Comments on: An offer he couldn't refuse...

An offer he couldn't refuse...

jpoulos — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:12:37 -0800

Politics as usual?...if you're in the mafia, maybe. Pressuring [Republican Congressman] Nick Smith to vote for a Medicare reform bill, House GOP leaders threatened to support candidates running against Smith's son for Congress, Nick Smith said Monday. (via TPM)

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:32:01 -0800

The system may be the best currently available, but the people in in are beyond hope. Time for a purge.

By: rushmc

rushmc — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:40:54 -0800

Hardly surprising. We allow Congress to operate according to principles that have long since been devalued and banned in other areas of society. If we let them openly cut deals, supporting legislation quid pro quo (while condemning price-fixing schemes elsewhere), tack extraneous pork onto popular bills to sneak them through, air nasty and libelous attack ads to pull others into the mud, use obscene sums of money to openly purchase their office in the first place, and so on, then how can we be surprised when they continue to push to get away with more and more? They are criminals, standing behind a sheer.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:50:13 -0800

This is news but only in the way that it validates what people have been thinking about the government for a long, long time. Its about coercion, trading favors and strong arming bills through. There is no government, just a loose association of who owes who. And the good old boys rock on all the time.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 15:52:59 -0800

[side note] threatened to support candidates running against Smith's son for Congress, Whom, the article never says yet does give a plug for Brad Smith, son/candidate.

By: skallas

skallas — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 17:07:31 -0800

> The system may be the best currently available Hahaha stop it, you're killing me. Or what rushmc posted. Here's a good starter on how the US (and many other governments) really work: Palast's The Best Democracy Money can Buy. Speaking of pork, the Patriot Act II was voted in while we were all sleeping.

By: rushmc

rushmc — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 17:28:53 -0800

Some, it should be noted, sleep more soundly than others.

By: ptermit

ptermit — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:20:34 -0800

That's why they call 'em majority whips.

By: 2sheets

2sheets — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:33:20 -0800

What's newsworthy is that he stood his ground. Mr Smith has earned the respect and adoration of this independent/liberal. Maybe he should consider changing the company he keeps.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:35:07 -0800

the Patriot Act II was voted in while we were all sleeping. I'm sure they'll use it responsibly.

By: Keyser Soze

Keyser Soze — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 20:20:15 -0800

say hello to another Hoover era!

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 22:07:38 -0800

Mean-spirited strongarm tactics seem to be the signature style of the current junta. When Maine's Olympia Snowe and Ohio's George Voinovich, both Republicans, had the temerity to oppose the Bush tax cuts, tv ads showing them with the French flag appeared in their local market. The old you're-with-us-or-you're-a-traitor schtick. Of course, this backfired in Maine where a huge proportion of the population is of French descent. The ads were sponsored by the party's neocon enforcer group, the charming little Club for Growth which must have studied the Nixon book of dirty tricks. They sponsor the RINO (republicans in name only) list, and keep tabs on moderate and centrist Republicans that they would like to replace. Although they didn't consider Arnold too distasteful to pose with recently - he posed with admirers 168 times at the event. Glad to see he takes his role so seriously. On the flip side of the coin is the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of moderate republicans who are most probably all in the Club for Growth crosshairs.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 22:35:11 -0800

Republican Aide Improperly Got Democratic Memos

By: yesster

yesster — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 06:12:45 -0800

WTF? Other portions of the funding bill eliminate annual reports to Congress on several controversial matters, such as foreign companies' involvement in the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the effectiveness of the intelligence community and antidrug efforts. Who is trying to hide what here?

By: skallas

skallas — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 06:49:09 -0800

>They sponsor the RINO (republicans in name only) list Funny how the "real Republicans" vote along the same party line. Is RINO how conservatives justify their love of the GOP?

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 08:00:33 -0800

Oddly enough, I got this in email today.... "Things you have to believe to be a Republican today." o Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery. o The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq. o Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money but crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness. o "Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India. o A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation. o Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton. o The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay. o Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican. o If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex. o A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money. o HMOs and insurance companies have the interest of the public at heart. o Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism. o Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools. o Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion. o A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy. o Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet. o The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business. o You support states' rights, which means Attorney General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have a right to adopt. o What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant. o Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.