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Lobbyist Love in DC

Monday, February 02, 2009

Lobbyists continue to have a presence in Obama’s administration, despite his pledge to limit their roles in the White House. Find out how lobbying and influence peddling in Washington, DC have evolved over the past 3 decades. Robert Kaiser of the Washington Post is author of So Damn Much Money.

Events:
Robert Kaiser will be speaking and signing books tonight
Monday, February 2nd at 7 pm
Upper West Side Barnes & Noble
2289 Broadway (at 82nd St.)
Store: 212-362-8835.

Guests:

Robert Kaiser

Comments [10]

Gregory from The Bronx

I also forgot to mention Shana Tesler as well.

Feb. 02 2009 12:41 PM
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J from Manhattan

To transpose above comment into a question for Mr. Kaiser: Bill Clinton's 1992 executive order stated explicitly that the attorney general was to prosecute anyone who violated the lobbying ethics rules. Has any attorney general in any administration ever prosecuted any people for violating these rules? What are the chances that the rules be enforced under the Obama administration?

Feb. 02 2009 12:38 PM
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Gregory from The Bronx

Cassidy did hire former Abramoff associates Todd Boulanger and Jim Hirni as well.

Feb. 02 2009 12:37 PM
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Felicia Adams

I find it hypocritical that the west criticizes third world countries about corruption, when Lobbying is a legalized form of corruption.

The only difference is politicians in third world countries do not care if they get caught while as in the west politicians worry about what will happen to them if they get caught.

Feb. 02 2009 12:36 PM
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eCAHNomics

I'm amazed at how small the sums are to bribe pols. The rate of return on lobbying must be in the thousand percents. Which leads me to ask, why isn't it even worse? No business can make a rate of return higher than that on lobbying.

Feb. 02 2009 12:35 PM
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hjs from 11211

didn't the tv airwaves used to be own by WE the people?

Feb. 02 2009 12:32 PM
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J from Manhattan

Bill Clinton's first official act as president on January 21st, 1993? Signing an executive order mandating "unprecedented" lobbying ethics rules, the "toughest ever," a policy to "'stop the revolving door' of Washington influence-peddling."

Yet from the Washington Post on 12/10/92: "Other Clinton aides allowed that ethics standards are, in general, difficult to enforce, especially because influence is often in the eye of the beholder. Aides were unsure what agency would enforce the rules.

"The incoming administration defended the new rules primarily for their symbolic value" (Washington Post, 12/10/92, Page A1).

Also, the same myth that "the president will have a hard time finding qualified people" was propagated by the Mr Kaiser's own Washington Post, again on 12/10/92: "Clinton's Ethics Rules: Balance or Barrier?"

Let us not forget one of the Man from Hope's final acts in office: an executive order revoking his 1992 executive order on lobbying ethics rules.

Feb. 02 2009 12:27 PM
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Demetri from Brooklyn

A major problem with this is corporations should not be considered citizens. Individuals should be allowed to lobby, but fictional entities like corporations should not.

Feb. 02 2009 12:27 PM
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dbnyc from Brooklyn

is the schlossberg of schlossberg & cassidy any relation to Caroline Kennedy's husband?

Feb. 02 2009 12:19 PM
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Anita from Brooklyn

Isn't there something wrong with allocating such funds to private universities VS. Public colleges and universities? Can you address this?

Feb. 02 2009 12:18 PM
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