Squeaky Clean in Oil

Sarah Palin's Lobbyists

Palin may not yet be as notorious as the influence peddlers in Washington, but she’s working to fit right in. She’s surrounded herself with associates of Jack Abramoff and Ted Stevens—some of the biggest names in the corruption game—and scored huge pork for Alaska in the process. With cronies like those, Sarah Palin and John McCain have a lot in common.
Palin didn’t buck Alaska’s Republican culture of corruption, she hired it.

Lobbyist Hired By Palin Secured $27 Million In Federal Earmarks for 6,700-Person Town.

“Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group…As mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh—an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska's most senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts. The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm…According to a review of congressional spending by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan watchdog group in Washington, Wasilla did not receive any federal earmarks in the first few years of Palin's tenure. Senate records show that Silver's firm began working for Palin in early 2000, just as federal money began flowing…All told, Wasilla benefited from $26.9 million in earmarks in Palin's final four years in office. ‘She certainly wasn't shy about putting the old-boy network to use to bring home millions of dollars,’ said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. ‘She's a little more savvy to the ways of Washington than she's let on.’

Lobbyist Hired By Palin Was Part of “Team Abramoff.”

“According to Senate lobbying disclosure reports examined by TPMmuckraker, from 2002 to 2004 Silver listed as a client Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig. On Greenberg's behalf, Silver lobbied the federal government on ‘issues relating to Indian/Native American policy,’ ‘exploration for oil and gas’ and ‘legislation relating to gaming issues’ -- the very issues that Abramoff headed up for Greenberg at the time. In other words, Silver appears to have been a part of ‘Team Abramoff.’ Indeed, one specific bill that Silver lobbied on for Greenberg, according to the forms, was S.627, also known as the Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. A former Greenberg lobbyist confirmed to TPMmuckraker that Silver would have been working to oppose the bill. And it was an earlier version of this very bill that Abramoff famously worked to spike, with the support of Christian conservative leaders Lou Sheldon and Ralph Reed.” [Talking Points Memo, 9/2/08]
Lobbyist Hired By Palin Called A Member of Ted Stevens And Don Young’s “Inner Circle” And His Firm “Became Ensnared In The Wide-Ranging Federal Investigation Of Corruption By Alaska Republican Officials.”
In hiring Silver, Wasilla found someone who was a member of each lawmaker's inner circle. Silver has donated at least $11,400 to Stevens's political committees and $10,000 to Young's reelection committee in the past decade, according to Federal Election Commission records. Sliver's firm employed Stevens's son, Ben Stevens, in the late 1990s as a federal lobbyist, according to multiple media accounts. Ben Stevens was not listed on lobbying disclosure forms as having worked on Wasilla earmarks. The firm became ensnared in the wide-ranging federal investigation of corruption by Alaska Republican officials. Federal agents reviewed records about its other municipal clients, as well as fishing companies represented by Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh that were close to Ben Stevens.” [Washington Post, 9/2/08]

Palin’s $27 Million in Earmarks For Wasilla Came While Ted Stevens Was Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee.
“The Palin earmarks came when Stevens was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Young was a senior member of the House transportation committee.” [Washington Post, 9/2/08]
Blatant cronyism won Palin’s lobbyist friends top positions—Sound familiar?
Palin Appointed Lobbyist for the Fishing Industry as Her Fisheries-Policy Adviser.
“She appointed Cora Crome as her fisheries-policy adviser—a very powerful post in a state where fishing is a major industry. Crome formerly worked for the United Fishermen of Alaska, an industry lobbying group, and was married to a commercial fisherman who made more than $600,000 in 2006. (They are divorced; a McCain aide, who didn't want to be identified discussing personal matters, says the divorce occurred before she joined the Palin administration.) In a brief conversation, Crome said she was in a meeting and didn't have time to comment; the McCain campaign declined to comment.” [Newsweek, 9/6/08]
Palin “Counting on Her Lieutenant Governor Candidate… Former Oil Lobbyist” to Help Win Oil Industry Support.
“The defiantly grass-roots nature of the campaign may have distanced her from certain traditional centers of power in Alaska. The oil industry is one -- but the campaign says it is counting on her lieutenant governor candidate, [Sean] Parnell, a former oil lobbyist and legislator, to help there.” [Anchorage Daily News, 10/24/06]
Oil and energy lobbyists fueled Palin’s rise
Palin Took $17,675 From 33 Different Lobbyists During Her 2006 Campaign for Governor. For her 2006 campaign for Governor, took $17,675 in contributions from 33 different lobbyists. [Alaska Public Office Commission]
Palin Took $13,000 from Lobbyists Representing the Oil Industry in Her 2006 Campaign for Governor.
The lobbyists who donated to her campaign represent a range of industries, including oil and gas, tobacco, education and the Native Alaskan community. "She's fought oil companies and party bosses and do-nothing bureaucrats and anyone who puts their interests before the interests of the people she swore an oath to serve," Mr. McCain said Friday at an Ohio rally to introduce her as his running mate. But since Mrs. Palin leads a major oil-producing state, that industry is one of her top donors. She collected nearly $13,000 from lobbyists who represent oil and gas industries in her primary and general campaigns, according a review of her campaign donations and 2006 registered state lobbyists. [Washington Times, September 1, 2008]

The Corsi "Con"

Well! you must be the envy of the entire literary community. Imagine little "Jerome" getting the heads up on all those stuffy Pulitzer prize winning journalists like Schmidt, Grimaldi and Jeff Smith. Oh, surely you had an inside track on this one. Must have been an old fraternity brother of Barack Obama. Perhaps you attended Harvard together. But let's face it, kudos to you Jerome. Really, we are all so envious of all the time you got to spent with Barack and his family, the Sunday night dinners, maybe an interview or two with Michelle and the girls. Alright I admit it I'm green with jealousy. Did you hop on your plane and go to Hawaii to see his grandparents, Madelyn and Stanley Dunham? Of course they told you all the wonderful qualities of the Senator of which so many found their way into your book. Grandparents are like that, yea they are. I don't envy you all the long, grueling hours you must have spent in the Library of Congress getting all those important details correct with the proper sources attached. For me I especially loved the chapter you dedicated to Barack's grandfather, a Kansas oil worker who, after the Pearl Harbour attack, march across Europe with Patton's Army. Because of your own heroic military career we all know how much you wanted to honor a fellow Veteran. Of course your many trips to Kenya to see where Barack's father was born and raised, and your trips to Jakarta to visit the school where Barack started his education, convinced me that your depiction of the Senator from Illinois would be a truly objective and fair. I know you spent hundreds of hours interviewing those lower income families from south Chicago, where Barack worked as a community organizer. We only HOPE you didn't have to go it alone. It must have been a bit easier for you interviewing the law firm of Miner, Barhill and Galland, where Barack practiced civil law. I'm sure many of Barack's students came forward to testify on his behalf from the University of Chicago Law School.

We all know how much you wanted to debunk the lies spread by Fox Fake News that Barack went to a Madrassa and was a Muslim. All America knows of your unfavorable views on the lies spread by Hannity, O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and the like. I understand Jerome, I may call you Jerome might-en I, that it is very smart of you to keep your so-called Fox Friends close. You cunning old fox you, keeping an eye on your enemies while pretending they are your friends.

Just be very careful of the old fellow Murdock, I hear he more than likes Obama. Don't want to get on that guy's hit list now, do we?

Listen Jerome, I know that your book debuted at # 1 and well gee isn't that just super, but don't be too concerned about the rumors. What rumors? Well it seems that "someone" has been buying your book in bulk form and storing it in warehouses all across the country. Now whether it is a Republican who thinks this book will do more harm than good, since the reviews have been lukewarm at best or it could be someone who is giving it out as free door prizes. I bet I know the truth, it's probably those lower income families on the south side of Chicago, who plan on using it for firewood this winter, since the cost of oil is sky high since Bush/McCain and the Republicans have been running the country.....never mind little Jerome it's the attempt that counts.

The Word According to McCain

Dateline: May 16th, 2008 John McCain is a guest on Fox News Hannity Show. McCain states he would only cut taxes and would never, never raise taxes. Hannity asked McCain "NEVER", and McCain replies "NEVER"

Dateline: July 7th, 2008 John McCain at a Denver Town hall Meeting. Senator Obama will raise all your taxes, but I promise you my friends, I will never, never raise your taxes. My friends, I promise you this.


Dateline: July 29, 2008 McCain changes his mind (flip-flops) so to speak and announces that he will raise payroll taxes on Social Security, despite the angry rebukes from his own Republican Colleagues.

OK, let's not panic, stay calm, breath. The possibilities are as follows.

1. He lied to Hannity at Fox News.

2. He didn't remember what he told Hannity.

3. He didn't want Denver to know he was raising the payroll tax.

4. He knew his fellow GOP would be _issed.

5. He knows the people will be pis_ed.

Dateline: January 4, 2008. Derry, New Hampshire Town Hall Meeting

Question. Bush says 50 years in Iraq, true?

McCain. Make that a hundred. Look we been in Korea 50 years. And in

Japan for sixty years, so why not 100 years in Iraq.

Dateline: January 25, 2008 CNN interview: Situation Room

Wolf Blitzer: The Iraq government has embraced Obama's time table of 16 months.

McCain: Malki says it's a pretty good time table. He then added "it's a pretty good time table based on ground conditions.

What did He say?

John McCain just went from 100 years to 16 month, based on ground conditions.

Let's take stock here.

According the videos posted at the beginning of the article.

John has flip- flopped on Gay Marriage, Ethanol, No Taxes Increases, Iraq War Time line. We know if elected the Republicans will not improve Veteran's Benefits, Health Care will fall by the wayside, Education will continued to flounder, Infrastructure will continue to deteriorate, the rich will again get the tax breaks, the middle class will not. Jobs will continue to leave the United States for Columbia and Mexico because of unprotected Free Trade Agreements, Our Seniors will continue to suffer and our economy will stay in the toilet right where President Bush put it.

Don't you just love politics.

Hey Senator Surge

Time for a little "truth" telling Senator Surge. For the last several months we have been listening to you saturate the airwaves with nonsense that you and you alone can protect this nation.


While, you have taken sole credit for the "surge" in Iraq you have failed to realize that the downturn of violence in Iraq has lead to an increase of violence in Afghanistan.


Indeed, in the last two months there have been more deaths in Afghanistan than in Iraq. It is widely known amongst coalition forces that Al-Qaeda is now in Afghanistan providing logistics and financing to the Taliban. Several days ago nine US soldiers were killed and fifteen others were wounded when the Taliban attached a US forward base in Kunar province. Insurgents in Pakistan are crossing the border into Afghanistan to join the fighting. That's the Afghan/Pakistan border, not the Iraq/Pakistan border as you wrongly asserted on Good Morning America. In order to secure a border you must first know where said border is. Senator Obama has been calling for reinforcements for Afghanistan for the last sixteen months. You on the other hand waited until a progress report on the security and stability in Afghanistan went to the Congress several weeks ago. It was only at this point that you considered more troops were needed in Afghanistan. Michael E. O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institute and the International Crisis Group's joint study on terrorism have described Afghanistan as extremely volatile. My friend, my friend if you had attended even one committee meeting on Afghanistan you would have realized months ago the deteriorating state of this forgotten war. Of course Senator your absence at every meeting was duly noted.

For someone who has staked his whole campaign on the Iraq war, I was utterly astounded when you told Katie Couric of CBS that the Anbar or Sunni Awakening followed the Surge, when in reality the Anbar Awakening preceded the Surge by almost four months. My friend that is a matter of recorded history.

Joe Klein of Time Magazine stated McCain's assertions as"pure nonsense"

In the beginning you promised the Nation a very civil and respectful campaign. You criticized Senator Obama for not visiting Iraq. Now that he has done that you criticized him for going. Was this jealousy on your part? Several weeks ago you visited Canada and Columbia to promote Free Trade. No criticism there, right John. Yesterday, you accused Senator Obama of being willing to lose a war in order to win the Presidency. More respect on your part, Senator? You accused him of putting the Nation at risk because of his inexperience. This must be the civility you spoke of several months ago. The only Candidate who has Presidential experience is one who is running for a second term. But even with all these remarks and derogatory insults about Obama that are coming out of your own mouth, Senator Obama continues to tell the people that you Sir are a war hero. That is respect Senator McCain. You seemed to have forgotten what respect means. You, Sir have fallen drastically short of the campaign you promised in the beginning.

You have surrounded yourself with campaign advisers of questionable reputations. Charlie Black's lobbying firm has represented dictators like Marcos, Mobutu of Zaire and Savimbi of Angola. Carly Fiorina while with HP tried to circumvent the trade boycott of Iran. Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham were both advising Vets for Freedom, a 527 group not unlike The Swift Boat Vets . And yet these are the advisers who have been allowed to stay with your campaign.

I could point out many more gaffes you have made in the last two months, but the only thing I must add is your shameful reputation and voting record when it comes to representing the Veterans of this country. You receive a 100% disability pension, tax free I might add, and you have denied every improvement that these brave men, not only need but surely deserve. How any one millionaire veteran like yourself allows other veteran to be homeless is beyond comprehension.

My friend, my friend please explained to the Veterans of American how Walter Reed Surgical Hospital once the "Crown Jewel" of the US Military has become known as the Dungeons of Building 18, under your watch.

Now that the cameras are focusing on you, an apology and I'll do better somehow just doesn't cut the mustard; it's what you did when no one was looking that counts.