Living in Rome in the Age of Augustus: All Data Leads to Rome (CLINTON Wal*Mart Filings)

[CorpGovActivist]

One of the best, most enjoyable, entertaining, and informative electives I ever took in college was http://www.google.com/search?as_q=rome+in+the+age+of+augustus+tarrant+harvard+professor&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&cr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=harvard.edu&as_rights=&safe=images">Rome in the Age of Augustus. The prof, R.J. Tarrant, was at the bleeding edge of using multimedia to make his passion for the subject matter come alive. If I ever get back to audit classes as an alum, his courses will be at the tip-top of the list.

Not only did he make his discussions interesting, he made them relatable to modern life. He took great care to explain how the Founders drew heavily from Classical concepts. The course was a treat.

One of the concepts he hammered home was that the saying, "All roads lead to Rome" actually could have been, "All datastreams lead to Rome," emphasizing that - at the height of its power and influence, Rome's intelligence-gathering infrastructure was one of the key drivers of road-building and communication innovations.

Living inside the Beltway is like living within sight of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Hill">Capitoline Hill, with ready and available access to the clerks and scribes of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_senate">Roman Senate.

There's a bend in 395 North that takes my breath away every time I make the short jaunt into DC. It provides a sweeping, panoramic view that encompasses the Pentagon, Arlington National, all the major monuments, and the signature Capitol dome. On a clear day like today, it is truly stunning.

When an errand to an obscure archive or data repository turns out well, it makes the return trip down 395 South in the interminable afternoon rush well worth it.

Meeting up with a friend of mine, we took a trip over to the http://www.sec.gov/info/edgar/prrrules.htm">SEC's obscure Public Reference Room.

There, the very helpful guardians of the data helped pinpoint precisely what we were seeking.

Who knew that corporatist directors' ownership filings going back for decades could be had so easily, so cheaply, and so quickly?

Wal*Mart: always low standards. Always.

- Dave

[elehhhhna]

1. Dave, have you read Caesar: Life of a Colossus, by Adrian Goldsworthy?

Just came out recently --I'm starting it now and it's great!

[CorpGovActivist]

2. No, but I Will Put It on My List for Sure!

Did you watch http://www.hbo.com/rome/">Rome when it came on HBO?

Professor Tarrant would've been proud. There were parts where I just couldn't suspend my disbelief, but other parts where I was like, "Oh, it was worse than that, even."

; )

- Dave

[KittyWampus]

3. are you subtly referring to the Walton's donating to the Clinton Slush Fund er... Library?

[CorpGovActivist]

4. Nope

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hillary+clinton+director+walmart">I'm referring to the period of time that Senator Clinton spent on the Board of Directors.

- Dave

[KittyWampus]

5. Oh, cause I read this recently-

Among the entities who have been reported to have given more than $1 million toward the presidentical center: the governments of Dubai, Kuwait, and Qatar; the Saudi royal family; a deputy prime minister of Lebanon; Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart heir Alice Walton; the Anheuser-Busch Foundation; and Vin Gupta, chairman and CEO of infoUSA Inc., a telemarketing firm that has come under scrutiny for its handling of private information.

[CorpGovActivist]

6. Yup, Inconvenient Truths for the Clinton Campaign, for Sure...

... with much more information likely to leak in the next 7 days.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Many Don't Know of Her Stints on Other Corporate Boards...

... such as http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lafarge+clinton+french">Lafarge, a French outfit that has been http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lafarge+hillary+clinton+french+fined">repeatedly fined, in Europe and the U.S.

Yogurt-maker http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=clinton+tcby">TCBY had close ties with her too.

And the SEC has a wealth - and I do mean a wealth - of information available for those interested in the facts.

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

8. a little above my head

but seems there are a lot of connections between Pricewater, Gregory Raben, William Borchard and the Clintons. Who did Borchard get the info from to pass along?

[CorpGovActivist]

21. It'll Be Easy Enough...

... to grasp when the ads start running.

; )

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

9. Now I'm really confused....

There seems to be a few ex-walmart employees joining the Raben Group. It seems Wal Mart and the Raben Group are joining forces in regards to lobbying. Enlighten me.
http://hispaniclobbyists.org/index_files/Page1184.htm

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/041307dnwashhispanic.2608153.html

[CorpGovActivist]

10. Wow...

... you're way out in the weeds. :hug:

Sorry about that.

The errand today entailed obtaining copies of key SEC filings dating from Senator Clinton's stint - while First Lady of Arkansas - as a corporate director of three companies: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hillary+clinton+walmart">Wal*Mart, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hillary+clinton+lafarge+fined">Lafarge, and http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hillary+clinton+tcby">TCBY.

It is particularly important to note that her law firm did work for the latter two as corporate counsel. That sentence bears repeating.

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

11. Yes I got that but

I still would like to know more about the Wal mart and Raben connection, if any.

I do tend to stray when I start google :shrug: ling.

[CorpGovActivist]

12. Serendipity Can Strike...

... with the Googling.

: )

Is there anything to Raben that you think needs to be front page news before Tsunami Tuesday?

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

13. No

I just thought it was curious how the lobbyist from opposite sides of the street had joined forces so to speak. Will they protect the people or the corporation? I confess don't know enough about this link to make an informed comment. In my eyes it looks like they are trying to serve two masters or maybe they will just split the baby down the middle.

http://hispaniclobbyists.org/index_files/Page1184.htm


on edit: will what each side has to offer in way of training new lobbyist cancel them out so to speak?

[CorpGovActivist]

14. When It Comes to K Street...

... many http://www.google.com/search?q=mark+penn+clients&hl=en">swing both ways.

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

15. yes Penn is a perfect example.

So does the Raben Group serve two masters?

[CorpGovActivist]

16. Judging by Their Officially-Acknowledged Client List...

... http://www.rabengroup.com/clients/index_flash.html">yes, many times over.

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

17. I noticed that too.

and wondered who we the people could actually trust. It seems it is all one big circle jerk.:banghead:

[CorpGovActivist]

18. You're Doing It Wrong...

:rofl:

Tell lame I said hi!

:hi:

- Dave

[unapatriciated]

19. what can I say

don't have the same equipment so can't play the game.:shrug: Glad to give you a laugh. Now I'm going to go watch the chief jerkoff tell me it's not as bad as I think.

[CorpGovActivist]

20. Enjoy...

... and it looks more like this.

:grouphug:

:rofl:

- Dave