Comments on: Corruption and Lobbying Reform Stalls…Again http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/ Firedoglake weblog Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:34:57 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Howard Beale http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-163211 Howard Beale Wed, 28 Jun 2006 10:57:12 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-163211 <p>Mary at 137. Thank you for the information. </p> <p>Some details on Andrew Lourie from Washington Monthly: ” Andrew Lourie, who’ll be acting as public integrity chief for a second time. Lourie’s first stint began in 2001, when he was promoted from his position as Assistant U.S. Attorney in Miami, to replace Lee J. Radek, who had been ousted by Republicans angered that Radek didn’t investigate Clinton more closely. The following year, Lourie left Washington for his old job in Miami (his wife, a golf pro, works in South Florida), and Hillman, his deputy, took over at Justice.”</p> <p>I have to assume that Abu Gonzales and Alice Fisher had a talk with Lourie and received some assurances about not going too far with the “integrity” thing.</p> Mary at 137. Thank you for the information.

Some details on Andrew Lourie from Washington Monthly: ” Andrew Lourie, who’ll be acting as public integrity chief for a second time. Lourie’s first stint began in 2001, when he was promoted from his position as Assistant U.S. Attorney in Miami, to replace Lee J. Radek, who had been ousted by Republicans angered that Radek didn’t investigate Clinton more closely. The following year, Lourie left Washington for his old job in Miami (his wife, a golf pro, works in South Florida), and Hillman, his deputy, took over at Justice.”

I have to assume that Abu Gonzales and Alice Fisher had a talk with Lourie and received some assurances about not going too far with the “integrity” thing.

]]> By: Mary http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160435 Mary Mon, 26 Jun 2006 18:24:54 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160435 <p>Howard - if you are still around, from a google search, it looks as if a prosecutor from Fla, Andrew Lourie, is acting chief of the public integrity section.</p> Howard – if you are still around, from a google search, it looks as if a prosecutor from Fla, Andrew Lourie, is acting chief of the public integrity section.

]]> By: Peregwyn http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160332 Peregwyn Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:07:52 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160332 <p>You can get a good list from the TPM Muckraking website.</p> <p><a href="http://tpmmuckraker.com/reference.php">The Muckraker’s Reference Section</a></p> <p><a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/grandolddocket.php">The Grand Ole Docket</a></p> You can get a good list from the TPM Muckraking website.

The Muckraker’s Reference Section

The Grand Ole Docket

]]> By: jayt http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160302 jayt Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:48:41 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160302 <p>oh my - if I believed in Satan, I’d expect his earthly manifestation to look a lot like Jerry Lewis. {shudder}</p> oh my – if I believed in Satan, I’d expect his earthly manifestation to look a lot like Jerry Lewis. {shudder}

]]> By: MFM http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160301 MFM Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:47:47 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160301 <p>Don’t forget that the repthug senate killed legislation to investigate the corruption of government contractors. That is a slime pit that knows no bottom.</p> Don’t forget that the repthug senate killed legislation to investigate the corruption of government contractors. That is a slime pit that knows no bottom.

]]> By: Bargain Countertenor http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160298 Bargain Countertenor Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:46:44 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160298 <p>Sophistic @ 48</p> <blockquote><p>To everything, there is a season. Damn! Why do the lyrics and melody of that Byrds tune keep running through my head? </p></blockquote> <p>Credit where credit is due:</p> <p>The Byrds covered <i>Turn, Turn, Turn</i>.</p> <p>The song was written by Pete Seeger, American folk music collector and composer, Union activist and Progressive. I don’t know if Pete reads blogs, but he’s one of us from way back.</p> <p>BC</p> Sophistic @ 48

To everything, there is a season. Damn! Why do the lyrics and melody of that Byrds tune keep running through my head?

Credit where credit is due:

The Byrds covered Turn, Turn, Turn.

The song was written by Pete Seeger, American folk music collector and composer, Union activist and Progressive. I don’t know if Pete reads blogs, but he’s one of us from way back.

BC

]]> By: Adie http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160296 Adie Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:45:37 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160296 <p>spelling police - 4th line below picture of the gang of 4 ——– “pled” ?</p> <p>man, that’s an amazing picture. those were the days, eh?! 4 slap-happy lil’ crooks in a lineup</p> spelling police – 4th line below picture of the gang of 4 ——– “pled” ?

man, that’s an amazing picture. those were the days, eh?! 4 slap-happy lil’ crooks in a lineup

]]> By: DefJef http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160287 DefJef Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:41:39 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160287 <p>Howard Beale 130</p> <p>I suspect that they KNOW how much corruption is to be found, but it would be a huge embarrassment for the administration and they simply are not acting.</p> <p>One way for the state to not have to answer in court, is if they trial never is put on the docket and no date for a hearing is actually set. It enters the system and remains in limbo ad infinitum.</p> Howard Beale 130

I suspect that they KNOW how much corruption is to be found, but it would be a huge embarrassment for the administration and they simply are not acting.

One way for the state to not have to answer in court, is if they trial never is put on the docket and no date for a hearing is actually set. It enters the system and remains in limbo ad infinitum.

]]> By: DefJef http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160282 DefJef Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:37:58 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160282 <p>Peterr @128</p> <p>But there are, for example, career DOJ people who are not AbuG.</p> <p>What about going to a third party outside government to craft the bill?</p> <p>For example, the perscription drug bill could have benefited from some financial analysis whoch could have been done by the GAO BEFORE the bill was put in the hopper. Why just accept the analysis of the special interest? Would it not be true that they would write something in their narrow interest and leave out all the bad stuff?</p> <p>In the hearings on the bill some gov official tried to tell the truth about that I recall and got booted from his job… no? Or was that after it was made law?</p> Peterr @128

But there are, for example, career DOJ people who are not AbuG.

What about going to a third party outside government to craft the bill?

For example, the perscription drug bill could have benefited from some financial analysis whoch could have been done by the GAO BEFORE the bill was put in the hopper. Why just accept the analysis of the special interest? Would it not be true that they would write something in their narrow interest and leave out all the bad stuff?

In the hearings on the bill some gov official tried to tell the truth about that I recall and got booted from his job… no? Or was that after it was made law?

]]> By: Howard Beale http://firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160281 Howard Beale Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:37:19 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/06/26/corruption-and-lobbying-reform-stallsagain/#comment-160281 <p>Who is the chief of DOJ’s Public Integrity Section? It used to be Noel Hillman but he was (conveniently?) promoted by The Decider for a federal judgeship and has since left DOJ. Hillman was the day-to-day manager of the Abramhoff investigation. I’ve searched for about an hour trying to find out who the new chief of the Public Integrity Section is (or the acting chief) and can’t find the answer. The DOJ’s website is abysmal and offers no clues.</p> <p>After the conviction of Small Fry Safavian, the DOJ press release came from the one and only Alice Fisher, Asst. AG in charge of the Criminal Division. The DOJ’s Public Integrity Section is part of the Criminal Division. Should one conclude that the chief of the PIS reports directly to Alice Fisher? Or does the PIS operate more along the lines of an Inspector General where there is at least some autonomy?</p> <p>Isn’t it amazingly coincidental that Abu Gonzales’s DOJ appears to have a rudderless Public Integrity Section (since no permanent chief has yet been appointed) during a time when there is an avalance of public corruption?</p> Who is the chief of DOJ’s Public Integrity Section? It used to be Noel Hillman but he was (conveniently?) promoted by The Decider for a federal judgeship and has since left DOJ. Hillman was the day-to-day manager of the Abramhoff investigation. I’ve searched for about an hour trying to find out who the new chief of the Public Integrity Section is (or the acting chief) and can’t find the answer. The DOJ’s website is abysmal and offers no clues.

After the conviction of Small Fry Safavian, the DOJ press release came from the one and only Alice Fisher, Asst. AG in charge of the Criminal Division. The DOJ’s Public Integrity Section is part of the Criminal Division. Should one conclude that the chief of the PIS reports directly to Alice Fisher? Or does the PIS operate more along the lines of an Inspector General where there is at least some autonomy?

Isn’t it amazingly coincidental that Abu Gonzales’s DOJ appears to have a rudderless Public Integrity Section (since no permanent chief has yet been appointed) during a time when there is an avalance of public corruption?

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