Another One Bites The Dust

Today, Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) resigned in disgrace, after admitting to taking bribes and tax evasion. Cunningham reportedly took about $2.4 million in bribes (including cash bribes and lavish gifts) "in exchange for help securing Defense Department contracts."

According to Reuters, Cunningham said, "I am resigning from the House of Representatives because I've compromised the trust of my constituents." Indeed.

Although nobody likes to see an otherwise respectable man fall from grace, expect the Democrats to add this incident to a list of examples of Republican corruption. In fact, according to the same Reuters story, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has already declared this case as "just the latest example of the culture of corruption that pervades the Republican-controlled Congress." This is certainly an area where the Democrats can make significant gains in '06. Expect more statements like Pelosi's.