Sep 23 2010
Crossposted at Daily Kos and The Stars Hollow Gazette
|
|
|
|
Christine O’Donnell is fast becoming the face of the Republican Party. Her campaign slogan is — to put it in Marxist language — power to the people. Or, something like that. To quote an oft-used phrase on the internet(s) and one used frequently on this blog, “Teh stoopid! It burns.”
Time permitting, I will try to post Part II of this diary later on this week.
Sep 19 2010
This .org website gives a whole new meaning to Industry ‘Front Group’.
It’s a page designed to solicit Donations — and little else.
The Home link — goes nowhere; (ie. back to the Contribute Page)
The About link — goes nowhere;
The Media link — goes nowhere;
The Blog link goes to this blogspot page
TeaPartyExpressBlog.blogspot.com
where the lead story is
Don’t Raise Our Taxes – Don’t Repeal the Tax Cuts
and which has this emotive Scary Image:
let me guess, it’s designed to solicit Donations.
Why should you care?
Well it looks like Tea Party Express PAC, just may be breaking Federal Campaigns Laws …
Sep 19 2010
Americans for Prosperity has worked closely with the Tea Party since the movement’s inception. In the weeks before the first Tax Day protests, in April, 2009, Americans for Prosperity hosted a Web site offering supporters “Tea Party Talking Points”.
Talking Points: Taxpayer Tea Party [the Bullet point version, pdf]
Americans for Prosperity — April 2009
— Stop the handouts to Wall Street.
— Stop the Federal Reserve’s printing press
— Stop the federal bailouts that pick winners and losers in the marketplace.
— Stop exploding the national debt, which will crush our children and grandchildren.
— The grassroots MUST take action in order to achieve these goals.Federal Spending
The Obama Budget
Endless Government Bailouts
IRS History and Horror Stories
Who’s behind the baggers?
Americans for Prosperity Foundation — an organization that David Koch started, in 2004
Koch who?
And you thought the Teabaggers were being “run” by the Beckster …
Sep 14 2010
A while back, a couple of us here at Sum of Change got involved in meetings with a great group of folks about working together to provide insider reporting of Capitol Hill with an outsider perspective. In time, we became Main Street Insider. Today, Main Street Insider released a new show, 90 Second Summaries.
The purpose of 90 Second Summaries is simple, provide citizens on Main Street with a quick synopsis of what a bill is all about. The first three episodes come out today, tomorrow and Thursday, with new ones every following Monday. Each video comes with a one-page summary (which you can view online or download as a pdf) containing everything you will need to learn even more about any piece of legislation.
Without further ado, presenting Season 1, Episode 1: H.R. 4790, Shareholder Protection Act
The following is cross-posted from Main Street Insider:
Sep 11 2010
There is a battle going on for the hearts and minds of Americans, regarding our Energy Future.
Given the well-funded nature of this Ad Campaign — we probably shouldn’t expect any changes in our “Energy Economics” Future, anytime soon.
The Breaking Point
from AmericanSolutions 188 Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
“Stop the National Energy Tax.”
— Paid for by American Solutions for Winning the Future.
Who or What is ASWF ???
Sounds harmless, enough …
First Rule of effective Public Relations Branding:
Do No Harm … and sound innocuous.
Aug 02 2010
cross-posted from Sum of Change
This is our last round of videos from the Netroots Nation panel, Undoing Citizens United: A Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Corporations from Buying Elections (here is part 1, and part 2). Today, we are going to focus mostly on how to move forward. But first, some inspiration from Congresswoman Donna Edwards:
May 31 2010
I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless.”
— U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864
(letter to Col. William F. Elkins)
Ref: The Lincoln Encyclopedia, Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan, 1950, NY)Bold text added by the diarist
(Note: The authenticity of this quote has been disputed, but I believe it is worthwhile to discuss nonetheless. The link I have provided is my proof of the validity of this quote, but I leave it to you, the reader, to decide.)
Almost 150 years later . . .
More below the fold
May 22 2010
THE Question – Is America a Democracy or an Oligarchy?
Sen. Sanders: “Right now, what ends up happening, is Big Money interests, whether in fact it is in oil and energy, whether it’s in prescription drugs . . .”
Dylan Ratigan: “BP”
Sen. Sanders: “Whether it is in banking, these guys have huge amounts of money, and the situation gets worse with the recent Citizens United Supreme Court decision, and anyone who stands up to the big money interests can expect a huge amount of 30 second ads against them. That’s the reality. Are we a Democracy, or are we an Oligarchy where the very powerful special interests exert enormous influence over our Government?”
Ratigan: “What’s your answer to that question?”
Sen. Sanders: “I think we’re an Oligarchy and I think it’s getting worse.”
Much more, plus video and transcript below the fold.
Feb 09 2010
Crossposted at Daily Kos
At least half a dozen leaders of the Republican Party have joined forces to create a new political group with the goal of organizing grass-roots support and raising funds ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to people familiar with the effort.The organizational details of the group, expected to be called the American Action Network, are still being worked out, but it is expected to contain both a 501(c)3 and a 501(c)4 component. In simpler terms, a 501(c)3 can advocate on policy matters while a 501(c)4 is an election arm.
Republican leaders expected to be affiliated with the group include former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Bush adviser Karl Rove, Republican strategist Ed Gillespie, and Republican donor Fred Malek.
Jeb Bush, George Bush, same difference, same incompetent governing style, failed ideas and Corporatist agenda.
More below the fold
Feb 07 2010
The January 21 Supreme Court decision [.pdf] in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case lifted bans on corporate spending for campaign finance, drawing heavy criticism from across the country for the ruling’s potential to undermine the American democratic process.
Now with that ruling in their back pockets, “[a]t least half a dozen leaders of the Republican Party have joined forces to create a new political group with the goal of organizing grass-roots support and raising funds ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to people familiar with the effort”, says the Wall Street journal in an article January 30.
The Supreme Court ruling could potentially allow the group, called the American Action Network, to take unlimited contributions from corporations for use in political campaigns.
Jan 29 2010
Crossposted at Daily Kos
Thanks to the Supreme Council Court, meet your new Corporate Masters!
Say hello to Saudi Arabia!
Saudi Arabia has already signaled that the progressive effort to build a clean energy American economy is its “biggest threat”:
Saudi Arabia’s economy depends on oil exports so stands to be one of the biggest losers in any pact that curbs oil demand by penalizing carbon emissions. “It’s one of the biggest threats that we are facing,” said Muhammed al-Sabban, head of the Saudi delegation to U.N. talks on climate change and a senior economic adviser to the Saudi oil ministry. […] Climate talks posed a bigger threat, Sabban said, and subsidies for the development of renewable energy were distorting market economics in the sector, he said.
It’s good to be the King of Saudi Arabia!
More below the fold
Jan 23 2010
The truth is that the most important line in the decision was not the one overruling Austin. It was this one: “ingratiation and access . . . are not corruption.” For many years, the Court had gradually expanded the corruption rationale to extend beyond quid pro quo corruption (donor dollars for legislative votes). It had licensed Congress to regulate even when the threat was simply that large donors had better access to politicians or that politicians had become “too compliant with the[ir] wishes.” Indeed, at times the Court went so far as to say that even the mere appearance of “undue influence” or the public’s “cynical assumption that large donors call the tune” was enough to justify regulation. “Ingratiation and access,” in other words, were corruption as far as the Court was concerned. Justice Kennedy didn’t say that the Court was overruling these cases. But that’s just what it did.
