Tag Archives: lobbying

Jimmy Carter on the increasing partisanship in American politics, the separation of church and state, the power of lobbyists, and the prospect of Palestinian statehood

By Mark | September 17, 2011

A little while ago, someone in the comments section suggested that I watch Rachel Maddow’s interview with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. I’m watching it now, and finding it incredibly interesting. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Posted in energy, Media, Politics | Also tagged Billy Graham, budget deficit, Camp David Accord, campaign finance reform, Jimmy Carter, Middle East peace, moral majority, New Deal, Obama, Palestinian rights, Palestinian statehood, partisan politics, Rachel Maddow, religious right, Rick Perry, Ronald Reagan, separation of church and state, social security | 4 Comments

The Gang of Six are serving their corporate masters, who don’t, by the way, create jobs

By Mark | July 21, 2011

I’m tired, and the sweat is running off of me in tiny rivers. The house we live in, built over 150 years ago, does not have air conditioning. It’s never bothered me before, but, tonight, as I lay here in bed, with a red-hot laptop balanced across my mountainous belly, and my sweat pooling in […]

Posted in Corporate Crime, Economics, Politics, Rants | Also tagged Bernie Sanders, corporate profits, corporatocracy, deadly pet snacks, debt ceiling, Extreme Makeup Hoarders, Fortune 500, Gang of Six, Goldman Sachs, Good Morning America, job creation, Matt Taibbi, Paris Hilton, pet killing, pet snacks, sarcasm, State of the News Media, tax holiday, tax policy, tax repatriation, tax the rich, the sad state of journalism | 24 Comments

Celebrate yesterday’s trouncing by getting involved in Campaign Finance Reform

By Mark | November 3, 2010

I was in the midst of trying to cobble together a hopeful and constructive post of some kind, and failing miserably, when I received the following note from Lawrence Lessig, the co-founder of Fix Congress First. As it successfully accomplished what I could not, I thought that I’d steal it and pass it along. Just […]

Posted in Other, Politics, Rants | Also tagged campaign finance reform, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, election results, First Amendment, Fix Congress First, get the money out of Washington, How to get our Democracy Back, John Roberts, Lawrence Lessig, McCain-Feingold, money in politics, Obama, Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold, The Tyranny of Tiny Minds | 12 Comments

Why not cut the military budget?

By Mark | October 6, 2010

Fiscal responsibility seems to be all the rage these days. Or, at least that’s what Tea Partiers claim to be motivated by, right? They tell us that it’s high time that we get serious, tighten our belts, and cut “big government” to the bone, before the inevitable happens, and the country goes careening over the […]

Posted in Other, Politics | Also tagged Arthur Brooks, Bill Kristol, debt, defense spending, Ed Feulner, Joe Biden, military, military budget, Pledge to America, the cost of war, the desire to strangle Republicans | 21 Comments

Bike Ypsi Spring Ride: Sunday, May 2nd

By Mark | April 26, 2010

I had the occasion this weekend to talk with Andy Claydon and Natalie Holbrook from Bike Ypsi about the big Spring Ride event they’ve got planned for this coming Sunday. Here’s what was said: Mark: So, I hear you’ve got your big spring ride coming up. When is it, and what should people expect to […]