The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

[Jim Nickerson]

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-...ongress-2009-9

This is a long link to read and is put up in segments. I think there are seven Rep.'s (two Senators and five Representatives) and eight Dem.'s (one Senator and seven Representatives). Five out of the eight Dem.'s happen to be black, the other two happen to be white.

I think the fact that these zipheads are being investigated strongly suggests that they are the dumbest of the entire lot of Congressmen/women in that they have not stayed beneath the dishonesty-radar. No doubt in my mind, the investigative techniques are lacking or all 550 of the bastards would be under investigation. Perhaps it is just a lack of investigators.

I suppose whoever titled the article got it seemingly correct in stating these are the "most" corrupt. Should have added: "as far as known at of the time of this publication."

[LargoWinch]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

Jim, I can't figure it out whether you or Metalman is the most cynical.

Nonetheless the article is appalling.

Like Jay said it so well this week: "Rome is Burning".

[audrey_girl]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

"I think the fact that these zipheads are being investigated strongly suggests that they are the dumbest of the entire lot of Congressmen/women in that they have not stayed beneath the dishonesty-radar. No doubt in my mind, the investigative techniques are lacking or all 550 of the bastards would be under investigation. Perhaps it is just a lack of investigators."


there is still one honest man left in Washington

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

"I think the fact that these zipheads are being investigated strongly suggests that they are the dumbest of the entire lot of Congressmen/women in that they have not stayed beneath the dishonesty-radar. No doubt in my mind, the investigative techniques are lacking or all 550 of the bastards would be under investigation. Perhaps it is just a lack of investigators."


there is still one honest man left in Washington

Who, the cook at the White House?

[audrey_girl]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09




no - the good doctor

[Rajiv]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

You are of course including more than just the US Congress, I assume. Since the current count in the US Congress is 435 Representatives and 100 senators, plus 5 delegates and 1 commissioner. So who are the other 9?

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

We are not becoming a nation of whiners. Far worse, we are becoming a nation of cynics.

If you are one not yet cynical enough and still think something in this country will change politically for the better during your or your children's lifetimes, read the above link, and hope something of real benefit results from the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.

One line in the article states: "America is becoming an angry nation, with diminished faith in its institutions." My emphasis.

I don't know whether the author meant "faith" or misused it, perhaps failing to think of "confidence" as he wrote. If he meant "faith" then he was slamming the intelligence of every American (which might be mostly justified) by suggesting we dumbasses actually might actually have a "b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof." [Webster's]

IMO, anyone with "faith" in the US government's elected representatives should be especially careful to avoid any possible injury to the remaining half of his/her functioning brain.

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

no - the good doctor

Show me an elected official who is not mainly supported in their campaigns by monied interests, and then you might be on to one who is mostly honest or least corrupt. Paul has a lot of money from special interest groups backing his last campaign according to http://maplight.org/map/us/legislator



They are all crooks.

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

You are of course including more than just the US Congress, I assume. Since the current count in the US Congress is 435 Representatives and 100 senators, plus 5 delegates and 1 commissioner. So who are the other 9?

Sorry, my error/ignorance. I thought it was 450 Rep's, and I have no idea who the other six are you mentioned. Thanks, for the correction. I guess the monied interests are glad it is only 541, it saves buying nine more.

[santafe2]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

IMO, anyone with "faith" in the US government's elected representatives should be especially careful to avoid any possible injury to the remaining half of his/her functioning brain.

We're moving through an era of change. That is likely understating the issue but it frames it fairly. To be cynical is to question the motives of others. During periods of change, the cynic is a prophet, one who predicts the future. Most of us will be incorrect most of the time but cynicism with faith in humanity will likely lead us out of this era.

[rjwjr]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

I voted in the election that sent #1 on the corruption list, Vern Buchanan, to Washington. The best candidate, the one with the most character, and the guy I voted for finished 3rd. I was dumbfounded by the results as a blindman could see that Vern Buchanan was corrupt and was well reported by local papers. His appearance on this list is no surprise. I've also had the opportunity to attend one of his speeches. He's a mental midget.

This whole episode is sureal. I could see so clearly that he was an idiot and a crook, yet he won the local republican nomination, and now he's made the "top corruption" list in his first term. The only answer is that our election process is also rigged. I feel like Neo in The Matrix movie after taking the red pill.

What has happened to the United States I thought I knew?

The truly sad issue is that some of the crooks on the list have been on the list multiple times and for multiple offenses. How the hell do these crooks continue to win re-election? Jeeshz, people, let's friggin' wake up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGQF8...layer_embedded

[Mashuri]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

Show me an elected official who is not mainly supported in their campaigns by monied interests, and then you might be on to one who is mostly honest or least corrupt. Paul has a lot of money from special interest groups backing his last campaign according to http://maplight.org/map/us/legislator



They are all crooks.

Judge a politician by what they do. They call Ron "Dr. No" for a reason. Hell, he even had himself removed from the congressional pension plan. The man is a true Libertarian and his actions show it.

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

Judge a politician by what they do. They call Ron "Dr. No" for a reason. Hell, he even had himself removed from the congressional pension plan. The man is a true Libertarian and his actions show it.

I assume the data in the table I put up may bear some semblance to the truth of Paul's backing. I welcome anyone to offer other data along the same lines that suggest Paul is not "owned" in one degree or another by monied interests.

When was the last time anyone who reads here had someone walk up to them and give them $100 or 500 $100 bills and say "here take this, there are NO strings attached." Please take a moment and write to us about your experience. It doesn't happen in real life, and it certainly does not happen in US politics.

So, Mashuri, you are naive enough to believe that the listed interests in the table gave Paul over $4 million and expect NOTHING from him in return? I don't give a rat's ass how he votes he is doing something to benefit someone besides the common average American if he is exercising the ACTION of accepting $4 million dollars from monied interests.

EDIT: one encounters a lot of railing about people who want something for nothing. No one ever rails about the monied interests wanting something for something when it comes to political donations.

[Rajiv]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

Jim,

When an individual (and only individuals can contribute, and there is an upper limit of ~$2500) contributes to a political campaign, one has to disclose one's profession, and employer. So that is what allows the figures you quote to be calculated.

So if you (a dentist) were a contributor who gave $100 to a campaign, it would show up as a contribution by a health professional. If it were somebody employed by the Pharma Industry, it would show up there.

So far, logically there is no corruption!

The corruption comes from two sources -- from individuals that give to many campaigns simultaneously at the limit ($2500) -- and from lobbyists, who use the categorization, you just cited to their advantage when lobbying the politicians for preferred treatment for their favorite pork project.

Since the Supreme Court has decreed that money equals free speech, it appears that the rich have more free speech than the poor.

[Mashuri]

Re: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress 9/22/09

I assume the data in the table I put up may bear some semblance to the truth of Paul's backing. I welcome anyone to offer other data along the same lines that suggest Paul is not "owned" in one degree or another by monied interests.

When was the last time anyone who reads here had someone walk up to them and give them $100 or 500 $100 bills and say "here take this, there are NO strings attached." Please take a moment and write to us about your experience. It doesn't happen in real life, and it certainly does not happen in US politics.

So, Mashuri, you are naive enough to believe that the listed interests in the table gave Paul over $4 million and expect NOTHING from him in return? I don't give a rat's ass how he votes he is doing something to benefit someone besides the common average American if he is exercising the ACTION of accepting $4 million dollars from monied interests.

EDIT: one encounters a lot of railing about people who want something for nothing. No one ever rails about the monied interests wanting something for something when it comes to political donations.

Jim,

What has Ron Paul done to "pay back" his "monied" interests? He votes "no" on anything that expands government and does everything he can to reduce it. I wish all special interests were payed back in that way.