WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised four years ago that Democrats would lead “the most honest, most open, most ethical Congress in history.”
But as her party defends its record with its majority in jeopardy, two prominent Democrats await ethics trials. Two other party members gave Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarships to relatives. Most importantly, lobbyists, corporations and special interests still have unimpeded ways to buy access to members of Congress.
Take House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s annual charity golf tournament, which provides college scholarships for needy students in his South Carolina district and funds the endowment he established at South Carolina State University.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — An occasional look at government promises and how well they are kept.
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It sounds like a worthy cause, but it’s a stretch to believe that national companies which sponsored the event randomly chose students in the 6th District of South Carolina as a priority for charitable giving.
“It really doesn’t matter what the money is used for,” says Fred Wertheimer, who heads the Congress-watching private group Democracy 21. “If you’re asked to provide a large amount of money for something that is important to a member, you are doing a financial favor for the member. That benefit buys influence.”
Wertheimer credits Pelosi with going far beyond previous speakers, saying she changed what Democrats once called a “culture of corruption” under Republican rule.
Yet, her reforms didn’t touch access-buying opportunities like campaign fundraisers, corporate-sponsored events for informal lawmaker organizations, or sports tournaments held by members’ charities.
The Sunlight Foundation, which tracks congressional fundraising events, has identified more than 9,500 since President George W. Bush signed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act in September 2007. The law embodies reforms cited by Pelosi as proof that she kept her promise to “drain the swamp” of congressional corruption.
Pelosi was instrumental in winning increased disclosure of lobbyists’ spending and contributions; a ban on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers; the end of cheap rides on corporate jets; curtailment of privately financed trips that often amounted to free vacations; creation of an independent ethics office; and the identification of sponsors of “earmarks” — congressional spending given to favored recipients, who often returned the favor with campaign contributions.
And while it may be just good fortune, Democrats can claim that another Jack Abramoff has not arisen on their watch. The influence-peddling lobbyist, who showered lawmakers and their staffs with favors and eventually went to prison, had strong ties to Republicans.
One Pelosi reform failed miserably when given a reality check.
An Associated Press review last year found that few members of Congress were disclosing that lobbyists were helping them raise campaign cash — despite a provision of the Honest Leadership law designed to shed light on the ties between lawmakers and the capital’s influence brokers.
Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said Democrats “have taken major steps to fulfill this promise, including passing the landmark Honest Leadership and Open Government Act in 2007 and creating the independent, bipartisan Office of Congressional Ethics in 2008. As we consider further reform, we will examine updating these laws and the bipartisan comprehensive campaign finance reform law passed in 2002.”
Pelosi favors public financing of campaigns, but hasn’t had the votes to pass it. If she remains speaker, she’ll face a major test early next year on retaining the independent House Office of Congressional Ethics, which she calls a success story.
The office, which conducts preliminary ethics investigations, is run by a board of non-legislators. Its investigations have irritated enough members that several want to curb its authority or eliminate it. Republicans almost succeeded in blocking creation of the office in 2008, as Pelosi won a 207-206 procedural vote to have the matter considered.
Republicans, trying to win back control of the House, now cite ethics charges against Reps. Charles Rangel of New York and Maxine Waters of California to argue that the speaker broke her word to run the most ethical Congress.
Rangel, former chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is charged with financial and fundraising misconduct, and has acknowledged some ethical lapses.
Waters, a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, is contesting allegations that she sought federal aid for a bank where her husband is an investor.
Republicans on the House ethics committee demanded Tuesday that the Rangel and Waters trials be completed before the November elections.
Recent news reports also revealed that Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, and Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., awarded Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarships to relatives. The foundation has close ties to the Congressional Black Caucus, although it is run separately as a tax-exempt organization.
And last week former lobbyist Paul Magliocchetti, who helped defense clients secure government contracts, pleaded guilty to illegally funneling more than $380,000 in campaign contributions to House members controlling the Pentagon’s budget. Three top Democrats he worked with — Jim Moran of Virginia, Peter Visclosky of Indiana and the late John Murtha of Pennsylvania — directed $137 million in defense contracts to the lobbyist’s clients.
While no member of Congress has been criminally charged or found to have violated House rules, outside ethics watchdog groups have criticized the lawmakers’ conduct.
Melanie Sloan, director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and a former Democratic congressional aide, said Pelosi has brought about the culture change she promised.
She cites the end of the Republican “K Street Project,” used by former GOP leader Tom DeLay of Texas to pressure lobbying firms to hire Republicans who then were given access to top officials.
Republicans are dismissive. Rep. Dan Lungren, the former attorney general of California, said many of the ethics improvements Pelosi takes credit for were the result of bipartisan agreements on the 2007 Honest Leadership law. Republicans were first with the idea of identifying sponsors of special-interest spending, he said.
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Comments (98)
chazman
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:11amNearly all of the pictures that I see of this dumb broad she has that ‘deer in the headlights’ look. That look is the look of a stupid person. She brainwashes herself everytime she looks in a mirror!
Report Post »dsar
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:06amMathew 7:20
Report Post »Soquel by the Creek
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:06amWant more insights into the inner workings of the Pelosi machine? Look no further than the Pelosi-inspire California ballot Proposition 27. The goal of Proposition 27 is to eliminate the Citizens Redistricting Commission empowered to redraw California’s political boundaries and return that power to the California Legislature dominated by a nearly 2-to-1 majority from one party. Guess which party?
Which self-serving California politicians and their party are apparently afraid of free and fair elections?
CHART: Members of Congress Supporting Prop. 27
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5rRK95eUfl_mMv7VDhroZA
CHART: California Legislators Supporting Prop. 27
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kSlmzhjkJO1HmjI-4kr2yQ
Which special interests are protecting their multi-million dollar investments in California’s politicians?
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yZF1GOcrcr_R5_umu6rPfw
Which well-connected big-money donors, many from out of state, are funding Proposition 27? The list includes at least two billionaires, including George Soros himself!
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/irNzPYoCZfYe6mlT53qy6Q
How are they inter-related and what does this reveal about these politicians and their party?
Those funding Proposition 27 should be ashamed of their efforts that stand in the way of free and fair democratic elections!
Proposition 27 Revealed!
http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2010/09/proposition-27-revealed.html
Californians: Vote NO on Proposition 27!
Report Post »american1st
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:50pmthanks for the links …
Report Post »VM
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:56amPelosi’s efficiency and transparency show the approval rate of Congress at 23%. What a way to go! Pelosi can now take it easy and dream in the sidelines after the November election.
Report Post »American Dad
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:55amEthics, honesty, American values – this marxist socialist commy dirt-bag administration hasn’t any of these under their burqa. This elitist pile of cow manure ex-hippies think that their maoist values are the next step in American evolution? You are 1000% wrong! Soetoro aka Obama, Pelosi and Reid you can kiss my American made ass, yes use your internet snopes to come get me.
Report Post »LovinUSA
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:52amShort -n-sweet; Her mouth over rides her butt.
Report Post »NoStar
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:52amWe have to re-elect the Democrats so we can see just how much corruption they engage in.
Report Post »Silat
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:42amShe is a skank.
Report Post »sledge hammer
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:33amI think she is hot! (When I say that to my conservative friends…. their heads explode! It is fun. I say that so my head doesn’t explode!)
My DW and I went to 8/28. I am still numb with the joy. Thank you, Glenn!
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:32amWHAT DO YOU MEAN, FALTERING? This “ethical” congress has never been transparent OR honest. They used our own money to buy votes against us. Every time I look at a picture of her triumphantly walking into the House, I want to bash her with that gavel. That smug smile on her too-tight face is because she’s laughing off her butt that she got away with using our own money against us. I want to ties her to my car and drag her back to San Francisco. Then, I’ll start to get mean!
Report Post »Patrick in Atlanta
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:14amI am so flippin over this bug-eyed, over botoxed, man-handed ding-bat. People of San Fran need to get a grip and throw this piece of garbage out of office.
Report Post »patriot2theend
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:13amWOW!!! I think my eyes are burned. The first thing I see when The Blaze loads is the Queen B*&!*. I need visine before I can even read the report>.
Report Post »thomas
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 7:52pmnow patroit let’s keep this clean, please
Report Post »tradexpertbuysell
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:07amThis is a real witch and a very very bad one at that!
Report Post »jerryod1627
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:06amShe has no touch with the real world. She lives in her own, with her own sick ideas, and unfortunately she gained a position that let’s her impose these ideas on the American people. All we can do is hold her in check as well as we can until the next time she runs, then everyone support her opponent and get rid of her. It will take time because our country did not get in this mess overnight, but if we stay after it we will eventually get rid of all these people and restore our government.
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:46amWhat you do not understand about Nancy Pelosi is that she lives in a heavily populated area that thinks just like she does. They are the 13% or whatever her popularity is that support her. Do not think that all Californians think like she does. However, she is not popular with most of California. They do not get to vote in her district.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:02amhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/26/AR2010012601156.html?hpid=topnews
You forgot Nancy’s freind..Rep. Alan Mollohan. Right… another criminal beholden to Holder.
“Mollohan, 66, is expected to notify House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, of the development in a letter Tuesday. That would clear the way for him to resume full control of a subcommittee that oversees the roughly $28 BILLION budget for the Justice Department and the nearly $8 BILLION budget for the FBI.”
Report Post »^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That’s comforting..
torro1212
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:56amomg!!! that picture of the wicked witch of San FranSicko on the top of this page scared the crap out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »patriot2theend
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:15amYeah,, . Can you imagine waking up to that?
Report Post »Jennine
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:21amI’m with you. Yikes! Devil woman looking right at me!
Report Post »JD Carp
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:56amWhy would a water moccasin drain her own swamp?
Report Post »Kster
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:12amThat was funny! And True! Love that combo.
Report Post »RedStateBlues
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:48amIt seems Tea Party and Republican’s have their own long list of “special interests.
60 Plus Association: A group with longstanding ties to PhRMA, 60 Plus is spending millions of dollars this election cycle to run ads against Democratic House candidates featuring erroneous claims about Medicare “cuts.”
American Action Network & American Action Forum: Norm Coleman explicitly pointed to the Citizens United decision as a reason for the American Action Network’s ability to emerge this election year, saying that it “greatly enhanced” the group’s fundraising. The group is launching attack ads in key U.S. Senate races.
American Crossroads & Crossroads GPS: The Karl Rove-founded American Crossroads plans on raising $52 million before election day to defeat vulnerable Democrats. Many of its attack ads feature false claims about health care reform.
American Future Fund: The group behind the infamous ad smearing Iowa Rep. Bill Braley for his refusal to oppose the Park51 Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero, American Future Fund is running ads in 14 house districts, knocking candidates’ support for Nancy Pelosi, and hurling debunked and misleading attacks against the Stimulus Plan, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and Health Care Reform’s impact on Medicare.
Americans For Job Security: Utilizing hefty and anonymous corporate donations to run a misleading and deceptive ad campaign, Americans for Job Security is almost the epitome of pro-corporate astroturfing. Founded in 1997, it initially received two $1 million contributions from the American Insurance Association and the American Forest and Paper Association. Proud of its support from corporate backers, the group hailed the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United as an “unequivocal victory.”
Americans for New Leadership & Liberty.com: The Tea Party group that had worked for Christine O‘Donnell’s successful Senate campaign is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads against Harry Reid in Nevada, with misleading representations about the Stimulus Plan, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and Health Care Reform’s impact on Medicare. This was also the organization that sponsored an infamous online video which said that O‘Donnell’s primary opponent Mike Castle had a male lover.
Americans for Prosperity & Americans for Prosperity Foundation: Chaired by David Koch, well-known funder of the Tea Party movement, Americans for Prosperity also has ties to Religious Right leader Ralph Reed and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The group has been a driving force behind the Tea Party movement, and most recently was caught conspiring to set up a voter caging operation in Wisconsin. The group intends to spend $45 million on fifty House races and half a dozen Senate races.
Club for Growth & Club for Grown Action: Club for Growth has has frequently engaged in competitive Republican primaries by attacking the candidates it deems depart from conservative economic orthodoxy. It recently launched a $1.5 million ad campaign to benefit right-wing Tea Party candidates and aims to spend $24 million on this year’s election. Following the Citizens United ruling, Club for Growth set up Club for Growth Action, an independent expenditure committee which accepts “unlimited individual and corporate contributions.”
US Chamber of Commerce: Long before Citizens United, the Chamber was already established as the principal agent in raising and disseminating corporate money. It plans to spend $75 million in this year’s elections, and has already spent money to plug pro-corporate candidates in ten states.
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:42amAre you saying that Republicans do not have a right to fight for the office? Millions are donated to the Democrats for their smear campaigns, so are you saying that is alright, but not alright for the Republicans to fight for seats? I’m hoping that Republicans stick to the issues and just let the Democrats lie and throw mud. Tell the truth about what Democrats have done to bring our nation down. I don’t quite follow your thinking that you think it is alright for one party to raise money but not for the other. There is a lot of dirty things done in politics and one is buying off the poor so they will vote for you. In the long run it has costs us a lot in people losing their will to work and taking advantage of every freebee the government offers. Throwing us further into debt.
Report Post »IKW
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:06amHow do you explain away the 500,000+ people that showed up in D.C. on 8/28? You did a great job denigrating a few groups that support the Taxed Enough Already movement, but we as United States citizens can actually read and draw our own conclusions along with the individual ability to pay for our own ticket/transportation to Washington.
IKW
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:33amsorry mr red but just because your side pulls this kind of crap dont mean we do. the left is all funded by special interest groups and donald ducks. the american people are supporting the tea party movement, you wont find and mickey mouses or donald ducks in the donations on our side. the people are rising up and its killing your side. we will have the america we want and not your socialist crap that has never worked anywhere. and if you dont like that move to france or venezuela where youll be with your like minded idiots. we the people will not put up with it here.
Report Post »tierrah
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 12:56pmMy God! Where is all this money coming from? I’m living on $780 a month disability, so the millions you are speaking of literally blows the top of my head! Why don’t they take all that campaign money and buy the uninsured some Health Insurance or provide food and shelter for the many needy in our country. I do without because I have to and because I have pride. I do not want to be dependent on government and feel I’ve saved for the money I draw each month which deducts for my healthcare. This is money, the taxes, I paid into the system for all the years of working as a middle class employee, no college degree so less pay. ALL politicians and crooked lawyers make me sick – such a greedy and power hungry bunch!!
Report Post »ConsConsMA
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 1:04pmWhy would you think that the Tea Party is affiliated with all these associations, just because they were grouped with them as having “some” of the same ideologies. Just because the farmer puts a horse in with a field of jackasses, doesn’t make the horse a jackass. I think you are looking at that article from the wrong perspective.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:47amYou cannot drain the swamp when you are standing steadfastly on the drain plug.
Report Post »ANTIPATHIZER308WIN
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:21amYou hit the nail squarely on the head! It won’t stop until all the establishment Dems and country club Repubs have been expelled and all politicians are video tracked 24/7. There’s an idea for open and honest Government; video recording politicians 24/7. That would be a blast!
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:39amewwwww no bathroom cams have you see some of the ugly dems? they look bad enough dressed, lets not see any of them naked. besides we just may see the real monsters they are when they shed their skin. cause we all know barney frank is really jabba the hutt when his human suit is removed
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:31amIt is all smoke and mirrors. Look at what they have done, the money that they have appropriated for their districts and what it was used for. It, which you all know, is ridiculous.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:26amSeems to me that the Clintons’ made the same comment when they went into the White House, also.
Report Post »cabnetdude
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:21amWas that before or after they stole all the artwork in the white house?
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:47pmOh, it was before they took office, of course!!!
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:26amIf anyone believes anything Nancy Pelosi says then they need their head examined. Did anyone see Frank Luntz’s group on Hannity last night defending Obama and his agenda. They were blaming George Bush and Nancy Pelosi for everything and praising Obama. No wonder Florida has representation like Greyson. I could not believe my ears. This country is going nuts. George Bush has been out of office for 2 years and Nancy Pelosi was pushing Obama’s agenda, yet Obama can do no wrong in their eyes. Lord have mercy on us all.
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:36amI saw it and I was horrified by their lack of knowledge about what is really happening. Pelosi was more to blame than Obama, and Bush was the number one reason. Don’t any of these people ever study the issues. They are truly people who follow their feelings and not their thinking ability. They believe what they hear if it meets with their philosophy and feelings. What hope is there for our nation when people think like some of these people did?
IKW
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:55amIn the immortal words of Cicero, “he who employs his passion can make no use of his reason.” He was murdered at the very end of the Roman Republic on December 7, 43 B.C. It took another 300 or so more years for the power of Rome to fall, but I am certain America will be removed from this earth much faster if good men choose not to act.
IKW
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:23amthis is what happens when these people watch the lame stream media and belive the lies they put out. its time to put these so call news outlets out of business. if they cant be fair and tell the truth or just report the facts so the people can make informed decisions on whats going on. now that we know they are all socialists or closet commies, do we really want them to have an fcc license to broadcast this kind of crap to america? i say no. its time for us to demand the fcc not renew their licenses. they are not what we here in america want or need. its time for the whole swamp of leaches and suckers to go. drain it and fill it in with people who have the american values and not this socialists crap. they have no place here in america. let them move to venezuela where that kind of crap is allowd. we dont want it here.
Report Post »IKW
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:36amron the veteran, I understand your passion and frustration, but we do not have to take such measures we just have to make sure they can’t do what you are proposing. As long as we remain a capitalistic society, the market will eliminate their ability to spew such vitriol. Like Margaret Thatcher said about socialism, eventually you run out of other peoples’ money, and even a George Soros wallet has limitations…to the vigilant go the spoils so keep the faith and freedom will reign. If we react to their lunacy we will find ourselves lunatics.
IKW
Report Post »Dennisgl
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 1:31pmYou can drain and refill the swamp but in the end it is still a swamp and it will be filled with all the slimy creatures you will expect to find there.
Report Post »krispy66
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:25pmYes I saw it made me sick. Do you think they legalized pot in Fla. or just put something in the water. We are in trouble.
Report Post »AmericanSoldier88
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:24amWhy haven’t we seen a complete limit on lobbies that level the playing field and pull it out of special interest, unions, PAC’s and Corporations. I want real reform.
Report Post »RedStateBlues
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:50amYou’ll find no reform in these groups, all republican and tea party special interest groups. Hardly the grass roots movement TP’s claim to be…
http://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/2010/09/report-outlines-pro-corporate-players-post-citizens-united-politics
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:35amRedStateBlues.. Please who is supporting the T.E.A. party.. so far everything I have done has been on MY dine..MY time.. from going to rally’s to supporting the candidates I like with cash… I do beleive that is GRASSROOTS.. BTW is Obama’s run with all the money from UNIONS ( btw I KNOW people in unions like the TEAMSTERS who were STRONG ARMED to donate weekly to the OBAMA campaign)..and from untraceable credit cards come on give me a break OBAMA’S campaign was NO WHERE near grassroots
Report Post »IKW
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:45amAnd Redstateblues, you will find no Liberty or defense of the Constitution at the progressive link you provided. Both parties are corrupt and they have been corrupted by the very group you are alluding to being associated, the progressives. You are not interested in dialog, just control and socialism…I hope for your sake your prayers go unanswered because you too will be controlled and socialized …you will just be the last to be “controlled”.
IKW
Report Post »thomas
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 7:39pmyou might want to do your homework before you comment, the TEA party is really a movement and stand for lower taxes for all and for smaller government. the TEA party has no special interests.
Report Post »thomas
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 7:56pmumm…. red…. if you care to look closely you will find that TEA is taxed enough already, and the movement is made up of all in america who think this way and they stand for SMALLER government. they have no special interests. Education is helpful.
Report Post »JeromeParkin
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:15amWhat did you expect ? Theyr‘e dems their nature is to decieve thats why theyr’e so pro islam.
Report Post »time4termlimits
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:31amThat is your argument?? These are the type of comments that give the left an excuse to lob accusations our way. Embarrassing.
Report Post »QweeQwa
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:32amDid you think that one up all by yourself Jerome?
Report Post »IKW
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:35amEasy guys, make your point but don‘t go for Jerome’s spirit as well. Jerome…We can do better and I believe in you. Keep the faith
IKW
Report Post »LockedLoaded
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:50pmWhat did we expect? How about not lying all the time about everything. But that’s how they got elected in the first place.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:14amif the swamp was drained why are they all still knee deep in it ?
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:32amPelosi Economics:
Speaker of the House, Pelosi’s statements on economic stimulus and unemployment insurance shows either a complete lack of understanding of Economics or extremely evil intent. A stupid person could not obtain Ms. Pelosi’s position in life; therefore, the only alternatives are ignorance or evil intent.
Our problem is not the distribution or the consumption of wealth. Wealth must be created before it can be either distributed or consumed so the problem is the creation of wealth.
Government force is only effective in the redistribution and consumption of wealth. Force cannot be used to create wealth. Only economic freedom promotes the production of wealth. The fact that force is totally impotent in the creation of wealth is proven by the thousands of years of tyranny that preceding the Industrial Revolution. Ms. Pelosi’s solutions only involve the use of force to redistribute and consume wealth.
Wealth, unlike energy, can be both created and destroyed and the surest way to destroy wealth is the use of force. Once our wealth has been destroyed or consumed, all of Ms. Pelosi’s proposed solutions will also be totally impotent.
Remember, both Hitler’s and Mussolini’s coup required a severe economic crisis. Any economy that encourages consumption and discourages production of wealth is certainly headed into a severe economic crisis. The transfer of wealth to political cronies and loss of freedom contained in the first Stimulus Bill only discourages the creation of wealth.
What is your opinion? Is Ms. Pelosi ignorant or is she just evil? If you believe that she is ignorant, do you think her ignorance can be cured? Please suggest a solution.
But remember, ”IGNORANCE CAN BE CURED, BUT STUPIDITY IS FOREVER!”
http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »M.Witherington
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:50amThat’s right, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Report Post »RKade
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:53amPsychosis it is not “water” that they are knee deep in!
Report Post »The stench follows everywhere Pelosi travels.
independentvoteril
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:26amI think the expression is up to their a** in swamp water..
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:17amI think the question is … if the swap was drained, why are all the Democrats still there? Or why is she still there?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtmTALMkU4
Report Post »CoFX
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:52amI doesn’t matter to me which side is doing what with Lobbyists and thier contributions used for “buying influence”. This has to stop, on BOTH sides of the isle. This is not a Pelosi or Dem issue only – the GOP has a voice in DC too – why aren’t they calling for the ban of lobbyists and special interests as well? This is by far the worst congress I have seen in my lifetime, but what happens after the elections? Doesn’t matter who takes control next year, it will be the same. It’s time to stand up, vote out all incumbents, and get people in there who will do away with Lobbyists completely. Make it illegal to accept gifts or money from anyone besides getting your Gov’t paycheck for service, and start prosecuting! Take funds, you get excused from your service, pack your bags.
There is currently no provisions in the Constitution that allow for referrendums on a federal level, and although I agree with upholding the constitution on 99.9% of issues, we do need an ammendment to allow for national referrendums on issues such as this. The only people capable of removing the cancer of Lobbyists from our political system are the same ones getting paid by them. Not really much incentive for change on the Hill.
Report Post »Svt4Him
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:58amKnee deep in? They’re struggling to keep their heads above it.
Report Post »FlameCCT
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 12:17pmThe swamp was drained of the clean water, now all that is left is the detritus.
Report Post »MikeyG_CT
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:22pmA swamp pump needs to be replaced. Pelosi sure is not up to the task. There has to be someone better than Pelosi to do the job. Boehner may be the one, to hopefully drain the swamp in between directives of the Republican agenda.
Report Post »american1st
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:50pmPelosi ” i am not big on these pledges, i think they‘re a lot of show boat i don’t like to take them i don’t like to exact them”
Pelosi: “Drain the swamp” means to turn this Congress into the most honest and open Congress in history. That’s my pledge — that is what I intend to do.
drain the swamp was just a show boat pledge
Report Post »I am 'We the People
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:15pmcofx, you need to read the articles of confederation that allowed the first constitutional convention to occur. They are still in effect. The states, in a super majority, can convene and change, amend, or establish federal protocol.
Report Post »