Bob Moore
Thursday, June 16, 2005
A
friend of mine who is politically astute shared an idea with me the
other day that was a real laugher. We share an interest in politics and
NASCAR. He said that our congressmen and congresswomen should have to
wear a jumpsuit just like the NASCAR drivers with all of their sponsors
applied in conspicuous places. That way we could tell immediately who
was paying the money to influence that representative’s behavior. At
first I considered it a ridiculous idea but after consideration it did
not seem like it was too far fetched.
For instance, Michael
Waltrip absolutely will not go on camera without mentioning NAPA Auto
Parts. Jeff Gordon’s car and jumpsuit has a prominent DuPont logo and
he is drinking a Pepsi every time you see him. With Dale, Jr. it is
that big red BUD. NASCAR drivers are shameless about promoting their
sponsors and that is OK. At least, they are up front with who provides
the money and don't mind being seen hawking their products.
Our
Representatives and Senators could take a lesson from this. Admittedly
the decorum of those chambers may suffer but it could be worth it. For
instance, Joe Biden, the Senator from Delaware, could share Bobby
LaBonte’s green suit being that they share the same sponsor, MBNA, a
huge credit card operation. You may recall that legislation is pending
on a bill that would favor those lenders. He could share the rainbow
logo that is Jeff Gordon’s since DuPont, one of the chief employers in
his state, is one of his sponsors also. Tom DeLay, the majority leader,
could share a color scheme with Mark Martin who drives the VIAGRA Ford
since they share Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant. MBNA is also one of
his sponsors but the color scheme may not work. Maybe the aeronautics
industry could combine to form a sponsorship since both Boeing and
Lockheed Martin sponsor him. Of course, you can see that the majority
leader may be of use to companies who bid on giant Federal contracts.
Kit Bond, the Senator from Missouri, could share the company color
scheme and logo with Dale, Jr. since Anheuser-Busch is their chief
sponsor. My Congressman, Hal Rogers, chairs the Transportation
Subcommittee on Appropriations. He and Jason Lefler could share logos
and color schemes since FedEx, the package delivery concern, sponsors
them both. Perhaps he could have epaulets or something since the
transportation PAC is the largest contributor of its type to his
coffers. Apparently the types of sponsors that Democrats have do not
see the need to advertise on NASCAR. I have to say they are missing a
great opportunity to get the voting bloc of the NASCAR dads to pick up
on Goldman-Sachs and some heavy-duty lawyering firms or maybe they just
feel that is not their market.
Anyway, you can see the
possibilities. One look at your congressman could tell you whether or
not he is carrying the water for some corporate entity you do not share
his feelings for. In addition, it would drastically improve the color
in the otherwise drab chambers of the House and Senate. This need not
be limited to the upper echelons of government any more than
sponsorships are limited to the Cup division of NASCAR.
Any local
racer can carry a sponsorship such as the local steak house or a garage
somewhere. A local politician could wear the logo or advertisement for
a building contractor or road builder.
For some reason it seems
that politicians are not as willing to advertise who is providing the
money to sponsor them. However, I think this could be useful since the
Kentucky legislature has driven a spike through the heart of the
legislation that was designed to get the money out of our state
elections. Since they don’t think the public would be served by not
having big money finance the campaigns (they called it welfare for
politicians) perhaps they would not mind making it a bit easier for the
electorate to see who is providing the big money for the campaigns.
Yes,
it is a simple thing to go to opensecrets.org and find out who is
sponsoring your legislator but you’ve got to admit that wearing a
jumpsuit with the corporate logos would make the job a lot easier. I
don’t think we would have to worry about any one party having more
sponsors than the other since the money seems to be spread just about
everywhere. I know this seems a bit bizarre but try it on for size and
see how you feel about it tomorrow.
The Blogfrog is freelance writer Bob Moore--you can contact him at mrrfmoore@alltel
Famous quote applied to Katrina
...the true measure of our society and our civilisation is not how
rich, powerful or technologically advanced we are. Simply, it is how we
treat the weakest and most vulnerable among us."
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Darrell Whitchurch
Thursday, June 09, 2005
If
you saw my letter to the “Mountain Distress” Thursday you probably know
I was really pissed off at the United States Supreme Court when I wrote
it. I still am. But I am pleased to announce that I have had a number
of phone calls in support of medical use of marijuana. What bothers me
is most of these same people don’t understand the political connection
on this issue. Puritan Republicans + the Supreme Court = total control
of damn near everything. Too many don't see the States Rights issue as
important.
Now that I have officially outed myself as a pinko,
doper criminal I thought I might as well post the letter to the world
on the Internet. The only thing I would change in it is that I forgot
to mention all the folks who will want to sign up for radiation and
chemo just to enjoy a legal supply of grass.
Editor Mt Press
My
wife and I broke the law. And I would do it again. According to
Monday's Supreme Court ruling, when your body begins failing and you
are wasting away due to cancer, Tough Luck! My wife was unable to
tolerate any opiates, oxycontin made her violently nauseous, and we had
been to three different pain clinics without success. No appetite and
constant pain coupled with the knowledge that this time the Doctors are
right. You only have months left to live and the Supremes say, "Suck it
up - too bad, we will put you in jail if you use the drug suggested by
your General Practitioner and Oncologist."
After all, if we
allow seriously ill people to use this natural herb, others will fake
having a terminal disease. The fact that we were following our Doctor's
suggestion (they dare not actually prescribe it) in our own home and
were not operating a motor vehicle or in any way affecting anyone else
is immaterial to the Court. These guys claim to believe in States
Rights and they do, so long as they get to dictate 100% of the "rights"
for all of the States. Ten States have studied this issue in depth. Ten
States have put the question to the voters. Ten States were truly being
compassionate to those in pain.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the fine solid citizens who quietly dropped off
small ziplock bags of hope at our home when we needed them. Patricia
never smoked anything in her life. I found that by cooking it into
sauces and using it as a garnish, it did make a big difference in her
final weeks and days at home. Have you ever tried to push calories on
someone who has no interest in eating anything? Watching a loved one
melt away? Thanks to our friends who were there when we needed them.
And, yes, I would do it again.
FILIBUSTERS
50% of the U.S. Senate does not equal 50% of America
Soon, the battle will start over the next Supreme Court
appointment. Suppose President Bush nominates someone like Judge Joseph
Dredd.
Supreme Court nominees are confirmed in the Senate, where
every state has two senators, thus two votes. Say the two senators from
Wyoming (with smallest population) vote first in favor of Dredd. Keep
adding states by population until the tally equals a majority of the
American people.
Question: How many votes will it take to represent over 50 percent of the American people?: (a) 51, (b) 60, (c) 70, (d) 80?
Answer: They're all too low. You may need 83 senators before
hitting 50 percent of the U.S. population. Over half our people live in
just nine states - California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Georgia.
Today, it takes 60 votes for cloture to stop a filibuster. The
Republican majority under Sen. Bill Frist hopes to change the rules so
a simple majority of 51 senators can stop filibusters and get their way
on questionable judges.
If Frist's plan succeeds, Judge Dredd could be appointed to
the Supreme Court - for life - by a group of 51 senators who represent
only about 17 percent of the U.S. population.
That's unprecedented, radical and dangerous.
JIM ANDERSON
President, Sevier County Democratic Club
Gatlinburg
Published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel
A Proposed Progressive Position on Gun Control
By Josh Oakley
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