Congressman Norm Dicks has never been shy about accepting campaign donations from favor seekers.
Now the FBI is investigating one of Dicks' most generous donors -- the powerhouse lobbying firm PMA Group.
Questions have been raised about whether some PMA-related campaign contributions were actually given by the people listed as donors. For example, thousands of dollars in contributions to Dicks, Washington Sen. Patty Murray and other lawmakers came from a sommelier and a golf-club employee who were identified as PMA officials on some campaign-finance reports. The investigation has prompted some lawmakers to distance themselves from the PMA-related contributions. Murray said she has donated $3,500 of her questionable contributions to Food Lifeline, a local charity. Other lawmakers have talked about doing something similar.
Dicks is waiting to see if the FBI finds any criminal wrongdoing before making a decision on his contributions. "If any of those contributions are judged improper, it'd be his intention to give them back," said Dicks' spokesperson George Behan.
The FBI raided PMA's office suite in Arlington, Va., last November, part of an investigation into possible improper campaign donations, according to media reports.
The firm's founder Paul Magliochetti, who recently retired, is a former aide of the House subcommittee on defense spending, which decides which earmarks get inserted in the defense bill. Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha is the current chairman and a long time member.
The PMA Group touts a long list of clients who've gotten defense "earmarks," often no-bid contracts that federal agencies feel pressure to award companies selected by individual lawmakers. In the 2008 defense bill alone, lawmakers gave PMA clients 172 earmarks. Some of those clients had numerous lobbying firms working on their behalf.
Many of the lawmakers sponsoring those earmarks received generous political contributions from donors with PMA ties. Since 2003, individuals or groups with PMA ties gave more than $2.5 million to the campaigns of 165 members of Congress, according to a Seattle Times' analysis.
Dicks, a Bremerton Democrat, was fourth highest on the list, receiving a total of $84,000. PMA's political-action committee also donated $5,000 to the charity Defenders of Wildlife on Dicks' behalf. As the second ranking Democrat on Murtha's subcommittee, Dicks wields substantial influence over defense spending.
In the past two years, Dicks pushed for nine earmarks worth $20 million for PMA clients. Those clients include defense contractors with satellite offices in Bremerton, such as 21 Century Systems, Advanced Acoustic Concepts and Concurrent Technologies. Each company is involved in defense technology.
Those companies' employees or political-action committees have given large campaign contributions to Dicks. Each also have offices in Murtha's district.
Murray, a member of the powerful Senate appropriations committee, ranked 25th on the PMA contribution list, receiving $26,000 in donations.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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Dicks is critical for Fort Lewis and any procurements they need. He has always helped them and , judgung by his record, always will
New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate is indicted on charges of domestic assault and criminal acts only two months after assuming office.
The 41-year-old senator was accused of slashing his 29 year-old girlfriend, Karla Giraldo's face with broken glass over jealousy.
The former city councilman rejected Queens District's jury charges of felony and misdemeanor, stating, "I've said all along this was accident. Karla has said all along this was accident. The district attorney's politically motivated decision to pursue this case doesn't change the fact that this was an accident."
Commenting on the wound on Giraldo's face, Monserrate alleged that it happened when he accidentally stumbled with a glass of water in hand and hit the girl.
However, he has been shot in a footage taken by his apartment building's surveillance camera that shows a heated argument between the couple.
Monserrate, who replaced Hillary Clinton as New York's state senator in January, would face up to seven years behind bars should the court find him guilty of the accusations.
Giraldo, however, has changed her original account of the incident in a new sworn affidavit that describes the whole situation as a pure accident.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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It was an accident, but I blame Bush anyway! He let the ban on assault water glasses expire. We must act NOW!
#4
A few more details of this case - he went nuclear when he thought he saw a business card of her ex-boyfriend in her bag. He was later seen (video tape maybe?) trying to dump the bag and its contents in the trash. Someone pressured the girlfriend into withdrawing her complaint and she is not currently cooperating, but the grand jury indicted anyway.
The actual incident happened in September and he has since been awarded a chairmanship of an important committee.
#5
Giraldo, however, has changed her original account of the incident in a new sworn affidavit that describes the whole situation as a pure accident.
I bet she did.
Posted by: Jan at work ||
03/24/2009 12:00 Comments ||
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#6
Latino, former SEIU member, cop, Marine, advocate for illegal immigrant rights, Democrat, from Queens. Considering all that, his track record as a legislator has not been all bad. Shouldn't have slashed his girlfriend though - makes him look like a drug thug or a Muslim.
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner today told Congress the administration will seek unprecedented power to seize non-bank financial companies whose collapse could jeopardize the economy, a move Geithner said would have allowed the government to bail out insurance giant American International Group at a far lower cost to taxpayers.
The government at present has the authority to seize only banks.
Allowing the Treasury Department to take over a broader range of companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds, would mark a significant shift from the existing model of financial regulation, which relies on independent agencies that are shielded from the political process. The Treasury secretary, a member of the president's Cabinet, would exercise the new powers in consultation with the White House, the Federal Reserve and other regulators.
Continued on Page 49
#3
Just another step from Kelo. You do not own and can not own property. You are merely a steward of public property till Big Daddy decides to take it away. For your own good, of course.
#4
It just gets scarier and scarier. One bright note is that they masses have not lept up to play their scripted parts as the Left expected. Despite sending professionals and paid lackeys to Connecticut to intimidate the AIG execs at home, it was a bust. They had two buses and forty vans of newsmen, but where were the people? They've also have sent organizers out across the land to whip up loyal furvor for the annoited one. Nothing, or as some would say, "Es por nada". It worked on the campaign trail, but not now. Why? I hope that Geithner appreciates that he doesn't live in a banana republic. There, the mobs may come to do street justice to him. We won't go that far, but Beck is right. We are in the majority, they are the minority. We need to stand together for freedom against all those who will take it away - domestic and foreign. It's time for tea.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
03/24/2009 13:04 Comments ||
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#5
The government also would assume the authority to seize such firms if they totter toward failure.
So... could the "government" could seize itself?
Whaddya think they'd say if something like this was proposed a few years ago by the Evil Bushitler and Dark Lord Cheney?
#17
My post got deleted last time I compared Zimbabwe and Mugabe to America and Obama...
It wasn't deleted, it was sink-trapped. You know- replaced with a boilerplate statement saying the comment has been redacted...further violations may result in banning?
There is a difference.
If Obama does half as much damage as FDR did then you're in for a terrible time.
That would be 2010. President Obama will not be able to stop that election, no matter how much he tries. This is not the kind of thing the military or law enforcement would act to support... nor would the American still-armed citizenry.
#19
I think everyone is pinning their hopes on the 2010 Congressional elections. The problem is that a congress critter can be hated by 99% of the population of the US, and still get reelected. All they need to do is to "persuade" over half of the voters in their district to vote for them, and, they will be re-elected until they decide to retire or they shuffle off this mortal coil. Plus, they have lots of tools to persuade people to vote for them: bringing home the pork, free publicity, free self promotional mailings, and on and on.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
03/24/2009 20:39 Comments ||
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#20
Karl Denninger commented: "We already have plenty of tools in the box folks.
Writing what amounts to insurance when you have no reserves against it has a common name: fraud.
Playing "black box" with earnings and other business features has a common name too, coined a few years ago: ENRON.
'Regulators should be able to safeguard the entire financial system as well as monitor the health of specific institutions' Geithner said.
Regulators can already do this. It is already against the law to lie in your financial statements, it is already against the law to defraud and it is already against the law to make promises (contracts) you know for a fact are mathematically impossible to keep.
We don't need new laws, we need existing laws enforced, and we need the restrictions that were on the banking and financial system prior to the 1990s when we dismantled all of the separations and protections put back...The Fed, OTS and OCC (the latter two of which are Treasury both in name and in fact) willfully ignored what AIG was doing despite having the ability to stop it."
No wonder Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn) went wobbly last week when asked about his February amendment ratifying hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses to executives at insurance giant AIG. Dodd has been one of the company's favorite recipients of campaign contributions. But it turns out that Senator Dodd's wife has also benefited from past connections to AIG as well.
From 2001-2004, Jackie Clegg Dodd served as an "outside" director of IPC Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda-based company controlled by AIG. IPC, which provides property casualty catastrophe insurance coverage, was formed in 1993 and currently has a market cap of $1.4 billion and trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol IPCR. In 2001, in addition to a public offering of 15 million shares of stock that raised $380 million, IPC raised more than $109 million through a simultaneous private placement sale of 5.6 million shares of stock to AIG - giving AIG a 20% stake in IPC. (AIG sold its 13.397 million shares in IPC in August, 2006.)
Clegg was compensated for her duties to the company, which was managed by a subsidiary of AIG. In 2003, according to a proxy statement, Clegg received $12,000 per year and an additional $1,000 for each Directors' and committee meeting she attended. Clegg served on the Audit and Investment committees during her final year on the board.
IPC paid millions each year to other AIG-related companies for administrative and other services. Clegg was a diligent director. In 2003, the proxy statement report, she attended more than 75% of board and committee meetings. This while she served as the managing partner of Clegg International Consultants, LLC, which she created in 2001, the year she joined the board of IPC. (See Dodd's public financial disclosure reports with the Senate from 2001-2004 here.)
Dodd is likely more familiar with the complicated workings of AIG than he was letting on last week. This week may provide him with another opportunity to refresh his recollections.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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"..Dodd is likely more familiar with the complicated workings of AIG than he was letting on last week."
Clegg was on the board of a subsidiary that had little to do with the Financial Products division. Furthermore, IIUC, the Financial Products division didn't go kookoo for cocopuffs until 2004 when Clegg was leaving the directorship.
Dobb may be a crapweasel but this doesn't prove it.
The ban on offshore oil drilling that expired last September will be restored by "any means necessary," Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), who serves on both the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, told CNSNews.com on Friday.
Inslee, who participated in a conference entitled "Planning for a Secure Energy Future" sponsored by the Washington Post, also recommended a ban on future drilling in the arctic, where he says there is a "gold rush" for oil uncovered by melting ice caps.
It's almost as if he wants us dependent on the Saudis and Hugo ...
But Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), who serves on the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and also attended the conference, told CNSNews.com that offshore oil drilling should provide an integral part of American energy and recommended the Interior Department begin distributing offshore oil drilling leases.
Back in June, President George W. Bush lifted an 18-year-old executive order banning new offshore drilling that had been put in place by his father, President George H.W. Bush, and extended by President Bill Clinton.
At the end of September 2008, Congress -- then in the midst of crafting a $700-billion financial bailout and facing nationwide pressure to lower gas prices and remove the ban -- allowed a 26-year-old moratorium of offshore oil drilling that had been annually attached to the Interior Department funding bill, to expire.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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Part of the logic is that oil spills might affect the beaches. Cuba has China exploring in anticipation of drilling. So if that comes to pass, and there is an oil spill, we get the benefit of the spill without the burden of having drilled our own oil. [what is wrong here?]
#3
Obama's Energy Department and the EPA are launching all out assaults on the U.S. energy sector. In the short term this will reduce U.S. economic activity and deepen the recession. In the intermediate term it will increase U.S. dependence on foreign energy supplies. In the long term it will drive up energy prices.
#1
(suggested policy change) "If you are on the no-fly list because you are a possible terrorist, you cannot buy a handgun in America."
This is positively devilish, because the no-fly list is set up so that numerous government agencies can put people on it with little or no evidence, but no agency is responsible for eliminating bad entries. Once you are on the list, you cannot get off the list.
For years there have been bitter complaints by people with the same name as someone on the list, people put on the list for domestic political payback reasons, etc.
#3
Watch out for the coming assault on the Second Amendment by this crowd. Those that are criminals and terrorists will always find a way to obtain firearms. It is the honest, law-abiding citizen that ends up getting disarmed. Outlawing firearms in Britain and Australia has not eliminated firearm crimes. Outlawing firearms in Nazi Germany disarmed citizens and eliminated and prevented armed resistance against a tyrant.
It might appear so now that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, also the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, was officially named a CNBC contributor on the March 23 "Squawk Box" by co-host Joe Kernen.
"Joining us for the next two hours, former DNC chair and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who is as of today a CNBC contributor," Kernen said.
CNBC had also named Tony Fratto, a former Bush administration Deputy Press Secretary as a contributor to the chagrin of some on the left. Kernen remarked Dean's status as a contributor was an effort to show the network was "balanced."
"You are now a commentator governor," Kernen said. "And, I'm not saying we want you to tone it down necessarily, but actually we don't because this is cable, so you need to ratchet it up a little bit if you can."
The financial network has been the focal point of liberal criticism after CNBC Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor reporter Rick Santelli and "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer launched scathing criticisms on the Obama administration for its policies, and received direct attacks from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
Dean had been guest host on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on other occasions, since stepping down as DNC chairman in January.
The former Vermont governor was a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and was made famous by the "Dean scream" following a loss in the 2004 Iowa caucus. He was also endorsed by global warming activist, former Vice President Al Gore, in his 2004 bid.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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CNBC has strived to maintain a degree of balance in many of its political commentary and debates. Dean is obviously a sop to its critics but it is harmless because most viewing will know Dean's views and he will be well controlled. A bit like having Bill Kristol write Op-ed pieces [until recently] for the NYT. They had Jared Bernstein on for a while to give the left view until he was appointed Joe Biden economic adviser. And Larry Kudlow, in particular often has the rabid and vertically challenged Robert Reich opposite Steve Moore.
#6
I often wondered how CNBC could have a Squawk Box without a true Squawker.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
03/24/2009 13:31 Comments ||
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#7
Omoter Speaking for Boskone7794
you make it sound like anyone who is interested in financial advice would care what Dean or an ex-Bush Press secretary says. It seems to me "the critics" to whom you refer care little about the markets but care greatly that the market is reflecting the danger of Obama's policies, or lack thereof. So they are adding noise to drown out the information. It didn't work for the newspapers and it won't work for CNBC's ratings. People who watch to see what the market is doing will just turn it off. But then, that's probably the idea.
#8
Au contraire Gluting Fillmore6653. I watch CNBC every morning until the market opens and then I ignore it until Kudlow comes on. Prior to the market commencing there are some excellent guests who give very valuable perspectives on a range of issues, not just the market. In that context, having each side of the debate represented is reasonable and acceptable. However, during the day, it is just noise and of little value.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said he is blocking a Senate vote on the nomination of Gary Gensler to be chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission because of Gensler's past support for deregulation.
Sanders, a Vermont independent, said today in an e-mailed statement that Gensler had worked to deregulate electronic energy trading and exempt from regulation credit default swaps, which Sanders blamed for the downfall of American International Group Inc.
"At this moment in our history, we need an independent leader who will help create a new culture in the financial marketplace and move us away from the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior which has caused so much harm to our economy," Sanders said. He usually votes with the Democratic majority.
Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said that the Obama administration "is trying to overcome objections."
Such holds are an informal device in which senators ask their party leaders to delay action on a bill or nomination, according to a Congressional Research Service report. It is up to the majority leader to decide how long the request will be honored, the report said.
"There is always horse-trading going on," said Tyson Slocum, director of energy programs for Public Citizen, a group that has pushed for more regulation. "I definitely think there is potential either to address Sanders' concerns, or simply to override him," said Slocum, whose group supports Gensler.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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Sanders, a Vermont independentsocialist.
There, fixed.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
03/24/2009 13:33 Comments ||
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"There is always horse-trading going on," said Tyson Slocum, director of energy programs for Public Citizen, a group that has pushed for more regulation. "I definitely think there is potential either to address Sanders' concerns, or simply to override him," said Slocum, whose group supports Gensler.
Careful there, Bernie. Looks like one of your fellow moonbats might have you put on some "enemy of THE PEOPLE" list.
And wouldn't that be embarrassing...
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine says his plan to shrink a $7 billion budget gap by raising taxes and cutting workers' pay will create "a stronger footing for tomorrow." By the time that tomorrow comes, Corzine may be out of a job.
The governor, a former chairman of Goldman Sachs and the only incumbent up for re-election this year, is trailing his likely Republican opponent amid voter anger over the economic crisis -- and the steps he's taking to deal with it: a fiscal 2010 budget that lops 9 percent from the current one, a wage freeze and unpaid furloughs for state workers, and possible cuts in property-tax rebates along with higher taxes on the wealthiest residents and on cigarettes and alcohol.
Corzine, 62, is the first governor to feel political wrath; he won't be the last. The 50 U.S. states are facing combined deficits of as much as $370 billion over the next 2 1/2 years, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. President Barack Obama's economic-stimulus package will probably cover just $140 billion of that, the center says, leaving states with two choices: cut spending or increase taxes.
"It's a rock and a hard place for every state," says Joe Seneca, a former chairman of New Jersey's Council of Economic Advisers and an economics professor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. "State reductions are still necessary despite the federal support, and that will again further weaken the economy."
Balancing the Budget
Unlike the federal government, most states must balance their budgets. And when they try to erase deficits by raising taxes and cutting jobs, they risk further damage to the economy because people with less money won't spend as much.
While Democrats captured the presidency in November to go with their control of both houses of the U.S. Congress, the anger at the state level knows no party; whoever is in power is fair game.
A list of governors who may be in trouble in 2010 compiled by the Cook Political Report in Washington includes Democrats Corzine, Bill Ritter of Colorado, Pat Quinn of Illinois, Chet Culver of Iowa and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, along with Republicans Jan Brewer of Arizona, Jim Gibbons of Nevada, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Charlie Crist of Florida. Democrats currently hold 19 of the 36 governorships that will be up next year.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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So let me get this straight.
1/3 of Obama's planned deficit spending could pay off ALL the states deficits combined?
Wouldn't that be a very stimulating use of the cash?
#2
Wouldn't that be a very stimulating use of the cash?
Growth in state expenditures exceeded economic growth over the last expansion. They need to come down to come into alignment with the private sector's ability to produce revenue. Propping up state expenditures with deficit federal financing prolongs the adjustment period.
#4
Propping up state expenditures with deficit federal financing prolongs the adjustment period.
Unless you're talking about California where we spend billions on illegal aliens; housing them, feeding them, educating them, jailing them and providing for their health care. They're a federal problem so it would be kinda nice if the feds would help us out with some of those expenses.
#5
EU6305, if Caleefornya would act in it's own self interest and deport the illegal aliens (or at least turn them over to ICE, rather than acting as a sanctuary), I would have more sympathy.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
03/24/2009 17:58 Comments ||
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Chuck Schumer reportedly told gay supporters last night that he now supports same-sex marriage -- a 180-degree reversal, and an important moment in the marriage fight. It's a big deal because it represents support for same-sex marraige moving toward becoming the default, mainstream position of the Democratic Party. Schumer's a New York senator, but he's also always been extremely careful to protect his right flank on issues like crime and gay rights.
He'd marry his image in the mirror if he could ...
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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Of course they'll never ask the people what they want [made that mistake in California]. Why that's against the very concept of [special interest] representative government.
#4
..because its about money not some noble social statement. Getting third parties to directly or indirectly subsidize or underwrite a 'union' by force of government and law. Time to take it all away and only provide said subsidizes for those making and raising future taxpayers.
Andrew M. Cuomo is starting to unearth some of the most closely guarded secrets on Wall Street: the identities of Merrill Lynch employees who collected large bonuses even as the brokerage firm lost billions.
Mr. Cuomo, the New York attorney general, won a legal battle on Wednesday to compel Bank of America, which bought Merrill in December, to provide his office with the names of the Merrill employees with the 200 largest bonuses. Mr. Cuomo said he would make the names public as early as Thursday.
He also vowed to identify publicly the employees who had received bonuses at the American International Group, whose payouts prompted an uproar, and to work with other financial companies that have received taxpayer dollars to consider disclosing more about employee compensation.
Mr. Cuomo pledged to press ahead with his effort even as Edward M. Liddy, the embattled chief executive of A.I.G., told Congress on Wednesday that some A.I.G. employees received death threats in recent days as the public furor over pay escalated.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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Good. Now we can declare them Enemies of The People and curse them on our daily Two Minute Hate. Or maybe just hunt them for sport.
Philosophical Question: is there a special Circle of Hell reserved for grandstanding, grasping politicians?
#3
Cuomo was head of HUD under Clinton when he pressed Fannie and Freddie to take on more systemic mortgage risk (sub-prime and no docs). He is another of the teflon people which need to be brought to citizen enforced justice.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
03/24/2009 13:36 Comments ||
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#4
Many of the AIG bonus recipients returned the money in exchange for silence on their names. I imagine this would work on others as well.
#5
Many of the AIG bonus recipients returned the money in exchange for silence on their names. I imagine this would work on others as well.
So protection payments are OK, as long as long as they are paid to the O?
And ditto what SteveS said. I grant you that bonuses to incompetents and pirates are wrong, but this whole stirring up the masses thing is worthy of a Third World country -- and is eventually going to get people hurt or killed.
Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank called Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia a "homophobe" in a recent interview with the gay news Web site 365gay.com.
The Democratic lawmaker, who is gay, was discussing gay marriage and his expectation that the high court would some day be called upon to decide whether the Constitution allows the federal government to deny recognition to same-sex marriages.
"I wouldn't want it to go to the United States Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on this current court," said Frank. The video of the interview is available online.
Frank's office did not respond to a request Monday to expand on his remark. Scalia also had no comment.
Scalia dissented from the court's ruling in 2003 that struck down state laws banning consensual sodomy. He has complained about judges, rather than elected officials, deciding questions of morality about which the Constitution is silent.
Controversial topics like gay rights and abortion should not be in the hands of judges, he has said, calling on people to persuade their legislatures or amend the Constitution.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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"I wouldn't want it to go to the United States Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on this current court," said Frank.
So I guess there's more "homophobes" on the court, Barney? Care to name names?
And I guess if Scalia came back with "Barney's a deranged faggot nobody should listen to", that, of course, would be "hate speech", yes?
#10
Scalia's opinions are read by judges and constitutional lawyers all over the world. They are cited in arguments made to the Supreme Courts of many nations.
Posted by: john frum ||
03/24/2009 19:35 Comments ||
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(2009-03-24) After Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, admitted he feared a Supreme Court ruling on homosexual marriage because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on this current Court, the associate justice called on all Americans to have patience with Rep. Frank as he struggles with his heterophobia.
Barney Frank, accustomed as he is to putting like with like, apparently fears things that are hetero meaning different, Mr. Scalia said. Under our Constitution, the judicial and legislative branches are not homo meaning the same. If the people want to create law about issues not mentioned in the Constitution, they have the power to do so through their elected representatives. The judiciary is a different branch, with different enumerated powers.
Mr. Scalia refused to speculate about whether Rep. Franks heterophobia is genetic or simply a lifestyle choice, but in either case, he said, it demonstrably weakens the constitution and harms society in general.
Warning! Scrappleface!
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
03/24/2009 19:40 Comments ||
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#12
The proper response might be:
"That's in Congressman Frank's judgement. And based on his.. exploits... in the past, his judgement is questionable."
A Washington fundraising party will be held Wednesday for embattled Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, who has become "poster boy" for the crash of the nation's financial markets.
"Let's help to re-elect this five-term incumbent senator from Connecticut."
"Let's help to re-elect this five-term incumbent senator from Connecticut," says the invitation to the evening bash at 2651 Woodley Road NW, which seeks "host" contributions of $5,000, "PAC" gifts of $2,500, and "individual" donations of $1,000 - all made out to "Friends of Chris Dodd."
Meanwhile, the Associated Press opined over the weekend that "Democrats may want to start thinking about a bailout for Christopher Dodd," who faces a tough re-election. "After first denying it," the wire service noted, "Dodd admitted he agreed to ... dilute an executive-bonus restriction in the economic stimulus bill that Congress passed last month. The change allowed AIG to hand out the [$165 million] bonuses."
Mr. Dodd is also under an ethics probe for mortgages he secured from Countrywide Financial Corp., the lending giant at the center of the mortgage crisis.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2009 00:00 ||
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Cuomo ought to make all the attendee's names public.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
03/24/2009 13:40 Comments ||
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"Embattled"? Chris should be familiar with the term...
There's a painful personal note here for Dodd. Forty years ago, Dodd's father, the late Senator Thomas Dodd, was officially censured for personal misappropriation of more than $100,000 in campaign contributions. It ruined him as a senator and a man - and left an indelible mark on his young son Chris, who valiantly managed his father's (failed) comeback campaign four years later. The "clairvoyance" Dodd insists he didn't have before taking Countrywide's sweetheart deal wasn't what he needed; memory would have sufficed.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
