
Leading Democratic super-lobbyist and Hillary Clinton bundler Heather Podesta derided President Obama’s lobbying reforms Wednesday, while laughing off concerns about her own sky-high compensation.
“I think Obama hurt himself by taking such an arms-length posture with the Washington community,” Podesta, a multimillionaire who has represented chemical companies, health insurers, and for profit-colleges, told Vox’s Ezra Klein. “By attacking Washington in that way, there was a bit of a brain drain. And a lost opportunity.”
As for the idea of taking money out of politics, “I just find it preposterous,” she said. It is “not the lobbying class that keeps people from taking hard votes, it’s the member themselves,” Podesta claimed.
The interview was held on Facebook, and a question came in from a viewer: “If lobbyists don’t have more power and influence than a regular person, why are lobbyists paid so much?”
“I think we’re not paid enough,” Podesta replied with a smile, as she and Klein shared a laugh.
Podesta’s boutique firm, notably, brought in $7.5 million in registered lobbying fees last year. After her divorce from super-lobbyist Tony Podesta, Heather settled into a home in D.C. now assessed at $4.7 million.
As we’ve previously reported, Heather Podesta represented the health insurance giant Cigna as the company sought to weaken and derail the Affordable Care Act. This week, she registered to lobby on behalf of chemical firm LSB Chemical on nitrogen-based fertilizers, which have been under scrutiny since a chemical explosion in West, Texas, killed 15 people and injured nearly 150.
This year, Heather Podesta has hit the trail for Clinton during the primaries, organized fundraisers for Clinton, and raised at least $348,581 in campaign funds.
The Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign apparently agree with Podesta that Obama went too far on ethics reforms. The former ended all of Obama’s restrictions on lobbyist donations earlier this year, while the latter never restricted them at all.
Correction: June 3, 2016
An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Heather Podesta represented foreign governments and named one as an example. According to foreign agents registration data, she does not represent any foreign governments.
Top photo: Heather Podesta, left, Elle publisher Kevin O’Malley, and Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden attend Elle’s annual Women in Washington Power List dinner in March 2014.
>>The interview was held on Facebook, and a question came in from a viewer: “If lobbyists don’t have more power and influence than a regular person, why are lobbyists paid so much?” “I think we’re not paid enough,” Podesta replied with a smile, as she and Klein shared a laugh. <<
Can't recall seeing such a "Let them eat cake.." moment in recent history. Obviously, based on Heather's sentiments here, the legalized corruption of our government won't get better with Hillary and her friend here, its going to get far worse.
We are watching the end times of the USA. When they finally rid the average citizens of their reserves of “real” resources and finish eviscerating our constitutional freedoms, especially our privacy, start more wars to prop up a failing economic system, borrow increasing sums to keep afloat, then the biggest collapse in history will end the rein of the oligarchs. The political circus we see playing out are just excuses to fatten bloated wallets of all the lobbying and corporate interests. The only thing left to say is when will will it end? The psychopaths running things have finally lost their collective minds, it was good for a while anyway.
Hillary the hypocrite has just gotten an assist from the Obama State Department on her supposed ‘opposition’ to the TPP deal:
“Trade is a hot issue in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. But correspondence from Hillary Clinton and her top State Department aides about a controversial 12-nation trade deal will not be available for public review — at least not until after the election. The Obama administration abruptly blocked the release of Clinton’s State Department correspondence about the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), after first saying it expected to produce the emails this spring.”
http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/state-department-blocks-release-hillary-clinton-era-tpp-emails-until-after
Is there a single major economic or foreign policy or social or environmental issue that she can be trusted on?
She claims to be concerned about global warming and promises to support renewables and de-subsidize fossil fuels, while her Clinton Foundation promotes fossil fuel extraction; she says she wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US while quietly supporting trade deals like TPP that offshore those jobs; she claims to support women’s rights and LGBT rights internationally, while getting in bed with the Saudis, via her Clinton Foundation and her circle of lobbyists, who don’t exactly have a good record on those issues, she says she wants to help student with their loan debts, while ‘gushing’ to Goldman Sachs, who is set to profit off those loans, she says she supports the Iran nuclear deal and a Middle East peace process, but will probably try to pull a John McCain ‘bomb-bomb-bomb, bomb-bomb-Iran” act as soon as elected – it is pure BS from one end to the other.
Why don’t her corporate media interviewers question her on this list of two-faced hypocritical behaviors? They seem eager enough to ask such questions of Trump and Sanders, don’t they? Where is Neoliberal Propaganda Radio on this? FauX News? Anyone in the corporate media?
I mean, what is her argument for being President? “Yes I’m an evil two-faced hypocrite who absolutely cannot be trusted, but, hey, look at your other option! I’m as crooked and greedy and power-hungry as they come, but tantrum-throwing Trump is the Greater Evil! So stand up for the Lesser Evil! Ha ha ha!”
I’m going to write-in Cthulu this election season, if it comes down to Trump vs. Clinton. Let’s go for the real Greater Evil, who will hopefully gobble up both of these horrendous clowns for an appetizer, before moving on to all the corporate media’s talking heads.
There you go again, foolishly reciting the talking point of the White Messiah from Vermont. The Clinton Foundation is an incredible organization that is working on many, many areas of the world, including global warming and world hunger. The brilliance of Bill is ability to raise money for these causes. Who cares if the Saudi’s are paying for world hunger. Your bizarre, puerile take on this is a simple algorithm. Input: anything the Clinton’s do, including raising billions of dollars for the Aids crisis. Output, evil, self-serving, destroy the world etc. etc. Facts don’t matter to you, just like the child caught with the hand in the cookie jar. The child will make up any excuse because the child does not want to be caught stealing. But the hand is in the cookie jar. You need a reality check, you need to look into the Clinton Foundation, try to figure out why somebody like Bill and Chelsea would work so tirelessly to help others instead of sit around finger painting like Bush. Think hard about that. Stop your ridiculous conspiracy theories back up by nobody. The Clinton Foundation does more good in the world every day than the White Messiah had done in a life time. Sorry, but them is the facts. Vote your conscience, but you won’t know what that means until you do a little fact checking.
The problem is, we have looked into the facts, and even if the results weren’t paltry (which they are), they wouldn’t excuse Hillary’s corruption or support for policies that harm millions of Americans, people in other countries, and the planet itself.
The results don’t even justify the massive salaries the Clintons and their cronies are receiving using money from anti-American sources they received in exchange for official favors… which is the subject of an official investigation.
If the facts were otherwise, you’d be able to document them.
Instead, all we get is empty assertion, while you use the issue to avoid defending the specific charges on matters that are unrelated but also relevant to the presidential campaign under discussion like Hillary’s embrace of lobbyists to enact policies that run counter to the desires of Democratic voters.
You accusing the informed of ignorance just doesn’t work and exposes you as the idiot that you are… and your offensive approach isn’t effective.
This woman’s answers are nothing more than meandering jibberish. She doesn’t even try to justify why a lobbyist is a legitimate profession. She should be embarrassed for herself.
Which brings up the queston – why do people vote for Hillary Clinton when they oppose lobbyists and corporate control? Actually, I think, because they either prefer not to know or they actually don’t.
About Hillary dark side
http://nypost.com/2016/01/17/after-pardoning-criminal-marc-rich-clintons-made-millions-off-friends/
Donation to Clinton charity foundation.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-vs-sanders-1452194667
Clinton charity arranged $2M pledge to firm owned by Bill’s ‘friend’
http://nypost.com/2016/05/13/clinton-charity-arranged-2m-pledge-to-company-owned-by-bills-friend/
Hillary’s Latest Scandal: She And Bill Siphoned $100 Mil From Mideast Leaders
http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/hillarys-latest-scandal-she-and-bill-siphoned-100-mil-from-persian-gulf-leaders/
Clinton Email Scandal: Now A Key Witness’ Emails Have Mysteriously Vanished
http://www.investors.com/politics/capital-hill/clinton-email-scandal-now-a-key-witness-emails-have-mysteriously-vanished/
Be nice to Hillary Clinton online — or risk a confrontation with her super PAC
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/news/media-coverage/los-angeles-times-be-nice-hillary-clinton-online-or-risk-confrontation-her-super
Lies, hypocrite speeches and contradict statements:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/thank-you-cnbc-1446510099« less
feelthebern.org
Another telling bit is Hillary’s use of Delaware shell corporations (just like Trump) to evade taxes on her millions in income from paid speeches.
That really shows her true colors.
The Clinton Foundation has done more good in the world on a daily basis than the entire career of the White Messiah from Vermont. Sorry, but them are the facts.
Your false claims and whataboutery do not change the facts about Hillary’s tax evasion on her income from the speeches she’s too afraid to disclose.
Your acceptance and comfort with tax evasion, lack of transparency, and the habits Hillary shares with Trump is sooooo progressive.
Another simple fact is that if you could defend Hillary’s actions, you wouldn’t be trying to change the subject all the time.
Hillary hires paid shills for a reason… because the facts about her are ugly and honest people with integrity won’t volunteer to try to hide them.
Let me guess… you were also hired as an independent contractor so Hillary doesn’t have to pay taxes and benefits?
The Clinton Foundation is a massive scam to enrich the Clinton’s while allowing HRC and WJC to affect policy while she serves. These people are contemptible and will be found Guilty of multiple crimes including RICO.
You use the word facts, read “Clinton’s Cash” for dozens of examples of their fraud and criminal actions.
Hey Jimmy, out of curiosity, how much DOES David Brock pay for online shilling?
If you look at the sources of these “scandalous” article, you realize that the Tea Baggers and Trumpers must have invaded The Intercept. They’re everywhere…
why would anyone vote for an establishment politician for president, when all they have done since ww2 is send our young people out for cannon fodder all in the name of keep the United STATES SAFE. how doe’s little never ending wars around the world keep us safe when the bulk of the world hates our guts. the only thing it doe’s is make their lobbying friends richer.
Last month, Bill Clinton was stumping for his wife in New Mexico. While in a restaurant there, he spent 30 minutes arguing with a 24-year-old New School grad who was home visiting his folks. Josh Brody was interviewed on Democracy Now:
Brody was thoroughly dissatisfied with Bill Clinton’s explanations. He also set forth his very reasonable basis for holding Hillary Clinton equally responsible.
Interesting:
Green Party’s Jill Stein Tells Californians, ‘Please Vote For Bernie’ If Able
“The Green Party’s likely presidential nominee, Jill Stein, penned an open letter to Californians on Friday calling for ‘All hands on deck!’ In an unprecedented call to action that, if acted upon, could significantly cost the Green Party votes in November, Jill Stein told all Californians who are currently registered to vote as ‘No Party Preference’ or ‘Democrat’ to cast their vote for Bernie Sanders in the June 7 primary. ‘California voters have a chance to put us on the road to revolutionary change in the June 7 primary,’ Stein wrote. ‘At this historic moment, as voters reject the Clinton and Trump campaigns with record high levels of dislike and mistrust, I ask not just for your vote for me, but also for your vote for Bernie. These votes are powerfully synergistic as we build an historic grassroots movement and a political vehicle to carry it forward. Still, the battle is not over. The Democratic nomination is in contention. The more the Sanders team can raise the bar for the people not the billionaires, the stronger we will all be for it. I urge you to reject the propaganda of powerlessness peddled by the corporate pundits and party operatives of the liberal elite. They tell us all – Berners and Greens alike – we must rally around Hillary Clinton as the lesser evil alternative to Donald Trump.’ Stein says that the pundits should know better than to try to manipulate the voters.”
Thanks for the link Maisie.
The article also mentions that Stein is leaving the door open for Bernie to run as the Green Party candidate if the Dems nominate Clinton… which is also an unprecedented and politically selfless act for the likely nominee Stein. I find that an incredibly newsworthy story that the corporate media has chosen to overlook.
Jill Stein then enumerates the many ways the Democratic establishment has been manipulating the process to favor Hillary.
The last section of the article is about the CA SOS (a Hillary supporter) doing his part… it has quotes from a CA poll worker who says they are being trained to give out the wrong ballots to independents to suppress votes for Bernie… and mentions that the lawsuit to force CA to inform voters how to have their vote counted was unsurprisingly dismissed by an establishment judge who “reasoned” that voters are smart enough to avoid all the shenanigans.
Truly amazing events for democracy in America.
Attorney Jonathan Turley is a pretty moderate, liberal man. He’s got an op-ed in U.S.A. titled: Nixonian palace guard now protects Hillary.
Some of the choice bits (emphasis mine):
Indeed, she is sickening, as are her duplicitous sycophants.
If you haven’t yet seen Hillary Clinton lying for 13 minutes straight, please do see it.
Yup, 13 minutes lying… just what I thought, featuring none other than the most hideous, disgusting, hypocritical, poor excuse for a human being, TEA BAGGER, by the name of TREY GOWDY whom you must love, after all, you posted this video of him accusing Hillary of lying (just before poor Trey was caught red handed lying himself). So, you’re out in the open, referencing this Tea Bagger to make your puerile point that Hillary is evil. Again, we’re back in second grade.
“Trey Gowdy was caught in a flat-out lie that he was forced to cop to about Hillary’s emails after the CIA directly contradicted him. Watch Elijah Cummings explain why Gowdy is still lying about what the purpose of the Benghazi committee is and what Gowdy’s role in it is in the video above.”
I know it’s going to be hard to watch the truth about your man, Gowdy, but why don’t you just brace up for it. Yes, the man so prominently featured in the all white Bernie Bros video about Hillary.
http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/after-gowdy-caught-lie-he-runs-politico
Dear Trey, I mean Mona, It’s all about white entitlement and Bernie has now shown his true color: WHITE. And you’ve shown your true allegiance: Tea Bagger, Trey.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/05/the-white-entitlement-of-some-sanders-supporters.html
If you’re young, white and privileged, you don’t expect to lose. When you do, it must be because you got cheated. Blacks know better.
Blacks know better what? That Bill Clinton with full throated support from Hillary put them in Federal prison for smoking a joint? Are you fucking with us Jimmy? Or do you really care so little about Blacks that you’ll use them in your propaganda, just because they voted for her in the South?
Vote for Hillary if you must, but don’t pretend that she’s not a lying, conniving spawn of the devil.
Excuse you. You do not speak for blacks. You persist in pretending that African-Americans like Michelle Alexander, Shaun King, Danny Glover, Spike Lee, Ben Jealous, Harry Belafonte, and a huge cohort of young blacks under 35, are not strongly against Hillary and/or are pro-Bernie.
That’s the facts, you poor dear. Sputtering and foaming at the mouth, which is about all you’ve done here, does not alter reality — trust me on this, it really does not change the facts.
Dear Mona, Click on the link, that quote was not mine. That was from the person who wrote the article. Then check with your sources before you post. You might learn a little something about the way the world works. You’ve been SNOWED. Don’t worry, happens to the best of us. I voted for Nader in 2000. Never again. And Snow White is worse than that narcissistic clown that gave us Bush. Best, Jimmy
See that folks, why that video sent the guy into conniption fits. That must mean it’s a “must see.”
Yup.
Republicans lie just like Hillary.
Hillary lies just like Republicans.
A winning campaign message don’t you think?
Have you offered Hillary a refund of your salary yet?
If nothing else, she has an incredible ability to not answer the question.
Oh my. Poor “Jimmy” steps in it again:
I’ll bet our Jimmy doesn’t know who Shaun King is, or that he’s widely considered a leader in the movement for black civil rights, including Black Lives Matter. In any event, Jimmy thinks King is looking to vote for a “White Daddy” and thus demonstrates a total lack of sophistication. Cuz King says:
King is all out for Bernie Sanders, as are many black activists, especially those under age 35. (Altho, activists such as Spike Lee, Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover and other older black people are also squarely in Camp Bernie.)
Jimmy, I urge you to contact Shaun King, by email or on Twitter, and advise him he’s looking for his “White Daddy” and that the he’s an unsophisticated fool. Get back to us when you’ve done this, mmmkay?
She forgot to say, “Let them eat cake.”
American culture is currently and shamefully pretending that being poor isn’t as widespread as it is. Distracting gadgets in hand, only the next excitement is interesting. A society hypnotized into operating superficially, without honest reflection and moral depth.
There are more children living in poverty now than in the Great Depression. Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians are the worst affected.
From my observations here, I would conclude most readers support the Green Party platform but are also supportive of Sanders’ campaign (even though, as many note, he has some truly corporatist, imperialist and militarist blindspots of his own) because he would as president do more for the poor and working class than any other popular candidate – and because his opposition to Wall Street monopolies and Federal Reserve antics is well-known and rightly revered.
The smug superiority of security in riches and influence exhibited by Podesta is typical of an establishment that really doesn’t think it has to consider the little people. Trump is capitalizing on this corruption by posing as a champion of regular conservative working-class American values, but in my opinion he is just a clever foil for Hillary Clinton, who the powers that be have anointed for president.
Incidentally, then, the usual framework of Bernie Vs. Clinton fights are inappropriate here (“You’re a child!” etc.), in my view, as the general readership seems very aware of nuance.
It’s really cause for concern, possibly even alarm. Such tone deaf spectacle as this:
Shared a laugh, Giggled, even.
Sanders is talking political revolution. But these people — speaking as they do like the nobility and aristocrats at Versailles throughout the 1780s — are begging for the bloody kind. And are too much in their oligarchical bubble to get that.
Indeed, the Clintons’ entrenched disrespect for progressive activism calling for the (actually quite timid) socialism easily providing benefits and cultural uplift to many other Western nations is stunningly offensive, very similar to obnoxious centrist Obama defenders dismissing Occupy Wall Street protesters as useless hippies for demanding real punishment for securities fraud and a diminishment of crony-capitalism.
And as you indicate, the establishment are annoying the entirety of the very frustrated poor/working class with this loathsome superiority complex – and that’s a lot more people than the media culture admits to exist.
We’re being entertained by a doofus Hillary shill calling itself “Jimmy”. Jimmy spews inanities that Bernie Sanders is racist because: blah, blah reasons, reasons, inanity, reasons.
Michelle Alexander wrote several months ago, in The Nation, this widely cited piece: ? Why Hillary Clinton Doesn’t Deserve the Black Vote:
And her primary issue with Bernie?
That is, he’s running in the party the Clintons and the DNC have made.
Now, “Jimmy,” go back to the folks who tell you what to say, and advise them you need some real help.
Oh…. ah… you mean the crime bill that Bernie voted for, the one that, as I recall, that Hillary did not vote for? That one? The one that Michelle Alexander claimed in her book put tens of thousands of state prisoners behind bars when in fact it was a federal law that Bernie vote for? That one? The law that didn’t put a single state prisoner behind bars because it was a federal law, not a single one but indeed the law championed by Snow White from VT? I’m not a sheep. I don’t belong to anyone. I’m just calling the facts as I see them. Sorry to bust your little bubble.
Yes, Bernie tried, hard, to amend it, and voted for it in ’94, after having not voted for a similar one a few years earlier. He voted for it because of the Violence Against Women Act.
But your argument isn’t with me. It’s with the African-American legal scholar, Michelle Alexander (who acknowledges that Bernie eventually voted for that ’94 bill). She’s written a book you should read (but won’t): The New Jim Crow.
For all the reasons Alexander sets forth in both that book, and in her Nation article, Hillary Clinton does not deserve the African-American vote.
Tried hard to amend it? He voted for both versions of it, you’re joking, right?
Now, now, Jimmy, you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me toss out some more Michelle Alexander — you know, one of those African-Americans whom you dismiss as unsophisticated and wanting a “White Daddy”:
Why are you erasing all of these African-Americans, like Michelle Alexander? She says Hillary has only about 60% of the black vote, but she finds even that reduced level of support very troubling:
And you, Jimmy, are right in there, promoting that black people get played yet again.
Jimmy, you are an annoying, offensive and deeply unconvincing shill for one of the ugliest neoliberal candidates in recent US history.
I am not a Bernie supporter (as some here can tell you with certainty and conviction ;^), but to challenge Sanders on the basis of his admittedly wrongheaded (and perhaps reluctant) support for legislation that Killary & The Bubba worked to craft, champion and sign into law is just . . . sick and twisted — a perversion of reality that can only be ascribe to cluelessness or simple, deliberate dishonesty.
Shorter version: Are you fucking trying to blow smoke up our asses?
Hillary is wallstreet’s FRANKENSTEIN
Another faux revolutionary zombie. Two year old, holier than thou. Not a clue what it takes to be in politics and still hanging onto the silly line that getting money out of politics would change a thing, like Donald Trump and the other rich would mysteriously then decide not to run for office. Wake up. You’ve been snowed by Snow White from Vermont. He’s in a little what bubble, he’s snow blind himself.
Emotional age of commentator: three.
So, he’s a two year old with an emotional age of three?
He must be a fucking genius toddler.
Or maybe you’re just a lying sack of contradictions like your boss Hillary.
;-)
We used to love the big dog. And sometime between bedtime and waking hour someone would order room service for 2. And for about a year or a year and a half we would be blessed for our loyalty. Did you know that the M&M’s and the Korbel Champaign was the freshest you can get?
I will never forget nor betray my loyalty in those times. Suffice it to say that i have a better insight than the morons posting against me. I wish that everyone could enjoy life as i did, and do.
thanks for your defence.
On the issue of foreign agent representation by Podesta:
“The Saudis are also clients of Qorvis MLS Group, the embassy’s prime contractor; the The Podesta Group, a lobbying firm with close ties to the Hillary Clinton campaign (Tony Podesta, who heads the firm, is the brother of John Podesta, chairman of the Clinton campaign), DLA Piper, and Pillsbury Winthrop.”
Just to sort this out, the issue is that Heather Podesta is now working independently from the Podesta Group?
“But the Saudis have another, more potent, hold on Western governments – the prospect of lucrative arms purchases. For all the lack of bi-lateral warmth the Obama administration has since 2010 sold $108 billion worth of weapons to Riyadh, which is way more than the “friendly” George W. Bush administration’s $16 billion.”
Source:
http://washingtonlife.com/2016/05/05/features-expensive-facelift/
jesus h christ…
So it’s not just a few or many off the hook politicians that we can simply unelect, it’s a tip of the iceberg thing and a giant network of lawyers who have hijacked the will of by and for the people. Of by and for the lawyers and corporations.
Holy sht. They make bucoup bucks, we get jack squat. No wonder the wallstreet bankster thieves were never prosecuted. They think we’re sht, the overpaid hired help undeserving of their income and lifestyle. If we the people were as comfortable as them, they would come to think that the difference between us and them is they sold their souls. That’s not a difference they can live with.
They will never follow and serve we the people unless we make a new declaration.
ok… still thinking, President Obama is exceptionally smart. He’s a fool on the economy TPP but still smart. How does this all fit in his picture? He sold the weapons to the saudis to put distance between the US and the deaths and destruction that now the saudis will take the first hit for. I think he might be getting out of the drone business. Blame the offensive of the saudis on the mis-use of their defence weapons we sold them. Yup, that’s what he’s doing. And he wont sell them drones.
I think then his want for the TPP is just a frontrun of china’s economic alliance plan. It’s like, china gets cheap labor or we get cheap labor. Or china forms an economy without patents and trademarks or we get enforcement rights. Then there is the pharma. hmm.
Hillary to announce illegally.
It’s already been announced that Hillary will be in Brooklyn on Tuesday to announce that she is the Democratic nominee. Doesn’t matter that she won’t have enough delegates before the convention. She will invoke the will of the super delegates to achieve her will to power. The compliant, sell-out media will be there to illegally declare the coronation.
Apparently, neither the DNC nor the media believes in the simple process of representative democracy anymore. Hillary ignores the fact that the super delegates do not vote until the conventions—-and so she illegally counts them.
Where does her desperation come from? She has nothing more to fear than the fear of democracy itself, I guess. And California. She sure does not want people to see that California does not support her or that the pledged delegate count could end up virtually tied with Bernie.
feelthebern.org
This is the sort of delusion worthy of Trump. Well done. No proof. You want Bernie to be the nominee so you come up with bizarre conspiracy theories about why it isn’t happening. Sanders is very corrupt, which is why he refuses to release his tax returns. Refuses and has repeatedly lied about it, finally releasing his 2014 returns and forgetting about the other seven years. And then he’s running around maligning the Clinton Foundation that helps more of the disenfranchised in the world every day more than Bernie has done in his entire lifetime. His desire to open up the way for Trump to be elected is just the tip of the iceberg with this clown known as Shooter for the great work he’s done on behalf of the NRA.
FFS, these paid Hi8llarybots are so transparent:
Bernie is worth about 500K, at the age of 74. There’s nothing to “forget” about. Unlike Bil land Hillary, he’s not worth $111 million.
A lot of those millions are due to the things she says at Goldman Sachs, you know, all the pricey speeches she gave but won’t release? Very clearly she’s decided the nagging issue of not releasing them is better for her than the truth releasing them would reveal.
Have you seen the seven years of taxes, yes or no.? Don’t dodge the question like Bernie did when he claimed that he didn’t have time. Go ahead, yes, I’ve seen his taxes or no, I haven’t. If you have, show me a link. If you haven’t, you are wrong, wrong, wrong, and you should accept it. This guy is no saint. He’s a pathological liar at this point, earlier claiming that the superdelegates need to vote with the popular vote. Now, now way. He’s never done a thing for anyone. He’s a failed politician who went to Vermont so he could pretend he was pure. Now the true Berne is out. It’s why he was hated in congress by so many good people.
https://theintercept.com/2016/06/03/heather-podesta/?comments=1#comment-238292
You are not particularly good at your job. But then, look at the facts you have work with with HRC on the one hand, and Bernie on the other. Better luck in the future.
“Sanders is very corrupt, which is why he refuses to release his tax returns.”
That’s a completely ridiculous and laughably bizarre claim. Bernie Sanders has plenty of defects as a politician and as a champion of the causes he represents, but to call him corrupt is both idiotic and despicable.
He’s also a white racist from Vermont who doesn’t believe that the black and Latino voters who have put Hillary in over 3 million on the popular vote should count. He was very clear last fall that superdelegates should only vote according to overall vote count, and now he’s changed his tune. He’s going to do what he can to put Trump in. His lies are as self-evident as Trumps–so get ready for the Trump presidency, courtesy of the white racism on the part of Bernie and Trump.
White racist from Vermont? What the fuck-are you some 19 year old with no sense of history? I interviewed schizophrenics on my job who were not as delusional as you. jesus christ.
Some of this silliness has been showing up on Twitter. It seems to be a talking point for her paid (or volunteer) online apparatchiks.
One version goes he’s racist because he “fled” from Chicago to New York. Um, he’d finished college at the University of Chicago and went back home to Brooklyn. But while a student in Chicago he was arrested and repeatedly sat-in at civil rights demonstrations, chaining himself to black people to prevent the cops from arresting the protesters.
It’s all just stupid — the “racism” accusations and everything else — but they don’t have much to work with so yeah, they sound crazy.
Answer: yes or no. Have you seen Bernie’s taxes 2006-20013?????? Yes or no???
https://theintercept.com/2016/06/03/heather-podesta/?comments=1#comment-238292
Yes, now stfu.
Proof positive of racism: doesn’t want to count the votes anymore. If you’re so delusional to believe that he would want to count the votes if those weren’t predominantly people of color, you need to head up to Vermont where minorities are few and far behind with your snow white angel.
Oh come on, the real racism in the economy was seen just before (and during) the 2008 collapse, when all those minority first-time homeowners who had been fed adjustable-rate mortgages by con artists in the brokerage and banking industries watched their interest rates skyrocket and then, being unable to pay, lost their homes.
A similar situation took place in the Great Depression, but what did President FDR do then? He created the Homeowner’s Loan Corporation in 1993, part of the New Deal, which acted to refinance home mortgages in default to prevent foreclosure. Many people thus kept their homes and Wall Street was forced to take the hit, to their lasting outrage. We need another FDR, I think.
Compare that to what Barak Obama did, in cooperation with GW Bush, with the tacit approval of Hillary Clinton. They engineered a bailout for Wall Street, let the homeowners lose their homes to foreclosure, and then Goldman Sachs and similar outfits used the bailout money to buy those homes up on the cheap – and yes, among the biggest victims of this scam were black and Latino families, whose households lost from ~50-70% of their net value due to the 2008 collapse, while white household losses were only about 15%. We can see some racism there, can’t we?
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/07/26/wealth-gaps-rise-to-record-highs-between-whites-blacks-hispanics/
Just as with white politicians who happily screw over the white middle class to get their Wall Street handouts, there are quite a few minority politicians (like Hillary Clinton’s backers in the Congressional Black Caucus) who play the same game with black and Latino voters. After all, if you’re running a con game, you hire con artists who the victims ‘identify’ with, don’t you? And yes, Barak Obama sold out black homeowners in favor of Wall Street – isn’t that obvious enough?
If the corporate media were to honestly report on this issue, many more minority voters would understand that Bernie Sanders is the better choice, since crooked Hillary and bait-and-switch Barak have been conning them on behalf of Wall Street.
Look dude, readers here tend to be somewhat politically sophisticated. Inanity like that will get you zero traction. Go back to your bosses and ask them: “Better talking points, please.”
You’re on a billionaire funded website complaining about billionaire funding. Take a look in the mirror and repeat that: I am on a billionaire funded website complaining about billionaire funding of a politician. There is zero sophistication among the commentators. There is little or no understanding of what a Secretary of State is, in fact, people like yourself confuse Secretary of State with Defense Secretary and even the Presidency. It’s all Hillary’s fault because you drank the cool-aid put out by the Repugs and the Bernie’s. It’s like hanging out with a bunch of two year olds, puerile conspiracy theorists, like I’m working for Hillary because my opinion does not neatly fit into your world view. No understanding of policy, just idiotic talking points, like somehow raising the minimum wage is going to help the poor without creating massive inflation which has always destroyed the poor. It’s sort of like Bernie’s op ed in the NY Times, lower the interest rates, as if that isn’t the reason for wealth disparity to begin with. Idiotic. No, you take things like the EITC, the third largest social safety net, and you bolster it. If you can’t get single payer through, you add to medicaid benefits or do a medicare buy in, at least start there. But the simple minded sheep like yourself don’t quite get it. Look at the south side of Chicago. Thank you white guy from VT for voting against the Brady Bill five times. There’s a reason he went up there to hang with all the white trust funders, so he could be the faux revolutionary. And gullible people like yourself swallow it, just like they swallowed the nonsense that Obama was a liberal. Hillary has yet to prove that she is not another Obama. If you look at the work at the Clinton Foundation, you can guess that won’t be so.
Your fevered assertions, non sequiturs, and general inanity are just barely amusing enough to keep me toying with you.
Obama is a liberal. So is Hillary Clinton. Neoliberals, both of them, tho her more so.
Bernie Sanders is a social democrat who is the mold of the FDR Democrat, the kind of Democrat Clintonism has destroyed and supplanted.
Sanders has a 40-year record of consistently supporting nearly all the same positions, including when they were unpopular. By contrast, HRC, as with Bill, puts her finger in the wind to determine her positions. She’s owned by Wall Street and the Israel Lobby; Bernie is not.
I disagree with Sanders on a number of issues, but in his case I am confident his positions are sincerely, if wrongly, held. With HRC, most of her positions are either insincere, conditional on prevailing winds, or evil; in the last category would be her extreme foreign-policy hawkishness.
Again, you exhibit your silly attraction for Bernie Sanders, as if he is any different than any other politician. He just took a half a million from agri-industry. He voted exactly as did Hillary 93% of the time. Get it? 93% of the time, and some of Bernie’s votes were not more progressive than Hillary’s. You have this idiotic idea that the White Saint from Vermont, who was voted in by exactly 171K voters 99% white, with many a trust fund among them, is not a politician. He went to VT so he could pretend to be pure. The moment he needed the backing of the NRA, he went right there and bent over for them, and then wanted all of his supporters to feel sorry for the fact that he’d lost an election by three votes when he didn’t. He actually used that as an excuse twice. It’s a big country. You need to be a grownup, spend a little time reading the job of Secretary of State. If Bernie were sincere he would come right out and say, it’s not money in politics, it’s advertising in politics. Getting money out of politics is your two year old solution that allows you to worship the great White Daddy from Vermont. No, getting money out of politics would do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. But you’re not sophisticated enough to figure that out. Sorry.
“Sanders’s broader aim is the more important one: getting super-delegates as a group, including in states that backed Clinton, to support him.” Tad Devine. Proof positive of deep, deep corruption and delusion. You sound like the type who administers shock treatment to those who do not follow your delusional world view.
You so, so suck at this.
hillary is a crooked person with a criminal mind.
wallstreet needs her really really really bad.
wallstreet despises trump because he will not obey.
wallstreet supports MIC and wars
wallstreet steals american homes
wallstreet is immune from prosecution
wallstreet is run by thieves and organised crime
THEY HATE TRUMP
You are a sheep with little understanding of the real world of politics, ba ba. Drink the cool-aid and do and think what the faux revolutionary wants you to do and thin…
Come on Jimmy, tell me why the rigged adjustable rate mortgage scam that targeted so many first-time minority homeowners, and the associated 2008 the bailout of Wall Street for the benefit of Goldman Sachs and similar outfits (who’ve filled Hillary Clinton’s pockets with gold as she ‘gushed’ to them), wasn’t a racist assault on black and Latino homeowners by entitled wealthy con artists?
Any comment? At all?
Look at the NY Times op-ed by Snow White from VT. Go ahead find it. I believe he wrote it last fall. It was all about lowering those interest rates back to zero. Ever notice what happens to trust fund babies stock portfolio when the fed lowers rates? To the moon, my friend. So why did the faux revolutionary want to lower interest rates? Huh? What? The Clinton Foundation has taken lots of money from the rich and from the bankers, and turned around and sent that money to Africa. I know, that’s too hard for you to imagine with your idiotic, two year old vision of the world.
So what you are really saying is you agree that the subprime mortgage scam was a racist con game supported by Hillary Clinton and other crooked politicians, you just don’t want to talk about it?
And the Clinton Foundation is an influence-peddling scam that takes in millions from despots and funnels them to their corrupt associates; see how it operated in Haiti, for example. Some ‘philanthropy’. Here’s another example featuring crooked Clinton Foundation board member Frank Guistra:
http://www.desmogblog.com/2013/10/07/frank-giustra-bill-clinton-colleague-joins-us-oil-sands-board
Yes, Hillary Clinton, oh-so-concerned about global warming, is cynically promoting tar sand development and fracking behind the scenes with her Clinton Foundation board members. What a two-faced hypocritical tool she is.
By institutionalizing corruption, say through lobbying, pacs, Citizens United, you name it, Transparency International’s Corruption “Perceptions” (operative word) Index for 2014 places us at #17 (already not that honorable) – No wonder why we have the best politicians money can buy.
Not paid enough? The Podesta Group has a $140K per month contract to represent Saudi Arabia.
Heather is nowhere near as quick-thinking, smooth-talking as many other lobbyists.
Not paid enough? The Podesta Group has a $140K per month contract to represent Saudi Arabia.
Heather is nowhere near as quick-thinking, smooth-talking as many other lobbyists.
worth repeating. $140,000 A MONTH!?
that in itself sounds like a crime against democracy.
slush fund? hale yeah.
sounds like the US GOV IS AN OVERFLOWING TOILET OF SEWER WASTE
Lee and Zaid, how about doing a follow up on the Podesta Group (Tony Podesta) and ECMC? ECMC is the predatory debt collector that took over for the infamous Corinthian Colleges. Tony is John Podesta’s brother. And John Podesta is one of the most powerful people in the Hillary camp. BTW: Heather Podesta is Tony’s ex-wife. Heather Podesta has been a lobbyist for Devry, but appears not to have taken money in 2016, amid multiple fraud charges against Devry.
I find people like Ms. Podesta interesting. Interesting in the sense of watching what a sociopath sounds like in person–friendly, genial and utterly without remorse for any role they every play in others misery. People like her appear totally indifferent to the consequences of their “legal lobbying” and the nature and quality of the entities and individuals they represent.
But unlike her, I understand the fundamental difference between “lobbying” for a worthwhile end (environmentalism, civil rights, against certain “industries”, etc. etc.) and simply lobbying for those most (or anyone) capable of paying her salary. To people like Ms. Podesta they perceive their entire existence as “amoral”–so long as it is technically legal to make money lobbying on some entity or individual’s behalf, the underlying end to be achieved is irrelevant to them so long as they get paid.
It is in a way exactly why people have such a low opinion of attorneys–although in my opinion there is a difference between civil and criminal lawyers, and why they must do what they do vs. choosing to do what they do. Criminal lawyers, prosecutors and defense attorneys must be adversarial and every individual accused of a crime deserves competent representation otherwise there can be no certainty and/or justice involved in any conviction or acquittal. But sadly the system is so broken and the power differential so broad between the state and criminal defense bar, that that very “system of justice” is perceived by many (and to a significant degree–rightly) to be unjust rather than just.
Civil lawyers by contrast always have a choice in what clients to accept, to what end, and for what fee. Again, sadly, the system of civil justice is such that for the most part money dictates outcomes. Now that is not to suggest that money necessarily yields the wrong on an unjust outcome in the civil context, only that a civil “system of justice” is necessarily going to be flawed if access to it is dictated by the relative wealth of the parties in any given civil matter–and trust me, generally speaking, that is the case.
More importantly, it is an unfortunate reality that the large law firms in this nation that cater to the interests of the banks, arms manufacturers, industrialists et al are comprised of the some of the most creative and intelligent folks in the nation, but they’ve lost sight of “justice” in their pursuit of money, intellectual stimulation or professional status and money. Yes they try and salve their collective consciences by doing pro bono work for worthy causes, but they never seem to grasp that so long as they are actively working to achieve the less than moral, ethical or sustainable ends of their clients, they are, generally speaking, never going to be part of the “solutions” except “solutions” that make economic (rather than moral or ethical) sense to their clients. And when that is the case they are in fact part of “the problem”. Again, that’s simple reality in the legal profession–it has almost nothing to do with “justice” as a base value and everything to do with “profit” for both the lawyers that do that sort of work and the firms they are a part of. You simply can’t have it both ways–you can’t simultaneously fight tooth and nail for profit on behalf of entities who only understand the profit maximization as an incentive, and then think you can “do good” in your spare time doing pro bono work.
In that way lobbying (done in significant amounts by lawyers) and certain types of lawyers are sociopaths i.e .they can rationalize anything in the belief that so long as the “process is legal” it is ethical and/or moral for them to engage in it. It isn’t, and I don’t. They couldn’t drum that out of me in law school–the idea that you can have it both ways i.e. doing something for money for an immoral end and doing it without taking moral responsibility for it. That dynamic is the very definition of the “banality of evil” as Hanna Arendt put it–human beings rationalizing immorality and evil because of their personal “distance” from the most ugly of acts without recognizing their (in)direct roles in facilitating those horrible acts.
In any event I find it very fascinating to listen to people like Ms. Podesta speak. They are very hollow human beings in my humble opinion and I’ve known my fair share in the profession. They love their children and friends, often disagree with the ends with which they choose to pursue for money, and yet when push comes to shove they care more about the material well being of their family and tribe (and their professional status) than they do about making the world a better place for all human beings. Sad really, that some of the most talented among us are so easily seduced and corrupted in that way.
Citizen lobbying is very different as is lobbying on behalf of certain types of non-profits (social justice, civil rights, environmentalism etc.) or labor groups.
Just my $0.02.
That .02 is worth a mil…especially when calling it what it is. Thank you for the insight that many (like myself) don’t know.
What a concise analysis rrheard, this is why I get just as excited about the comments on this site as I do about the actual reporting.
So I got a question for you, since you’re a lawyer. Let’s say I’m a lawyer (and I’m not) and I know that my client is guilty of something involving property, not physical violence. But let’s say that lawsuit was filed in the wrong jurisdiction or some other thing, and I can get my client completely off on a technicality. What am I supposed to do in this case? Is it okay for me to get my client completely off the hook, or should I be thinking about the plaintiff, who most definitely was wronged? What is the ethical course of action here as the defendant’s lawyer? I’m curious.
This is pretty easy, even if you aren’t a lawyer (as I am not). If you agree to represent a client, it is your duty, both legal and ethical, to do so to the best of your ability within the limits of the law.
In the hypothetical you cite, if you failed to move for dismissal because the court lacked subject-matter or personal jurisdiction, you would be guilty (at least ethically) of negligence and malpractice.
If we had something other than an adversarial and punitive/vengeful “justice” system, there might be other alternatives. In the system we do have, it is the prosecutor’s or plaintiff’s counsel’s counsel’s job to try to prove a defendant guilty or liable.
Well… I suppose I understand what you’re saying, technically :). But it’s still a bit confusing to me. I had this conversation with my dad as a teenager, some 20+ years ago. The company he represented had clearly ruined somebody’s property. But he won, because the plaintiffs had filed the case in the wrong jurisdiction. I was happy that my dad had won, but I couldn’t understand why guilt or innocence was less important than where the case was filed, in the eyes of the law. I could see that my dad was torn, while explaining the outcome to me, but he told me exactly what you said, that he had to look out for the best interests of his client. And the ethics of it is still confusing to me, even though I understand the rules :/
Yeah, believe me, I get it. The ethical problem, IMHO, is with the structure of our system much more than with the individual practitioners.
But, remember, also, that we have different jurisdictions with different laws, different rules of procedure, differences in courtroom culture and tradition, etc.
To use extreme examples, you wouldn’t want to be hauled off for trial in Texas, a place you’d never visited (lack of personal jurisdiction) or brought before a bankruptcy court to be tried on a murder charge (lack of subject matter jurisdiction).
On the other hand, if the confusion was about a case brought in Federal District court because it was between parties in different states (diversity jurisdiction) and it was dismissed because the sleazy and clearly-guilty defendant cooked the numbers to bring the amount in controversy to a little below the $75K minimum requirement, the plaintiff done been screwed and the system should have better options for resolution than starting over in state court(s) with an expensive fight over which one(s).
All in all, in our legal system, as rr says, it helps a lot to be rich and powerful.
Appropriate venue and jurisdiction is a critical matter, not a mere technicality. “Forum shopping” is a scourge, and a loss imposed due to filing in the wrong venue or jurisdiction is necessary to dissuade prosecutors and plaintiffs from looking for the court — or jury pool — whose biases they think are most friendly to their position. As well as to prevent them from purposely filing in a forum far from the defendant in order to create so much cost and inconvenience that defendants are more likely to plead guilty (in criminal cases) or to settle (in civil matters).
The Third Circuit recently dismissed the criminal conviction of Andrew “Weev” Auernheimer on grounds of improper venue. (The U.S. Attorneys thought New Jersey was a friendly state/court and they’d be forcing the defendant to travel 1,000 miles from home.)
You can read about that case here.
Yes, thanks, Mona.
Thanks to both of you! Yeah it makes sense, to an extent. But if guilt or innocence is important, why can’t the case just be moved to the right jurisdiction? Why does the case have to be thrown away, because some lawyer tried to pull a fast one? Double jeopardy thing here?
In a criminal case, yes. In the “Weev” case, venue wasn’t ruled improper until the appeal; pending that decision, Weev sat in prison. In most instances, the federal courts do not allow for “interlocutory appeal,” that is, to take an issue to the appellate level until the entire case has been adjudicated in the court below.
This is deemed necessary to keep the process running in anything like a speedy manner.
That happens. Probably most of the time. I’d have to know some specific things about the case your father litigated to understand why it didn’t happen there.
Different country. Similar legal principles I suppose.
Cheers :)
P.S. If you read the Third Circuit decision in the Weev case, you’ll see they decline to hold that the improper venue constituted a “harmless error.” Appellate courts have that option: to hold that venue was wrong, but that the mistake was not detrimental to the defendant in any significant way, and so to affirm the conviction.
thankyouverymuch
thankyouverymuch
a most relevant and profound commentary
i especially alerted to where you said That dynamic is the very definition of the “banality of evil” as Hanna Arendt put it–human beings rationalizing immorality and evil because of their personal “distance” from the most ugly of acts without recognizing their (in)direct roles in facilitating those horrible acts.
i am not attempting to push religion, but “a” history
Lk:11:52: Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
They’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
You realize lawyers 2000 years ago in the nominal Middle East bear no resemblance to current-day lawyers here, there, or anywhere else, yes? Pushing ‘a’ history only makes sense if we are willing to recognize the distinctions inherent in a changing world. Otherwise you’re claiming there’s only ‘one’ history. And we all know everyone has a different interpretation of what any given history is or should be.
Human society is entirely comprised of individuals acting in the interest of their self and kin. And it is in usually best for them to deny that they do so.
JDawg, you’ve drank the Koolaid. The smallest individual ‘unit’ in the Kingdom is not one, but two. It’s about community.
Society is greater than the sum of its parts. The simple statement you make has so much depth, but allow me to say that this line of thinking is exactly what others would have you think.
We stand together, we are all connected. True, it takes spiritual discipline and learning to ‘see’ and ‘hear.’
You understand the difference between lobbying for a worthwhile cause and for anyone capable of paying salary but did Obama’s restrictions make that distinction?
I thought it was an interesting point to consider how that could possibly have affected the choices he and his administration made, or didn’t. (??)
As far as “people like her” and why some lawyers are hollow beings, (seems off topic) but I think you need to take that criticism up with a overriding theme in American culture concerning what a good parent and personal success is.
Yeah, the “interesting point” should be considered in many decisions Obama made.
Maybe his restrictions on lobbyists prevented him from hearing from the vast majority of people living on the east coast and thus led to his decision to open the area to fossil fuel extraction against their desires?
Maybe his restrictions kept him from hearing from legal experts who could have prevented him from launching illegal regime change efforts and wars… stopped him from supporting coups toppling democratically elected governments… stopped him from expanding counterproductive targeted assassinations?
Maybe his restrictions prevented him from pursuing criminal charges against Wall Street criminals?
Maybe his restrictions prevented him from hearing from environmentalists who would have convinced him not to open National Forests to fracking? Or the Arctic to oil drilling?
Maybe his restrictions kept him from hearing from economists who could have prevented the massive subsidies he supported for insurers, bankers, nuclear energy, etc.?
There are so many more “choices” (mistakes) Obama’s administration made… if only he hadn’t had restrictions on lobbyists, the lobbyists paid millions to enact all those policies wouldn’t have gotten everything they wanted on all those issues and so much more?
Or, maybe he did hear from the good lobbyists, but they just couldn’t match the financial promises or counter the innovative, brilliant and convincing ideological arguments in support of the disastrous choices?
I’m sure the “interesting point to consider how that could possibly have affected the choices” is in there somewhere, right?
Or, we could just blame American culture?
Yes, I can see that you are obsessed with Obama and now you want to discuss American culture.
I’m sure you can get rrr to participate if you asked him. He’s older than me but for some reason has enthusiasm for that kind of thing.
Pathetic failed dodge Candace.
Too afraid to elaborate on what you really meant by that “interesting point” comment?
Too afraid to justify Hillary’s embrace of all those failed policies and the lobbyists?
And, you’re the one who blamed American culture in the comment to rr I was responding to… I was mocking your deflection… because the “Washington community” only believes in personal responsibility for the poor.
BTW, have you met Jimmy?
I think you’d make a cute couple.
what you’re STILL talking to me?
shoo forum zombie, shoo.
Very insightful comment, worth thinking about. It points to a kind of adolescent attitude among the political class, the politicians and lobbyists – as if they are teenagers who are not completely responsible for their own actions, people who never made the transition to adulthood.
Bill Clinton and GW Bush, for example, don’t seem like adults; neither does Hillary Clinton. They present more as teenagers trying to win popularity contests in their social cliques. It would be very interesting to see and hear Clinton’s Goldman Sachs speeches (one insider executive is reported to have said, “She gushed at us.”) The Podestas don’t seem very different – they could be characters in an ’80s teen movie. Barak Obama comes across much the same way – while he tries to act presidential, it comes across as a young man trying to act serious, but constantly looking to the teacher for approval to make sure he’s saying the right things. (see the interesting 2007 Chicago Tribune article, “Warren Buffet is Obama meal ticket”, for example).
http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-obama_thuaug16-story.html
Quote: “Obama responded with plenty of praise and some humility. “Not only am I a less successful investor, but my jokes aren’t as funny,” Obama said, later calling Buffett “an example of what’s best in this country.” Obama said he gets plenty of advice on the campaign trail, but “Warren Buffett is one of those people that I listen to.””
It seems to point to a situation where the politicians and lobbyists are not really the ones in charge – they’re like puppies, running about and frolicking with one another, under the charge of executives and shareholders who feed and bathe them and teach them obedience and how to do tricks.
As you say, “Sad, really, that some of the most talented among us are so easily seduced and corrupted in that way.”
However, it also points to real sociopathic tendencies among the leading shareholders and executives of major corporations and financial institutions in the United States – because the corporate heirarchical structure does act as a filter that tends to only let the most ruthless, selfish and greedy individuals climb to the top ranks of the organization. From there, they attempt to control all competitors in their industry, leading to the formation of cartels and trusts. In politics, they support the rise of dictatorial leadership which mimics their own dictatorial control of their corporate systems.
The most notable example of this in the 20th century is the rise of the I.G. Farben cartel in Germany, made up of the entire chemical industry from pharmaceuticals to fertilizers and explosives to coal-based synthetic oil, which poured millions into the Nazi Party in the early 1930s, immensely aiding the rise of Hitler, who cemented their cartel status by giving them all government contracts related to their industry. Ironically, this business decision was made by I.G. Farben corporate leaders who themselves were later persecuted by the Nazis in the later 1930s (some of them were among Germany’s wealthiest Jews, others were merely silenced and removed from leadership by Nazi decrees.)
The overall point is, this shows why the uncontrolled rise of corporate power represents the greatest threat to democratic government in the world today; and an irresponsible adolescent political class is allowing this rise to take place.
Yes, thank you very much for your comment. I am a socialist, but I will be voting for Sanders in the California primary just to deny the state to that bitch Clinton. How anyone, ANYONE, who claims to be progressive or to have a conscience can even THINK of supporting the Lady Macbeth of the Democrats is beyond my comprehension. This is where the curse that is identity politics shows its ugly face.
I could not even complete the video. If that woman ever stopped by to lobby me, I’d have to insist she take a speech class and learn how to speak with out dragging through every word.
The truth is I believe all lobbyists are criminals in the most dark and evil sense of the word, right alongside the Congress that allows them into their world for even a moment of air. Criminals. And had Obama the integrity to stand behind his own words and promises made to the people of our nation, we’d all be a lot better off today, with these slime bags from hell having less influence over them. He’s done us no favors.
[“I could not even complete the video.”]
LOL…It was the first thing I said… :D
The second was…”please don’t insult our intelligence”. What a waste of air.
@3:03
“Goldman sanks….”
Funny how truth causes a slip of tongue…
“We’re not paid enough” – Ha ha ha.
Hillary Clinton could say the same thing. She gives speeches to Goldman Sachs for a few million bucks, but helps deliver U.S. Treasury bailouts to Goldman Sachs worth billions – that’s what you call return on investment, of over 100,000% – like buying a stock for $1 that suddenly booms to $1000 overnight. No, from that perspective, the experts in Washington’s corrupt legalized bribery system aren’t paid enough.
Your shills for Wall Street will cut in at this point and say, “Goldman Sachs didn’t get any bailouts! You liar!” Really. . . what do you think we are, stupid?
http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-goldman-sachs-wins-big-in-secret-bailout-via-aig-2009-3
“In case you were wondering where on earth all that money went that you shoveled into the black hole known as AIG, we now have a pretty good idea.
$13 billion of it went to Goldman Sachs
$12 billion went to Soc Gen
$12 billion went to Deutsche Bank
$9 billion went to Barclays
$7 billion went to Merrill Lynch
$5 billion went to Bank of America
And so on.”
Yes, take the payoff, bailout Wall Street, let the homeowners eat cake and lose their homes – that’s how Obama and Clinton helped out the minority communities that were hit hardest with adjustable rate scam mortgages; so explain again why the Congressional Black Caucus backed Hillary, again? Oh, right, they’re corrupt sleazebags who screw over the people who vote for them in exchange for Wall Street handouts, too.
Or take Hillary Clinton’s oversight of the massive $60 billion arms deal to the Saudis, the one that never got any coverage on MSNBC or the New York Times or NPR, or on FOX News either. She got a $10 million kickback to the Clinton Foundation from the Saudis, (John McCain got a $1 million kickback), and another $900,000 from Boeing – all below the radar, sort of.
Lockheed Martin, a major beneficiary of Saudi deals, spends about $15 million a year in lobbying and about half a million on direct campaign contributions, according to OpenSecrets – in exchange for tens of billions in arms deals that have to be Congressionally approved, in violation of laws on selling to nations that support terrorism and have terrible human rights records – again, massive return on investment.
So, ha ha ha, the lobbyists really aren’t paid enough, in the corrupt Congressional Washington circus world – they deserve much more. Chuckle chuckle chuckle.
By the way, notice how she looks (and acts) like a bit character in those Hunger Games movies?
wow…thanks for all the info…
crimes against humanity, blood money, and no doubt a dual zionist occupier.
But we have a choice, don’t we? In some regard? After being a BofA customer for near 20 years, I closed my account and moved to a local credit union. I am slowly divesting from the stock market and reinvesting in the local community.
When the 99% wake up and realize that together we can take small actions that collectively have consequences, then we shall realize our power.
[“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”]
Thank you…
That’s a very good prescription for change; everyone should move their money to credit unions.
However, what we can’t control is how the billions in income tax collected from the middle class by the federal government is redistributed to bail out casino operations on Wall Street when they go bust; the crooked paid-off politicians and lobbyists now control those taxpayer dollars, and the only way to change that is via political action; that’s why the Bernie Sanders revolution is really needed.
It’s also why if Hillary sneaks in as the DNC selection of the Democratic Party, then it will actually make strategic sense to back Trump; that will spell the end of corporate control of the DNC and it will be taken over by Sanders supporters. Four years of the Donald may be the price we have to pay to achieve that, but it will be worth it in the long run.
photo..,
Without detail, my work is with under-served youth. I love them. While I concede the merits of cost-benefit analysis when voting this election, for Trump over Hillary as example, I can’t do it.
The truth is, I cannot vote for Hillary nor Trump. I will cast my vote for Sanders, write his name in if necessary, or Jill Stein. I believe just action should follow conviction. I am convicted that Sanders has been stunning in what he is attempting to do for our society. Importantly, I am most impressed that he is working strategically with a long view, which most politicians miss in their expediency to maintain upward political mobility.
We are ‘Keepers of the Light’ and our challenge is to act with courage, conviction, and love, and completely upend this disastrous paradigm and make it through the Great Transition; to leave our children a better world. We all hold part of the answer. All of the movements and voices appearing are beautiful manifestations of the grace Sparrow speaks of. You either ‘see’ the wrong, or you don’t.
The greatest change agents in history have operated from places of love and peace…and grace. Not violence.
Anyway, your point about political revolution, especially through Sanders, is not lost on me and I hope he wins the Presidency.
Thanks for putting the information out there. Plenty of money for the banks, plenty of money to arm the Saudis, “no money” for healthcare, education, pensions, social security, infrastructure and on and on and on. That’s why I work for socialism and so should everybody. Parasites like these whining lobbyists are a disgrace to the human race.
Heather Podesta was a lobbyist for Devry for years. And Podesta Group is the lobbying firm representing ECMC–the predatory debt collector that took over Corinthian Colleges.
And ” the special sauce” just made it’s official entry in the lexicon of Washington expressions.
After reading the article I expected to see a very different kind of interview. (I waited for the cackling laughter) It was actually kind of interesting, though.
What isn’t mentioned here is that after saying what it meant to be a lobbyist she said that lobby activity was good when disclosed. The criticism of Obama’s reforms involved that it caused some lobbyists to go underground or lack of transparency. It also kept civil rights, environment groups
(personally, I often forget that lobbyists aren’t only tools of corporations)
and people that have worked in policy for over 20 years away from his administration. That is where the brain drain comment came from and why she said Obama hurt himself. (I would have liked it if Ezra asked her more about all of that)
After they shared a laugh about not being paid enough, she said the facebook question was good and went on to say that most people don’t have time or inclination to do this full time but if they moved here and did they would be as effective as she was. The example used was dedicating your life to gun control. There was more to that discussion.
If there was something to be bothered by in that interview or something to debate, out of context comments do not inspire.
“The Podesta Group has been retained by Wal-Mart, BP and Lockheed Martin.”
So when you see the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, brought on by BP’s ignoring regulations and pressuring its contractors to ‘get the job done, screw the rules’ – that’s Podesta. When you see Wal-Mart paying shit wages and running anti-union campaigns, that’s Podesta. When you see Lockheed Martin selling weapons to the Saudi Arabian dictatorship (that treats women as second-class citizens, finances and arms ISIS, and helped finance the 9/11 terrorist attacks), that’s Podesta.
She’s got a lot of blood on her hands, but, ha ha ha, she’s not paid enough for her services.
I heard that remark about civil rights groups to. But is that what really happened? Did Obama really lose access to people from civil rights groups because he did not want any lobbyists? I think he is the one who chose how to put his rule into effect.
Is not lobbying about contacts, especially in congressional staffs? So she says I would be as effective as a lobbyist as she is if I went to Washington. Pardon my skepticism.
Good question about Obama. I would have liked to have seen it explored- you know whether it was ridiculous to say or why it wasn’t. Maybe some information about who used to have contact and then stopped, or who went underground like she said.
I would think that lobbying is about contacts (especially in congressional staffs) but also money so how do you get them without either?
If you lobby for a worthwhile cause like rr mentioned which most likely doesn’t have a financial backing,(am I wrong?) who in congress would talk to you?
I always thought that a citizens interest version of lobbying was something like being involved in a protest at the capital and issuing a statement. Or there would be an event that gave some politician you were trying to reach positive publicity while requesting support for a particular change.
If not how does it work? I would have liked to see that explored also.
She said we would be as effective as her but also that she had the special sauce. I thought that was pretty funny.
Your lobbyists in Congress hire people to stand in line for them to get into committee hearings, don’t they?
That practice should be banned; the Podestas should have to get up at 6 am and stand in line for 4 hours themselves if they want to get into a committee hearing.
As far as their special sauce, she means SuperPAC money and the threat of using it to unseat the politician during the next election cycle, doesn’t she? Ordinary people trying to raise their concerns about issues don’t have that carrot/stick power over politicians, do they?
You’re upset about people standing in line but not too concerned about the lack of transparency or how Obama’s reforms encouraged lobbyists not to register? Would you prefer not to know? Are you protecting someone?
Do you prefer ALEC?
Do you recall the comment you liked from rrr that stated he knew the difference between “lobbying” for a worthwhile end (environmentalism, civil rights, against certain “industries”, etc. etc.) and simply lobbying for most (or anyone) capable of paying a salary?” Sure you do.
Doesn’t that sound like another someone outside of Ms. Podesta that acknowledges lobbying for a worthwhile cause actually happens/ed
Sure it does.
Outside of the intriguing and somewhat wicked thought of sharing quality time with congress, I think most would be in agreement that the appeal of lobbying for a worthwhile cause would be for the benefit of ordinary people.
Are lobbyists representing for the people organizations doing this with a carrot/stick?
If yes, does having the carrot/stick taint the cause?
If no, how are they able to be heard without it?
How did Obama’s restrictions affect them – or their supply of vegetables and sticks.
I think that would be beneficial conversation that I can see I should not expect to find here.
The video was posted in the article, so it was “mentioned here”.
And, your play by play repeating the twisted arguments she made (particularly the false equivalence with what she does to environmental, civil rights or gun control lobbying) is laughable too.
There was much “to be bothered by in that interview”, and it’s not because things were taken “out of context”.
Are you in the industry by any chance?
oh yeah, totally.
That explains it.
“….. the Washington community.”
These are self-serving opportunists who prey upon all of the
other people in the faking USA under the disguise of public servants.
They reinforce the religious predatory economic schemes which depend
upon the disintegration of the quality of life for everyone else.
The only thing they value is the accumulation of money and power
for themselves and they are the true nature of democrats and
republicans alike.
All of the “states” are disintegrating while “the Washington community”
(which is actually an agency of Wall Street) is an obese desperate
perversion which is regularly reinvigorated by its victims –
who cannot seem to get enough punishment.
The cynicism of electing Hillary or Trump is a jewel in their teeth.
“We are plagued by a corrupt polity which promotes unlawful and/or immoral behavior.
Public interest has no practical significance in everyday behavior among the ruling factions.
The real problems of our world are not being confronted by those in power.
In the guise of public service, they use whatever comes to hand for personal gain.
They are insane with, and for, power.”
– Frank Herbert, The Dosadi Experiment
A perfect description of the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations, I think.
Might we consider the possibility that “underpaid” lobbyists was meant ironically? After all, irony is supposedly the weapon of the weak.
Once again, the billionaire funded Intercept is protesting money in politics and pointing toward Hillary Clinton where all roads lead for Fang and company. (For those of you who don’t know, the Intercept is not funded by a trust as it should be, like the Guardian, nor does it rely on reader contributions like antiwar.com or other organizations that rely on their readership. No, it does not give a damn that half of its readers for articles like this are Trumpers, Tea Baggers, and Bernie Bros, all looking to build their case against Hillary) Billionaire funding of journalism is good, apparently. Money for politicians is bad. Hillary is bad. Fang and company is good. Funding for Hillary is always corrupt because the assumption of these journalists is that Hillary is corrupt. Billionaire funding of Fang is good because the assumption is that Fang and Greenwald are good. After all, Greenwald took the money but miraculously claimed that he would not be influenced by it. This is known as hypocrisy. It’s a shame to see excellent journalists such as Greenwald sully themselves by making charges against people for which they themselves are patently and obviously guilty of. They should stick to the racist murdering of Muslim via drones and issues like that. Once they delve into the finance issues, they have no credibility whatsoever, for they are certainly as guilty as they believe Hillary is.
Perfect change of subject. Do you get all your talking points from “deflect the record”?
I wonder if Jimmy gets paid 12 bucks an hour or 15.
Another idiotic talking point by the Bernies. The 15 dollar minimum wage would be a regressive tax on the poor. It would drive many small businesses out of business as it has done wherever it has been implemented. The answer is to add to the Earned Income Tax Credit. That’s an effective way of bolstering income of poor without driving bodegas etc out of business, and small restaurants. But rich people, like The Berne’s do not know about it because they’ve never been able to claim it. They make too much money. Just like getting money out of politics is beyond idiotic. The only way to equal the playing field is to get all political advertising out of politics. Another poorly thought out plan by the Berkenstock from Vt.
You’ve obviously never taken an Economics class in your life, as you clearly don’t know what a “regressive tax” is. Or you went to Trump University. You also clearly don’t know anything about the minimum wage. And I’m not in the mood to educate your dumb ass.
Not a change of subject at all. This is an attack on Hillary Clinton, nothing more. The article draws attention to the source of the attack, to see if they are doing the same. Are they? Check!
Hey idiot
The journalism is factual and oozes credibility… unlike you and your claims.
Very few Trumpon supporters last long here, and waaay more than half are sick to death (some literally) of Hillary’s policies.
Hillary fully supports the “racist murdering of Muslims via drones” and all the “issues like that” which is one of many reasons we’re sick to death of her.
You have no grasp of “finance issues”, as your mindless repetition of false wingnut talking points on the minimum wage, and head in the sand approach to Hillary’s corruption and the massive financial damage it has caused Americans makes clear.
Why are you here?
Do you really think insulting everybody, and trying but failing to defend the corrupt Hillary with unsubstantiated claims is a convincing approach?
All you’re doing is making Hillary look even worse (no easy task) through association with the inane drivel you are spewing.
If you’re being paid, you owe Hillary a refund.
Always check your sources. And name calling is proof of Trumpianism.
So when are Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney going to endorse Hillary Clinton? Or was that a private engagement, no transcripts allowed, as with her speeches to Goldman Sachs? She’s already got neocon Robert Kagan on board, although they probably regret the publicity around that.
Your false and unsubstantiated claims of hypocrisy isn’t name calling?
You just can’t help yourself from following Clinton’s lead… rules for thee, but none for me.
A trait she shares with Trump and all her rich supporters.
Sometimes when the proof is laid before you, an apt adjective is simply deserved.
And it is apt.
You keep proving it.
“Ummmmmmm, this is a mis-characterization, ummmmmm, this is preposterous, ummmmmm….”
She should run for office herself…she basically hemmed and hawed for seven minutes, shedding no light on her shadowy, fat-cat industry.
Lots of names come to mind for this “lady” none nice, they would make the Donald blush. She is part of the consortium of men and women profiting for selling out America.
This is the real danger of our Ruling Class they are not just mega-greedy; but delusional to the point where they will kill the host and their parasite selves.
These idiots will allow greed and shortsightedness to destroy the soul and wealth and rule of law of the Nation that protects us all. We had a Constitutional Republic that once served We the people and could not keep it. It was lost when the needs of many were usurped by the greed of the few.
Good comment until you mentioned “the nation that protects us all.” The nation does NOT protect us all and hasn’t for a very long time. The nation is owned and controlled by the super-rich and the military-industrial-intelligence cabal and the likes of Clinton (both of them, actually) and Trump are all serving the same master. What is far scarier is that the world is on the brink of nuclear war as the U.S. surrounds and intimidates Russia and China as though it was the same as winning at Monopoly. This should brighten the pants off of everyone.
Someone should tell Heather Podesta + partners:
International/Global
U.S. domestic policy debates create uncertainty in foreign markets, and today’s global players need to understand the intricacies of Washington policymaking so their business decisions take congressional proposals into account. We help our clients understand and address policies debated in Washington that impact corporations and foreign governments worldwide. We have successfully represented foreign governments, multinational corporations, and individuals who seek a voice before Congress and the Executive Branch.
http://www.heatherpodesta.com/services/internationalglobal/
She also represents Lex Luthor, but you won’t find a paper trail for that either.
When I post on TI I usually look at the comments after I put something on, but after reading through this I just could not wait to see what Robin Hood’s band of bloggers had to say.
The comments are a treasure and give me a sense of hope, because they were so united in despise for the blatant amorality this character represents, and the way in which the reporter interviewed her represents a compliant media.
My selecting this as one of the cherished comments does not mean I feel any of the others were not absolutely right on.
AtheistInChief ? altohone
Imagine a Glenn Greenwald interview with this character… Bloody minced meat.
lol….
uhhhhhhhhhhhh boogyman, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, it’s juuuuuuuust uhhhhhhhhh
Little John…I got a job for ya…(Greenwald reaching in the quiver)…
How about to start an arrow for:
Corporate personhood
To get the corrupting influence of money out of politics
The prison for profit system that happens to keep minorities from voting
The usurers
The vampires of healthcare
Those that war and fear monger
All complicit in enslaving our youth in student loan debt
Destroyers of the environment
An investigation into Solar Geoengineering/Solar Radiation Management
I agree brother …that one arrow should fit all (and a whole lot more)! Too long to list . I shouldn’t make fun of a horrible situation, but sometimes ya gotta let some steam off. And [some of] these comments left me laughing. Like you, I am inspired by the ‘should be’ protocols of a working system that works for the good of humanity not only for our citizens but as neighbors to everyone else…the complete opposite of what we are witnessing now and the terrible past. My heart is the environment…but it will take the ‘greedless’ men to bring that about…the desire to want what is right. At least I can witness a few here…like yourself. Thank you :)
Hey friend…I just wanted to share the world I support. A glimpse of hope. Enjoy…
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365754356/
Jungle Animal Hospital
From where did the philosophy come that an animal does not have a soul?
That philosophy comes from fallen man. From the truth that has taught me…animals and man were created on the same day. We are more united than you can possibly know. This is why Adam was charged by the Creator to “take care” of them. This is why the Messiah was born in a stable (a place for animals). To be sure my friend it is a profound revelation and one that unites all breathing and living creation as one. Fallen man has a disconnect to creation…hence the destruction of it. Animals can not sin. They are living in futility along with their environment…waiting on man to stop and understand…and to restore them to peace. Peace is the ultimate desire…peace is the paradise. If we can’t cry out for them, then we have no peace within or without. I now know why I am a natural vegetarian…abhor killing…detest animal exploitation in all manners of diverse ways…and stay vexed everyday. It is these small windows of reality (the video’s) that keep me hopeful…and hearing a few good men (and women) speak out . I send an exhortation of strength to all…God bless you friend…please have a nice day too.
If we ever have a real revolution this scamp would be on the first batch for the guillotine. Ask her what the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni is. Jackholes.
I tried…I really tried…but…I just couldn’t make to the end. I watched only to the point at which I could look no further. And, sweet Jesus, I could look no further when Ms. Podesta likened Obama’s refusal to pay off the lobbyists as “attacking” Washington, resulting in a “brain drain.”
At that, I could only jump up and scream, “Hally-fucking-looya, let’s keep THAT brain drain going, whoever the fuck they are!” “Keep those blood-sucking elitists completely the fuck away from anything having to do with anything,” I clearly recall screaming as I reached the apex of my 3″ vertical leap of righteous anger.
Simply pondering the stratospheric level of self-justifying, self-aggrandizing, self-amazed self-importance this woman’s mentality reveals at around 2:40 should be nausea-inducing to any reasonably healthy person, but, to a boomer like me, it also ups the survival ante by shooting the ol’ bp higher than I think she and her stunning level of fucking arrogance are worth.
So, I stopped while I was still vertical. Like I said, for my personal health concerns–as well as having a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to listening to some fucking elitist’s self-serving bullshit–I couldn’t watch it all the way to the end, so she may have gone on to redeem herself in the rest of the interview.
But I doubt it.
lol……………………………………………(my stomach hurts)
Man, you missed the part(s) where she was shaking her head yes before the questions where asked.
I did catch her do that one time, and thought briefly that her head shaking could have been caused by some digital anomaly in her programming, like that spooky part in The Matrix where Neo sees the black cat instantly repeat its walk across the doorway, and then he says, “Deja vu,” and Morpheus and Trinity freak out because that means there’s a glitch in the matrix caused by the bad guys changing something, and obviously, that won’t bode well for the people.
But then, Podesta explains that she’s simply not paid enough, and if people would just stop abusing her and attacking her and stop refusing to be extorted by her, then life would be grand not only for her, but also for all of the extremely wonderful people like so blessedly like her.
Then I realized this was a matrix of a different sort…
(My apologies to your tummy. Ha)
Hey…no apologies. Just thanking you for a good laugh. Your’s was one of the last of several …and by that time I was on the floor. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTFgTfODk9s
That was a good laugh, too. Thanks!
She is the absolute definition of D.C. scumbag. Podesta Group has lobbied for BP Oil, Walmart, Bank of America, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Maldives, just to name a few of the worst clients. HP blames politicians for the corruption that she makes her living off of. Her so called “expertise” is bribery, fraud and extortion. https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/12/17/19051/us-lobbying-pr-firms-give-human-rights-abusers-friendly-face
I’m not suggesting every lobbyist passes for a bloodsucking vampire…
1- Brain drain? Secret sauce? … coincidence?
B- Klein laughing along to twisted responses, pretending that writing bribery checks is a difficult job, and accepting answers that a real journalist would challenge inadvertently shows why we’re up to our necks in shit
III- Hillary surrounding herself with such people is why the mindless idiot may actually beat her
Yeah, I thought it was particularly pathetic, his laugher. They’re such good friends aren’t they. The aristocracy.
Imagine a Glenn Greenwald interview with this character… Bloody minced meat.
She and her kind are far too scared to allow themselves to be interviewed by actual journalists… which is why we never see any.
“In 2013, DC (31%) had the highest rate of children in households without consistent access to food.” – Feeding America
If ever there was a “boogeyman,” this psycho’s IT.
Not much power? They get laws written almost word for word.
Personally I’m ashamed that we, the American people, created this monster and others like her. That’s right, we did that. We can take back our country from those who bought it, but it will require a revolution, preferably a peaceful one, but a revolution none-the-less. It should not end with Bernie Sanders. Win or lose we must dig in and fight even harder.
Expose these rich scumbags!!
Amoral scumbags soliciting stuff from other amoral scumbags for amoral scumbags. Nothing new here folks, move along. Workers are dumber, more apathetic and more gutless than PT Barnum’s suckers. Even the bread is unfit for human consumption and the circuses are literally comic books. Hitler, where are you now when we need you?
Uh, Western bigwigs put little Mr. Shiklgruber, Mussolini, and Franco into power in the 1920’s and ’30s, with the gleeful encourgaement of The Vatican. Big business in the West has been fascist for years. Hitler was one of them. Reagan, Thatcher, and the Bushes were others. The DNC clowns are “compassionate conservatives” at best.
Drumpf is lurking…
What a disgusting individual. Can’t wait for karma to come around. More excellent work, Lee and Zaid – thank you.
In one sense, I agree with Ms. Podesta. The US government sells itself inordinately cheaply. But at the end of the day, lobbyists are paid their fair market value.
The problem is simple. Washington is filled with bullshit artists, happy to take your money and claiming they can deliver results. Unfortunately, most don’t have anything near the level of access and influence which they claim. This drives down the market price for all lobbyists. Also, those seeking to buy influence in Washington must choose between a ’boutique’ firm, such as Ms. Podesta’s, or a lobbying firm with better contacts, but such high number of powerful clients that they don’t give any of them individual attention.
This represents a market failure – what is needed is an influence exchange that brings openness and transparency to purchasing legislation. If this happened, you would quickly see the bullshit artists fall by the wayside, while the effective lobbyists would see a dramatic increase in their salaries.
Perhaps someone has already produced an app to do this; if not, the opportunity awaits.
i once knew someone who told me he was stuying to be a lawyer, as was i. I asked him where he was wanting to practice. He told me, WDC. i was dumbstruck as i could not figure out how in dc he was going to get that many clients to defend.
stupid me, defend?
Grew up in DC… and back then for every 1000 people, 442 were lawyers.
No, that’s not a typo.
It’s probably worse now.
Of course (using your Donald voice) some are good people.
Perhaps we need lobbying reform legislation that requires states to set up online exchanges. And if people don’t buy shares in a lobbyist, they can be taxed.
“influence exchange…” perhaps state by state
And you could have a law, perhaps called the Affordable Access Act, that forces American citizens to buy ineffective influence at outrageous rates, which if they refuse, threatens to fine them and put them in prison…
Poor interviewer, can’t even make her answer a question straight.
Regardless should have asked why corporations give millions in donations instead of letting her blabber on evasively.
Yet another POS Clinton supporter. If she loses to Trump, it will be in part because of Clinton supporters like this.
I couldn’t read her quotes in the article without gagging. So skipped the interview.
Banality of Evil much, Podesta. Ugh, Klein is such a little weasel. And he goes and suspends his boy today over saying some Trump shit. Respectability politics means it’s not ok to “tell people to riot,” but perfectly okay to rub elbow and chortle with people taking food out of people’s bellies, destroying the natural environment, and bombing brown people into the stone age.
Heather Podesta thinks lobbyists aren’t paid enough, and shares a giggle about that with Ezra Klein?
These fuckwit oligarchs really do not grasp history, do they? The aristocracy cavorting in and about Versailles might have learned something to share with Heather Podesta.
No single person’s time could possibly be worth that much. And now she says “lobbyists don’t have more power and influence”? What is she paid for?
Guys, guys! Ya gotta understand the expenses that go with the job. Do you have any idea how much it cost Heather to have her entire head and face (and maybe other body parts) encapsulated in that nearly-lifelike injection molded shell?
I thought Michael Jackson was dead.
That’s tits. Love this comment.
ahhhahahhaahhaahhaaahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Fucking rich people. The world would be so much better without them.
Literally the most disgusting thing I have ever heard. THESE PEOPLE MUST BE STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!
Heather Podesta is a disgusting vile human being.
Utterly disgusting. It is actually WORSE to know that most of these sick folks believe that what they are doing and thinking is normal and laudable than if they were doing this out of criminal greed.
“As for the idea of taking money out of politics, “I just find it preposterous,”
– Heather Podesta
Laws are for peasants
This story demonstrates it is not only the Republicans that block Obama and reforms, but the big money democrats also who eat their own.
These are the people, who when the food runs out, will eat your children to survive. Greed mongers.
That’s why you need to “teach your children well” — to eat the rich first.
…and only the little people pay taxes.