Sixteen months of shame

Seasoned corruption watchers have long since sidelined the House Ethics Committee as an effective or even relevant body. After 16 months of political gridlock – no, that is far too polite – of political game playing, this committee is finally getting down to action.
Not meaningful action, or effective action, but a sideshow contrived to limit damage on both sides.
Throughout one of the worst periods of public corruption in the country’s history, a good deal of it related to members of congress, these buffoons have shown the real depth of the ethical cancer in Washington.
With five members from each party, the committee has been committed to protecting their respective team rather than protecting the people from the greedy bastards who use high office to rob them blind.
Finally, with Louisiana Democrat, William Jefferson under a corruption cloud there is room to move. “Tell you what buddy! We are going to have to give up Jefferson, and you don’t have much room to move with Ney. How abouts we just concentrate on them, that way we are even.”
Well why not? The august committee is as useless as an ashtray on a motor bike. Ney and Jefferson will face public prosecutors if there is a case against them. Nothing lost.
Nothing lost, except the useless drongos might as well maintain their usual moribund state.
Where, out of that 16 months, are the ethical guideline to which members are expected to adhere? Where are the ‘please explain?’ letters to members who are apparently falling short of expectations? Where are the investigations into numerous complaints against members?
Don’t trouble yourselves now; the people will hardly miss your continued inactivity.  
The shame rests not just with these ten clowns, but with congress as a whole. But in the end, what sort of respect can these people really expect now?

Who are these people?
COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
Republicans:
Doc Hastings, Washington, Chairman
Judy Biggert, Illinois
Lamar Smith, Texas
Melissa Hart, Pennsylvania
Tom Cole, Oklahoma
Democrats:
Howard L. Berman, California Ranking Minority Member
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Ohio
Gene Green, Texas
Lucille Roybal-Allard, California
Michael F. Doyle, Pennsylvania