“Please help the Republican Party stop President Obama’s judicial nominees from rewriting the Constitution. Donate today!” the site says, calling for contributions of up to $1,000.
And that's what it's really all about: Donations.
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Defacing the U.S. Constitution should be a real winner for them. Even better than the fake census forms!
Marco Rubio was barely solvent as a young lawmaker climbing his way to the top post in the Florida House, but special interest donations and political perks allowed him to spend big money with little scrutiny.
About $600,000 in contributions was stowed in two inconspicuous political committees controlled by Rubio, now the Republican front-runner for the U.S. Senate, and his wife.
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald did a blow-by-blow analysis of Rubio's expenses and wow. A must-read. Here's a teaser:
• Rubio failed to disclose $34,000 in expenses — including $7,000 he paid himself — for one of the committees in 2003 and 2004, as required by state law.
• One committee paid relatives nearly $14,000 for what was incorrectly described to the IRS as "courier fees" and listed a nonexistent address for one of them. Another committee paid $5,700 to his wife, who was listed as the treasurer, much of it for "gas and meals."
• He billed more than $51,000 in unidentified "travel expenses'' to three different credit cards — nearly one-quarter of the committee's entire haul.
Federal law enforcement agencies have launched a criminal investigation into the use of American Express cards issued by the Republican Party of Florida to elected officials and staff, according to sources familiar with the inquiry.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Tallahassee, the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service are all involved in the inquiry, which grew out of the state investigation into former House Speaker Ray Sansom.
Oh, but it gets more interesting. Let's play a game. I shout, "Marco!", you answer, "Rubio!" every time you smell a scandal. Ready? Marco!
The IRS opened the so-called "primary'' investigation into Rubio, the leading Republican candidate for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat, and the two former state GOP officials to see if there's enough evidence to support a full-fledged criminal inquiry, according to a source familiar with the IRS examination.
Rubio!
One more time... Marco!
At this stage of the IRS investigation, agents are looking at federal tax records, state financial disclosure forms and other documents to see whether Rubio, Greer and Johnson may have personally benefited from using their GOP American Express cards without reporting or paying taxes on additional income.
Sen. John Ensign's re-election campaign took in just $50 in contributions, from one contributor, during the first quarter of 2010, according to FEC reports.
What does that say about the donor? We know what it says about Ensign's future.
The GOP has been awfully quiet about his little antics. They've also been quiet about what's in store for him, if anything. And remember Doug Hampton, Ensign's former top aide? And Dougie's wife, who had the affair with Ensign? And Ensign lining up lobbying work for Mrs. Hampton's husband? All those various and sundry allegations and nefarious activities?
By GottaLaff Karl Rove and some of his BushCo buddies are behind a new Republican political action committee called "American Crossroads". Why, it's like a reunion! Maybe they'll all wear name tags with old photos of themselves on them, and comment on how their old chums are bald now.
Class of 2001! Rah!
But that's not important now. What is important is that the RNC is getting a little jittery about it. Why? Because re$ources are getting siphoned off from them and into Rove's pot. And by pot I mean big fat hammy arms, not the kind one might smoke (although that might alleviate some of the stress). This isn't how Michael Steele wants to roll:
If Rove and his team do raise the cash they are boasting about, the RNC will run out of money and the old Bush team will be controlling the finances of the party, the official griped. That may leave top donors looking to American Crossroads and others instead of to the national party in future cycles.
"This is drawing [donors] away from the party and into something else, and its very formation is communicating to the donors nationally that there is no confidence in the Republican party," the former official said. He suggested this would allow the RNC's donor base to atrophy and put the next chairman in a position of needing to completely rebuild.
Oh goody. The nasty, thuggy, Bushie frat boys are back. Now I remember why I avoid reunions.
She was a 25-year-old junior staffer when the Florida Republican Party gave her an American Express card.
Over the next 2½ years, nearly $1.3 million in charges wound up on Melanie Phister's AmEx — $40,000 at a London hotel, and nearly $20,000 in plane tickets for indicted former House Speaker Ray Sansom, his wife and kids, for starters.Statements show thousands spent on jewelry, sporting goods and in one case $15,000 for what's listed as a month-long stay at a posh Miami Beach hotel, but which the party says was a forfeited deposit.
So much for all that "fiscal restraint" talk, huh? But hey, what's $1.3 mil between friends?
Even after a series of embarrassing revelations over profligate credit card spending by the likes of Republican U.S. Senate frontrunner Marco Rubio, Sansom and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon — and pending state and federal investigations of party finances — revelations of the huge charges on Phister's card had veteran GOP fundraisers apoplectic.
Apparently, legislators abused Phister's card, too, as well as their own. Weeee! It's a spending party for the party who says they hate spending!
Did I mention that political donors are livid?
"I can't believe it. Someone should be hanged for that," Mark Guzzetta, a Boca Raton developer who has raised millions of dollars for Republicans, said of the party allowing so much spending on a low-level staffer's card.
I bet Democrats are just as guilty though, right? No, more guilty. Guiltier than guilty. Isn't that what the Rushpublics always say?
And we all know the last thing any member of the GOP would ever suggest is emulating the Dems. That's Number One on their List-O'-Sins:
The Florida Democratic Party requires staffers and leaders to use their own credit cards and seek reimbursement for appropriate expenses. That's now the practice at the Florida Republican Party, and fundraiser Hoffman suggested it's about time.
By GottaLaff Michael Steele is toast. His sexcapades at the bondage-themed Voyeur club (that features topless dancers simulating sex acts), where he blew nearly two grand to hang with the who's who of voyeuritude, is getting blowback. (Fun with words!)
A California-based political consultant who charged the Republican National Committee nearly $2,000 for a night out at Voyeur - a risque West Hollywood nightclub now at center of the latest controversy surrounding RNC chairman Michael Steele - will return the money to the party, a committee spokesman told CNN Monday.
Erik Brown, president of the Orange County-based Dynamic Marketing, Inc., was re-imbursed in February for $1,946.25 worth of charges at the nightclub, according to the RNC's latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. [...]
Brown's firm, which also has an office in Washington, D.C., has done direct mail and consulting work for GOP candidates in California including Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, now a candidate for Senate, and Steve Poizner, the state Insurance Commissioner now running for governor.
Erik and Mikey are bff. Well, they're at least f:
In October, Brown tweeted: "Enjoying the football game with RNC Chairman Michael Steele. (Eagles vs Redskins at FedEx Field)."
Brown closed his Twitter account after the Voyeur story broke. His Gen Next page was also scrubbed. Sadly, I accidentally closed my tab while it was still up. But luckily, Democratic Underground copied the text and his photo (click on images to enlarge):
Erik Brown is Chief Executive Officer of DMI, Dynamic Marketing Inc. a direct marketing/media production company with offices in California and Washington DC. DMI provides services for corporations, political campaigns, issue advocacy groups, fundraising professionals, and various private concerns. Recipients of the prestigious AAPC Pollie Award in 2008, DMI’s portfolio includes work for notable candidates as well as a several prominent elected officials and public policy organizations.
A graduate of the University of California Irvine with a degree in Political Science, Erik has been an active member of The National Honor Society, Young Republicans, Friends of the NRA, Claremont Institute, and the Sheriff's Advisory Council. Apart from a passion for politics and a driving commitment to advocate on behalf of founding principles, Erik is a sportsman and a mentor to young athletes. As an ice hockey coach for over 12 years, his teams have won acclaim as State, District, and National Champions.
Erik is married to Alison Brown, a graduate of Chapman University and an MBA student at UCI’s Merage School of business. Alison has served as President of the Illuminating Engineers Society of Southern California, a mainstay of her industry. A former director of the Sunday school, Alison and Erik reside in Las Flores, California and are actively involved in the ministries of their local church.
The California blog Red County reported that the outing at Voyeur West Hollywood was an after-party for a number of young Republicans who attended a Young Eagles event that night at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Those would be the same under-40s who are pallin' around with Blackwater for a fundraiser in April. I wrote about that earlier here.
"Although the Commission may take further legal action, prompt action by you to refund, redesignate, and/or reattribute of the excessive amount will be taken into consideration.”
Among the complaints identified by the FEC, Bachmann had “one or more contributions that appear to exceed the limits set forth in the Act,” “incorrect values in the ‘Election Cycle-to-Date’ field,” “contributions from individuals for which the identification is not complete,” and the report “contains entries for contributions made by more than one person.”
Michele Bachmann, you've got some 'splainin' to do to those law and order Tea Tantrumers you pal around with.
Even as he was apologizing Monday for screaming “baby killer” during Sunday night’s health care debate, Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) was turning the moment into a campaign fundraiser.
So, class, the lesson we've learned from this is how to:
"I'm never going to quit speaking on behalf of the unborn," Neugebauer says in a Web video posted on his campaign Web site.
Referring to his outburst, the Republican also says, "And I will continue to speak with the same passion that I did last night, maybe with a little bit different form, but still with the same intensity."
The video is embedded on the Web page www.randyforcongress.com, just above large red button that says "Donate Today."
The above video is an example of what an ass looks like.
The Indiana Democratic Party announced Tuesday that it has received $1 million from Bayh's campaign committee -- money that party officials said would be used to help elect Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) as Bayh's successor.
Think of what all that money could be used for if we had real campaign finance regulation.
Oh, and thanks SCROTUS, for magically corporations into human beings. And they said it couldn't be done....
Virginia consumer-protection officials have issued a warning letter to the wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, saying that her advocacy group is improperly soliciting contributions in the state.
Ruh roh! No free advice from the hubby about how to avoid the long arm of the law?
In a letter sent to Virginia Thomas on Thursday, the Office of Consumer Affairs directed Liberty Central Inc. to the Virginia law that requires groups to register with the office or request an exemption before seeking donations for a charitable purpose.
Now wouldn't you think she would have known that, being that she shares quarters with Mr. Legal and all? Or maybe they limit their convos to Coke cans and stuff. (Bygones)
Soliciting donations for a charitable purpose without registering with the Office of Consumers Affairs could result in fines of up to $5,000 for each violation, the letter said. Wright said it was not unusual for a group to be unaware of the Virginia law.
Even a Supreme Court Justice's spouse's group? Wouldn't they be extra double super duper special cautious?
Then again, Tea Tantrumers tend to blame others for their little oopsies:
"Although we're just getting started, we're already under attack from the left and its allies in the liberal media!" the e-mail said, noting The Times' story.
According to the invitation, attendees at the April 7 event in Minneapolis are asked to spend $500 per person for attendance at the General Reception and Dinner; $5,000 for a table of ten; and $10,000 per couple for a "Private Reception with Photo Opportunity. (Included in the latter is a table for ten as well).
A bargain at twice the price! After all, who wouldn't want to lose their appetite at a very special fancy schmancy Minnesota-Bachmann Victory Committee gala while feasting their eyes on Batty McCrazyEyes and Corrupta McWTF? Bonus photo included!
All for a measly ten grand!
Hey Tea Tantrumers and Palin/Bachmann fans, imagine all the people without health insurance dying... dying because they can't afford to buy their way to a higher life expectancy, wishing they too had scads of spare cash to blow on pricey photo ops.
Those would be the very same people who the Loon Rangers care nothing about, which Batty proved today at the "Code Red Kill the Bill Rally".
Kill. Nice choice of words.
That's right, attendees, as you pose with Batty and Corrupta, think of this person:
Why what have we here? Marco! Polo! Keep waving that flag!
Ahem, calling all Marco Rubio opponents: Code Red:
Marco Rubio was barely solvent as a young lawmaker climbing his way to the top post in the Florida House, but special interest donations and political perks allowed him to spend big money with little scrutiny.
About $600,000 in contributions was stowed in two inconspicuous political committees controlled by Rubio, now the Republican front-runner for the U.S. Senate, and his wife.
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald did a blow-by-blow analysis of Rubio's expenses and wow. A must-read. Here's a teaser:
• Rubio failed to disclose $34,000 in expenses — including $7,000 he paid himself — for one of the committees in 2003 and 2004, as required by state law.
• One committee paid relatives nearly $14,000 for what was incorrectly described to the IRS as "courier fees" and listed a nonexistent address for one of them. Another committee paid $5,700 to his wife, who was listed as the treasurer, much of it for "gas and meals."
• He billed more than $51,000 in unidentified "travel expenses'' to three different credit cards — nearly one-quarter of the committee's entire haul.
Ouch, this is painful. But in a good way.
Rubio's high-roller political spending belies his image as an outsider riding a wave of antiestablishment fervor and gunning to knock off Gov. Charlie Crist for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination. A Times/Herald review of other legislators' committees shows they typically contributed far more to other candidates and reported vastly fewer credit card payments.
This can't end well, I just know it.
Campaign adviser Todd Harris:
"Marco put his on a credit card and the other guys put theirs on a debit card. So sue us."
Sarah's old Twitter account "AKGovSarahPalin" has been deleted, but after she resigned, Palingates made a complete PDF-copy of it.
AK is the place to invest. 15 new oil & gas explorers rcvd $193M cash from State for their tax credits in FY09. http://tinyurl.com/l2y68b 10:50 AM Jul 12th from web
All the above SarahPac donors have connections with the gas and oil industry. [...]
No one has been able to find a list of the 15 new oil and gas explorers who were the recipients of these $193 million dollars. [...]
There may be no connection whatsoever to those companies or people in Giddings, but there are so many coincidences... the timing of Sarah Palin's visit to Giddings, Texas, all the donations to SarahPac on June 13 and this lovely tax break for 15 new investors...
Sarah Palin doesn't believe in coincidences...
That was a sample of what Palingates has documented. Please go read the rest here.
A new report from the Center for Responsive Politics estimates that this year's midterm elections will cost at least $3.7 billion -- about 30% more than four years ago.
Major caveat: The estimate does not include how much money could come directly from corporations, unions, trade associations or other interest groups stemming from the recent Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited contributions.
But we can't afford health care reform.
One more time: It's Freedom of Speech, not Freedom to Spend.
A leading organizer of the National Tea Party Convention here announced the launch of the Memphis-based Ensuring Liberty Corporation, a political outfit that will include a political action committee to help fund candidates supported by Tea Party activists. [...]
Scoda said the group intends to target House and Senate races this November, in particular the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, as well as House races in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. [...]
He said the PAC will seek out small donors and will accept corporate donations—which may not sit well with some of the movement’s activists. He also offered a bold prediction: “I think we can raise $10 million this year.” Ensuring Liberty will also partner with California-based Win by Cell, which helps candidates and movements organize and raise money from supports through their cell phones.
He claims he's not into that whole third party thing, and wants to work with the GOP. That would be the same GOP that's so enamored with big, fat, wealthy, enormous, now-officially-people corporations. Hence, the expected infusion of cash to the tune of $10,000,000.
Ten million? Really? Those are some high expectations.
He sure couldn't get that from a few thousand costumed Tea Tantruming grassrooters:
"We will all give Sarah Palin a kiss." He also wants to "rejoice, encourage the dissolution of this tyrannical government and kick them all in the butt in 2010. What say ye?"
Ye say, "You betcha."
"It ain't no tea cup," said the wise Tea Bagger of his new megaphone.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
The Wall Street Journalreports today that "Republicans are stepping up their campaign to win donations from Wall Street, trying to capitalize on an increasing sense of regret among executives at big financial institutions for backing Democrats in 2008." [...]
Last week, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio made a pitch to Democratic contributor James Dimon, the chairman and chief executive of J.P. Morgan, over drinks at a Capitol Hill restaurant, according to people familiar with the matter.
Mr. Boehner told Mr. Dimon congressional Republicans had stood up to Mr. Obama's efforts to curb pay and impose new regulations. The Republican leader also said he was disappointed many on Wall Street continue to donate their money to Democrats, according to the people familiar with the matter.
The Boehner foots the bill for a couple of drinks and expects a few million in return... and his bait to Wall Street is that the Democrats are trying to fix the gargantuan problems that the Rushpublics jammed down our throats for 8 endless years.
His solution? Go right back to BushCo's methods and recreate the worst recession in decades.
That must be what he means when he says the GOP has a plan of their own.
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