Supporting telecom immunity pays dividends
By SilentPatriot Wednesday Jun 25, 2008 4:00pmAn analysis by LightMAP.org reveals that the 94 Democrats who changed their position on FISA since March are being flooded with donations from the companies who they now want to give a free pass. Shouldn't this be illegal or something?
Dems who flipped on FISA immunity see more telecom cash
House Democrats who flipped their votes to support retroactive immunity for telecom companies in last week’s FISA bill took thousands of dollars more from phone companies than Democrats who consistently voted against legislation with an immunity provision, according to an analysis by MAPLight.org.
The 94 Democrats who changed their positions received on average $8,359 in contributions from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint from January, 2005, to March, 2008, according to the analysis by MAPLight, a nonpartisan organization that tracks the connection between campaign contributions and legislative outcomes.
Login or Register to post comments.
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.
Cheaper by the dozen.
Why does it even matter if the Dems be the Rebs?
I'm curious how much they had gotten from these companies in the past before this all came to light.
Democratic Congress people for sale right here! Get your red hot Democratic Congress people! Step up ladies and gentlemen!
Amazing ... this you notice while missing the obvious ... the constitution doesnt describe a federal politburo even though that is precisely what we now have.
That is something like complaining that hitmen get paid for killing - as if killing werent the problem.
I hope MoveOn puts together an ad about this - complete with names and dollar amounts.
I have something that I am flipping back to the house and senate dems who are caving in on this FISA deal.
Hey there Congress (both houses), can you see this single digit that I'm flippin' ya?
"finster, didn't i tell you not to play with the dirty money"
-bugs bunny 1947
If you do the math these guys come pretty cheap, the liabilities the telecoms are/were facing are massive. maybe we should all chip in and buy a few of them, maybe for christmas??
this just proves there are crooked democrats
in the govt too, that are more interested in
big corporations like the repugs. these dems
have to go too. the American people will
never have the representation as long as
any elected representatives are bought by special interests.
Democracy run amok.
There's still a death penalty for treason.
But bribery convictions would be good enough for me.
We had thunder storms all afternoon so all my electric stuff was turned off. Did the Senate vote on the immunity and if so, how did it break down?
SICK!!!!!!!!!!
shame on all the dems that gave in on this very important issue
So that's what the Constitution is worth: $8,359.
Leslie [Hussein] @ 15:
If you act today! But, why get in a hurry? Just hold your horses and the price will go down some more.
Follow the money everytime.
So, don't vote for them and let them know that you won't vote for them. A weak crooked DEM is no better than the GOP.
How much money has Obama's campaign received from the telcoms? That probably explains his flippity flop on the immunity issue.
Leslie [Hussein] @ 15:
That was my reaction as well. Not only are they whores, but cut-rate ones at that.
Although I kept hoping, wishing that the Democrats would be different, meaning NOT FOR SALE, the truth is quite painful. Most people who want to be a politician, only want to be a politician because they are power hungry and money hungry. If you check the backgrounds of some of the people in House and Senate, it looks like a scam. What they really should put below their picture on their website is: I AM FOR SALE
My guy changed his vote for $13.5K. He snookered'em-they could have had him for a hundred bucks.
budda @ 14:
It's just a goddamn piece of paper - Bush
The country isnt going to be restored by the democrats or O'Bama.
You arent going to rebel and do anything.
Probably best to encourage the pols (republicans and democrats) to finish the country off. Then perhaps something better can be created out of whole cloth.
Ginzberg should retire today.
Vote republican in November.
Put this worthless example of a civil society out of its misery.
Im not trying to make excuses for what they have done but I would like to point out that is a 3-year period before they changed their position (on a completely different bill BTW). That is not a huge amount of $, and it was mostly given BEFORE this issue even came to a head, and there are many other issues involving telecoms that have come to light. I think the telecom immunity is more about protecting the president than about protecting the telecoms. I think these are mis-leading #s considering the time-frame and the relatively small $ amounts.
If anyone calls you with a poll, be sure to tell them that you support Bob Barr.
We need to get Barr in play for the debates and the election.
C & R has lightmap.org it's actually http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08
I am glad to see that none of the Oregon Democrats were listed. No buddy likes a flip flopper, especially a bought off flip flopper.
I am with the majority who think that the Dems doing the flip-flop of the FISA
Act are two-faced and idiots. But, when trying to imply that each and every one
of those who changes their votes was based upon "donations" to them seems just
a bit lame(at least to me). If on an average, each received $8,359, during the
period Jan 05, thru March 08, that is a three year period, averaging about $2,789
per year, per person. That is not much, at least when compared to how much
each of them received during same time frame from pharasecutical industy, the
financial industry, and other lobby industry groups. Just saying..
RIP America.
It's all over.
Names, please. I want names, preferably with photos, of these traitors.
jon @ 30:
http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08
SweetAtheist @ 27:
Pinch me. Steny Hoyer right there at the top. Fucking whore.
How much to have a congressional shit swim? A la Magic Christian, we wheel up a huge dumpster filled to the brim with liquid waste, mix in a few million and let the critters dive for dollars. If we're being represented by cheating whores, let them at least entertain us!
I think the politicians should put patches on their suits like nascar drivers wear, so we can see whom they are whoring themselves out to which companies.
Corruption on both sides of the aisle? Impossible.
Oh, oh, oh there's Nancy Pelosi not too far down the list at $24,500. [Deleted. Site Monitor]!
My suggestion: Permanent residence in the Soviet Gulag.
My guy is at 0.00. He'll learn.
The immorality aside, I never cease to be stunned by how little it takes to buy a politician. These are multi-billion dollar companies and all they have to give is a few thousand dollars to get someone to vote for them and against America.
What are we going to do? We call them, write them, tell our elected officials about how we feel about an issue, but they just see us as fools by voting against the people. Why can't we fire them? Who's paying their salaries?
They say they work for the people, but the truth is, they're our boss.
VietVet8666 @ 12:
The only way that's going to happen is when the citizens take it into their own hands to enforce it.
I really, really don't like wishing for bad things to happen to both parties and both houses of the legislature, but I'm finding it harder and harder to not do so.
Best damn representation money can buy. Of course, if you dont have any money........
I called Verizon wireless my cell phone company about their company's position on this matter and was told "no comment and I cannot break my contract because of this situation." I am done with this company thank goodness in 6 months and my contract is up. Verizon can you hear me now FU
Everyday I just get number.
When does the football season start?
Unlike, the former USSR where Government ran Industry, in the US, Industry runs Government.
I'm not sure these donations are relevant to this vote. Didn't the house vote FISA down in March of this year just to resurrect it now? Why now? Why not wait until after the election. Something else is going on. This is just my opinion of course, but I think this was the plan all along. During the previous debate, the Repubs forced a "Closed Session" very late at night. They claimed they had information to reveal that could not be told in an "Open Session". I think that the Dems were told about all the dirt Bush has on them from the "illegal" wiretapping program. I believe that they made a deal to vote it down then just to keep us all happy and promised to bring it up again, soon, and pass it through. In this case it's not "Who you know" it's "What they know about you." According to Senator Dodd, this bill has had 75 changes since inception. They should change the name from FISA - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to DISA - Domestic Intelligence Surveillance Act.
I think there are other reasons they changed their positions. You really think 8 g's over several years made the difference?
(hussien)moondancer @ 38:
He's probably very bitter.
harley @ 44:
I feel your pain. I could hardly get out of bed this afternoon.
Steny needed the money NOW! Damn it.
http://www.truthout.org/article/congress-still-corrupt-and-useless
"Shouldn't it be illegal or something?"
Well yes, it should be.
And until it is, nothing will change in our government. Big money will continue to run the show, and the rest of us can go fuck ourselves.
Next question?
g-men @ 45:
That is the difference between Communism and Fascism.
Johan @ 21:
The dems, like the repubs, have been for sale for decades.
I think it was Will Rogers who said that the congress was the best money could buy - and that was in the 1920s!
The only person running that was making this an issue was Kucinich.
The left ignored him. The right ignored him. Obama arrogantly dismissed him as as a "spice".
Now, all we have left is Obama and McCain - both owned by the same people.
And who is the only person on the scene raising this as an issue?
Ralph Nader.
Hated by the right because he is against corporate domination of our lives.
Hated by the left because they are chumps who have been taken in by the right.
It's just not about the money. Most of our elected officials are unintelligent, scared, which is how corporate likes them. Easy to intimidate, scare, and set-up a dumb official for profit.
As Nader says, the US government is for sale.
And the Democratic Party just can't seem to understand why so many progressives are considering a third party?
We need 100% publicly funded elections from POTUS through Congress.
Too bad it's the current snakes in Congress who need to pass that legislation.
Talk about a Catch-22.
Geesh.
Well gee, ain't that a saa-weet deal..... Hmmm, wonder if I can con the RNC into giving me 8 grand if I promise to vote republican??? JD
BIG BUSINESS'S ARE RUINING (RUNNING) THIS COUNTRY. WE ARE NOT A "FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE" COUNTRY ANYMORE.
WE DON'T LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY - WE LIVE IN A PLUTOCRACY. WE ARE ALL DOOMED!
[In the future, please refrain from posting in ALL CAPS and/or All Bold. Thank you. Site Monitor]
And I say God Damn Them All.
Well, I see my brand-spanking-new Congresscritter, Laura Richardson (D CA, 37th Dist.) got bupkis, probably because she just took office by special election to replace the late Millender-McDonald. So why was Rep. Richardson one of the Demorats who voted "yay" for the FISA fiasco? I hear she needs a lot of money to get her several houses out of foreclosure. Hasn't she heard that they won't buy the cow if they're gettin' the milk for free? I think I should put her wise. (:>
Isawthelight @ 54:
[Deleted. Do not advocate violence at this site. Site Monitor]
What can we do about a Congress who wont follow the will of the people? They treat us like children! They pretend to listen to us "Aw... The little people have something to say" then turn around and do what they say is best for us, ignoring our screams of rejection.
This is all happening to us because we're all keyboard warriors! Lazy asses who rather type, and they know this, which is why they don't take us serious.
I have to say that it is a gross exaggeration to suggest that the telecom companies have purchased the votes of these congressmen. They're only rented. Attractive multi-vote packages are still available. Call now.
Frank @ 64:
We could all reregister as independents.
That would throw a scare into them.
Re: @65 Your call may be monitored for any reason whatsoever.
I'm beginning to feel that message sites like these are becoming the new opiate of the masses. Oh, we're all mad and all that, but just what the hell good does it do? I live in David Drier's District and lived in Gary Miller's before that, used to feel bad about that, but it looks like it doesn't make much difference for any of us. Get elected, get some money. No more meaningless writing on message sites.
If you are wondering what you can do to fight back, you are invited to go to Jane's place where Liberals and Libertarians are uniting to take back some power to the people:
The Constitution -- it's who we are as a country. It goes beyond party.
http://firedoglake.com/2008/06/26/libertarians-and-liberals-unite-money-...
Hur-ray hur-ray, step right up! It's the most audacious show of Bozos on earth! Watch your favorite defenders of liberty perform the death-defying, dizzying dance of distraction! Laugh and cry while a wet-willie goes in your rear-end! You won't believe your eyes as your champions battle to mind-rape you and your children, magically transforming clear wrongs into right, stripping your protections in order to collect corporate-criminal dollars, after having swore mocking-oaths to protect your nations now-silly constitution!
Best government money can buy!
Nancy Pelosi - "I do solemnly swear to do my best to protect the constitution until I'm blackmailed to accept money so corporate America doesn't tell the word about the skeletons in my closet."
The FISA bill has been delayed because of Russ Feingold's objections.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/26/objections-by-feingold-delay-fisa/
It would be nice if we could all send him a little love.
http://feingold.senate.gov/
frances @ 9:
Yeah no shi#, that's dirt cheap! I'd have thought the constitution would be a little more expensive. I mean, at least. Low value document it seems.
As my 2 year contract with AT&T had expired recently, I was planning on switching phone companies. I finally went with CREDO last night.
Mostly just a futile symbolic gesture? I suppose. But to my knowledge, CREDO, then Working Assets, didn't play ball with BushCo. back when all this was going down.
~Animal House, 1978
Otter: ...Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
... or here:
http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/407
Viking Bastard @ 63:
[Deleted. Do not advocate violence at this site. Site Monitor]
So.
Is $8359 the price of democracy these days?
Or is that just the cost of 30 pieces of silver adjusted for inflation?
"That's a nice looking piece of paper. What is it?"
"We call it the United States Constitution."
"Really? Is it important?"
"Very much so, we base our laws on it and we fall back on it whenever a question comes up about the legality of a law that is passed in Congress. We members of Congress swear to uphold it when we take office. We do so because it is required by the very same Constitution:
"The Constitution specifies in Article VI, clause 3:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
"Wow. So what was the oath you took when you became a member of Congress?"
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
"I'll give you $8,300 for it."
"Deal!"
Obama's leadership on this is truly disappointing. Lip service and no action does not a president make, especially when it comes to defending the constitution and the rule of law.
xoites defends Constitution @ 77:
Fool! Next week there's a 50% discount!
Sid @ 26:
Good idea! However, I am surprised that you can own a member of Congress for less than you'd pay for a used car.
And we're supposed to be scared of terrorists ruining our country?
Terrorists are less dangerous to us than the fools we have running this banana republic of ours.
How long before they smell the fat profits they can accumulate by invading Iran?
So for less than $786K, our constitution was sold down the river. Maybe we should have budgeted another $800K in raises for them if times were so tough for these poor schmucks. Nah...
Folks, we're fucked.
Democracy to the highest bidder. I'm tempted to remove my 'Obama '08' bumpersticker and print my own, "Write in Russ!".
I'm beginning to feel some empathy for the common suicide bomber these days...
Traitors.
Until the leadership of both parties is destroyed or fundamentally altered, we will never be the free republic we want to be.
Wow who'd a thunk it. (pretty obvious don't ya think?)
fastfeat @ 86:
There are a lot of other alternatives we have not even begun to explore yet.
A corrupt democracy is the seed of a brutal dictatorship.
Frank @ 81:
Hey folks plenty of money to go around. This week big oil comes to town followed by big pharma, then HMOs .....Your calendar and coffers will fill up if you know how to play. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeehhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Phantom(God of Hellfire) @ 91:
Really, do tell.
Alice X @ 93:
All you have to do is look at where his campaign contributions came from in 2000 and 2004 .... I saw an analysis once that traced the reportable contribuitions and something like over 80% of his total was coming from people who were Bush donors as well.
Republicans Taunt Obama As Spineless Over FISA Reversal
This is what none of the dems get. They give bush all he wants to not appear weak and then get called weak for caving. Might as well stick to your principles.
Notice that numbers 84 thru 94 didn't get any PAC money but still changed their vote. Not really fair to say they were involved. So, only 83 changed their votes and got PAC money.
This is written in a misleading way. Is it on purpose? Maybe http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08 is not so non-partisan?
Janet @ 95:
They are going to twist, spin and attack. It is pretty much their forte'. Might as well have some convictions and if you go that far you might as well have the courage to stand up for them. I am getting ready to lead the charge to leave the Democratic Party if FISA passes. I will happily burn my Voter Registration Card in front of Harry Reid's Office since i live in Las Vegas. Think the media would spin it to hurt the Democrats? Sure they would. Will they spin our silence into cowardly namby pambyism? Yep! No need to worry about the Corporate Media. They sure are consistant. Want to put the traitors to our Constitution on notice? Tell them that if FISA passes we are leaving the Party. Then when we leave they can put that $8,300 down on a fairwell ad.
What disgusts me most about this is that it only costs $800k to get rid of the fourth amendment, and the rule of law.
SFnomad @ 94:
Then I would suggest the Democratic donors start donating to Barr.
organmeat @ 96:
Looking further it is really doubtful that numbers 75 to 83 sold their votes for $1000 so it may have to do with something else. So the number is probable less than 74 (not an excuse for taking any money).
my guess is that obama's afraid to take on telecom immunity because he reckons he needs to kiss the intelligence community's @$$ to get elected.
remember, jfk would have probably dismantled the cia had he not met an untimely demise.
(i realize many of you get queasy talkin' 'bout jfk and / or 9/11, but if you wanna be a super-sleuth you're gonna have to taste the pain).
i pray obama knows what he's doing -he's had a seemingly awful week...
Leslie [Hussein] @ 15: e
That would be the theme to attack the Judases with.
http://history.grand-forks.k12.nd.us/NDHistory/LessonImages/Sources/Cart...
How history still repeats itself!
Freedom Fighters -- Fighting your freedom on your tax dollar. Pay to be hurt by criminals.
How these frauds pretend their self esteem is puzzling. Aren't they revealed as dishonorable criminals too, now? Do they always take money for protecting law breakers?
How are we Americans supposed to protect ourselves and solve our problems, when our civil servants take our money given to them for these purposes, but instead create even more problems and astonishingly, work against us to lock-up not the criminals, but our problem-solving ability to even know what is going on? This is completely unreasonable.
Why is this obscenity against our people so easy and natural to them?
h/t me :)
And yes,
Our Rights, Freedoms and Liberties are on the auction block. Witness the article.
I feel cheep. The House Madame sells out the Republic like WE are a two bit whore.
Now, how else did she become the House Madame but by working her way up?
How about an offer from the netroots: return the money to the telcos, change your position and we'll cover it.
If you never took the money and voted the right way in the first place, we'll double it. Just ask, and make some statements condemning those who won't return their bribes.
Is that practical? Seems like it'd need around $1m dollars to work. Maybe less?
Anything you want . . . . where's the bucks? The total picture of our present elected officials. What happened to our America?
The headline's a bit misleading. 11 of the 94 Democrats who changed their positions have not received ANY money from the telecoms over the last three years (which really makes you wonder what they are thinking):
Baird, Brian (WA-3)
Berry, Robert (AR-1)
Marshall, James (GA-8)
Peterson, Collin (MN-7)
Richardson, Laura (CA-37)
Ruppersberger, C.A. (MD-2)
Sestak, Joe (PA-7)
Snyder, Victor (AR-2)
Taylor, Gene (MS-4)
Udall, Mark (CO-2)
Yarmuth, John (KY-3)
Last I knew it was called Bribery of Elected Officials.
Heh; the last go-around (when the House Dems didn't capitulate) saw CNN staying mum on the subject (again) whilest running pro-immunity ads paid for by the Republicans every break.
Any question who's running the country?
You can see the whole of Congress, Presidents and even whole parties on OpenSecrets.Org and search through their histories with some going back as far as 1998.
Login or Register to post comments.