Congress Finds Ways To Avoid Lobbyist Limits

[RestoreGore]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/us/politics/11trips.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087%0A&em&en=b915f188d76f3d0f&ex=1171256400
small excerpt:

Lawmakers are usually reluctant to talk about their fund-raising events. Asked in an interview in the Capitol why he was taking lobbyists on a Montana hunting trip, Mr. Baucus said only, “To show off the beauty of our state,” then retreated behind a guarded door.

Mr. Martinez, who will be spending next weekend with lobbyists at Disney World, said, “I’ve heard from many other members that they have had very successful weekend events.” He added, “People can bring their families to it and bring their children, and it’s going to be fun.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Fun? Tell that to the Americans struggling to survive.

And they are doing it on both sides. The people of this country have no voice, it is the wallets of the rich and powerful that do and that is simply the way of "politics" in this toxic system, which is why good decent people choose to find other more satisfying ways of contributing to society on a more effective level.

I do not believe corruption and lobbyists buying policy in the military industrial beltway will ever change now because it is the way of "doing business" too ingrained into how Congress works, and because basically power and money attract. To me it is a very sad statement of not only what this country has become on a moral level, but a sad statement about those who take advantage of us who then strut out and speak eloquently to our faces as if they care about our plight out here. How dare they.

There is a disconnect in Washington DC and a greed that will never be satiated by doing the right thing because the wrong thing is so lucrative. We can all scream until we are blue in the face that we need publicly financed elections with a fair playing field for all, but even then they will find a way to get around the rules. The only way to stop it is to stop the source of the money but then they will cry that it is a violation of their free speech, neverminding that our free speech is what is being stifled by their hearing the cha ching over our needs as a people.

I truly do not know what the answer is aside from fighting them from out here until the scales of power become so balanced in our favor that they have no alternative but to give up their addiction or be removed from office. I believe it is as trite and simple as, "the power is with us." I just wish I was more hopeful in believing that concept will be seen and enacted anytime soon.

[Solly Mack]

1. from the article

"But it did not take long for lawmakers to find ways to keep having lobbyist-financed fun.

In just the last two months, lawmakers invited lobbyists to help pay for a catalog of outings: lavish birthday parties in a lawmaker’s honor ($1,000 a lobbyist), martinis and margaritas at Washington restaurants (at least $1,000), a California wine-tasting tour (all donors welcome), hunting and fishing trips (typically $5,000), weekend golf tournaments ($2,500 and up), a Presidents’ Day weekend at Disney World ($5,000), parties in South Beach in Miami ($5,000), concerts by the Who or Bob Seger ($2,500 for two seats), and even Broadway shows like “Mary Poppins” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” (also $2,500 for two).

The lobbyists and their employers typically end up paying for the events, but within the new rules.

Instead of picking up the lawmaker’s tab, lobbyists pay a political fund-raising committee set up by the lawmaker. In turn, the committee pays the legislator’s way."


Well, we now know the minimum rate for buying a representative - $1,000

[RestoreGore]

2. Shameful, isn't it? n/t

[ShortnFiery]

3. Yes, and any sitting member of Congress should NOT have a lobbyist

in their immediate family. That includes YOU Senator Reid!

Walk the Walk! We elected you folks to stop the Iraqi occupation and de-corportize the government. :-)

[Skidmore]

4. Absofreakinglutely!!!

[Solly Mack]

5. DeMOCKracy in action

[RestoreGore]

7. Thomas Jefferson knew

"Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence."

Thomas Jefferson

He knew so well that he also claimed a man that goes in to be President never comes out as he went in... he even went so far as to have the accomplishments he wished to be remembered for engraved on his gravestone at Monticello:

Authoring the Declaration of Independence

The Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom

Father of the University of Virginia.

He made no mention on his gravestone of being president as one of his accomplishments. To me he will always be one of my true American heroes along with Al Gore who is similarly following in his footsteps as a man of great accomplishments away from the corruption.

[Kixel]

6. I can see why a 5 day work week would be too long!

Those trips would be exhausting...of course, if you are told how to vote at them, it would eliminate potential research and what not.

[RestoreGore]

8. It's hard work! n/t

[Solly Mack]

9. lol! Yes...all that work interferes with the important stuff!