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CORRUPTION UPDATES 18

OCTOBER 9th to the 13th, 2006

The CORRUPTION UPDATES reviews corruption in the news. News Stories from California, the Nation and the World are abstracted below, and followed by commentary and references.

 

 


CORRUPTION UPDATE 18

Previous Corruption Updates: Page 17

Next Corruption Updates: Page 19

1) THE ARTICLE SAYS: NY Times, 10-13-06:

Book: Bush Aides Called Evangelicals 'Nuts'

White House advisors sought the support of conservative Christians but mocked them in private, writes a onetime administration official.”

By Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writer
October 13, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-faith13oct13,0,3875008.story?coll=la-home-headlines

WASHINGTON — A new book by a former White House official says that President Bush's top political advisors privately ridiculed evangelical supporters as "nuts" and "goofy" while embracing them in public and using their votes to help win elections.”

“The former official also writes that the White House office of faith-based initiatives, which Bush promoted as a nonpolitical effort to support religious social-service organizations, was told to host pre-election events designed to mobilize religious voters who would most likely favor Republican candidates.”
“The assertions by David Kuo, a top official in the faith-based initiatives program, have rattled Republican strategists already struggling to persuade evangelical voters to turn out this fall for the GOP. “”

In the book, Kuo, who quit the White House in 2003, accuses Karl Rove's political staff of cynically hijacking the faith-based initiatives idea for electoral gain. It assails Bush for failing to live up to his promises of boosting the role of religious organizations in delivering social services.”
The book says that before the 2002 elections, then-White House political director Ken Mehlman issued "marching orders" to use the faith-based initiative in 20 House and Senate races, according to MSNBC. To avoid appearing overtly political, Mehlman said his staff would arrange for congressional offices to request visits from the faith-based program officials”

Kuo is not the first insider to accuse the White House of politicizing the faith-based program. John J. DiIulio Jr., the first director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, resigned after seven months and was quoted as saying that the White House was run by "Mayberry Machiavellians" who sometimes put politics ahead of other causes.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

BUSH ADVISORS CALL EVANGELICALS “NUTS”

FAITH BASED INITIATIVE A CYNICAL POLITICAL TOOL

This would be hilarious, if it wasn't so sad. Ethics and religion are important. Using religion as a political tool is not just unethical, it is being done in a manner that is also unconstitutional. That's pretty impressive for any administration: being simultaneously unethical and unconstitutional. On the brighter side, we can be impressed that this Administration can do two things at once.

Most importantly, this article may be describing the beginnings of a realization by the people in the pews that their good intentions have been abused. If this is not a bellwether of an impending separation between evangelicals and conservative politics, it certainly portends a change in the character of the relationship between politics and religion.

We respect conservative and liberal opinions, but are ticked off when any religious or political group tries to use politics to force their viewpoint down everyone else's throat. Putting your religion before everybody else's rights puts down a precedent that will be used against you later. Others will not be restrained in imposing their morals on you, when another religion gets the upper hand.

The relationship between religion and politics has been formed into a weapon against unpopular social minorities. Their targets have been our citizens who demand equal treatment for different gender definitions, “gay marriage,” and the women who exercise their right to have abortion as an option. This marriage of religion and politics has been powerful enough, not to completely deny the identities and rights of these people, but powerful enough to bring victory to the party employing religion. The net effect of linking religious morals with political muscle, the breakdown between the church and the state, is validate the formation and use of religion to impose a “tyranny of the majority” on everyone with different perspectives than the ruling party.

Restoring our democracy will restore the rights of our citizens to have and hold their own viewpoints, without being threatened by corrupt politicians and tyrannical laws made to serve narrow constituencies.

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2) THE ARTICLE SAYS: LATimes, 10-13-06

Abramoff Ties May Jeopardize Nonprofits' Tax Status

Senate Democrats say conservative groups' work with the lobbyist defrauded taxpayers. One target calls the charges politicking.”

By Tom Hamburger, Times Staff Writer
October 13, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abramoff13oct13,0,2690734.story?coll=la-home-nation

WASHINGTON — Several well-known conservative organizations may have put their tax-exempt status at risk as a result of helping disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients, according to a new report from congressional Democrats.”

“The report by the minority staff of the Senate Finance Committee concludes that the organizations "appear to have perpetrated a fraud on other taxpayers" by engaging in "what amounted to profit seeking and private benefit behavior inconsistent with their tax-exempt status."”

Among the groups highlighted in the report is Americans for Tax Reform, led by Grover Norquist, who has been a major player in building and directing the conservative movement that has dominated U.S. politics for more than a decade.”

The report focused on the group Norquist heads, Americans for Tax Reform, and four other organizations: Citizens Against Government Waste, Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, the National Center for Public Policy Research, and Toward Tradition, all of which have had ties to Abramoff.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

NON PROFITS COVER FOR CRIMINAL LOBBYIST ABRAMOFF

LOBBYIST-SPECIAL INTEREST FRONT GROUPS UNDER ATTACK

Do you want to end this quagmire of corruption? The behavior of Norquist and Abramoff defines the conservative and religious elements of the party as nothing more than cover for scoundrels to loot our treasury, and gut our political honor. We can get rid of this whole mess by ending special interest contributions to officeholders and politicians.

If they can't give money, they will have to argue based on the merits of their positions. Or commit the crime of bribery in the shadows. But no longer can the special interests be allowed to use the facade of “free speech” to steal the voters right to control their own politicians.

We need to rebalance the rights of free speech with the right of the voter to select their own candidates, and elect their own representative.

Here's the deal: Everyone gets free speech rights, and can speak to politicians, officeholders, and candidates for office. They may speak to the constituients, the voters, of the election. But they may not offer, through funding, candidates to the voters; the voters get to choose their own candidates. Our initiative will allow free speech to continue in politics, but it criminializes the non-voter contributions to candidates that have destroyed the voters influence and control of our own polity.

And this will radically change how politics work in Sacramento, and Washington.

Also See:

Abramoff Links


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3) THE ARTICLE SAYS: LATimes, 10-13-06

Congressman Ney Convicted of Bribery

By Johanna Neuman and Richard B. Schmitt, Times Staff Writers
9:10 AM PDT, October 13, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-101306ney,0,7314868.story?coll=la-home-headlines

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) was convicted today of bribery charges stemming from the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation -- the first sitting member of Congress to confess to taking bribes in the scandal that has rocked the Republican-controlled Congress.”

A month ago, in a plea agreement, Ney admitted that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in illegal gifts and other largess that included nights of casino gambling in London and a lavish golf junket to Scotland.”

“In return, Ney acknowledged, he used his legislative clout to do favors for Abramoff and for a Syrian business man nicknamed the "Fat Man."”

“Sentencing is set for Jan. 19, by which time Ney, who is not seeking re-election, will no longer be serving in Congress. The 52-year-old Ney -- a six-term Republican -- could face a maximum prison term of 10 years, but Huvelle said prosecutors were recommending 27 months. She said federal guidelines suggest he should be fined between $5,000 and $60,000.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

NEY GUILTY OF BETRAYING DEMOCRACY

PROSECUTORS ONLY ASK FOR 2 YEAR SENTENCE FOR BETRAYING PUBLIC TRUST FOR PROFIT

We are happy about these unavoidable prosecutions. Think, that none of this would have happened, if Abramoff's greed did not drive him to defraud his clients, as well as our democracy. Abramoff's greed thrust his case into the Attorney General's lap, not any desire of Gonzales to attack the structure of political bribery that put Bush and Gonzales, (as well as the Democrats) into office. So quick, quiet prosecutions are in store for our fallen angels.

This article fails to mention if Ney was required to spill the beans about the structure of corruption, and other corruptions, he participated in, or witnessed during his terms in Congress. When they've got you by the short hairs, as we said in the Navy, they can extract a high price for reducing sentences. This raises the specter that the prosecutors are not using the full force of the law to force disclosure of the extent of bribery and influence peddling that Ney participated in in Congress.

The example of Randy “Duke” Cunningham does not inspire confidence. Cunningham was let off easy. I have seen no indication that Cunninghams' whole career was examined or investigated. No investigation, nor changes, have been made to the system of bribes and payoffs that Abramoff ran in Congress, and is still operating today. Cunningham's wife was let off the hook. The proper legal pressure available to force disclosure of the full facts was not employed by the Justice Department in the Cunningham case, and it looks like a quick pleading in the Ney case is motivated more by a desire to bury the scandal as quickly as possible, rather than the desire to fully investigate Ney and his web of corruption.

How is it that the media cannot see the web of corruption that underlay all of these individual articles reporting corruption? How can they not see that the loss of democracy is directly linked to the open purchase of our politicians and parties by the special interests? They report, but analysis is lacking. Why does the media report on political bribery as legitimate contributions? It is because the media is owned by GE, Murdoc, Viacomm, and Disney. The interests' of the media owners lay in promoting a consumer culture, rather than a political culture. The consumer culture, and the interests of the media, are better served by a corporate democracy controlled by special interests, of which the media is a powerful part.

Thus we get news devoid of analysis, news that reports on American-supported dictatorship as something good. We get news that reports the loss of Habius Corpus and the Fourth Amendment as something normal. Torture is acceptable to the Democrats and the press. We get news reports about the conviction of Ney, without shining light on the whole web of corruption he was but a small part of.

Corruption Updates10, 5th article, “Ney Pled Guilty to Corruption:One Down, the rest of our Legislature to Go”

Corruption Updates 18, 3rd article, “Congressman Ney Convicted of Bribery

Corruption Updates 28, 7th article, “Prosecutors: Ney at Center of Conspiracy

 

For later developments on Ney

 


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4) THE ARTICLE SAYS: The Bee, 10-13-06

E-mail adds fuel to the fire

It suggests Doolittle wanted wife to work for Abramoff in 2000.

By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau

Last Updated 6:47 am PDT Friday, October 13, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A6

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/38858.html

dwhitney@mcclatchydc.com.

A day after a hot campaign debate in which Rep. John Doolittle said there was nothing unethical in his relationship with Jack Abramoff, a new e-mail surfaced Thursday indicating he was hoping his wife could go to work for the disgraced lobbyist as early as 2000.”

The e-mail released Thursday was written by Kevin Ring, an Abramoff associate and former Doolittle staffer, to his boss. In it, Ring relates that Doolittle is "very very excited and appreciative" about the possibility of his wife, Julie, going to work for an Abramoff nonprofit group called Toward Tradition.”

"JTD knows of the group and would like to talk to you about it," the e-mail says.”

The e-mail suggests Doolittle was trying to get a job for his wife two years before she ultimately took a position working for Abramoff at his law firm, Greenberg Traurig.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

DOOLITTLE SOUGHT AND GOT ABRAMOFF JOB FOR WIFE

Why does it seem like I've read this article before? Deja-Vu? No, this article is almost exactly the same as dozens of other reports on nepotism. For efficiency's sake, the media should make a template form for articles reporting on bribery by providing jobs for family members. The specifics could be penciled in, as required.

Firm restrictions on the revolving door between private industry and political office must be devised. A prohibition on having family working for interests with business before a related officeholder must be constructed, and any lawmaker or officeholder who decides on issues involving a family member must be severely punished.

An ethics committee with ethics must be formed. And it must have teeth, and autonomy. And oh, yes, we must break the link between big money and our politicians.

Our initiative addresses most of these issues.

For More on Doolittle


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5) THE ARTICLE SAYS: The Bee, 10-13-06

Union shifts on Angelides ads

Prison guards group says it will use funds in 'other venues.'

By Andy Furillo - Bee Capitol Bureau

Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, October 13, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A4

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/38704.html

The Bee's Andy Furillo can be reached at (916) 321-1141 or afurillo@sacbee.com.

California's most prominent public employee unions signaled a shift in their campaign resources Thursday, leading Republicans to chortle that the unions are bailing out on the state Democratic Party's ticket topper, gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides.”

"We have not given up on Angelides," Alexander said. "We believe our money could be better spent and more effectively in other venues."

CCPOA spokesman Lance Corcoran said the union is "going to fight to the very end, but we're still going to use our money wisely."”

"We never said we were on a suicide mission," he said

With Angelides trailing Schwarzenegger in the polls by double digit percentages, Republican political consultant Wayne Johnson said the unions are recognizing that it might be smarter to put their money somewhere other than at the top of the ticket.”

"They think the governor's race is over," Johnson said.”

Smith said the independent expenditure ads (the unions are switching funds from the gov's race to the Lt. Gov's race) are paid for by the Professional Engineers in California Government, the California State Employees Association, the California School Employees Association, the California Teachers Association, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the California Professional Firefighters, Service Employees International Union Local 1000 and the Police Officers Research Association of California. The group is operating as Taxpayers for Responsible Government.

The Committee Says:

UNIONS ABANDON ANGELIDES AS LOSER

BIG UNIONS MONEY SEES NO PAYBACK FROM A LOSER


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6) THE ARTICLE SAYS: LATimes, 10-9-06

Angelides Seen as a Drag on the Party

Democratic leaders, saying he has failed to redefine a campaign that thus far has gone badly, fear repeating the '94 ticket-wide collapse.”

By Michael Finnegan and Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writers
October 9, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-gov9oct09,1,7125077.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

Worried Democrats said Sunday that Phil Angelides failed to achieve the breakthrough he needed in the sole gubernatorial debate and expressed fear that his campaign's trajectory threatened others on the statewide ticket.”

“Fellow Democrat John Garamendi, in a tight race for lieutenant governor against Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, has started to distance himself from Angelides. He said in a television interview aired Sunday that he disagreed with an Angelides plan to raise taxes on corporations and the well-to-do.”
“I don't think it's necessary," Garamendi, now insurance commissioner, said on KNBC's "News Conference." “

"When you have a situation like we had in 1994, when the top of the ticket collapses, it clearly has a downdraft effect," said Democratic strategist Garry South.”

“He said it was time for "triage" and a shift of party resources from Angelides to the races of lieutenant governor, secretary of state and controller. Though some may detect a whiff of sour grapes (South ran the campaign of Angelides' primary rival, Steve Westly), others also expressed concerns about a 1994 rerun and a determination to avert it.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

DEMS ABANDON ANGELIDES AS LOSER

THE RATS ARE JUMPING OFF A BURNING SHIP

The rats are jumping from the burning ship. But the rats don/t have to worry. They have nested themselves deeply into the Senate and Legislature, making nice beds of cash for our politicians to enjoy. Except Angelides. He's a loser.

Also See:

Corruption Updates 1, 3rd article on page, “ANGELIDES DESPERATION FORCES PRETENSE OF HONESTY

Corruption Updates 8, 5th Article on page, “Prison Union Buys Angelides, "Mr. Clean Candidate"

Corruption Updates 11, 7th Article on page, “Big Dem Contribs Realize Angelides Loser: Stop Bribes and Payoffs as Bad Investment


Top of Page

7) THE ARTICLE SAYS: Al-Ahram, 10-10-06

For moderate democracy

The US's top diplomat speaks to Al-Ahram's Salama Ahmed Salama

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/815/eg7.htm

Downloaded Tuesday Oct. 10, 2006.

Before meeting in Cairo Tuesday with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states -- the "6+2 states" as they are now called -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave a 55-minute interview to three senior Egyptian journalists -- Salama Ahmed Salama, veteran columnist for Al-Ahram, Magdi El-Galad, editor-in-chief of Al-Masry Al-Youm , and Mohamed Salah, Cairo bureau chief of Al-Hayat . Below are excerpts of Salama's notes from the interview that concentrated, in accordance with Rice's request, on "democracy in the Middle East".”

After briefing the three senior journalists on President Bush's recognition of Egypt's leading role in championing the cause of democracy and freedom in the Middle East, the Egyptian journalists raised with Rice the common belief in Egypt that democracy in the region is not a real concern for the US, and that the main aim of her visit is the formation of a new axis of moderation consisting of the six GCC states plus Egypt and Jordan (the "6+2") to confront Iran. They also expressed the widely held opinion among Arabs that talk about Washington's "genuine interest" in a just solution for the Palestinian question, given its unconditional support of Israeli aggression, is but a carrot to coax the Arabs into cooperation. “

Rice stated that:

Democracy is not something the US can impose by force beyond its national borders. Democracy has many different formulas and all the US can do is to support efforts towards democratic rule in any given country. In Egypt, the US is doing so in a true spirit of friendship, while at the same time respecting the country's history and culture.”

On the Palestinian question, Rice said that Israel is a friend of the US, but so are Egypt and Jordan, and that the US helped Egypt and Jordan to conclude peace agreements with Israel and that those agreements were in the interest of Egypt and Jordan.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

FOR MODERATE DEMOCRACY

EGYPTIANS BELIEVE DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT “IS NOT A REAL CONCERN FOR THE US”

Wow. Where to start with this one. Did you notice the Egyptian reporters used the term “Axis of Moderation” to describe the tyrannies the US props up in the Middle East? The beginning of this chapter of this sad history is in the early 1970s, with the purchase of the Saudi, Egyptian, and Jordanian dictatorships by the United States. In a dirty diplomatic quid pro quo, we traded money, military support, and political support to these dictatorships in return for recognition of Israel, and obedience to U.S. Will. To put it simply; “we pay, the dictator obeys.” The only problem with this deal is it is illegitimate, and will stand only as long as these U.S. Supported dictatorships stand.

This deal does not represent the will and interests of the people of these countries, or ours, and it does, in fact, provide to these regimes the military and political tools they require to repress their own people, and enforce American policy. And maintain “recognition” of Israel. Hardly the actions of a democratic country, unless voting to kill you and take you lands, is democracy. There are dangerous long-term implications to this type of diplomacy. It will blow up in our face, and it has already damaged our ethical integrity.

The existing governments of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt are American supported dictatorships who’s legitimacy, and leadership, would crumble in open elections, or if American military and economic support was withdrawn. And their fall would end their peoples' forced recognition of Israel, to be replaced with a rage against the tyrannies that stifled their voices, quashed their rights, killed their people and stole their lands.

Israel's legitimacy cannot be recognized in the Middle-East until the Arab peoples have rid themselves of American supported dictatorships, and form legitimate governments that represent their beliefs, positions, and interests. Only then will there be a legitimate negotiating partners that represents their own countries positions. That has only happened in Iran, and Syria. And it should come as no surprise that they hate Israel and the US. We can strengthen and expand this hatred, by crushing the Arabs as they revolt against American dictatorships, and obtaining freedom from American-sponsored tyranny spreads across the Middle East, and the world. Or we can diminish the hatred. We have a choice with the parts of the Middle East we still control, and our choice is to strengthen tyranny and increase violence. This will fail.

When failure occurs, the survivors, the rich Saudi Princes, and the minions of the Egyptian dictator, will move here, their true “homeland,” with billions of dollars. Just like the Shah's buddies did in 1979. And when this happens, the people of these countries will hate us for the abuses we visited on their countries, and their people, through the dictatorships we forced on them.

Other statement Rice made in Egypt are curious.

Rice:

Democracy is not something the US can impose by force beyond its national borders.” The administration invaded Iraq for the stated purpose of “stopping WMD,” and “spreading democracy” by military force. Rice's statement to the Egyptian press is exactly the opposite thing she, and the Administration, have been telling the American people.

On Iraq, Rice said that despite the violent situation in the country she is convinced that the majority of Iraqis are trying hard to rise above the many divisive factors that existed in the country for a long time but were not allowed to come to the surface because of the repression of the former Iraqi regime.”

So thank god we invaded Iraq, killed untold thousands of women and children, destroyed their infrastructure, ending its misguided path towards secular nationhood, all to bring to the surface the, “divisive factors that existed...but were not allowed to come to the surface because of the repression of the former Iraqi regime.”

If we didn’t invade, their mutual hatred would never have found expression because of “repression.”(??) Thank god we gave them the freedom to kill each other.

And for those of you kind readers hidden in the shadow of ignorance our American media creates, the second set of “Downing Street Memos” prove beyond doubt that BUSH KNEW THER WERE NO WMD IN IRAQ. This astounding story was under reported in the United States. And Congressional “oversight” is a joke. The majority of both parties voted the President unlimited powers to fight “terrorism.” In practice, this means if you live in a country ruled by an American Dictator, your objections will bring suspicions of supporting terrorism, and you will find yourself “disappeared” to a secret prison, where they will use methods on you that are not torture.

What all of our leaders refuse to see is that the era of Western colonial control of Arabic lands is coming to a close. The world has entered a post-colonial period, if we like it or not. (says a lot about our present “democracy”)Yet we continue to press the same lies and dictatorships down the throats of third world nations.

Our policies are assuring that the end of western control in the Middle East will be as violent as its birth. So far they (the Arab people) have taken Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon back from western control. The people in Saudi Arabia and Egypt are ready for radical change.

If we don’t restore our democracy, our leadership and goals will assure that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt are going to fall next. (Ironically, they will “fall” under the power of their own people, god forbid.) The leadership of these countries have no popular basis, and I expect their leaders, and other traitors to their countries, will suffer the same fate as other American-Supported dictatorships: They will have to become loyal to their own country, move to the United States, or Die. Expect a major immigration of Iraqi and Afghan collaborators to the US when our gambit fails. Just like after the fall of our dictatorships in Cuba, Vietnam, and Iran.

Our relationship with the “new” middle-east will not be the one Mr. Bush and his Democrat allies envision. The “new” Middle East will be independent of, and very hostile to America. Don't expect to be treated like a liberator by the people we have abused for the last 60 years. We are going to lose control of the world's oil markets.

To prevent the rise of a new Middle East that is an enemy to the United States, we must democratize OUR COUNTRY FIRST, and completely change the direction of our foreign policy to reflect the democratic values our country uses to legitimize, and control, our own pursuit of wealth and power.

The Idiocy of our present leadership, in both parties, has brought about the rise of a new global balance of power that will threaten, and block, American greed for generations. We are moving closer to the brink of a world war. When the people of the Middle-east finish seizing control of their region from our domination, we will not only have an enemy, but we will lose control of the world’s oil markets. They will deal with China, India, and Europe before they even talk to us. Maybe they will decide to change OUR government, or punish us for voting “wrong.” How would that feel?

And we deserve what we get.

Also See:

Corruption Updates 18, 7th article on page, “FOR MODERATE DEMOCRACY EGYPTIANS BELIEVE DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT IS NOT A REAL CONCERN” (of the United States)

Egypt Sends Sadat's Nephew to Prison for Defaming Military,” Corruption Update 21, 3rd article on page, states that:

The United States had at one time talked about Egypt as leading the way toward democratic reform in the Middle East. But with the chaos in the region, and the political uncertainty in Egypt, officials in Egypt said the United States has dropped all pressure to make democratic reforms.” Now compare that with our latest rational for the Iraq war: “We Will Spread Democracy across the Middle East.”

For further developments on the toleration of the suppression of democracy by the American sponsored dictatorship in Egypt, see,

Egypt Cracks Down on Brotherhood,” Corruption Update 27, 5th article down.

2007, Redrawing the Map,” Corruption Update 27, 6th article on page.

This article describes Mubarak's suppression of democracy through Constitutional amendments.

Corruption Update 30, 7th article on page, “Egypt detains Brotherhood backers

Corruption Updates 31, 10th article on page, “Pakistan US DICTATORSHIPS CONTINUES TO FUEL “TERRORISM”

Corruption Updates 32, 1st article on page, “RICE THANKS EGYPTIAN DICTATOR FOR REGIONAL SUPPORT

Corruption Update 40, 6 th article on page, "Before the vote" (MUBARAK ABOUT TO IMPOSE BUSH RULES ON EGYPT The Constitutional changes Mubarak is about to impose on Egypt are the same powers Bush has claimed here)


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8) THE ARTICLE SAYS: LATimes, 10-11-06

Ethics Panel Urged to Wait on Public Campaign Funding

By Jeffrey L. Rabin, Times Staff Writer
October 11, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-finance11oct11,1,6904429.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

Campaign reform advocates who pushed for full public financing of Los Angeles election campaigns reversed course Tuesday and urged the city Ethics Commission not to rush a proposal to the ballot next spring.”
A year ago, a majority of Ethics Commission members went on record in favor of full public financing to curb special-interest influence at City Hall.”

“Even with full public financing, commissioners were told that unions, businesses and individuals could still spend unlimited amounts on independent campaigns for or against candidates.”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

FATAL FLAWS IN PUBLIC FINANCING DERAIL LA PLAN

HALFWAY MEASURES AT REFORM PROVING FATALLY FLAWED

The answer is simple: no contributions, except from voters. Unions, and corporations, can speak freely, try to persuade the voters. Come, participate, talk, and expand the discussion and participation. But if they try to buy our politicians, they must be put under the control of the prison guards union.

Also See:

Corruption Updates 8, 4th article on page, NYC FINDS “CLEAN CAMPAIGNS” NOT ENOUGH TO STEM TIDE OF SPECIAL INTEREST CORRUPTION”

Corruption Updates 10, Skelton does not like corruption, but prefers it to reform.”

Corruption Updates 12, 6th article on page, “PROP 89: A BRIEF ANALYSIS: Is “good” relative? It is, in 89's case”

Corruption Updates 18, 8th article on page, 10-11-06: “FATAL FLAWS IN PUBLIC FINANCING DERAIL LA PLAN HALFWAY MEASURES AT REFORM PROVING FATALLY FLAWED”

Corruption Updates 20 , 2nd article on the page, "Ethics panel refines election reform measure"

Corruption Updates 22, 11th article on page, 11-13-06, “THE CYNICS SOLUTION: ANOTHER QUITTER ADVISES GIVING UP IN THE FACE OF OBIVIOUS CORRUPTION. SKELTON IS HONEST,CLEAR, AND WEAK”

Read more articles on Public Financing


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9) THE ARTICLE SAYS: The Bee, 10-10-06

Developers part of record cash flow in Elk Grove campaigns

By Loretta Kalb - Bee Staff Writer

Published 6:46 am PDT Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B2

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/36481.html

The posts pay only $600 a month, but the money raised to win them is huge.

Seven candidates seeking two Elk Grove City Council seats on the November ballot have cumulatively raised more than $500,000 in the first nine months of this year, new campaign filings show. That's more than the record $327,000 raised in 10 months by 14 candidates in the last Elk Grove election.”

Where is all this money coming from? The huge stakes for developers play a part.”

Development interests have put most of their money behind the challengers. Soares' challenger, Patrick Hume, has received more than $35,000; Briggs' challenger, Gary Davis, received more than $40,000.”

Briggs complained at a recent Sacramento League of Women Voters candidates' forum that much of Davis' money comes from outside Elk Grove.”

Labor unions also have contributed to the large war chests”

The city has spawned multiple activist groups.”

"We need to give a message to the City Council," college English instructor John Hess said last October at a town hall meeting over a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter.”

"If they don't listen to us instead of developers, we will remember that at the next election."”

THE COMMITTEE SAYS:

DEVOLOPERS BRIBE/BUY THEIR WAY TO POWER IN ELK GROVE

DEMOCRACY ABUSED IN PURSUIT OF IRRESPONSIBLE PROFITS

Elk Grove is yet another example of big money trying to buy local politicians to advance their profits at the expense of the local voters and community. Town after town in California has been hijacked by developers, and the character of their town transformed by corrupt development policies. And the big bills for social services, schools, roads, and the enduring costs of over development are left to the town, long after the special interest is gone.

All special interests must be removed from direct, financial participation in our elections. Their input is vital, but it is not a democracy when they can purchase politicians and policy. When politicians and policy are for sale, the voters receive the worst of both.

How Did it Turn Out?

Corruption Updates 22, 2nd article on page,Builder funds grow in Elk Grove race”

GO TO:

Previous Corruption Updates: Page 17

Next Corruption Updates: Page 19

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CORRUPTION UPDATES
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Corruption Database
ARCHIVE I
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ARCHIVE 9
ALL ARCHIVES

WHO WE ARE

CONTACT US

 
 
ARCHIVE I:
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ARCHIVE II:
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ARCHIVE III:
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ARCHIVE IV:
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ARCHIVE V:
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ARCHIVE VI:
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ARCHIVE VII:

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ARCHIVE 8
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