Well surprise surprise...

[Triana]

[daleanime]

1. Well, I'm just stunned with surprise....

Oh, and K&R.

[leftofcool]

2. OMG! Say it isn't so.

[mountain grammy]

3. oh nooos does this mean Congress critters are corrupt???

Shockin .

[Stuart G]

4. I am shocked, completely shocked, you mean there is corruption in this establishment???

[turbinetree]

5. OH MY

What would the John Roberts and his right wing U.S. Supreme court majority have to say about this bribery, and fraud buying of votes please tell us JOHN:

[Blue Owl]

6. A vested interest...

To put it mildly...

[Helen Borg]

7. But is the result statistically significant?

LOL...

[LWolf]

8. NO!

[WillyT]

9. K & R !!!

[FourScore]

10. I think it's simply charming that the oil and gas industry care so much about democracy.

[EEO]

11. Someone has to pay for those lobster and steak dinners.

Legislators have to keep their energy up.

[annominous]

21. Someone has to pay for the

expensive media campaigns candidates need to put on.

We really need campaign finance reform. Or ... voters could just switch off their tvs and insist our elected officials represent us and not their rich friends.

[Dustlawyer]

12. Sad to think how relatively cheap they are compared to what these companies reap from them!

Sad truth is, you cannot get into Congress and stay there unless you sell out somewhere. The exceptions are people like Bernie and Elizebeth who have a certain amount of name recognition and reputation nationally to stay in office without selling out.
I spoke with Howard Nations yesterday and asked him about Bernie's push for Publicly Funded Elections which he supports. I was lamenting about Bernie's chances given that many Democrats won't support him because of his poor chances. I asked him how to get around that and he quickly replied that Bernie needed to talk to Elizebeth Warren about being his VP running mate. Can you imagine the Plutocrats heads exploding?

[aspirant]

13. A home run

They take 36 million and the oil cheats make 136 billion. Maybe they should change tactics with campaign finance reform and enact legislation saying the minimal corp contribution is ! billion/year to each politician. Would that start leveling the field?

[Dustlawyer]

14. We need to get behind the push for Publicly Funded Elections and ending campaign contributions.

Bernie Sanders has said that this is his number one issue. That would take away their ability to control our government. We could even require our complicit media to donate the ads as part of the requirement of their license to use our public airwaves.

[BrotherIvan]

18. I agree with you 100,000,000%

I thank you for the work you are doing, as yes, it does seem to be the most important thing to focus on. And if Senator Sanders teamed up with Senator Warren, I would would work my ass off for them as I am sure a lot of people would which adds value to their campaign (and should be the way it's done).

[Dustlawyer]

19. Thanks Brother Ivan! I am looking for like minded people to do what they can to help spread this.

The more people responding to OP's and relating whatever problem the OP is talking about, if applicable, to this solution the better. For example, if the OP is about the environment, equal pay, public education, prisons... anything not likely to pass Congress due to the corruption of special interests would deserve a post explaining this and urging them to let Bernie know we have his back would be great. I am not all that savy with the Internet, or even sites outside DU, but people here that are could spread this message around the internet. We could be helping the grass root growth in Bernie's electability, or at least the solution of Publicly Funded Elections. This could even appeal to Republicans that are paranoid about George Soros or us Libs controlling their politicians.
Too many are not fed up enough to get off of their couches, but may at least agree with this and support it online. Thanks again!

[malaise]

15. Jobs for themselves as in pay without work

[Octafish]

16. Johnny SCROTUS says: ''Money Talks.''

Johnny SCROTUS also says: "In politics, money is just like free speech. So, it walks."

[tclambert]

17. Money does not have a corrupting influence on politics. Chief Justice John Roberts said so

in the Citizens United case and the McCutcheon case. Once wasn't enough. Despite heavy criticism for the Citizens United ruling, he doubled down in McCutcheon. "Spending large sums of money in connection with elections, but not in connection with an effort to control the exercise of an officeholder's official duties, does not give rise to such quid pro quo corruption. Nor does the possibility that an individual who spends large sums may garner 'influence over or access to' elected officials or political parties."

Stupidest Supreme Court ever.

[RiverLover]

23. +1

[Iwillnevergiveup]

20. The hilarity that must ensue

when corporate hounds brag among themselves about their political puppets and how cheaply they can be bought. Voter suppression and outrageous gerrymandering can also be blamed for the (not so slow) demise our our democracy.

[nikto]

22. But it's not bribery or anything...

[blkmusclmachine]

24. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The Senator from ExxonMobil Oil Co.~>

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. Is that all? The poor "dead broke" politicians need to vote themselves another pay raise.

Before retiring to a comfy "consultant" job with their real bosses.

[F4lconF16]

26. Am I missing something?

All I see is the title and then a sarcasm tag. Is there supposed to be an image?

[raouldukelives]

27. What the what?

I wonder if there could be some kind of connection? Aaah! I need my tinfoil!

[Madmiddle]

28. We should respond

By charging them with fraud and treason. Throw them in jail.

[Vinca]

29. Politics: the world's oldest profession.

[randys1]

30. K&R K&R K&R