Lobbyist and lawyers contributions

Obama rails about lobbyist, I wonder how much his party has taken?

Lawyers & Lobbyists: Long-Term Contribution Trends | OpenSecrets

Scads of money, no doubt.

Both parties drink from the same well, after all. If some PAC comes at them with a lof of money, they're going to take it.

Obama seems to have tapped into one hell of a lot of small contributors though.

anyone know where we can get hard numbers of contributions to each candidate to date?

It might be illuminating to compare them.
 
Scads of money, no doubt.

Both parties drink from the same well, after all. If some PAC comes at them with a lof of money, they're going to take it.

Obama seems to have tapped into one hell of a lot of small contributors though.

anyone know where we can get hard numbers of contributions to each candidate to date?

It might be illuminating to compare them.

OpenSecrets.org: Money in Politics -- See Who's Giving & Who's Getting is pretty comprehensive. I think they have records of EVERY politician, actually.
 
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The link above tells us only about money contributed by the legal profession.

I do not doubt that the legal profession leans to the Dems.

I meant ALL money contributed to the candidates or the parties from all sources.


Nooo dude, ALL the money is there. Go look around. It even has a cool new format now.
 
Nooo dude, ALL the money is there. Go look around. It even has a cool new format now.

Cool site, thanks.

No, what I want online is every contribution from every person or organization of every pol.

That way we can really see who is beholding to whom.

You see, the way the game is often played is that anindustry has every top employee and his spouse, contribute so that it looks like the industry isn't involved.

MBNA was famous for that trick, for example.

And when you look at some of these top donors: University of Chicago $250,685

for example...

You start to ask yourself why a non-profit is contributing to a campagain.

Well...you ask yourself if you are naive enough to think they won't get that money back many times in cool little (and not so little) research grants, I mean.
 
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Yeah, the site puts numbers from companies but makes it clear that the cash isn't given BY the Companies, but by individuals who work for the companies, by the companies' PACs, etc.

The most interesting thing, though, is that for almost every politician, the top 20 contirbutors are always the same. I'd say it's a very disturbing trend when both political parties recieve the most sums from the same groups. It's something to really think about.

If you go to the "Contributors" section of any individual politician, you see the top firms (compiled from people who work there, pacs, etc), and if you go to the "Industry" section you see the compilation from the sums of all those companies that fall from the same industries. I don't think individual donors names are given, but I'd say it's one of the most complete pictures I've seen.
 
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Yeah, the site puts numbers from companies but makes it clear that the cash isn't given BY the Companies, but by individuals who work for the companies, by the companies' PACs, etc.

The most interesting thing, though, is that for almost every politician, the top 20 contirbutors are always the same. I'd say it's a very disturbing trend when both political parties recieve the most sums from the same groups. It's something to really think about.If you go to the "Contributors" section of any individual politician, you see the top firms (compiled from people who work there, pacs, etc), and if you go to the "Industry" section you see the compilation from the sums of all those companies that fall from the same industries. I don't think individual donors names are given, but I'd say it's one of the most complete pictures I've seen.

Bingo...both parties are corrupt and bear the interests of special interests. Not the interests of their supposed constiuents....
 
Yep, exactly. It's especially damaging because there are only two parties! If they are both dependent on their largest donors, and they have the same donors, then if you really want to know who they're beholding to, then you have to look at who those lawyers represent, what are they're agendas, etc. Or the financial sector, Merril Lynch, Goldman Sachs, etc. They're on everyone's list! They really don't care much who wins, because they fund both parties. They've got all bases covered. These are the real constituencies. It's obviously not just a US problem, it happens in democracy at large without controls on these things, and it can probably account for the huge gap between public opinion and public policy. It's a real problem.

Obama's Donors:

Goldman Sachs $627,730
University of California $523,120
JPMorgan Chase & Co $398,021
Citigroup Inc $393,899
UBS AG $378,400

Google Inc $373,212
Harvard University $369,802
Lehman Brothers $353,922
National Amusements Inc $352,603
Moveon.org $347,463
Sidley Austin LLP $326,845
Skadden, Arps et al $304,050
Time Warner $298,972
Morgan Stanley $291,388
Microsoft Corp $276,925
Jones Day $266,705
Latham & Watkins $252,845
University of Chicago $250,685
Wilmerhale Llp $249,282
Exelon Corp $239,061

McCain's Donors:

Merrill Lynch $284,610
Citigroup Inc $252,801
Morgan Stanley $211,821
Goldman Sachs $198,045

Blank Rome LLP $171,026
AT&T Inc $169,613
JPMorgan Chase & Co $165,275
Greenberg Traurig LLP $152,687
Credit Suisse Group $133,125
UBS AG $127,315
Bank of America $116,125
US Government $114,176
Lehman Brothers $112,700
PricewaterhouseCoopers $111,070
Wachovia Corp $111,046
FedEx Corp $97,753
Pinnacle West Capital $94,900
Bear Stearns $90,100
Blackstone Group $89,500
Bank of New York Mellon $89,500

Bush's Donors:

MBNA Corp $240,675
Vinson & Elkins $203,850
Credit Suisse First Boston $191,400
Ernst & Young $179,949

Andersen Worldwide $146,650
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co $144,900
Merrill Lynch $132,425
PricewaterhouseCoopers $127,798

Baker & Botts $116,371
Goldman Sachs $114,999
Citigroup Inc $114,300
Enron Corp $113,800
Bank of America $112,500

KPMG LLP $107,744
Jenkens & Gilchrist $105,450
Enterprise Rent-A-car $97,498
State of Texas $87,254
American General Corp $84,509
Deloitte & Touche $81,600
AXA Financial

Gore's Donors:

Ernst & Young $134,925
Citigroup Inc $111,750

Viacom Inc $107,675
Us Dept of Agriculture $102,466
Goldman Sachs $97,750
Time Warner $85,175

BellSouth Corp $74,500
US Dept of Justice $64,001
University of California $63,245
Kushner Companies $53,000
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co $52,300
Holland & Knight $52,100
National Jewish Democratic Council $51,250
Cablevision Systems Corp $51,200
Akin, Gump et al $48,000
Jenner & Block $48,000
AT&T $44,000
US Dept of State $43,775
Skadden, Arps et al $43,250
Credit Suisse First Boston $43,000
 
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Yep, exactly. It's especially damaging because there are only two parties! If they are both dependent on their largest donors, and they have the same donors, then if you really want to know who they're beholding to, then you have to look at who those lawyers represent, what are they're agendas, etc. Or the financial sector, Merril Lynch, Goldman Sachs, etc. They're on everyone's list! They really don't care much who wins, because they fund both parties. They've got all bases covered. These are the real constituencies. It's obviously not just a US problem, it happens in democracy at large without controls on these things, and it can probably account for the huge gap between public opinion and public policy. It's a real problem.

Obama's Donors:

Goldman Sachs $627,730
University of California $523,120
JPMorgan Chase & Co $398,021
Citigroup Inc $393,899
UBS AG $378,400

Google Inc $373,212
Harvard University $369,802
Lehman Brothers $353,922
National Amusements Inc $352,603
Moveon.org $347,463
Sidley Austin LLP $326,845
Skadden, Arps et al $304,050
Time Warner $298,972
Morgan Stanley $291,388
Microsoft Corp $276,925
Jones Day $266,705
Latham & Watkins $252,845
University of Chicago $250,685
Wilmerhale Llp $249,282
Exelon Corp $239,061

McCain's Donors:

Merrill Lynch $284,610
Citigroup Inc $252,801
Morgan Stanley $211,821
Goldman Sachs $198,045

Blank Rome LLP $171,026
AT&T Inc $169,613
JPMorgan Chase & Co $165,275
Greenberg Traurig LLP $152,687
Credit Suisse Group $133,125
UBS AG $127,315
Bank of America $116,125
US Government $114,176
Lehman Brothers $112,700
PricewaterhouseCoopers $111,070
Wachovia Corp $111,046
FedEx Corp $97,753
Pinnacle West Capital $94,900
Bear Stearns $90,100
Blackstone Group $89,500
Bank of New York Mellon $89,500

Bush's Donors:

MBNA Corp $240,675
Vinson & Elkins $203,850
Credit Suisse First Boston $191,400
Ernst & Young $179,949

Andersen Worldwide $146,650
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co $144,900
Merrill Lynch $132,425
PricewaterhouseCoopers $127,798

Baker & Botts $116,371
Goldman Sachs $114,999
Citigroup Inc $114,300
Enron Corp $113,800
Bank of America $112,500

KPMG LLP $107,744
Jenkens & Gilchrist $105,450
Enterprise Rent-A-car $97,498
State of Texas $87,254
American General Corp $84,509
Deloitte & Touche $81,600
AXA Financial

Gore's Donors:

Ernst & Young $134,925
Citigroup Inc $111,750

Viacom Inc $107,675
Us Dept of Agriculture $102,466
Goldman Sachs $97,750
Time Warner $85,175

BellSouth Corp $74,500
US Dept of Justice $64,001
University of California $63,245
Kushner Companies $53,000
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co $52,300
Holland & Knight $52,100
National Jewish Democratic Council $51,250
Cablevision Systems Corp $51,200
Akin, Gump et al $48,000
Jenner & Block $48,000
AT&T $44,000
US Dept of State $43,775
Skadden, Arps et al $43,250
Credit Suisse First Boston $43,000

:clap2: good post
 
Yeah, the site puts numbers from companies but makes it clear that the cash isn't given BY the Companies, but by individuals who work for the companies, by the companies' PACs, etc.

The most interesting thing, though, is that for almost every politician, the top 20 contirbutors are always the same. I'd say it's a very disturbing trend when both political parties recieve the most sums from the same groups. It's something to really think about.

If you go to the "Contributors" section of any individual politician, you see the top firms (compiled from people who work there, pacs, etc), and if you go to the "Industry" section you see the compilation from the sums of all those companies that fall from the same industries. I don't think individual donors names are given, but I'd say it's one of the most complete pictures I've seen.

The reason for that is because the big boys are hedging their bets. Numer one rule in investing is diversify. You don't put all your money on one candidate, because then you lose completely if your candidate loses. This way, the big boys always know they'll win in the end.

Not to mention, it also gives you a good example of how both parties are equally in bed with big business, and who will ALWAYS end up benefitting the MOST in the end.
 
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Yup. It's especially interesting how the Lawyers are the ones that give the MOST money. I remember checking it the first time a few months ago and found it kinda curious, I figured it'd be Pharmaceuticals or Agrobusiness, etc. It gets real interesting when you take the law firms and go research who they represent- obviously, Pharmas Agrobusiness, Chemicals, Energy, etc.

It gets worse, though, because the other big payer - financial services. If you start looking at some of them, you start seeing that half of the financial firms that fund the candidates... are actually owned by OTHER financial services firms that fund the candidates. It is such an extreme accumulation of power, that is unbelievable.

But it's not surprising. Just think, what are probably the two most represented professions in politics? Businessmen and Lawyers. Businessmen can get into politics because they can fund themselves, have executive experience, etc. Lawyers have always been the prime politicians by default. Lawyers by profession are never required to find truth- they just have to sell it to a jury well. If you can do that well, then you're already a politician. It's not the truth, it's how you sell it. Doesn't mean that it doesn't HELP to believe it yourself, but it's not required. In essence, it's therefore not hard for these Businessmen and Lawyers, Politicians, to very well fundraise, mingle, and generally defend the interests of their comrade PRIVATE Lawyers and Businessmen in a symbiotic relationship of wealth and power. There's nothing 'conspiratorial', it's just rational. Just happens to be incredibly troubling for the other 99% of the population that aren't in on the deal.

Sorry for the rant, I was feeling inspired. ASdHSDIOASDodsua
 
Yeah, the site puts numbers from companies but makes it clear that the cash isn't given BY the Companies, but by individuals who work for the companies, by the companies' PACs, etc.

Just goes to show that personifying evil down to one leader, or small cabal of his henchmen, is a mistake, doesn't it?

For every tyrant must buy his army of henchmen.

The most interesting thing, though, is that for almost every politician, the top 20 contirbutors are always the same. I'd say it's a very disturbing trend when both political parties recieve the most sums from the same groups. It's something to really think about.

Ya think?

If you go to the "Contributors" section of any individual politician, you see the top firms (compiled from people who work there, pacs, etc), and if you go to the "Industry" section you see the compilation from the sums of all those companies that fall from the same industries. I don't think individual donors names are given, but I'd say it's one of the most complete pictures I've seen.

You CAN get that information, though...at least you can here in Maine.

You have to go to Augusta and find this little office, one far off the beaten corridors where power is traded every day. And there you'll find two sweet ladies who keep records on every campaign contribution that is reported by every Pol (federal state and local) in Maine.

Leave it to say that what you'll discover there is that freedom ain't free.

In fact, the freedom to conduct business as usual in this nation is fairly expensive.

But, if one can pay enough, they're free to make it all back with a tidy profit for their investment in the democrapic process, too.
 
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