Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
 ·North State Commun..
| Oh .... my ....
said by Political Hack :
But please, don't draw any conclusions. "There is no connection between political spending and the policy work that gets done in the state Legislature," Nunez spokesman Richard Stapler insists.
You have got to be kidding me. Does he really think we're THAT stupid?
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woody7
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA | yes he (they) do 
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BlooMe |
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jslik
That just happened
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join:2006-03-17
clubs:
| reply to Matt
said by Matt  : You have got to be kidding me. Does he really think we're THAT stupid? Another good question would be "If there is no connection, then why did they spend all that money?" |
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BuriedCaesar
It's Not Polite To Stare.
join:2004-03-27
Richardson, TX | reply to woody7
Sadly, he's probably able to say it quite easily with a straight face... (and sleep at night, too). |
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John T
@northgrum.com
| reply to jslik
Yes, there's absolutely a connection.
The only thing to really wonder in cases like this is which way the power runs. Sometimes it looks like corporations bribing politicians. Sometimes corporations feel like they have to pay because "everybody else does it." Sometimes the politicians basically go around soliciting the money.
So long as a handful of politicians make so important decisions that affects millions or billions of dollars, there will be tremendous incentive to affect their decisions, and tremendous opportunity for selling of votes. |
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Admj
join:2001-01-17
Placentia, CA
|  reply to Matt
A spokesman for Nunez, the bill's author, disputed that the money and freebies given by the telephone companies helped sway lawmakers' decisions.
"There is no connection between political spending and the policy work that gets done in the state Legislature," Nunez spokesman Richard Stapler said.
Yeah... Right! 
They were bought outright... Tickets anyone? |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
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join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Comcast
| reply to Matt
said by Matt : said by Political Hack :
But please, don't draw any conclusions. "There is no connection between political spending and the policy work that gets done in the state Legislature," Nunez spokesman Richard Stapler insists.
You have got to be kidding me. Does he really think we're THAT stupid? In this case he was probably being truthful. The cable companies were contributing to them just as much and it didn't get them what they wanted.
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BIGMIKE
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA
| reply to Matt
said by Matt : said by Political Hack :
But please, don't draw any conclusions. "There is no connection between political spending and the policy work that gets done in the state Legislature," Nunez spokesman Richard Stapler insists.
You have got to be kidding me. Does he really think we're THAT stupid? YES
20/20 Stupid in America
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRUMmTs0ZA
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xerxes3642
join:2006-02-24
Saint Charles, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to Matt
He doesn't think we're that stupid.... He knows:
1. Most voters don't know what we're talking about
2. Most voters don't know any implications from this
3. Most people don't vote
4. Anyone who does care is powerless
5. If any controversy comes of this, it will be forgotton by election time
6. They don't care what you think anyway |
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Jonbo298
join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA
| reply to Matt
Saying it in a press release makes it easier to sleep at night with. Because you don't have to listen to the backlash, unlike doing it on TV and then having people at your front steps backlashing and you have to listen to it.
The life of politics, corrupt by your 'favorite' businesses and other scum |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | reply to BuriedCaesar
on a pillow and mattress stuffed with campaign 'favors'  |
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mmickk
join:2003-12-30
Pearland, TX
| reply to xerxes3642
3. Most people don't vote
What would it matter if everyone voted? These politicians would still be for hire to the highest bidder! We would get the same results. A vote means nothing as long as politicians are the ones making the laws, especially when they will not pass laws that would not allow this type of thing.
As long as politicians can block laws from passing that would criminalize their actions than we get what we vote for. Corrupt government. |
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dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to Admj
I'm not defending the ethics of gift giving to lawmakers (or their staffers), but I find it hard to believe that $300 in free tickets or picking up the dinner tab a couple times is going to change someone's vote; the vote passed what- 64 to 8? I don't agree with the practice, but it seems unlikely the small gifts affected the outcome of the vote.
As for the $20 million, yes it's a lot of money, but it appears that the bulk of it was for advertising; I see nothing wrong with them trying to make their case to the public with TV ads.
It's unfortunate that it takes campaign contributions to get the attention of lawmakers, but that's the way it is and I really can't fault AT&T for writing the checks. |
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krayzie bone
join:2006-09-03
Marietta, GA | Well, I guess you'll be surprised the things people do, foe the love of tha money. Plus, I'm sure there are a lot of other "favors" that we don't know about, like the one favor that gets deposited in your account... |
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BloodRoses
Gods lend wings to tainted hearts
Premium
join:2003-03-17
clubs:
·Cox HSI
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| reply to BIGMIKE
Thank you for posting that, I don't normally watch TV so I haven't seen it before, but I have always had a low opinion of our public education. I even sent this to a few friends. 
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Stephanie - www.GlitterFaerie.com |
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js1
@swbell.net
| reply to Matt
To really solve the problem, I think we'd need publicly financed elections. Although there's no excuse for a politician doing something unethical for money, the fact is most politicians aren't rich and it take a lot of money to run a campaign and get elected.
The system would have to be redesigned so they don't need private money to stay in office, so they'd be judged on their ideas and policy rather than how much advertising time they could purchase. This would cost money, however unlike many other government initiatives this would be worthwhile. If politicians were elected because of their ideas not money, and lobbyists couldn't operate like they do now, the cost would soon more than pay for itself. For example we wouldn't have $80 billion going to the oil industry like we do now and all this taxpayer money being spent to benefit a few wealthy people rather than the public. |
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
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join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
| reply to Matt
If those same people get reelected, then yes we are that stupid.
These kinds of "contributions" should be illegal.
If these kinda of things did not affect what bills get passed the corporations wouldn't be throwing millions down the drain, just because.
Who knows, maybe it's some sort of a "make a wish foundation" for the rich. |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to BIGMIKE
said by BIGMIKE :said by Matt : said by Political Hack :
But please, don't draw any conclusions. "There is no connection between political spending and the policy work that gets done in the state Legislature," Nunez spokesman Richard Stapler insists.
You have got to be kidding me. Does he really think we're THAT stupid? YES 20/20 Stupid in America »www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRUMmTs0ZA You people are watching TV over a wire and not paying any money to the local government. No wonder they can't teach the children. |
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