...so that the House GOP can introduce its own lobbying reform package...
That's like asking a fox to guard the hen house!
Posted by ann at January 13, 2006 03:39 PMThe repubs shouldn't be worried about getting their lobbying reform package out before the dems. We never beat the repubs at getting anything out first. In fact, we never get much out, period. Eve AFTER they do.
Posted by avaroo at January 13, 2006 03:53 PMAre we going with our usual "Dan Rostenkowski" ethic reform package? Or the "Bob Toricelli" version?
Posted by at January 13, 2006 03:54 PMYet another reason why a serious impeachment drive should be mounted. If pukes such as Ney were forced to consider the plausibity of Bush being driven from office, their calculations, both politically and personally, are instantly upended.
Posted by Sonoma at January 13, 2006 04:02 PMThat didn't figure into Dan Rostenkowski's calculations, sonoma. Nor Bob Toricelli's. And their president WAS impeached.
Posted by avaroo at January 13, 2006 04:06 PMWhen a guy pleads guilty to giving you a bribe, you are reeeeally short on wiggle-room.
Looking forward to a summer of Republican indictments.
Posted by Repack Rider at January 13, 2006 04:09 PMGee that's different. Another thread full of the self proclaimed democrat avaroo bitching, moaning, and attacking fellow democrats for being losers without roo offering a positive message or solution because he whines all democrats seem to do is bitch, moan and attack republicans without democrats offering any positive message or solution. It's a funny thing roo...you're attacking and complaining about democrats for only attacking and complaining? Deflect, deflect, deflect roo... Deflect away poser.
Posted by at January 13, 2006 04:37 PM....Deflect away poser.
Posted by at January 13, 2006 04:37 PM
...what is that comment about????....
.....sorry to go off topic Steve, but I read about a scathing Al Gore speech to be delivered Monday ..Is Al going to try to light the FLAME?? ...
Posted by Goyo at January 13, 2006 04:50 PMThe GOP has tagged Man on Dog Santorum as their point man on lobbyist reform.
Guess who has taken more lobbyist money this cycle than any other Senator?
Oh, you don't have to suspend your sense of irony. That's right: Man on Dog.
Down Boy!
When you've got Diebold, you don't even have to pretend.
However, like I've said before, I won't be pretending either when the shit hits the fan. The breaking point is in view.
Posted by God Of War at January 13, 2006 05:11 PMDemocratic Caucus beat them to it.
Press conference on Wednesday, with Harry Reid, complete plan unveiled.
Who was it that gave me shit last night when I suggested that the Dems do have plans, the MSM just does not report it, and that we need to assist them in getting the word out?
Guess I did not know what I was talking about. (There you go anon, left you a one liner to insult me some more. It was sarcasm, dumb ass.)
Posted by Anjha at January 13, 2006 05:29 PMMore GOP Senators implicated.
And to think that a BJ overtook the MSM airways daily for months...where is all the coverage on these truly immoral jerks?
Posted by Anjha at January 13, 2006 05:35 PMWe never beat the repubs at getting anything out first.
Why should we? They always beat themselves! They are a lot like you in that respect.
Posted by phidipides at January 13, 2006 06:29 PMThis shows what a joke the GOP has become. If Hassert was really concerned about the corruption in his party, he would ask them to resign their seats and he would resign his too.
When Ney is indicted, no one, ane I mean no one is going to care about whether he held some charimanship. They are only going to care that he is a congressman. Does anyone know whether Duke Cunningham chaired a committee? I thought not.
Posted by Ga6thDem at January 13, 2006 06:59 PMGee that's different. Another thread full of the self proclaimed democrat avaroo bitching, moaning, and attacking fellow democrats for being losers without roo offering a positive message or solution because he whines all democrats seem to do is bitch, moan and attack republicans without democrats offering any positive message or solution. It's a funny thing roo...you're attacking and complaining about democrats for only attacking and complaining? Deflect, deflect, deflect roo... Deflect away poser.
Posted by at January 13, 2006 04:37 PM
****
Yes, I'm a republican nay-bob, quasi-troll posing as a democrat who makes seemingly endless posts without substance or thought, but what the hell, I'm havin' fun.
Yes, I'm a republican nay-bob, quasi-troll posing as a democrat who makes seemingly endless posts without substance or thought, but what the hell, I'm havin' fun.
Your life must be....sad...pathetic, really.
Posted by ann at January 13, 2006 07:54 PMGlad we could finally settle that....
Posted by euzoius at January 13, 2006 07:58 PMGood point Ga6thDem. I'm thinking that because this Abramoff money goes so deep, and the republicans have been in power in the house for so long, the chairs of several committees will feel the same presure as Ney.
DeLay was able to change the membership of the so called ethics committee when he was majority leader, but not anymore. My hope is that the issues that were brought up on that committe will again be brought to light and dealt with, along with the new charges.
Posted by dorita at January 13, 2006 08:06 PMThe final fact remains that the only way to get Hastert to stand down is to vote out the current majority. Considering DeLay's previously free hand, Hastert has been unable or unwilling to run a clean house. This needs to be stressed to the voters, changing the faces of the committee chairs isn't enough..
Posted by rlp at January 13, 2006 09:10 PMJane Hamsher at FDL notes that the blog's contributors are reasoned and articulate. Now, having been a writer all my professional life I may be relatively articulate, but reasoned?
Not these days.
Rather I'm frustrated, angry, and depressed. The repeated victories of the moron and his gang of Fascists have elicited in me some very ancient impulses, like, uh, an overwhelming urge to do some serious physical damage to these fat fucks, if ONLY I could get my hands on them.
What in hell does "reason" have to do with anything these days? Yes, there ARE articulate and reasoned people on progressive/liberal blogs, but the bottom line is that we are totally impotent in the face of the Fascists' well-oiled machine.
One part of the Fascists effectiveness is that they all speak with one voice on a daily basis, and they never depart from the script. One message each day, in short, clear, declarative sentences.
That's what the pants-pissing, brain dead 45 percent of the American electorate who love the moron need right now.
Here's what's so frustrating. To defeat these slimy bastards we would all have to become exactly LIKE THEM. Cynical manipulators, bullshit artists, liars. Criminals.
I don't have the stomach for it, honest to God. They do. Which is why we'll never win.
"And to think that a BJ overtook the MSM airways daily for months...where is all the coverage on these truly immoral jerks?"
Anjha, the hearings on Alito seem to have taken the focus off the fraud scandals, at least for now. Good timing.
Posted by Judith at January 14, 2006 02:42 AMJohn, I know it does not help, but you are not alone in feeling frustrated, angry and depressed. From my perspective, those feelings are because I fear there is no hope, and that our worst fears are coming true. We no longer have a media that speaks for the people of this Country (if we ever did), so how do we get the message out to those who are too busy to be informed or who only listen to the Corporate controlled media? I would say that their promise to create our reality is coming true.
Posted by Judith at January 14, 2006 02:58 AMAnn's right about the fox guarding the chicken coop.
Santorum reaps money from lobbyists
Friday, January 13, 2006
Sen. Rick Santorum, who has been tapped by fellow Senate Republican leaders to draft legislation tightening restrictions on lobbyists, has received more money from lobbyists than any other congressional candidate so far in the 2006 election cycle.
Mr. Santorum, R-Pa., received $145,946 from lobbyists in the period from the start of the 2006 election cycle through Oct. 31, 2005, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics based on the most recent data the Federal Election Commission has published.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06013/637267.stm
Posted by Judith at January 14, 2006 03:25 AMYes, I'm a republican nay-bob, quasi-troll posing as a democrat who makes seemingly endless posts without substance or thought, but what the hell, I'm havin' fun.
My kitty thinks he's a Tiger. He ain't.
Here's what's so frustrating. To defeat these slimy bastards we would all have to become exactly LIKE THEM. Cynical manipulators, bullshit artists, liars. Criminals.
I don't think so. These fucks are going to beat themselves. I've tried to catch a good sampling of opinion from real Conservatives and Republicans. These people are as pissed-off as we are. The neo-cons are loud, so loud in fact that they can't hear what's sneaking up behind them. There is every possibility that true Moderates or Conservatives from the Right can get a handle on these ethics issues. They recognize that they have had control of the Congress for 11 years, the Presidency for 5 years, and nothing has been accomplished and a great deal destroyed.
There is hope. At least there is that.
Posted by phidipides at January 14, 2006 09:25 AMI hope your right Phidipides, I hope you are right.
Posted by Judith at January 14, 2006 12:55 PMThe repubs shouldn't be worried about getting their lobbying reform package out before the dems. We never beat the repubs at getting anything out first. …Posted by avarooThat is untrue. There are Democrats offering bills right now. You won't read about them in the Republican American press, but they exist nonetheless.
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) plans to introduce a bill to overhaul lobbying laws, joining House Democratic Reps. Marty Meehan (Mass.) and Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), who already have introduced legislation in the House.
Meehan’s bill, H.R. 2412, would double to two years the time retiring lawmakers have to wait before lobbying on Capitol Hill. It would also double the fines for failing to file lobbying reports to $100,000 from $50,000. And the bill would require the ethics panel to review privately funded trips before they take place.
Even though Meehan’s bill has 72 co-sponsors, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), it faces hurdles in the House.
No Republican lawmaker has signed on to support the bill, although lawmakers in both parties have said there have been discussions.
It's a start, but like the laws currently on the books, if they majority party won't enforce the rules against themselves and the minority party is completely shutout, no law will be enforced.