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POPSCalling A Bribe A BRIBE Probably because when we think of bribes, we usually think of the petty kind – slipping a bill to a policeman to avoid getting a ticket, using the money-scissors to snip annoying red tape, and the like. But a politician, just like a cop, is a public official with power over citizens and the potential to be corrupted. The difference is only in scope. Jack Abramoff, who went to prison for managing to dig beneath even Washington’s bedrock of corruption, has apparently reformed, coming out with a book that’s earned praise even from Michael Moore. WorldNetDaily sums up Abramoff’s history: “The scandals triggered by Abramoff led to the convictions of 20 people for payoffs in exchange for political favors, including Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio. Abramoff was released in June after nearly fours years in federal prison.” Alas, those 20 unfortunates were only the cutting edge, the few caught going beyond accepted limits.