Monita Fontaine's Three Hour Tours...!
move over Ginger Grant and Fannie Foxx?Choppy waters for liquid perks to lawmakers
WASHINGTON -- They called it the "Congressional Cruise Series," featuring lovely evenings on a luxury yacht complete with "two large staterooms...a deluxe entertainment center and an airy comfortable salon." They billed it, unabashedly, as a way for lobbyists to develop relationships with influential politicians.
By all appearances, the National Marine Manufacturers Association's program of taking members of Congress and their staffs on cruises--and hosting fundraisers for lawmakers aboard the same boat--succeeded quite nicely.
The cruises have yielded photos of a congressman at the helm of the yacht and group shots of other lawmakers posed on the boat with their smiling aides, all posted on the association's Web site. At least one of those congressmen later proposed legislation that the association strongly favored.
Money long has lubricated Washington in myriad ways, from exotic travel to campaign contributions, from the subtle to the blunt. Even with the high-profile guilty plea of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose case brought to light breathtaking excesses, the wheels of Washington continue to turn. The cruises, at least, are in hiatus this summer because of what the association's lobbyist called the "poisoned" atmosphere. <more>
Oops! When I ventured over to see the photos I found they were doing a little scrubbing on their website today:
Not to worry, NMMA is based in Chicago so I might just pop in to view them in person.
By all appearances, the National Marine Manufacturers Association's program of taking members of Congress and their staffs on cruises--and hosting fundraisers for lawmakers aboard the same boat--succeeded quite nicely.
The cruises have yielded photos of a congressman at the helm of the yacht and group shots of other lawmakers posed on the boat with their smiling aides, all posted on the association's Web site. At least one of those congressmen later proposed legislation that the association strongly favored.
Money long has lubricated Washington in myriad ways, from exotic travel to campaign contributions, from the subtle to the blunt. Even with the high-profile guilty plea of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose case brought to light breathtaking excesses, the wheels of Washington continue to turn. The cruises, at least, are in hiatus this summer because of what the association's lobbyist called the "poisoned" atmosphere. <more>
Not to worry, NMMA is based in Chicago so I might just pop in to view them in person.
posted by Patrick J. Fitzgerald at 9/04/2006
31 Comments:
No wonder the GOP are fighting to keep their job. Something times pictures speak louder then words. My daughter took me on a cruise it was great unlike the ones our elected officials take for free and to make corrupt deals. This is really an eye opener I didn't know our elected officials got so much free stuff, no wonder they stay in the jobs so live it's become a life style.
http://disclosedenny.blogspot.com/
http://wotisitgood4.blogspot.com/2006/
08/peter-lance-and-able-danger.
html#115700018352628713
Some Denzel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHasty1NIzE
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Geez, no wonder the crooks don't want to give up their jobs! Where are they going to find a job that they will give them free trips? They were living large!
Booo :p~~~~~ on the USDOJ.
"Justice (sic) Department"
Go join a fusball team and let some competent lawyers in.
Boooooo
ActionLyme.org
Monday, September 04, 2006
GOP Congress blocked Clinton push for anti-terror legislation
by John in DC - 9/04/2006 11:10:00 AM
CNN, July 30, 1996
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, emerged from the meeting and said, "These are very controversial provisions that the [Clinton] White House wants. Some they're not going to get." ....[Hatch] also said he had some problems with the president's proposals to expand wiretapping.
So Bill Clinton, rather than just breaking the law as Bush did (then again, perhaps this is why Bush broke the law - he knew from history that the Republicans controlling the congress would oppose his efforts to expand wiretapping), decided to go to the Republican congress in 1996 and ask them for increased authority to do more eavesdropping in order to stop the terrorists - stop September 11. Senior Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, one of the GOP's top picks for the Supreme Court and a GOP committee chair, objected.
The Republicans stopped President Clinton from getting all the tools he needed to stop the next September 11 - well, no, actually they opposed giving President Clinton all the tools he needed to stop the actual September 11. Could September 11 have been stopped if the GOP had given President Clinton the tools he requested to stop Osama and Mohammad Atta from killing 3,000 people in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington?
Maybe we need to ask the Republicans up for re-election why they wanted to appease the terrorists?
President Clinton urged Congress Tuesday to act swiftly in developing anti-terrorism legislation before its August recess.
"We need to keep this country together right now. We need to focus on this terrorism issue," Clinton said during a White House news conference.
But while the president pushed for quick legislation, Republican lawmakers hardened their stance against some of the proposed anti-terrorism measures.
There's even an audio clip of President Clinton practically begging the Republicans to give him the tools he needed to stop Osama and the terrorists. Trent Lott said no. Orrin Hatch said no. Do these men really deserve to run the Congress during a time of war?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1f1DfTusIo
Gulf War Vets have been abused enough. There are many illnesses such as this out there, pray you don't get one. There is hell on earth.
Justice for the victims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOCuTdB_jAk
Sexual references and naughty words to this, don't watch this comedy if it bothers you.
The bid, you know, the manufacturer's rep in Cananda and I talked. I asked her if she was having any odd requests or phonecalls. She stated that many requests were coming off of cruise ships.
Those folks need to be sent on the Ludington, Michigan - Milwaukee car ferry, in a dense fog.
This is for the Tin Man:
http://www.exile.ru/
Check out the before and after with the War Nerd on Hezbollah.
Hello all :) Hope ya'll had a great Labor Day!
Anon @ 8:14,
George rocks- here's another:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid
=935607276
P.S. I forgot to add that almost the entire country of Russia goes on vacation in August, for almost the entire month, so yes, that is the latest issue. As soon as those folks come back from detoxing, I am sure there will be another issue by mid September. ;-)
Night Owl I read them both when they were new. :) I think a new issue is due this week...maybe.
Gary Brecher (war nerd) is gloating and resting on his laurels still I am so sure. That was some of his best work if not the best of all.
oh ok night owl they're on vacation then.
hope ames doesn't over medicate himself again.
Six years with the moron Gerbil President has finally woking up the American people
Good Eve All,
Interesting book
Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush
As part of his testimony, Woodward relayed to Fitzgerald that he met with another Bush official on June 27, 2003, precisely at "5:10 P.M." and that the reporter produced four typed pages of notes from the meeting. (Woodward is famous for his meticulous note-taking.) Yet when it came to recalling his meeting with his CIA leak source, Woodward, at least publicly, went fuzzy, explaining that the conversation took place sometime in "mid-June."
Asked by CNN's Larry King whether his source had mentioned whether Plame worked undercover at the CIA (if the source had, that could have meant legal troubles for the source), Woodward insisted the source had not, and Woodward even recalled the exact language the source used to describe Plame's job; a WMD analyst, not necessarily undercover. Woodward's total recall for the language used simply highlighted the oddity of his inability to even recall the date when the conversation took place. And again, if the leaked information was given to Woodward in a casual, offhanded manner, why, two and a half years later, was Woodward able to recall parts of the discussion verbatim (i.e., that Plame was a WMD analyst) in a way that was pleasing for the White House?
Woodward suggested — falsely — that the Plame controversy was really about the use of anonymous sources and noted his most famous Watergate source, Deep Throat, had also been anonymous. The key difference, of course, was Woodward used the information provided to him by Deep Throat, but sat on the information provided to him by his secret Bush administration source.
Woodward's wandering explanations, most of which were aired during the interview with King on CNN, represented a kaleidoscope of half answers and misinformation.
Next fav part of that article cited by SPB-this poll
Do you think your congressman has done enough to win another term in D.C.?
Yes 23% 4792 votes
No 77% 16005 votes
Total: 20797 votes
C:
That was an interesting article by Larry Johnson.. Like Larry said it is the Gerbil and company responsible for outing Plame and discredit Wilson... The media still doesn't getting it.. While the media still asleep at the wheel and some of the media re in the back pocket of the Gerbil, the media is allowing journalists and bloggers like Larry Johnson, Jason Leopold, FDL, and others to shine and make the MSM look like village idiots.. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.. It is good to see Jan back on the blog. Good night.. Biloxi out!
Watergate is still called Watergate, but I suppose if the Belgian Congo can get three more new names, so can Chechnya:
Moscow's Sock Puppet proposes new name for Chechnya
http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/29296
Oh my! I have never seen this before, I was laughing so much-- I peed abit at the Barb. reference. Watch out for the Babs!
Anon, you aren't kiddin' that is some funny stuff :-)
http://portland.indymedia.org/
en/2003/12/277523.shtml
Dubya knew
Hi Justice Bloggers wanne have a peek at the NMMA Website????
Now it isn't really possible to block sites because old pages can be backtracked.
I pulled on for you you which was cached March last year...
NMMA - Nationale Marine Manufacture Association - Government Center ;-)Enjoy!
CONGRESSIONAL FACILITY TOUR
All Politics Is Local...
That's why Hosting a Plant Tour with your Congressmen Pays off for You!
NMMA federal government relations mean a lot more than lobbying Members of Congress and federal agencies on industry initiatives. Government relations activities aim to rally the recreational boating community in educating policy-makers about our industry. Congressional Plant Tours advance this goal.
Easy to Do
To get to this page just use the link provided
UHU - that one is even better but, you can get there by navigating from the site over the first link I provided or just use this one:
Boating Caucus Senate Members
Long long lists of peoples names with little Sen. or Rep. in front... wonder what that means ;-)
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_41616.shtml
As I said.
DOJ sucks.
Kathleen
http://www.actionlyme.org
Top of the morning to all
I read Geezerpower's web site all of you should go on it some good information.
Today brings more mistakes from the White House and their supporters. I don't know why they always but their foot in their mouths but stuff happens. Have a great day and remember to smile.
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