Is U.S. Congressman Steve Rothman (D) on the take?

June 5, 2010 at 7:50 P.M. "Errors" inserted since this morning have now been corrected. Keep 'em coming, Mr. Codey.

Herb Jackson, "Defense Contractors Remember Their N.J. Friends in Congress: Two Get Donations Before Key Vote," in The Record, June 4, 2010, at p. A-1.

"Reps. Steve Rothman and Ronney Frelinghuysen got nearly $10,000 in contributions from key defense contractors in the days surrounding their votes last week to keep a fighter jet engine that the military does not want."

Let me see if I get the complexity of this situation: The military does NOT want a particular engine or weapons system. However, the manufacturer who will make billions from a government contract, does want the U.S. government to purchase what is known in Washington circles as "this worthless piece of crap" engine.

In order to ensure the friendly votes of representatives in the U.S. Congress, this civic minded manufacturer makes a number of substantial contributions to elected officials who, suddenly, experience an epiphany concerning the value of this no good engine. Why, there are one or two people who might call that bribery!

Mr. Rothman is a lawyer who is deemed highly ethical by the OAE. ("New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics.")

"Both [Congressmen] said through staff they had always supported the extra engine being built jointly by contractors General Electric [which owes N.J. $300 MILLION in chocolate chip cookies] and Rolls-Royce [our British cousins will be taking home some "pounds" in Sterling] for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, said the Defense Department was wrong to conclude the engine was not needed."

Makes you wonder whether these "representatives" kickback to the bosses in their counties or if get to keep everything they "get." Are Rolls Royce and British Petroleum held by the same stockholders? BP? David Cameron, perhaps? ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")

"The plane's primary engine is being made by Pratt & Whitney. After spending $3 BILLION to develop a second engine so there could be future competition between manufacturers, Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to pull the plug."

Imagine, somebody wants to save the taxpayers a little money:

"President Obama said he would veto a $568 BILLION defense authorization bill if the final version includes the $485 MILLION allocated for the extra engine. Predecessor George W. Bush also tried and failed to kill the second engine program."

Why hasn't an obvious cost-cutting elimination of this engine happened?

" ... The political action committee of Pratt & Whitney parent United Technologies donated more than $760,000 through April 30, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. General Electric, whose interests range from aerospace and nuclear reactors to refrigerators and light bulbs, has given more than $1.5 million, and Rolls Royce's donations topped $245,000."

Oh, my lightbulb just blew out. I'll have to replace it with this "long-lasting clear white bulb" made in Japan and available for 75% of the cost of my G.E. bulbs.

I am beginning to think that it is time to replace good-old Steve Rothman with a brighter light bulb, as it were, that burns longer and costs a lot less. This is what they call "New Jersey's culture of corruption."

Coming up next is "Shyster" Ray Lesniak and, his alleged, "scams" in Elizabeth, New Jersey that caused Mr. Lesniak to refer to a critic, on the record, as a "stupid imbecile."

Now it seems to me, Mr. Lesniak, that an "imbecile" is "stupid" by definition. This is to be redundant and profligate with the English language, sir. In these hard times we must be frugal, even with our words. I have only a few words for my so-called "ethical superiors" in New Jersey. ("Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics.")

I can't wait to see all of you so I can share those words with you -- especially, the "Jewish Mengele," Terry ("You've got me on your side!") Tuchin.