Comments on: The New Lobbyist? http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/ The story behind the story Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:55:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: m. wandry http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-3087 m. wandry Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:22:39 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-3087 To me the lobbyists are all bad. It is just the "good old boys" network or "you scratch my back, I'll get something for you" and money probably changes hands. Send all the lobbyists home, let the congress be in contact with the j"littleman" in their state and see what they want for the good of the state. I don't think congress men and women started out to get rich? I think they started out to represent the people back home and big business got in the way. And big business does not vote for you, unless they live in your district, we little people vote for you and I am positively sick about the way our government is going. Our new president is spending, spending, spending, and we little people back in the Heartland do not want that. If we go bust, we have no one to get us up and running, we do it ourselves, with lots of hard work, and no private jets, or spa visits. m. Wandry, enid, ok American heartland To me the lobbyists are all bad. It is just the "good old boys" network or "you scratch my back, I'll get something for you" and money probably changes hands. Send all the lobbyists home, let the congress be in contact with the j"littleman" in their state and see what they want for the good of the state. I don't think congress men and women started out to get rich? I think they started out to represent the people back home and big business got in the way. And big business does not vote for you, unless they live in your district, we little people vote for you and I am positively sick about the way our government is going. Our new president is spending, spending, spending, and we little people back in the Heartland do not want that. If we go bust, we have no one to get us up and running, we do it ourselves, with lots of hard work, and no private jets, or spa visits.

m. Wandry, enid, ok American heartland

]]> By: helena johnson http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-2861 helena johnson Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:58:40 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-2861 And by the way weren't they going to make this transparent? i heard that, that was in the works but, it was canned.. Could you imagine if we found out how much money these fat cat politicians were really making.. for get about it.. REMEMBER, NO ONE CAMPAIGNS AND SPENDS MILLIONS TO MAKE THOUSANDS! And by the way weren't they going to make this transparent? i heard that, that was in the works but, it was canned.. Could you imagine if we found out how much money these fat cat politicians were really making.. for get about it.. REMEMBER, NO ONE CAMPAIGNS AND SPENDS MILLIONS TO MAKE THOUSANDS!

]]> By: helena johnson http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-2860 helena johnson Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:51:22 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-2860 Mr. Obama is no different from any other Pres. Who do you really think helped his campaign. Please it certanly was'nt those 25 dollar donations . Some Americans are really gullible.. Lobbyism will NEVER go away. As long as these greedy politicians are making a buck and the people of theU.S. really say NO this will continue. It does need to be transparent but that will NEVER happen.. This government is corrupt just like the rest. Washington needs a fresh start. All these fat cats that you see repeatedly need to be thrown out, voted out whatever.. System is broken down and corrupt.. No fixen it except cleaning it up. That will not happen. Americans are lazy, weak and dumb. Sleeping and afraid. Is this really a democrac.y. I dont think so. Time to move. Mr. Obama is no different from any other Pres. Who do you really think helped his campaign. Please it certanly was'nt those 25 dollar donations . Some Americans are really gullible.. Lobbyism will NEVER go away. As long as these greedy politicians are making a buck and the people of theU.S. really say NO this will continue. It does need to be transparent but that will NEVER happen.. This government is corrupt just like the rest. Washington needs a fresh start. All these fat cats that you see repeatedly need to be thrown out, voted out whatever.. System is broken down and corrupt.. No fixen it except cleaning it up. That will not happen. Americans are lazy, weak and dumb. Sleeping and afraid. Is this really a democrac.y. I dont think so. Time to move.

]]> By: Myr Nielsen http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1843 Myr Nielsen Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:10:54 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1843 l think that President Elect Obama will be and is the person that will change America as we know it know. He will heal our country from the Bush VIrus which spread to all parts of the world. How can a disease disguised as a man do so much damnage and`then walk away like he is doing without a hint of guilt. Shame take the blame Mr. Bush lin my humble oponion the President Elect will do all he can to change Washington but not lobbyistts their too embeded l think that President Elect Obama will be and is the person that will
change America as we know it know.
He will heal our country from the Bush VIrus which spread to all parts
of the world. How can a disease disguised as a man do so much
damnage and`then walk away like he is doing without a hint of guilt.
Shame take the blame Mr. Bush
lin my humble oponion the President Elect will do all he can to change Washington but not lobbyistts their too embeded

]]> By: Chernor Jalloh http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1787 Chernor Jalloh Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:19:40 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1787 Anyway,as someone like me who happens to live far away from the US and have so much interests in the US and its politics,(foreign policy)I think president-elect Obama will not push the so-called lobby groups aside as long as these groups play an essential role in and outsode of the US.And they are entrenched in the amendment of the US constitution.Mr Obama having made it clear to everyone that the lobbysts wouldnot run or have a say during his campaign and even in the white house, when he became a president,we should just wait and see what will be the outcome of his promise and determinations towards the lobby groups.The voices of the American people will be heard so long that some of their demands are met. Anyway,as someone like me who happens to live far away from the US and have so much interests in the US and its politics,(foreign policy)I think president-elect Obama will not push the so-called lobby groups aside as long as these groups play an essential role in and outsode of the US.And they are entrenched in the amendment of the US constitution.Mr Obama having made it clear to everyone that the lobbysts wouldnot run or have a say during his campaign and even in the white house, when he became a president,we should just wait and see what will be the outcome of his promise and determinations towards the lobby groups.The voices of the American people will be heard so long that some of their demands are met.

]]> By: Adam http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1647 Adam Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:11:36 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1647 A good lobbyist can provide the background for them to make decisions with at least some context. -------------------------------- Isn't that what their staff is for? A good lobbyist can provide the background for them to make decisions with at least some context.
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Isn't that what their staff is for?

]]> By: Street fighting man http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1646 Street fighting man Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:22:25 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1646 Our political system could be tweaked slightly by reorganizing how decisions are made on all levels. "an objective decision maker with good intentions" should be what our sytem strives for. Obviously we are very far away from this... but I think we are moving towards it on a greater scale. I cant right now see a downside to putting heavy restrictions on lobbying... in combination with a "one bill = only one topic" system so crazy side dealings could be minimized However these changes will undoubtedly only arise from a change in the MORALITY of our politicians. This is the biggest irony of all.. of course ...because those who claim to have the most morality are often revealed to have the least. And as in any human progression... If highly visible public leaders are seen to have a bit more objectivity and "good" intention and are then revered for that ... those who follow will cherish that point of view a bit more. We see it in politicians in scandavian countries... where its actually quite common for politicians to pride themselves on being objective and not greedy. Our political system could be tweaked slightly by reorganizing how decisions are made on all levels.

"an objective decision maker with good intentions" should be what our sytem strives for.

Obviously we are very far away from this... but I think we are moving towards it on a greater scale.

I cant right now see a downside to putting heavy restrictions on lobbying... in combination with a "one bill = only one topic" system so crazy side dealings could be minimized

However these changes will undoubtedly only arise from a change in the MORALITY of our politicians.

This is the biggest irony of all.. of course ...because those who claim to have the most morality are often revealed to have the least.

And as in any human progression... If highly visible public leaders are seen to have a bit more objectivity and "good" intention and are then revered for that ... those who follow will cherish that point of view a bit more.

We see it in politicians in scandavian countries... where its actually quite common for politicians to pride themselves on being objective and not greedy.

]]> By: Steve http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1645 Steve Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:15:18 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1645 The problem isn't the lobbyists so much as it is our political leaders who are so easily manipulated and bought off. Lobbying is never going to go away and it is a First Amendment right to do so. Every group should have the right to lobby Congress for its cause, but it is the acceptance of large sums of money and favors to our Congressmen and woman when it becomes a problem and corruption ensues. The first thing we need to do is make it a major crime to accept money from lobbyists with penalties being as severe as those of a traitor because that is exactly what it is. Our politicians have become traitors to this country, its people and the cause of being a representative to the people whom they are supposed to be fighting for. The second thing we need to enact are term limits on Congress so that lobbyists have more difficulty infiltrating them and are less likely to get a real push on an agenda that isn't in the interest of everyone. I see no other way to correct this problem but to make our politicians more accountable and fearful of the consequences. The problem isn't the lobbyists so much as it is our political leaders who are so easily manipulated and bought off. Lobbying is never going to go away and it is a First Amendment right to do so. Every group should have the right to lobby Congress for its cause, but it is the acceptance of large sums of money and favors to our Congressmen and woman when it becomes a problem and corruption ensues. The first thing we need to do is make it a major crime to accept money from lobbyists with penalties being as severe as those of a traitor because that is exactly what it is. Our politicians have become traitors to this country, its people and the cause of being a representative to the people whom they are supposed to be fighting for. The second thing we need to enact are term limits on Congress so that lobbyists have more difficulty infiltrating them and are less likely to get a real push on an agenda that isn't in the interest of everyone. I see no other way to correct this problem but to make our politicians more accountable and fearful of the consequences.

]]> By: cleduc http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1644 cleduc Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:01:14 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1644 It's hard to say with any certainty how much Obama's ethics attempt on lobbyists will help (and those ethics rules are only for the transition - they may ramp up after that for the administration). But when I see what they're asking on the applications for employment by his administration, combined with these ethics, I do see a sincere effort to clean it up. I also think we have to give this effort some time to see how well it works and what adjustments he may make to these new rules once they've tried them. I'm very encouraged by the start. It's hard to say with any certainty how much Obama's ethics attempt on lobbyists will help (and those ethics rules are only for the transition – they may ramp up after that for the administration). But when I see what they're asking on the applications for employment by his administration, combined with these ethics, I do see a sincere effort to clean it up. I also think we have to give this effort some time to see how well it works and what adjustments he may make to these new rules once they've tried them. I'm very encouraged by the start.

]]> By: Albert http://siu.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/12/the-new-lobbyist/#comment-1643 Albert Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:41:12 +0000 http://cnnsiu.wordpress.com/?p=391#comment-1643 Obama will deliver nothing, change nothing. Obama will deliver nothing, change nothing.

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