I’m not for any lobbying group that doesn’t have a mission statement guiding its actions towards the demand for smaller government. I’m all for such groups that do.

Petitioning the government for redress of grievances is essential for representative democracy… my problem is that the redress of grievances amounts to little more than rent-seeking in far, far too many cases.

Perhaps social censure is the best way to deal with rent-seekers. Not telling them “you can’t do that” but “dude, you’re a friggin’ leech”.

So he’s probably doing the best thing here.

However, it’s risky for any politician who has been in Washington for more than a couple of days to badmouth lobbyists… because, if you’ve been in Washington for more than a couple of days, you’ve probably got a half-dozen ethics violations (AT LEAST!) and most of them involve lobbyists… I wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to bite him on the behind.

Not with the electorate, however… it’s not like lobbyists haven’t earned their reputations.

But if McCain wants to get stuff done, the lobbyists are, if anything, organized.

But I begin to ramble.

Currently- Quid Pro Quo, pay a little, gain a lot.

McCain-Quid Pro Quo NO!

Really what does it mean. I don’t blame McCain for using this tactic in the heat of campaign, but it is all nonsense. Republicans bashing “pork barrel” projects and “lobbyists” is akin to idiot liberals blaming corporations for everything.

Lobbying is very American and its a byproduct of free speech. Next time a conservative bashes lobbyist ask them if they are bashing the NRA for lobbying on behald of gun owners, pro-life groups for lobbying on behalf of the unborn, small business organizations for lobbying on behalf of lower taxes and less regulations.

The issue gets obfuscated by liberals in the press and hollywood. the average person just thinks is rich white guys making millions for oil, tobacco and insurance companies. All groups organize and lobby for their cause including those big bad corporations

Really what does it mean. I don’t blame McCain for using this tactic in the heat of campaign, but it is all nonsense. Republicans bashing “pork barrel” projects and “lobbyists” is akin to idiot liberals blaming corporations for everything.

Lobbying is very American and its a byproduct of free speech. Next time a conservative bashes lobbyist ask them if they are bashing the NRA for lobbying on behald of gun owners, pro-life groups for lobbying on behalf of the unborn, small business organizations for lobbying on behalf of lower taxes and less regulations.

The issue gets obfuscated by liberals in the press and hollywood. the average person just thinks is rich white guys making millions for oil, tobacco and insurance companies. All groups organize and lobby for their cause including those big bad corporations

Why is this on the front page of Redstate?

Boohoohoo, lobbyists are people too? That’s what you are whining about?

McCain is 100% right in what he said- that lobbyists know better than to bug him about their earmarks or special projects because they know he’d tell them to take a hike. I thought this was one thing that everybody liked about him (and Colburn).

I’m sorry your a bit offended by McCain’s candor, but I’m a bit offended by all the pork that gets doled out and the BS influence that lobbyists too often seem to exercise (e.g. the Bank of America lobbyists basically writing the mortgage bailout bill).

“But, with over 37,000 registered lobbyists in the Washington, DC area alone, I might have choosen different words.”

I wasn’t aware that DC was in play…

37000 lobbyists in DC? Gee it is not as if DC, MD, or NOVA would go for McCain anyway. If you are worried about the less than flattering depiction of lobbyist then maybe you should seek a more honorable profession such as playing piano in a whore house. Ah, umm, oh, now wait maybe the piano player isn’t enough of a change given that then being a lobbyist at the Capitol is so similar those whorehouse activities.

Then again, I don’t find ally lobbying bad — just those who lobby for positions contrary to my own.

Being pulled into the Keating five, as the lone Republican, and then athough found clean, by a Democrat led investigation no less, but not being removed from the investigation, again because the Dems needed to drag a Republican with them…. well then no wonder McCain dislikes lobbyists. Now I just wish he would stop referring to everyone as his friend. Friends do not pull you into scandals as their political cover stooge.

I would make a couple of changes to the current laws on lobbying. The biggest change I would make would be to make it impossible for any Member of Congress to act as a paid lobbyist EVER, after they’ve left office. I would also ban all family members, out to at least fourth or fifth cousins from ever lobbying for money. And I would make it a felony with a minimum mandatory 5 year sentence plus a minimum fine of ten times the money paid to the member or relative.

It isn’t the LOBBYING that’s the problem.

It’s the RESULTS of the lobbying that’s the problem.

In other words, if our government didn’t get involved in granting of monopolies, earmarking public funds to pet projects, interfering in the economy in all sorts of bad ways, and so on, then the lobbying itself isn’t much of a problem.

-TS

While it’s a granted that not all lobbyists are lobbying for bigger government, “lobbying” and “big government” are becoming more and more synonymous.

Listening to the American people is one thing… gladhanding career lobbyists is something else entirely.

I know, it limits the “true” will of the people, but so does the electoral college. I do think that this check on rampant pure democracy is needed to limit the careerness (my word) of politics. Government service was supposed be just that, government SERVICE - not access to the trough at the peoples’ expense. Let these people come in, do their thing and let them return from whilst they came. Another way to diminish their power is to expand the number of Representatives in Congress. As the population of this country grows, so does the relative power of each individual Rep. How does one Rep. honestly meet th needs of over 660,000 citizens? (I’d love to be educated on the historical aspect of this).

The bad 99% give the other 1% a bad name.