Ney's sentencing

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blame it on the booze. I'm sick of Republicans weasling out of responsibility for their actions by declaring themselves alcoholics. You know, alcohol doesn't change your values; it reveals your values. In vino veritas and all that. Take a look at part of the CNN article on the matter:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Rep. Bob Ney was sentenced Friday to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a congressional bribery scandal.

Ney, the first congressman ensnared in the case, pleaded guilty to trading official favors for golf trips, tickets, meals and campaign donations from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
...
According to letters submitted in court, Ney was a functioning alcoholic who often began drinking early in the morning and rarely made it through the day without a drink.

The letters, including one from his doctor and another from a former staff member, were filed by Ney's defense teams in hopes of convincing the judge to lighten the Ohio Republican's sentence.
...
Ney also wanted [U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal] Huvelle to rule that his corruption was influenced by alcohol addiction. His lawyers had asked that the six-term lawmaker be recommended for a prison drug abuse program, which could make him eligible for release in about a year.

When he agreed to plead guilty, Ney apologized to his constituents and said he was checking into an alcohol treatment program.

His strategy doesn't seem to have worked as he will serve his time in a federal prison. Good.