Tag: Special Interests

A Vote For Hillary

Today is the much anticipated “Big Day”…..at least for the media……will Super Tuesday” be a make or break day?

Would like to address the GOP race…….LOL…..why would I even talk about a bunch of infantile antics of what use to be adults…..so when they start acting like responsible adults I will refrain from saying anything other than negativity………

Lots have been said about Hillary’s connections to Wall Street….of course she denies that it will have any effect on her presidency…..

Let’s take a look at her campaign manager…..shall we?

 

Yeah….she will be the candidate for change.  If you believe that then you need to share whatever crap you are smoking….

I really wish she would flush the line “we are all in this together” (and voters are buying this bullsh*t) down the toilet…..I do not appreciate millionaires trying to sound like they have any idea what the rest on us humans go through……it is just sickening……I really get overwhelming urge to take a shower after listening to her speeches…..just when does a millionaire really care about anything or anyone beyond wealth and power?

That is not rhetorical……I want a solid answer to that question……

Your turn!

Just How Cozy Is Hillary Clinton With Wall Street? – BillMoyers.com

You recall recently Bernie made a statement that Clinton was part of the “establishment” and the media world went batcrap crazy looking for what he really meant to say……

A manufactured issue….the rest of the country knew what he meant when he uttered the word……in case you are dense…..he meant that she was in the pocket of the special interests (you may define that in any manner you prefer)……..she is a member of that “establishment” just like hubby Bubba….I mean look at the favor he did for agri-business with NAFTA and Wall Street when he helped repel Glass-Steagall…….fast forward to today….how much does his Clinton Global thingy rake in annually….mostly from wealthy people…..who do you think that favors?

But do not take my word for it……there is much that explains her connection to the “establishment”…..

This post first appeared at Mother Jones. Hillary Clinton has received a lot of campaign money from the financial industry over the years, and after she left the State Department she gave several lucrative speeches to Goldman Sachs and other big banks. As Michael Hirsh puts it, this has given her a reputation for being “more than a little cozy” with Wall Street. But is she? Continue reading

Source: Just How Cozy Is Hillary Clinton With Wall Street? – BillMoyers.com

Vote from knowledge not from slogans and applause……this country has enough super wealthy people….what we need is someone that see to the Middle Class and our seniors…..”the poor get poorer and the rich get richer” should NO longer be a mantra to describe America.

AIPAC Is the Only Explanation for America’s Morally Bankrupt Israel Policy | Stephen M. Walt

I have been an opponent of politicos that take their cash and lead from AIPAC…..a bunch of Zionists that would like nothing better than the complete elimination of all Palestinians……

Americans need to know just what these people are about and we should avoid them like the plague…….period!

 

AIPAC Is the Only Explanation for America’s Morally Bankrupt Israel Policy | Stephen M. Walt.

Lobbyists–The New Anti-Christ

If you follow my blog with any regularity you will know that I think very little of lobbyists…..I think blackmailers under the guise of civility is a blotch on the otherwise good conduct of the country…….personally, I think that a congressperson should have a waiting period of 10 years before they can do any lobbying……but I digress….

I saw an article that made me sick………

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — As a lobbyist in New York’s statehouse, Stephen Acquario is doing pretty well. He pulls down $204,000 a year, more than the governor makes, gets a Ford Explorer as his company car and is afforded another special perk:

Even though he’s not a government employee, he is entitled to a full state pension.

He’s among hundreds of lobbyists in at least 20 states who get public pensions because they represent associations of counties, cities and school boards, an Associated Press review found. Legislatures granted them access decades ago on the premise that they serve governments and the public. In many cases, such access also includes state health care benefits.

……….

The debate is more about principle than big money, since the staffs of such organizations are relatively small and make barely a ripple in huge state retirement systems. The eight New York associations, for example, have fewer than 120 total employees out of 633,100 current workers in the state’s $158.7 billion pension system.

Still, the issue raises a public policy question as many states and taxpayers struggle to fund their pension obligations required by law.

“There is liability for taxpayers,” said Keith Brainard, research director of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. “Providing a pension benefit involves some amount of risk for the state and when you provide access to employees of entities that are not in control of the state.”

Unlike state government, for example, these groups aren’t bound by salary restrictions — significant salary increases would result in increasing pension benefits.

These people have way too much influence and way too many benefits that they do not deserve…..

At NO point are lobbyists a government employee……..they are paid by special interests to bribe and blackmail elected official into complying to the wishes of their handlers…….no where is this acceptable….but I guess if enough palms are greased they can do whatever they like……thoughts?

Ever Heard Of James Mill?

College of Political knowledge

Since the SCOTUS judgment on the “Citizen United” case there has been a massive argument or exchange or debate on the values or not of letting special interests buy the government (in case there is any doubt….I think the ruling was the most detrimental ruling in a century)……..I have given my readers lots to think about…at least I hope they are thinking and acting……over the years many political philosophers have seen the harm that could be done by special interest cash flowing to politicians……

In case there is any doubt…..I have been a radical from most of my adult life and have studied the radical theories and writings throughout history….I happen to remember something written by an English radical, James Mill not to be confused with John Stuart Mill (that is a post for another day)……however James was his father.

The Utilitarian and Philosophic Radical James Mill (1773-1836) wrote a series of articles for the Supplement to the 1825 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. In the article on “Government” he warns of the dangers of the selfish and “sinister interests” all those who wield power, unless checked by an informed people:

We have seen already, that if one man has power over others placed in his hands, he will make use of it for an evil purpose; for the purpose of rendering those other men the abject instruments of his will. If we, then, suppose, that one man has the power of choosing the Representatives of the people, it follows, that he will choose men, who will use their power as Representatives for the promotion of this his sinister interest.

We have likewise seen, that when a few men have power given them over others, they will make use of it exactly for the same ends, and to the same extent, as the one man. It equally follows, that, if a small number of men have the choice of the Representatives, such Representatives will be chosen as will promote the interests of that small number, by reducing, if possible, the rest of the community to be the abject and helpless slaves of their will.

In all these cases, it is obvious and indisputable, that all the benefits of the Representative system are lost. The Representative system is, in that case, only an operose and clumsy machinery for doing that which might as well be done without it; reducing the community to subjection, under the One, or the Few.

When we say the Few, it is seen that, in this case, it is of no importance whether we mean a few hundreds, or a few thousands, or even many thousands. The operation of the sinister interest is the same; and the fate is the same, of all that part of the community over whom the power is exercised. A numerous Aristocracy has never been found to be less oppressive than an Aristocracy confined to a few.

The general conclusion, therefore, which is evidently established is this; that the benefits of the Representative system are lost, in all cases in which the interests of the choosing body are not the same with those of the community.

Since the beginning (well almost) men with far reaching thinking have seen the damage that money and special interests can do when it drives the political agenda…..and what that agenda  can do to the health of democracy….WHY CAN’T WE?

Get The Money Out!

Do you ever feel left out of the election process?

Our political system is for sale!  Every election is bought and paid for by special interests.  This is NOT a new thing….our system has been bought and sold for decades.  We need to get back to “for the people, by the people”……but what can we do to achieve this?  I mean even the Supreme Court is siding with the special interests when it ruled that corporations are people too and can give as much as they like to a candidate…..what can we do?

If you are tired of the system known as “auction politics” and want to end the rule of special interests over our politics then check out two cases where people are trying to do something about the problem……

First, there is the Fair Elections Now Act…….

The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750 and H.R. 1404) was re-introduced in 2011 in the Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and in the House of Representatives by Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.), Walter Jones, Jr. (R-N.C.), and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The bill would allow federal candidates to choose to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, and would be freed from the constant fundraising in order to focus on what people in their communities want  http://www.fairelectionsnow.org

Looks like a pretty good place to start the take-back of our political system……check out the site and sign the petition if you agree with me…….

There is another attempt to take back our political system….this one was started by MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan and a Washington lobbyists, among other, like me…….the effort is called Get Money Out…..

“No person, corporation or business entity of any type, domestic or foreign, shall be allowed to contribute money, directly or indirectly, to any candidate for Federal office or to contribute money on behalf of or opposed to any type of campaign for Federal office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, campaign contributions to candidates for Federal office shall not constitute speech of any kind as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or any amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Congress shall set forth a federal holiday for the purposes of voting for candidates for Federal office.”

This is the effort that I like but please go check out the site and if you agree with us please sign the petition so we can get to serious work……. http://www.getmoneyout.com/

We can make our elections more democratic.  If you agree then please help us in our effort to wrestle our politics from the hands of special interests…..we could use your help….but only if you think it is worthy of your assistance……

Blue Dog Bites The Dust

One of the original Blue Dogs, Mississippi’s Gene Taylor, has gone down in defeat in the 2010 mid-terms….a victim of “throw the bums out” mentality racing across the country….only this time it was a moronic vote that defeated Taylor….

Taylor is my, or was my, representative…..and in the past I have not been too pleased with his voting stances on many issues that I hold dear…..but this time I am on his side…..he was screwed by the big money that the GOP received to beat any and all Dems in office…..

What makes this all the more  moronic is that Taylor is a conservative Dem and voted like on on many issues…however he got a great rating by the group that watches middle class issues and also by the ARA a group that watches votes by Reps and then grades them on senior’s issues….which again makes his loss even more moronic….since most of the registered voters in his district are retired, most of them from the military and of course are staunch supporters of FOX News and subject to believe the lies and the misinformation that it deals out daily.

The voters of the 4th district in Mississippi voted against their own interests…now you can understand why Mississippi is at the bottom of so many lists…..what kind of mindless person votes against their own interests?

His area is a conservative area meaning pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay, so on and so on…but yet that was not good enough for the mindless voter that let FOX and Limbaugh do their thinking…..sad case of stupid!

For instance, 100% rating from the National Right To Life Committee,  76% rating from the Christian Coalition, given an “A” rating by the NRA, a 90% rating by the Association of Retired Americans, 100% by the Citizens For Tax Justice, 92% by the US Border Control for a sealed border, all the issues that the conservs and especially the Tea Party stand for……his ONLY crime was that he was a Dem in the House that was controlled by Pelosi…that was the ONLY thing that was not to the special interest liking….so many bucks were sunk into the campaign of his opponent Palazzo and they succeeded in getting the great unwashed of Mississippi to vote against their own interests……

I have watched and commented on the situation in Mississippi for many years and it should not surprise me at the depth of stupid that its voters can sink to at any given time….Like I have said many times, I have never been a strong supporter of Taylor in his 21 years in the House….but he deserved better from the people that he represented for those years….especially when he was always voting in their interests….but then…..

Stupid is as stupid does……..

It Is All So Much BS!

You know when you step in a pile of manure you just have to call it what it is…….

From the AP wire:

President Barack Obama is hailing a Senate vote to propel health care legislation toward final passage, calling it a “big victory for the American people.”By the thinnest possible margin, all 58 Democrats and the Senate’s two independents held together early Monday in a crucial test vote against unanimous Republican opposition. The move overcame a procedural effort that could have scuttled a final vote on the massive bill.

Obama said the Senate showed it could stand up to special interests and move the nation closer to a health insurance overhaul for families.

Please read it again……and think about what you have just read……(pause for reflection)…….

Do you recall the days after he won the election?  It was all abvout how the American people voted for change and how the American people voted for a new way of doing things in Washington….Remember?……

Partisanship is more entrenched than it ever was……..and look at the vote on health care….NOT ONE Repub voted for the Senate health reform bill….even though when read reads like a page out of a GOP playbook……and then Obama calls it a BIG win for the American people……where?…..yes 30 million more will have coverage….the problem is it is a forced coverage with a fine if it is not bought…the insurance companies got 30 million new customers without having to do anything but promise to eliminate the existing condition thing….which means that if you have an existing condition you will be able to buy insurance but it will cost several times more….

And then he goes on to say that it shows that we can stand up to special interests and win…really…if that is so damn true why did insurance stocks hit a 52 week high on the news of the vote?  Answer that one……

This is NOT a final bill but it is pretty much what the final version will look like….I would bet……

Are Lobbyists Running Scared?

We have all heard the horror stories of the power that lobbyists have in Washington…they represent every industry and spend oodles of money with lawmakers…but is there anything that can be done?

Lobbyists have been furiously lobbying the Obama White House to oppose restrictions on their ability to lobby.

The kafuffle began on September 23 when special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform Norm Eisen wrote that “the White House has informed executive agencies and departments that it is our aspiration that federally-registered lobbyists not be appointed to agency advisory boards and commissions.”

How many Industry Trade Advisory Committees — ITACs — are there?

The Washington Post says the system of these committees is “so vast that federal officials don’t have exact numbers for its size; the most recent estimates tally nearly 1,000 panels with total membership exceeding 60,000 people.”

Sixteen lobbyists who chair ITACs — including executives from Boeing, Harley-Davidson, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, Fanwood Chemical Inc., IBM and others — wrote to the president to protest the decision.

In another letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the lobbyists said that a “quick review of the impact of this new policy suggests that dozens of the most active — and most knowledgeable — Committee members who generate many of the documents needed by the Committee and our trade negotiators will be dismissed once the new charter term begins. This occurs because individuals who specialize in trade policy matters in their particular sectors often find that such specialization and expertise pushes them above the 20 percent lobbying activity threshold that triggers registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act” or LDA.

“We explained to the ITAC chairs that this issue is not about the few corrupt lobbyists or specific abuses by the profession, but rather concerns the system as a whole. For too long, lobbyists and those who can afford their services have held disproportionate influence over national policy making… we decided that while lobbyists have a right to petition the government, it would best serve the interests of a fairer and more representative democracy if we limited their ability to do so from special positions of privileged access within the government. The result will be a Washington that is more reflective of all of America.”

These people have way too much pull on the Hill and with the President….somehow and somewhere limits have to be formed…….second only to Wall Street is the lobbyists, garnering much hate from the people of the country….

Personally, I like the idea that a Congress person can NOT become a lobbyists for at least 5 years after leaving the public trough……