Slouching toward Gomorrah

Throughout a City, Lessons of the Fall

Dana Milbank in the Washington Post: [Jack] Abramoff had a lunchtime appointment ... at the federal courthouse. There, in black raincoat and fedora, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax offenses that could cost him $25 million and put him behind bars for at a least a decade.

"I just want to say words will not ever be able to express my sorrow and my profound regret for all my actions and mistakes," Abramoff, slouched over the defense table, said quickly and softly into the microphone. "For all of my remaining days, I will feel tremendous sadness and regret for my conduct and for what I have done. I only hope that I can merit forgiveness from the Almighty and from those I have wronged or caused to suffer."

Abramoff cut a wretched figure as he shuffled into the courtroom of Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. The once-athletic lobbyist was slouching, his newly overweight frame wrapped in a double-breasted suit. His hand shook when he took his oath. After his plea, he closed his eyes and looked as if he were going to cry. He accepted soothing pats on the back from his lawyer. He clasped his hands together and rubbed fingers as if attempting to thumb-wrestle himself. Only the cufflinks and sharp blue tie hinted at the vast wealth and power Abramoff had amassed.

And so, the Gingrich revolution comes to an end.

11 years after their startling takeover of the House, the Republicans have dragged political corruption to new lows. All the lofty rhetoric of Newt et al's Contract with America, and even its concrete achievements, have been laid low by that oldest of all evils, corruption.

In this case, it wasn't power that corrupted; it was engrained arrogance, a the rules don't apply to us and nobody cares anyway attitude that may slide when the good times are rolling but always gets slapped down in the end.

Oh well; happy 2006 Jack Abramoff. We look forward to hearing more from you.

Photo by Gerald Herbert for the Associated Press, via the Washington Post.