Ogonowski has Delusions of Grandeur

We all remember Jim Ogonowski, yes? The would-be Congressman from the MA-05 special election? Despite a 45-51% loss to newly elected Representative Niki Tsongas, Jim's decided that the life of a public servant is the life for him, and is beginning preparations to run again.

This time though, he's aiming a little higher:

"Republican Jim Ogonowski, who narrowly lost a congressional race to Niki Tsongas in October, is preparing to challenge U.S. Sen. John Kerry, The Associated Press has learned.

[...]

"We started a movement," the retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel said. "After my campaign ended, I've been very active throughout the state. I want to continue my public service."

All things considered, he didn't utterly crash and burn in MA-05, despite his obnoxious pandering with SCHIP and general demeanor. But.. really, Kerry? I understand the need to make certain incumbents don't go unchallenged - Long-term Campaign Strategy 101, don't let their war chest grow unchecked - but this is a waste of an otherwise viable candidate on the part of the GOP. That, or he really is that optimistic. In either case, I suppose I shouldn't complain too loudly..

In any case.. get ready for Round Two with Ogo the Uppity, SCHIP, and illegal immigration. Who knows? Maybe he's got a shot:

"Kerry, 64, has $9.5 million in his campaign account, compared to the $65,000 Ogonowski has left over from his congressional run."

Good luck, Jim.

Former Republican Representative Supports the Wrong Troops

I had myself a pretty decent Wednesday, for a hump day, anyway. I felt accomplished, motivated, and sated in my work day, and managing to make it another 24 hours without breaking any New Years Resolutions.

But honestly, I felt some sick, twisted sense of glee when I stumbled upon this:

"A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al-Qaida and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.

The former Republican congressman from Michigan, Mark Deli Siljander, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists.

A 42-count indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., accuses the Islamic American Relief Agency of paying Siljander $50,000 for the lobbying — money that turned out to be stolen from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

[...]

In the indictment, the government alleges that IARA employed a man who had served as a fundraising aide to Osama bin Laden.

The indictment charges IARA with sending approximately $130,000 to help Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, whom the United States has designated as a global terrorist. The money, sent to bank accounts in Peshawar, Pakistan in 2003 and 2004, was masked as donations to an orphanage located in buildings that Hekmatyar owned."

Maybe it's the partisanship ecstatic over the misfortunes of the GOP. Maybe it's that I bleed blue. Maybe I'm just a terrible human being. But there's a refreshing sense of vindication and comeuppance in seeing something like this break after 6 years of blathering misguided patriotism, claims of Democratic 'traitorous' intent and a lack of Troop Support.

Seriously though, folks. No one is safe from the corrupting influence of terrorism. This man has waged war with the "forces of darkness." Former Rep. Siljander has been an upstanding fundamentalist member of the radical right; if they get to him, then the terrorists have already won.

/snark