<pre>
POLITICAL ESSAYS
The Superpower's SCANDALS - Part 2
`
`
April 14, 2005
New York Times [1]
EDITORIAL
Congress's Deepening Shadow World
`
In plainer language:
`
The Superpower's Crooked Congress
Club aka Down and Dirty Democracy.
`
The Times editorial is based on
the new special report from the
Center for Public Integrity --
"Shadowy Lobbyists Ignore Rules
And Exploit Connections." [2]
`
From the report:
`
"Because of their ability to in-
fluence lawmakers and legislation,
lobbyists have been dubbed 'the
Fourth Branch' of government.
`
"But while they wield enormous
influence in the capital, lobbyists
receive little attention from the
press and far less public scrutiny."
`
Well, of course: What do you think
Dumbing Down is for?
`
It's a vital part of Down and Dirty
Democracy.
`
And the Times understands that:
`
"Lobbying has now become an estab-
lished part of..."
`
DUH
`
"...representative government."
`
The Times does wish to make sure
that Wall Street's voice is heard
loud and clear, and is not drowned
out by miscellaneous crooks.
`
In particular, it praises attempts
to "require disclosure by the murky,
mushrooming world of 'grass roots'
lobbying via outside [!] pressure
groups...."
`
Oh, by the way, The Superpower is
pushing this "established" drug
through its Allawi-Abbas-Karzai net-
work in the Middle East and West
Asia.
`
`
`
[1]
`
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/opini ... &position=
`
[2]
`
http://www.publicintegrity.org/lobby/pr ... px?aid=675
`
`
</pre>