McCain, allies make new bid to drive big money from politics

AP ^ | 2/2/5 | SHARON THEIMER

[drypowder]

campaign finance rules

How about term limits? I'm sure our founding fathers never envisioned the political system that has evolved. Oh Yeah, when are they going to resend the First Amendment infringement imposed from the first campaign finance overhaul (2002). "They Don't Need No Stinking Constitution!" So much for integrity and oath of office from these jackasses. Ploy: Slowly turn the water up to a boil and the frog won't even think of responding until it's too late.

[Let's Roll]

There will always be money in politics.

Make donations totally and immediately transparent and be done with it.

There are basically 3 ways to support politicians or a party - with your vote, your money and/or your time.

And, yes it is an attack on the Free Speech to limit any of the above.

[Beckwith]

John McCain has really gotten involved in cleaning up the system considering he intervened on behalf of Charles Keating after Keating gave McCain at least $112,00 in contributions.

In the mid-1980s, McCain made at least 9 trips on Keating's airplanes, and 3 of those were to Keating's luxurious retreat in the Bahamas. McCain's wife and father-in-law also were the largest investors (at $350,000) in a Keating shopping center; the Phoenix New Times called it a "sweetheart deal."

I suppose redemption is a good thing.

[sport]

He is definitely running.



20 posted on 02/02/2005 1:11:33 PM PST by Howlin

And if the past is any indication of the future, the good citizens of Arizona, in their infinate wisdom, will re-elect him.

[barker]

The proliferation of new groups that spent millions in the presidential race was an unintended consequence of the 2002 law .....

Don't think there was anything unintentional about this at all. It was there to keep the money flowing while they paraded around pretending to have reformed the systen.

[Howlin]

I mean for president.

[G.Mason]

"The pols cause all the problems and then blame others. If we had a government the founders desired for us, there would be no $$ in politics; the reason being, government would be so small it would be inconsequential to our lives. But the monster that is government is devouring more and more wealth of the productive class. The demos and RINOs will do nothing to reduce it."

You've hit that ball out of the park!

These guys have taken so much, been bribed by so many, and have themselves bribed so many, that we have the "greatest generation" begging at the trough for more. Their kids and their kids kids are getting right in line with them.

Time to go cold turkey and wean these piglets off the freebies, aka taxpayers dough, and get back to basics.

BTW ... McCain jumping off a cliff is just fine with me. A very high one. ;)

[amosmoses]

Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln have been qouted as having serious concerns about the influence of powerul interest, coporations, etc. over govt. It is a real issue.

[Toddsterpatriot]

And if the past is any indication of the future, the good citizens of Arizona, in their infinate wisdom, will re-elect him.

Luckily, Senator from Arizona is as far as he'll go.

[You Dirty Rats]

I don't care what legislation McCain and friends get through Congress and get the President to sign -- money is not going to be stopped from influencing the process.

What's the problem? We had plenty of money and ads last election cycle and the biggest turnout in several election cycles. Our system isn't perfect, but nobody can complain that we didn't have a good race and lots of opportunities to hear the messages of candidates and supporters. (Well, Ralph Nader can complain, but who cares).

A free country with a free press and free speech is just so untidy for some people. Too bad.

[ManHunter]

Gee, I thought McCain-Feingold was going to solve everything.

[sergeantdave]

McCain is running as chief ass on the Mainstream Media ticket.

[Bogolyubski]

Here we go again! The Soros sock-puppet, John "If I only had a brain" McCain, is going to try and close those pesky loopholes that allowed the SwiftVets to tell the truth about his fellow member of the House of Lords from Massachusetts.

If this fool were truly interested in reform, he would vote to repeal the outrageous, unconstitutional legislation bearing his name and work for full public disclosure of where the political class gets its money. McCain was one of the Keating five, and his behavior hasn't changed.

[Godebert]

"it is an attack on free speech but sometimes there are just limits IMHO......this stuff has gotten out of hand in certain areas. I agree with McCain on this one issue but I"m open to other suggestions......."

So you're joining with McLame, Meehan, Shays and Feingold in their little piss on our Constitution. I'm guessing you have about as much respect for the 2nd Amendment as you do for the first.

[NorCalRepub]

why would you say that.......don't generalize to other issues, that is insecure reasoning......it is this one issue that I think is all messed up.......

[thoughtomator]

Unless they are willing to prosecute big campaign donors like they do drug dealers, all it will amount to are restrictions on regular, law-abiding folks.

[Godebert]

So what's your position on the so-called "Assault Weapons Ban"?

[NorCalRepub]

owning firearms all my life i'm totally against any type of weapons ban......i used to shoot for my ROTC Rifle team and actually have been wanting to purchase an M1A1 or M14 in the near future. They have the Calif approved ones that have to do more with mag capactiy. Sometimes I wonder about some of the cheap ass so called saturday night specials that some companys make but that is more for safety of the user concerns than anything else.

[thoughtomator]

I'd say the is open real-time public access disclosure with severe criminal penalties for giving false information, combined with parties being sensible enough to attack the motives of the big money men for the opposition.

[Digger]

Tell you what, Lott and McCain. First, cut your franking budget by 95 percent - you know, the taxpayer-funded mailings that y'all use to keep your names and faces front and center with your constituents and then give you a considerable initial advantage over challengers. Then we'll know you are serious about trying to level the playing field instead of trying to keep opponents off of it

Right On! Need wonder why I call it the "Two-Party Cartel".