Tom Toles for July 28, 2010

Good point.

Do you mean you want the President of each union to list his name on every ad?

2008 Unions outspent big business in political contributions

Unions 90-10 Democrats > Republicans

Big Business 64-40 Democrats > Republicans

Yes i want to know the names of the Trial lawyers who gave all that money to Obama. As a matter of law tomorrow Obama could actually list all those contributions by personal name. There would be nothing illegal to stop him from doing that.

Assuming that you get your numbers right, Libertarian1, why not support having this information out in the open. I see, those democrats will try to get the rest of the money too?

Tweedledum & Tweedledee.

Both parties are surfing in the tidal wave of money sloshing around in politics — both in campaign cash and lobbying perks.

There are no good guys in politics. Obama got more donations from Goldman Sachs et al in 2008 than the Republicans.

The only way to somewhat correct this is publicly financed elections.

Lib1 isn’t very good very with figures.

Toles’ Tuesday rant is here: http://tinyurl.com/39apnok

Toles’ Wednesday rant is here: http://tinyurl.com/2d6qrfp

Libertarian1: “2008 Unions outspent big business in political contributions.”

Deceit or ignorance, you decide:

http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/sectors.php

Lib - let’s look at both sides, shall we? This bill means no one has to be revealed. And unions have been in decline for decades, thanks to Republican policies and union arrogance. The same is not true of corporations. This is bad.

I wonder where church contributions fit in Libertarian1’s ‘facts.’ But surely he is going to post that information, since he points out corruption in both parties and that this article was aimed at neither party. After all, what would be so hard to simply admit that both parties have their contributions? That’s the “only” thing that should have been said, after all.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/99103-unions-100m-to-save-the-dems

According to OpenSecrets.org,[14] the top contributors since 1988 ranked by their total spending along with the party tilt of their contributions are: Rank Organization Total Dem % Repub % Tilt 1 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $39,947,843 98% 1% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 2 AT&T Inc $39,772,431 43% 55% Between 40% and 59% to both parties 3 National Assn of Realtors $33,280,206 47% 52% Between 40% and 59% to both parties 4 Goldman Sachs $29,588,362 63% 36% Leans Dem (60%-69%) 5 American Assn for Justice $29,520,389 90% 9% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 6 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $28,733,734 97% 2% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 7 National Education Assn $28,388,334 93% 6% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 8 Laborers’ Union $26,881,889 91% 7% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 9 Service Employees International Union $26,719,663 95% 3% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 10 Carpenters & Joiners Union $25,995,149 90% 9% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 11 Teamsters Union $25,627,772 92% 6% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 12 Communications Workers of America $25,404,269 99% 0% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 13 American Medical Assn $25,235,971 38% 61% Leans Repub (60%-72%) 14 American Federation of Teachers $24,969,593 98% 0% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 15 Citigroup Inc $24,784,983 49% 50% Between 40% and 59% to both parties 16 United Auto Workers $24,634,120 98% 0% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 17 Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union $23,548,086 98% 0% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 18 Altria Group $23,264,991 27% 72% Leans Repub (60%-72%) 19 United Food & Commercial Workers Union $22,926,107 98% 1% Solidly Dem (over 90%) 20 National Auto Dealers Assn $22,733,608 31% 68% Leans Repub (60%-72%)

Since our leaders are effectively auctioned I say they stop wearing suits and instead show up to work in polyester shirts brandishing all of their sponsors. Then C-SPAN can get play-by-play announcers to spice up their programming - and their ratings by proxy.

Why aren’t the “private” organizations listed? A news note I read reported that Karl Rove had more in his war chest than both Repubs and Dems combined.

I did not note the source (AP, Reuters, etc.) Maybe someone can help?

Pretty cheesy, Lib1. You stated “2008 Unions outspent big business in political contributions.”

Refuted, you then copy and paste historical data beginning in 1988 which • includes no link • and only has the top 20 companies and unions.

Companies are much more numerous than unions. For instance, there might be 5 or 6 telephone companies, but only one Communication Workers of America.

Here is a link to the breakdown of contributions from 1989 to 2010 for 124 companies and unions.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A

Of the close to $2 billion detailed for this period, unions accounted for about $540 million. Given the withering of unions over the last 20 years and the ascendency of large corporations the problems we face are clearly not because of union money in politics.

More tax breaks for the rich! Less government intrution to the GOP’s contributors! Cut social programs and privatize them! Cause we know business can do a better job than the gubbermint can! Look at health care!

Oh wait…

Warbush, that’s called Neo-liberalism. Honest.

jaxaction,

Hear, hear to whatever the h ll you said.

Don’t vote and don’t vote for the two entrenched Partys; they operate under an understanding that leaves you and me out. I just read the Declaration again, our Nation’s Birth Certificate, and it’s obvious politics is a hands on job -the next time someone like Perot comes along I hope we handle ‘em better.

Well said puppy, git er done.

badmichiganjon,

Oh, PLEASE, give poopsie a good home. He’ll lick your feet an’ everything.

All hail the Supreme Corp.