Posted on 01/25/2006 2:52:52 PM PST by flattorney
REID CRITICIZES REPUBLICANS AND CARRIES THE TORCH OF REFORM IN HOPES OF ELECTORAL SUCCESS . . .
“Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Is Placing All His Political Chips On A Bet That The Democrats Can Make Significant Gains - If Not Reclaim The Majority In November - Using A Message That Focuses Almost Entirely On The Theme Of Corruption.” (Paul Kane, “Reid Bets The Senate On Corruption Issue,” Roll Call, January 18, 2006)
Reid Criticized Republicans For The K Street Project, Which He Claims Invites Lobbyists Into The Capitol “As Long As They Are Willing To Pay The Right Price.” “Republicans today control the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House. They have absolute power, and it has corrupted their Party and led to the culture of corruption that we see now in Washington. . . . And then, we have the Republican ‘K-Street Project,’ which has invited lobbyists inside our nation’s Capitol . . . as long as they are willing to pay the right price. The Republican abuse of power comes at great cost to our country, and we can see it in the present state of our union. Special interests and the well-connected have grown stronger, while our national security... our economy... our health care... and our government have grown weaker.” (Senator Harry Reid [D-NV], Remarks As Prepared For Delivery, Center For American Progress, January 24, 2006)
. . . WHILE IGNORING HIS OWN K STREET EFFORTS
One Year Ago Reid Cultivated K Street Ties For Democrats
Lobbyists “Descended Upon A Capitol Hill Steak House” To Congratulate Reid As The New Senate Democrat Leader. “Hours after Sen. Harry Reid was sworn in for a fourth term on Jan. 4, many of these same [Democrat] lobbyists descended upon a Capitol Hill steak house to congratulate the Nevada Democrat for being chosen by his peers as the new Senate Democratic leader. . . . ‘It was like a scene out of ‘The Godfather,’’ said one lobbyist at the reception. ‘He was in the back room and people were lined up to greet him and pay homage.’” (Mark Preston, “Reid To Enlist K Street,” Roll Call, January 24, 2005)
“Reid’s Senior Staff And Trusted Allies Have Been Working To Formalize A Working Relationship With K Street Democrats As Part Of A Bigger Plan To Ramp Up Communications Efforts To Promote Their Legislative Goals.” (Mark Preston, “Reid To Enlist K Street,” Roll Call, January 24, 2005)
Reid Expected To Strengthen Ties To Democrat Lobbyists, Who Remain Hopeful That Democrats Can “Replicate The Republican Leadership’s Success Of Integrating K Street Into Their Political And Policy Operations.” “In addition to strengthening ties to Democratic lobbyists, Reid is expected to turn to a handful of Democratic consultants including Jim Margolis of the firm GMMB, Anita Dunn and Bill Knapp of Squier Knapp Dunn, and Carter Eskew of the Glover Park Group for political advice. ‘Being in the leader’s office is an incredibly intense experience,’ Eskew said. ‘It is nice to reach outside the echo chamber for an independent and informal sounding board to get another perspective.’ . . . Democratic lobbyists acknowledge that it will be difficult to replicate the Republican leadership’s success of integrating K Street into their political and policy operations. But there is hope, suggested one Democratic lobbyist. ‘The proof will be in the pudding two years from now,’ said the lobbyist. ‘Hopefully, there will be much deeper and stronger ties to K Street.’” (Mark Preston, “Reid To Enlist K Street,” Roll Call, January 24, 2005)
Former Reid Staffers Organize And Comprise Reid’s “K Street Cabinet”
The National Journal Said Jimmy Ryan, 10-Year Staffer And “Close Adviser” To Reid, Would Be His “Direct Line To K Street.” “The former staffer for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is a close adviser to the probable new Senate Democratic leader, Ryan is ideally positioned to influence the chamber’s agenda from downtown. Ryan, 40, worked for Reid for 10 years before joining Citigroup in 2003, and he was at Reid’s side in Nevada this week. Senate Democrats are in the minority, but the president still needs them -- and Reid -- to get bills passed. If Ryan isn’t pressed back into Hill service, he’ll be Reid’s direct line to K Street.” (Lisa Caruso and Julie Kosterlitz, “People To Watch: Jimmy Ryan, Citigroup Vice President,” The National Journal, November 6, 2004)
Edward Ayoob, Former Reid Adviser And “Team Abramoff” Member Was Part Of Reid’s “K Street Cabinet” – A Benefit To His Clients. “Other members of Reid’s K Street Cabinet include Ford Motor Co.’s legislative manager Peter Arapis, Greenberg Traurig’s director of governmental affairs Eddie Ayoob, the American Health Care Association’s Steve Miller, Citigroup vice president Jimmy Ryan and Dykema Gossett’s Larry Werner.” (Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Reid Looks To Ex-Aides For K Street Help,” The Hill, February 23, 2005)
Reid’s “K Street Cabinet” Brings Democrat Lobbyists And Senate Leaders Together As The “Monday Group”
“Later This Week, Reid Will Appear Before The Monday Group - A Bimonthly Meeting Of Lobbyists And Senate Staffers Held At The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Headquarters - To Discuss The New Congress.” (Mark Preston, “Reid To Enlist K Street,” Roll Call, January 24, 2005)
The Meetings Bringing Lobbyists Together With Senior Democrat Aides “Is Similar To Ones Created By Other Senate Leaders Such As Daschle And Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (Pa.).” “For Democratic lobbyists, these meetings offer face time with senior Democratic aides, which is indispensable given that the chamber is the only base of political leverage Democrats have now that Washington is essentially controlled by Republicans. ‘There is no other play in Washington for Democrats other than the Senate,’ lamented one Democratic lobbyist, who asked not to be named for fear of angering his employer. A handful of lobbyists and strategists are expected to help Reid in the coming months to formalize this hybrid politics-and-policy network. It is similar to ones created by other Senate leaders such as Daschle and Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (Pa.).” (Mark Preston, “Reid To Enlist K Street,” Roll Call, January 24, 2005)
Many High-Profile Democrat Lobbyists Have Met With Senate Leaders Since Reid’s Monday Group Meetings Began. “Since taking over as Senate minority leader, Reid has organized biweekly meetings with Democratic lobbyists known as the Monday Group. . . . Participants said a number of high-profile Democratic lobbyists have met Senate leaders. They include Jeffrey Peck of Griffin, Johnson, Madigan, Peck, Boland, Dover & Stewart, Inc., Jimmy Ryan of Citigroup, Tom Lehner of Business Roundtable, Vic Fazio of Clark & Weinstock, Bill Andresen of Dutko Worldwide, David Castagnetti of Mehlman,Vogel & Castagnetti Inc., Rich Tarplin of Timmons & Co., Theodore ‘Tip’ Bornstein of Foley & Lardner, Michael Lewan of Brown, Rudnick, Berlach, Israels LLP, and Charles Brain, a prominent lobbyist.” (Alexander Bolton, “Dems’ Downtown Help Against Bush,” The Hill, February 17, 2005)
“‘I Think Senator Reid Understands That K Street Is A Big Part Of The Whole Game,’ Said Jonathon Jones, Chief Of Staff To Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Who Was A Co-Founder Of The Monday Group. ‘We Just Cannot Ignore It. We Have Talented People Downtown That Want To Help Beyond The Needs Of Their Clients.’” (Mark Preston, “Reid To Enlist K Street,” Roll Call, January 24, 2005)
Reid’s “K Street Cabinet” Benefits K Street Clients
Several Lobbyists Said Reid’s Promotion To Minority Leader “Has Been Beneficial For Their Clients.” “Several of the lobbyists said that Reid’s promotion already has been beneficial for their clients. ‘I’ve got a lot of attention because of the newfound access,’ said another lobbyist, who asked that he not be identified.” (Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Reid Looks To Ex-Aides For K Street Help,” The Hill, February 23, 2005)
Reid More Aggressive With “K Street Cabinet” Than Predecessor Tom Daschle Ever Was With Lobbyists
One Senate Democrat Aide Said Reid “Would Stay In Closer Contact With Lobbyists” Than Former Democrat Senate Leader Tom Daschle, And That Reid Has “A Number Of Relationships” On K Street. “A Senate Democratic source said Reid is likely to interact with K Street differently than Daschle. ‘It’s going to be a completely different style,’ said the aide, who asserted that many downtown firms had ‘no relationship with Daschle’s office.’ The aide predicted that Reid’s staff would stay in closer contact with lobbyists, saying Reid had ‘a number of relationships’ on K Street.” (Geoff Earle, “Reid Grants A Strategy Role To Senior Democrats,” The Hill, January 19, 2005)
“Some Say Reid Will Be More Aggressive Than His Predecessor . . . In Trying To Stop Republicans From Monopolizing K Street As A Source Of Campaign Money.” “Several of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) former staffers expect their own fortunes to rise with Reid’s as he uses K Street to help achieve Democratic legislative goals and enhance his political power. Six former Reid staffers are now working as lobbyists for corporations, law firms and trade associations, and some say Reid will be more aggressive than his predecessor, Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), in trying to stop Republicans from monopolizing K Street as a source of campaign money.” (Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Reid Looks To Ex-Aides For K Street Help,” The Hill, February 23, 2005)
Below a draft writeup on Fraud S. Hoyer from our Abramoff Group Scandal: Dems of Corruption investigation, that has been going on since early Dec 05, utilizing two attorneys and two staff. There is much more to write on Hoyer, but this was a good start.
House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer - US Congressman for 24 years, second ranking House Democrat, and a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Hoyer is another super DeLay and GOP culture of corruption critic, that fights with his boss, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, on who can banter it the most to the MSM, and any other fool that will listen.
Hoyer has been blasting DeLay regarding his alleged House Ethics Committee problems re lobbyist trips et. al., and of course now the Abramoff Scandal. In an 12.13.05 AP article Hoyer said Republicans were responsible for such an ethical "stench that I think the American public will want to change come November of next year"...for example House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, battling money laundering charges in Texas and lobbyist Jack Abramoff with his numerous close Republican ties, being under federal investigation. However, in typical fraudulent Democrat fashion, hypocrite Hoyer "forgot" to disclose in his rants to the public how much he has been at the Abramoff feeding trough AND K Streets feeding trough. Fraud Hoyer also "forgot" to disclose to the public all his paid special interest trips that he did not properly disclose, … for years.
FEC documents reflect Hoyer has received $17,500 in Abramoff money, that he has not disclosed to the MSM during his DeLay-Abramoff bashing rants. Hoyer also “forgot” to tell the public that while the Democrats continue to blast Rep Bob Ney for his Abramoff ties in the Foxcom Wireless deal, hypocrite Hoyer is involved in the Abramoff-Foxcom deal with Rep Ney. Further, in an 11.16.05 article in The Hill, "K Street rallies, grumbles about House Dems", the article noted that House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer is seeking to make himself the first Democrat contact and "go-to guy" for K Street on Capitol Hill, is holding regular meetings with lobbyists, and even designating certain staffers to handle outreach to lobbyists. This total hypocrite does this while blasting Tom DeLay and the GOP for doing the same thing with K Street lobbyists.
Hoyer had been the #1 Dem critic on Tom DeLay’s paid lobbyist travel, even though it was properly reported to DeLay’s knowledge. When Hoyer and the idiot Dems started beating on DeLay re paid lobbyist travel in early '05, it was disclosed that Hoyer had failed to file the required House forms for his paid lobbyist travel over a number of years. The AP later reported that Hoyer had 12 unreported trips, the oldest dating back to 1997, that were financed by special interests. Hoyer was forced to amended his previous financial disclosures, while the House Democratic Party members tried to dismiss Hoyer’s lack of ethics as nothing more than a paperwork and technical issue. The Center for Public Integrity also reported that seven of the top 10 special interest trip-takers were Democrats.
On Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, Apr 05, when Wallace asked him, “Has DeLay broken any law?” - Steny answers: “The issue is not just the abuse of power,” and it is not just DeLay; it is the entire Republican leadership. Asked specifically about DeLay, Hoyer said that DeLay has “abused the rules of the House and abused the rules of laws of this country.” Hoyer then made mention of the brewing Jack Abramoff and Indian tribal corruption situation, to hammer more on DeLay. Nothing like a complete fraud and corrupt Democratic hack to make these worthless allegations.
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I would post this GOP bashing video link, but it would make too many fine members of this outstanding site throw-up.
No wonder openly admitted Marxists, Communists, Socialists, Anti-Capitalists, Atheists, ultra liberals, dope heads, and anyone who hates American values and culture, love these Democrats. They are all ignorant, brain fried, fraudulent losers.
As a side note to this story, I was watching Brit Hume's show tonight with the TV on mute and the closed captions on, and when Carl Cameron was talking about Congressional Democrats and the NSA story, the person doing the captioning wrote "minority dim Democrat Reid" when Carl was focusing his story on Reid's comments to the press. I couldn't help but think how appropriate that description of him was.
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