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Thom's blog
What’s the point in lobbying politicians – when you can just BUY politicians?
The American Petroleum Institute – the largest lobbying organization for big oil polluters – announced yesterday they would start contributing to political candidates this year in preparation for the 2012 elections. The executive vice president for government affairs at API said about the announcement, "This is adding one more tool to our toolkit…at the end of the day, our mission is trying to influence the policy debate." It’s perhaps more than a coincidence that API made this announcement on the heels of President Obama announcing he will pursue cutting oil subsidies – a policy that the API said was, “a bad idea.”
This isn’t the first time the API has gotten in the game of politics. Last year – Greenpeace uncovered an internal memo at API revealing the organization attacked environmental regulation by creating and funding a fake grassroots movement. At the same time – API spent nearly $7 million lobbying Members of Congress in 2010. But of course – after Citizens United – what’s the point in lobbying politicians – when you can just BUY politicians.
And I think these guys are going for the big fish – they want the presidency.
-Thom
(Is there any likely presidential candidate they won;t be able to buy? Tell us here.) |
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 9pm and 11pm... Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Green Peace International (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
"Conversations With Great Minds." Tonight's very special guest is Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director-Green Peace International, South African Human Rights Activist and former Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of Johannesburg-based Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
The Big Picture Weekly Rumble panel: With: - Anushay Hossain, writer/commentator/author/activist/contributor to Forbes Woman (progressive) - Jamie Weinstein, Deputy Editor - Daily Caller (conservative) - Dan Gainor, Vice President-Business and Media Institute (conservative).
Daily Take: Republican war on teachers.
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Highlights Of The Upcoming Week ... Feb 28 - Mar 4, 2011
Monday
Hour One: Latest from the Trenches...War on Labor - John Nichols, The Nation Magazine
Plus, the latest on the "mainstreet movement" - Doug Cunningham, Workers Independent News
Hour Two: "Walker should 'Reagan-up'...tell Wisconsin teachers: You're Fired!!" What?! - Wayne Root, Root For America
Hour Three: What lessons should Republicans learn from Wisconsin - Carrie Lukas, Independent Women's Forum
Tuesday
Hour Two: Why would a TSA Union compromise air safety? - Matt Patterson, Pajamas Media
Wednesday
Hour Two: Why do conservatives think bombs are the answer to everything? - Michael Ledeen, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Thursday
Hour Three: Geeky Science - Why not let taxpayers choose... fat cat "Big Oil" or clean, green energy?
Friday
"Brunch With Bernie". Senator Bernie Sanders, (I-VT) spends the hour with Thom discussing the issues and takes your calls .
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The Daily Stack 
Quote: "Quote: ~ Privacy - like eating and breathing - is one of life's basic requirements." ~ Katherine Neville.
Hour One: Latest from Madison Thom asks John Nichols, Washington Correspondent - The Nation Magazine; Associate Editor-Capitol Times; author/co-author of several books, latest (with Robert McChesney) "The Death and Life of American Journalism".
Hour Two: "Anything Goes on Townhall Fridays!"
Hour Three: refusing a TSA pat down Thom talks to Alaska State Rep. Sharon Cissna who refused a TSA pat down and literally took the long way home instead...
Latest from Madison from David Vines, political science major, University of Wisconsin.
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Thom Hartmann vs. TJ McCormack - Are budget cuts are worth a few deaths?
The Real Dirty Secret About Oil
Or watch the full show...
Full Show - 2/24/11. Day 9 in Wisconsin Budget Battle, Army Psy-Ops.
Thom talks with Bill Scher from the Campaign for America's Future and Zaid Jilani from ThinkProgress.org about the latest in the Wisconsin union battle. Then, Thom debates with conservative commentator TJ McCormack on whether or not budget cuts are putting lives at risk. Later, Thom digs into the latest news that the Army tried to use mind control against US Senators to get more funding for the Afghan War with Stephen Walt from Foreign Policy Magazine. And then, Thom looks into some crazy prospective laws out of Tennessee and Georgia. Bill Keller from Bill Keller ministries weighs in on Tennessee making a law against Sharia law and Sam Bennett from The Women's Campaign Forum discusses a Georgia bill that would force women to prove their miscarriages happened naturally, or face felony charges. And finally, a Daily Take on how paying more at the pump may actually be good for the United States.
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 Would you like to help give a child with a very troubled background this feeling of peace? Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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Show Info
Call Thom on the show at 1-866-987-THOM (8466) (0870 974 9686 from the UK, +1 503 796 2324 from outside the US or UK).
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