The system is totally diseased.

[Dr.Phool]

I've said it myself, after a congressional run, that the best qualification for public office is to be a effective telemarketer. There's nothing I hated more than begging people for money. I'm managing a congressional campaign now, and I have to force my candidate to spend hours, upon hours every day begging for money.

It doesn't stop there. Walk past the Capitol building in Washington, and you'll see all these people sitting on the park benches talking on cell phones. These are Congresspersons raising funds for their next run.

Then, along comes this article in the Post. Seems even some of the lobbyists are getting tired of it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/11/AR2005091101084_pf.html


Frederick L. Webber, a longtime denizen of Washington's lobbying corridor, showed up at work one day last week and found on his desk a dozen fundraising requests from members of Congress.

He threw them all in the trash.

In a self-described epiphany, Webber, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, drafted a large check to help families displaced by Hurricane Katrina and decided that an imperative of his vocation -- political giving -- had finally gone too far.

How could lawmakers be asking for money for their reelections, he asked himself, when thousands of Americans were desperate for aid along the Gulf Coast?

"It really hit home when I was writing out that check," Webber said. "Political fundraising in this town has gotten out of control."

It's a message he was repeating passionately at lunches and in private conversations with other lobbyists all over town last week.

(snip) much more.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. There is but one answer to this very real problem ........

Federally funded campaigns.

FULLY federally funded campaigns.

Take one nickel from anyone and Go To Jail.

Period.

[Dr.Phool]

2. I agree

If people think it would cost too much to publicly fund campaigns, just look at that last highway bill, and see what donation driven campaigns cost them.

[FormerDittoHead]

3. One more thing... ELIMINATION OF THINK TANKS

Elimination of these TAX DEDUCTABLE(!) "think tanks" which are nothing more than political spin machines should be 2nd on the list.

It's OBSCENE to think that billionaires are REDUCING THEIR TAXES while financing the very political machine which promises to reduce their taxes!

I believe in freedom of speech - if someone, even a billionaire, wants to pay the price to express their political views, fine. But they don't get to write it off their taxes!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Here's something to chew on ... would you give up some free speech ....

... in return for fair campaigns?

That's the argument against the think tanks and the 527s, etc.

Is this a slipery slope?

A big part of me wants to see a specific, focused limitation on 'free speech' in campaigns.

That and disclosure. When guys like Cliff May come out and give only the name of their employer, that's very misleading. Groups that sound really nice, like, say, 'People For All That Is Good and Right In America and We Kiss Puppies' can be anything from Hari Krishnas to Neo Nazis. Disclosure needs to indicate what side one is yammering for. Clearly. So there's no mistake.

[FormerDittoHead]

5. I was focusing on the tax deductability...

They can have as many think tanks if they want, but our tax code is clear, political contributions / speech is NOT tax deductable!

Think Tanks are a loophole, pretending to be come kind of academic / educational thingy but that bullshit. It's politcal pure, plain and simple.

Say whatever you want, but you don't get to write off political speech off of your taxes.

[M155Y_A1CH]

6. No way

Better, we have clear and effective liable laws.
I've never understood how political campaigns go scott free when they lie and defame their opponents. Often there is overwhelming proof that they lied????