Cruisin' for bucks
Posted by Ron Harris at 8/23/2007 4:22 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Isn't it interesting how some of these politicians collect their money for campaigns (and other expenses!)? Take Rep. Don Young (R-AK) for instance. During 2005 when the transportation bill was working its way through congress, Young, the transportation committee chairman, took full advantage of his position in a trip throughout the USA picking up money everywhere he went. We've already written about the $10 million project on Coconut Road in Florida. He picked up a miserly $40,000.00 for that little effort. He picked up another $50,000.00 from Floridians - (you can be damned sure it wasn't from Florida voters, it was from special interest folks interested in what they could get out of the highway bill.)
Also in 2005, Wisconsin businessman Dennis Troha, his family, and associates gave $22,000 to Young. Troha owns a trucking company in Wisconsin and was interested in legislation that would benefit him and his trucking company. He got what he wanted but, he got a little more - a conviction for making illegal contributions to Democrats and Republicans alike. He is awaiting sentencing. Young has hired legal counsel (since Troha is reported to be cooperating with federal prosecutors) and is on record as having said that he doesn't remember ever meeting Troha. Notice that Young doesn't deny meeting Troha, just that he doesn't remember. Seems like all the crooks in D.C. have a memory problem. I guess they figure that at least they can't be accused of lying when they say "they don't remember..." There are those of us out here who would say that he's probably a fucking liar just like our esteemed attorney general.
Anyway, next on Young's road trip was the state of Arkansas where he gathered up $66,000 in the town of Pine Bluff and in return they got $72 million to extend Interstate 530. Then there was $35 million to widen the street leading to Wal-Mart's headquarters for which he was paid $14,000 from Wal-Mart's PAC. Whoops! Did I say "paid". gosh, golly darn, what I meant to say was it was a campaign contribution. After all, who would be more concerned in re-electing an Alaskan congressman than the good citizens of Arkansas.
Young appeared at a lunch in New Jersey to discuss the bill where he pointed out as how New Jersey was a vital transportation gateway to the entire country. Those grateful citizens promptly coughed up $29,500 in campaign contributions (bribes) and happily received 179 earmarks worth $550 million.
It's time the good voters of Alaska put this asshole out to pasture...
Also in 2005, Wisconsin businessman Dennis Troha, his family, and associates gave $22,000 to Young. Troha owns a trucking company in Wisconsin and was interested in legislation that would benefit him and his trucking company. He got what he wanted but, he got a little more - a conviction for making illegal contributions to Democrats and Republicans alike. He is awaiting sentencing. Young has hired legal counsel (since Troha is reported to be cooperating with federal prosecutors) and is on record as having said that he doesn't remember ever meeting Troha. Notice that Young doesn't deny meeting Troha, just that he doesn't remember. Seems like all the crooks in D.C. have a memory problem. I guess they figure that at least they can't be accused of lying when they say "they don't remember..." There are those of us out here who would say that he's probably a fucking liar just like our esteemed attorney general.
Anyway, next on Young's road trip was the state of Arkansas where he gathered up $66,000 in the town of Pine Bluff and in return they got $72 million to extend Interstate 530. Then there was $35 million to widen the street leading to Wal-Mart's headquarters for which he was paid $14,000 from Wal-Mart's PAC. Whoops! Did I say "paid". gosh, golly darn, what I meant to say was it was a campaign contribution. After all, who would be more concerned in re-electing an Alaskan congressman than the good citizens of Arkansas.
Young appeared at a lunch in New Jersey to discuss the bill where he pointed out as how New Jersey was a vital transportation gateway to the entire country. Those grateful citizens promptly coughed up $29,500 in campaign contributions (bribes) and happily received 179 earmarks worth $550 million.
It's time the good voters of Alaska put this asshole out to pasture...
Came to this site hoping for some honest "Fed up" people, All I'm seeing is a bunch of Bush (Republican) hating idiots... I take that back... Not idiots, I was in the wrong calling names, cause you do seem like you've done your homework, I apologize, however, at some point we need to remember that we are all AMERICANS!!!And remember that our president does NOT define us. We are all victims of this BULLSHIT political war.(Both partys are at fault)So what if you dont like Bush. Personaly I do. But what some people are trying to do is twist you'r dislike for Bush into a dislike of America...And thats wrong. I'm finished for now but I would love to continue this debate, Please feel free to contact me...MTC
Reply to this
This asshole also mucked up the federal race for a maglev system. After 2 years of project submissions, Pittsburgh and Baltimore-Washington projects came out on top and were the only two projects vying for the $90M in federal grant money set aside to assist in developing a viable maglev system. A year later, while the two front-runners are focusing on land grants, environmental impacts, etc., in comes an LA-Vegas proposal from out of nowhere. Guess why? This dickhead. So after 9 years this would-be leap in transportation technology is still sitting on blocks.
Reply to this
Let's face it folks, politicians are crooked by definition ... they lie when their lips move! Point is they have allowed corruption to penetrate every aspect of our society. Corruption (in other words committing acts that are against the law) is the biggest problem facing our nation ...bar nun. Corruption from corporate and from government has bankrupted our nation ... both the government and the people are so far in debt that there is no way out. We can talk all we want and we all can come up with an endless supply of examples but until we unite and make a forceful public presence nothing will change.
Right now we need A third party candidate. That candidate needs one plank in his platform ... he will instate a ZERO tolerance for corruption in our land. That candidate needs to run on a mandate, that is say to the people, "vote for this candidate as president if you want to send a message to congress (democrats and republicans alike) that you have had it with corruption and congress better clean house NOW or else."
We have concentrated so much wealth in the hands of so few (like corporate
CEO's) that there is not enough for the working class to live on. Case in point: The most wealthy one percent INCREASED their income by more than the entire bottom 20% makes. Case in point:
Three percent of the population controls 83% of the wealth in this country. TURN THAT AROUND ... 97% of the population is trying to live on 17% of the wealth!! Is it any wonder there isn't enough money to go around??
UNITE OR PERISH
Reply to this