General Discussion

betsuni

(27,864 posts)

84. What do you think a lobbyist is? Al Franken will explain to you:

Thu Apr 24, 2025, 04:54 PM

Apr 24

"Campaign contributions don't buy votes. They buy access. It's why lobbyists write campaign checks. They're not bribes, they're grease. They enable those lobbyists to come to fund-raisers, where they get to talk to you while you're trying to remember their names. Gross, right? And it is! I hear from a lot of lobbyists. And yes, some of them are every bit as transactional as you're imagining. But others, often the more effective ones, are actually passionate about the issue they're representing. And while lobbying -- and all the money associated with it -- offers lots of opportunities for corruption, lobbying itself isn't inherently corrupt.

"Many lobbyists represent good causes, like solar energy or Alzheimer's research or a woman's reproductive rights. They may have donated to you not to buy your support going forward, but because you've been supporting their good cause all along. And often more than not, you're not meeting with them because of a check they wrote, but because you're on the same team. You're strategizing together on how to move the ball forward, and trading useful information about how to achieve a shared goal."

I guess the everyone's-corrupt-except-the-populist-savior fantasy is that all politicians begin as Lefty progressive liberals but lobbyists, wealthy donors, elites, billionaires, oligarchs force a few thousand dollars of campaign contributions into their pocket and then they have to be Republicans.

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DNC gives David Hogg an ultimatum [View all] RandySF Apr 24 OP

This shouldn't be necessary DFW Apr 24 #1

Agree. I absolutely despise Democratic circular firing squads -- for once in our lives, let MAGAGOP do it. Hekate Apr 24 #120

Good to hear. sheshe2 Apr 24 #2

Agreed, She! SheltieLover Apr 24 #9

The DNC must have poor judgment...Take Tulsi Gabbard as Vice Chair for example. lostnfound Apr 24 #27

Primarying a sitting Dem for one Hogg prefers is not smart and doesn't... brush Apr 24 #106

Hogg has grown to big for his britches Katnip. Apr 28 #164

Excellent Example roscoeroscoe Apr 28 #156

Go David jaymac Apr 24 #39

You can have no one but brilliant candidates wryter2000 Apr 24 #52

...and if he was assisting red dog candidates over progressives? LudwigPastorius Apr 24 #76

The Fact Remains - Far Left Dems Can Only Win in Deep Blue Districts Indykatie Apr 24 #82

Bernie's crowds DO translate to votes karynnj Apr 29 #170

We don't have to be listening to Schumer and Carvill to Disagree w Hogg on his strategy electric_blue68 Apr 25 #125

That is true! ShazzieB Apr 25 #144

Change required yankee87 Apr 25 #142

It is impossible to know if Bernie would have done better than HRC karynnj Apr 29 #169

Member of the DNC should NOT be taking sides in primaries LetMyPeopleVote Apr 24 #48

So AM I! TY, LMPV! Cha Apr 24 #100

Agreed. and isn't vice-chair Hogg collecting DNC pay on top of the 6-figure salary he gets from his PAC? brush Apr 28 #153

I am with Martin on this. I understand how Hogg feels True Blue American Apr 24 #3

business as usual for Democrats will be disastrous too Skittles Apr 24 #14

Absolutely! H2O Man Apr 24 #87

I don't completely disagree... electric_blue68 Apr 25 #127

THIS !! People don't understand we're not liked cause we're offering what people want just the last sane choice uponit7771 Apr 25 #135

Sherrod Brown called me, and I was surprised how local his focus was DFW Apr 24 #102

It is not good enough for someone to say, "I'm a progressive! I give the purity tests around here because betsuni Apr 24 #105

Indeed. I abandoned that stance before I was 20. DFW Apr 24 #114

I'd like to hear more about that... electric_blue68 Apr 25 #133

Some here seem to think that effectiveness in Washington is measured in numbers of people attending a rally in Idaho DFW Apr 25 #148

Getting rid of even a small part of our government Haggard Celine Apr 25 #134

And the motives of those who WOULD use a chainsaw are motives we have the right and duty to examine DFW Apr 25 #145

I love the workhorses who get real progress done, not the show horses. betsuni Apr 25 #140

Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now. DFW Apr 24 #115

Yes, Sherrod True Blue American Apr 25 #149

I believe that all incumbents should be challenged ... aggiesal Apr 24 #4

That's a good way of shooting ourselves in the foot. Challenging a good incumbent makes the R's work in the general pnwmom Apr 24 #10

Really? AOC challenged a (D) incumbent when she first ran and defeated him. Was that shooting our foot? ... aggiesal Apr 24 #73

We can thank Ted Kennedy's challenge of Jimmy Carter for Carter's loss to Ronald the actor Reagan. pnwmom Apr 24 #96

Well, that and Reagan's October Surprise. Chemical Bill Apr 24 #108

Wrong, Jimmy Carter did not lose because of Ted Kennedy's challenge, because Carter actually won in the Primary ... aggiesal Apr 24 #109

Of course Carter won the primary, that's why he could run against Reagan. But he'd spent the primary months having pnwmom Apr 24 #116

Sorry, but Ted Kennedy did not have this much power ... aggiesal Apr 24 #118

We'll never know. But we DO know that he fought Carter up to and including the convention, pnwmom Apr 24 #121

AOC's challenge didn't suck up Dem dollars that could have gone to defeat Republicans. JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 24 #107

My point was that AOC challenged another (D) incumbent. ... aggiesal Apr 24 #110

Not right now when The Stakes are TOO High! electric_blue68 Apr 25 #123

Yup, let's settle for second best, to regain the house with JV team. Got it. n/t aggiesal Apr 25 #124

Did you not read my Full post?.... electric_blue68 Apr 25 #126

Only the best play on the Varsity ... aggiesal Apr 28 #163

Not right now J-9 Apr 28 #159

With some Frosting on top. n/t aggiesal Apr 28 #162

The stakes weren't as high at that point. electric_blue68 Apr 25 #129

That's why you need the best, not the JV team. n/t aggiesal Apr 25 #146

In a deep blue district. We should not force out incumbents who've proven they can beat... brush Apr 28 #158

If the incumbent is not the best choice, hell yes they should be challenged, safe seat or not. ... aggiesal Apr 28 #161

Incumbent means they've proven they can beat republicans. brush Apr 29 #165

I'll agree that the incumbent proved he.could beat the (R) candidate during that election. ... aggiesal Apr 29 #167

But an unproven candidate who the unproven David Hogg wants can? brush Apr 29 #168

So this is about David Hogg. I never mentioned Hogg in any of my posts ... aggiesal Apr 29 #172

I'm mentioning Hogg because he's vice-chair of the DNC which is supposed to remain neutral... brush Apr 29 #173

Well I'm not vice chair of the DNC, so I don't have that problem ... aggiesal Apr 29 #174

Challenge those who have proven they can beat republicans. Got it. brush Apr 29 #175

Beating a (R) doesn't mean they can beat every (R). Got that? We're never going to agree on this subject. ... aggiesal Apr 29 #176

Got it. Replace them whit someone who hasn't. brush Apr 29 #177

If that's that kind of representation you want, someone that can just beat a (R), then have at it ... aggiesal Apr 29 #178

I'm talking about regaining the House majority to stop trump... brush Apr 29 #180

Stop stalking me. I told you we are never going to agree on this subject. ... aggiesal Apr 29 #182

Me stalking you? Seems the other way around to me. brush Apr 29 #183

This is the 3rd time I'm asking to stop replying to me. n/t aggiesal Apr 29 #184

Incumbents don't automatically receive the nomination. W_HAMILTON Apr 24 #13

No they don't, and candidates do challenge them in every election. JohnSJ Apr 24 #16

That is not true whopis01 Apr 24 #42

Are you saying that third party candidates don't challenge incumbents, because JohnSJ Apr 24 #46

No - I am not sure what you misread to give you that impression whopis01 Apr 24 #62

I thought it H2O Man Apr 24 #86

AOC wryter2000 Apr 24 #53

Did she have the support Mossfern Apr 24 #59

I don't believe so wryter2000 Apr 24 #75

No. H2O Man Apr 24 #88

I did not say it did not happen. whopis01 Apr 24 #63

Her platform JustAnotherGen Apr 24 #111

In many cases they do whopis01 Apr 24 #44

When the (D) party at the local level tell any challenging candidate ... aggiesal Apr 24 #47

I find that interesting because when a representative doesn't vote the party line they get attacked here MichMan Apr 24 #78

The way I see it, I expect my Representative to initiate legislation to benefit their constituency ... aggiesal Apr 24 #112

Please. Incumbents have proven they can win against repubiicans. brush Apr 28 #157

They are doing his career a good service by saving him from his Nixie Apr 24 #5

So it was fine to be biased before LostOne4Ever Apr 24 #6

Biased before? RandySF Apr 24 #8

From the excerpt: LostOne4Ever Apr 24 #11

I thought the rule change proposal came about because this is the first time a DNC official has stated that he intends WDLAL Apr 24 #37

When is the last time you donated to the DNC? W_HAMILTON Apr 24 #15

Back in 2024 LostOne4Ever Apr 24 #17

I have never done phone banking for a primary, only for the general election, and I never had to say JohnSJ Apr 24 #19

The phone banking I did was the general election LostOne4Ever Apr 24 #20

Were you calling from a list of people who were registered as Democrats from the previous JohnSJ Apr 24 #21

I think it was a combination LostOne4Ever Apr 24 #22

That was a challenging task for you then. We also left voice mails. I think the biggest problem with JohnSJ Apr 24 #23

I have thought the same thing LostOne4Ever Apr 24 #24

My hats off to you for your perseverance JohnSJ Apr 24 #68

Good on you! And you don't have to have a s a d to be nervous calling.... electric_blue68 Apr 25 #130

That's been my experience Mossfern Apr 24 #64

I have the same feeling Moss JohnSJ Apr 24 #69

Good. I remember when David Hogg pushing for gun legislation played the "both sides game", when JohnSJ Apr 24 #7

+1. Most people survived sudden traumatic events (e.g. shootings, accidents) because of sheer luck. dalton99a Apr 24 #38

Indeed, those are his only "credentials" Oopsie Daisy Apr 24 #50

Both sides? Did he really? Wasn't following closely. electric_blue68 Apr 25 #131

Why doesn't Hogg run for office himself ? JI7 Apr 24 #12

Exactly. Go beat a Republican before he lectures actual Nixie Apr 24 #18

Because that will take a lot of work. Patton French Apr 24 #33

He was too young to run for anything meaningful Polybius Apr 24 #74

Lots of seasoned politicians started out in state or local elected offices MichMan Apr 24 #79

True. ShazzieB Apr 24 #93

Wouldn't running for lower level office be helpful when running for higher office ? JI7 Apr 24 #117

I'm sure It can be helpful. ShazzieB Apr 25 #137

I'm talking about running now in the elections coming up JI7 Apr 25 #139

He could be planning to run, for all we know. ShazzieB Apr 25 #143

During this awful time we do not need anyone True Blue American Apr 28 #154

I don't find Hogg particularly meaningful Polybius Apr 24 #122

I was thinking that. Certainly meaningful to those local and State constituents! electric_blue68 Apr 25 #128

Yes, seems like funding would be no problem. betsuni Apr 24 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author ShazzieB Apr 24 #90

He may holding out until he's old enough to run for Congress. ShazzieB Apr 24 #91

It's a shame to see the firing squad approach on the Dem side flor-de-jasmim Apr 24 #25

Great phrase: "fertilizing a green lawn". yorkster Apr 24 #55

The party of the people allow people to decide. bucolic_frolic Apr 24 #26

Only those who vote decide. AOC won her first primary with 5% of the district voting DFW Apr 25 #147

Good point that people don't seem to remember or ignore. betsuni Apr 29 #166

Excellent Patton French Apr 24 #28

Good, I hope it works 😁 Meowmee Apr 24 #29

David Hogg is correct. Blue Full Moon Apr 24 #30

Those believing CTs about Status Quo Elite Establishment rigging primaries think Hogg is correct and betsuni Apr 24 #31

Yes. ShazzieB Apr 24 #92

Here we go again. Learning nothing. Rewarding status quo and not vision or boldness. Nanjeanne Apr 24 #32

"Safe blue seats" is the key phrase to me. Phoenix61 Apr 24 #34

We could do more if we instead focused on getting a majority and gaining control, no? Oopsie Daisy Apr 24 #72

The DNC will never get any money from me alarimer Apr 24 #35

Democrats don't rig elections, are not corrupted by corporations, lobbyists, donors. betsuni Apr 24 #45

According to Open Secrets..... IcyPeas Apr 24 #77

What do you think a lobbyist is? Al Franken will explain to you: betsuni Apr 24 #84

They Don't rig elections; that's absolutely true, but some may kowtow to corporations too much... electric_blue68 Apr 25 #132

Amen! comradebillyboy Apr 28 #155

I'm all for primaries, and in fact they are an essential feature of our Democracy. But I'm not for Hogg Scrivener7 Apr 24 #36

Good. Oopsie Daisy Apr 24 #40

The wisdom of time, age and experience I reckon GusBob Apr 24 #41

Yes. I want the DNC to find and field viable candidates in Republican-held districts. IL Dem Apr 24 #43

'David Hogg Has to Decide': Irate Democrats Want Hogg to End His Primary Gambit -- Or They Want Him Gone LetMyPeopleVote Apr 24 #49

Good. n/t wryter2000 Apr 24 #51

So dumb ibegurpard Apr 24 #54

Dissent is necessary in a democracy. Ping Tung Apr 24 #56

Hogg is being paid a salary by his pac LetMyPeopleVote Apr 24 #57

Yep I noticed that when I looked it up last week Meowmee Apr 24 #61

Those numbers look awful. Is that typical? Bonx Apr 24 #80

Those numbers are NOT typical LetMyPeopleVote Apr 24 #89

Bulldog78932701 is a MAGAt transphobic antivaxxer shitstirrer Celerity Apr 24 #94

Is the information on the PAC expenditures false? MichMan Apr 24 #101

Red herring. DUers do not need to post MAGAts as a source of information. Celerity Apr 24 #104

It wouldn't be the DNC if it wasn't doubling down on punching left nt Rob H. Apr 24 #58

Yep. Sky Jewels Apr 24 #66

If they were so unbiased themselves, we would have been talking about Senator Jeff Jackson's re election campaign ms liberty Apr 24 #60

Oh, FFS ... Sky Jewels Apr 24 #65

I totally support David Hogg... FarPoint Apr 24 #67

You could always donate to the PAC he runs called "Leaders We Deserve" MichMan Apr 24 #97

I think David Hogg should run for a congressional seat. MineralMan Apr 24 #70

Then we will continue to lose. Passages Apr 24 #71

Power sounds worried Sympthsical Apr 24 #81

Hogg is part of the elite Establishment now, the power. Up to him how to use it. betsuni Apr 24 #98

yup, they've got their big guns out Skittles Apr 24 #99

they have good reason to be Celerity Apr 24 #103

They're forever "working on our messaging" Sympthsical Apr 24 #113

Actual change? How about the Existential Differences Right Now between Republicans, and Democrats. electric_blue68 Apr 25 #138

I'm not the most liberal or progressive person there is Sympthsical Apr 25 #141

Ok, I can see the possibility in safe seriously blue districts. electric_blue68 Apr 28 #150

Dems always need to do more work, out reach etc but.... electric_blue68 Apr 25 #136

DNC Chair Ken Martin-Voters Should Pick their Candidates, Not Party Bosses LetMyPeopleVote Apr 24 #83

Here is more on money Hogg is being paid by his PAC and the fact that Hogg may be using DNC mailing lists LetMyPeopleVote Apr 24 #95

Good wildflowergardener Apr 24 #119

First we have to see if the change passes. SSJVegeta Apr 28 #151

I have problems with the DNC, Sneederbunk Apr 28 #152

Who needs David Hogg when we have the Justice Democrats primarying good Democrats? LetMyPeopleVote Apr 28 #160

Good. nt LexVegas Apr 29 #171

He's looking to springboard his carreer. This is not the time to be disruptive or in disarray. marble falls Apr 29 #179

If the voting body JustAnotherGen Apr 29 #181