John MacDonald Quotes

conservative justices in the majority McCain held this view despite the fact that most other politicians applauded the decision since the large, wealthy corporations tended to support Republicans.

Referring to the Supreme Court 5-4 decision—Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission--that allows corporations and rich individuals to spend unlimited amounts of money campaigning to the advantage of particular candidates.

See {586119} for an earlier English version of this point.

The “party” Wilson referred to was the lobbyists and corporations who would do almost anything to be in his good graces and they poured money into his campaign fund.

Abramoff had bribed over 100 Congressional offices by a combination of campaign donations, paid golf junkets all over the world, free elegant meals at his own fancy Washington Restaurant, free tickets for the Congressmen, their staffs and their major constituents, to Concerts and sporting events including his own Skyboxes, and promises of future employment at very high salaries. Ironically, we was convicted of cheating some of his lobbying clients and did a jail term, but his “bribery” was technically usually legal. In addition to Abramoff, only one Congressman was charged and convicted of corruption, when many if not most had engaged in these corrupt practices. Congress makes the rules with loopholes so that what is bribery and corruption in any other setting is often not against the law if Congress is involved.

By restricting or limiting the campaign contributions of corporations, Scalia observed, the government is in effect is muffing the voices of the entities which not only is a great source of information on the economy, but it represents and is a very large component of the American economy itself. The Citizen United case resolved that issue to obtain the views and information of the corporations, but in the views of many others the price society pays is very high—perhaps too high.

The public had been roused by the meatpacking scandal and the other exposes of the leading muckraking journalists—of which Baker was one. President Roosevelt had galvanized and led the public opinion to pressure congress and major great reforms were under way that would change America forever—see New York Times editorial {86516}.

Adams urged paying tribute to the Barbary Pirates who had an incredible extortion racket going in the Mediterranean. If nations would pay them an annual sum each year, they would not attack and seize merchant ships of that country and sell the ships and goods while holding the sailors for ransom. Most of the European powers were paying the annual tribute as they calculated that it was cheaper than patrolling the Mediterranean with warships or going to war with the Barbary States. More important for Adams was that he did not think that the country would support such a military action. See {640847} That was Adams’ thinking. Jefferson however, sent our Navy and Marines to our first foreign war, and they were very effective. However, despite the American military victories, and because of the inability for the European powers to collaborate and share the burden of naval patrol, the United States went back to the craven policy of paying the blackmail. See {640846} & {640848}.

When it came to legislation that affected veterans, the members of Congress were in an all or nothing situation. If there was a bill to extend or improve a benefit for veterans, the member would be classified completely on how he/she voted on the singular issue.

The two politicians were amazed as they learned more and more about some of industrial leaders of the country. This is the language they used in private communications.

See {640687}. He was then very worried about the influence of money in politics and was willing to risk his own reelection by limiting his contributions. And he was the Republican presidential candidate so his policy was particularly unusual. A century later money in politics had ballooned to a much larger problem as Taft’s action had little or no effect on the overall relationship between money and politics outside of his campaign.

The only soldier ever so honored

Politicians and large political donors supporting the private campaign donation process tend to argue that businesses make contributions for patriotic and good government reasons and not as investments, but when business executives are asked by shareholders why they spend so much company money for campaign contributions, the inevitably respond that investing in campaign contributions provide a better return than most other investments. If they were so interested in good government they might spend more money on voter education.