Rats fleeing the ship

Try this on for a mixed metaphor: that sweet, sweet odor you smell wafting down from D.C. is the shit hitting the fan. Jack Abramoff copped a plea deal today (registration required user/password=dailykos/dailykos). Abramoff is a D.C. lobbyist who made millions greasing the legislative wheels for gambling:

Mr. Abramoff, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion, setting the stage for prosecutors to begin using him as a cooperating witness against his former business and political colleagues. In exchange, Mr. Abramoff faces a maximum of about 10 years in prison in the Washington case.

The conspiracy charge included Mr. Abramoff's effort to influence at least one member of Congress and a Congressional staff member.

The one member of Congress mentioned so far is Bob Ney from Ohio, but Abramoff is also connected with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The revelations of the corrupt and illegal behaviors of D.C. Republicans are only beginning. 2006 looks to be an ugly year.