With 30-days left before the election perhaps it’s worthwhile remembering what all of this opposition is about…. Something 99% of American voters do not quite understand.
Congress doesn’t actually write legislation. The last item of legislation written by congress was sometime around the mid 1990’s. Modern legislation is sub-contracted to a segment of DC operations known as K-Street. That’s where the lobbyists reside.
Lobbyists write the laws; congress sells the laws; lobbyists then pay congress lucrative commissions for passing their laws. That’s the modern legislative business in DC.
When we talk about paying-off politicians in third-world countries we call it bribery. However, when we undertake the same process in the U.S. we call it “lobbying”.
CTH often describes the system with the phrase: “There are Trillions at Stake.” The process of creating legislation is behind that phrase. DC politics is not quite based on the ideas that frame most voter’s reference points.
With people taking notice of DC politics for the first time; and with people not as familiar with the purpose of DC politics; perhaps it is valuable to provide clarity.
Most people think when they vote for a federal politician -a House or Senate representative- they are voting for a person who will go to Washington DC and write or enact legislation. This is the old-fashioned “schoolhouse rock” perspective based on decades past. There is not a single person in congress writing legislation or laws.
In modern politics not a single member of the House of Representatives or Senator writes a law, or puts pen to paper to write out a legislative construct. This simply doesn’t happen.
Over the past several decades a system of constructing legislation has taken over Washington DC that more resembles a business operation than a legislative body. Here’s how it works right now.
Outside groups, often called “special interest groups”, are entities that represent their interests in legislative constructs. These groups are often representing foreign governments, Wall Street multinational corporations, banks, financial groups or businesses; or smaller groups of people with a similar connection who come together and form a larger group under an umbrella of interest specific to their affiliation.
Sometimes the groups are social interest groups; activists, climate groups, environmental interests etc. The social interest groups are usually non-profit constructs who depend on the expenditures of government to sustain their cause or need.
The for-profit groups (mostly business) have a purpose in Washington DC to shape policy, legislation and laws favorable to their interests. They have fully staffed offices just like any business would – only their ‘business‘ is getting legislation for their unique interests.
These groups are filled with highly-paid lawyers who represent the interests of the entity and actually write laws and legislation briefs.
In the modern era this is actually the origination of the laws that we eventually see passed by congress. Within the walls of these buildings within Washington DC is where the ‘sausage’ is actually made.
Again, no elected official is usually part of this law origination process.
Almost all legislation created is not ‘high profile’, they are obscure changes to current laws, regulations or policies that no-one pays attention to. The passage of the general bills within legislation is not covered in media. Ninety-nine percent of legislative activity happens without anyone outside the system even paying any attention to it.
Once the corporation or representative organizational entity has written the law they want to see passed – they hand it off to the lobbyists.
The lobbyists are people who have deep contacts within the political bodies of the legislative branch, usually former House/Senate staff or former House/Senate politicians themselves.
The lobbyist takes the written brief, the legislative construct, and it’s their job to go to congress and sell it.
“Selling it” means finding politicians who will accept the brief, sponsor their bill and eventually get it to a vote and passage. The lobbyist does this by visiting the politician in their office, or, most currently familiar, by inviting the politician to an event they are hosting. The event is called a junket when it involves travel.
Often the lobbying “event” might be a weekend trip to a ski resort, or a “conference” that takes place at a resort. The actual sales pitch for the bill is usually not too long and the majority of the time is just like a mini vacation etc.
The size of the indulgence within the event, the amount of money the lobbyist is spending, is customarily related to the scale of benefit within the bill the sponsoring business entity is pushing. If the sponsoring business or interest group can gain a lot of financial benefit from the legislation they spend a lot on the indulgences.
Recap: Corporations, mostly modern multinationals (special interest group), write the legislation. The corporations then contract the lobbyists. Lobbyists then take the law and go find politician(s) to support it. Politicians get support from their peers using tenure and status etc. Eventually, if things go according to norm, the legislation gets a vote.
Within every step of the process there are expense account lunches, dinners, trips, venue tickets and a host of other customary financial way-points to generate/leverage a successful outcome. The amount of money spent is proportional to the benefit derived from the outcome.
The important part to remember is that the origination of the entire process is EXTERNAL to congress.
Congress does not write laws or legislation, special interest groups do. Lobbyists are paid, some very well paid, to get politicians to go along with the need of the legislative group.
When you are voting for a Congressional Rep or a U.S. Senator you are not voting for a person who will write laws. Your rep only votes on legislation to approve or disapprove of constructs that are written by outside groups and sold to them through lobbyists who work for those outside groups.
While all of this is happening the same outside groups who write the laws are providing money for the campaigns of the politicians they need to pass them. This construct sets up the quid-pro-quo of influence, although much of it is fraught with plausible deniability.
This is the way legislation is created.
If your frame of reference is not established in this basic understanding you can often fall into the trap of viewing a politician, or political vote, through a false prism.
The modern origin of all legislative constructs is not within congress.
“We have to pass the bill to, well, find out what is in the bill” etc. ~ Nancy Pelosi 2009
“We rely upon the stupidity of the American voter” ~ Johnathan Gruber 2011, 2012.
“If Congress isn’t going to convene until the bill is ready to vote on… who the hell is writing the bill?” ~ Tom Massie, 2020
Once you understand this process you can understand how politicians get rich.
When a House or Senate member becomes educated on the intent of the legislation, they have attended the sales pitch; and when they find out the likelihood of support for that legislation; they can then position their own (or their families) financial interests to benefit from the consequence of passage. It is a process similar to insider trading on Wall Street, except the trading is based on knowing who will benefit from a legislative passage.
The legislative construct passes from K-Street into the halls of congress through congressional committees. The law originates from the committee to the full House or Senate. Committee seats which vote on these bills are therefore more valuable to the lobbyists. Chairs of these committees are exponentially more valuable.
Now, think about this reality against the backdrop of the 2016 Presidential Election. Legislation is passed based on ideology. In the aftermath of the 2016 election the system within DC was not structurally set-up to receive a Donald Trump presidency.
If Hillary Clinton had won the election, her Oval Office desk would be filled with legislation passed by congress which she would have been signing. Heck, she’d have writer’s cramp from all of the special interest legislation, driven by special interest groups that supported her campaign, that would be flowing to her desk.
Why?
Simply because the authors of the legislation, the originating special interest and lobbying groups, were spending millions to fund her campaign. Hillary Clinton would be signing K-Street constructed special interest legislation to repay all of those donors/investors.
Congress would be fast-tracking the passage because the same interest groups also fund the members of congress.
President Donald Trump winning the election threw a monkey wrench into the entire DC system…. In early 2017 the modern legislative machine was frozen in place.
The “America First” policies represented by candidate Donald Trump were not within the legislative constructs coming from the K-Street authors of the legislation. There were no MAGA lobbyists waiting on Trump ideology to advance legislation based on America First objectives.
As a result of an empty feeder system, in early 2017 congress had no bills to advance because all of the myriad of bills and briefs written were not in line with President Trump policy. There was simply no entity within DC writing legislation that was in-line with President Trump’s America-First’ economic and foreign policy agenda.
Exactly the opposite was true. All of the DC legislative briefs and constructs were/are antithetical to Trump policy. There were hundreds of file boxes filled with thousands of legislative constructs that became worthless when Donald Trump won the election.
Those legislative constructs (briefs) representing tens of millions of dollars worth of time and influence were just sitting there piled up in boxes under desks and in closets amid K-Street and the congressional offices. Legislation needed to be in-line with an entire new political perspective, and there was no-one, no special interest or lobbying group, currently occupying DC office space with any interest in synergy with Trump policy.
Think about the larger ramifications within that truism. That is also why there was/is so much opposition.
No legislation provided by outside interests means no work for lobbyists who sell it. No work means no money. No money means no expense accounts. No expenses means politicians paying for their own indulgences etc.
Politicians were not happy without their indulgences, but the issue was actually bigger. No K-Street expenditures also means no personal benefit; and no opportunity to advance financial benefit from the insider trading system. Republicans and democrats hate the presidency of Donald Trump because it is hurting them financially.
President Trump is not figuratively hurting the financial livelihoods of DC politicians; he’s literally doing it. President Trump is not an esoteric problem for them; his impact is very real, very direct, and hits almost every politician in the most painful place imaginable, the bank account.
In the pre-Trump process there were millions upon millions, even billions that could be made by DC politicians and their families. Thousands of very indulgent and exclusive livelihoods attached to the DC business model. At the center of this operation is the lobbying and legislative purchase network. The Big Club.
Without the ability to position personal wealth and benefit from the system, why would a politician stay in office? It is a fact the income of many long-term politicians on both wings of the uniparty bird were completely disrupted by Trump winning the 2016 election. That is one of the key reasons why so many politicians retired in 2018.
When we understand the business of DC, we understand the difference between legislation with a traditional purpose and modern legislation with a financial and political agenda.
When we understand the business of DC we understand why the entire network hates President Donald Trump.
Lastly, this is why -when signing legislation- President Trump often says “they’ve been trying to get this through for a long time” etc. Most of the legislation that is passed by congress, and signed by President Trump in his first term; is older legislative proposals, with little indulgent value that were shelved in years past.
Example: Criminal justice reform did not carry a financial benefit to the legislative bodies, and there was no financial interest funding the politicians to pass the bill. If you look at most of the bills President Trump has signed, with the exception of a few economic bills, they stem from congressional construction many years, even decades, ago.
Think about it carefully and you’ll see it. The “First step act”, “Right to Try”, etc. were all shelved by Boehner, Pelosi, Ryan, McConnell, Reid and others before them. When the value of legislation is measured by the financial underwriting and payoffs behind it, what type of legislative calendar does that require?….
Repeal the 17th amendment and watch what happens.
.
.
Painful truth.
And no one is in DC screaming at the thieves and criminals about it.
Our founding fathers would have nothing to do with the cowardly simps we have become.
China remains the biggest beneficiary of a Biden presidency. They would pay billions to reverse the tariffs. Their is no bigger player out there.
Testing
Pay billions more to re-implement NAFTA.
Between legislative whoring and foreign aid “rebates”, it’s no wonder our National debt is at 27 trillion. Everyone has to get their fair share, both democrats and republicans.
Also explains why Congress likes Omnibus bills, the bigger the better.
It would be nice to have a law restricting corporations from writing legislation as well as lobbying being illegal, however, similar to term limits, line item veto and balanced budget legislation that will never happen because Congress would have to pass the law. Same for constitutional amendments. Not sure there is a way to fix it other than the system collapsing and starting over.
Not so sure its impossible any more. In a Trump 2.0, he could shut it all down until we convened a constitutional convention to force some real reforms that would have lasting effects. And by shut it down, I mean refuse to sign anything, period. no more budget, no more funding. no more extensions or omnibus or anything else to keep ‘essential services” going. And no bailouts of any sort, no funding, PERIOD – to any state that will not comply with federal laws.
Hit the REAL reset button.
The term “whoring” correctly identifies what those that are congress critters, except a few, are…there are just cheap and underhanded whores…
With the election getting closer and President Trump wins a 2nd term, I feel there will be wholesale “retirements” come to the forefront and President Trump will finish off the rest of the CoC and others, including China…That is a MUST and a GIVEN!!!!
Ezekiel 16:33
33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.
I don’t think they’re “cheap” at all. To the contrary…
WELL, Let me say this, SOME of these congcritters are cheaper than the ones on…
testing
jazzboogie … here’s a special testing area of CTH just for all of us to test
… where you can test and also get answers to various technical and Admin-type questions:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/we-get-questions/
Our founders didnt have tech toys spying on them for 2 generations until there was NO LONGER a way to win.
Prgressive is a bacterial like growth. one person dies seeing no result, the next age group sees some and dies, the following sees more results, and etc,,,
its a complete absense of individualism
Our Founding Fathers would have been stacking establishment / Ruling Class bodies by now.
So the point of the article……………..VOTE FOR TRUMP! It’s a beautiful thing.
POTUS reminded us how George Washington on the 25-26 of December led his men across the Delaware River to a surprise attack in Trenton, NJ. This one was actually one of three attacks crossing the Delaware River in this same winter against the British troops. Washington’s Continental Army crossed the icy Delaware and proceeded to march through the snow and ice. Those troops marched and fought for two days straight many of the men didn’t have boots.
I think about us today how many, how many of us could even walk fives to say nothing of fighting another army after we arrived.
They had grit back then, in order to take of their women and children men had to have grit. Same thing for the women, if women were gonna be a proper fit, proper helpers they too had to have grit.
Sorry, this was suppose to land on a post way up in the thread above.
Be glad when this forum at least gets predictable again
Fortified: Your post was good no matter where it was placed.
WordPress sure has been wonky lately. Maybe it will settle down after the election. 🙂
SS is so right about the sausage making of laws in the US Congress.
I had a Political Economy professor (great class, btw) explain this very thing to me years ago. It was the first time I’d ever considered that laws are made by lobbyists and lawyers.
I was complaining about the corruption and bribery so obvious among our legislatures, and he told me that it’s not “bribery or corruption, It’s how it’s done here.”
17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators
https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/17th-amendment
From the link…
Americans did not directly vote for senators for the first 125 years of the Federal Government. The Constitution, as it was adopted in 1788, stated that senators would be elected by state legislatures. The first proposal to amend the Constitution to elect senators by popular vote was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1826, but the idea did not gain considerable support until the late 19th century when several problems related to Senate elections had become evident.
right..
so the citizen had more control of the senators right?
if the senator SCREWED UP – the people would FIRE the local rep for not keeping that punk in check.
and people would know EACH STATE has its own senate?
WhiteBoard, imho, the change to the popular vote allowed exactly what SD lays out above.
More Corruption…
What was needed was another “Approach”.
Continuing from the link…
Several state legislatures deadlocked over the election of senators, which led to Senate vacancies lasting months and even years. In other cases, political machines gained control over state legislatures, and the Senators elected with their support were dismissed as puppets. In addition, the Senate was seen as a “millionaire’s club” serving powerful private interests. The rise of the People’s Party, commonly referred to as the Populist Party, added motivation for making the Senate more directly accountable to the people.
..
This is in the 1800’s!!!!
The “Popular” vote allowed the corruption to continue, only now, the people thought that “They” (or at least a majority of fellow citizens) and NOT the “Rigged System” had voted for it.
If the politicians served their masters…
The masters bankrolled the politicians.
The masters pulled the strings, undermined any challengers and stuffed the ballot box.
Hence…
The politicians continued to be re-elected.
The people continued to be, like, ?
The politician brought home some pork to satiate the people.
Prolly fixed some potholes and promised to do more… next time ’round.
Then, back to bidness…
The politician served their masters.
The masters bankrolled the politicians.
On and on.
And….
Here WE are….
If not for SD, I personally, would still be at the ? stage.
Thank you, SD!!
??TRUMP 2020??
……??MAGA??
ty!
so it made the Senate Vote – democratic. and not representative.
(we could of sent 2 state reps to DC to vote occasionaly)
The states created the federal government and delegated certain powers to it. The 17th Amendment inverted that effectively making the states subdivisions of the federal government. The state governments no longer have any representation. It abolished our federal system and turned it into a national system.
The Amendment was and is a disaster.
Exactly, and that’s why it needs to be repealed. 16th too.
And the 14th (which was never officially and correctly passed) and the 19th. You can DIRECTLY trace every destructive, corrosive, horrible piece of legislation against the passage of the 19th Amendment.
the 19th is difficult to disucss
maybe make it a family vote only, and let all types adopt. gay etc.
Wow!
Smart lobbyists would promote maga centric legislation to get through the house but as we all understand, what the lobbyists want isn’t in our best interests. Like the George Carlin routine cited above, there is a big club and we aren’t in it.
Our VSGPDJT knows these people. He saw all of their depravity while they were drunk, high or otherwise impaired. Our VSGPDJT was stone cold sober and knows the evil of that side.
I believe the “smart” fellers. (Or Fart Smellers) thought infecting VSGPDJT and ACB would work to derail her nomination. They must have forgotten she already beat the Shanghai surprise last summer.
The next month is going to be off the rails. Popcorn is ready (and corn pop also).
I hope for the second presidential debate our VSGPDJT has Tara reade up in the front row. That would be comedy gold.
2 things re Tara..DIdn’t she say she would still vote for Old Joe???? and 2nd..he probably would not recognize her..even if she did look the same!!
The 17th amendment to the US Constitution may be the biggest structural change to the US Constitution. When it was passed, term limits should have been included for US Senators. At least this would have lessened their power.
Strip the perks. No one was supposed to make being a legislator a full time job. The Founders envisioned public service as actual service to the country and that the person doing the service would do so at some personal cost.
I am failing to see how this change eliminates corruption. I can envision several scenarios where it promotes corruption bi-directionally between lobbyists, state legislatures and the federal senator.
That said, we need to historically revisit the reasons why this amendment was passed and what was specifically broken that this amendment was intended to fix.
doyouseemyvision: Exactly, state legislatures are just as bad as the federal. Actually, you can take it all the way down to your local homeowner’s association. Everybody has an agenda, and in most cases, it doesn’t benefit you.
what did the 17th amendment do?
when was it made?
did it removed us from a Representative Gov? (Republic)
it made the Legislature fully democratic instead of partially repubilican …
no wonder we are fckd!
after POTUS’s win we have to revisit this. the SSCI participating in the coup would be a good start to introduce it…
————–
PS, while im writing this – i am seeing FOX news and heaing CARS driving by Walter Reed HONKING! so much you cant hear the reporter!
they FCKN LOVE out president ! that WAS INSANE.
sorry for writing this here but it was happening at the same time!
The way I understand it, the Senate was supposed to provide an institutional memory, with the 6-year terms, so the senators would be older and wiser than the representatives who might only serve two years.
Each state’s two senators were supposed to advance the interests of the state they represent with their advice to the reps. Each state having the same number of senators would keep small states from being overlooked or short-changed, similar to the function of the Electoral College.
The reps were supposed to appoint the senators. The 17th amendment made the senators have to seek election the same way as the representatives, and turned the Senate into a target for bribery by influential groups and industries.
so bottom line – this consolidated the bribing focus of lobbyist.
what was the GD benefit to this? Prior to this were there no Senators?
i am stupid to this, i thought 2 senators was ALWAYS, but they were elected by the state legislature (that was accountable to the people every 2 years)
17th was passed in 1913.
Prior to 1913 Senators were nominated by their State Governor and then ratified by their State Legislature.
The 17th changed that process to direct election, which really made the Senate the same as the House of Representatives but with six year terms.
I would love to see the 17th repealed and go back to the old way, but fat chance that getting any support from the Senate.
Bottom Line> 100 Senators who have six year terms and need to fund re-election efforts= a recipe for bribes.
What else happend in 1913 and around that time…”THE FED”!!!!
lets explore this!
(our convo chains lead to many GREAT articles)
how does the Senate contribute to the Fed more after the 17th amendment? Versus prior?
“justsomeinputfromaz” – how did States ratify a Governors pick?
like recall?
And the tax code, which created the debit / credit system for financing / enriching the Fed.
The 16th Amendment (income tax) was also ratified in 1913.
The Federal Reserve was created in 1913.
1913, a very bad year for the Republic.
The 16th was never ratified. It got passed without the sufficient number of states ratifying it.
This is my argument for single terms of 10 years, with 20% of the Senate replaced by new candidates every 2 years. No two Senators from the same State can be replaced in less than 4 years.
“which really made the Senate just like the representatives, only 6 year terms”;
NO, not “just like the Senators”! Both Senators for each State, are voted on and elected by the WHOLE STATE.
Representives are voted on, by their DISTRICT.
Makes a YUGE difference. We all see how there are not so much red states and blue states, because large population centers vote blue, rural areas red.
In many states, as diverse as New York and Colorado, the large metropolitan areas, both by population AND cheating, swing the whole state blue, in effect disenfranchising the rural, red areas.
If not for Representatives, we would have no voice, at all. Notice it is in the HOUSE, where we see true defence of PDJT, and attempts to expose the coup, by Republicans there.
In the Senate,….not so much, although Johnson is finally showing some gumption, and Hawley, they are obviously being stonewalled by McConnell.
So, it’s a BIG difference, IMHO,…
It would make a big difference if States implemented the electoral college system, at least more representative.
Dutch: Excellent point! I hadn’t thought of it that way because basically, my whole state is Red.
Really yes at the Senators were supposed to represent the State.
Now the Senators are a private army? conspiring together because they know at various times the other party could be in power (so play nice and share the uniparty platform, but alwyas fight to be the HEAD)
Whiteboard – ratified April 8th, 1913, two months after the 16th Amendment. (income tax)
Guess who was on the throne…….
5 democrats out of this entire compilation of Senate and House quarantined for Covid.
think about that
5! 5!
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/15/833692377/how-the-coronavirus-has-affected-individual-members-of-congress
On the upside, the process frees-up our elected representatives to spend more time fundraising and maintaining the “perpetual campaign”.
This explains why they so badly want the ham sandwich named Joe Biden in office. Joe will sign anything.
Then Trump (┛◉Д◉)┛彡┻━┻
There needs to be a class action lawsuit against all Lobbyists & all members of Congress, kind of like the “Reparations“ sh-t the Communists are threatening taxpayers with.
Sue them all to high heaven.
Sue them for malpractice of our representative government.
Anyone ???
Lobbying is such big business. Paul Ryan’s wife and in-laws are lobbyists, as are all of Senator Blunt’s family members.
It really is “the Club.”
A GOOD SOLUTION:
—-
Make parties ILLEGAL to own candidates on a ballot.
for example – POTUS can say tomorrow JOHN JAKE is the Senate candidate for Kentucky,,, and its gets put on the ballot – and the end. no write in the name BS, full check box (POTUS does a rally – says VOTE FOR JJ and the end)
Hmmmm
Congress gets elected and paid to write laws, but the laws are actually written by lobbyists who also pay congress, who then keep getting elected to this gravy train for decades.
What could go wrong?
Good questions, WhiteBoard. Look forward to seeing answers from others’ comments (or yours).
the biggest thing that stands out, is WHO WOULD a lobbyist bribe prior to the 17 amendment?
State Governor’s.
Charges of rampant corruption were the impetus for the 17th Amendment.
why wouldnt the system make the reps vote for senators, and not the Gov?
then u have representative VARIETY of the state selecting.
And the President could press his thumb on his party’s governors like Blagojevich from Illinois.
I see lots of money changing hands and lobbying activity just as today.
Need to research what issues existed under the ‘old system’ that served as the catalyst for this amendment as a remedy.
https://dcdirtylaundry.com/bombshell-former-pfizer-executive-says-covid-19-pandemic-is-over-so-called-second-wave-based-on-fraudulent-testing/
Despite claims by Anthony Fauci and others that Americans should brace for a “second wave” of the Wuhan coronavirus (covid-19), former Pfizer Chief Science Officer Dr. Mike Yeadon says this is nothing but fear-mongering based on junk science and fraud.
A former vice president at the pharmaceutical giant, Dr. Yeadon claims that “almost all” of the tests being conducted for the Wuhan coronavirus (covid-19) are “false positives,” a phenomenon that has already been observed in Florida. Dr. Yeadon also says that “there is no science to suggest a second wave should happen.”
Any “second wave” that comes along is completely manufactured based on fake “new cases,” Dr. Yeadon is further quoted as saying, responding in the affirmative when asked if “we are basing a government policy, an economic policy, a civil liberties policy, in terms of limiting people to six persons in a meeting … all based on what may well be completely fake data.”
Henry- thanks for posting.
Yes. Thank you!
And yet, despite all that we have heard and read about the WuFlu being all but an overblown political scam executed for nefarious reasons, the “True Believer’s” of the Progressive/Oppressive ideology would flat-out REFUSE to believe ‘the science’ and facts as presented in an article such as this because they did not read it in the NYT’s or hear it on NPR (or any similarly lime-minded msm ‘news’ outlet)!
Certainly the threat level posed by the virus has been misrepresented. South Africa’s health minister estimated that 20% of the nation’s 58 million people have been infected by covid19, and at this point about 40% of the population has antibodies to the virus. Herd immunity is thought to require 80%+ to have the antibodies. SA’s experience suggests that official estimates of those Americans who have already contracted COVID19 (with most likely having mild to no symptoms) should be much higher.
If anything the strategies pursued by CDC and WHO of mass quarantining are brought into serious question and scrutinized as well as the power vested in public health officials. We see how quickly a pandemic becomes a political tool. There is no way to be perfectly safe from disease unless we all live in sterile enclosures and don’t interact with each other. Who said that freedom didn’t come with a price? We can’t allow people to stand up and scream that they feel unsafe and demand the government do something every time a new illness appears.
If you ever decide to run for any office in the nation, let me know; I will be there to support you.
Your post is excellent, and I am glad you contributed.
Best…
I agree !
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video What Kary Mullis says about PCR testing – some take away lessons for #COVID19?
Kary Mullis won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the development of the PCR Test. He said it was a research tool to study viruses, not a diagnostic tool.
u know i am fun at parties but at dinner I was just telling me kids, about 4 days ago, how bad the 17th amendment is. and here SD talks about it. it’s HORRIBAD.
And that is why:…….
https://twitchy.com/sarahd-313035/2020/10/01/how-about-no-nbc-news-natsec-contributor-frank-figliuzzi-suggests-bipartisan-committee-to-vet-future-potus-candidates-video/
Don’t forget what David Plouffe said (over 4 years ago) – believe him:
“It is not enough to simply beat Trump. He must be destroyed thoroughly. His kind must not rise again.”
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) June 13, 2016
https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2018/05/21/flashback-this-tweet-from-david-plouffe-about-destroying-trump-thoroughly-didnt-age-well/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=1fec1b066073afac93b41dede26b94ece8d95a08-1601764028-0-AZtY9DFZAGVAsCp5ZeuZAhpsbb_FvZlNHqe61VCZ5yOMx81N9TioCSbpOvz5R8WCCULK3O4NpaxiAUyAU69aC6TgWdd2oyBMDKuRAzjSfO0RRrcJYtKIce8VZaGvBTaERbwtsLUW49u-V-V7Y939zdHBTo28TOJPF-oVxyGLOoUunXmJ4XzgN6H1puR_Mt8ze8tlE_JQV_7zzNLSmIPBI0nhs49w8I3FzP5OAFSPD3MFAwGmjBpUB8IIcBfqTEATmTBgIuFtl_wlDvZIBtuajQXIRc83eLOQ_SC-1d6Jx7vIMZ5wnH8vkJ3BSMr90D4iglFYWNf_CEPa2Sd5vsCpSf9tJvnlm3WGeb3SFgM9QNzPhN0dCM_NOZDi6LbyV9ZqjAudFceP5NXBMhLPWMZz_-A44dO-i7sUqiWSYmnbOzyR
(sorry for all those lines – don’t know why – but the link should get you to the source)
“It is not enough to simply beat Trump. He must be destroyed thoroughly. His kind must not rise again.”
Plouffe is not talking about Donald J. Trump… he’s talking about you and me.
Yes. “His kind….” refers to us.
Indeed, it does.
That’s alright. I actually quite like being thought of in that way.
Sharon-a tip:
You can cut off such a long URlLby looking at the least lines of the heading sentence in the URL
Eg for the above it would be:
https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2018/05/21/flashback-this-tweet-from-david-plouffe-about-destroying-trump-thoroughly-didnt-age-well/
I often do that but I always copy and paste it first into the browser to see if it still works
We love you Sundance !!! God bless you.
Labor Unions really got the jump on everyone in this area.
When you read this you realize why something like homosexual marriage, which would have required a legislative change, was never going to be legislated; instead, the perverted interpretation of marriage had to be gotten unConstitutionally via the black robed creators from whole cloth.
Homosexual marriage would have never gone through the legislature because there was no money in it for them. Who was gonna pay?
SD has given us a whole different prism to look at how legislation is passed.
Another reason why nothing on DACA was passed. No money in it for our congressmen. Who is gonna pay?
Legislatively ban lobbying or enact term limits?? You must be joking!! Who’s gonna pay??
There is also a “racket” being run within each wing of the Uniparty.
Each House/Senate member must purchase their seats on committees, as well as pay “dues” to successfully remain in the good graces of their separate Uniparty wing.
Committee seats must be purchased.
Members are told the cost of being “assigned ” to committees, and campaign funds/support are given to each member based on how much money each member provides.
It was either Matt Gaetz or Trey Gowdy who explained this game (forget which). One committee cost $75,000 so $150,000 was given, thinking to receive a higher committee seat rank.
$150,000 made the Uniparty wing head very happy, but only yielded a seat on two committees. Committee assignation and rank were still determined by the head guy, it seems.
If one wishes to remain active in D.C., one must become corrupted quickly, or one will quickly “lose” their next election.
There was a former representative from Florida that talked about that during an interview. All explained to them at their orientation how much they have to raise for a given committee. The more powerful the committee, the more that needs to be raised. Seats on Judicial, Ways and Means etc … cost a lot.
dd sc: I didn’t realize this until recently. It certainly explains why some are on certain committees. The lobbyist make sure they raise enough money to get on the RIGHT committee.
Very informative! Thanks for all you do, Sundance
Always a little smarter leaving CTH. Sundance University………………online.
Also……Thomas Massie is one of the few good guys. PDJT needs to keep him close.
IMO its also important to note that the “lobbyists” spend a LOT of attention at the individual agency level. We have handed so much power over to them to “regulate” far beyond the actual written portion of the law, that the gravy train gets very good results without even having to go through Congress.
They have to get the President out of the way. They have tried everything else and he continues to have Maga support. I hope this really wasn’t an attack…
President Trump has to get back in office so we have to do our part and vote him back in.
CBS News literally just interrupted College Football to say President Trump has no clear path to recovery based on an anonymous source…
These people are insufferable liars…
And traitors trying to sow panic.
i would add one more thought to this discussion
the McCain Feingold ‘reelection guaranteed’ Act from a few years ago
Lots of folks wish there were no limits on campaign donations – other than a full disclosure
thanks Sundance for posting this information again. We have to be always mindful of what is at stake.
its sick to see Fox news reporters get HORNY talking about POTUS being sick and not feeling well, or “confusing mixed messages”
*** “Repeal the 17th amendment and watch what happens.” ***
AMEN!
If the ‘Convention of States’ advocates would put their energy into repealing the 17th Amendment, many of their concerns would be addressed.
Look at the 2016 Electoral Map. Notice all the Red Counties surrounding Blue metropolitan areas?
That was the design of those advocating the 17th Amendment.
The Senators of those Red states or Blue states with large numbers of Red counties are progressing toward “Progressive” (Communist) representation because of the “popular” vote of Senators as a result of the 17th Amendment, i.e., easily influenced sheep or useful idiots that cast their votes for people that are bought who in turn by off voters with promises or ‘indulgences’ for their selfish agenda vs the general welfare of the citizens of the USA.
The next target of the Progressives/Democrats aka Communists, is the destruction of the Electoral College…”to preserve our Democracy” – mob rule by the likes of BLM/Antifa with the help of the International Communist Movement (CCP), the International Islamic Movement (e.g.,CAIR), and Multinational Corporate Globalist Movements, and Interfaith Outreach Movements among others.
Democracy was anathema to the Founders; that is why we have a Constitutional Republic governed by the Rule of Law with Majority rule and Minority rights protected.
Democracy is Mob Rule by the passions of deeply flawed men and women who are often LAWLESS, which is indicative of what we are seeing with the riots in our cities with the encouragement the leadership of the Democrat/Communist Party in the US; the Establishment GOP are their enablers.
NO CONVENTION OF STATES…That will OPEN a can of worms that will NEVER be able to put back in…That puts the 2nd Amendment on the TABLE…NO THANK…NO CONVENTION OF STATES……PERIOD………………………!!! I do hope this gets through!!!!
Kind of a catch-22 here when it comes to correcting the defects caused by the 17th amendment. It is not be unwise to be concerned when it comes to invoking an article 5 convention.
Remember it was a convention to correct the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation that gave us the Constitution that stands to this day. And those men in those days I suspect were were far more honorable then many we could find today to represent our interests in such a case today, despite admonitions that a runaway convention is impossible.
I firmly believe that a path will present itself to right these issues of our current era. If we are sincere in our efforts to put our faith into that of our creator and allow him to work through us individually, and together as one People, as one Nation under God, anything is possible.
That’s not how a convention works. Mark Levin has covered this in some detail over the years.
I’ll say this much, given we’re at a time where large numbers of Democrats are willing to disregard the Constitution by pursunig extra-legal strategies to power and dismantling the justice systeme, there is little point in amending it. The left wants to pack the SCOTUS with political loyalists who will rule to advance left-wing goals regardless of the meaning of the Constitution. It will be a worthless rag if they succeed.
It was having a written Constitution that enowered the nation to survive the Civil War intact and let’s hope it will empower us to suppress the attacks on democracy and rule of law coming from the left. We have no state religion, but the Constitution and Bill of Rights is our sacred scroll and the left needs to be reminded of that truth.
You misread my comment if you think I am advocating on behalf of Convention of States.
I WAS ADVOCATING THE OPPOSITE! – the repeal of the 17th Amendment, putting the power of the States with the representatives of the States as the Founders intended.
“I do hope this gets through!!!!”
> If the ‘Convention of States’ advocates would put their energy into repealing the 17th Amendment, many of their concerns would be addressed.
Yes!
As I recall the 17th Amendment is on the agenda of the proponents of an Article Five Convention of States (along with term limits).
My concern is that an Article Five Convention could be taken over by the radical Left. The proponents say that is not so, but is there a convincing argument?
I totally understand and agree with Sundance’s description of what is going on with our legislative process. I wasn’t really interested in government while I was helping with diapers, but I have strong recollection of PACs being legalized in the early 70s. I distinctly remember corporate solicitation becoming an item and lobbying offices being set up. This really provided the push for the situation which Sundance described.
My reason for stating this is that to undo the situation which Sundance describes, I believe this corporate funding will have to be removed. And there are trillions of dollars involved.
Where to begin?
Well first, thank you Sundance for your concise explanation of his this swamp actually functions. What all of CTH has just received is a gift that a majority of the nation has ZERO idea about.
ALL OF WHAT SUNDANCE WROTE IS CORRECT AND EXTREMELY ACCURATE.
The only thing I would add is from this line:
“The for-profit groups (mostly business) have a purpose in Washington DC to shape policy, legislation and laws favorable to their interests.”
There is a large contingent of 501c3 (nonprofit) organizations that also contribute, direct and even write the legislation. These are not your run of the mill “save the beaver” type of nonprofits. In fact many of them are extremely sophisticated, well staffed, and well financed. Further, the number of Congress people you never heard of (even if you lived in their district) who had maybe one or two terms, that are specifically picked to run these nonprofits, is mind blowing.
Also, when you consider who actually drafted both the nonprofit and trust laws (uh um, Rockefeller family), you know there is substantial money behind specific groups. Many of the largest nonprofits have deep state ties. For example, the Ford Foundation has been very connected to the Central Intelligence Agency for decades. Also, many of these nonprofit organizations have openly stated that their sole purpose is to change “the very fabric of America”.
Then there is the fact that a foreign power can open and direct a nonprofit organization in the United States of America, which means (quite literally) that a foreign nation who may have a direct connection to the nonprofit is “A OKAY” to run the organization, Now in some instances a foreign NGO (Non Governmental Office) will own and run the U.S. nonprofit very much like a subsidiary; however, in other cases the governments of say Saudi Arabia or Israel will be directly involved in the nonprofit.
Many of these nonprofits are “think tanks” or what the British used to call “round table groups”. They can be extremely dangerous to a republic should they become enmeshed and exert power. The Council on Foreign Relations in the United States and Chatham House in Great Britain come to mind. In fact the CFR has directed so much of our government as to not only create laws (or modify existing laws as Sundance pointed out), but even direct us to go to war (FDR received his marching orders for Lend Lease and provoking Japan from the CFR).
Nonprofits are also the tools for a revolving door of socialists who work for our government during a period of time and then parachute out to a nonprofit with higher salaries and much better benefits. Please trust me when I tell you that the employees of nonprofits in the most significant areas are making substantial money and have extremely generous benefits, which most Americans could only dream of.
A decent programmer at Microsoft might make 150K and would need to constantly keep up their “certifications” to stay viable in their role. A moronic to decent policy analyst at a nonprofit could make between 200K and 300K, and would need very little additional education to maintain their position. There are very few sins that would get this individual fired, as long as they “played ball” with all of the whims (both on the job and in their private lives) of the organization.
Sundance has provided a very succinct and clear understanding of our current government. Hopefully, I have rounded out some of the additional aspects of the situation. It is frustrating to say the least and can drive anyone with a moral code “NUTS” just living here. Ten percent of the time, something good happens and WE THE PEOPLE are provided with some real justice; however, a majority of the time this is just not the case.
President Donald J. Trump and many of the people behind the scenes (some form intelligence, some from the government, some from the business world, some from his friendships / every day life including Mr. Ross Perot [originally] and even Ms. Ivana Trump) has been a game changer. Normally I am a Conservative Libertarian by design. In fact I like Dr. Jo. very much as the candidate for this year; however, PDJT has a broader appeal and I recognize this. He can appeal to Libertarians (including a lot of the Honorable Dr. Ron Paul’s former constituency, which I count myself as one), Republicans, Independents, Moderates and even the older Democrats who are not crazy. For this reason, I am very supportive of him (oh yeah, and he is from the common sense part of NYC, as I am too, that isn’t bat poop nuts).
One last parting thought…
If ANTIFA and BLM really wished to address so called “white privilege” and fascism, one of their first targets (assuming they would not take on governmental offices or the World Bank network) would be these nonprofits, and more specifically the think tanks. Yet, these are their funders and no one bites the hand that feeds them.
Sorry I went long; Sundance inspired me to write a bit.
LIKE – since I STILL can’t LIKE — DAMN WP
Thank you.
I do not care for the idea of coincidences.
Trump and several of his administration and allies in the Senate just happen to all catch Corona a month before the election and a few weeks before the SCOTUS conformation.
It leaves demonrats (and China) with…
– No more rallies and in person campaigning
– A narrative for their campaign re:COVID
– Potential to incapacitate enough senators to stop the SCOTUS conformation
If they accomplished all of that, it would be a literal game changer.
I know my state rep., and I’ve met my state senator. I have never seen or met Enzi or barasso since they never have come to my city, which is one of the largest in the state, but why should they? Heck, I’ve never even seen or met Cheney. Meeting and talking with the public must be a distasteful task for them, but the big donors like the WY stock grower assoc? They’re all in.
I guess most of my fellow citizens are OK with it, and I’m sure most are clueless about the topic presented here. I just cant, in good conscious, bring myself to vote for them anymore….ever. As SD alluded too, they don’t represent we the people anymore. Bring back the 17th.
I meant repeal.
First, great post and thanks.
So I was in the National Cathedral years ago for the Christmas vigil (not my normal place of worship, but I was invited by someone very close to me). VPDC was across from me for the vigil, and boy oh boy did he look a might grumpy.
Now mind you, I knew that self serving bast*rd never did much for all of us, but I thought at Christmas, his edge would soften. I guess I was wrong. Yet, I still prayed for the former electrical lineman.
It’s not just Congress that has been corrupted, it’s the military also. Admirals and Generals make the same type of funding decisions as Congress, there are trillions at stake there also. The military is full of corrupt flag and general officers just looking to line their pockets.
Full Disclosure: I am a retired Naval officer (6110).
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1312525833505058816?s=20
Looking good.
Thank you for posting that! ?
I would like to know the connection between this corrupt legislative process and the FISA process and its associated NSA Database. I suspect it has to do with straight forward black mail of those unwilling to be purchased by K-Street?
And, insider trading for those able to afford it.
I wish more people understood this. Bravo Sundance!
NEWS FLASH: President Trump’s latest video from Walter Reed. GREAT NEWS!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/president-trump-releases-update-says-hes-feeling-much-better-after-hospitalization
Thanks, Seneca. This is a must-watch spirit lifter. POTUS looks and sounds great.
Pray for POTUS speedy recovery. A day lost by our POTUS is too long. I wonder if Sundance could be instrumental in developing a theme of education within the newly created 1776 education XO just signed. There is so much education needed for our youth and truly Patriots like Sundance needed.
I expect he’s working as usual. I hope he takes this as an opportunity to rest.
Both Dr. Conley and COS said PDJT did a regular days work at the “Walter Reed Oval Office.” So nothing lost but a rally (ummm…peaceful protest). Then again there were plenty of “peaceful” gatherings in support of PDJT all over today.
If lobbyist control the Senate – then Lobbyist want the Senate to play nice together. hence UNIPARTY.
Don’t forget about insider trading of NSA contractors. Company X is about to merge with company Y, etc.
Lobbyist Z is about to get legislation passed for company W.
Lots of profit without the work.
how did comey get away with ‘adding access to the database via a memo – footnote 69 colleyer report’
is that 100% okay?
It apparently depends on who you are.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/08/04/point-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8572870
Repealing the 17th is the only way forward. The coordinated attacks by every entity currently attacking President Trump would destroy any group gaining ground in this endeavour.
It would be a bloodbath.
After 2024 DJT could make it happen.
Executive order first day — splodey heads galore. Would be like the fountain at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas set to music of Village people with all MAGA singers inserting M- A – G- A
What a night!
Sadly I STILL can’t like anyones comments ;( BUT please know I love so many comments today — I wish I had time to figure this DAMN WP issue out BUT bigger concerns and off to PRAY some more for our AMAZING President.
Lotbusy – Do you log into CTH or WP? I’ve always logged into WP, and have never had any trouble with votes. This recent snarl-up is what’s bugging me! Can’t see my avatar and notifications up in corner, and can no longer hover over # of votes to see who voted.
I do not see a way forward to resolve repealing the 17th without dealing with the 16th. No reason for them to willingly give up that influence over trillions coming and going out of the Federal coffers and not being able to borrow against that for votes or otherwise. And to think we have one president to thank for both of them. Woodrow Wilson who also advocated for the (failed) League of Nations.
I might be thinking TO FAR OUTSIDE THE BOX…but to me to get this resolved of Repealing the 17th Amendment, ALONG with others, is to let the states do it themselves…WITHOUT HAVING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION…
Reason for this: Our Founders wanted the Government to be RUN by the People…in that vain, the states put out the information as to WHAT is GOING ON with the repeal of amendment(s)…Americans make decisions that are local, our Founding Fathers knew this…get back too it…
Vote by county, votes sent to the State Houses, the States House Forward to Congress.
NOTE: There was a lot of skullduggery back then and more now but at least IT IS THE PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS…Also, it will not take as long!!! Given the fact that there will be a TIME LIMIT ON IT!!! Don’t get it done, suffer the consequences…States were given time to do the right thing by their citizens then the citizens can throw out the morons…
NOTE: Not everything is perfect but OUR COUNTRY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RUN BY US…NOT BY PEOPLE WHO STAY FOR A LIFETIME AND DO NOTHING!!!!
A government run via for profit backroom deals, and where it’s citizens are kept out of the process, is a recipe for corruption of the highest order
What we need is one and only one lobby group, the only one that matters, we the people
Money should be taken out of politics. Banned altogether with banishment from office as the punishment
We the people, either individuals as a group representing citizens interests, or as a group representing business interests, should be allowed to drop off written legislation constructs at their representatives office, but with no further involvement such as meeting with those in power
Those legislation constructs should spell out the reason(s) it’s wanted and what reason, if any, it’s beneficial to we the people and the country, local, national, as a whole
I would take it further by getting we the people involved in what passes or not, by holding quarterly votes. Every three months, sane and reasonable legislation ideas would be put up for a vote by the people, with the pro’s and con’s spelled out
We believe this legislation would be good for the people because..
We believe this legislation which would benefit our business would ultimately benefit the people and the community because….
Put the people back in power. An informed and engaged populace creates clean and efficient government
The only way to get money and the influence it buys out of politics is by the people demanding just that
WE don’t need LOBBY GROUP(S) of any kind…
I was contemplating the genius of our VSG P DJT.
All of what Sundance has written is true – this post and his other great explanations.
BUT
It’s complicated – tho known in great detail by our Commander in Chief
So, what does he do?
Explain to us that we have to drain the swamp. Simple, explicit and easy to understand. Washington is full of swamp creatures (no detail) and it must be cleaned up.
Don’t ‘cha LOVE IT?
LOVE our Great Lion!
We need to keep a close eye on all of those members of the Senate. Says the director of the CIA. Great way to play the Stock Market don’t you think with a few FISA warrants.
lobbyist control the Senate or is it that blackmail control’s the Senate while you make money?
LOBBYISTS control BOTH HOUSES!!!
it takes a lot of work to pass legislation to control the american people. rep. john dingell
Simple Civics lesson can be taught on this abdication by Congress of their main function when renaming the DC NFL Team. Let’s call them the Hippos..short for Hypocritters!
Besides a wide open hippo gullett with a football caught in it would just be a plain cute shirt for the younger fans.
Daddy why is the mascot a hippo? Well you see Max there used to be a thing called a ‘bill’…
AnAppeal2Heaven, IMO we need a civics class to explain the duties/responsibilities of the House and the Senate. What I remember from many, many years ago….
The House deals with We The People issues hence they represent us and we elect them for that purpose.
The Senate was established to represent the State and State issues along with international issues. Hence the Senators were to be elected by state legislators.
Again, this is basically the way I remember it. The whole system has been bastardized and We The People have been screwed for many, many years. And what is hard to believe, we geezers were taught civics and believed we had a representative government and an honest one too boot.
President Trump’s election put sunlight on the whole thing and I pray by the end of his second term he will have put us back on track that our founders visioned. MAGA! ??
An American…I ALSO remember the EXACT SAME CIVICS LESSON…get back too it!!!
Is it so hard to see, why the intelligence community is upset? if the FISA process is taken down. and they are without their extortion tools, would they be exposed and then their money making days ended?
Then again this is nothing but speculation on my part after all the NSA Database has so much security and the FISA process is without corruption.
I like gridlock in Congress because the argument that it is critical for these thousands of news laws and amendments to be passed each year is false. Starving the swamp so some of these lobbyist and lawyer shops will close their doors suits me just fine.
Doing nothing is often better than doing something, although you’ll never convince a Democrat of that. They demand a continuous stream of expenditure and regulation or else all sorts of calamities will befall us.
Just wait, it won’t be long before they have AI writing legislation.
But it doesn’t matter, anyway, because the courts just make up whatever they want legislation to say at any particular moment.
8:30 PM and even NYers are saying ‘sick of this chit’!
Times Square EarthCam **LIVE**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRe-514tGMg&feature=emb_err_woyt
We’re all the same… they cannot control our normal.