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McCain Aide Scheunemann Linked to Bush Library 'Cash for Access' Scandal
We all know the names of professional athletes and actors that have little to do with our lives. Now it is time for us to get to know the corrupt men who have a lot to do with the way this country operates. Let me introduce you to:
Earlier this month, the Sunday Times caught longtime Bush associate Stephen Payne on tape offering access to top Bush administration officials in exchange for “six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush’s presidency.” Payne, who is now being investigated by the Homeland Security Department and the House Oversight Committee, made the offer to Kazakh politician Yerzhan Dosmukhamedov, who is also known as Eric Dos.
The Times reported that Dos had previously worked with Payne to arrange a 2006 visit by Vice President Dick Cheney to Kazakhstan. Dos claims that in exchange for arranging Cheney’s trip, “a payment of $2m was passed, via a Kazakh oil and gas company, to Payne’s firm.” Payne denies that any such arrangement existed.
But the Times reports today that Payne may be lying about his business dealings and that the money may have been funneled through a sister company to Payne’s lobbying firm:
The Sunday Times, however, has discovered the existence of a channel through which funds from the Kazakh government could have been readily transferred.
A sister company to WSP, Worldwide Strategic Energy (WSE), of which Payne is also president, has a subsidiary, Caspian Alliance, which is the sole US representative for KMG.
The Times reports that a top adviser to Sen. John McCain, lobbyist Randy Scheunemann, has direct ties to the company that is alleged to have funneled the funds:
Randy Scheunemann, chief foreign policy and national security adviser to John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, was listed in the WSE brochure as part of its executive team. Scheunemann and Associates, his lobbying firm, is reported as having represented the Caspian Alliance in 2005. We all know the names of professional athletes and actors that have little to do with our lives. Now it is time for us to get to know... more -
$250,000 Can Buy You the Endrsement of the White House
A lobbyist associated with the Bush Administration, Stephen Payne, is caught on tape saying that a $250,000 donation to the Bush Library will ensure an exiled Asian president could receive a favorable endorsement from Cheney or Rice. Not lost in this is the fact that the same offer made about Sen. Biden, too. Corruption knows no party boundaries. A lobbyist associated with the Bush Administration, Stephen Payne, is caught on tape saying that a $250,000 donation to the Bush Libr... more
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Crooks and liars: McCain’s lobbyist friends
One of the big stories with Obama now leading the DNC is that he has announced that not only will his presidential campaign not accept lobbyist donations, neither will the DNC any longer. And while McCain has made some tentative statements about public financing of his campaign, he has yet to commit to anything, other than the sheer number of lobbyists working on his campaign.
The DNC has put out this ad tying McCain to his lobbyists buddies. From the press release:
“While Senator McCain talks about transparency and accountability on the campaign trail, back home in Washington he and the lobbyists in his inner circle refuse to apply those same standards to his own campaign,” said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney.
“Senator Obama and the Democratic Party have promised to change the way business is done in Washington and are taking real steps to ensure that the American people’s priorities dominate the agenda in Washington. If Senator McCain is serious about his call to clean up Washington, he should join us. Otherwise, Senator McCain is once again showing why he is the wrong choice for America’s future.”
A little fact checking, courtesy of the DNC, on McCain’s Lobbyist Brigade if you click the link. One of the big stories with Obama now leading the DNC is that he has announced that not only will his presidential campaign not accept... more -
Obama pledges a partnership with AIPAC
http://www.aipac.org/Publications/SpeechesByPolicymakers/Obama_-_As_Prepared_for_Delivery.pdf
http://www.aipac.org/media_files/AudioPC08Speeches/PC08...
The fundamental element that set Barack Obama apart from all other Candidates was that he refused to accept funds from Special Interest Groups and Lobbyists, in order to send a clear message that they will not have the traditional influence over what happens in his White House. However, today Obama stood before the largest Israeli Lobby and pledged his undying devotion. The words of his speech expressed great favoritism for Israel.
This disturbed me very much, because it is a contradiction in his original platform. On the other hand, as much as it disturbs me, it is not enough to make me change my mind about supporting Obama for president for one simple reason: Virtually ALL American politicians commit this same transgression of favoritism for Israel.
AIPAC is really the only Lobby that has so much devestating influence over our government. When Obama initialy suggested turning his back to Lobbyiests, I was hopeful that we would finaly be rid of them. They are the primary motivation behinde all of our bad policy abroad and sometimes even domestic. If you think I exagerate, then I advize you to simply go to their website and see for yourself.
http://www.aipac.org/ http://www.aipac.org/Publications/SpeechesByPolicymakers/Obama_-_As_Prepared_for_Delivery.pdf ... more -
End Aerial Wolf Hunting
Explosive new video blasts the justification for Alaskas current aerial wolf hunting program and rallies voters to end it. Using testimony from Alaska Department of Fish & Game staff, a master hunting guide, and Board of Game members, this video exposes the fallacy behind Governor Sarah Palins claim that predator control is based on sound science. Declarations that the program is for the benefit of subsistence hunters are shattered with documentation showing that sport and trophy hunters take up to 73% of prey in areas where aerial wolf hunting has taken place. End Aerial Wolf Hunting rallies support for H.R. 3663, legislation now being considered in the U.S. Congress which will close the loophole in the Federal Airborne Hunting Act that has been exploited to allow this practice to continue. Five years in the making, this video exposes the truth about the stranglehold the hunting lobby has on wildlife management in Alaska. Explosive new video blasts the justification for Alaskas current aerial wolf hunting program and rallies voters to end it. Using testi... more
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Al Gore vs. H. Clinton. This poll puts Gore in second place.
This poll puts Gore in second place, only points behind Clinton, and Gore is not even running "yet". <-- we all have hopes, dreams, and admirations; if Al Gore runs, many of mine would be satisfied...therefore, I say "yet". (the CBS poll link is at the top left of the page)
>>>>> I imagine that Al Gore could go to the top of the polls because Clinton does not stand solid on issues, is a mirror of John Kerry at times by changing sides on what she says during the debates, and is a lobbyist. At least she does admit to being a lobbyist though she does not admit to any illegal lobbying. For those reasons she is not trusful. It seems apparent that she hides her true intentions by not fully answering or changing the direction of questions. She is only going to the votes and not for the issues, in fear of any damage that may be done to her campaign so no person in their right mind should support any candidate like that.
>>>>>Furthermore, I totally support Gore because he stands by his beliefs and expresses them openly. People may say he's crazy or weird or anything else, but he has a passion and that is what everyone needs. There was a time when candidates actually stood for something which was more than themselves. I am saying that Gore is on a mission for the world, not just his nation or his benefits. When he made the documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth", he did not say..."I am doing this so I can win the Nobel Peace Prize." He did it because he saw an opportunity to give humanity information about the place it lives so that we can know what is happening and what our potential affects are.
>>>>>>For the skeptics:
For those of you who may not believe the statistics on "An Inconvenient Truth", think past the validity of what was presented to you and the rest of the world. Even if we are only going through an Earth/Time cycle, the fact is that we, humanity, needs to clean up our environment. We need to be responsible for things and not just cast pollution to the side until it becomes an issue. Why not start now and make our health and the potential health of our children much better. The news reports today speak of how China's pollution is causing many health problems. The number of problems have risen 40% since 2001 (when it's industry really began to take off). America already has so many "common" health problems which are rarely seen in many/most other countries. We are undoubtedly affecting our environment, not to say that is the only culprit. At the same time the changes could also be a cycle, but the cycle does not need our help. All we are doing is compounding its affects. We need to begin finding solutions to igsisting environmental problems now. Because change happens over a long period of time, we should act now so the changes will take affect before they become worse. For these reasons I support Al Gore and fully hope he will run in the 2008 elections and ultimately become president. This poll puts Gore in second place, only points behind Clinton, and Gore is not even running "yet". <-- we all have hopes, dreams,... more
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