DNC promotes 'Desecrated flag' video

From Politico --

One of the 20 finalists in health care video contest run by Barack Obama’s campaign arm features a mural of an America flag splattered with health care graffiti until it’s covered completely by black paint.

In the video – which is accompanied by the sound of a heart monitor pumping and then flat-lining – words such as “pre-existing conditions,” “homeless” and “death panel” ultimately obliterate the flag, which reappears on screen seconds later with the words “Health Will Bring Our Country Back to Life” on the blue field where the 50 stars usually are.

According to the Organizing for American Web site, the 20 finalists in the “Health Reform Video Challenge” were chosen by a panel of “qualified” Democratic National Committee “employee judges.”

Liberal PACs Trouncing Conservative Counterparts in Political Donation Race

And who is it the Democrat party really represents?

From Open Secrets --

It's a glorious time to be a Democrat if you're hoping for some serious advocacy action from the nation's monied liberal establishments.

Through the first half of 2009, left-leaning political action committees have obliterated their right-leaning competition in spending, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal campaign finance data indicates.

ActBlue headlines the list, having spent more than $8.45 million between January and June. It's followed by abortion rights organization EMILY's List ($5.43 million); Moveon.org ($5.2 million); the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($3.82 million) and Service Employees International Union Local 1999 ($3.47 million).

Not until 6th place does a conservative group crop up -- the National Republican Trust PAC, which has spent $2.59 million this year, through June 30.

Then in 11th place is the Lyndon LaRouche PAC, which while leftist, is hardly a supporter of President Barack Obama. (LaRouche ran numerous times for the Democratic presidential nomination, failing each time to secure it -- or even much interest from voters.)

Consider the new poster the Lyndon LaRouche PAC is touting, featuring a photograph of Obama with an Adolph Hitler moustache. LaRouche himself also recently described Obama as "a little piece of crap" who is risking assassination at the hands of the British government. No joke, folks.

While these expenditures are going toward advocacy of all stripes -- television ads, mailings, workers' salaries, etc. -- political candidates themselves are also beneficiaries. Particularly Democrats.

In terms of donations to candidates, 17 of the top 20 PAC contributors have given more to Democratic candidates than Republican candidates during 2009. The trio of trend-busters? The United Parcel Service, American Bankers Association and AT&T.

A Huddling of the Huns: Talk to Chairman Obamao in a Conference Call 8/20/09

Below you will see OFA claims 60,000 of their members stopped by congressional office in support of Obamacare - this post here states otherwise and that pales in comparison to the over 1.2 million people that have signed the Free Our Heath Care Now petition. (Click here to sign it)

From my Spam Bag --

President Obama is holding a live strategy meeting on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for all Organizing for America supporters. I hope you can join us, online or by phone.

The President will update us on the fight to pass real health insurance reform -- what's happening in D.C. and what's happening around the country. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward and answer questions from supporters like you. And we'll unveil the next actions we'll organize together.

This is a critical time in this President's administration, and in the history of our country. I hope you can join us. Here are the details:

What: Organizing for America National Health Care Forum

When: Thursday, August 20th, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

RSVP and submit a question for the President.

The President wrote to us a few weeks ago to ask us to go the extra milethis month in the fight for health insurance reform. And so far,you've stepped up in a big way: Last week, an astounding 60,000 Organizingfor America volunteers stopped by representatives' and senators' local offices. You told your health care stories to staffers and members of Congress -- of losing insurance after getting laid off, of being denied coverage upon finding out about a serious illness. And you thankedthose supporting real health insurance reform for all the work they've done so far.

But these local office visits were only part of the story. The D.C. media has been trumpeting coverage of town halls disrupted by angry opposition to reform. But the reality on the ground is very different.

Organizing for America supporters are showing up in huge numbers at thesemeetings all across the country -- outnumbering opponents of reform, oftenby overwhelming margins.

You've organized 11,906 local events in all 50 states -- from press conferences to community discussions -- since we launched our big campaign for reform in June. And you've made hundreds of thousands of calls to Congress.

Your work so far has been incredible. But the special interests and partisan attack groups who oppose reform will not let up, and they will tell whatever lies they can to spread fear. There's a lot more work for all of us to do. This Thursday's meeting is our chance to huddle as a team, get the latest information and talk about how we're going to achieve this victory. You don't want to miss it.

Click here to RSVP and submit a question for President Obama:http://my.barackobama.com/forum

Hope you can make it,

David Plouffe

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Idiots

Girlieman of the Week Award: Congresspunk Tim Bishop

From Politically Incorrect Gazette --

Girlieman of the Week
Date Awarded: August 14, 2009

Girlieman: Congresspunk Tim Bishop
Girlie Antics: I won’t spoil it for you.

One of those infamous faux conservatives - a blue dog Demoncrat - Congresspunk Tim Bishop yammered the unwary rational adults in his ‘red’, Empire State, district into voting for him. Apparently, he channeled his inner Abe Lincoln by fooling ‘some of the people all of the time’. That magic spell worked like gang-busters, on chad-punching day, but it’s starting to wear off, leaving Tim in rational adult infested ‘you can’t fool all of the people all of the time’ waters. D’Oh.

Determined to give ‘some of the people all of the time’ another shot, Timmy boy decided to roll those town hall meeting dice. Was he stupid enough to face outraged voters in his district? Not exactly.

Tim Bishop (D, NY-01) is having something called a “health care reform rally” on Thursday, at (of all things) SEIU’s Hicksville NY offices (1199 Duffy Ave, starts at 1 PM). This is otherwise known as “over twenty miles outside the borders of NY-01.” Bishop is of course one of the first Democrats holding down a Red district (NY-01 is a R+0) to discover that his constituents are paying attention to his votes: he rather famously canceled his future in-district meetings. Presumably he assumes that his constituents won’t drive twenty miles to complain.

When you can’t stand the heat, hide behind the Purple Shirts. (Michelle Malkin’s blog)

He’s holding a town meeting for his constituents 20 MILES outside his district? He’s holding it at head-breaker central, the SEIU Purple Gang’s Hicksville (NY) office? Wow! Congratulations Timmy Boy, you just took gutless and girlie to a whole new level. It puts you in the same league as the Commissar of Gutless and Girlie, Messiah Barry.

Timmy boy will be thrilled to learn that his craven cowardice earned him a double dose of award winning joy. In addition to being the Politically Incorrect Gazette’s Girlieman of the Week, Timmy "The Twerp" Bishop just landed a spot on the FSOP’s short list for Girlieman of the Year.

Barack Obama: President Pay to Play

Huh, during the campaign I swear I heard then candidate Obama read... "If I'm elected, there will be no more politics as usual in Washington," off his teleprompter.

One of his aides better go get him the screen shot of that remark. It looks like he forgot it in his interview process for pickiing ambassador positions.

From Open Secrets --

President Barack Obama has picked three big bundlers and donors to fill diplomatic posts to Spain, Norway and the European Union.

The three new ambassadors bundled more than $1 million combined toward Obama's election efforts. Overall, they -- along with their immediate family members -- have contributed nearly $2 million to federal candidates since 1989.

The president's ambassadorial announcements come after a relative lull in news of ambassador picks with money-in-politics connections -- a topic we have been covering all summer.

Check out our updated downloaded spreadsheet of campaign contribution data regarding all of Obama's ambassador picks here. (Note, if you do use this data, please be sure to credit CRP.) Obama_ambassador_Data090807.xls

Wife of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor pushing "County Reform" involved in Corruption Scandal

Oh tee hee!

Here's a tasty tidbit about the snake everyone wants you to buy county reform from...

From the PD --

A spokesman for the prosecutor said there was nothing improper about Mason's wife, Carol, having worked for a company owned by a businessman who is part of the federal corruption investigation in the county.

The prosecutor's office said Friday that Carol Mason worked for Frola on a month-to-month basis, earning $1,500 a month from January 2008 to June 2008. She did public relations and event planning for Frola's business, though the office did not give specific projects she worked on.

Frola handled real estate deals for the city of Parma and its school district. He is a close friend of Parma Mayor Dean DePiero, who in turn is a longtime friend and political ally of Bill Mason's.

Municipal Solutions was named in grand jury subpoenas delivered to Parma schools and Parma City Hall this year as part of the widespread federal probe into public corruption in Cuyahoga County. At the time the subpoenas were delivered, Carol Mason worked for Frola's company, according to court documents. More....

Now they're getting closer to the real crooks! I'll give you a hint - their initials are GCP.

False DNC Ad about Sen. Jim DeMint pulled from Airwaves

More proof that truth and integrity are not part of the democrats vocabulary or actions...

From Senator Jim DeMint's Blog --

Today, two major cable providers in South Carolina decided to pull down a false television advertisement purchased by the DNC attacking Senator Jim DeMint. After reviewing the legal arguments presented by attorneys for DeMint for Senate, both Charter Media in Greenville, SC and Cable Vantage in Columbia, SC have pulled the ad from circulation.

As of this afternoon, this untrue attack ad will no longer run on television anywhere inside the State of South Carolina.

Senator DeMint said, “The President’s ad was both false and misleading and I am grateful it is off the South Carolina airwaves. Looking forward, my hope is that the President will engage in an honest debate of ideas to truly reform America’s health care system.”

New Cuyahoga County Democrat Chairperson Elected

The Democrat Dipshits of Cuyahoga County just elected their new chairperson...

Cleveland Clerk of Council Patricia Britt, who officially took the reins of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party today, said that embattled Chairman Jimmy Dimora will have no role behind the scenes. (PD)

Oh Great! Britt, a member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, will now have Rep. Marcia Fudge and former Congress Critter Louis Stokes running Cuyahoga County.

For those that say the above comment is racist... I suggest you read this post on how the black leaders in this area have consistently failed the black voters. Power hungry, money grubbing politicians come in black and white too -- not just red & blue.

Liberal MSM Slant on Health Care

This below posts notes a Democrat that is not so thrilled spitless about government run health care. That he is a pawn for the insurance companies is no sigh of relief though -- as they are also contributing to the health care problems we face today.

The money being poured into saddling us with a government run socialized health care will easily rival. if not far outpace, that of the lobbyists against it. But notice "In the bag for Obama" MSNBC (Mao's Socialist Network for Boosting Communism), notes nothing about the socialist forces and funds from the progressive left influencing those supporting socialized hellth care...

From Open Secrets --

How large of a role do campaign contributions play when it comes time to vote on controversial legislation? That's the question that MSNBC's David Shuster poised to Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) Monday night. Citing data from the Center for Responsive Politics, the report noted that Carper has collected $223,460 from all types of insurers since 2005, and $122,870 from the pharmaceutical and health products
industry.

Carper, like many in the health industry, prefers that a government-backed health insurance plan be offered only as a back-up measure to private insurance. Moreover, our latest health care money analysis, part of our series on health care reform, shows that the Delaware Democrat has raised $238,460 from health insurers alone since 2000, and $341,464 from pharmaceutical companies.

"Why shouldn't people believe that your decision to say a public option as a back-up plan," Shuster asked, "why shouldn't people believe that it's been influenced by the money you've gotten from insurance companies and from pharmaceutical [companies], who don't want a public option at all or as a back-up plan as a worse case scenario?"

Carper denied any conflict of interest. "The most effective lobbyists for me in everything I've ever done are actually people from Delaware," he said.

The broadcast also touched on a Washington Post article, which examines former government staffers and retired members of Congress who have gone through the revolving door of influence to become part of the health industry's $1.4 million-a-day lobbying effort on health care. As we noted earlier, that piece, too, used CRP data.

For me, and hopefully the rest of our country - if their smart, should be against socialized health care. If you think the private insurance companies are a pain -- how well do you think the red tape of government will make it any better?

The issues plaguing the post office, an ineffective, failure to change with the times, government subsidized service that is in the first steps of failure & going broke -- will define our new hellth care.

Murtha Donor Charged with Taking Kickbacks

Murtha received $65,000 more than any other official. Murtha returned the favor in earmarks -- politics as usual. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), whose name has surfaced in the investigation also received $4000.

From Open Secrets --

Richard Ianieri, the defense contractor charged today with accepting $200,000 in kickbacks from a subcontractor, was president of a company that gave more money to Rep. John Murtha than any other lawmaker. That company, Coherent Systems International, received millions of dollars in earmarks from Murtha, and continued giving money to the Pennsylvania Democrat after Ianieri left Coherent and Argon ST bought it.

The criminal complaint filed yesterday reportedly did not name the subcontractor, according to Roll Call.

In total, the employees of Coherent, and employees and political action committees of Argon and its subsidiaries, have given $81,950 to Murtha's campaign committee and leadership PAC since the 2004 election cycle, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.

Murtha has not been accused of any wrongdoing. But the congressman ranks as the top recipient of funds from now-defunct lobbying firm, PMA Group, and its defense-related clients.

The firm worked for a number of companies that sought federal earmarks from the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which Murtha chairs. We've written extensively about this issue and you can find the most recent roundup of data here.

Brunner caught with hand in Campaign Fund Cookie Jar

It looks likes Ohio Secratary of State, Jennifer Brunner (D) may have been caught with her hand in the campaign finance cookie-jar.

A tip of King's Crown to Matt at Weapons of Mass Discussion...

There is only one word that properly describes the explanations coming out of Jen Brunner & her campaign on this issue of campaign expenditures from her Secretary of State account in the final days of its existence:

Preposterous

Merriam-Webster defines "preposterous" as follows: contrary to nature, reason, or common sense: absurd

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/06/copy/brunner_spending.ART_ART_06-06-09_A1_1RE3J2R.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

All I can say is that this better be Day #1 of a multitude of daily stories until Jennifer Lee comes up with a plausible explanation instead of the fairy tale they are telling at this point in time.

Yesterday she said, "If there's a problem, we'll fix it." The word "problem" is very far off base because it is singular and not plural. Jenny: The appropriate word to use in that situation would have been "problems."

I would have to say it is a "problem" when you used to defend people who used their campaign funds illegally as an elections law attorney, then you were a judge & now you hold the position of head honcho over all things legal or illegal in the world of campaign finance. You either don't know the law which is a "problem" or you know the law, knowingly broke it and did not think you would get caught breaking it which is a "problem" or you have had no idea about what is and is not going on with your campaign and that is also a "problem." Yep, no matter how you look at this situation it is a "problem."

I think it is a "problem" when $15,500 was spent on office equipment, supplies and cell phones and neither you nor any of your staff have any idea where the office equipment, supplies and cell phones are or who is using them. That is the biggest bunch of barnacles I may ever have heard in this lifetime. Let's put that up to the smell test. Assuming you or your staff went to Staples & Best Buy that $15,500 could have bought the following:

5 HP Pavilion Laptops for a total of $4,000
5 Deluxe Computer desks for a total of $1,250
10 boxes of paper at $430
2 Canon Rebel Campaign Cameras for total of $1,160
1 Epson Scanner for $220
1 Canon VIXIA camcorder for $750
5 HP PC Bundles for total of $4,150
1 Xerox Color printer/copier/fax $550
4 Printer cartridges for the All in One $900
4 Blackberry Storms for a current Verizon customer for $2,000 at Best Buy
Total of $15,420

That is what $15,500 will buy you between Staples & Verizon (assuming you were already a Verizon customer) at Best Buy.

Of the thousands of people who will read this blog post on Sunday I would like to hear from anyone who could buy the above 44 different items (some high-end ticket items & some that take up quite a bit of space) and not have any idea where they are less
than four months after you bought them.

Is there anyone out there who would not know where these $15,500 worth of items were?

Anyone??? Bueller...Bueller...Anyone??? Bueller???

Nope. I didn't think so.

Yes, Jen. You have a problem.

A big problem.

I guess my problems thus far are why is this not in EVERY newspaper in the state?

Is this a Tom Charles issue or a Phil Richter issue or a Ron O'Brien issue??? Where are they?

If Monty Will got whacked for $125,000 and Ray Miller got cotton balls thrown at him (i.e. a $1,000 fine) then what will these infractions equal up to fine-wise? $5,000? $25,000? $100,000?

I mean she can't plead she doesn't know the law. Since she could not plead that then she plead that her campaign broke the law, she knew nothing about them breaking the law and now she is going to investigate and (my guess is for apprearance's sake) heads (not her own) are going to roll.

Right now Pia Brady (Brunner's spokeswoman who needs to go to Amanda Worst's spokeperson camp this summer so she can learn to lie to the press better) says she does not know where the office equipment or office supplies are nor does she know where the cell phones are or who is using them.

My guess is Jen probably also will have a "problem" if the press does the leg work to see the actual space that Brunner has been using, ascertain what class the space is and then price it at market value. My guess is the law firm has been charging a
premium for said space.

Finally, Brunner said she has been busy doing her job as secretary of state and campaigning for the Senate and will "talk to her staff" to clear up questions about campaign fund expenditures.

Ha ha ha ha ha hee hee hee hee hee hee hee...oh stop...stop...you are killing me. That was a good one, Jennifer Lee.

What job are you doing as Secretary of State? Seriously. It is an odd-numbered year and the primaries are over. The only thing you really have in your lap right now that is active is the Husted residency issue and you are very, very smartly sitting on it and doing absolutely nothing with it since the press is not calling you on being 100%
political and sitting on it the way you are.

There is no plausible reason you or your office can give now that it is June that could give you a reason for not declaring a verdict on the Husted residency issue.

This SHOULD be a "problem" for you, but up until this point in time it is not.

So you don't have any elections to deal with until November, you are dragging your feet on the Husted residency issue and you are not looking in on what your SOS or Senate campaigns were doing or are currently doing...what job are you doing with your SOS hat on? I think a lot of people would love to know the answer to that.

• Will Brunner get a pass on this law-breaking maneuver or will the press and the appropriate authorities investigate???

• Will Brunner continue to get a pass on being political with this Husted residency issue???

I don't know why Matt is so upset - on TV last night, Brunner said she will be investigating herself. That should give us a a sigh of relief. Yeah Right!

Cuyahoga County Land Bank has County Treasurer Showing his Political Fangs

Here's a great example of what happens if you do not toe the line in the political circles in Cuyahoga County - you get attacked. In this case you are called incompetent and asked to be removed from your job of 19 years.

Reviewing the numbers for the newly created County Land Bank, which was expected to raise millions for the county by purchasing & collecting taxes on foreclosed properties, Budget Director Sandy Turk comes to the conclusion that the numbers don't work. Turk estimates the Land Bank will cost the county about $30 million in start up money to buy foreclosed properties, and will cause the county to lose approximately $2 million a year.

One of the snakes pushing for a cosmetic reform of Cuyahoga County Government and one of the brain trusts behind creating a county land bank - Cuyahoga County Treasurer James Rocockiss - (who by the way is looking to advance his own political career with this reform) will stand for no one to challenge his cherry picked numbers...

Rokakis, who has billed the land bank program as a money maker, said Tuesday that he considers the analysis by Budget Director Sandy Turk to be flawed and that he intends to ask county commissioners for her removal.

"She deliberately misstated numbers to create the illusion that the land bank would cost the county money," he said. (PD)

This woman has some nerve challenging Big Jim - huh? Rocockiss, angling for a Commissioner spot in the next election, or the County Executive spot, if and when a country reform passes, could not have anyone making him look bad.

The Plain Dealer reports that after presenting her report things got testy and Rocockiss placed a not so friendly call to Turk....

Exactly what was said in the exchange is a matter of dispute.

According to Turk, Rokakis asked if she was going to take a buyout being offered to county employees. Then, Turk said, the treasurer added: "Maybe you will when I become the next commissioner next year."

Rokakis denied making any reference to becoming a commissioner, but he acknowledged advising Turk to retire early: "I said, 'You know Sandy, you should take the buyout because you're an incompetent.' "

Rokakis said Turk underestimated interest on the loan to the land bank. The treasurer said his problems with Turk aren't limited to her report on the land bank. For instance, he said, Turk opposed him taking over responsibility for county investments years ago.

As we can see, Turk stands to lose her job of 19 years - so why would she purposely dispute the proposed numbers - she has nothing to gain by stirring the pot. On the other hand, a failed and costly County Land Bank, could have a high political cost for Rocockiss, a Democrat. So who do you believe?

But don't worry... I'm sure the "watch dogs" at the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County (RPCC) are all over this and have went through all the details with a fine tooth comb and have offered their stance on the integrity of the numbers - right?

Nope, the clueless & useless over-paid cads at the RPCC are busy watching and promoting the local version of Dancing with the Stars.

Ohio House Speaker - Armond Budish - A Democrat Double Standard!

In the next two weeks we will be hearing about how terrible the financial future of Ohio is. This will be advanced when the projected revenues for the state are expected in the next several days. While we are in financial trouble, in Rahm Emmanuel like fashion, a larger financial crisis will be portrayed. Why? Because it is time for the Conference Committees to start hammering out the different versions of Ohio' proposed budget for the next two years.

The conference committee is where the House will try to restore cuts and earmarks from their version of the budget that were removed in the Senate version of the budget. In reality, both versions are nothing more than smoke and mirrors until the projected revenues are reviewed. With 10.2% unemployment and a sinking auto industry - they are not expected to look good.

Along with education, one of the biggest drains on our budget is Medicaid and Nursing Homes....

The health-care program designed for the poor, regardless of age, gobbles up 38 percent of the state's current two-year, $52 billion budget. That's more than the state spends on primary, secondary and higher education combined. And nursing homes -- which are paid through Medicaid -- consume 22 percent of the state's Medicaid budget, the largest single portion. (PD)

So I ask... Would you feel safe if a person who has personal ties to the Nursing Home industry and makes a living off teaching people how to get around Medicaid laws played a major role in crafting the budget that will fund these programs?

If this obvious double standard does bother you, let me introduce you to Speaker of the Ohio House - Armond Budish...

Budish has built a national reputation advocating ways to take advantage of Medicaid, which has stringent income requirements. To qualify for nursing home care, a person can't have assets worth more than a few thousand dollars apart from a home.

In 1989, he wrote a book that discussed the subject, called "Avoiding the Medicaid Trap: How to Beat the Catastrophic Costs of Nursing-Home Care." And he wrote about the topic in columns for The Plain Dealer and Family Circle.

"How can we get prescription drug coverage if we have too much money?" asked one reader.

Budish answered in a 2002 Plain Dealer column by advising people with a home and $100,000 in savings to pay off debt and invest in exempt assets such as home improvements.

"You may put your CDs or stocks into your son's name to reduce your countable assets," he added. "If you need money later, your child can return it to you."

He still dispenses Medicaid advice on his weekly television show, "Golden Opportunities," which tackles issues of interest to older Ohioans. (PD)

Not happy with just advancing his own interests, Budish wants to share his power by helping out his longtime buddy and lobbyist for the Nursing Homes - Alan Melamed. Melamed personally donated $10,000 to Budish during his election campaign...

While Budish downplayed his role in crafting the budget, he can decide what line items make it into the House's two-year spending plan. And he came to the nursing home decision while his long-time friend and political adviser Alan Melamed acted as one of the industry's top lobbyists.

Melamed advocated for the Skilled Nursing Care Coalition, which represents three nursing home associations and led a public campaign against Strickland's budget.

Nursing home operators, their political action committees and employees contributed more than $72,000 to Budish in 2008, the year Democrats took control of the House and Budish maneuvered to become speaker with Melamed by his side. (PD)

Budish, Melamed, nursing homes, and Ohio Democrats feel their is no double standard and stress that we should not fear a thing - there is no pay to play. I agree! It is more like having your wife's attorney represent you in a messy divorce.

Anybody want to buy an Ambassadorship?

And you thought only Obamao's Senate seat was for sale...

From Open Secrets --

U.S. presidents have long rewarded big campaign donors, fundraisers and other loyalists with ambassadorships, and Democratic President Barack Obama seems to be no exception. Yesterday, he officially announced his intent to nominate a dozen individuals to ambassadorships around the globe. That list included a handful of career Foreign Service officers, but it also included several big contributors and bundlers, who, along with their spouses, have given nearly $1 million almost exclusively to Democrats since the 1990 election cycle. These donations include $34,600 to Obama himself, on top of the hundreds of thousands of dollars they steered toward Obama's presidential campaign and inauguration committees as bundlers.

Some of the individuals nominated for ambassadorships have not contributed any money to federal candidates, parties or committees, but most have, including one who reportedly holds the nickname of "Vacuum Cleaner" for his ability to suck up checks for Democrats. The nominated individuals--including Obama's choice to be the ambassador to Ireland, which he announced on St. Patrick's Day--and their spouses, have contributed at least $968,900 since 1989. Of this sum, 89 percent has gone to Democrats. (Download a list of the political contributions the nominees have given by cycle, as well as the candidates that have received money from them here: Ambassador_Data.xls. Note that there are two tabs.)

Here's the money-in-politics breakdown for Obama's recent ambassador picks:

• Louis B. Susman: This lawyer and investment banker has reportedly earned the nicknames the "vacuum cleaner" and "big bundler" for his prowess as a bundler of campaign cash. He bundled at least $100,000 for Obama's presidential campaign and at least $300,000 for his inauguration, according to Public Citizen. This includes $50,000 from his personal funds. Further, he and his wife have contributed at least $581,400 to federal candidates, committees and parties, with 99 percent of that sum going to Democrats, including at least $12,800 to Obama. He has been nominated to be the ambassador to the United Kingdom.

• Daniel M. Rooney: Owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Steeler's football team, he and his wife have contributed at least $152,400 to federal candidates, committees and parties since the 1990 election cycle, including $500 to Obama. Ninety percent of their funds have gone to Democrats. Rooney also endorsed Obama in the run-up to Pennsylvania's heated presidential primary in April of 2008. He is a co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization, The Ireland Funds, as well, and he has been nominated to be the ambassador to Ireland.

• Charles H. Rivkin: The head of the entertainment company W!LDBRAIN, he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Committee in support of Obama last summer. Moreover, he sent at least half-a-million towards Obama's campaign committee as a bundler and another $300,000 toward his inaugural committee. Since the 1994 election cycle, he has personally contributed more than $97,500 to Democrats, including $6,600 to Obama, and now he has been nominated to be the ambassador to France.

• John V. Roos: This lawyer has bundled at least $500,000 to Obama's presidential campaign. He and his wife have also contributed at least $77,500 to Democrats since the 1992 election cycle, including $6,900 to Obama. Roos is the CEO of the technology-oriented law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and has been nominated to be ambassador to Japan.

• Laurie S. Fulton: The long-time lawyer who also served on the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace from 2004 to 2008 bundled at least $100,000 for Obama's presidential campaign. Moreover, she has personally contributed at least $48,900 to Democrats since the 1992 election cycle, including $4,850 to Obama. She has been nominated to be the ambassador to Denmark.

• Vilma S. Martinez: The former head of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and a litigator with Munger, Tolles & Olson, she has contributed more than $9,800 to Democratic candidates and groups since 1989, including at least $1,900 to Obama. She has been nominated to be ambassador to Argentina.

• Miguel H. Díaz: A professor of theology at St. John's University and the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota, Diaz contributed $1,000 to Obama's campaign last fall, his only federal political contribution to meet disclosure requirements since 1989. He also served as a Catholic adviser to Obama's presidential campaign. He has been nominated to be the ambassador to the Vatican.

• Michael A. Battle, Sr.: The president of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga., Battle has no known history of giving federal campaign cash. He has also been an administrator at several higher education institutions, including Chicago State University, Virginia State University and Hampton University, and he has been nominated to be the U.S. representative to the African Union, which has the rank of ambassador.

• Robert S. Connan: Working for the U.S. Commercial Service within the Department of Commerce since 1980, Connan has not made any contributions exceeding $200 to federal candidates, committees or parties. His most recent position has been with the European Union, and he has been nominated to be the ambassador to Iceland.

• Patricia A. Butenis: A career officer with the U.S. Foreign Service, which she joined in 1980, Butenis has served most recently in the U.S. embassy in Iraq. She has been nominated to be the ambassador to both Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Butenis has not given contributions greater than $200 since 1989.

• Christopher William Dell: A career officer with the U.S. Foreign Service, which he joined in 1983, he served most recently in the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan. He has been nominated to be the ambassador to Kosovo, and he does not have any known federal campaign contributions.

• Thomas A. Shannon: A career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, which he joined in 1984, he is the current Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Ambassador. He has not given any federal campaign contributions greater than $200, and he has been nominated to be the ambassador to Brazil.

• Timothy J. Roemer: The former six-term Democratic congressman from Indiana was a member of the 9/11 Commission and provided Obama with a hearty endorsement during the contentious primary race with Hillary Clinton. He currently heads the Center for National Policy, a DC-based public policy organization, and has been nominated to be the ambassador to India. He has not made any personal campaign contributions to federal candidates, but he does appear in our Revolving Door database.

Since John F. Kennedy was president in the 1960s, about one-third of American ambassadors have been political appointees, according to the American Academy of Diplomacy. The academy is among the groups that think the public would be served if that number was lowered, and have urged Obama to cut that number to about ten percent. "Too often ambassadorships have served as political rewards for unqualified candidates," they wrote in a letter to Obama last year.

Time will tell if the Obama administration has any plans to buck this tradition and reduce the number of non-career appointees. And even as Obama rewards some big donors with ambassadorships, he has also pledged to grow the number of Foreign Service officers. The budget plan he submitted to Congress earlier this year would increase by 25 percent the total number of Foreign Service officers by 2013 and double the number of staffers at the U.S. Agency for International Development by 2012.

John "Baby Daddy" Edwards being Investigated for Improper Use of Campaign Funds

With not a hair out of place, the most famous deadbeat dad in the world denies any improper use of campaign funds. But he is still unable to explain the improper use of his tallywacker as his wife lay stricken with cancer...

From Open Secrets --

After breaking the story of Edwards's romantic involvement with actress and filmmaker Rielle Hunter, the National Enquirer last month broke the news of a secret grand jury investigation into the former North Carolina senator's possible violations of campaign finance laws.

Now other media in the state have also confirmed that a grand jury is investigating whether Edwards used campaign cash to make payments to Hunter. "I am confident that no funds from my campaign were used improperly," Edwards said in a statement to the Raleigh News & Observer. The grand jury is reportedly also looking into cash coming from a handful of non-profits associated with Edwards, groups that are not bound by the same contribution limits and disclosure requirements as his campaign committee.

You can check out Edwards's campaign committee expenditures for yourselves on our site here. And weigh in about how you think lawmakers should be spending their campaign funds on our Facebook "Money Monday" discussion.

k

There's A New Sheriff in Town!

A real policeman will finally be running Cuyahoga County.

From the PD --

Five weeks after former Sheriff Gerald McFaul resigned amid numerous scandals, the Democratic party elected Bob Reid to serve as sheriff.

Reid, the Bedford city manager, previously served as that city's police chief for 10 years and was a police officer for 25 years. He also graduated from the FBI national academy.

On Wednesday, he will replace Frank Bova, the Warrensville Heights police chief who has been serving as interim sheriff since McFaul resigned.

McFaul was a former pipefitter who was elected through rough-and-tumble party politics before state law required the county's sheriff to have law enforcement experience.

Reid edged out Clayton Harris, 280-206, in voting among party regulars. He will have to run countywide in November 2010.

RINO Sphincter becomes a Democrat

In an attempt to save his political behind at reelection time, GOP Senawhore Arlen Sphincter (PA), jumped ship and swithed parties.

Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania abruptly switched parties Tuesday, a move intended to boost his re-election chances that also pushed Democrats within one seat of a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.

"I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans," Specter said in a statement posted on a Web site devoted to Pennsylvania politics and confirmed by his office. Several Senate officials said a formal announcement was expected at mid-afternoon.

But even before the event took place, Specter attended a Senate subcommittee hearing on the swine flu outbreak and took a seat on the Democratic side of the dais. More...

The only bad thing about this is, most likely Democrat Al Franken will win the recount between Republican Senator Norm Coleman (MN), he would become the party's 60th vote. Because of Sphincter's exodus, the Democrats would have a filibuster proof majority. Because of this, President Barack "Have you seen my plane" Obama and Vice Punk Biden have warmly embraced Sphincter's defection from the GOP.

I will predict that come primary election time, the Democrat love for Sphincter will be tossed away like a used condom at a gay bath house, he will have a Democrat opponent and Senawhore Sphincter will be soundly spanked.

McFaul is McFinished!

Our old enough to fart dust Sheriff, Gerald McFaul, is riding off into the sunset hoping he will not be a guest of the county jail he once ran. After being allowed to do whatever the hell he wanted during his reign, McFool resigned in embarrassment.

Much of McFauls behavior was emboldened by the fact that he never really faced a legitimate challenger and his antics were never highlighted by the Plain Dealer - the paper perfect for lining bird cages. While the Rag Dealer is trying to thump their chests over McFaul's resignation, I am pretty sure that they consistently handed him their endorsement in each election. So I figure they were sleeping all these years, completely incompetent, purposely turned a blind eye or a combination of the three....

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul resigned Wednesday afternoon following three months of Plain Dealer stories that spawned a criminal investigation and detailed a wide range of misconduct in his office.

The resignation came about 30 minutes after the newspaper asked his office about the latest set of allegations: that he accepted birthday and Christmas cards stuffed with cash from employees. The 32-year sheriff cited failing health as the reason for his resignation, which will take effect April 1.

Since January, The Plain Dealer has published 17 stories about how McFaul operates his office. The stories documented his hiring and promoting practices, illegal fund raising and favoritism for friends and political allies. More...

Amazing, 17 stories in the last several months covering abuses dating back 32 years - now that is some effective reporting!?!?

I believe the one thing that accelerated McFailure's resignation was Republican Party of Cuyahoga County Chairman Rob Frost publicly challenging Rev. Strickland, our Governor, to remove McFaul from office. Once Frost delivered this kick in McFaul's bullets it quickly led to increased pressure on McFaul to McScoot.

But the cranky old thieving codger, or pipe fitter turned sheriff', describes his career best...

"I'm fast-witted but sometimes half-witted," he said recently.

McFaul wore a suit instead of a uniform. He was never armed. "I once carried a gun, and it kept pulling my pants down," he recounted.

Half-witted, nit-witted and pants at the ankles... sounds like he's describing the PD and many other elected officials in this area!

Ohio Senawhore Sherrod Brown supported AIG Bonuses

It is incredulous that the posturing politicians on the left, who have all stated they read the stimulus bill and castigated Republicans coming out against the Stimulus as not reading the bill, are now crying foul over their own Premier Obamao pushed bill...

While the Senate was constructing the $787 billion stimulus last month, Dodd added an executive-compensation restriction to the bill. The provision, now called “the Dodd Amendment” by the Obama Administration provides an “exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009” -- which exempts the very AIG bonuses Dodd and others are now seeking to tax. (Fox News)

Across the board residents of Ohio, and the United States are livid over the bonuses being paid out by AIG. Unable to keep the bonuses a secret, the Democrats are now coming out in force against the bonus provisions that they not only supported but pushed for. Guess who we have to thank for casting the deciding vote to protect the AIG bonuses - Ohio Senawhore Sherrod Brown!

H/T to Porkopolis

Brown: AIG Bonus Payments Are Slap-In-the-Face to Hardworking Ohioans
March 17, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy, today called on American International Group (AIG) Chairman and CEO Edward Liddy to immediately renegotiate contacts to prevent $165 million in bonus payments to AIG executives.

“AIG’s actions are a slap-in-the-face to hardworking Ohio families,” said Brown. “Bonuses at companies like AIG—companies relying on taxpayer funds to stay afloat—are an outrage. I hope AIG executives voluntarily
return these bonuses. If they don’t, I will push to have them recouped through the U.S. tax code.”...

Yep...the same Senator that was shuttled back to Washington D.C. by Obama on a White House provided plane to cast the deciding vote on the Spending Stimulus
Bill.

What's that you ask?...What does the Stimulus Bill have to do with the AIG "slap-in-the-face" bonus payments? It was Brown's vote that put into law the provision guaranteeing the payments (HT: ButAsForMe) (emphasis added):

`SEC. 111. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE...

...`(iii) The prohibition required under clause (i) shall not be construed to prohibit any bonus payment required to be paid pursuant to a written employment contract executed on or before February 11, 2009, as such
valid employment contracts are determined by the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary...

Great post by Porkopolis!

As Ohioans are already upset over our high taxes, I cannot believe Brown would have supported these golden parachute bonuses paid for with our tax dollars. With hypocrites like Brown in office, there is no wonder why residents of Ohio have expressed a distrust in our elected officials.

AIG still handing out Millions in Bonuses

We're gettin' bent over by AIG again! No kiss, no pat on the head and I bet they won't cuddle with us when their done. But, if we smile - they'll promise not to do it again...

From Breitbart --

American International Group is paying out millions of dollars in executive bonuses to meet a Sunday deadline. But the troubled insurance giant has agreed to administration demands to restrain future payments.

The Treasury Department determined that the government did not have the legal authority to block the current payments by the company that has already received more than $170 billion in U.S. support.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has asked that the company scale back future bonus payments where legally possible, an administration official said Saturday.

Afraid of legal disputes over contract obligations, AIG feels they must do the right thing and honor paying $ million in bonuses from previous contracts. Plus they want to keep & be able to hire top quality employees...

Liddy said in his letter that "quite frankly, AIG's hands are tied" although he said that in light of the company's current situation he found it "distasteful and difficult" to recommend going forward with the payments.

In his letter, Liddy told Geithner, "We believe there will be considerably greater flexibility to reduce contractual payments in respect of 2009 and AIG intends to use its best efforts to do so."

"We cannot attract and retain the best and brightest talent to lead and staff the
AIG businesses, which are now being operated principally on behalf of the American taxpayers—if employees believe their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury," Liddy said.

Sounds like they don't even respect us in the morning either. With 'change' like this, we won't have enough change to buy ass cream for all these reamings!