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PHIL LOSSIFER
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All Media's been full of comment 'bout Congress people takin' bucks from lobbyists. Question is where've y' been, Media, hidin' under a bushel basket? Money is part an' parcel of ever'thin', startin' locally on up t' the top. Show me a buck, I'll show you a crook tryin' t' steal it, a politician tryin' t' tax it, an' yer friends tryin' t' drink it up. Will Rogers Jr.'s biography writ back in '35 sed, "We have the best government money can buy." Trouble t'day is politicians have raised the ante where the average man cain't git a word in edgewise unless there's money in the envelope. Cash preferred, checks made out t' cash if y' don't mind.
However, in t'day's world runnin' fer public office costs money. Them that has it, gits elected. Them that don't, git short shrift from Media. Nothin's worse t' Media than a poor aspirant fer office. They won't cover yer bash lessen y' ply them with cash. Sad part is McCain Feingold law really opened doors t' lies, counter lies an' real lies. Under the freedom of speech provisions, Media'll run any ad, truth or lie, long as buck's on the table. Polytical ads seem immune t' slander restrictions. See it now in new Supreme Court nominee: ain't how good a lawyer he is, it's how much venom can be bought fer or aginst him. Jes like Swift Bopat ads that made Kerry a traitor fer his Viet service, Bush a hero for his national guard service. OK leaven that'n alone.
Abramoff had a deal goin', jes like Ken Lay. Donate big t' those helpin' yer cause, but lay some small cash on those who won't, or don't. Like that when chips fall in barnyard ever'body needs bath er deodorant. He had a deal goin' with gamblin' Indians. They paid megabucks fer his lobbyin', an' he gave contributions t' Congressmen, mebbe even a presidential candidate. Ain't seen that yet in all honesty. There's back door ways t' do things, he made sure all the doors got opened. He din't count on Tom Delay bein' caught tryin' t' redistrict all the states instead of Texas alone.
What should voters do? They should throw the bums out! But, how? A'gin, money rears it's head when incumbents challenge aspirant petitions! Ever' T ain't dotted, petitions thrown out. Challenges cost money defendin' them, those in have ways t' make sure they only ones allowed t' run.
Money buys influence, changes legislation, makes politicians campaign chests richer. Tax breaks fer the rich, poor git leftovers if any exists. Appropriation bills laced with pork enablin' Congressmen t' show voters how they're lookin' out fer them. Only people lookin' out fer is themselves.
How kin this be corrected? Frankly, it cain't. When yer dealin' with anyone in power, remember t' fill the hand ahind their backs. That'll git results. 'Nuff never sed. By the way, All Enron execs an' Abramoff'll be pardoned. Take that'n t' the bank.
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