The closer it gets to elections, the less I tend to write about politics. It isn’t intentional, but I suspect it is more a reaction – an attempt to balance off the politics swirling all around. Since I try to be as active as possible in local campaigns, and I try to stay informed, by election day I am usually pretty burnt out on politics. But not this year.
Yes, I’m already tired of the onslaught of TV ads, so I wind up watching even less TV. I’m busy anyway, so that isn’t too hard. Yes, I’m past tired of the onslaught of mailers from Karl Rove. Confidentially, I was tired of that the first day, when three arrived. Heck, I’m even tired of online ads from people support.
But I’m not burnt out this year, thanks to the National Chamber of Commerce and KKKarl.
Astonishingly enough, even the tradmed seems to be catching on to the fact that this is a real story. Even more surprisingly, some Democrats seem to be waking up to the value of this as a campaign issue. I was delighted to hear Tim Kaine compare the Republican attack ad financing unfavorably to Watergate. Media from Huffington Post to ABC News to David Frum are covering it. And a couple of them even seem to remember that the Watergate break-in was part of a campaign financing scandal.
Remember the Committee to Re-Elect the President? They were what came to be called "the White House plumbers." Among their many nefarious activities, the plumbers (including those stalwart GOPers Townhall columnist Chuck Colson and Faux News commentator G. Gordon Liddy) were laundering campaign contributions that were patently illegal by, among other things, using the money to hire the Watergate burglars. One of the Watergate burglars, Bernard Barker, in addition to thousands of dollars in cash even had a check signed by Hunt for $89,000 in his pocket when he was arrested. That is why the plumbers went to prison and, presumably, why they have a prominent role in GOP politics today. There is a good summary of Watergate and the role of campaign financing here.
Watergate has always reminded of the BBC series Connections created and narrated by science historian James Burke. (I loved that series and it’s worth every cent for the DVDs IMHO.) The tentacles go everywhere.
One of the things the National Chamber’s foreign money laundering gig exposes is the importance of transparency in all aspects of the political process. Now more than ever it is important to know where to go for reliable information. Here are some that may help:
I would also like to recommend a diary currently on the Rec List: PaulVA’s 2 Things You Can Do Today To Fight the Chamber Attack Ads. To his two excellent suggestions I would ad another – call your local Chamber of Commerce and find out if they pay dues to the national organization (some do and some don’t). If they do, ask them why they support outsourcing U.S. jobs overseas and funneling foreign money into U.S. elections. You might want to include their answer in a letter to your local newspaper, or even a diary on Daily Kos.
The thing I find most humorous about the Chamber of Outsourcing money laundering scheme is how genuinely surprised Rove and Beck and The Chamber are by the blowback. But it did make me wonder, if it is so surprising the American public is really, really opposed to foreign companies and governments buying our elections, why did they go to so much trouble to keep the names of their donors secret?
Before you rush off to tell everyone you know about the Chamber of Outsourcing and their money laundering scheme, a word from our sponsors. . . .
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Tonight’s Top Comments. . . .
From Crashing Vor:
You want a campaign slogan? VT ConQuest'll show you a campaign slogan.
From LaughingPlanet:
This action item from markm8128 was added to the very end of my diary yesterday about David Harmer.It is a great comment that deserves better than to be seen by only me.
From DrewfromCT:
From the diary FOX pulled from Cablevision, Bill W seems to be questioning the sincerity (and motives) of FOX News Channel.
From sardonyx:
A lot of people found this comment by jonnie rae illuminating, in teacherken's Superman diary.
From me:
*Ivan* gives us a twofer -- drawing an important distinction between the public and private sectors and making an analysis of good vs. bad employers in both sectors that is outstanding in teacherken's diary This teacher reacts.
When Angie in WA State compares Rupert Murdoch to Mr. Potter, ontheleftcoast replies with a really scary scenario in KingOneEye's diary.
Tonight’s Top Mojo . . . .
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers, and Mojo Friday:
1) Replace it With This Billboard by JekyllnHyde — 117
2) I've got my clipboard by LaughingPlanet — 110
3) As the late George Carlin put it.. by LaFeminista — 106
4) An Editorial Cartoonist's Reaction by JekyllnHyde — 105
5) 100% Chance by mellowinman — 92
6) And I am grabbing a bagel by quadmom — 81
7) let me also add this by teacherken — 78
8) I will not see this film by TheGreatLeapForward — 71
9) Another Epic Scene: GOP Post-2010 Election by JekyllnHyde — 70
10) As long as property taxes are used to fund school by sara seattle — 69
11) Today's Teabaggers Would Boo Jesus, Too by JekyllnHyde — 68
12) These people can sniff out teh gay ANYWHERE. by smileycreek — 67
13) Oh, well done! by Bonsai66 — 66
14) Thanks for a knock-out of a diary. by karmsy — 64
15) funny how they forget by RumsfeldResign — 64
16) Great idea. Let's hold those grudges a lil while by healthy — 62
17) I miss George, by Lorinda Pike — 62
18) Here's the billboard by Richard Cranium — 59
19) Please note the bullet holes by elwior — 58
20) Can you imagine the MUSICAL?! ;-) by grannyhelen — 56
21) Thank You!!!! by bluefaction — 56
22) I'm not much of a fan of yours, T-Ken, but by magnetics — 55
23) After breathing fire all evening, I have to... by APA Guy — 53
24) I also support public schools. I have taught ... by 8ackgr0und N015e — 53
25) Imagine the Day When Native Americans by JekyllnHyde — 53
26) I am with you, Mike! by ParkRanger — 52
27) Every Democratic Candidate by JekyllnHyde — 52
28) George, we miss ya. And damn we need him by ontheleftcoast — 51
29) I'm on board, believe it or not. by geomoo — 51
30) As a former inner city school teacher for by jonnie rae — 50
31) Think about it, people by xcave — 50
32) Even This? by JekyllnHyde — 50
33) We'll be evacuating soon by asimbagirl — 51
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tip Jar by Ky DEM — 330
2) Tip Jar by MikeRayinBerkeley — 326
3) Tip jar by LaFeminista — 245
4) Tip Jar by jimluce — 240
5) Tip Jar by PaulVA — 158
6) Tip Jar by Christian Dem in NC — 154
7) Tips for REAL red votes! by Aji — 141
8) Replace it With This Billboard by JekyllnHyde — 118
9) I've got my clipboard by LaughingPlanet — 110
10) As the late George Carlin put it.. by LaFeminista — 106
11) An Editorial Cartoonist's Reaction by JekyllnHyde — 105
12) Tip Jar by aaraujo — 93
13) 100% Chance by mellowinman — 92
14) Tip Jar by Eclectablog — 90
15) Tip Jar by nyceve — 81
16) And I am grabbing a bagel by quadmom — 81
17) Tip Jar by BFSkinner — 80
18) let me also add this by teacherken — 78
19) Tip Jar by indiemcemopants — 72
20) I will not see this film by TheGreatLeapForward — 71
21) Another Epic Scene: GOP Post-2010 Election by JekyllnHyde — 70
22) As long as property taxes are used to fund school by sara seattle — 69
23) Today's Teabaggers Would Boo Jesus, Too by JekyllnHyde — 68
24) These people can sniff out teh gay ANYWHERE. by smileycreek — 67
25) Oh, well done! by Bonsai66 — 66
26) Dear Kos by indycam — 66
27) Scritchie Jar by triciawyse — 66
28) funny how they forget by RumsfeldResign — 64
29) Thanks for a knock-out of a diary. by karmsy — 64
30) I miss George, by Lorinda Pike — 62
31) Great idea. Let's hold those grudges a lil while by healthy — 62