Tag: politics

uh-oh – Nearly One-Forth of the House got donations from corrupt firm connected to Murtha

I suspect there will be some sort of fallout from this here:

More than 100 House members secured earmarks in a major spending bill for clients of a single lobbying firm — The PMA Group — known for its close ties to John P. Murtha , the congressman in charge of Pentagon appropriations.

“It shows you how good they were,” said Keith Ashdown, chief investigator at the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. “The sheer coordination of that would take an army to finish.”

PMA’s offices have been raided, and the firm closed its political action committee last week amid reports that the FBI is investigating possibly illegal campaign contributions to Murtha and other lawmakers.

No matter what the outcome of the federal investigation, PMA’s earmark success illustrates how a well-connected lobbying firm operates on Capitol Hill. And earmark accountability rules imposed by the Democrats in 2007 make it possible to see how extensively PMA worked the Hill for its clients.

In the spending bill managed by Murtha, the fiscal 2008 Defense appropriation, 104 House members got earmarks for projects sought by PMA clients, according to Congressional Quarterly’s analysis of a database constructed by Ashdown’s group.

Those House members, plus a handful of senators, combined to route nearly $300 million in public money to clients of PMA through that one law (PL 110-116).

And when the lawmakers were in need — as they all are to finance their campaigns — PMA came through for them.

According to CQ MoneyLine, the same House members who took responsibility for PMA’s earmarks in that spending bill have, since 2001, accepted a cumulative $1,815,138 in campaign contributions from PMA’s political action committee and employees of the firm.

via CQ Politics | Firm with Murtha Ties Got Earmarks From Nearly One-Fourth of House.

I will simply say this, that ALL of the members of the House and Senate involved with this should resign immediately. This is a disgrace to the political system and should be dealt with harshly; that goes for Democrats AND Republicans.

Update: Here’s the list of people with their hands in the cookie jar:

Bold = Member Did Not Receive PMA Money between 2001 and 2008
* = No Longer Serving in the House
# = Member of House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in the 110th Congress

Democrats

Requesting MemberState$ Secured Solo$ Secured w/OthersTotal CreditedPMA campaign $ since 2001
Peter J. Visclosky#Indiana$21,400,000$2,400,000$23,800,000$219,000
John P. Murtha#Pennsylvania$31,705,000$2,400,000$34,105,000$143,600
James P. Moran#Virginia$8,400,000$2,400,000$10,800,000$125,250
Norm Dicks#Washington$11,330,000$800,000$12,130,000$91,600
Bill Pascrell Jr.New Jersey$2,400,000$2,400,000$73,200
Mike DoylePennsylvania$1,600,000$1,600,000$69,400
Loretta SanchezCalifornia$3,200,000$3,200,000$60,118
Tim HoldenPennsylvania$3,200,000$3,200,000$57,275
Tim RyanOhio$1,000,000$1,000,000$54,250
Michael E. CapuanoMassachusetts$2,000,000$800,000$2,800,000$54,000
Chet EdwardsTexas$6,040,000$6,040,000$48,734
Silvestre ReyesTexas$800,000$800,000$42,300
Christopher CarneyPennsylvania$5,900,000$5,900,000$38,500
Paul E. KanjorskiPennsylvania$1,600,000$3,200,000$4,800,000$37,150
Marcy Kaptur#Ohio$1,600,000$1,600,000$34,500
Carolyn McCarthyNew York$1,000,000$1,000,000$31,500
Patrick J. MurphyPennsylvania$1,600,000$1,600,000$29,250
Allyson Y. SchwartzPennsylvania$800,000$800,000$25,000
Jason AltmirePennsylvania$2,600,000$2,600,000$24,500
Brad ShermanCalifornia$1,600,000$1,600,000$15,500
Susan A. DavisCalifornia$800,000$800,000$13,750
Allen Boyd#Florida$6,400,000$2,200,000$8,600,000$12,000
Sanford D. Bishop Jr.#Georgia$1,200,000$2,400,000$3,600,000$10,500
Jane HarmanCalifornia$2,400,000$2,400,000$10,500
Jim MathesonUtah$2,400,000$2,400,000$10,000
Steve IsraelNew York$1,600,000$1,600,000$8,500
Jerrold NadlerNew York$1,600,000$1,600,000$8,500
Joe SestakPennsylvania$1,280,000$1,280,000$8,500
Jim MarshallGeorgia$2,400,000$2,400,000$7,000
Mark Udall*Colorado$2,000,000$2,000,000$6,533
Michael H. MichaudMaine$800,000$800,000$6,500
Tom Allen*Maine$1,800,000$1,800,000$5,750
Danny K. DavisIllinois$295,000$295,000$5,500
Robert E. AndrewsNew Jersey$1,500,000$1,500,000$5,000
Gene TaylorMississippi$800,000$800,000$4,750
Nancy PelosiCalifornia$2,000,000$2,000,000$4,500
David E. PriceNorth Carolina$800,000$800,000$4,000
Steven R. Rothman#New Jersey$800,000$2,400,000$3,200,000$4,000
Brian HigginsNew York$3,400,000$3,400,000$3,000
Brad MillerNorth Carolina$1,000,000$1,000,000$2,250
Brad EllsworthIndiana$1,600,000$1,600,000$2,000
Ed PerlmutterColorado$1,600,000$1,600,000$2,000
Phil HareIllinois$6,800,000$6,800,000$1,500
Martin Meehan*Massachusetts$2,800,000$2,800,000$1,500
Howard L. BermanCalifornia$800,000$800,000$1,000
Carolyn B. MaloneyNew York$3,200,000$3,200,000$1,000
Ben ChandlerKentucky$2,400,000$2,400,000$250
Shelley BerkleyNevada$2,400,000$2,400,000
Dan BorenOklahoma$2,000,000$2,000,000
Leonard L. BoswellIowa$1,650,000$1,650,000
Baron P. HillIndiana$1,600,000$1,600,000
Gwen MooreWisconsin$400,000$400,000
Christopher S. MurphyConnecticut$400,000$400,000
Mike ThompsonCalifornia$1,000,000$1,000,000

Republicans

Requesting MemberState$ Secured Solo$ Secured w/OthersTotal CreditedPMA campaign $ since 2001
David L. Hobson*#Ohio$3,500,000$3,500,000$70,050
Jerry LewisCalifornia$4,000,000$4,000,000$8,000,000$34,649
Rodney Frelinghuysen#New Jersey$2,500,000$4,800,000$7,300,000$29,129
Ander CrenshawFlorida$1,000,000$1,000,000$27,300
Zach WampTennessee$2,800,000$2,800,000$23,900
Todd Tiahrt#Kansas$5,000,000$2,000,000$7,000,000$21,250
Tom Reynolds*New York$1,000,000$1,000,000$12,000
Jack Kingston#Georgia$4,000,000$2,400,000$6,400,000$11,500
H. James Saxton*New Jersey$2,000,000$1,500,000$3,500,000$11,500
Jo Ann EmersonMissouri$1,000,000$1,000,000$11,000
C.W. Bill Young#Florida$16,000,000$4,400,000$20,400,000$10,750
Howard P. “Buck” McKeonCalifornia$1,000,000$4,000,000$5,000,000$9,500
Heather Wilson*New Mexico$6,500,000$6,500,000$9,000
Jim Walsh*New York$2,400,000$2,400,000$8,500
Mark Steven KirkIllinois$390,000$390,000$7,750
Todd AkinMissouri$1,000,000$1,000,000$7,500
Ray LaHood*Illinois$7,800,000$7,800,000$7,450
Jeff MillerFlorida$1,600,000$2,200,000$3,800,000$7,000
Duncan Hunter*California$15,200,000$15,200,000$6,500
Chris Cannon*Utah$1,600,000$1,600,000$6,000
Kay GrangerTexas$3,600,000$3,600,000$6,000
Joe Knollenberg*Michigan$2,800,000$2,800,000$6,000
David DreierCalifornia$3,000,000$3,000,000$5,000
Jim GerlachPennsylvania$1,000,000$1,000,000$4,500
Tom LathamIowa$5,150,000$5,150,000$4,500
Joe L. BartonTexas$2,400,000$2,400,000$4,000
J. Dennis Hastert*Illinois$1,600,000$1,600,000$3,500
Roscoe G. BartlettMaryland$400,000$400,000$3,000
Peter HoekstraMichigan$3,700,000$3,700,000$2,500
Howard CobleNorth Carolina$1,000,000$1,000,000$2,000
John T. Doolittle*California$2,400,000$2,400,000$2,000
Kenny Hulshof*Missouri$1,600,000$1,600,000$2,000
Steve Pearce*New Mexico$6,500,000$6,500,000$2,000
Bill ShusterPennsylvania$1,600,000$1,600,000$2,000
Frank A. LoBiondoNew Jersey$1,500,000$1,500,000$1,500
Rob BishopUtah$2,400,000$2,400,000$1,000
Geoff DavisKentucky$6,800,000$6,800,000$1,000
Virgil H. Goode Jr.*Virginia$2,400,000$2,400,000$1,000
Doug LambornColorado$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000
Kenny MarchantTexas$2,400,000$2,400,000$1,000
Christopher Shays*Connecticut$1,600,000$1,600,000$1,000
John SullivanOklahoma$2,000,000$2,000,000$1,000
Tom Tancredo*Colorado$1,600,000$1,600,000$1,000
Michael C. BurgessTexas$2,400,000$2,400,000$500
Ralph M. HallTexas$2,400,000$2,400,000
Doc HastingsWashington$1,600,000$1,600,000
Sam JohnsonTexas$1,200,000$1,200,000
Todd R. PlattsPennsylvania$4,400,000$4,400,000
Rick Renzi*Arizona$2,400,000$2,400,000
Pete SessionsTexas$1,600,000$4,800,000$6,400,000

Wow. Can’t wait for the fallout.

Others: The Swamp, NPR, Outside The Beltway, The Washington Independent, Liberty Street, Right Wing Nut House, Betsy’s Page, Hot Air, Wizbang, Taegan Goddard’s …, Riehl World View,  Sister Toldjah, Michelle Malkin and QandO

Racism, Race Baiting and the Stoking of Racial Resentment

Here my latest entry, to my column called Slightly Right:

I am writing this because it needs to be written, especially from someone of my political leanings.  Today was quite the interesting day when it comes to race relations.  Earlier in the day, our Country’s new Attorney General; Eric Holder, castigated the United States of America, by saying that we were a “Nation of cowards,” when it comes to race relations.  I found this to be quite the interesting remark considering that the United States of America just elected an African-American as the Nation’s 44’th President,  not to mention the fact that Congress just confirmed Eric Holder to be the first African-American Attorney General. This is a form of race baiting, not to mention that fact that it is a form of stoking the racial resentment in this country.  Conversely, this is what the Democratic Party promotes and even encourage within the Party.  In the Democratic Party, it always seems like it is still 1964, before the civil rights act was passed. The Democratic Party does this, so that they can control the people and keep them around for the votes come election time.  Someone who is a bit nastier than me would refer to them as “useful idiots,” However; I am not that kind of a person.

What I just wrote about is just one of the many culprits of racial disharmony in this country and is commonly found in the Liberal circles.  Another culprit that is, in this writer’s opinion, just as bad a race baiting and that is abject racism.  A sick example of that is the cartoon that was published in the New York Post yesterday.  The cartoon was supposedly, and I use that term in the strongest way possible, a piece of satire.  The problem is the only person or persons that were laughing, was the man who drew the cartoon and the editorial staff at The New York Post. The rest of sane rational America was standing with their arms folded and toes tapping wondering just what were the New York Post thinking, when they allowed this cartoon to published?

As I have written on my blog many times, racism is just plain wrong, as is Race Baiting and this continual stoking of the racial resentments in this Country.  I will be the first person to admit, that the Liberals do the stoking, just as much as those of the Conservative side of the political fence.  It is this writers opinion that the only thing worse than a race baiter, who continually attempts to stoke the resentment between the races by continually waving the victim flag every time someone says something that is considered out of line or politically incorrect.  That is the person in the Anglo-Saxon race that says or does something intentionally offensive to cause those of the African-American race to have a knee jerk reaction.  This is more of that stoking of the flames of the historic racial resentment.

The cartoon that was published yesterday by the New York Post was classless, tasteless and downright offensive, considering that this Nation just recently took a major step, in a long list of steps of burying this nations past of ugliness towards those of the African-American race.  The only purpose of that cartoon was to stoke the flames of the resentment between the Black and White races in the country.  Furthermore, the response of the New York Post Editorial board when pressed about the issue was the typical arrogant demagoguery position of that paper.

Frankly, I am quite shocked that Rupert Murdoch, a man who is supposedly a born-again Christian and himself a immigrant from Australia would even allow this sort of tripe to be published in one of his newspapers. I do truly believe that in the quest to strike a humorous home run, the New York Post unfortunately stuck out, and quite horribly so.

New AG Eric Holder is nothing more than a race baiting shill for the left

Maybe it is just me. But am I the only person that see’s a alarming similarity between this video here:

….and this video here: (Content Warning)

Just sayin’

Others: Weekly Standard, Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Riehl World View, The Campaign Spot, Cold Fury

So much for Hope and Change

So much for that idea!

In his first weeks in office, President Barack Obama shut down his predecessor’s system for reviewing regulations, realigned and expanded two key White House policy making bodies and extended economic sanctions against parties to the conflict in the African nation of Cote D’Ivoire.

Despite the intense scrutiny a president gets just after the inauguration, Obama managed to take all these actions with nary a mention from the White House press corps.

The moves escaped notice because they were never announced by the White House Press Office and were never placed on the White House web site.

They came to light only because the official paperwork was transmitted to the Federal Register, a dense daily compendium of regulatory actions and other formal notices prepared by the National Archives. They were published there several days after the fact.

A Politico review of Federal Register issuances since Obama took office found three executive orders, one presidential memorandum, one presidential notice, and one proclamation that went unannounced by the White House.

via The White House’s missing documents – Josh Gerstein – Politico.com.

Normally, I would not give two flips about something like this, But Mr. B. Hussein Obama promise change and total transparency. What we have gotten is the the some old Washington politics. Nothing changed, just skin of the President is a bit darker and the political party is very different.

Others: protein wisdom, Townhall.com, Hot Air, NewsBusters.org, Outside The Beltway

Greenspan says "nationalize now"

Now this is something:

The US government may have to nationalize some banks on a temporary basis to fix the financial system and restore the flow of credit, Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman, has told the Financial Times.

In an interview, Mr Greenspan, who for decades was regarded as the high priest of laisser-faire capitalism, said nationalisation could be the least bad option left for policymakers.

”It may be necessary to temporarily nationalise some banks in order to facilitate a swift and orderly restructuring,” he said. “I understand that once in a hundred years this is what you do.”

Mr Greenspan’s comments capped a frenetic day in which policymakers across the political spectrum appeared to be moving towards accepting some form of bank nationalisation.

“We should be focusing on what works,” Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, told the FT. “We cannot keep pouring good money after bad.” He added, “If nationalisation is what works, then we should do it.”

Speaking to the FT ahead of a speech to the Economic Club of New York on Tuesday, Mr Greenspan said that “in some cases, the least bad solution is for the government to take temporary control” of troubled banks either through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or some other mechanism.

The former Fed chairman said temporary government ownership would ”allow the government to transfer toxic assets to a bad bank without the problem of how to price them.”

But he cautioned that holders of senior debt – bonds that would be paid off before other claims – might have to be protected even in the event of nationalisation.

”You would have to be very careful about imposing any loss on senior creditors of any bank taken under government control because it could impact the senior debt of all other banks,” he said. “This is a credit crisis and it is essential to preserve an anchor for the financing of the system. That anchor is the senior debt.”

via FT.com – Greenspan backs bank nationalisation.

Let me get this straight, one of the main douche bags that was responsible for the meltdown of the bank industry and the economic collapse is now telling us what we should do with our banks?

<— click Blank

Quote of the Day

Since America is edging ever-closer to the point where, in the name of public health and national security, the state must make for the individual the most detailed of personal decisions, why not kill two birds with one stone? One could easily combat both the crime spree and obesity epidemic by not only putting the innocent under house arrest but by also only allowing them to eat the provisions brought to their doors during the periods of protracted curfew and quarantine.

Preposterous, you say. Americans will never put up with living in such a manner. Well, up until recently, would they have put up with a 24 hour curfew?

Throughout the Western world, freedom as we once knew it is pretty much on its last leg Things we once took for granted such as driving over a public bridge or even enjoying our own yards will become a thing of the past unless we vocalize our dissent. And with the attitude Obama has exhibited towards the press here in the opening days of his presidency, even the ability to do that may be endangered if the American people fail to exercise eternal vigilance.

The Southern Avenger on "Screwing the Country"

See that there is quite the Meme happening right now about the Anti-Stimulus demonstrations going around. I thought I would offer this video to the short memory Neo-Conservatives, like Michelle Malkin, who are bitching about this Stimulus. This video asks the question, where exactly were these people when George W. Bush was spending this country into a hole with Iraq?

The Video:

The Southern Avenger HQ

The Southern Avanger at Taki’s Magazine

Chuck Baldwin on Abraham Lincoln

In order to “preserve the Union,” Lincoln destroyed the very principles upon which the Union was created. His audacity is without equal. For example, to prevent a possible vote of secession by the Maryland legislature, Lincoln ordered federal troops to seize and arrest the Maryland congressional delegation. And of course, he was more than willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of America’s finest and best to destroy Jefferson’s declaration that the states of our Union are “Free and Independent States.”

I invite all those pro-Lincoln apologists out there to seriously answer this question: Does an abusive husband who beats and batters his wife have the right to force her (at the point of gun) to remain married to him? (Even the God of the Bible, Who cast marriage in the most sacred terms, recognizes the right of lawful separation.) If you answer no, how can you continue to justify Abraham Lincoln’s actions? In a political and governmental sense, that is exactly what Lincoln did. Forced union, of any kind, is slavery. In the name of emancipating slaves, Lincoln enslaved an entire nation.

It was Abraham Lincoln who, for all intents and purposes, destroyed federalism and limited government in America. In fact, on December 15, 1866, renowned British historian, Lord Acton, wrote a letter to General Robert E. Lee. In the letter, Acton said, “I deemed that you were fighting the battles of our liberty, our progress, and our civilization; and I mourn for the stake which was lost at Richmond more deeply than I rejoice over that which was saved at Waterloo.” – Chuck Baldwin on Abraham Lincoln

Burris in the hot seat

This is just too rich:

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris said today he is open to a Senate ethics investigation into how he got the Senate seat from ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and that he has reached out to a Sangamon County prosecutor who is reviewing Burris’ sworn testimony before Illinois lawmakers.

Burris comments came less than 24 hours after he acknowledged he sought to raise campaign funds for Blagojevich at the request of the governor’s brother at the same time he was seeking the appointment to the Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama.

It was the first time Burris has publicly admitted trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Previously Burris has left the impression that he always balked at the issue of raising money for the governor because of his interest in the Senate appointment.

In comments to reporters after appearing at a Democratic dinner Monday night the senator several times contradicted his latest under-oath affidavit that he quietly filed with the Illinois House impeachment panel earlier this month. That affidavit was itself an attempt to clean up his live, sworn testimony to the panel Jan. 8, when he omitted his contacts with several Blagojevich insiders.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan called for the Sangamon County prosecutor to investigate Burris’ testimony at the statehouse in Springfield, and today her father, House Speaker Michael Madigan, forwarded Burris’ testimony and affidavits to State’s Atty. John Schmidt.

In a brief statement to reporters today in Peoria, Burris said an aide had reached out to the Sangamon County state’s atttorney, who is reviewing testimony Burris gave last month to House lawmakers in Springfield about his contacts with allies of the ousted governor.

“I have made an effort to be as transparent as I can, and I’m willing to take a further step as I have nothing to hide,” Burris said.

via Burris open to ethics probes, will cooperate with perjury review | Clout Street .

Hmmmm… I wonder where Bobby Rush is? I’m surprised that he’s not there playing the race card, like last time.

Update: One of my friends on the left, The Gun Toting Liberal is shocked that I agree with him; He snarks:

SHOCKINGLY ENOUGH — Even some bloggers from the “right” seem to largely agree with we “lefties” on this issue, including: Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey; Political Byline’s Paleo Pat; Patterico’s Pontifications

Hey, just because I’m a Conservative does not mean that I’m an idiot. If the dude lied, He should go, does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out…..at least not with me.

The GTL’s picture:

The Gun Toting Liberal
The Gun Toting Liberal

I dunno ’bout you, but I would not want to meet him in dark alley… Ol’ fella needs to learn to smile! 😛 😉 😀

Others: Washington Wire, The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, Chicago Breaking News, CBS News, The Politico, The Capitol Fax Blog, Patterico’s Pontifications, Think Progress, Chicago Sun Times, The Swamp, Hot Air, MyDD, DISSENTING JUSTICE, Commentary, Washington Monthly, The Raw Story, PoliticalBase.com Blog, PoliGazette, The Aristocrats, Scorecard’s Blogs, Moe Lane and Sunlight Foundation and Memeorandum