quote: The FEC's general counsel recommended a more severe penalties, but the three Democratic election commissioners blocked those recommendations on 3-3 tie votes
All those not surprised?
quote: Scott Thomas, one of the Democratic commissioners who voted against stronger action, filed an 11-page statement to explain his votes, saying that "for the most part the DNC seems to have been the victim of unscrupulous or careless donors and fund-raisers."
Riiiight. Oh, wait, Gore WAS a fund-raiser, wasn't he? RIGHT!
Posted by Snay (Member # 411) on :
I love it when Rob feels the need to prove himself after taking an ass-whipping in one anti-Republican thread by posting at least two anti-Democrat threads.
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
"oh noes, that donor carelessly gave us millions in illegal money! that can't be our fault, no sir ree bob". fucking democrats. they're even worse than republicans.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
No, Snay, I'm biting back in that thread, too.
Posted by Snay (Member # 411) on :
Like a baby kitten without teeth.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
It doesn't take a large animal to attack a smokescreen.
Discuss the topic, or crawl back under your rock.
Posted by Snay (Member # 411) on :
Six years ago, that's the best you can do? At least Democrats supported new laws to restrict this happening again. I wonder why most Republicans opposed it, because they rely heavily on illegal donations? I think so.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Considering Governor Bush is breaking fund-raising records while this "war" is going on, I'm not sure how far one wants to go down the 'your-side-is-worse-than-we-are' when it comes to raising funds.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Breaking records isn't necessarily breaking laws, Jay. False comparison?
quote:Six years ago, that's the best you can do? At least Democrats supported new laws to restrict this happening again.
I'm betting that they just haven't gotten around to the more recent violations yet.
I tell you what. I have a campaign finance reform proposal.
We've already limited contributions from individuals.
Next step, TOTALLY ban campaign contributions from any organization, NGO, Union, non-profit group, church, PAC, etc. If an entity can't vote, it can't donate.
Also ban individual contributions from any individual receiving the entirety of their salary from any governmental body (who is not a government employee.)
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
quote:Originally posted by First of Two: I just love being right
I just hope you're not saying that to hail the almighty GOP and to bash the Democrat Scum.
quote:Next step, TOTALLY ban campaign contributions from any organization, NGO, Union, non-profit group, church, PAC, etc. If an entity can't vote, it can't donate.
Then ban Businesses, Business Groups, and Right Wing Federations like the NRA and so-called "Taxpayers Federations". After all, they are entites too right?
A Similar provincial law that was being debated in Ontario would ban any union, non-profit group, and the whatnot from donating to any political party. Of course, this meant that while the left-wing politicians would be starved of campaign funds from its traditional allies (unions, non-profit groups, etc), the right-wing would roll in the dough from the loot provided by businesses, business groups, and the Canadian Federation of Taxpayers (which for some damned reason, was not deemed non-profit). Those "entities" were not targeted under the legislation. Rather than amend the bill to ban the others, the right-wing provincial government decided to remove the bill altogether. Figures.
Oh, and be warned, there was some kind of legal loophole somewhere that allowed the use of proxy donations. One man enlisting others to donate his money to the political party of his choice, but not necessarily from him.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
You know, I think it'd be simpler if anyone was allowed to donate to anyone else, but every cantidate was required to reveal ALL of their financial information, everything taken in and given out, for the last, say, four years. That way we'd know exactly who donated what, and if we had a problem with it, well, we wouldn't vote for 'em, and the politicians wouldn't control who donated money to their adversaries.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
Ten years and you've got a deal.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
This would be a good idea, but if someone gave me $525,000.00 and asked that I donate $500,000.00 in my name to certain political groups and individuals then it wouldn't work. Well, for me it would...
Then you have the politics of the people that are running the data center, leaving out info, changing it... or, if each poli does it themselves you end up with the 'I don't recal' syndrom...
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
I believe the Republic of Ireland has banned political donations of all sorts and instead the government doles out the same amount of public money to every officially-recognized political party. Perhaps Grocka could correct me here. It certainly does seem to be the only way to get around Ritten's problem.
Posted by O Captain Mike Captain (Member # 709) on :
i also hear that when a candidate displeases them, they incinerate him or her in an explosion within their automobile. seems sound.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Go Ireland....
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
quote:Perhaps Grocka could correct me here.
I assume you meant me, the next time I leave Canada and travel to Ireland I will find out for you. As it stands right now you could probably get there faster than I could.
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
Erm, then, perhaps I am stupid.
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
quote: We've already limited contributions from individuals.
Next step, TOTALLY ban campaign contributions from any organization, NGO, Union, non-profit group, church, PAC, etc. If an entity can't vote, it can't donate.
Also ban individual contributions from any individual receiving the entirety of their salary from any governmental body (who is not a government employee.)
Ban contributions altogether, put the Bastards on TV for 30 minutes every night, for one year before the election. No comercials, equal time for each candidate to take about the subject of the day. (I would have said Du Jour if I knew how to spell it.)
We need new candidates. What the parties put up for president these days makes me laugh, while I really want to cry. If there was an election today, and the candidates were George W. Bush, Al Gore and a Badger, I'd vote for the badger. We would then have a chance of staying out of this war, and he would have more charm then Al Gore, and a better beard.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)