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Coingate
Coingate. We've heard about it and read about it and seen it on television all of the...wait--whhhat's that?
Oh, right. Okay, let's try this again--Coingate, you've heard about it if you visit blogs which print the truth, and you've read about it if you have access to The Toledo Blade, or live in Ohio, and you have come nowhere near seeing it on television unless you've been taking peyote during some well deserved down time from your 9-5 gig.
But in a nutshell, Coingate is a story about the GOP led government in Ohio, and the looting of a $225 million Ohio State worker's comp fund. At least, that's how the story began--how it ends is anyone's guess. It was true for Watergate and it's still true. Follow the money, baby, follow the money.
The fact that there is all this money gone missing, and that Ohio had what was at best, poorly run elections, and at worst, fraudulent elections which led to the reelection of President Bush by a mere 10,000 votes, I am sure is a complete coincidence (pun intended).
And I haven't written about it before because I have been waiting to see what the lamestream media would do, the GOP would do, the Democrats would do, and how long it would take to get Coingate, Ken Blackwell, elections and Bush involved the same overall story.
We have crossed that threshold and the bride of scandal is in the house.
Background on Coingate from the AP story which ran on May 26, 2005, though The Toledo Blade ran its first story about Coingate on April 3, 2005:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A scandal over Ohio's investment in rare coins deepened Thursday as authorities learned that more than $10 million in coins may now be missing. The state said it would prosecute and sue the fund's former manager.
Authorities originally had suspected that coins worth an estimated $400,000 had vanished, but an attorney for the fund manager told inspectors that $10 million to $12 million is missing, the state attorney general's office said.
The updated story, from one of the finest papers in the nation, The Toledo Blade, brings us from the original $400,000 to the present $225 million dollars and adds on some key figures, and key revelations about who knew what, and when they knew it:
COLUMBUS — Gov. Bob Taft’s office learned seven months ago — not this week — that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation had lost $225 million in a high-risk investment.
In an Oct. 26, 2004, e-mail to Taft aide James Samuel, the bureau’s administrator-CEO, James Conrad, wrote that the “entire value” of the portfolio managed by MDL Capital Management was down about $225 million.
Mr. Conrad also alerted the governor’s office that the bureau had rejected MDL’s request for another $25 million and the firm was in danger of collapsing, which he said would be “likely to make national news.”
So, who was the managing director MDL in the late ninties and early 2000's? Will Bunch over at Attytood informs us that would be conservative pundit, Joe Watkins, who worked for President Bush's father, and whose daughter worked for the current President Bush on last year's campaign. Some of you may know Mr. Watkins from his GOP Talking Points de jour appearences on CNN's Crossfire after the show gave Tucker Carlson the well-deserved ax.
BTW, has anyone seen this story on Crossfire? Personally, I can't stomach the show, but it would be interesting to know if Joe Watkins appeared on any show which mentioned Coingate. Oh wait, back to the television coverage thing--nevermind.
Maybe the democrats will take a break from bashing the Chairman of their own party long enough to discuss something that actually matters, for example, something which is beginning to look something very like a money laundering cum slush-fund operation in Ohio, involving many political players on many levels.
Maybe the GOP will begin throwing some bodies out in the street if the media ever wakes up from its coma.
Whatever happens, there is sure to be plenty of gossip, so let's not get sidetracked by the fact that Tom Cruise bought some rare coins for a present to his current lady-love Katie Holmes. Okay, that didn't happen, but you see my point?
Let's follow the money, baby, follow the money.
Kaptur Alerts Colleagues of Unfolding Scandal
Brown says illegalities put presidential election in question
by Steve Eder June 9, 2005 by the Toledo Blade (Ohio)
"The depth of corruption in Ohio might set national records... I think the George Bush campaign raised a lot of illegal money in Ohio. That puts the election in some question. I know these people stop at nothing and I know their incompetence kept a significant number of people from getting to vote." [US Rep. Sherrod Brown]
WASHINGTON - As the word spread Tuesday night that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation had lost $215 million in a high-risk investment, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur alerted her colleagues to the mounting concerns in her home state.
Miss Kaptur, during a statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday night, said "there is a major political scandal that is unfolding in the state of Ohio."
"The governor of our state has permitted millions and millions of dollars of workers' money from the Ohio Worker's Compensation Fund to be invested in high-risk investments," Miss Kaptur said in a statement that was placed on the congressional record.
Her accusations came just hours after the bureau acknowledged that it lost $215 million in a high-risk fund run by Pittsburgh businessman Mark D. Lay, who has contributed to Gov. Bob Taft's campaign, and other candidates, including some Democrats. The governor's office was notified of the loss last October, but a spokesman for Mr. Taft said yesterday he was not made aware of the concerns.
The $215 million loss - coupled with a failed $50 million rare-coin investment with Tom Noe, a prominent Republican campaign contributor - have given Democrats political ammunition against the GOP, which has dominated state government for years.
Democrats such as Miss Kaptur and U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Lorain say the latest scandals mirror problems in Washington and even call into question the results of the 2004 presidential election.
continue~
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0609-08.htm
This is simply amazing.
Here in California, Ahnuld was elected on the platform of fixing the workers' compensation program that the Democrats were accused of driving corrupt. The Coingate makes California's workers' compensation woes look like a child's play. Blackwell truly belongs in prison - and the validity of Ohio's election results must be thrown into doubt at least.
If mainstream media doesn't wake up, I hope at least the likes of Randi Rhodes or Stephanie Miller pound on the story.
And I am sure that if Taft and Blackwell were Democrats, the media would be all over this already!
This all sounds earily like the $250,000 in illegal corporate monies that Tom DeLay funneled to our Republican state legislature to take control of our state legislature and ReDistricting. Wouldn't be surprised to see DeLay's fingerprints all over this scandal. Again where are Woodward and Bernstein? Too busy asking Howard Dean lame questions.
Oh I forgot, Woodward has looked into Bush's soul and knows he and DeLay are honest folks. Where is the US Atty's office and why have they not set up a federal investigation of this story and the abuses of the secret service in Colorado?
Folks, if you like the work the Toledo balde is doing in Ohio, maybe you'd drop them a line. Or, take out a subcription.
http://www.toledoblade.com
WELL I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY FAMILY WAS GONE
I STOOD ON THE BACK PORCH
THERE WAS NOBODY HOME
I WAS STUNNED AND AMAZED
MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
SLOWLY SWIRLED PAST
LIKE THE WIND THROUGH THE TREES
A, O, OH WAY TO GO OHIO
The Pretenders
I have been collecting coins all my life...how in heavens name does one lose 50 Million in a rare coin investment? You Cannot unless that is your intention.
Either you are completely void of reason, sanity, or thought.....or it is a laundering mechanism to cover up a trail of money. There is no other answer.
The value of a Rare coin is established independantly, and weekly. There are magazines and trade rags that carry just about every coin minted, their grade, and their Buy / Sell spreads.
Somebody needs to get a coin dealer to investigate the trail. The D.A will not be able to figure out the angles. A coin dealer will.
Looks like Bush's numbers have slipped again this week (last week he had a 46% approval level)and is getting close to Richard Nixon's.
Poll: Bush job approval dips to new low
WASHINGTON (AP) - When it comes to public approval, President Bush and Congress are playing "how low can you go." Bush's approval mark is 43 percent, while Congress checks in at 31 percent, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll found. Both are the lowest levels yet for the survey, started in December 2003.
[...go Howard! ]
Howard Dean renews call for Bush to return money raised by Noe
By STEVE EDER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
COLUMBUS - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean yesterday charged President Bush with using money during last year's campaign that was "tainted" by Toledo-area coin dealer Tom Noe, who is being investigated for allegedly misappropriating millions of dollars in Ohio money.
The prominent Republican gained a special "pioneer" fund-raising status during Mr. Bush's re-election campaign last year because he helped collect $100,000 to $250,000 for the President. But now, Mr. Noe, who has received $50 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation since 1998 to invest in rare coins, could be facing civil and criminal charges for allegedly misappropriating at least $10 million of the state's money.
"Tom Noe's name has been added to the growing list of big-time contributors to President Bush's re-election campaign being investigated for criminal wrongdoing," Mr. Dean said in a statement released yesterday to The Blade.
"Noe was given special status and special access by the Bush-Cheney campaign as a Pioneer donor, but there are now signs that the money he used to acquire this special status was tainted."
Mr. Dean yesterday repeated the Democratic National Committee's call for President Bush to return money raised by Mr. Noe. Ohio Democrats have also called on Ohio lawmakers who have received money from Mr. Noe to return the contributions.
"President Bush should immediately return all of the cash Noe raised to eliminate even the possibility that the hard-earned money of Ohio's workers was improperly diverted to his re-election campaign," Mr. Dean said.
continue~
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050601/NEWS09/506010368
this article was published on June 1, 2005
Possibly a teeny tiny "clue" as to why the bu$hwhacked MSM is playing up the "Dean is mean" garbage THIS week???? hmmm??
Howard Dean renews call for Bush to return money raised by Noe
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050601/NEWS09/506010368
I don't know a thing about rare and valuable coins Toolmaker. However, I do understand the word 'gone.' The coins are gone, poof, not where they should be. Now, as far as I know, no one has reported them stolen. And, if someone invested in a 'collection' doesn't anyone who invests in said collection have the right to know if those coins are being sold, transferred, traded or otherwise going bye bye?
There is a lot more going on in Ohio than just Tom Noe, the pocket change boy. There is his wife Bernadette Noe. And Joe and Tracy Kidd. You might want to spend a little time with google and see what you come up with.
there's an entire website devoted to covering Coingate and beyond....
Coingate: The Ohio GOP Culture of Corruption:
Investigating the Republican Party's Culture of Corruption in Ohio and beyond
http://coingate.info/
I would like to go one the record and admit that I was an Ohio-basher. I was upset with the people who voted against their own interests because of gay alerts and terraist marriages. I was mad at them for wanting to have a beer with a dry drunk.
John Conyers opened my eyes, and the Toledo Blade is kicking butt. (excuse me, hating America)
I'm sober, I swear.
Not gay alerts and terraist marriages, that was a mistake, I meant gay terraists and marriage alerts, or er um.....
Sounds like articles of Impeachment need to be drafted against Taft and Blackwell but unfortunately the Ohio legilsature looks just like Washington's and no one will be punished.
Why the h*** if this story was know last September was it covered it past the election? Where are the Blackwell memos ordering this cover up to not release this damaging info until months after the election?
Why the h*** if this story was know last September was it covered up and not relesed until well past the election? Where are the Blackwell memos ordering this cover up to not release this damaging info until months after the election?
And if I am reading the Blade article correctly Blackwell has returned only $7,000 of $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions he received. How about the other $73,000?
Culture of Life? No, I think not.
Repeat after me, please:
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION.
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION.
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION.
It's all about the ends justifying the means, Iraq for example. They think they can be as corrupt as they want because the ends justify the means, and the law is for the little people.
That's how the GOP became THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION. And not just in Ohio. Everywhere in the United States, they bring their signature arrogance and...THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION.
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/061005X.shtml
Memogate Hearings Scheduled for June 16
Wonder if Lamestream Press will cover any of this?
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION.
This will be interesting.
US Holds 'Indirect Talks' with Iraqi Rebel Groups
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/061005B.shtml
So, what does this mean? A bid for the favor of the nearly 60% who now oppose Bu$hCo's War to suddenly find favor with "peace negotiations?"
Or is it an effort to buy the loyality of the rebels who never wanted us in Iraq in the first place?
THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
Posted by: spinnaker at June 10, 2005 07:36 PM
And the CULTURE OF DEATH as well!
Rare Coins can be an avenue to launder money.
Since they are legal tender already, it is easy to move large amounts of money from one account to another without taxes or even traceable if your ethics lean in that direction.
If they are "gone", they represent massive amounts of money that has been laundered, until they are "found", or taxed.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Tutter...this is weird even for the GOP.
Money was taken from the state's injured workers accounts, laundered through rare coins found missing, and some of the money ended up in GOP coffers..
[the same Rove pal who used GOP slimey smear, destroy your opponent campaign tactics in '04 for John Thune, has now signed on with George Allen,R-VA]
Is this Dick the next Rove?
Karl Rove's heir apparent.
By Alexandra Starr Friday, June 10, 2005
John Thune's 2004 challenge to former Sen. Tom Daschle looked a little like a kamikaze mission. Two years previously, Thune had lost to Sen. Tim Johnson, another South Dakota Democrat who is a far less impressive campaigner than the former minority leader, in a year when Republicans racked up victories nationwide. But for his race against Daschle, Thune heeded the advice of the Bush White House, dumped his first campaign team, and hired Dick Wadhams. The 49-year-old operative comes across as an aging country boy, but he is renowned for running nasty and effective campaigns. In South Dakota he honed his slash-and-burn reputation, relentlessly attacking Daschle about his Washington, D.C., home, luxury car, and lobbyist wife. At one point, Wadhams accused the former minority leader of having "emboldened Saddam Hussein." Thune won, by a slim margin, and gratefully dubbed his campaign manager "the best pit bull out there."
Rove may have figured that recommending Wadhams for the South Dakota race would be the next best thing to taking Daschle down himself. The two operatives, who have known each other since their days in College Republicans, run similar campaigns. Both shield their candidates from the press. Both like to work with clients who may not be powerhouse political talents, but who sell well as regular guys and thrive on being underestimated. And both win, a lot. In addition to engineering President Bush's election and re-election, Rove masterminded the GOP's 1998 sweep of every elected statewide office in Texas. Wadhams has lost only one of the nine statewide campaigns he has worked on. Now that Rove's tenure as pre-eminent consigliere is drawing to a close—at a press breakfast shortly after the November 2004 election, he said he wouldn't run another presidential campaign—Wadhams is emerging as his most obvious successor.
snip~
The South Dakota race established Wadhams as a giant-slayer, giving him his pick of future clients. In January, he signed on with Sen. George Allen, a Virginia Republican whose staunch conservatism is leavened by his good ol' boy manners. Outside his home state, Allen is a relative unknown, but he's generating plenty of interest among party apparatchiks. In an April poll in the National Journal, pollsters, consultants, and media pundits picked Allen as the No. 1 choice to head the 2008 GOP ticket.
Can Wadhams take Allen from a little-known senator to a spot on the national ticket? It's a gamble, for sure: Even some Republicans snicker at Allen's tendency to turn every thought into a football metaphor (primaries are "intersquad scrimmages"; Senate recess is "halftime"). Questions about whether Allen is smart enough to be president are sure to dog a potential bid. And Wadhams has never run a national campaign before—or for that matter, a campaign outside a red state. The Republican presidential primary will be crowded, which means that his reflexive go-negative strategy could be risky: Voters who are turned off by the mudslinger as well as the mud will have other options to choose among.
Still, Allen's amiable charm fits the mold that Wadhams has succeeded with before. The Virginian may not be a policy wonk, but his lack of pretension will likely resonate with the conservative voters who matter in primaries. Last month, Allen earned kudos from the right when he lambasted the Senate filibuster deal on judicial nominations, saying that two scuttled nominees, William Myers III and Henry Saad, had "been accorded a nice wake having been thrown overboard at sea." And he won chits when he oversaw the Republicans' pick up of four U.S. Senate seats last year, as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Let's not forget what happened the last time a GOP consultant who'd rolled up state-level victories signed up with an underestimated candidate. On the long road to 2008, Wadhams is positioned to jump in where Karl Rove gets off.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2120558/
Casey,
By the way, did you know that Katie Holmes is from Toledo?
I sent a thank you letter to Steve Eder of the Blade yesterday. His email is seder@theblade.com. The folks at the Blade are doing a fantastic job of presenting the facts about Coingate. Even our hometown conservative rag, The Mansfield News Journal, has called on Taft to account for the misuse of funds.
It seems strange to me that Bush has offered to return $4,000 of the $100,000 that he received for his campaign through the machinations of Tom Noe. However, somewhere I read the money from the politicians is being donated to charity rather than returned to Worker's Comp.
One coin that Tom Noe purchased cost over $120,000 and was listed as being sold for 1 cent. Would that suggest money laundering? I don't quite know how that works.
My daughter worked on the Kerry campaign in Toledo where the computers were stolen from the building while nothing else was taken (Not even the cash in the room). When The Blade spoke to Bernadette Noe, wife of Tom, about the theft she replied that Bush signs were being stolen from yards. I believe she was the Republican County chair at the time.
Bernadette seems to have precipitated Coingate by calling for the investigation of some other people. Somehow that investigation led to the investigation of her husband.
As a side note, a teacher who works in our school went in to work over spring break. She fell down some steps and shattered her ankle. The school administration told her to file for Workmen's Comp. Her case was denied on the grounds that her contract was for 183 days and that she was given planning time during those days, so she should not have been working. Have you ever known any elementary teacher who could accomplish the necessary tasks without working nights, weekends, and at least a week or two both before the beginning of school and after the end of the year?
Thanks to the Republican Culture of Corruption many of us are rethinking our dedication to our task. I told my principal today that I would not be coming in to work next week since I did not want to take the chance of being injured after my contracted days were up. Then I told her about Coingate and the MDL investments. She looked a little relieved as I was leaving her office and said she understood why I would no longer be donating my time. Of course I will not be able to stick to that because my students need all the extra time and attention I can give them.
Oh well just another day in Republican run Ohio. I hope the scandal is enough to defeat Ken Blackwell at least. We have two good potential Democratic candidates for Gov. in Congressman Ted Strickland and Michael Coleman, mayor of Columbus. Should be an interesting election and if all this monkey business doesn't sink the GOP in Ohio, I don't know what will. We still have to contend with those Diebold machines though. Gotta have election reform!
Kay,
I worked in Toledo as well. The whole business in the breakin was incredibly stupid! They had a building with no protection and lots of window, just asking for trouble. They were not as careful as they should have been. It's not as if we haven't known for years about "dirty tricks" and watergate!
Regarding the teaching comments, I understand where you're coming from. The kids lose if you spend less time, but your saftey or health might be at risk. But was your friend able to hire better representation or was the union able to fight it?
Listening to my ipod and this song came across my consciousness:
Everywhere is freaks and hairies
Dykes and fairies, tell me where is sanity
Tax the rich, feed the poor
Till there are no rich no more?
I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you
Population keeps on breeding
Nation bleeding, still more feeding economy
Life is funny, skies are sunny
Bees make honey, who needs money, Monopoly
I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you
World pollution, there's no solution
Institution, electrocution
Just black and white, rich or poor
Them and us, stop the war
I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you
Kay,
In our state we have a group called "The Advocates." We refer people like your friend to them, if they are having trouble getting workman's comp or SSI. You might want to tell your friend to check it out in her city, it might be well worth her time.
"One coin that Tom Noe purchased cost over $120,000 and was listed as being sold for 1 cent. Would that suggest money laundering?"
Who did Tom Noe purchase the coin from?
Follow the Money!
Lets pretend that Tom Noe needs to move 120,000 without raising the suspicion of the treasury department, since all cash transfers over 10,000 must be disclosed to the US department of the treasury. This is one Avenue to do that.
There may also be the need to pay someone without listing it for tax purposes. Buying a Worthless coin for 120,000 effectively evades income tax, and creates a Tax loss for the seller, Tom Noe.
Tom Noe May have owed a debt and used unemployment money to pay it, instead of using his own money. This Coin would be an avenue to accomplish that.
If this is true, i guarentee the IRS and Treasury department are already investigating the money trail. This is classic Money laundering schemes used by idiots and charlatans.
As far as I can tell from what I've read, it seems that a number, friends and associates of Tom Noe, contributed heavily in Septemeber and October to B/C04. These people may to have been re-imbursed by Noe for their contributions. The investigation continues. There seems to be some question about people who made the maximum contributions allowed by law, as a number of them had never done so in the past, and that rather than some couples giving small contributions BOTH spouses managed the max in 2004. Interesting, don't you think?
In the course of following the money, it should not be all that hard to find the path that at least some of it took. If the Blade has it's own deep throat, and real investigative reporters following each lead, pulling each string, and linking all the dirty deals together, then we must be patient. Whatever the story is, I want it right, not fast. If the Blade presents a clear case of theft, corruption, lies, money laundering, election fraud, or anything else, I want the evidence to be totally irrefutible.
If the Blade has ferreted out this much information, in order to get the investigations started, we can only hope they know more.
can we help boot up the numbers for this?
hat tip to glynis at kos!!!
http://www.petitiononline.com/Dean/petition.html
and this from our Schiavo blogswarm friend majikthise.....
http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/
see this post....
The rules of Refuge
Zach is a very courageous 16-year-old guy from Tennessee who recently come out to his parents. He's also a damn good writer who has been blogging about their hateful anti-Christian reaction.
Zach's parents have decided to ship him off to a self-professed "Safe Place" known as Refuge--a Christianist residential program that promises to turn kids straight.
Refuge emailed The Rules to Zach's parents. He found them and posted them to his blog. They must be read to be believed.
I learned about Zach's blog and the Refuge through General J.C. Christian. The General is engaged in a lively correspondence with Reverend Smid, the program's commandant.
Refuge isn't Christian and it isn't therapeutic. One look at the rules reveals what it really is: a private detention center for gay teens.
Update: Pam Spaulding has more details on Refuge and its parent organization, Love in Action International. Hat tip to Rainbow Ark
Sparrow,
Unfortunately my friend did not even appeal the Workmen's Comp denial of her claim and she only had 14 days to do so. She has had a terrible two years and I think she is too weary to face one more obstacle. Last school year she battled breast cancer and came to school in the afternoons after morning chemo treatments. During this time her father passed away. He was in the VA hospital in Dayton and she had to make multiple trips down there during his illness and passing. She had also lost her mother within the last couple of years.
As for help from the union, I don't know. It may be too late for this incident, but I am planning to advocate for the development of a Workmen's Comp specialist for our group. It's a cinch that no one else will help us and we need to be better prepared.
Help! Moderators, please get rid of these repeated postings. I posted once and it said there was a failure so I tried again. Don't know where the third one came from. I'm sorry!
Kay (and everyone),
Just a quick note about double posting: When one writes a message in this little box, and then hits "post", sometimes one accidently double-clicks--the software is very sensitive.
If that happens, one gets a message that says "unable to post". This message is built into the software. When you see it, know that your message HAS been posted and it is the second, accidental message that has not been posted. If you wait a few seconds and then hit "post" again, you will have two messages posted. If you accidently double-click THAT time, you will get the response message again, and then you wait and then hit "post" again...well, you get the idea.
All this means that, in some ways, this is a "faith-based" software. You have to trust that your message is there, even though you get some seemingly punitive pushback.
And, for the record, it happens to me all the time, and I have been using this program for two years...
An opinion:
I don't think I'd sign the "Howard Dean speaks for me" petition because it just underlines the original problem. Kos is a "reform Democrat" and he factionalizes the party himself (though he occasionally has some good entries & diarists).
People championed Howard Dean, as a candidate and for the head of the DNC - BECAUSE he is outspoken. Don't ever wish too hard for something - you just might get it! ;) His "gaffes" usually make sense but unless he consults other party biggies first, why should they or anyone else agree publically with something they wouldn't say and don't believe?
All speak for themselves when they're questioned by reporters and all are aware at all times that they themselves are up for re-election. They are speaking to their local constituents and those vary. The party is diverse not homogenous.
If you want to see some real contradictions lately in the Republican party line, check out Bush vs Rumsfeld on whether we're closing Gitmo or not, or on virtually any other topic. Scott McClellan must have high pressure as he has to spin faster than a top most days.
Democrats not having a unified party line is one problem and it's a proverbial problem. The bigger problem is the one we were warned about by Eisenhower - the rise of the "military industrial complex."
That's bigger than our political parties, bigger than our national boundaries, bigger than Tom Delay's corruption, bigger than Coingate. Multinational corporations spend thousands on Republican lobbyists (Microsoft was paying Ralph Reed, known from the Christian Coalition AND the Bush campaign for "trade issues", at a rate of $240,000/year).
It is a waste of time to support a faction. The DNC must get its act together but it will take more than a petition.
CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
CULTURE OF CORRUPTION
Lest I be accused of being a Dean or Kos basher (which I'm not), here is William Rivers Pitt, with "Dean was Right" - it's kind of interesting.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/061105Z.shtml
This is quite interesting. Ms. Noe has always seemed in awe of power and money (regardless of the source, apparently). It doesn't surprise me. This individual has a history of hurting others on the way to her "salvation".
Well, she certainly "earned" her way to the top now, didn't she?