mollohan out!
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Graysongs
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09-27-09 9:47 PM
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Reactionary - Don't be silly. ACORN doesn't have any stringent requirements like that. Just be sure to mark the (D) on the application.
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Reactionary
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09-27-09 9:33 PM
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200011---I'll live on a park bench for a free car! Do I have to bring the Mrs. with me or can she stay at home and collect welfare while I'm "On the Bench", so to speak? But if I have to live on a park bench to get a free car, I don't think I want to know what I would have to do for a free house!! Maybe Nancysi or wonder would step in and save me.......eh? Guess not...............................HA! STATES RIGHTS
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dmxem20011
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09-27-09 9:13 PM
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you can get registered from ACORN if you live on a park bench!!! Maybe they will set you up with a tax evasion class too and maybe a hooker. Praise the Lord they arent in charge of the census, because those stupid schmucks could add to begin with. Obviously, since they signed people up to vote five times!!! Call your Congressman and tell him to remember who votes him into office, not THE LOBBYISTS OR SPECIAL INTERESTS!!!
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Reactionary
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09-27-09 9:01 PM
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All them stars mean z i p p e r h e a d !!!
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Reactionary
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09-27-09 9:00 PM
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**********---H E L L , I'LL vote for Mollohan for a free car, and I don't even live in WV! I can get registered at the local ACORN office ,.....right? They don't seem to be too concerned with the "real" law. And I want a free house, and a free boat, and a free ATV!! It doesn't have to be NEW, but it does have to work properly. I'd hate like h e l l to have to put money into "free" stuff just to make it work!
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Reactionary
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09-27-09 8:55 PM
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budman--maybe hoopie is giving himself a "reach around"! Or maybe Nancy is helping. That's her thing, you know.
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PCGS70
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09-27-09 8:52 PM
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Put his azzz in prison and NEVER let him walk the streets again.
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