I think Denny likes to eat.
Posted by ann at January 18, 2006 07:44 AMCongress will never do any lobbying reforms as long as the senators and congressmen need finacial support to run their increasingly expensive campaigns. We just have to live with the current state of affairs. Only thing we, as ordinary citizens, can do is to make sure that excesses in lobbying, such as we see with Mr. Abranoff's methods, do not happen.
Posted by suresh at January 18, 2006 08:06 AMSteve,
I see you have banned me again. the last time you did this was during the election.
I guess your getting nervous again.
Posted by roof at January 18, 2006 08:20 AMSteve,
I see you have banned me again. the last time you did this was during the election.
I guess your getting nervous again.
Posted by roof at January 18, 2006 08:20 AM
*****
You ought to be banned from this planet, you rotten piece of shit.
Posted by God Of War at January 18, 2006 08:21 AMThere was a time when "democrat" and "ethics proposal" could be used in the same sentence without inducing peals of laughter.
But then you guys let Michael Moore-on and Howard Scream latch onto your party like suckling babies.
Posted by A Former Democrat at January 18, 2006 08:27 AMThere was a time when "democrat" and "ethics proposal" could be used in the same sentence without inducing peals of laughter.
But then you guys let Michael Moore-on and Howard Scream latch onto your party like suckling babies.
Posted by A Former Democrat at January 18, 2006 08:27 AM
*****
Abramoff. Coulter. Limbaugh. Et Cetera, ad nauseum.
Now shut up and go fuck yourself.
Posted by God Of War at January 18, 2006 08:32 AMNow shut up and go fuck yourself.
The party of tolerance speaks!
Posted by A Former Democrat at January 18, 2006 08:35 AMCongress will never do any lobbying reforms as long as the senators and congressmen need finacial support to run their increasingly expensive campaigns. posted by Suresh
You are correct; this is why we need to lobby for publicly supported campaigns. This is the only way to keep the money out of it.
Posted by Anjha at January 18, 2006 08:37 AMNow shut up and go fuck yourself.
The party of tolerance speaks!
Posted by A Former Democrat at January 18, 2006 08:35 AM
*****
I don't know what you're talking about. I have zero tolerance for bigotted, lying, traitorous pricks like you.
Tolerance? Ha. Not for your kind.
Posted by God Of War at January 18, 2006 08:38 AMThe party of tolerance speaks!
Come on. Relax! Go slap your wife and feed your kids some Red Hots and a Coke for breakfast. You are due to get your next allotment of Food Stamps, and that will make everything better.
Posted by phidipides at January 18, 2006 09:06 AM"GOP Lobbying Reform A Sham"
More like GOP Lobbying Reform = oxymoron
Or Everything GOP does is a SHAM
Posted by Anjha at January 18, 2006 09:13 AMWas AFD avaroo, or crappy, I forget which coward is afraid to stick to a name after acting the fool. Mainly because I don't give a shit what they say.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 18, 2006 09:34 AMI don't know what you're talking about. I have zero tolerance for bigotted, lying, traitorous pricks like you.
It's not my *current party* that spends its days undermining the troops in IRaq and trying to find ways to help Iraqi insurgents.
Go slap your wife and feed your kids some Red Hots and a Coke for breakfast.
So today's members of the democrat party find spousal abuse humorous?
Posted by A Former Democrat at January 18, 2006 09:36 AMWas AFD avaroo, or crappy, I forget which coward is afraid to stick to a name after acting the fool. Mainly because I don't give a shit what they say.
Yeah, Steve has the goods on this one. Like you, I've blocked it out as well. I can't believe anyone is so bored with their life that they would come back to TLC and post the same tripe over and over.
Posted by ann at January 18, 2006 10:02 AMBut then you guys let Michael Moore-on and Howard Scream latch onto your party like suckling babies.
Too much truth-telling for ya huh? So you had to go join the party of never-ending fantasy.
I take it your chickenshit-ass is in Tikrit? No?
Says it all, doesn't it. Ready to sacrifice others for your insane worldview. If you were ever a Democrat, you sucked at it.
It's not my *current party* that spends its days undermining the troops in IRaq and trying to find ways to help Iraqi insurgents.
Ah, but it is dipshit. No mission, no body armor, multipal deployments, the Guard having to sue to get their just compensation, etc.
The list goes on and on. The fact is, your party is responsible for the whole clusterfuck, and all you little enabelers will burn in hell for eternity.
Posted by SnarkyShark at January 18, 2006 10:03 AMYou know what a former democrat is? It's one too lazy to object to how the people of this country are getting fucked!
And to add to SnarkyShark's list, the cutting of benefits for Veterans, deprivation of access to congressional Veterans committees, long VA waits, decreased medical staff, appointments up to 6 months out, etc. Anything else you repukes want to bring up.
How about threatening to take away your family's insurance if you die wearing body armor not made by one of Bush's Pioneers? Supporting the troops with Catch-22 rules is the new black, I hear.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 18, 2006 10:29 AMSo today's members of the democrat party find spousal abuse humorous?
Only in the Red States. We enjoy watching your pastimes.
Posted by phidipides at January 18, 2006 10:45 AMcoyote, Do you mean this?
Posted by bbtb at January 18, 2006 10:45 AMI don't know what you're talking about. I have zero tolerance for bigotted, lying, traitorous pricks like you.
It's not my *current party* that spends its days undermining the troops in IRaq and trying to find ways to help Iraqi insurgents.
Go slap your wife and feed your kids some Red Hots and a Coke for breakfast.
So today's members of the democrat party find spousal abuse humorous?
Posted by A Former Democrat at January 18, 2006 09:36 AM
*****
Your current party, you traitorous asshole, not only undermines the troops efforts (not enough troops, inadequate armor, failure to secure explosives, torturing the natives, etc.), it gets them fucking KILLED.
So fuck you, Mr. Projection. Again, I implore you: Slide under a gas truck and fulfill your destiny as a skidmark.
Posted by God Of War at January 18, 2006 10:51 AMIs the GOP lobbying reform a sham: shit yeah. Will it ever get reformed by the current congress (in a real way): no. Will the next (even in a majority party change): Probably not, because the extrreme sides aren't that different other than key issues, they're still politicians.
I'm a former democrat, but I'm not a republican, I'm a moderate, where most of the sane rational voices that are left are at.
Posted by Dennis at January 18, 2006 11:10 AMbbtb, yep. That's the one.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 18, 2006 11:21 AMDid anyone see the press conference just now. The Democratic Declaration of Independence from Lobbyists!
Now that is reform!
I cried.
Posted by Anjha at January 18, 2006 11:50 AMBack to lobby "reefer, um, reform." (typo seemed to fit so I adopted it!)
Note that some of their ideas are really just yet another attempt to weaken the Dems.
[R]educe the ability of senators to anonymously stall legislation and nominations through "holds,"
and especially this one:
In addition, House Republicans also intend to use the legislation to put new campaign spending and reporting restrictions on independent advocacy groups that have been seen as beneficial to Democrats – a move that could spark resistance.
They'd gladly toss the swift boaters overboard for a chance to hammer MoveOn and the Unions etc, which would make reform just another tool to preserve their grasping hold on our nations power centers.
I really despise the republicans and their toadies. Right on GOW!!!
Posted by Duckman GR at January 18, 2006 11:51 AMSlide under a gas truck and fulfill your destiny as a skidmark.
Can I use a wet/dry vac to get out the coffee I spewed into my keyboard?
p - GoW's got a way with words, doesn't he?
Posted by iamcoyote at January 18, 2006 01:39 PMDems unveiled Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.
Can watch the webcast of the event. It really was great.
Posted by Anjha at January 18, 2006 02:43 PM"Now shut up and go fuck yourself."
"The party of tolerance speaks!"
Posted by A Former Democrat NOT!
No, we have no tolerance for you fucking traitors. In fact, you should be hung.
Well hung, thank you!
Posted by bbtb at January 18, 2006 04:57 PMSpeaking of "well hung," go over to Crooks and Liars and see Jon Stewart and that other guy Ed discussing "taint." It's pretty funny.
Sorry OT
Posted by Sharon at January 18, 2006 05:46 PMThey had a story in the Baltimore Sun about how the IRS must be totally incompetent to miss catching Abramoff's non-profits. A repub co-worker whose wife works in the IRS non-profit auditing group says those are reviewed by a die-hard repub that lets them all knowingly slip by. If that's true the whole system is really screwed.
Posted by PSUinMD at January 18, 2006 06:45 PMA repub co-worker whose wife works in the IRS non-profit auditing group says those are reviewed by a die-hard repub that lets them all knowingly slip by. If that's true the whole system is really screwed.
All non-profits with revenues over a specific amount (I think it's 150 or 100K now) are required to have an independent audit (not from the IRS) annually. The purpose of this audit is to confirm that the financials are accurate. Specific testing is required by the auditing firms and the auditing firms are subject to peer review. Audits are not designed to uncover fraud or abuse, but sometimes they do. It is in the auditor's best interest to make sure that the non-profit is presenting its financials accurately. Of course, there is incompetence and probably some fraud as well.
What should have caught Abramoff and DeLay's charities was the lack of programatic expenses and the abundance of fundraising expenses. But these were not your average non-profits that apply for grants and ask donors for money. These charities were set up with the knowledge that they would be funneling money. Any donor who didn't understand that is simply an idiot. Take a look at DeLay's charity's website:
Take a look at the upper left side of the site. I don't know of any non-profit that claims to help abused children that has a password protected members area.
Posted by ann at January 18, 2006 07:29 PM