10 Responses to “COMING SOON: MEET A MARK RITCHIE CONTRIBUTOR”

1. Charley Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 4:17 PM

   Michael, you really need to think about this particular tack. Of all the critical things that could possibly be said about Republicans, the most damning are related to Republican candidates and big money. Do you really want to open this can of worms?

   For example, are you ready to expose Republicans for their relationship to war contractors, whose stocks have generally doubled during the same time 3000 American soldiers have died in Iraq? Do you really want to publicize the war profiteers who have made mountains of money while ripping off American taxpayers for shoddy no-bid contracts from Baghdad to New Orleans? Do you really want to show all the links to big pharma, bloated executive pay, right-wing fringe groups, indited co-conspiritors and so on?

   In your tiny little heart, you must certainly be aware that Democrats are vulnerable on this issue, but Republicans will fare thousands of times worse as you expose the corrupting influence of money on political campaigns.

   Be careful here. But if you decide to proceed, you might just think if you are looking any any universal principles, or if it is just another partisan example of judging others while refusing to be judged yourself.

2. Chris Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 4:47 PM

   Charley,

   Nice try. Put down the Kool Aid and step away. If you want to talk about campaign finance laws, let’s begin with Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) who is currently under investigation by the FBI. Why is this guy being investigated? It turns out that, as a member of the appropriations committee, he became a multi-millionaire while steering government contracts to companies in his district.

   While we’re at it, let’s investigate Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Her husband, Richard Blum, runs a company URS which has received hundreds of millions of dollars worth of no-bid contracts. Sen. Feinstein also sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

   Or we could investigate Sen. Harry Reid’s dealings with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his shady land deals in Clark County, NV.

   And Sen. Barak Obama who had to apologize for entering into a real estate deal with Antoin Rezko, recently indicted for shaking down corporations.

   And let’s not forget Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA), who is under investigation after the FBI discovered a “brick” containing $90,000 in Jefferson’s freezer. You mentioned Hurricane Katrina. Jefferson ordered the military to helicopter him to his home so he could retrieve belongings. Jefferson violated the law by returning to his home and more importantly deprived others resources which could have been used to rescue them.

   Nice try, Charley, but, as they say, Checkmate!

3. Michael B. Brodkorb Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 4:47 PM

   Charley, I welcome the debate. But since I don’t expose Republicans, I encourage you to post information Republican donors on another blog.

4. Karen Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 4:53 PM

   Charley, if you want to pick a debate, you sure don’t know how to do it. There are alot of pharmaceutical companies that do very beneficial work and give alot to charities. Where would a lot of people be without their Lipitor or ARV’s. It seems like you may need some prozac or valium to help you out or maybe viagra since you seem you like you might need a little boost, it may help you with your inferiority complex with Michael.

5. Kyle Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 6:07 PM

   Charley — if you want to look for cozy relationships between war contractors and members of congress, look no further than Jack Murtha. Defense contractors have done a good job of lining his pockets.

   And if you’re serious about Louisiana, keep in mind that the state is run by liberals, many of whom selected those contractors, and many of whom are lining their pockets with Katrina cash…

   Like Mike said, feel free to expose whatever you want on another blog… but while doing so, you might want to take a good honest look at politics generally.

   Reps in both parties are equally corrupt. And the corruption extends equally into the depths of Democratic and Republican parties.

   I personally think it is fair game to examine who pays the way for these “government officials”… so bring it on, but don’t be naive about where the money trail leads you.

6. episcocat Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 7:40 PM

   Let me see if I got this right …. John Murtha, one of the most pointed critics of the Iraq War , is indebted somehow to Defense Contractors through donations?

   Not to justify any impropieties that may have taken place but this would seem to be an example of how large donations may NOT guarantee a vote.

7. Chris Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 7:57 PM

   episcocat,

   It’s called the ABSCAM scandal. Google it and you’ll find out more about Murtha and bribery.

8. Mike Grimes Says:
   January 1st, 2007 at 10:05 PM

   I think this debate is great. on one hand Democrats are tainted by money, on the other Republicans are tainted by money. Whats a voter to do? I suppose you could support the candidates that don’t take PAC money, and luckily in Minnesota there are usually a handful of really good candidates out there that don’t. Remember when you bash away at Democrats, or bash back at Republicans on these issues you couldn’t be more right. Theres only one way to get around the problem.

9. Kyle Says:
   January 2nd, 2007 at 7:22 AM

   Chris, it’s more than the ABSCAM scandal. Murtha’s accepting bribes from defense contractors today. The Washington Post had a pretty thorough article on it last week.

   Murtha set up a few charities. Execs who want to do business with the the Fed Gov’t sit on the boards, and give millions to the charities. The charities give heavily to Murtha. Murtha sends billions in Gov’t contracts back to the Execs’ businesses…. and in one case, helped to steer a lucrative deal to Pilosi’s nephew in SFO.

   Episcocat — interesting comment, but it displays remarkable naivety. Peace is just as profitable as war for defense contractors. Murtha can trash talk the troops all he wants and disagree with the war. But he can — and does — still steer billions to is cronies.

10. Kyle Says:
    January 2nd, 2007 at 7:27 AM

    I’ll add — Charley — that this is a can of worms Democrats opened long ago… it’s just high time folks realize that liberals swim in the same cesspool — at the stinkiest end.

    Also, cite which defense contractors stocks have “generally doubled” in the last 4 years. And, are you invested yet?

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