Saturday's various links & comments

A few months ago I noted the story of a Wisconsin politician who was turned in for voting twice in the 2000 election. Now, we have the news of his punishment.

Riley agreed on Thursday to pay a $10,000 fine, surrender his law licenses in Wisconsin and Illinois and not practice law. He must also return campaign contributions to supporters who request refunds in the next 30 days even if it means paying them from his personal funds.

He has 45 days to meet those conditions. In exchange, the single count of election fraud, voting more than once, will be reduced to a misdemeanor. The deal, under which Riley avoids jail time, was reached in a plea bargain. . .

I understand prosecutors offer lighter sentences to get plea agreements to save the cost of a trial, but this is far too lenient if you ask me. However, I suppose I should just be glad he received any punishment. Now if only his punishment got half as much national exposure as Britney Spears got for forgetting her underpants. he obviously isn't the only one pulling this kind of stunt and the only way to discourage people from committing vote fraud is if we make the penalty severe and publicize the penalties.

Former ambassador Joseph Wilson asked a federal judge Wednesday not to force him to testify in the CIA leak case. That's funny, after years of consistently lying, Wilson is afraid of being sworn to tell the truth.

Remember when the Democrat strategy for this past Novembers elections were centered around focusing on a "Republican Culture of Corruption?" Keep that in mind while reading this article: Democrats in the Florida Senate are raising money to help re-elect fellow Democratic Sen. Gary Siplin, the Orlando legislator convicted earlier this year of felony grand theft. Contrast that with how Republican voters dealt with misbehaving politicians.

Here is an interesting story regarding Iowa governor and Democrat presidential hopeful Tom Vilsack. He was placed for adoption shortly after birth and his adoptive mother had told him the records had been destroyed by fire. Recently he received a letter from a nun who had worked at a home for unwed mothers who told him the records are available if he is interested in viewing them. I wish him good luck in whatever he decides to do. Obviously, not an easy decision.