Durbin Asserts Campaign Finance Reform the Cure for What Ails D.C.

A recent report from the Center for Public Integrity shows that the 25 largest originators of subprime mortgages also spent more than $370 million over the last ten years lobbying the legislators in Washington to ease up on regulation that would have restrained the risky investment behavior that has resulted in the meltdown. And now, at least 21 of the 25 ventures are backed or owned by banks now receiving bailout money.

Bill Moyers talks with Senator Dick Durbin who describes the influence of lobbyists on Washington in this video. Earlier this year, Durbin authored a bill in which it would become easier for people facing foreclosure to renegotiate their loans. After 12 Democrats crossed the aisle to vote against it earlier this month, the amendment to the bill failed. Durbin, himself a beneficiary of those mighty lobbying dollars, has since come out swinging.

On a local radio station, Durbin said:

The banks — hard to believe in a time when we’re facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created — are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place.

Durbin also recently introduced a bi-partisan bill with Senator Arlen Specter to create a voluntary public financing system for members of both chambers of Congress. As he tells Bill Moyers on the JOURNAL: “I think that is a good move for our democracy, and it’s one which we ought to acknowledge is at the heart of many of the issues we face.”

Modeled after successful fair election bills of several states including Connecticut, Maine, Arizona, and North Carolina, the Fair Elections Now Act seeks to diminish corporate influence removing the need to go “dialing for dollars”.

Senators Durbin and Spector introduce Fair Elections Now Act on March 3, 2009
in this video

transcript of Moyers-Durbin show

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Durbin Asserts Campaign Finance Reform the Cure for What Ails D.C.

A recent report from the Center for Public Integrity shows that the 25 largest originators of subprime mortgages also spent more than $370 million over the last ten years lobbying the legislators in Washington to ease up on regulation that would have restrained the risky investment behavior that has resulted in the meltdown. And now, at least 21 of the 25 ventures are backed or owned by banks now receiving bailout money.

Bill Moyers talks with Senator Dick Durbin who describes the influence of lobbyists on Washington in this video. Earlier this year, Durbin authored a bill in which it would become easier for people facing foreclosure to renegotiate their loans. After 12 Democrats crossed the aisle to vote against it earlier this month, the amendment to the bill failed. Durbin, himself a beneficiary of those mighty lobbying dollars, has since come out swinging.

On a local radio station, Durbin said:

The banks — hard to believe in a time when we’re facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created — are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place.

Durbin also recently introduced a bi-partisan bill with Senator Arlen Specter to create a voluntary public financing system for members of both chambers of Congress. As he tells Bill Moyers on the JOURNAL: “I think that is a good move for our democracy, and it’s one which we ought to acknowledge is at the heart of many of the issues we face.”

Modeled after successful fair election bills of several states including Connecticut, Maine, Arizona, and North Carolina, the Fair Elections Now Act seeks to diminish corporate influence removing the need to go “dialing for dollars”.

Senators Durbin and Spector introduce Fair Elections Now Act on March 3, 2009
in this video

transcript of Moyers-Durbin show

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Supreme Court Divided Over Judicial Bias Case

The Supreme Court divided on familiar ideological grounds today when it confronted the question of whether a judge should recuse himself in a case where one of the parties spent millions of dollars supporting his election. This case out of West Virginia provides a stark example of why judges need scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal article previously posted on our blog had less detail, so we have posted this article in its place.

read more | digg story

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West Virginia Mountain Party Gubernatorial Candidate Shakes Up Two Party System

Special by Babette Hogan

updated version

The West Virginia Gubernatorial race is heating up – and it’s coal powered.

Jesse Johnson, the West Virginia Mountain Party’s candidate for Governor, matches up against the incumbent (d) Joe Manchin and (R)Senator Russ Weeks in this Public Broadcasting Debate.

Johnson is the only gubernatorial candidate of the three who is against the coal mining practice of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) and espouses a citizens’ extraction dividend, universal health care and free education, amongst other policies deemed unfriendly to big business. He was denied entry to the West Virginia Broadcast Assn., the first and most widely broadcast statewide debate, which pre-empted programming on three network channels. The WVBA defended their choice to exclude the third party candiate on the grounds that the Republican and Democrat were having a “private news event”. Published polls fail to indicate that the ballot qualified third party is even in the race, despite an overwhelming number of people being against MTR, according to a recent poll cited in the Charleston Gazette.

A discerning listener may notice that Johnson has to wait a rather long spell to be invited into the conversation between Governor Manchin, who is widely perceived as a “Dixiecrat” with several scandals floating around him, and pro-unborn life Weeks, who is willing to face up to Manchin, yet remains skeptical of progressive ideals. (Weeks likens Mountain Top Removal to an ” act of Mother Nature”, satisfied that eventually good things will come of MTR, like golf courses, shopping malls and developed communities.)

The first question asked of Johnson has nothing to do with policy, but reads, instead, like a third grade test of state emblems.

The host attempts a gotcha moment. “Could you name three people who you would appoint to Cabinet if you were actually to be elected Governor and why you would pick those people.” Johnson’s response, “I believe I probably could name three people, but if I’m not mistaken, you’re not supposed to be making those decision prior to the election and it’s against protocol and against the law in West Virginia.”

“Let me take another tack on that. Can you name three of the state cabinet posts?” Now, the video of this “debate” is not posted, only the audio, but if you could have seen it, as I had, you would have noticed how remarkably calm and polite Johnson remained in the face of his intelligence being insulted. Curtly after, the host reengages Weeks and Manchin in a policy question.

I was in the press conference room and the two local stations reporters mouths dropped with astonishishment when they heard the obvious bias of the reporter. However, this may not be entirely the host’s own prejudice. Manchin, as the self-appointed head of Public Broadcasting in West Virginia, does have some control.

Earlier in the day, while walking to a local breakfast diner past a park smattered with homeless people, I happened upon a church where a town car sat, a state trooper pacing outside. It was Sunday and service had started. I waited until the service and feast ended for the appearance of what I suspected would be Governor Manchin. Indeed, he did appear and when I approached him he set his face in a practiced friendly public performance smile. I asked him as he walked firmly to his polished coal black car, “Governor, what do you think about the recent report of vote switching in the early voting booths.” He marched sternly on with a grimacing smile, “You should go inside (the Church) and try some baklava.”

While I admit that addressing someone about politics after they have come out of Church might appear disrespectful, it wasn’t his church; he was just polticking. So, I ask again Governor, “Those machines that you bought when you were Secretary of State, doesn’t it concern you that they are apparently switching the vote?”

We had a chance to interview Manchin and Weeks after the debate, but both candidates refused. Manchin then cornered Johnson in one side of the room, keeping his back to us enforcing his view that MTR was essential. Weeks, wearing the soft silver new-born feet pin of a pro-lifer/anti-choicer, refused because of his concern that “environmentalists” misrepresent him.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

West Virginia Mountain Party Gubernatorial Candidate Shakes Up Two Party System

Special by Babette Hogan

updated version

The West Virginia Gubernatorial race is heating up – and it’s coal powered.

Jesse Johnson, the West Virginia Mountain Party’s candidate for Governor, matches up against the incumbent (d) Joe Manchin and (R)Senator Russ Weeks in this Public Broadcasting Debate.

Johnson is the only gubernatorial candidate of the three who is against the coal mining practice of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) and espouses a citizens’ extraction dividend, universal health care and free education, amongst other policies deemed unfriendly to big business. He was denied entry to the West Virginia Broadcast Assn., the first and most widely broadcast statewide debate, which pre-empted programming on three network channels. The WVBA defended their choice to exclude the third party candiate on the grounds that the Republican and Democrat were having a “private news event”. Published polls fail to indicate that the ballot qualified third party is even in the race, despite an overwhelming number of people being against MTR, according to a recent poll cited in the Charleston Gazette.

A discerning listener may notice that Johnson has to wait a rather long spell to be invited into the conversation between Governor Manchin, who is widely perceived as a “Dixiecrat” with several scandals floating around him, and pro-unborn life Weeks, who is willing to face up to Manchin, yet remains skeptical of progressive ideals. (Weeks likens Mountain Top Removal to an ” act of Mother Nature”, satisfied that eventually good things will come of MTR, like golf courses, shopping malls and developed communities.)

The first question asked of Johnson has nothing to do with policy, but reads, instead, like a third grade test of state emblems.

The host attempts a gotcha moment. “Could you name three people who you would appoint to Cabinet if you were actually to be elected Governor and why you would pick those people.” Johnson’s response, “I believe I probably could name three people, but if I’m not mistaken, you’re not supposed to be making those decision prior to the election and it’s against protocol and against the law in West Virginia.”

“Let me take another tack on that. Can you name three of the state cabinet posts?” Now, the video of this “debate” is not posted, only the audio, but if you could have seen it, as I had, you would have noticed how remarkably calm and polite Johnson remained in the face of his intelligence being insulted. Curtly after, the host reengages Weeks and Manchin in a policy question.

I was in the press conference room and the two local stations reporters mouths dropped with astonishishment when they heard the obvious bias of the reporter. However, this may not be entirely the host’s own prejudice. Manchin, as the self-appointed head of Public Broadcasting in West Virginia, does have some control.

Earlier in the day, while walking to a local breakfast diner past a park smattered with homeless people, I happened upon a church where a town car sat, a state trooper pacing outside. It was Sunday and service had started. I waited until the service and feast ended for the appearance of what I suspected would be Governor Manchin. Indeed, he did appear and when I approached him he set his face in a practiced friendly public performance smile. I asked him as he walked firmly to his polished coal black car, “Governor, what do you think about the recent report of vote switching in the early voting booths.” He marched sternly on with a grimacing smile, “You should go inside (the Church) and try some baklava.”

While I admit that addressing someone about politics after they have come out of Church might appear disrespectful, it wasn’t his church; he was just polticking. So, I ask again Governor, “Those machines that you bought when you were Secretary of State, doesn’t it concern you that they are apparently switching the vote?”

We had a chance to interview Manchin and Weeks after the debate, but both candidates refused. Manchin then cornered Johnson in one side of the room, keeping his back to us enforcing his view that MTR was essential. Weeks, wearing the soft silver new-born feet pin of a pro-lifer/anti-choicer, refused because of his concern that “environmentalists” misrepresent him.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

West Virginia Mountain Party Gubernatorial Candidate Shakes Up Two Party System

Special by Babette Hogan

updated version

The West Virginia Gubernatorial race is heating up – and it’s coal powered.

Jesse Johnson, the West Virginia Mountain Party’s candidate for Governor, matches up against the incumbent (d) Joe Manchin and (R)Senator Russ Weeks in this Public Broadcasting Debate.

Johnson is the only gubernatorial candidate of the three who is against the coal mining practice of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) and espouses a citizens’ extraction dividend, universal health care and free education, amongst other policies deemed unfriendly to big business. He was denied entry to the West Virginia Broadcast Assn., the first and most widely broadcast statewide debate, which pre-empted programming on three network channels. The WVBA defended their choice to exclude the third party candiate on the grounds that the Republican and Democrat were having a “private news event”. Published polls fail to indicate that the ballot qualified third party is even in the race, despite an overwhelming number of people being against MTR, according to a recent poll cited in the Charleston Gazette.

A discerning listener may notice that Johnson has to wait a rather long spell to be invited into the conversation between Governor Manchin, who is widely perceived as a “Dixiecrat” with several scandals floating around him, and pro-unborn life Weeks, who is willing to face up to Manchin, yet remains skeptical of progressive ideals. (Weeks likens Mountain Top Removal to an ” act of Mother Nature”, satisfied that eventually good things will come of MTR, like golf courses, shopping malls and developed communities.)

The first question asked of Johnson has nothing to do with policy, but reads, instead, like a third grade test of state emblems.

The host attempts a gotcha moment. “Could you name three people who you would appoint to Cabinet if you were actually to be elected Governor and why you would pick those people.” Johnson’s response, “I believe I probably could name three people, but if I’m not mistaken, you’re not supposed to be making those decision prior to the election and it’s against protocol and against the law in West Virginia.”

“Let me take another tack on that. Can you name three of the state cabinet posts?” Now, the video of this “debate” is not posted, only the audio, but if you could have seen it, as I had, you would have noticed how remarkably calm and polite Johnson remained in the face of his intelligence being insulted. Curtly after, the host reengages Weeks and Manchin in a policy question.

I was in the press conference room and the two local stations reporters mouths dropped with astonishishment when they heard the obvious bias of the reporter. However, this may not be entirely the host’s own prejudice. Manchin, as the self-appointed head of Public Broadcasting in West Virginia, does have some control.

Earlier in the day, while walking to a local breakfast diner past a park smattered with homeless people, I happened upon a church where a town car sat, a state trooper pacing outside. It was Sunday and service had started. I waited until the service and feast ended for the appearance of what I suspected would be Governor Manchin. Indeed, he did appear and when I approached him he set his face in a practiced friendly public performance smile. I asked him as he walked firmly to his polished coal black car, “Governor, what do you think about the recent report of vote switching in the early voting booths.” He marched sternly on with a grimacing smile, “You should go inside (the Church) and try some baklava.”

While I admit that addressing someone about politics after they have come out of Church might appear disrespectful, it wasn’t his church; he was just polticking. So, I ask again Governor, “Those machines that you bought when you were Secretary of State, doesn’t it concern you that they are apparently switching the vote?”

We had a chance to interview Manchin and Weeks after the debate, but both candidates refused. Manchin then cornered Johnson in one side of the room, keeping his back to us enforcing his view that MTR was essential. Weeks, wearing the soft silver new-born feet pin of a pro-lifer/anti-choicer, refused because of his concern that “environmentalists” misrepresent him.

McKinney Campaigns Through California

Cynthia McKinney Visits Fairfax, CA for Green Party Gathering from Polidoc on Vimeo.
Green Party Presidential Candidate, Cynthia McKinney, wrapped up a week of campaigning in California with a Bay Area visit over the weekend. She met with Bay Area Greens in bucolic Fairfax. The hosts, Larry Bragman and Lew Tremaine, mayor and city council member of Fairfax as well as , were proud to be hosting the town’s first Presidential candidate visit. It was a gorgeous day and McKinney supporters had come from all over the Bay Area to hear their candidate speak.

McKinney attended several events while in California, including a co-hosted evening with comedienne Roseanne Barr attended by Greens, 911 Truthers and hip-hop activists.

McKinney has grown as a Green, an identity that she wears with greater and greater certainty. Coy and cautious with the press, she had allowed us to interview her at a Green Party retreat more than a year and a half ago at which time, she was “just getting to know the Greens” from outside of Georgia. Now, having traveled all over the country (though not yet to every state), McKinney has noted the differences. She has also educated herself on the history of the United States Green Party, a somewhat complicated tale that exposes the difficulty of raising a third party in a winner-take-all system.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

McKinney Campaigns Through California

Green Party Presidential Candidate, Cynthia McKinney, wrapped up a week of campaigning in California with a Bay Area visit over the weekend. She met with Bay Area Greens in bucolic Fairfax. The hosts, Larry Bragman and Lew Tremaine, mayor and city council member of Fairfax as well as , were proud to be hosting the town’s first Presidential candidate visit. It was a gorgeous day and McKinney supporters had come from all over the Bay Area to hear their candidate speak.

McKinney attended several events while in California, including a co-hosted evening with comedienne Roseanne Barr attended by Greens, 911 Truthers and hip-hop activists.

McKinney has grown as a Green, an identity that she wears with greater and greater certainty. Coy and cautious with the press, she had allowed us to interview her at a Green Party retreat more than a year and a half ago at which time, she was “just getting to know the Greens” from outside of Georgia. Now, having traveled all over the country (though not yet to every state), McKinney has noted the differences. She has also educated herself on the history of the United States Green Party, a somewhat complicated tale that exposes the difficulty of raising a third party in a winner-take-all system.

McKinney Campaigns Through California

Cynthia McKinney Visits Fairfax, CA for Green Party Gathering from Polidoc on Vimeo.
Green Party Presidential Candidate, Cynthia McKinney, wrapped up a week of campaigning in California with a Bay Area visit over the weekend. She met with Bay Area Greens in bucolic Fairfax. The hosts, Larry Bragman and Lew Tremaine, mayor and city council member of Fairfax as well as , were proud to be hosting the town’s first Presidential candidate visit. It was a gorgeous day and McKinney supporters had come from all over the Bay Area to hear their candidate speak.

McKinney attended several events while in California, including a co-hosted evening with comedienne Roseanne Barr attended by Greens, 911 Truthers and hip-hop activists.

McKinney has grown as a Green, an identity that she wears with greater and greater certainty. Coy and cautious with the press, she had allowed us to interview her at a Green Party retreat more than a year and a half ago at which time, she was “just getting to know the Greens” from outside of Georgia. Now, having traveled all over the country (though not yet to every state), McKinney has noted the differences. She has also educated herself on the history of the United States Green Party, a somewhat complicated tale that exposes the difficulty of raising a third party in a winner-take-all system.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Green Party Convention Offers Opportunity to Assess Tactics

The Greens were hoisted into a fast growth plan in 2000 which they were not prepared to maintain after the election. That said, there has been remarkable organizational development in some states, Illinois, NY and Maine, chief amongst them; but these have grown out of local or state campaigns, not the Presidential.

I had a chance to film David Sirota the other week and in his new book,”the Uprising” he contends that progressive parties need to be looking to fusion as a way of building a third party – that historically, it’s impossible to simply create a party at the national level. He also suggests that we focus on economic issues as a fundamental link between diverse communities.

Fusion is a tough tact for Greens to take. Many of them wanted to have a “Green” candidate represent them in this election so that the party can stand out. However, the reality of the young organization and its fundraising mechanics is that they might still need to consider such choices because no rich, articulate and electorally ready angel that is a true green has adopted the Green Party and said, “I’ll run for President.”

At last year’s convention, there were a couple of Libertarians seeking the Green Party endorsement who promised that their fat coffers would carry them to the Presidency. One had even offered to fund our documentary – if we gave him control of it (LOL) ! Since then, their candidacies have shriveled on the Libertarian vine.

And if you doubt that a single rich person couldn’t organize and finance a national campaign, look at the well-backed Unity ‘08 effort. It smoldered away in 2007, despite money, media attention and organization. Even that coordination of ideas was too complicated a story for a soundbite addicted media to tell. Why write a thesis when the supermarket romance novella sells just as well.

The Green Party Convention begins in just two weeks. All of the Green Candidates will be feeding back lessons learned from this, the party’s second primary (first one in 2004 which was its own slice of party history). Don’t be mistaken, these candidates, will be looking at their own political futures with a new awareness of the demands of campaigning and the ability to raise funds. Some may return in 2012. Some might be much too busy/effective in their local and state politics to run a national campaign. I, for one hope the latter is the case because they are each wonderful humans with a passion for grassroots politics and we need people like that in our local and state offices NOW fighting for sustainable causes.

Whomever your candidate in this next election is, don’t hand her a Green towel – give her a real flag – with your insignia – to carry.