Comments on: By the Numbers: Lobbying in America http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:22:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mark http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-426965 Mark Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:44:58 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-426965 In our country's first hundred years, politicians who took corporate money were put in prison and the company was dissolved. We need nothing short of an ammendment to the Constitution forever making that a law, for all local, state and federal electees. The Bible is great. Capitalism is great. The American government is great. These three things can only remain great when there is a clear seperation of all three. In our country’s first hundred years, politicians who took corporate money were put in prison and the company was dissolved. We need nothing short of an ammendment to the Constitution forever making that a law, for all local, state and federal electees. The Bible is great. Capitalism is great. The American government is great. These three things can only remain great when there is a clear seperation of all three.

]]> By: Jimbo http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-408878 Jimbo Wed, 18 Jan 2006 17:45:19 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-408878 Does anyone know of a site that shows how much lobby money each member of congress gets, and from whom? Does anyone know of a site that shows how much lobby money each member of congress gets, and from whom?

]]> By: sissy http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-400919 sissy Sun, 15 Jan 2006 20:28:32 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-400919 <strong>there are hundreds of pro-israeli lobbiests in wash dc. there is not one congress person that tells those lobbiests NO TO THE DEMANDS OF ISRAEL. GO TO THE AIPAC WEB SITE AND THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. WE ARE BEING GOVERNED BY THE ISRAELI KNESSET</strong> there are hundreds of pro-israeli lobbiests in wash dc. there is not one congress person that tells those lobbiests NO TO THE DEMANDS OF ISRAEL. GO TO THE AIPAC WEB SITE AND THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. WE ARE BEING GOVERNED BY THE ISRAELI KNESSET

]]> By: doubtom http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-390387 doubtom Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:47:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-390387 -- the law prevents people from getting near voting areas to influence the vote and the same law should apply to lobbyists who are influencing the way our politicians vote. MONEY IS NOT FREE SPEECH, regardless of the what some courts may declare and CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE either~ It's way past time that we take our country back! – the law prevents people from getting near voting areas to influence the vote and the same law should apply to lobbyists who are influencing the way our politicians vote.

MONEY IS NOT FREE SPEECH, regardless of the what some courts may declare and CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE either~

It’s way past time that we take our country back!

]]> By: Open Your Eyes and Ears http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-390382 Open Your Eyes and Ears Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:43:53 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-390382 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121301582.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121301582.html

]]> By: Open Your Eyes and Ears http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-390379 Open Your Eyes and Ears Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:42:24 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-390379 #35 & #38, Democrat Soldier, That's a good name for you. You follow orders, instead of thinking on your own. Do a Google search, it's not hard to find all of the politicians on both sides of the aisle tripping over themselves trying to give the Abramoff money back. That link to the opensecrets.org was nice, but it was only for Abramoff's personal donations, which isn't how lobbyists work. You need to look for all of the donations from their clients and PAC's. Here's a Wash Post article from December. <blockquote>The senior Democrat on the Senate committee investigating former lobbyist Jack Abramoff announced this week that he will return $67,000 in donations from Indian tribes represented by the indicted Republican.</blockquote> <blockquote>Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (N.D.), vice chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, said he has never met Abramoff, nor did he advocate any program backed by Abramoff's tribal clients that he would not have otherwise embraced. But his move, reported yesterday in the Forum of Fargo, N.D., illustrates how broadly the political stain of Abramoff's money is spreading on Capitol Hill.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121301582.html" rel="nofollow"></a> #35 & #38,
Democrat Soldier,
That’s a good name for you. You follow orders, instead of thinking on your own.
Do a Google search, it’s not hard to find all of the politicians on both sides of the aisle tripping over themselves trying to give the Abramoff money back.

That link to the opensecrets.org was nice, but it was only for Abramoff’s personal donations, which isn’t how lobbyists work. You need to look for all of the donations from their clients and PAC’s.

Here’s a Wash Post article from December.

The senior Democrat on the Senate committee investigating former lobbyist Jack Abramoff announced this week that he will return $67,000 in donations from Indian tribes represented by the indicted Republican.

Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (N.D.), vice chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, said he has never met Abramoff, nor did he advocate any program backed by Abramoff’s tribal clients that he would not have otherwise embraced. But his move, reported yesterday in the Forum of Fargo, N.D., illustrates how broadly the political stain of Abramoff’s money is spreading on Capitol Hill.

]]> By: doubtom http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-390373 doubtom Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:40:51 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-390373 Lobbying should be outlawed. Lobbyists are the perfect example of some people being more "equal" than others. It is blatantly unfair that people with money should get better access to government than regular citizens. Lobbying should be outlawed. Lobbyists are the perfect example of some people being more “equal” than others. It is blatantly unfair that people with money should get better access to government than regular citizens.

]]> By: Cyra Brown http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-386817 Cyra Brown Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:09:25 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-386817 #42, I believe that it was a decision by the courts that Corporations were denied the right of free speech, because they were not allowed to give donations to politicians,and therefore were being denied their first amendment rights of "free speech" (how ironic). So by granting them the right to give money to politicians, as an expression of free speech, they essentially became defacto "people". Them paying taxes has absolutely no bearing on the matter. As it is, most of them pay no taxes whatsoever. Ahhh, the wonders of free speech. #42, I believe that it was a decision by the courts that Corporations were denied the right of free speech, because they were not allowed to give donations to politicians,and therefore were being denied their first amendment rights of “free speech” (how ironic). So by granting them the right to give money to politicians, as an expression of free speech, they essentially became defacto “people”. Them paying taxes has absolutely no bearing on the matter. As it is, most of them pay no taxes whatsoever. Ahhh, the wonders of free speech.

]]> By: DachsieLady http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-386715 DachsieLady Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:20:35 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-386715 The SYSTEM is broken. Human beings will bribe, extort, and blackmail, and buy, sell and trade anything and everything. The human heart is deceitfully wicked. Who can know it. Making government small like it was designed to be would be a big part of the solution as it would remove the power and the money from the system. But I have seen this kind of crookedness demonstrated in little children and in very small systems. I wonder if our government ever operated any differently. I have a quote of Woodrow Wilson in the late 30s commenting, upon looking out over the capital area, that the city was swarming with lobbyists. Maybe it is the twisting and bending of the Constitution that has allowed government to get so big. Charles Lewis (Center for Public Integrity) has written a series of books - The Buying of the President 2000, 2004 etc. It shows what corporations gave what amounts to a presidential campaign and what the corporation got in return for their investment. It is a nonpartison reference book and tells it like it is. One thing is clear, we the people are completely superfluous to the lawmaking process. We do not count. We do not matter. We cannot be heard because we do not have enough money. There will be NO completely thorough of the Abramoff scandal as it played out in the states. Texas was particularly hard hit by Ralph Reed's so called "grassroots" efforts upon John Cornyn (then Texas Attorney General), though the Lietenant Governor, though numerous lawmakers and through at least 50 Texas pastors of large congregations. I believe ALL of these people knew that the money came from the Texas Indians through Abramoff and Scanlon to Reed. Abramoff and the Texas players were using the Indians money to hornswagle the Indians. I guess that is what makes this particular scandal particularly nauseating. Are we disgusted yet? The SYSTEM is broken. Human beings will bribe, extort, and blackmail, and buy, sell and trade anything and everything. The human heart is deceitfully wicked. Who can know it. Making government small like it was designed to be would be a big part of the solution as it would remove the power and the money from the system. But I have seen this kind of crookedness demonstrated in little children and in very small systems. I wonder if our government ever operated any differently. I have a quote of Woodrow Wilson in the late 30s commenting, upon looking out over the capital area, that the city was swarming with lobbyists. Maybe it is the twisting and bending of the Constitution that has allowed government to get so big. Charles Lewis (Center for Public Integrity) has written a series of books – The Buying of the President 2000, 2004 etc. It shows what corporations gave what amounts to a presidential campaign and what the corporation got in return for their investment. It is a nonpartison reference book and tells it like it is. One thing is clear, we the people are completely superfluous to the lawmaking process. We do not count. We do not matter. We cannot be heard because we do not have enough money. There will be NO completely thorough of the Abramoff scandal as it played out in the states. Texas was particularly hard hit by Ralph Reed’s so called “grassroots” efforts upon John Cornyn (then Texas Attorney General), though the Lietenant Governor, though numerous lawmakers and through at least 50 Texas pastors of large congregations. I believe ALL of these people knew that the money came from the Texas Indians through Abramoff and Scanlon to Reed. Abramoff and the Texas players were using the Indians money to hornswagle the Indians. I guess that is what makes this particular scandal particularly nauseating. Are we disgusted yet?

]]> By: DimeDancer http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-386634 DimeDancer Tue, 10 Jan 2006 20:30:28 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-386634 We the People create this mess when we decided that corporations have to pay tax too. Somehow or another, we got corporations declared to be a "person", so they would have to pay taxes like the rest of us. Smart weren't we? Now, our greed has bitten us the butt. We didn't count on the corporations being able to throw money at our politicians. So long as corporations are declared to be persons with a tax liability, we are going to have this problem. I suggest that stop taxing corporations and take away their definition as a person and voila, problem solved. But don't blame the corportions for doing what they are doing. They are just fighting to pay less taxes like everyone else. But, put bribe taking congressmen in prison in Iraq or some other secret CIA prison. We the People create this mess when we decided that corporations have to pay tax too. Somehow or another, we got corporations declared to be a “person”, so they would have to pay taxes like the rest of us. Smart weren’t we? Now, our greed has bitten us the butt. We didn’t count on the corporations being able to throw money at our politicians. So long as corporations are declared to be persons with a tax liability, we are going to have this problem. I suggest that stop taxing corporations and take away their definition as a person and voila, problem solved. But don’t blame the corportions for doing what they are doing. They are just fighting to pay less taxes like everyone else. But, put bribe taking congressmen in prison in Iraq or some other secret CIA prison.

]]> By: theo http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-386568 theo Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:50:00 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-386568 What would be really interesting would be to see a breakdown congresscritter by critter of how much and who was lobbying them and for what reason AND the results. I would bet that that the pattern would show systematic and widespread CRIMINAL CORRUPTION. Too bad the critters are above the law as they make 'em. Pick any one of them and look at their personal record of campaign pledges and actual results and I ask you HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE A SINGLE WORD OUT OF ANY OF THEIR MOUTHS!!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?! What would be really interesting would be to see a breakdown congresscritter by critter of how much and who was lobbying them and for what reason AND the results. I
would bet that that the pattern would show systematic and widespread CRIMINAL CORRUPTION. Too bad the critters are above the law as they make ‘em. Pick any one of them and look at their personal record of campaign pledges and actual results and I ask you HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE A SINGLE WORD OUT OF ANY OF THEIR MOUTHS!!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!

]]> By: Grand Moff Texan http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-386517 Grand Moff Texan Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:27:36 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-386517 <i>Number of federal lobbyists, 2005: 35,000</i> Wow. That's a lot of bullets we're gonna need. . Number of federal lobbyists, 2005: 35,000

Wow. That’s a lot of bullets we’re gonna need.
.

]]> By: Democrat Soldier http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-385672 Democrat Soldier Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:53:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-385672 Still haven't been able to find a Democrat name to whom money was donated by Jack Abramoff . . . . Anyone have any links that show that info? Anyone? (Please, no links to NewsMax or other radical right web site.) http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=Abramoff&txtState=%28all+states%29&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N Still haven’t been able to find a Democrat name to whom money was donated by Jack Abramoff . . . .

Anyone have any links that show that info? Anyone? (Please, no links to NewsMax or other radical right web site.)

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=Abramoff&txtState=%28all+states%29&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

]]> By: Current Era Blog » By the Numbers: Lobbying in America http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-385639 Current Era Blog » By the Numbers: Lobbying in America Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:33:55 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-385639 [...] Think Progress With the Jack Abramoff scandal making headlines across the country, the issue of lobbying and other forms of influence peddling at the federal level has reemerged. Below are a few quick facts showing the size and scope of this burgeoning Washington, DC industry. [...] [...] Think Progress With the Jack Abramoff scandal making headlines across the country, the issue of lobbying and other forms of influence peddling at the federal level has reemerged. Below are a few quick facts showing the size and scope of this burgeoning Washington, DC industry. [...]

]]> By: Cyra Brown http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-385590 Cyra Brown Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:18:50 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-385590 JAYZUS!!! Those are some mind scrambling numbers. I suppose that those are the stats "Whore-Hey" is alluding to when touting the strong economy and job creation he likes to boast about, while we scratch our heads and think "what the h*ll is he rambling about now?" All lobbying has to GO!!! Right now! No pathetic attempts at "reform", or "increased oversight". GAAAWWWD!! It just keeps coming, and coming, and coming..... I am treading water in their ocean of lies, and I am getting tired. Just keep swimming..... JAYZUS!!! Those are some mind scrambling numbers. I suppose that those are the stats “Whore-Hey” is alluding to when touting the strong economy and job creation he likes to boast about, while we scratch our heads and think “what the h*ll is he rambling about now?” All lobbying has to GO!!! Right now! No pathetic attempts at “reform”, or “increased oversight”. GAAAWWWD!! It just keeps coming, and coming, and coming….. I am treading water in their ocean of lies, and I am getting tired. Just keep swimming…..

]]> By: Democrat Soldier http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-385578 Democrat Soldier Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:14:17 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-385578 Ever notice how many people make the claim that "Democrats took Abramoff's money too!" Ever notice how not one of them has any link or information to back up that claim? Well, at least not a site that isn't Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or some other radical-rightist. I guess that providing proof for your statements is asking too much of some people. Or maybe, it's the vast left-wing conspiracy that's stifling the information! Or the liberal-bias in the news that’s keeping this information out of the public’s eye! Like how 'they' kept the impeachment of Pres. Clinton off the front page of most newspapers! Ever notice how many people make the claim that “Democrats took Abramoff’s money too!”

Ever notice how not one of them has any link or information to back up that claim? Well, at least not a site that isn’t Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or some other radical-rightist.

I guess that providing proof for your statements is asking too much of some people. Or maybe, it’s the vast left-wing conspiracy that’s stifling the information! Or the liberal-bias in the news that’s keeping this information out of the public’s eye! Like how ‘they’ kept the impeachment of Pres. Clinton off the front page of most newspapers!

]]> By: roo http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-385482 roo Tue, 10 Jan 2006 13:26:28 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-385482 #29, #30: Um, I believe Walt is being sarcastic - although, I wouldn't be surprised Scotty-boy makes a statement to this effect ;) #29, #30: Um, I believe Walt is being sarcastic – although, I wouldn’t be surprised Scotty-boy makes a statement to this effect ;)

]]> By: Independent Christian Voice http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-385327 Independent Christian Voice Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:19:23 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-385327 <strong>By the Numbers: Lobbying in America...</strong> Think Progress as a nice fact check that shows the size and scope of the lobbying industry in Washington, D.C. Here are a couple of quick snapshots: Amount spent on federal lobbying, 1999 $1.5 billion Amount spent on federal lobbying, 200... By the Numbers: Lobbying in America…

Think Progress as a nice fact check that shows the size and scope of the lobbying industry in Washington, D.C. Here are a couple of quick snapshots:

Amount spent on federal lobbying, 1999
$1.5 billion

Amount spent on federal lobbying, 200…

]]> By: Mark http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-384699 Mark Tue, 10 Jan 2006 05:14:50 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-384699 Thanks for putting it into perspective. Now you need candidates and elected officials to repeat these things in public. Make more media to spread the truth. Just because you say something doesn't make it true, but hard evidence backed by real numbers are hard to dispute no matter how much you try to spin them. It's all politics within this administration and this republican congress. No actual policy. Thanks for putting it into perspective. Now you need candidates and elected officials to repeat these things in public. Make more media to spread the truth.

Just because you say something doesn’t make it true, but hard evidence backed by real numbers are hard to dispute no matter how much you try to spin them.

It’s all politics within this administration and this republican congress. No actual policy.

]]> By: Terrytheturtle http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-384675 Terrytheturtle Tue, 10 Jan 2006 04:52:26 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/09/lobbying-in-america/#comment-384675 Other countries legistate that media give free airtime to political parties to put their message across. If the airtime is free, then the parties don't need to raise masses of cash to get any visibility at all. No cash, no corruption? Other countries legistate that media give free airtime to political parties to put their message across. If the airtime is free, then the parties don’t need to raise masses of cash to get any visibility at all. No cash, no corruption?

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