The best Congress lobbyists could buy
A lot of ink, paper and broadcast time has been consumed trying to trace the origins of the current economic collapse, with a lot of the blame being placed on government’s failure to regulate effectively.
Personally, I think that trail ends right here:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Here’s a peek at e-mails popping into lobbyists’ inboxes these days offering quality time with members of Congress:
—A weekend at the Clearwater, Fla., spring training home of the world champion Philadelphia Phillies with Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., including a game, a meeting with players and a ballpark tour.
—Golf at a Montana course designed by Arnold Palmer and fly fishing on the state’s Madison, Gallatin and Yellowstone rivers with Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
—A “Saint Patrick’s Day on the Rio Grande” reception at a Tex-Mex restaurant near the Capitol with Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas.
There’s a catch: Be prepared to contribute plenty of money.
Though it’s early in a non-election year, politicians and special interests are blasting out daily e-mails by the truckload, beckoning lobbyists and other would-be donors to fundraisers ranging from the mundane to the exotic. A look at scores of them, provided by recipients, shows they share a straightforward message: Members of Congress would like your help getting in re-elected, and contributors can spend time with them….
A list (of fundraisers) compiled by the Democrats’ House campaign committee runs 22 pages and includes 190 events slated for 2009 for House Democrats alone, with some already planned for October.
With the stalled economy drying up contributions, Republican fundraiser Monica Notzon says she might send 500 to 5,000 e-mail invitations per event.
“I probably get 10 to 15 a day,” said lobbyist Butler Derrick, a former House member. “I’ve gotten so I can recognize them and I just kill most of them.”
Hosts compete to draw crowds. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., planned an event this week featuring Muhammad Ali, while Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., is inviting donors to go skeet shooting. Others invite contributors to a Bruce Springsteen concert, a wine-tasting weekend in Oregon, baseball and NCAA basketball tournament games, and weekends in New York or Palm Springs, Calif…..Congressional re-election campaigns can cost millions of dollars. Defenders call fundraisers a harmless chance for contributors to exercise their rights to support and meet with legislators. They say the charges of undue influence are exaggerated.
“Put your money back in your pocket if you think it’s going to buy you something other than a club soda and a Swedish meatball,” said Michael Fraioli, a veteran fundraiser for some House Democrats.
The solicitations are effective. Lobbyists contributed $34 million to federal candidates in 2007 and 2008, ranking them 16th among more than 80 industries studied by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
“You go there with a check in your hand and that’s your opportunity to meet with the member” of Congress, lobbyist John Meredith said of fundraisers. “That’s kind of how it works.”
Even so, some lobbyists are resentful.
“When you have both parties during election periods come up and bash lobbyists, and then you have the audacity to send me a fax asking me to attend your fundraiser, I think it’s hypocritical,” said lobbyist Paul Miller.
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227 comments Add your comment
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
8:59 pm
Obama has been more articulate with two sentences of his first answered question in a press conference than Bush was in 8 years. And from what I’ve seen of the Bookman wingnuts’ vocabulary, education, and lack of writing skills, he has your clock cleaned by a mile. And yep you hand your butts handed to you in the election so you’re on some newspaper’s blog whining about a teleprompter. LOL. Religion and guns cling to them bitter Bookman scripture quoting wingnutters.
RW-(the original)
March 24th, 2009
8:59 pm
BWAHAHAHA
Fox just showed the giant TelePrompter he had in the back of the room to read from during his opening.
BDAtlanta
March 24th, 2009
9:02 pm
Did Gibbs and Axelrod just high-five in the background there?
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
9:08 pm
I’d rather have Obama’s brain and a thousand teleprompters than being stuck in the snow or with your wife sleeping with a guy a third your age after the election.
Obama answers questions and they aren’t pre screened as with the Bush moron. It’s about time we had a president that can think on his feet.
Obama is having press conferences regularly–Bush the moron went for months without having them because he was scared.
A Major Difference Between Progressives and Conservatives aka Wingnutters
BDAtlanta
March 24th, 2009
9:12 pm
Bush had his first prime-time televised press conference 9 months after he took office. Obama’s already had two.
I believe Bush took a month vacation before he ever got around to a prime-time press conference.
I Report/ You Whine
March 24th, 2009
9:12 pm
Cardin’s Newspaper Revitalization Act would allow newspapers to operate as nonprofits for educational purposes under the U.S. tax code, giving them a similar status to public broadcasting companies.
Under this arrangement, newspapers would still be free to report on all issues, including political campaigns. But they would be prohibited from making political endorsements.
Welcome to Mr. Bookman’s Neighborhood, would you be mine, could you be mine?
Wingnut contributor
March 24th, 2009
9:13 pm
“Fox just showed the giant TelePrompter he had in the back of the room to read from during his opening.”
Did they show the White House’s flush toilets and the horseless carriages as well?
G
March 24th, 2009
9:14 pm
This man is MY president.
And I can’t help but remember how Rushpublicants forever have ignored all domestic issues without fail.
They want to ignore the U.S. population at all costs. That time is over. President Obama is addressing the issues Rushpublicants have deliberately ignored. All of them.
He treats us like grownups.
Absolutely brilliant, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:17 pm
By the way, Jindal is on volcano watch tonight.
NRB
March 24th, 2009
9:18 pm
Pressed about why he waited three days to publicly speak out against AIG paying out the bonuses, Obama told reporters, “It took us a couple of days because I like to think about what I’m talking about before I speak.”
http://unearthlywisdom.com/politics/obama-quote-of-the-day/
ahahhahaha….good punchline in there..
G
March 24th, 2009
9:21 pm
President Obama smacked down Ed Henry.
“I like to know what I am talking about before I speak” .
Yes!
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:22 pm
G, you wrote: Absolutely brilliant, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
What are your credentials besides being a high school drop out?
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:23 pm
G, also, no one has to list anything to you. You are a nothing. A nobody. A troglodyte in search of a reason for living.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:24 pm
Chad Harris, don’t you have some imaginary patients to overdose?
G
March 24th, 2009
9:24 pm
I find it strangely appropriate that, right now, while all the serious news commentators are discussing the press conference, Elisabeth Hasselhag is selling capri pants on QVC.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:24 pm
CHAD HARRIS ISN’T REALLY A DOCTOR BUT HE PLAYS ONE ON AJC.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:25 pm
G, you should by some of Hasselbacks capris. Your trailer could use some new curtains.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:25 pm
Absolutely brilliant, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:26 pm
G, Obama Hussein called. He hates your trailer park.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:27 pm
G, no one has to list anything to you. You are not important.
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
9:27 pm
Commie AJC–I’ll clean you and your imaginary doc wife’s clock on any medical subject. Bring it on. Bring your imaginary wife as well.
After weeks you remain chicken to like all wingnutters who are losers.
Midori
March 24th, 2009
9:27 pm
he did not say that, NRB.
Jesus.
@@
March 24th, 2009
9:27 pm
The single screen, front and center, presented a problem for Obama. The few times that he attempted a right or left shift, he had to quickly return to center ’cause he couldn’t remember the next word. A gap between two words, for him, is a huge chasm.
Anyhoo! When some of you leftists visit his little townhall “get together” Thursday night, would one of you please tell him he’s no longer candidate Obama. He’s now President Obama.
Words are just that…….words. It’s the missing “grey” that matters.
Redundancy, thy name is Oblahzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:27 pm
G, what college did you graduate from? My guess is that you never made it past your junior year of high school. Where dem baby daddies now?
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:29 pm
Chad Harris, you have to actually pass your boards to become a doctor. Plus, you need to finish medical school. You’ve done neither. Instead, you make asinine comments about subjects in which you know nothing about.
CHAD HARRIS ISN’T REALLY A DOCTOR BUT HE PLAYS ONE ON AJC.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:30 pm
Absolutely magnificent, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
9:31 pm
If we told Congress that there is no money to pay them, what would they do.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:32 pm
Absolutely splendid, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
9:33 pm
Are campaign contributions considered taxable income.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:33 pm
Absolutely superb, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:34 pm
Absolutely excellent, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:35 pm
President Teleprompter couldn’t answer simple questions from ABC reporters.
Here is what President Teleprompter says: Um…that’s uh, a ….um….good …..uh….question…..uh, …….global warming…….uh……..um……..
CHAINS WE CAN BELIEVE IN!
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
9:35 pm
Will the IRS audit all the executives at all the US companies that get bailout money whether it be directly or indirectly.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:36 pm
Absolutely glorious, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:36 pm
G, there are a lot of people laughing at you right now. Including Barrack Hussein.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:36 pm
Such jealousy tonight.
I Report/ You Whine
March 24th, 2009
9:37 pm
Absolutely magnificent, my President. If you complain, first list your credentials to even judge and assess.
G- I think that a having a brain is the only requirement for an American citizen to comment on the performance of their president, therefore you should hush.
Really.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:37 pm
Chad Harris, my wife wants to know what kind of medical doctor you are. We can discuss and debate medical issues after she knows. Thanks for playing, comrade.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
9:37 pm
Why doesn’t Congress give up all its perks like so many Americans have to such as health insurance and a paycheck.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:38 pm
G, we right wingers don’t get jealous of cult members like you.
BDAtlanta
March 24th, 2009
9:39 pm
Commie, are you 12?
All you can do is call everyone names or demean them. Is that all there is? Methinks you have yet to graduate Middle School.
G’Night all.
@@
March 24th, 2009
9:39 pm
G: You call this a smackdown?
“I like to know what I am talking about before I speak”
Did you not hear the press laughing? I think they were laughing at HIM.
The guy evaded answering every question but one on race.
I wish I could have phoned one in just to see if he could give a one word response.
“Mr. President, how are you doing this evening?”
O.K., I’ll allow him three
“Not so good.”
This is bad! This is sooooooo b-a-d.
This country is flying on auto-pilot.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:39 pm
The questions about the veterans and the homelessness of children were good.
Ann Compton was trying to be provocative with her question regarding race. However, President Obama’s answer was excellent.
President Obama just shut all those reporters up – they looked like fools.
I Report/ You Whine
March 24th, 2009
9:39 pm
Ahahahahahahaha, ha-
OBAMA DITCHES TELEPROMPTER FOR GIANT TV MONITOR…
Can you say dunce?
Somewhere, Dhimmi Carter breathes a sigh of relief……..
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:40 pm
BDAtlanta, if you think that I am the only one name calling you should really learn how to read before judging, comrade. Check out G’s idiotic remarks on the first page. Good night.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:41 pm
President Obama is pure class.
I liked what I heard tonight.
BDAtlanta
March 24th, 2009
9:41 pm
ohohoh,
Matt Taibbi is on Rachel Maddow tonight. He wrote the kick-arse article about the bailout in the current Rolling Stone.
Looks like another late night….
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
9:41 pm
We might have to pull out of Iraq even sooner than planned in order to start making those tough cuts in spending that are needed to really get the deficit under control. And, that’s just for starters. Congress is going to have to take a pay cut and start paying for their own health insurance.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:41 pm
G, how did he make the reporters look like fools? You have some serious Obama cult issues.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:42 pm
BDAtlanta, anyone who thinks an article on politics is kick-arse, as you put it, is naive and juvenile. Rachel Maddow still lags behind Larry King in ratings.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:44 pm
Who asked the stupid question about the tax rate on charitable contributions?
Oh yeah, Mike Allen-Politico-Reichwing Wonker.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:44 pm
BDAtlanta, you wrote: Methinks you have yet to graduate Middle School.
This coming from someone who reads Rolling Stone. How many Vanilla Ice posters do you have hanging on your wall, BD?
G
March 24th, 2009
9:45 pm
Vapid “gotcha journalism” was certainly smacked down tonight.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:45 pm
G, actually, hack it was Jack Tapper from ABC. Get your facts straight cult follower.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:47 pm
G, do you still believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Opps, I’m so sorry, G.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:48 pm
President Obama is so intelligent! I totally enjoyed tonight, TOTALLY! I’m so proud of this man and I know the world wishes he was their leader tonight. Oh, what a man!
G
March 24th, 2009
9:49 pm
Oops, not opps, dummy.
G
March 24th, 2009
9:51 pm
“I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak”.
THE line of the news conference. T-shirt, bumper-sticker, tattoo, you name it. This will be a slogan for the Democrats from here on out for a LONG time.
Almost Instant Replay
March 24th, 2009
9:52 pm
BDAtlanta March 24th, 2009 9:39 pm Commie, are you 12? All you can do is call everyone names or demean them. Is that all there is? Methinks you have yet to graduate Middle School. G’Night all.
CommunistAJC March 24th, 2009 9:40 pm BDAtlanta, if you think that I am the only one name calling you should really learn how to read before judging, comrade. Check out G’s idiotic remarks on the first page. Good night.
BDAtlanta March 24th, 2009 9:41 pm ohohoh, Matt Taibbi is on Rachel Maddow tonight. He wrote the kick-arse article about the bailout in the current Rolling Stone. Looks like another late night….
CommunistAJC March 24th, 2009 9:42 pm BDAtlanta, anyone who thinks an article on politics is kick-arse, as you put it, is naive and juvenile. Rachel Maddow still lags behind Larry King in ratings.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:52 pm
G’s list of questions for President Teleprompter if she were a journalist:
1: Mr. Messiah Sir, what is your favorite pony?
2: Lord Hussein, how will you address the overpopulation of unicorns in the land of make believe?
3: Master Obama, can I have your autograph on my bong?
4: Oh Most Merciful Master, what are your thoughts on transgendered dolphins in the nether regions of space?
G
March 24th, 2009
9:54 pm
I find it odd how so-called Christians refer to President Obama as “Messiah”.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:56 pm
G, oh boy. Please stop eating paint chips, G.
It’s you who worships at the feet of your Lord Messiah Obama. Oh what’s the point in explaining anything to you.
@@
March 24th, 2009
9:58 pm
5. Oooooo! Do you wear pajamas or sleep in the buff?
6. Oooooo! Do you go commando during the day?
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
9:58 pm
Let the democrap infighting and inbreeding continue.
Senate Democrats to scrap Obama’s $400 tax credit
WASHINGTON (AP) – A top Democrat in the Senate announced a budget blueprint Tuesday that would scrap Barack Obama’s signature tax cut after 2010 and blends sleight of hand with modest restraint on domestic programs to cut the deficit to sustainable levels.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D974NJAO0&show_article=1
G
March 24th, 2009
9:58 pm
President Obama is the only man with a plan.
I laugh every time I hear the Rushpublicants say they’re going to present their own plan.
What’s taking so long?
President Obama burst through the shoot with several plans, like ‘em or not, and in 64 days he’s initiated so much – put his stones on the table with facts and figures – the GOP is dizzy and nauseous. The Rushpublicants love to talk about how President Obama is trying to do too much and indeed by their clock, he is amazing. They have yet to proffer ONE plan to do ANYTHING. They’ve had the same 64 days President Obama has.
Compare and contrast.
Their plan seems to be to say they’ll have a plan. Any minute now.
G
March 24th, 2009
10:01 pm
I’m still waiting on McCain to tell us how to capture bin Laden.
And waiting…
and waiting…
Truth
March 24th, 2009
10:01 pm
I am curious… What obligations do I have to others?
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
10:01 pm
G, the democrats control congress. Your democrap party doesn’t need one single republican vote. If President Teleprompters plans are so great then pass them all yourselves.
RW-(the original)
March 24th, 2009
10:01 pm
“I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak”.
That certainly puts a lot of pressure on him going forward because he just blew the hell out of his excuse for making fun of the disabled last Thursday.
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
10:02 pm
G, I’m still waiting on President Hussein Teleprompter to capture Bin Laden. He said he would.
NOW WHERE IS HE, G?
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
10:03 pm
I’m still waiting on G to tell us all where she went to college.
And waiting….
And waiting…..
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
10:04 pm
“I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak”.
Yeah, this is a man who claimed he’d been to all 57 states. What a joke.
CHAINS WE CAN BELIEVE IN!
CommunistAJC
March 24th, 2009
10:05 pm
Newest Obama appointee’s office raided by FBI.
Left finally comes to terms that Obama is not Jesus.
Jesus could actually build a cabinet .
G
March 24th, 2009
10:06 pm
I want to publicly applaud President Obama for his forthright and thoughtful responses to the questions and explanations that helped me to understand why he is doing what he is doing and making the choices he is making.
I am more confident than ever that he is fully intent on taking this country forward. And I challenge any Rushpublicant or anti-Democrat to provide at least one viable alternative to be considered, instead of the sniping, name calling and generally having nothing productive to contribute.
Get on board, because the train is leaving the station, with or without you.
G
March 24th, 2009
10:07 pm
Here’s a thought; why not learn to actually write coherently before attempting to insult anyone else; you only wind up displaying your appallingly voluminous ignorance.
Get bent.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
10:10 pm
Wait a minute. Let me get this right. Republicans are complaining about ending tax breaks while simultaneously complaining about how to pay for the budget and reduce the debt and deficit while simultaneously complaining about not cutting their taxes enough while…well, the sane amongst you get the picture.
G
March 24th, 2009
10:11 pm
“I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak.”
Best retort yet; just goes to prove, you shouldn’t try to engage in a battle of wits when you come to the area unarmed.
G
March 24th, 2009
10:14 pm
Taxpayer @ 10:10, there are not enough facilities in the world to contain all the loony Rushpublicants.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
10:15 pm
How much does it cost to buy a Congressman that just says No these days and how does that cost compare to a Japanese-built robot with many times the features and lower maintenance costs.
NRB
March 24th, 2009
10:18 pm
Midori, yes he did:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/24/obama.news.conference/index.html
Jesus.
Learn how to read.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
10:18 pm
Wouldn’t we the people come out ahead if we just placed a loud speaker in each of those Congressional seats that currently just say No. After all, how much does a cheap loud speaker cost.
Taxpayer
March 24th, 2009
10:20 pm
Why don’t we just let the lobbyists bid directly with we the people for the Congressional seats and let’s just cut out the middle men. We’ll pass on the resulting tax savings to us.
rcs
March 24th, 2009
10:23 pm
“How much does it cost to buy a Congressman that just says No these days”
$410 billion.
G
March 24th, 2009
10:23 pm
I liked what a commentator said was a Rushpublicant’s answer to what did he think of President Obama’s honeymoon and the polls.
He said, “It isn’t a honeymoon, it’s a magic carpet ride.”
One truthful Rushpublicant is worth 1000 lying ones.
G
March 24th, 2009
10:27 pm
Oh wow, the flunkies at CNN are really mad that Ed Henry made a fool of himself, and are all desperately scrambling to get their two cents in and imply that President Obama’s answer was inappropriate. Of course, when they show that clip they immediately cut off the audio after his answer to avoid highlighting the laughter that erupted when he said that.
I thought it was a perfectly reasonable response to a childish question asked by a man who really had no interest in hearing an answer. And these corporate slaves know that, but they can’t stand that the President would embarrass one of their own so badly.
The brilliance of that response to what Henry thought was a “gotcha” question is that our President not only put Henry in his place but also could have been aimed at the former “president” and “vice president” as well.
williewonka
March 24th, 2009
10:33 pm
You all make an interesting point, why would a president want to be prepared and careful about what he says? The guy who had the job for the last eight years didn’t need no stinkin’ teleprompter!
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
10:52 pm
The newest Obama appointee who is IT and CIO and not a cabinet member whose name is Vivek Kundra is not the target of the FBI at all and as usual some superficial wingnut is reading challenged. Vivek Kundra who worked for him are the FBI targes.
As usual, this has zero to do with Obama’[s new CIO, but the wingnut blogs are too stupid to understand this and the wingnutter here who calls itself commie is equally too stupid.
And he’s remaking the primitive and stupid IT setup that the Bush idiots functioned with for 8 years as well as bringing the government’s computer systems into this century.
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
10:55 pm
The targets who worked for Obama’s new CIO who is not a cabinet member but will have IT responsibility for revamping the stupid Bush IT setup is Vivek Kundra. Yusuf Acar and Sushil Bansal who were in charge of contracts were arrested.
The effect on Obama’s appointee is zero. The orgasmic fervor on Wingnut blogs is of course off the wall, but you gotta remember they make no decisions now so this is what they do with their energy.
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
10:57 pm
CNN is consumately stupid. Jon Stewart does a much better job at real analysis of the news on a comedy show.
RW-(the original)
March 24th, 2009
11:02 pm
Jay B.,
I’m sure it wasn’t the ttournament you were hoping for, but congrats on PSU making the NIT Final Four.
RW-(the original)
March 24th, 2009
11:18 pm
Chadly,
While you’re right that Kundra isn’t the target of the probe and may never be he does have that pesky little shoplifting conviction on his record.
Corporal
March 24th, 2009
11:29 pm
Well Jay, do you think you guys will ever have to go the “no endorsements” route ??
NEWSPAPER REVITALIZATION ACT: CONGRESS MOVES TO SAVE PRINT; OUTLAW POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS…
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE52N67F20090324
Corporal
March 24th, 2009
11:30 pm
This Administration is becoming truly dangerous ……………
HEADLINE: Pentagon to drop ‘Global War on Terror’ for ‘Overseas Contingency Operation’…
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
11:45 pm
RW–
I’m going to bet that if in fact he has a shoplifting conviction–you have the pesky little habit that I don’t have of not being able to document the things you say–that it was many years ago. Do you mind documenting this? That it doesn’t mean linking a wingnut blog that orgasmically exclaimed it was so–it means real evidence.
As an IT aficianado how do you expect (if it exists) a teenage shoplifting (accusation that was not a conviction or conviction–you didn’t say) to impact h is makeover of an antiquated cyber platform this country uses and the White House used under the Bush IT neanderthals?
It doesn’t seem too relevant to me. Will it figure in the server setup/the Hyper V adaptations/or software that gets written?
Corporal
March 24th, 2009
11:51 pm
Vents to the AJC:
The Pentagon has been ordered to drop the “Global War on Terror” for “Overseas Contingency Operation”. I always wondered what side Obama was truly on and now I know.
So if the “Global War on Terror” is now the “Overseas Contingency Operation” what do we call fighting Islamic terrorists in this country -a “Domestic Contingency Operation”? God save us from this Administration!
Chad Harris
March 24th, 2009
11:54 pm
Kundra was caught with 4 cheap shirts from J.C. Penny valued at $134 (I could have helped him find much better). He was convicted in 1997 at age 22. He’s 34 now. I can come up with over 200 Republicans who were connected to the Bush administration who are doing federal time or about to including House Majority Leader Tom Delay. Nearly all of them pled via Rule 11 and were snitches squealing like pigs and flipping for bigger fish to get a reduction in their time.
If he makes significant improvements that are needed to the vulnerable cybersecurity in this country, and the WH (I read he’s moving a lot of the cyber security HQ into the WH away from “Homeland” LOL Security–I wouldn’t trust those jokers as far as I could spit them, then I won’t lose sleep over the 4 Penny’s shirts. Hopefully he knows he can get Ralph Lauren at Costco with the little Horsie that is so popular with Yupsters.
RW-(the original)
March 24th, 2009
11:54 pm
Chadly,
He got convicted of stealing some shirts from JC Penny as a 21 year old. It was a misdemeanor conviction, but he was an adult at the time.
It doesn’t mean that much to me either, but I’m just trying to get a handle on what level of criminality the Obama administration allows. It was them, not I , that said said they would have the most transparent and ethical administration evah. So right about now I guess it’s cool with them to have a tax cheat in charge of the IRS and someone with a criminal record in charge of handling putting records online.
RW-(the original)
March 25th, 2009
12:01 am
How cute Chadly! Polite protocol would dictate that somewhere in your 11:54 you would have apologized for those false accusations you made about me in your 11:45, but it’ll be obvious to anybody reading what really happened in those nine minutes.
Carry on without me, Chadly, I’ve got places to be in the morning. Goodnight!
Chad Harris
March 25th, 2009
12:02 am
You have a handle on the level of criminality Obama’s administration allows. I have given you a handle on the level of criminality that the Bush administration allowed to thrive. It was federal and it translated into significant time for those who got caught. The Abramoff connections yield a few convictions per month.
Delay will do Texas state time–and the only reason he and Ralph the dead in the political water Reed aren’t doing federal time is because Bush DOJ dropped the ball.
Reed also could have been convicted in Texas, but through a stupid slipup, they let the statute of limitations run on Reed who also plaguerized and was kicked off the UGA newspaper for doing it.
As to Geithner’s tax cheating, I’m far more concerned with how cozy he has been and his conduct at the NY Fed and lately which has been a lot more sympathetic to Wall Street than Main Street. The bonuses while symbolic at AIG and Merell via Citibank are a spit in the ocean compared to the billions they gave to the banks I listed above at 100% remuneration on the dollar.
I thought Dashel’s bowing out because of his tax arrogance was an opportunity for Dean who would have done the best job for this country and is infinitely more knowledgable about healthcare than Kathy Sibelius who has no clinical medical experience but there is bad blood between Emanuel and Dean and I blame Emanuel for that so they lost far and away the best person for HHS.
Country Boy
March 25th, 2009
12:21 am
our congress is not a congress–they are greedy hucksters.