Speaker Hastert, Illinois’ own ex-wrestling coach was clearly surprised by Abramoff’s guilty plea. Until the Republican mover and shaker acknowledged his criminal conduct the Speaker was untroubled by the cash he had collected from Jack and his clients. Until the news broke that the source of the funds was now going to cooperate in the bribery investigation Dennis’ conscience was not pricked by the knowledge that so much Abramoff cash had found its way into Hastert’s political treasury.

The Speaker was not the top name on the Abramoff gift list. That honor belongs to Texas’ own pest controller, Tom Delay. Mr. Delay seems to be otherwise occupied and has not had time to examine his own political treasury for tainted money. There has been no announcement from his office that he intends to scrub those gifts clean by donating to charity. Despite his experience in cleaning money it seems he is too busy raising money for the Tom Delay Legal Defense Fund to trouble himself over such petty matters as the looming Abramoff testimony.

The extent of the scandal has yet to be measured. Data gleaned from campaign finance reports indicates that tribal money trickled down on the Democratic side of the aisle as well. That trickle was meager as compared to the steady stream that watered the crop on the Republican side. For example Democratic Senate Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois has received $5,000 in tribal donations over the years – or less than 10% of that which Speaker Hastert is giving away.

It should be interesting and make for a good civic tourism advertising slogans: “Welcome to the District of Columbia, home of the best government that money can buy!” Speaker Hastert could be featured in a public service announcement touting private donations proclaiming: “Charity begins at home.”