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Let's Make A List! Reasons Dem Senators Would Vote To Approve Blanket Immunity For Telecoms...

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Blackhatjack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:30 AM
Original message
Let's Make A List! Reasons Dem Senators Would Vote To Approve Blanket Immunity For Telecoms...
... Without Even Knowing The Full Extent of Illegal Activities Prior To Granting The Immunity?

So List Away.... someone obviously has discovered the 'reason' Dems would be voting in favor of this in the Senate.
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cloudbase Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:32 AM
Response to Original message
1. $$$$$$$$$$$ n/t
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warren pease Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #1
18. Yeah, but you need a few zeros to the left of the decimal point...
"When these PACs give money, they expect something besides good government in return."
-- Bob Dole, 1983


The grateful recipients:

Here's the top 20 telecom employees in the Senate.

Here's their favorites in the House.

A list of the top 25 "representatives of the people" and their intimate financial relationships with PACs representing some item on the telecom industry's wish list

Do they really need the money, or are they just so corrupt and greedy, along with the system that feeds them, that accepting bribes is second nature? Have a look at the 25 richest House members here and the 25 richest Senators here and draw your own conclusions.

So why do we keep reelecting these assholes who suck up to us once every two or six years, then scurry back to DC to get their marching orders for the coming congressional session? Here's one great reason: incumbents get between six and seven times as much "donor" money each election cycle than do challengers.

I'd guess that happens for at least two reasons: better the devil you know than the one you don't. And it's less awkward to slip bribes to people already familiar with the systems than to virgins. This chart shows the results for every two-year election cycle since 1964.


And their sugar daddies:

Here are the top 20 telecom interest groups or corporations, ranked by how much money their lobbyists have given to all candidates during the 2008 election cycle. Note numbers 3, 4 and 15.

There was a little something extra in the christmas stockings of those defenders of the common folk if they flipped to support the telecom industry's position on FISA. So that's the carrot, and here's the entire garden.


It just amazes me that they'll sell their dignity, integrity and any sense of history or responsibility to the Constitution so cheaply. If the average price goes much lower, they're going to end up as weird gee-gaws on eBay. Which would be great because I might finally be able to afford a few of my own so I, too, can get the best government I can buy.

Why should zillionaires have all the fun?


wp


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bryant69 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:32 AM
Response to Original message
2. because conventional wisdom is that Republicans will use this issue
to claim that Democrats are weak on protecting this country.

Conventional wisdom is a lot like regular old stupidity in this case.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com
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Blackhatjack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:36 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. That was the reasoning behind voting for the AUMF against Iraq right? n/t
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:08 AM
Response to Reply #3
10. Supposedly.
Maybe it was $$$$$$$$ then, too.
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Marr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:05 AM
Response to Reply #2
8. Why would Reid vote against it then?
He's helped maneuver it into position for approval. If the political concerns you describe really were he case, he'd vote for it. But he's not-- he's deceitfully voting against it, after having done everything in his power to pass it.

Apparently Reid's political calculus is that voting against the bill is in his political interests. He'll only do that if it's assured passage, of course-- but there you go.
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awoke_in_2003 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 11:07 AM
Response to Reply #8
14. A year or two down the road
most will forget that he pushed to get it passed. But, if they look up his voting record, they see he voted against it. "Oh, Harry must be a good guy". He and Pelosi may as well change parties, they are enablers and exhibit zero leadership capability.
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Jack Bone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:48 AM
Response to Original message
4. "35 Senators have been found to be illiterate"
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karynnj Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 11:29 AM
Response to Reply #4
17. They need to get Kennedy OFF that list completely
Edited on Wed Jul-09-08 11:32 AM by karynnj
There is no doubt on his position and the weak little note that he has been sick - is a major understatement. THis is also against DU policy as this is essentially calling for people to vote against our nominee, even though it is in the context of his Senate seat, which we all hope will need filling in 2009.


Also they weidly include McCain!
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Blackhatjack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:49 AM
Response to Original message
5. NOT ONLY do the Telecoms Get Immunity, They get to keep Millions $ Paid to Them....
You get immunity for your crimes, and you get to keep the $$$ you reaped for violating the law as well.

Is this a great country for corporations, or what????
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liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 09:51 AM
Response to Original message
6. A white powder that could show up in their offices
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awoke_in_2003 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 11:10 AM
Response to Reply #6
15. Maybe a few vocal dems
might get the powder treatment, but the real answer is: Almost every politician on capitol hill is bought and paid for and they do what their real bosses (corporate giants) tell them to do.
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nightrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:00 AM
Response to Original message
7. blackmail--embarassing? illegal? information on them obtained by spying,credit card data mining
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:07 AM
Response to Original message
9. $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$
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hisownpetard Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:43 AM
Response to Original message
11. Complicity, plain and simple.
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Individualist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:45 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. Absolutely!
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debbierlus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 10:45 AM
Response to Original message
13. Black-mail, DINO, bribes from the telecommunication industry

Fear
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B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-09-08 11:12 AM
Response to Original message
16. It should come as no secret, we have the best government that corporations can buy!
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