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CORRUPTION UPDATES 20 OCTOBER 25th to the 29th, 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 UPDATES 20
Previous Corruption Updates: Page 19
Next Corruption Updates: Page 21
1) THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE SFChron, 10-25-06
Pelosi is dealing dollars to win -- for the House, the party, herself
Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/25/MNGKKLVHCG1.DTL
“(10-25) 04:00 PDT Washington -- Even more than fighting a contest of ideas with Republicans, Rep. Nancy Pelosi is waging a multimillion-dollar fundraising battle intended to produce a Democratic House majority in the Nov. 7 midterm elections.”
“As the minority leader, Pelosi is the chief fundraiser for the party's national campaign effort, a job that has taken on increased importance in a year when the cost of races in all 435 House districts already has exceeded $700 million. “
“Anthony Corrado, a campaign finance expert at Colby College in Maine...(said,)..."Democrats have been very successful this cycle,'...an assertion borne out by figures filed with the Federal Election Commission.”
“Through September, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had raised $86.2 million for this election cycle, compared with $123.9 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOP's House campaign arm. “
“In all, Pelosi has so far raised $1.5 million for her own campaign and $592,000 for her leadership PAC.
Those figures don't account for the millions she has helped generate for the party by headlining fundraisers, making direct requests of donors and other activities, her staff said. “
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
PELOSI FUNRAISING FRENZY ASSURES SPECIAL INTEREST DOMINATION OF GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT OF WHICH SIDE WINS IN NOV
SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES PURCHASE INSURANCE FROM DEMS IN CASE OF NOV WIN
This excellent article provides a perspective on the internal funding dynamic of the Democratic Congressional Leadership. The amounts, the pattern of distribution, and many of the recipients of this river of political money is described. But not the sources of these massive donations.
This is the only omission in this otherwise fine article, The most important unstated fact in this article is that the leaders of both parties combine and coordinate VAST sums of special interest wealth to attain victory and maintain leadership.
The sources of these contributors are not defined, nor are the expectations of political payback and influence the contributors hope to receive for their “contributions.”
The fact of the matter is that both parties are collecting vast sums of special interest money. Both parties use it to advance and control candidates. Both parties are enslaved by their special interest sponsors, and will sacrifice the welfare of our democracy, and our country, to get and keep illegitimate political power.
The voters of both parties get the privilege of selecting their representatives from among a pool of candidates funded and made possible by the sponsorship of the special interests. The special interest funded party bosses are going to support candidates who will serve the special interests, rather than the local voters.
This article demonstrates yet another way that special interests funding has hijacked our democracy, taking away the voters right to select their own candidates, and influence their representatives.
So, don't expect the democrats to end the political corruption they depend upon for their, and the Republicans, existence.
Special Interests Bribes, Big Money, Dominate our “democracy:”
Corruption Updates 3, “Media Reports: Both Parties Corrupt”
Corruption Updates 5, 1st article on page, “Corruption fails as Campaign issue...”
Corruption Updates 14, 10th article down on page. “Murtha trades his vote, and ethics, for pork”
Pelosi does earmarks well and often, LA Times, 11-13-06, “Speaker-to-be is no stranger to earmarking,” (abstract at LA Times archive, #52 under Richard Simon search)
Corruption Updates 19, 1st article on page, “TOP RECIPEINTS OF LOBBYISTS BRIBES ARE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES”
Corruption Updates 19, 3rd article on page, “PARTIES AND THEIR BRIBERS WORK TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE RESTRICTION”
Corruption Updates 19, 9th article on page, “BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION ENGULFING JUDICIAL ELECTIONS: INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY A JOKE”
Corruption Updates 20, 1st article on page, 10-25-06, “PELOSI FUNRAISING FRENZY ASSURES SPECIAL INTEREST DOMINATION OF GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT OF WHICH SIDE WINS IN NOV”
Corruption Updates 20, 6th article on page, 10-27-06, “DEMS RECEIVE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES ANTICIPATING VICTORY IN NOV VOTERS ASSURED ONLY CHANGE AFTER NOVEMBER WILL BE WHICH PARTY GETS 60% OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES, AND WHICH PARTY GETS 40% OF THE BRIBES”
Corruption Updates 21, 2nd article on page, 10-30-06: “SHADOW PARTIES (527S) INFUSE MILLIONS IN BRIBE MONEY INTO ELECTION SPECIAL INTERESTS SKIRT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS TO MAINTAIN THEIR ILLIGIMATE AUTHORITY THROUGH POLITICAL BRIBERY”
Corruption Updates 21, 8fh article on page, 11-1-06: “DEMS BIG CHANCE TO REAP THE REWARDS OF CORRUPTION POLITICAL VICTORY OPENS DOORS OF LOBBYING FIRMS TO DEMO INSIDERS: IT'S THE DEMS TURN TO ROB THE PUBLIC BLIND, AND BETRAY OUR DEMOCRACY”
Corruption Updates 22, 6th article on page, “MONEY WINS IN ALMOST EVERY POLITICAL RACE”
Corruption Updates 24, 6th article on page, 12-4-06, “POLITICIANS WHO BRIBE POLITICIANS ARE LEADERS UNCONTESTED CANDIDATES REDISTRIBUTE BRIBE MONEY TO BUY PLUM COMMITTEES AND CHAIRMANSHIPS”
Corruption Updates 26, 1st article on page, 12-8-06, “LOBBYISTS SEE NO CHANGE UNDER DEMS CORRUPTION PRESENTED AS FORCE OF NATURE, DEM CORRUPTION NATURAL”
Corruption Updates 27, 2nd article on page, “DEM LEADERS TO REFORM CONGRESS?”
Corruption Updates 28, 1st article on page, 1-2-07: “LOBBYISTS HIRING-BRIBING DEMS SHIFTING FUNDS AND PERSONELL TO DEMS ASSURES NO REAL CHANGES
Corruption Updates 28, 4th article on page, “Bush and Dems Fight Over Earmarks” (Dems Try to Pass Fake Earmark Reform)
Corruption Updates 30, 2nd article on page, “Democrats set back on earmarks” (Reid Stalls Fake Earmark Reform after it Unexpectedly GAINS TEETH)
Corruption Updates 33, 4th article on page, “Lobbyists find new Congress is open for business”
Killing Americans with Political Bribery:
Corruption Updates 10, 5th article on page, “DO BRIBED POLITICIANS PROVIDE SAFE REGULATION OF PIPELINES, OR ANYTHING ELSE?” AP IN BEE.
Corruption Updates 16, 4th article on the page, "EPA STANDARDS WILL KILL YOU: SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBERY BRINGS AMERICA DEATH"
Corruption Updates 21, 9th article on page, “White House under Investigation for Censoring Science”
Corruption Updates 24, 4th article on page, “ BIG OIL OWNS INTERIOR DEPARTMENT”
Corruption Updates 24, 5th article on page, NYTIMES, 12-3-06, “LOBBYING BY TRUCKING INDUSTRY BRINGS DEATH TO NATION'S HIGHWAYS INSURANCE AND SAFETY LOBBIES HAVE INSUFFICIENT BRIBE MONEY TO STOP TRUCKING LOBBY FROM GUTTING SAFETY RULES”
Corruption Updates 25, 5th article on page, AP, 12-6-06, “BATTERY LOBBY BRIBES ENDANGER HEALTH BUSH REPAYS BRIBES WITH OUR HEALTH AND WELFARE BY ATTEMPTING TO KILL LEAD STANDARDS”
Corruption Updates 25, 6th article, AP, 12-6-06, “FARM LOBBY BRIBES ENDANGER HEALTH GRASSLEY (R-IOWA) REPAYS BRIBES BY KILLING EPA REGULATION OF FARMS
Corruption Updates 32, 2nd article on the page, "BUSH TRIES TO KILL CHEMICAL RULES, SCIENCE, AND INTEGRITY IN ONE FELL SWOOP: INTEGERTY FALLS, RULES AND SCIENCE DAMAGED, BUT STILL STANDING
How lobbying buys lawmakers and law:
Corruption Updates 1, 2nd to last article on the page, “Big Oil Owns our Politicians”
Corruption Updates 2, 6th article down, “Contribute to Win, Big Contribs try to Trump State Safety Laws”
See, “Contribute to Win, Big Contribs donate when legislation pending,” Corruption Updates 2, 6th article down.
Corruption Updates 3, 2nd article on page, “Big Business Spends Lawmakers into Compliance”
Corruption Updates 4, 1st article on page, “Checks in, Laws Out, It's that Simple”
SEE: Corruption Update #21, 5th article: “Some legislative candidates run with big money but no opposition” This article highlights the redistribution of funds between Dem candidates, and how this predicts power within the party.
Search the Corruption Database under
Big Money Politics
Democrats
2)THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LATimes on 10-25-06:
Ethics panel refines election reform measure
“Ethics commissioners say public financing of campaigns should not come from raising taxes.”
By Jeffrey L. Rabin,
Times Staff Writer
October 25, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-finance25oct25,1,1329278.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
“The Los Angeles
City Ethics Commission, refining a plan for full public financing of
election campaigns, tentatively agreed Tuesday that the money should
come primarily from the city's general fund rather than by raising
taxes.”
“But the panel delayed a decision until
Nov. 14 on whether to send a public financing plan to the City
Council for consideration.”
“If the commission
acts on that date, the council would have only one day to direct the
city attorney to draft a public financing measure for the March
ballot.”
“The program, which could cost up to
$17.1 million a year under one scenario, would have to be approved
by a majority of city voters if the general fund was tapped to pay
for campaigns. If a special tax was used, approval of two-thirds of
the voters would be needed, a threshold that commission officials
and advocates consider all but impossible to achieve.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
HALF-ASSED PUBLIC FINANCING MEASURE FAILS TO GIVE LA POLITICS CREDIBILITY
How bad is political corruption? It's so bad that the LA political mafia sees reform as a path to maintain their credibility.
When the political mafias begin to consider reform, it shows they are aware that a large cross-section of our citizens are fed up with their corruption.
The Committee predicts that the special interests will try to limit public funding of candidates to those candidates who reliable represent the special interests. This explains the addition of very high contributions required to qualify for public funding. Their goal will be to create public financing laws that would favor big money candidates over popular candidates.
Watch out, or public financing will be gutted, and only be effective at taming public discontent with corruption, while preserving the enslavement of our politicians by outside special interest money.
The only way to make our democracy work is to revert to democracy itself. Public funding is insufficient for this task. Public funding only addresses the symptoms, the secondary effects, of the political corruption and bribery that's captured our democracy. We must end the candidates dependence on special interests money by prohibiting non-voter contributions. We must end the dominance of the candidates by corrupt parties by limiting the party support of candidates to 30% of the total contributions collected from their constituents.
It is time for Americans to live up to the democratic principals our country was founded upon. It is time to end the auction of our political rights to the highest bidder. The forces of wealth and power which have stolen our democracy, damaged our county, and have made the word democracy a synonym for oppression and injustice around the world.
Democracy will only exist, and deliver wise policy when the special interests are ejected from directly participating in our elections.
The parties, politicians, and special interests have monopolized our elections for far too long, and are incapable of reforming the corruptions they rely on for their positions and power.
The only way reform will happen is through the initiative process.
Join us to save our democracy.
For more articles on Public Financing, 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”
Corruption
Updates 47, Loosen
strings on campaign cash, some urge
Search the Corruption Database under
Reform
Fake Reform
3)THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LATimes, 10-25-06:
Judge throws out Fla. exit poll limit
By CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated 8:05 am PDT Wednesday, October 25, 2006
http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/v-print/story/3402225p-12503922c.html
By CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press Writer
Published
5:59 am PDT Wednesday, October 25, 2006
“MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a Florida law that prohibits exit polling within 100 feet of a voting place, finding there was no evidence that such surveys were disruptive or threatened access to voting.”
“U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck said the law was unconstitutional and ordered state officials not to enforce it in the Nov. 7 election. He left intact the 100-foot limit for other activities such as distributing campaign material or peddling.”
“The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by The Associated Press and five television networks that want to conduct exit polls at about 40 Florida precincts next month.”
“The 2005 law, the judge concluded, violates the First Amendment's free speech and freedom of the press protections because it "impermissibly proscribes constitutionally protected exit polling." The judge also said the law was too broad.”
“ "The state has an interest in protecting the orderly administration of elections and the election process, in increasing voter participation, and in providing easy access to the polls," Huck wrote. The law "does not properly address those concerns, however." “
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
FLORDIA BAN ON EXIT POLLS KILLED
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURES ATTEMPT TO COVER ELECTION FRAUD BY EXCLUDING EXIT POLLING FALLS BEFORE AN HONEST FEDERAL JUDGE
“Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...”
(U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1.)
This article seems to describe a victory for the free press. But upon closer examination, this is a hollow victory. The article fails to mention that we have not had a free press in the United States for a very long time. Since the early 1980's large corporations have consolidated ownership of all types of news outlets into an aggregated national corporate media. This corporate media controls ownership of television, newspaper, cable, Internet, radio, and feature films across local, regional, and the national markets.
This web of media ownership acts like a filter on minds of the American people by framing issues, such as political corruption and political incompetence, as normal and acceptable behaviors.
Greed is Good is the central framing point of our free press. Subsequently, it is not surprising that the press fails to link the ensuing breakdowns in foreign and domestic policy with the systematic political corruption that produced the incompetent and corrupted leadership of our political parties.
Today, the remaining elements of a free press only operate on the small fringes of the public sphere not owned and dominated by the corporate media.
This judicial ruling preserves exit polling, but the polling results will continue to be interpreted by a corporate-captured media. And the corporate media will continue to use their substantial powers to neutralize the peoples' understanding of the corruption that has stolen their democracy. Exit polling will continue to be one of the tools the corporate media use to mis-frame and mis-lead, our voters.
The Corporate Media has a vested interest in framing the results of our corrupt elections as legitimate expressions of a free people. If press reporting ripped the lid off our corrupted polity, and led to the restoration of democracy, there's a good chance a democratic government would break the corporate monopoly of the press, and restore our free press.
The big corporate media monopoly would be a big time loser, both in terms of wealth and power. There is little chance the corporate media will honestly report on the corruptions it depends on for its very existence.
There is little chance we will get our free press back as long as the power of politician and party, and the corporate special interests, are mutually dependent on each other for their wealth, power, and positions.
Unless we restore the people of this country as the source of political power.
Also See:
Corruption Updates 14, 6th article on page, “AP, networks sue over Fla. exit poll law”
4) THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THESF Chron, 10-25-06:
National parties upping the ante as Pombo battles to keep seat
Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/25/MNGBOLVHGM1.DTL
“Republican Rep. Richard Pombo of Tracy, once expected to cruise to re-election after easily subduing a primary challenge, now finds his House seat threatened by the Democratic wave that seems to be building across the country.”
“Analysts say the contest for Pombo's district, which includes much of San Joaquin County and parts of three Bay Area counties, has tightened and national Democrats announced Tuesday that they have purchased television time for their first ads opposing the seven-term Republican lawmaker, who is chairman of the House Resources Committee.”
“"It's become clear that this race is close (and) that it's about more than just the district. It has become nationalized,'' said Robert Benedetti, a political science professor at University of the Pacific in Stockton.”
“One of the best indicators of that, he said, is the money pouring into the contest.”
“"There is clearly a wave building in favor of the Democrats, and if it continues over the next two weeks, Pombo could be swept up,'' predicted UCLA political scientist Barbara Sinclair, an expert on Congress.”
“Federal campaign records show that as of Sept. 30, Pombo had more than $1.1 million in cash on hand compared with McNerney's $323,798.”
“The records also show that overall, Pombo had raised $3.4 million and McNerney had raised $1.2 million. But the candidates have been collecting even more campaign cash in the past three weeks, including the estimated $400,000 Pombo raised at an event in Stockton headlined by President Bush.”
“More money is being spent in the form of independent expenditures by special interest groups and the political parties.”
“The National Republican Congressional Committee has injected nearly $600,000 on Pombo's behalf already. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee aired its first television ad Tuesday, and the party is expected to pay for additional mailings and TV commercials before the Nov. 7 election.”
“Environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, have spent nearly $1 million to unseat the incumbent, who from his powerful committee post has championed proposals to alter the Endangered Species Act, allow states to drill in offshore waters and increase logging on federal lands.”
“Abortion rights foes and the National Rifle Association have been spending money to help Pombo.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
POMBO-MCNERNY FIGHT BECOMES NATIONAL BATTLEGROUND OF SPECIAL INTERESTS
REPUBS AND DEMS VIE TO BUY ELECTION VICTORY
The Pombo-McNerny race is a textbook example of dysfunctional democracy. The special interests have divided themselves up into teams, and are having a knock-down, pull out all the stops, shoot-out in the Pombo-McNerty fight. We have the spectacle of national interest groups vieing with each other to buy the candidates, and victory in the election.
The free speech rights of these special interest groups must be respected. They must be allowed to advocate their ideas and positions. But their free speech rights must be stopped when they supplant the right of the voter to own their own representatives.
The direct funding of the candidates by these interests has assured that candidates cannot be trusted to make unbiased decision on legislation or policy if either is elected.
We could turn these types of races into textbook examples of a well functioning democracy by stopping all non-voter contributions to candidates and officeholders.
Let the special interests inform the public, let them advertise, discuss and argue, but do not let them internally interfere with the election or candidates.
The faith of the voters in their representatives, and the credibility of our democracy is at stake.
Also See:
Corruption Updates 22, 6th article on page, “MONEY WINS IN ALMOST EVERY POLITICAL RACE POLITICAL VICTORY GOES TO THE BIGGEST SPENDER. BIG SPENDERS CLEAN UP. DEMOCRACY A JOKE. BIG SURPRIZE”
Link to “Big Money Politics” list of articles
5)THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LA Times, 10-26-06:
Money floods race for controller
“Tribes and a software giant, Intuit, roil the placid campaign with $1-million donations to groups helping the GOP's Strickland.”
By Dan Morain, Times
Staff Writer
October 26, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-money26oct26,1,4914175.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
“SACRAMENTO —
Rich gambling interests and a Silicon Valley software giant are
using their wealth to transform an otherwise sleepy statewide
campaign into a major partisan battleground.”
“With
separate million-dollar infusions, a group of casino-owning Southern
California Indian tribes and the software company Intuit are
changing the complexion of the race for California state controller.
In the process, they are underscoring the power of the post, which
has vast sway over state tax policy.
Using separate campaign
accounts that are unfettered by contribution caps, the tribes and
Intuit have aligned themselves with Republican Tony Strickland, a
former assemblyman from Thousand Oaks who is running against
Democrat John Chiang, a lawyer and member of the State Board of
Equalization.”
“"One group in one day can
outspend what the candidates themselves have raised in an entire
campaign," Chiang campaign manger Parke Skelton said
Wednesday.”
“In recent days, Intuit has placed $1
million into a committee called the Alliance for California's
Tomorrow. That group has spent $66,000 on Strickland's behalf so
far.”
“Tribes, operating through a committee
called Team 2006, have spent $958,000 for Strickland, paying for
television ads touting the Republicans as fiscally responsible and
opposed to taxes.”
“The same tribes have spent
$122,000 boosting Strickland's wife, Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
(R-Thousand Oaks), although she is in a safe GOP district. Both
husband and wife have been reliable votes for tribal casino
interests.”
“By law, individual donors cannot
give more than $5,600 directly to statewide candidates such as
Strickland and Chiang. Indeed, two of the four tribes funding the
independent campaign for Strickland have given him a total of $7,600
this year. Intuit has given him $5,600.”
“The independent effort for Strickland is erasing a fund-raising advantage Chiang had built. Chiang has raised at least $1.8 million this year, compared with Strickland's $1.3 million.”
“Intuit has
inserted itself into the controller's campaign as part of its fight
to block the Franchise Tax Board from simplifying the state income
tax filing process. From his post on the Board of Equalization,
Chiang embraced "ReadyReturn," a program designed to
remove some of the agony of tax season by having the government
complete low-income Californians' tax returns.”
“The
program alarms Intuit. If it were to be fully implemented,
ReadyReturn could threaten sales of one of the company's most
successful software programs: TurboTax. Facing a fierce lobbying
effort by Intuit, the Legislature this year blocked the state from
spending money on ReadyReturn.
"They spent a fortune to kill
a pilot program California liked," said Stanford University law
professor Joe Bankman, who helped develop ReadyReturn. "Now
they are spending a fortune to make sure they get someone
sympathetic elected."”
“By siding with
Strickland and against Democrat Chiang, political experts believe,
the tribes are taking a backhanded swipe at Assembly Democrats. Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, negotiated compacts for major
expansions of the tribes' gambling operations. Assembly Democrats
blocked the deals in August; Chiang had no role in the action.”
"If
the intent is to send a message to me, it is a damned weird way of
doing it," Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles)
said Wednesday. "This is a political drive-by shooting. The guy
did nothing to hurt them."
INDIANS REVENGE ATTACK ON DEMS FOR KILLING SLOT SETTLEMENT
DEMS CRY WHEN THEY REAP WHAT THEY SEW: WHEN THEIR OWN BULLYING TATICS ARE TURNED AGAINST THEM
We would sure like to see elections decided on issues, rather than interests, and by the voters electing candidates based on their positions on issues, rather than electing the best funded candidate, as occurs now.
The “drive by shooting” of the Democratic candidate for controller is special interest revenge for the Democrats “drive by shooting” of the Indians' pet project.
Fabian is reaping what he sewed, while at the same time denying that he's a farmer of political bribes in the fields of special interest who happened to run his plow into a special interest land mine.
At the end of the last legislative session Fabian pushed through a cartful of crappy legislation specifically tailored for his special interest sponsors, and greedy politicians, while punishing the Governor and Indians by shooting down their deal.
The governor could not afford to get angry, but he could afford to get reelected, and he needed to get reelected more than he needed the Indians. The Indians understand Arnie's position, but The Indians do not share Arnie's political restrictions, and they are going to punish the democrats, Special Interest Style.
They, like the Dems and Repubs, are merely practicing the art of stealing an election by buying it.
According to Fabian's words and actions, the system is ok when it serves him, and bad when he loses. But from our perspective, hijacking elections is bad, no matter which side (the “good guys” or the “bad guys”) is running the scam. It's still a scam.
We are curious to see how many of our political “leaders” would be in office if they were dependent on their own voters, rather than the special interests, and their focused funds, to get elected.
If Fabian, and the rest of our special interest funded legislature, could get elected in free elections devoid of special interest bribery, they would have to get elected based on how they defined, refined, and confronted the issues we face, instead of hiding behind the shield of propaganda, marketing, and the redistribution of bribes their big buck sponsors finance.
Clean elections would give us a shot at getting legislators and legislation that would benefit the voters, and the general interests of this country, instead of paying off the special interests.
To reestablish democracy we must focus our energy on shifting the dependence of our politicians from wealthy and powerful interests to financial dependence on their own voters for their survival.
The likely outcome of this political contribution fiasco is that the Indians will give the Democrats a whole lot more money, and the Democrats will give the Indians a whole lot more slot machines They will deliver mafia kisses to each other, and both sides will be happy, ending this embarrassing public spectacle of political corruption in action.
Link to “Big Money Politics” list of articles
6) THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LA Times, 10-27-06:
Business groups woo Democrats
Campaign contributions rise for lawmakers who might hold leadership positions after Nov. 7.
By Richard Simon, Times
Staff Writer
October 27, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-money27oct27,1,2685950.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
"Some people have
discovered virtues in me that they had previously overlooked,"
Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who stands to become chairman of
the Financial Services Committee if Democrats control the House,
mused recently. "The prospect of the chairmanship seems to have
been a very good introduction."
“Frank was
referring to a surge in campaign contributions from pro-business
groups — groups whose members would have to deal with the
liberal Democrat instead of a probably-more-congenial Republican.
(Rep. Michael G. Oxley, the Ohio Republican who now heads the
committee, is retiring after this term.)”
“Issues
involving the financial services industry fall under the committee's
jurisdiction. And the New York Life Insurance Co.'s political action
committee has contributed $10,000 to Frank this election season, up
from $1,000 in the 2003-'04 cycle, according to PoliticalMoneyLine,
which tracks political donations. The National Assn. of Insurance
and Financial Advisors PAC contributed $10,000 to Frank this
election season, up from $3,000 in the last cycle.”
“Frank
is not alone. As prospects appear to grow that Republicans will lose
control of the House and perhaps even the Senate, business groups,
trade associations, and their lobbyists and political advisors have
developed a sudden enthusiasm for contributing to Democrats —
especially to those likely to be in the House leadership or to head
important committees if Republicans lose their majorities.”
“...as
storm clouds gathered over the GOP this election season, business
leaders, lobbyists and PACs quietly began to take out a form of
political insurance — contributing more to Democrats who, if
they become the majority party, will wield power over issues
affecting business' bottom line.”
“One lobbyist, who
spoke on condition that he not be named because of the sensitivity
of his relationship with the business groups he represented,
acknowledged that business groups were ramping up their political
donations to Democrats. "It's typical of the business
community," he said. "They panic."”
“Political
spending is projected to reach $2.6 billion in 2005-'06,
making this the most expensive congressional campaign in history,
according to the Center for Responsive Politics. PAC spending
is expected to exceed $1 billion for the first time,
"reflecting the ever-growing influence of business, labor and
ideological interests," the center's acting director, Sheila
Krumholz, said.
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), who
stands to chair the defense appropriations subcommittee in a
Democratic-controlled House, has raised more than $2.5 million
this year, including $179,400 from the defense industry —
more than in previous election cycles.”
“And
Rangel is poised to surpass the $879,554 he raised from PACs for the
last election cycle. If Democrats should take over one or both
chambers of Congress, Krumholz and other experts said, business
contributions are likely to increase even more.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
DEMS RECEIVE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES ANTICIPATING VICTORY IN NOV
VOTERS ASSURED ONLY CHANGE AFTER NOVEMBER WILL BE WHICH PARTY GETS 60% OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES, AND WHICH PARTY GETS 40% OF THE BRIBES
If the Democrats win, things will really change in Washington. This article reports on first changes that are already occurring, prior to the election, which is who gets the lion's share of the special interest bribery money. It's like a game of Blackjack where the dealer (The Dems, currently) is showing an Ace. Insurance Anyone?
The increasing chances of a Democratic Victory has prompted a significant shift in who is getting the money, and why they are getting it.
The Republicans receipt of payoff money for services rendered is changing into preemptive bribes to the Democrats for protection, for Insurance, in case they win. And the Democrats have taken the baited hook into their scornful mouths, laughing. And the voters are assured any claims of change will be fundamentally hollow.
The last laugh is on us, the honest voters of this country, who may vote for ideals and principals, who may vote for change, or persistence, but are really voting for which party gets the privileged to receive billions of special interest dollars, and the power to earn their bribes by casting our democracy aside, and selling the voters down the river.
This will go on, until we, as American Citizens and Voters, want democracy more than political victory, more than wealth and power.
Until them, our democracy will be damned.
Corruption Updates 19, 1st article on page, “TOP RECIPEINTS OF LOBBYISTS BRIBES ARE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES”
Corruption Updates 19, 3rd article on page, “PARTIES AND THEIR BRIBERS WORK TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE RESTRICTION”
Corruption Updates 20, 1st article on page, 10-25-06, “PELOSI FUNRAISING FRENZY ASSURES SPECIAL INTEREST DOMINATION OF GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT OF WHICH SIDE WINS IN NOV”
Corruption Updates 20, 6th article on page, 10-27-06, “DEMS RECEIVE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES ANTICIPATING VICTORY IN NOV VOTERS ASSURED ONLY CHANGE AFTER NOVEMBER WILL BE WHICH PARTY GETS 60% OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST BRIBES, AND WHICH PARTY GETS 40% OF THE BRIBES”
Corruption Updates 21, 2nd article on page, 10-30-06: “SHADOW PARTIES (527S) INFUSE MILLIONS IN BRIBE MONEY INTO ELECTION SPECIAL INTERESTS SKIRT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS TO MAINTAIN THEIR ILLIGIMATE AUTHORITY THROUGH POLITICAL BRIBERY”
Link to “Big Money Politics” list of articles
7)THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LA Times, 10-27-06:
11 in
O.C. charged with voter registration fraud
“Dozens of people who thought they were signing up to be Democrats ended up Republican. Those accused in the case are low-level, per-signature workers.”
By Christian Berthelsen
and Christine Hanley, Times Staff Writers
October 27, 2006
“The Orange County
district attorney's office has charged 11 people with fraudulent
voter registration stemming from a Republican registration drive
this year that resulted in dozens of Democrats unwittingly being
signed up as Republicans.”
“Those charged had
been paid as much as $10 for each voter they registered as part of a
Republican Party effort to recruit more voters in central Orange
County. The area includes the district represented by Democratic
Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a regular target of Republicans, and a
competitive state Senate race.”
“The cases were
filed Tuesday, and three defendants were arrested Wednesday and
Thursday. They are in custody and are scheduled to be arraigned
today and Monday. The district attorney's office refused to release
any information about them, including details usually available,
such as the names and charges.”
“The prosecution
highlights problems that can occur with signature-gathering and
voter registration campaigns in which the workers are paid by the
signature. Campaign watchdogs have derisively called it a "bounty
hunter" system that creates incentives for often transient,
low-paid workers to pad their results to make more money.”
“The charges come as the party finds itself reeling
from a letter linked to GOP congressional candidate Tan Nguyen that
was sent to Latino voters this month in what has been described as
an effort to keep them from the polls in next month's election.
Nguyen is running against Sanchez.”
“In both
cases, Republican officials have quickly distanced themselves from
the actions.”
“The voter registration charges
cover at least 37 instances in which Democratic and Green Party
voters and even one noncitizen were registered as Republicans. Each
defendant was charged with felony counts of fraudulent completion of
registration affidavits. The defendants are all low-level workers
who circulated registration cards.”
“No charges
have been filed against the companies or executives whom the
Republican Party hired to conduct the registration drive, or party
officials.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
OC REPUBS CANNOT STOP EMBARASSING THEMSELVES
OC REPUBS SHOOT THEMSEVES IN FOOT-YET AGAIN- IN REGISTRATION FRAUD SCANDAL. (THEY REGISTERED AN ILLEGAL AS A REPUBLICAN!)
When politicians are for sale, everything is for sale. This trickles down to, and emanates from, the very foundation of our political structure: a dishonest citizenry who no longer value our democracy over their own profit.
Honest registration, honest elections, and honest politicians can only grow from an honest, democratic, citizenry. If an honest citizenry exists, it has no forum of expression, nor political power, in today's political environment.
In our system, front line voter registration fraud costs $10 a vote, and bribing the candidates costs tens of thousands.
It's clear that the authority and powers of our government and political class have no Constitutional legitimacy. Their legitimacy with the people depends on corruption and at best, deceit, not on on our democratic principals. And, for good or bad, what we are is what we will get. Voter registration fraud and election fraud are only the inevitable superficial manifestations, not the sources, of our deeper dishonesty.
The first fraud, the source of our political dysfunction, cannot be blamed on the politicians, for they exist at our pleasure. They are merely the cyphers, the trash, who find wing on the currents of our corruption.
It's time to clip their wings.
For a closer look at the Quagmire of Corruption in OC, See:
See, “GOP in OC Sells endorsements,” Corruption Updates 8, 3rd article on page.
See, “Pay to Play in OC Denied...” Corruption Updates 11, 1st article on page.
See “Pay to Play in OC: Fundraiser Canceled...,” Corruption Updates 11, 4th article on page.
See, “OC Repubs Cannot Stop Embarrassing themselves,” Corruption Updates 20, 7th article on page.
See “OC DA, Sheriff, and Jaramillo intertwined in corruption and court,” Corruption Updates 23, 5th article on page.
8)THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LA Times, 10-29-06:
Lockyer not tough enough for some
“Critics say the attorney general, now running for treasurer, has failed to diligently prosecute corrupt officials. He defends his record.”
By Paul Pringle, Times
Staff Writer
October 29, 2006
“Energy companies,
loggers and automakers have felt the wrath of California Atty. Gen.
Bill Lockyer. So have sexual predators and civil rights
violators.”
“But fellow politicians suspected of
corruption? Not so much.
During his nearly eight years as the
state's top law enforcement authority, Lockyer has prosecuted just a
handful of elected officials on corruption charges, the most
prominent being a San Bernardino County supervisor.”
“In
cases involving higher-profile officeholders, Lockyer either
referred the investigations to another agency or declined to file
charges.”
“Watchdog groups
and others say the half-dozen prosecutions brought by Lockyer
reflect a protect-your-own culture among politicians that also
marked the performance of his predecessors.
"We were high
on Lockyer, and we were very disappointed because we thought he
should diverge from this pattern," said Jamie Court, president
of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer
Rights, which promotes corporate and political reform.”
“...a former deputy attorney general, William Prahl, who
retired during Lockyer's first term, called the office's efforts on
corruption cases a "joke."”
“"The
tiger doesn't have any teeth," said Prahl, who spent 29 years
in the office.”
“Court's organization and
California Common Cause were disappointed that Lockyer did not file
criminal charges against former Insurance Commissioner Chuck
Quackenbush and former California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley,
both of whom resigned amid allegations that they had diverted tax
money to political purposes and otherwise abused their offices.
Quackenbush and Shelley said they did nothing illegal.”
“Court
was skeptical. "The standard for criminal prosecution is really
high in Lockyer's office, higher than it is under the law," he
said.”
“Common Cause policy advocate Ned Wigglesworth said the attorney general's statements that corruption investigations turned up insufficient evidence can sound like a "convenient out," especially because the office does not disclose the findings in detail.
Ann Crigler, chairwoman
of USC's Political Science Department, agreed. She said elected
prosecutors find it easier to avoid corruption cases in favor of
crime-fighting initiatives with no risk of political
blow-back.”
“"It's more about their
future ambitions and how they need to seek party support,"
Crigler said. "There are plenty of other universally
agreed-upon cases that will give you a high profile and be less
controversial."”
“Lockyer said he
had done a good job in Orange County and termed "silly"
the notion that politicians shield each other from prosecutions.
"I
rely on the recommendations of the professional staff," he
added. "There has not been a single instance when I stopped an
investigation or stopped a prosecution they were
recommending."”
“Lockyer said he did not
believe the attorney general's office should significantly expand
its role in local corruption cases.
"I don't think there is
any great benefit in having a larger state police force," he
said.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
LOCKYER PERFECT POLITICAL ATTORNEY GENERAL
NO POLITICIANS HAD TO WORRY ABOUT CORRUPTION PROSECUTIONS DURING HIS REIGN
The web of political corruption that ensnares our government has many powerful interconnections. One of the most important strands of corruption is “party support.”
Party Support is a web of corruption unto itself. Campaign finance limits, the restraint of special interest bribery, has forced the parties to innovation. Powerful politicians “distribute” portions of their bribes to less powerful colleagues, who then become supporters of their faction, which will repay the “contributor,” and the political party with loyalty to corruption, rather than the voters.
State and County party organizations fill the same role as the powerful politician. They have become indirect transfer points for bribes from special interests to the candidates, if you play ball.
And in the case of Lockyer, he has calculated that dishonesty, shielding his party and the corrupt process itself, offers better political rewards than doing his job, which would piss-off the party and its big players.
And end his political career.
9)THE ARTICLE ABSTRACTED BELOW WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LA Times, 10-29-06:
GOP at a loss? Karl Rove has an 11th-hour plan to win
“He taps government resources to boost candidates in need.”
By Tom Hamburger and
Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writers
October 29, 2006
“During a whirlwind
five-hour trip to bolster an endangered GOP congressman's reelection
prospects, White House political guru Karl Rove last week delivered
a fiery speech to 500 party activists, then shook every available
hand and posed for snapshots like a rock star. He toured suburbs
recently trashed by a snowstorm. He also found time to huddle with
local strategists.”
“But the most significant
element of Rove's effort to help four-term Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds
keep his job may have occurred behind closed doors, when the White
House strategist met with a federal disaster relief official
contemplating how to respond to the storm. Four days later, Reynolds
announced that President Bush would authorize millions of dollars in
federal disaster aid for the area.”
“...Interior
Department employees describe regular visits from Rove's staff
during Bush's first term. On one occasion, Rove visited a retreat
for the 50 top Interior Department managers. The lights dimmed in an
agency conference room as Rove went through a PowerPoint
presentation showing battleground races in the 2002 midterm
election, and occasionally made oblique but clearly understood
references to Interior Department decisions that could affect these
races.”
“ By stopping short of explicitly calling on the Interior
Department officials to take action, Rove stayed within the rules
against exerting improper political influence. “
“This
year, Rove's deputy, Sara Taylor, has delivered similar
presentations to nearly every Cabinet agency — providing
managers with a look at polls showing presidential approval ratings
and the latest data on House and Senate races.”
“In
addition to Taylor's visits to Cabinet agencies, Mary Matalin, the
Republican consultant and former advisor to Vice President Dick
Cheney, spoke to agencies this fall describing the stakes in
November.”
“"These visits are a reminder of
what's important," said one agency manager who attended one of
the sessions. "They didn't need to say anything explicitly. We
already knew what to do." The official insisted on anonymity
because he was not authorized to speak about the sessions.”
“Rove
and his staff maintain regular contact with corporate executives,
business lobbyists and the leaders of business trade associations.
On Wednesday, Rove had many of them on a telephone conference call
with anti-tax activists, talking up the cause. “
“ "Karl talked about why it's important to keep
going with a Republican Congress — to end the 'death tax' and
make the tax cuts permanent," said Grover Norquist, head of
Americans for Tax Reform, who was on the call. “
“Norquist,
who has been on other conference calls as well, said Rove hammered
on such campaign themes and then reeled off information — such
as volunteer numbers and polls — that supported the case for
GOP optimism.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
ROVE USING PATRONAGE AND PAYOFF PROMISES TO MOTIVATE SUPPORTERS
DEMS AND REPUBS SHARE THE PROSTITUTE'S ART OF SELLING THEMSELVES TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER
This article describes how our contemporary political practices, shared by both parties, has twisted our democracy into a muddled, sick mixture of the best and worse sides of the American character.
The best side of our
character is expressed through how we empower our government, with
our wealth, to mitigate the disasters that occasionally befall
regions of our country. The worse side is when corruption and
incompetence affect the distribution of these funds for Parisian
gain.
The best side of our character is demonstrated by our division between career employees and political appointments within the Executive Branch of our government. The worse side is revealed when the agenda of the political appointments is to cull out the career employees of those who do not serve the self interest, and self perpetuation of their faction over the best interests of the nation.
The best side of our character is expressed by how we protect our right of free association and free speech. The worse side is when free speech and association are used as cover to focus funds to bribe politicians.
The best elements of our political character, and our nation's character, offer freedom for easy abuse. Restoring the power of the best side of our character demands that we make the reforms that are necessary to remove the direct link between the corrupting influence of wealth and power, and our parties, elections, and political representatives.
The level of political corruption we are experiencing is not just isolated incidents of political corruption. This level of political corruption indicates that the corruption is systematic. This level of corruption demonstrates that we need more than just a change of party. We need to fundamentally reform our democratic practices.
This administration has revealed the dangers of electing representatives based on their skills of political prostitution. Our present dilemmas demand that we change the whole system of political bribery that both parties, and every candidate and officeholder participate in.
For More on Rove's Machinations, See:
Corruption Updates 1, 5th article on page, “Abramoff-Dolittle: A love story”
Corruption Updates 11, 5th article on page, “Norquest and Reed,...Thieves...Consulting at White House While...Working for Abramoff”
Corruption Updates 13, 2nd article on page, 9-29-06, “ABRAMOFF, DELAY, ROVE, WHITE HOUSE, & ECT SCANDAL PROVES DEMOCRATIC REFORM REQUIRED. NOW.”
Corruption Updates 13, 8 th article on page, "American Political Leaders Devoid of Democratic Principal" (Rove-Abramoff connection)
Corruption Updates 17, 10th article on page, “Abramofff-Rove Link Quits White House”
Corruption Updates 20 , 9th article on the page, "Rove using Interior for Political Purposes"
Corruption Updates 34, 12th article on page, "ROVE TRAITOR TO AMERICA:ROVE SNITCHED OFF SECRET AGENT FOR POLITICAL GAIN" (Plame Scandal)
Corruption Updates 39, 3rd article on the page, "Rove's Role in Firings is the Focus" (US Attorney Scandal)
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