I like the fact that the article credits Congressional inaction as the reason why lobbyists aren't spending as much.

Good job Teatards, you're so hellbent on stopping anything President Black Muslim Hitler does that you can't even get bribed correctly.

but who monitors the monitor monitors?

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?


The monitor monitor monitors? Look, it's monitors all the way down.

Lobbyists are somewhere between something you scrape off your shoe and movie studio executives.

This thread is now being monitored.

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

The GEICO gecko.

*curls tiny tail around cretinbob's ankle*

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

The Merrimack?

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

The Monitors, of course.

/Think of it as a massive 69 of wrinkled old men

Any and all communication between lobbyists and members of Congress should be recorded public information

Someone called?

CygnusDarius: /Think of it as a massive 69 of wrinkled old men

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

The trace buster buster?

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?



Tied to a friend-or-foe image recognition program. Day 1 might be a little noisy on patrol on K Street, but it should quiet down after a week.

Monitors..



LOTS of monitors!

Is prostitution legal in D.C.?


/yes, yes it is.

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

Coast guard?

I like Monitor. I have always seen Cantor as more of a Merrimac kind of guy.



War of Northern Aggression, DERP!

The Martian Manhandler: [upload.wikimedia.org image 250x318]
Someone called?

Personally I am Anti Monitor.

A bullet and a gravestone?

DeltaPunch: CygnusDarius: /Think of it as a massive 69 of wrinkled old men

[lolsrus.freeiz.com image 400x402]

Breathe, dang you, breathe!!

Dahnkster:
War of Northern Aggression, DERP!

This home doesn't call 911?

What if he has a heart attack? Is he going to shoot the blockage out of his veins?

Dang. I was hoping it involved tranquilizer darts and GPS trackers.

Bag of Hammers: [chorpenning.files.wordpress.com image 600x528]

I can't believe we have to wait til March for a new season


//pats kittypie070 on the head

This is the litmus test: what does the rest of the world think about gun control? No other first world country has this culture of violence and the culture of guns.

But but but American Exceptionalism!

And thus continues the cycle of mass shootings.

coeyagi: This is the litmus test: what does the rest of the world think about gun control? No other first world country has this culture of violence and the culture of guns.

But but but American Exceptionalism!

And thus continues the cycle of mass shootings.

Whoops, wrong thread.

If this grassroots monitoring system doesn't stop politicians from accepting millions from businessmen that then make billions I'll be shocked

nyseattitude: Any and all communication between lobbyists and members of Congress should be recorded public information

But... but... how would congressmen get candid and unfettered advice??

coeyagi: coeyagi: This is the litmus test: what does the rest of the world think about gun control? No other first world country has this culture of violence and the culture of guns.

But but but American Exceptionalism!

And thus continues the cycle of mass shootings.

Whoops, wrong thread.

Actually, it kinda works. I don't think we'd weep over a mass shooting of lobbyists.

fusillade762: But... but... how would congressmen get candid and unfettered advice??

If you feel like it needs to be given in secrecy, maybe you'd better farking fetter that goddamn advice.

wildcardjack: coeyagi: coeyagi: This is the litmus test: what does the rest of the world think about gun control? No other first world country has this culture of violence and the culture of guns.

But but but American Exceptionalism!

And thus continues the cycle of mass shootings.

Whoops, wrong thread.

Actually, it kinda works. I don't think we'd weep over a mass shooting of lobbyists.

The problem isn't mass shootings. The problem is mass shooting of the wrong people. Lobbyists are one of the main reasons our elected officials don't give a shiat about what we (the voters) think. Second to lobbyiests is voters who don't have a problem with politicians who break their promises (which is most voters).

incendi: fusillade762: But... but... how would congressmen get candid and unfettered advice??

If you feel like it needs to be given in secrecy, maybe you'd better farking fetter that goddamn advice.

I was just parroting the old Executive Privilege excuse.

fusillade762: I was just parroting the old Executive Privilege excuse.

Oh, I know, that wasn't directed at you personally. That should be the standard response to anyone trying to pull that, though.

I for one, am shocked and appalled at this attempt to chill the free speech of America's Lobbyist-Patriots. These brave men and women who are only trying to give the best guidance that money can buy to under-compensated and over-worked public servants.

/I weep that I should live to see this day.
//Weep, I tell you

Mercutio74: Dahnkster:
War of Northern Aggression, DERP!

This home doesn't call 911?

What if he has a heart attack? Is he going to shoot the blockage out of his veins?


Here's hoping.

It's really farking disgusting when you don't even know the identities of the people surrounding your leaders...

Really goddamn creepy.

Mugato: Lobbyists are somewhere between something you scrape off your shoe and movie studio executives.

Hell even added a brand new 10th circle just for them:

OgreMagi: The problem isn't mass shootings. The problem is mass shooting of the wrong people. Lobbyists are one of the main reasons our elected officials don't give a shiat about what we (the voters) think. Second to lobbyiests is voters who don't have a problem with politicians who break their promises (which is most voters).

Yeah, see....if the shooter had opened up on K Street, would anyone really feel bad about it?

Or would they consider it a good start?

Spending and results track very well, to pronounce the obvious.

Some crushed, beaten and despondent part of me that doesn't want to totally give up on the idea that idealism can best well financed lies still lingers.

Then there is the mere existence of Mitch McConnell as a duly elected Senator and I realize we are doomed as a Country.

nyseattitude: Any and all communication between lobbyists and members of Congress should be recorded public information

This.

And if any of that information is hidden, there should be VERY hefty penalties.

serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

"'His Grace, His Excellency, The Duke of Ankh; Commander Sir Samuel Vimes"

/If only...

Jurodan: serial_crusher: but who monitors the monitor monitors?

"'His Grace, His Excellency, The Duke of Ankh; Commander Sir Samuel Vimes"

/If only...

If only you americans had someone like that in Washington DC.

nyseattitude: Any and all communication between lobbyists and members of Congress should be recorded public information

If you think that that's in any way easy, appropriate, or in any way a solution to the problem, you haven't the faintest idea how congress actually works.

Most communication is in meetings. Which don't usually last that long. Would you like all of them recorded? A transcript? Who's paying for the transcript? If raw video is fine, do you realize that watching the video would be more than a full time job? Congressmen and Senators don't just sit on the floor and ponder policy, their life is a living hell of meetings, more meetings, and begging on the phone for money (which most loathe). Many are with constituents about issues they're concerned about. They like those meetings, they're fun, and it's just about the only time they really get to talk about real policy with somebody who's not paid to express an opinion. But if you're from a state where constituents rarely make it to the hill, guess who you're meeting with? And since lobbyists are giving you money, you have to take the meeting. And you need the money, because our election system is so farked up.

Also, who are you defining as a lobbyist? A "registered lobbyist'? Yes, they're around, but a lot of the people doing lobbying on the hill don't fall into the legal definition for various, perfectly legitimate reasons. If you go to the Hill and meet your congressperson, that's lobbying. Is that gonna be covered?

Now, do you extend that requirement about meetings being recorded or put into transcript forms to staff? Most of the real work gets done on the staff level, after all, and they're taking a lot of meetings too. But that poses a real logistical challenge- there's not a lot of room in the congressional office buildings, so meeting rooms are constantly full. People take meetings in the cafeterias, courtyards, walking down corridors... How are you going to get the camera or stenographer around? And do you have any idea how many cameramen and stenographers you'd have to hire? Where's that budget coming from? You're talking about hiring a number of people roughly equivalent to the entire body of hill staff. Where are you going to put them? You'd need a few more massive buildings in the capital complex, and that land ain't cheap. The buildings also have to be built to pretty rigorous specifications- you're not talking about your average office building. Average office buildings don't have hardened areas that can protect you in case of military attack, nor do they have equipment in case of a chemical or biological attack scattered about in the corridors.

Easy and cheap answers make you think you've solved a problem, but the real world is much more complex.

Not gonna go into it now, but if you want a solution, it has to be structural in how we run and fund campaigns. Nothing less is gonna have any effect.

Oh hai guise! Did someone say something about a Monitor? Let me fire up my Interociter and see if I can help identify these Earthlings.

The Martian Manhandler: [themonitors]
Someone called?



Sees what you did there.

/Hot.