@LWM

Good lobbying, on the other hand, requires no such larger contextual explanation. It is a cherished First Amendment right -- necessary, like the others, to protect a free people against overbearing and potentially tyrannical government...

Oh, C'mon, LWM, if you ever spent any time in Santa Clara you would know that corporations are people, too!

-- Derbig Mooser

I think you misunderstood him Derbig. He implicitly agrees with with the stance that lobbying = freedom. He must, no? That is the route, at least in part, he has chosen himself. My understanding is that he and a "well connected" friend are fighting "the good fight" via lobbying. The the Republican Governer of California has their number on speed dial don'cha know.

Come to think of it, most all of you who write and beg your congresswhores to see things your way are engaging in just such a system, albeit on a much smaller scale and with less money involved. Am I missing something or wouldn't this whole Carney thing be considered some form of lobbying? Let's see... a PAC was formed -> money was solicited and used for the cause (did they take him to dinner?) -> those involved cajoled and negotiated with their target congresswhore...

I dunno, it sure sounds like lobbying to me.

I think LWM was probably using that op-ed to remind us of the virtues of lobbying. After all, what other options are there but to play the game?

Well, you're not dumb. Evil, maybe, but not dumb. ;-)

-- William Timberman

While I believe you were attempting to be pleasant and "taking the piss" as our British friends like to say, I lost any sense of humor I had about this stuff long ago. Perhaps you would care to elaborate on why you feel I might be "evil" for pointing out the obvious. I am truly curious.

Your other options are adnoto, who has no plan other than to keep shooting people who aren't pure enough until no one is left or the anarchomystic who has it all figured out in his head. Chaos. -- L.W.M.

You know you really should check yourself. You are way out of line. One day I am an authoritarian. the next I am an anarchist and now I am an authoritarian again. Make up your mind you senile old bastard.

I realize that you hope your fantasies about me will make you look "reasonable" by comparison but people are smart enough to see through your establishment enabling, status quo bullshit. It is you and your kind that will have us living with pseudo fascism for the foreseeable future. People will remember that.

And most of them aren't obsessed with me like you and Bucky. I find your obsessions fascinating, if not flattering. -- L.W.M.

Wow, lol. What a firm grip on reality you have! That is some classic projection. Go back and read through this or any other thread... see which one of us brings up the other more regularly. You may want to forget about the splinter in my eye, till you deal with that plank in yours.

I'm an American who doesn't agree with all the policies of the U.S. government, does that make me a self-hating American? -- Patrick Morgan

Where have you been? Of course it does. At least to the conservative elements (and their "moderate" enablers) who control our country. They word it a bit differently though -- you are a part of the "Blame (or hate) America first" crowd. Haven't you heard them screaming about the blame America firsters these past several years?

You can deny it all you like. You can logically and honestly state that your opposition to policy does not equal a hate for your country. It won't matter a lick. They are the deciders of what it means to be a true American.

Speaking for myself, I think we should begin to agree with them. What's not to hate? What are we not to blame for? If our government is truly of, by and for the people then they are correct. Many of us do hate "America." I know I do.

But my posts are instructive for those poster who worship St.Glenn... we must push St.Glenn obviously you will get a response....lol,lol,lol -- GThrasher

I have a bag of hammers lying around here somewhere that is more intelligent than you.

Your posts are a complete and utter waste of time and bandwidth.

I think McCain has a bit more wishy-washy with his stance on torture than the ad or organization gives him credit for, but anyway, let's put him and the others on notice about it.

Yes.. of course! Why has no one thought of this before? Let's all call "our representatives" and presidential candidates and tell them we positively will not stand for their bullshit any longer! Ooh, oooh... or better yet we can start a letter writing campaign! Man oh man.. this is ingenious. This is bound to work. And if for some crazy reason they do not respond correctly, we can threaten them with the threat of even more calls and letters. We will clog up the internets, US Mail and phone lines until they relent! They are definitely gonna feel as though they have been "put on notice."

Glenn, a serious piece of advice. Have Salon help you if needed, but ban people entirely rather than delete their posts as they come up regardless (as per the other post) of what they say. If you can not bring yourself to a permanent banning, then ban folks for a month at the time and hope they get the hint. But please do not waste your time policing the comment area.

A good suggestion Bucky. I am not for deleting posts at all but if deleting posts of certain individuals is what it is about then Glenn shouldn't waste his time. Simply banning their IP would be more effective.