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Saturday, May 24, 2008 12:00 AM

How telecoms are attempting to buy amnesty from Congress

Lobbyist disclosure forms and campaign contribution records illuminate the sleazy process by which our key laws are written.

The letters thread is now closed.

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Saturday, May 24, 2008 09:46 AM

@Jebbie

McCain is in the same position. His "choice" of running mate will tell us precisely who controls the GOP nominating apparatus - and it ain't McCain.

Abso-bloomin-lutely true. Between that and the Blue Dog Democrats It's moo touch for me!

A brocha on you all,and Glenn, you know you are doing all the time amitzvah for us, but I haven't got the heart for it today.

So how's about it, Electro, you still an Obama fan? Shall I retrieve those comments where you lauded Obama's Jew-like thinking? Or would that be "smearing" or "name-calling"

What amazes me about you Electro, is that you seem to have, for a guy who is supposed to be so alive to anti-semetism, no notion that you are nothing more than a shabbes goy for the most virulent antisemites in America.

Congratulations, Electro- You've heard of the "Tree Grows in Brooklyn"? Well, my friend, you did it like an onion- mitten kup in drerd!

Saturday, May 24, 2008 09:49 AM

Elephants trying to climb trees

while the donkeys look on wistfully and hope to one day do the same. A kind of Laurel and Hardy affair, our politicians are. After the elephants destroy the forest, enabled by the donkeys, the elephants turn and say: well this is another fine mess you've gotten us into.

There is a reason I read the comments every day, and this image is the one for today.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 09:50 AM

"They're on pace to spend more than $50 million on lobbying this year -- just those three companies.

The telcoms spent about $40 million in 2000, check open secrets dot com, telcom utilities and telcom services. Given the fall of the dollar, this kind of spending is in line with the investment the telcoms make when there is a change of party in the White House, and maintenance on previous investments to keep the reconstitution of the Baby Bells into MaBell.

I don't think the telcoms with all their lawyers are worried about FISA penalties (jail or fines) or lawsuits; they will hide behind Yoo's 'exclusive doesn't mean exclusive anymore' reasoning, and then the AMUF for Afghanistan. The lawsuits will be dismissed by the DC courts for 'national security reasons' and all will be well for the telcoms.

The Bush folk are going to run the clock on executive privilege and given that Congress can't even get it's act together to challenge even minor infractions of the law, and with impeachment off the table, well, the Bush folk aren't looking at any sanctions at all.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 09:52 AM

@ The Mooseman

Well, since it is shabbas, and I am a goy, I don't mind manning the ER watch while you go ride; I won't tell the rebbe, either.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 09:55 AM

After hitting the road.... (Hat-tip to everybody who isn't offended) a last toot.

A 18-wheel-trucker buys mousses as treats for good appetites. Derbig puts on a big rubber cycle suit. If I read you clearly? Whoa. What a mist at the seashore, and seagulls will miss U.T., and the waves may spray me. D.M., you deserve a cheeseburger. A scat-bucket. A barf-pail. A wild bore. Oh. Or,

No fear a rumor of Sun causing cancer blisters? Wind burn cheeks? Don't expect to purchase from a Saudi catalogue a new head if the courts chop it legally off. No. No buy a Memorial Day Burka, or wear as skin protector a white or black burka on land or sea.

For a helmet? Wear a garbage bucket.

Buy a white dumpster garbage top hat.

D.M. Lucky ducks no`a`begs for Quacks!

What blind bleeps! peeps. o-pip-squeaks.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 10:17 AM

@WT

With a name like Timberman, you're not Jewish? How can that be?

Anyway, it reminds me of the time I got a plastic bag stuck on my head. "Help" I screamed to my wife, "I'm suffocating from lack of oxygen already!"

"Funny", she said, "You don't look blueish!"

(Oy- no breakfast yet.)

I shall leave it in your capable, tactful and learned hands. And if anybody wants proof, LWM will supply the links.

Robert Burns, it was who said, wasn't it, about the best-laid plans going awry? With me, it's always Arai!

Shalom my friends. Don't take any opgekrocheneh schoireh from you-know-who. He's a paskudnik, fo' sho!

Me, I'm just waiting for my Yiddish-Ebonics Rap CD to hit the charts. It's called "Gangsta's and Gonifs".

Look for it at your favorite store.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 10:31 AM

The best little whore houses in D.C.

Dang. These people cost more Gov. Spitters girlfriend.

This is just the back-end, Glenn. Part of what they call life-time residual cash flow (*like my home foreclosure program for $39.95, in three easy payments.).

What's the front-end worth? ...if it's worth 50$ mill. on the back-end, I can barely imagine what the front-end is making on this deal. $50 mill. is merely the cogs (cost of goods sold).

Update: McCain has agreed to walk me down the asile but I'm not that easily led. Bizarro.

Notice: all dimocrats who vote for this here immunity deal will get a free electro lux. O Electro! sweep.

working the bugs out,

bah.

+/-bop. Listen. if you want to celebate at a redneck juke joint go go in tu tus, well you better let me handle the reservations. stick close by me. don't wonder off. ok.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 10:34 AM

The other post seems like a potty training workshop.... (a long painful road trip. no restroom).... shut the ears. Turn off the cell-phones.

A toddler in a sheer sleeveless shirt is talking cod. Holy Tuna.

It's to imagine a toddler hopping up/ down at a trucker rest~stop.

Screaming the same-same.... blood curdle... `'Pop, flush the toilet!

okay. Who don't need the ears and mouth cleansed from observations.

All I know is that a little time spent viewing natural won't hurt anyone.

Saturday, May 24, 2008 10:38 AM

here's a suggestion ...

how about we make a rule .. the rule should read .. "any and all funds spent by active for-profit corporations on lobbying to influence legislation before he u.s. house or the u.s. senate .. or any member thereof ..will be matched by an exactly equal amount paid in a check to the treasury of the united states of america.

if we can't atop it .. at least we can assure the treasury benefits from it. essentially ..as it now stands our government gets influenced and a favorable result is acheived with all the financial benefit accruing to private parties. let's get the taxpayers a cut of those funds as well .. if our system is going to be corrupted .. then let's let the trreasury make a profit on the deal as well.

much of this nnsense could be stopped if we could legislate away the totally assinine idea that "corporations .. for the purposes of speech have the same rights as individuals" .. which is amng the stupidest ideas ever to cross the bench .. imo ..

so let's at least get matching funds eh ??

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