The Punch Line

CONVICTED LAWMAKER TIED TO CONTRACT AWARD. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged for the first time Friday that a former congressman convicted on bribery charges played a role in awarding a $20-million contract to a limousine company with ties to the ex-lawmaker, Newsday's J. Jioni Palmer reports from Washington. After weeks of denying that Randy Cunningham, a California Republican, lobbied federal officials on behalf of Shirlington Limousine and Transportation, the department informed congressional investigators it had recently uncovered correspondence from Cunningham. That admission came two days after it was first reported in Newsday that Shirlington's owner, Christopher Baker, said Cunningham submitted a letter of recommendation on his behalf. "This is yet another example of DHS incompetence," said Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Give that man a rimshot.

Actually, it's yet another example of Republican and Bush Administration corruption. And neither is incompetent when it comes to corruption.