Most people are unaware that outside lobbyist groups hold the power over the internal dynamic. In addition to internal financial systems, each congressperson is aligned with a lobbyist group that pays for their political election efforts, sort of like a corporate sponsor in a professional sports team. Ultimately the sponsors determine what issues the politician supports. This is the business end of DC politics.
According to Politico, the Congressional Leadership Fund (team McCarthy) has come to an agreement with the Club for Growth Fund (team not McCarthy) and worked out a deal the representatives may be permitted to support. The deal “includes a vote on term limits for members, more seats for Freedom Caucus members on the powerful House Rules Committee and allowing a single member to force a vote on ousting the speaker.” The voting continues today.
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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 (special interest group) write the legislation. Lobbyists 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 waypoints 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’ll 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.
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.
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 mean politicians paying for their own indulgences etc.
In the aftermath of President Trump winning the 2016 election, politicians on both sides were not happy – 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.
Without the ability to position personal wealth for benefit, why would a politician stay in office? The income of many long-term politicians on both Republican and Democrat sides of the aisle was completely disrupted by President Trump winning the election. That is one of the key reasons why so many politicians retired immediately thereafter.
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.
Lastly, this is why -when signing legislation- President Trump often said “they’ve been trying to get this through for a long time” etc. Most of the legislation passed by congress and signed by President Trump in his first term was 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 ago.
So, do we need NASCAR to design clothes for politicians, complete with all sponsors displayed?
Ever see those pictures of all the digital information on a person jumping out to the fellow who walks by wearing the Google glasses? I have a vision of these Congress critters all having labels shadow them wherever they go, “Sold out to: Solyndra, Apple, Alphabet, Disney, Capital One, Chase, Goldman-Sachs, Ukraine, WEF, Citibank, Wells-Fargo” and whoever else pays for them.
If you’re going to profit by it you should wear the label proudly.
Put them on their vehicles too, more exposure.
Nancy Pelosi is enjoying her popcorn this morning. lol…….
What is she washing it down with (hickup)??? 😄
Popcorn liquified with Chardonnay! 🍷 🍿
I don’t care what Pelosi is enjoying. I do care that they vote out McCarthy.
On Tuesday I turned n my radio about 3-3:30. Hannity was on crying about how embarrassing it was that voting was still going on.
I knew then that this was the talking point they had bern created to overcome those voting against McCarthy. And, sure enough, its’s bern repeated everywhere..
Now we have the addition of the terms terrorists and insurrectionists.
I don’t care if this takes 60 days. McCarthy must go.
He can step down and end this. A normal candidate would do so. However, he is the swamp protector of the investigations.
He must become speaker. The Dems will vote him in.
It’s going to get much, much, uglier.
And it needs to.
However, much has been lost by many of the elites. They are being flushed out one by one.
Apparently Hannity is against a working republic
At what point is it clear that the 5 will not vote for him under any circumstance. The 5 need to stop with the rule change thingy. Anyway at that point McCarthy is just blocking the process of getting a new speaker and his remaining in is pointless. Lets hope he saves himself further embarrassment and withdraws before it has to be a supporter withdrawing their support and nominates or votes for another candidate. I like the fact that Trumps name is in the hat. It looks as though the timing was thought out cause this am Bannon was going on and on as to why it should be Trump…then Gaetz nominates him and the smile on MTG face which by the way she is sitting next to him. I know this is playing detective but Trump may have been “supporting” McCarthy as a misdirection move. Could not look like this thing was planned. Also could be the reason MTG looked so giddy while talking to McCarthy …who by the way punished her ….she knew this was coming….I know…..but it is fun thinking about it as the art of the deal.
So what? This process isn’t ugly, it isn’t dysfunctional, it isn’t harming the already chronic glacial pace of congress. This process is at least, hopefully, sending a message to pelosi and the Swamp.
I don’t want business as usual with Rinos swimming in the swamp.
the chicago cardinals weren’t even this bad.
And Kevin the Squatter can bring this historic spectacle to an end with just two words:
“I withdraw”.
There’s a pic of another useless teat!
FWB’s (Friends with Boners)
Curious as to what happens to the videos and causes the links to become unavailable.
No way no how is KM is ever going to be speaker period
The shills still voting for McCarthy at this point are just as embarrassing as McCarthy himself, and that includes Donald Trump.
How about agreement on a few line items that we all supposedly agree on, like forwarding a bill to secure the border; a bill to uncork the fossil energy that Biden-Obama corked and plug back in the national electrical grid that JoeBama unplugged before our economy implodes completely and we all die; a federal ban on the sexual mutilation of minors; a federal ban on teaching children in the public schools that judging people by the content of their character instead of by the color of their skin is “white supremacy”; and some promises to exercise the one power the House can deploy on its own: a veto over endless spending on Democrat priorities.
Of course McCarthy just intentionally took that power away from Republicans for the next year by supporting another Democrat porkulus omnibus spending bill at the end of the last session, when the Republican house majority was only two weeks away. That is the context of the current rejection of his “leadership.” He just proved beyond all possible doubt that he is actually on the side of the Democrats. He is not just non-conservative, he is radically anti-conservative, and anything else that comes out of his mouth is pretense.
What is McCarthy’s objection to the obvious line items? We won’t be able to win any of them in the Senate, but we might as well at least get the bills hammered out. Yet McCarthy is unwilling even to posture as a conservative. Seems like another declaration that he is actually a Democrat, and he is determined to win on this basis.
It’s like the Soviets forcing the enslaved Russian population to go along with obvious lies. The humiliation was a demonstration of their dominance and McCarthy seems to be another Romney or McConnell in that respect. They so hate Republican voters that they want to humiliate us, and revel in our powerlessness in the face of their control of the bottleneck through which conservative voting power is constrained to flow in the Republican Party.
Personally I am completely ready to believe that McCarthy is a homosexual literally in bed with Frank Luntz. He is such a liar. Claiming to be a leader after betraying 99% of the party two weeks ago is the height of pretense. No word from this guy’s mouth can ever be believed. His capacity for fraud is beyond Obama (who never actually his hatred for America, only the press did that).
Not that we should in trying to get rid of him we should carelessly stumble into Speaker Hakim Jefferies . There is always a greater evil. But getting anti-conservatives out of Republican leadership is a true necessity, worth great effort and risk.
My contribution to the line-item list: how about a bill to put the Nuremberg Code into American law, declaring mandated participation in medical experiments to be a war crime, even if it cannot allow us to retroactively prosecute and hang Anthony Fauci, the governors of every blue state, and Lloyd Austin.
Here is a guess:
If mccarthy promises to hamper investigations into DOJ/FBI corruption and Hatch Act/civil rights violations. the foreign payments to the ‘biden family including the ‘big guy’, the Ukraine kickbacks including digitalcurrency payments, the FDA/CDC/NIH corruption, the profligate spending to buddies/earmarks, the biden/seth rich laptops, the J6 committee, the First Amendment censorship violations, the ‘gain-of-function’ virus funding to China by fauci and our DoD, the drug cartel interactions with out ‘government agencies’, and to continue to ignore vote fraud,
The Dems will gladly vote to elect him.
Are these the ‘serious’ negotiations that are going on? While tying up all the congresscritters with repeated time-wasting votes so they are not as functional at organizing against the ‘establishment’ dem/GOPe party?
Reportedly, the Dems want to hamper investigations AND more committee seats. They also say it can’t be McCarthy.
The irony is, it’s the Ds who are scuttling an historic opportunity, if only they’d be reasonable. If they agreed to help KM and only asked for no investigations, giving up extra committee seats – KM and enough squishy Rs would probably take that deal. Thank goodness Ds are too greedy.
I will never understand trump’s endorsement if this swamp rat-drain the swamp trumps says and then endorses one the most corrupt swamp rat on the scene.
Yes, Trump has always prided himself on backing winners, and yet, here, he will not back away from his support for someone who very clearly and deservedly is a loser.
It is a wonder.
On the other hand, PDJT kind of boxed it where if he won’t make real deals with his own party, it sure looks bad to make deals with other side.
The ones on the other side making the demands will be the squad.
Trump really miscalculated this.
nah, it’s 12 D chess
So far, I am very disappointed in this group of Republicans. Citizens voted Republican to provide some sanity and more importantly transparency. It’s been 3 days and obviously will be more. And yet most don’t understand the demands which hold up this process.
McCarthy should demand a list of demands for public display and then take action. Provide transparency and we will supply the appropriate pressure.
McCarthy should withdraw.
He doesn’t have the votes, and he’s not going to get the votes, from his Caucus.
Kevin McCarthy is now the problem.
Maybe the Uniparty plan is for a Dem Speaker
Pift.
This process is working EXACTLY the way it was designed. McCarthy, because he feels heir apparent, feels entitled to “his precious,” but he forgot that there are patriots in the House who will not ACCEPT BUSINESS AS USUAL. Regardless of what McCarthy agrees to, he will undoubtedly renege, since he is a proven liar and scumbag– perfect for the GOPe. He must be stopped. The fact that the Rats and the right wing of the UniParty are calling the 20 renegades, terrorists, blackmailers, and insurrectionists (FU Fox News), tells you that the 20 are over the target.
Two more years!
(of not selecting a Speaker)
Think of the money not getting spent!
Jim Lampley: Harold how do you score it?
Harold Lederman: “Okay Jim, after 8 rounds I got it MAGA 80 RINO 64. First 8 rounds to MAGA….wondering when Frank Capacino is going to stop this?”
Boebrrt speaking now for Kevin Hern.
If nothing else, closet RINOs and the power of the swamp are being exposed. I’ve told my representative if she keeps voting for McCarthy, I’ll quit voting for her. She probably doesn’t care, but I will do that if she continues. McCarthy could doom the Republic. We can’t allow him to win. On the bright side, people seem to be awakening to what is really going on in our once-great Republic. I pray that continues.
Me too!
Thank you for making the call to your representative.
I am still surprised at the level of political corruption on display in Arizona.
It appears to a consistent failing of Western societies though.
Here in Canada two Provinces determine our federal elections, and out of the two provinces.
The U.S. has shown to be an easy target for the schemers.
Corrupt half a dozen or so major metropolitan areas, and bingo one has a President.
Or as in Arizonas case one or two cities.
Interesting stuff!
These are the process steps in the killing of a Republic. Does not happen all at once. Certainly Xi is licking his chops.
Hobbs and co. Added more security today as she is sort of officially taking office rather being installed. Just read the new California consortium filed an amicus brief that was accepted by the ussc and will be used in the Brunson case. Following Greg hunter one of the Brunsons said not only could all congressional and senators and biden and cohorts be removed but 1-100 unnamed and more be removed including states key politicians and staff. Ie Ms. Hobbs may well be swept up in this. And rightly so. The ussc can clearly see the debacle as should be going on the votes for speaker and reinforces they must act and affirm Brunson and remove with prejudice all involved or contributing.
Interesting..thank you.
Cheers!
speaking of faux schoolhouse rocks, i know someone who wrote something that became law on a ‘pizza box’, it was late night and there was no paper at hand
I prefer aeronautical engineering miracles on bar napkins.
More from Chip Roy.
With so many lawyers in Congress and the Senate, why are there not more of them exposing the corruption in the whole system of writing and passing laws? Why are they even needed if all that is needed is a rubber stamp for the law that is written up for them and that they do not even read through and query?
Don’t know, but hoping Tucker reads Sundance’s article and gives the info on his show.
Matt Rosendale of Montana just pulled back the curtain on suspension bills and business as usual in the House of Representatives. It was worth hearing. Maybe somebody will clip and post it.
Thanks.
I think 60 Minutes covered the typical Congress members day years ago.
1. They walk 1-2 blocks from their office to a large building.
2. They enter an office with small cubicles.
3. They sit at a screen and talk to potential donor after donor, and the call screen notes what their issue is: “gun rights”, “Roe v Wade”, “tax cut”, etc. – and the donor amount. $5,000, $10,000.
4. They do this 5-8 hours a day. Every day.
5. They used to do this in their offices, but we passed a law forbidding that practice on our dime.
Because 1.) lawyers have no ethical core, it is easy for them to behave this way, and 2.) they profit from it, and they experience no guilt from profiting from it – i am from a family of attorneys – they are shameless psychopaths
Had a good hunting buddy that was an attorney. Said pretty much the same thing.
But one thing is sure, he told he would defend me until my last bottom dollar.
it’s a Big Debate Club. Wish I got paid if I lost or won doing the task at hand.
Will number 9 be the charm?
Is DWS aka ramen noodle head is trying to get a ride on fire truck?
Omgosh she’s still around? Florida, WTH?
As an American, I don’t want Kevin
Ditto!!
I have called and emailed my Rep. Jason Smith and he is still voting McCarthy.
I did not realize he was a Rino too??
No more votes for Jason!
Pretty funny
https://gab.com/emerson_chris/posts/109633076901934093
That’s just about right.
Pretty accurate
The real issue lol…we’re holding up more funds for Ukraine 😱
Absolute proof that the super rino mccarthy is spectacularly out of touch with the will of republican voters.
It is also noteworthy that the “republicans” who are continuing to vote for mccarthy clapped wildly like trained seals for the Ukrainian dictator Zelensky, as he was there to fleece the US taxpayers out of an additional 40 billion dollars. And this group of morons gave it to him.
Any “republican” member still voting for mccarthy needs to be replaced. These demons could care less what we think or what we would have them do. They are all hideously out of touch with what they were sent there to do.
“Absolute proof that the super rino mccarthy is spectacularly out of touch with the will of republican voters.”
Out of touch with, or just doesn’t give a sh*t about?
Thank you Right Mover for your reply.
Upon further consideration, I think your assessment is more likely the case.
It is covered by the timeless adage “money corrupts, and power corrupts absolutely”.
Which makes mccarthy an even bigger scoundrel.
McCarthy is totally lacking in humility, for if he had any he would have bowed out long ago.
Yep, ranking a corrupt nation above our own puts him out of the game.
But but but what about DEMOCRACY?!
IKR 🤔
The reps who keep voting over and over for KM deserve to be ridiculed and called out for their allegiance to a Swamp Rat, which they themselves should to be referred to going forward as well. Government for the benefit of the Swamp and not for the benefit of those taxpayers who pay their wages must end now.
I’ve already called my rep three times asking him to vote no on McCarthy.
Didn’t do any good.
Post the number..I will call from British Columbia.
I am serious!
Cheers!
Then your rep should be primaried in 2024. He should fear his constituency, not the other way around.
Celia, they don’t care what you and I want. Their patrons on K Street tell them what to do. It has been like that for a long time, but now they don’t hide it anymore, since the votes don’t matter anymore.
It’s looking like Afghanistan or Ukraine for McCarthy.
A Bridge to Nowhere.,
What’s the deal with Boebert?
Why vote for Kevin Hern when he voted for McCarthy?
Message
Thank you for the laugh!
Thank you for your reply Edink.
No question about it.
I believe they were active participants in facilitating the steal.
Which tells me they each have a great deal to hide.
i really like the lady in the Orange.
Term limits and ban all Pimps, sorry Lobbyists from Congress and the Federal Government.
Do these clowns really think their speeches make an impact?
TBH, I’m grasping diplomacy and compromise like a drowning man grips a life preserver, because the alternative is war and once that starts everyone loses in one way or another.
At least it has become very clear based on this many rounds of voting that around 400 members in the House don’t support Americans and America. They are clearly involved to line their pockets and do what their K street and overseas maters tell them to do, patriot loving Americans be damned. Battle lines are appearing clearly.
No idea how this will all shake out, but the idea of McCarthy having to move his stuff back out of the speakers office makes me smile.
Especially the champagne chilling in the ice bucket. It’s been sitting in warm water for two days now, lol.
The message is getting through, keep calling.
I have to say, this process has really educated me about the power of the rules committee, how there is no equal representation, etc…. and how nothing will change until you change this process and actually give power back to our representatives.
This is truly a historic moment.
The power of sunshine.
The best disinfectant.
Much is being exposed these last few days, to many who never knew.
When I was listening to Matt Gaetz’s Twitter interview last night….
He mentioned that not only many Republicans in the chamber want the process changed, but many dens do too.
He said AOC said in a recent interview that although she was opposite Gaetz on policy….she understood the operation changes the 20 wanted and many were good ideas.
It’s unfortunate that the regime and the culture have so many with their nose so embedded in the grindstone that they have not the time nor energy to focus and comprehend the machinations of their government and representatives. I’ve long opined it’s by design.
I’m thankful to God for my health and the time to share these historic moments, even with the unmentioned pain elsewhere in life that goes with them. While it might not seem so sometimes, we are very fortunate to be alive and be Americans.
Sometimes it is educational and fun to see the sausage being made. Better than just accepting the recycled BS they usually try feeding us. Keep going boys as long as more and more of the machinery involved is being exposed. Articles like SD’s do expose the process and BS shovelers to the light. Let everyone enjoy the sausage for as long as it lasts.
I agree. I find this article fascinating and have learned things I never knew.
I guess naming people on the floor is illegal, except unless your a Dem
Never call out mad Maxine.
Rosendale – going on too long!
I disagree. It’s a great speech. Lots of sunshine.
He is talking to the American people
And FOR them.
He is doing fine. I’m appalled at the lack of genuine support for change.
Matt Rosendale just gave a great speech!
McCarthy, Jeffries, Donalds nominated….and
Boebert nominates Hern again.
Steve Bannon’s Warroom called those that support McCarthy the ‘Gang of 200″. These asshats must be ridiculed at every turn.
Stinks to high heaven …….. all of it.
Boebert’s attempting to convince the brain dead Rs that McC ain’t happening. LOL.
We’ll see if it works this time!
It is not a good look for the old (probably long-serving) Rep just sitting there not listening to a word spoken.
My question is, “Is this all a Wag the dog event to distract the public from the Brunson vs Alma case that is to be heard before the Supreme Court tomorrow?”
Not at all!
Maybe if Kev wrapped himself in a Ukrainian flag and pledged another $100 billion it would help!
0 for 9
It’s like a bad 8-Track tape you can’t get out of your ’74 Pinto’s player.
A clown car ride.
When you see the strings
Looks like they’ve picked up 2 new ones since yesterday.