LAUGH BREAK A Chamber Full Of Candidates (dumbocrats prez wannabees)

TIME magazine ^ | Feb. 17, 2003 issue | KAREN TUMULTY

[Liz]

Will Connecticut's other Senator give Joe Lieberman some company in the 2004 presidential campaign?

For such a small state, Connecticut seems to nurture big political ambitions.

Advisers to Christopher Dodd tell TIME that the state's senior Senator is seriously weighing the idea of joining the 2004 Democratic-primary field—which already includes a Connecticut Senator, Joseph Lieberman.

Aides expect Dodd to announce his decision within the next few weeks.

Now in his third decade in the Senate, Dodd, 58, is good on television, has deep experience on both domestic and international issues, and brings a well-developed political network from his days as Democratic Party chairman. With the Senate looking as though it could stay in Republican hands for the near future, those close to Dodd say he is restless there. But he's wrestling with the toll that a presidential bid could take on both his Senate career and his role as father of an 18-month-old daughter.

Advisers say Dodd is also concerned that he may be too late to join a field that is already crowded with fellow U.S. Senators.

The list includes not only Lieberman but also John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina. Florida's Bob Graham is moving ahead with plans to run, despite his recent heart surgery, and will decide by March 1. Nor has Delaware's Joseph Biden ruled out a presidential bid.

All of which means that Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, who earlier backed off an expected run, could find it pretty lonely in the Senate cloakroom next January.

[Liz]

....Dodd is also concerned that he may be too late to join a field.....already crowded with fellow U.S. Senators.

Dodd is w-a-a-a-y too late. This visceral liberal has so much baggage, he's gonna sink fast. Could be fun to watch. Dodd contributed to the Wall Street nightmare by repaying his big buck special interest contributors with favorable legislation. And he's got a second wife who's a lobbyist.

Dodd is good on TV the Time reporter says? Good for what? Feathering his own nest is about it. How Dodd and LIEberman - two of the Demonbrats biggest dorks get elected in the same state - would be a great ABC two-hour special. They could title it, " One Lies, The Other Swears To It."

[mewzilla]

Hi ho, hi ho....

[Liz]

All you need to know about LIEberman: a strong pro-abortion advocate calls on religious leaders with a pro-life pledge.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/808135/posts

[Liz]

Nice imagery.........LOL.

[Liz]

April 29, 1998
U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd gets The Golden Leash Award

The Golden Leash is a symbol of the ties between special interest money and elected officials. It is awarded to Members of Congress who demonstrate egregious conduct in the quid pro quo practice of dollar democracy.

This award serves as a reminder of Senator Dodd’s acceptance of $910,304 in campaign cash from January 1993 to December 1997 from the Securities, Investment, Accounting and High-Tech Computer industries, and in turn, using his position as ranking Democrat on the Securities Subcommittee of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to promote special favors for his "cash constituents" at the expense of his real constituents back home, and the American people.


WASHINGTON – Democratic Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut became the second recipient of the "Golden Leash Award" from Public Campaign today, a dubious honor recognizing his ties to wealthy special interests who help fund his campaigns.

Dodd has been handsomely rewarded with $910,304 from the securities, investment, accounting and high-tech computer industries since 1993. Meanwhile, there is no Senate Democrat who has done more for Wall Street and these related industries at the expense of consumers from his position as ranking Democrat on the Securities Subcommittee of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

The Golden Leash Award is a new incarnation of former Senator William Proxmire's legendary Golden Fleece, infamous for spotlighting government waste, fraud and abuse.

"The Golden Leash is a symbol of the tight hold that special interests have over our elected officials through their campaign contributions," said Ellen Miller, executive director of Public Campaign.

"Senator Dodd serves as a shining and shameful example of the daily practice of dollar democracy, where special interests and their campaign contributions seem to have more influence over politicians than the public interest."

"The people of Connecticut and this country have placed their trust in Senator Dodd who in turn has appeared to place his trust – and his votes – with the fat cats on Wall Street."

As examples of Dodd's generosity toward his major campaign financiers, Public Campaign's report cites the following examples: Dodd was an original cosponsor of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and he helped to organize the Senate's override of President Clinton's veto. It ultimately became law in 1995. While the industry said the law would cut down on frivolous securities lawsuits, many say the new law would make it easier to commit securities fraud on unsuspecting investors and more difficult for the victims of fraud to recover their losses.

The National Securities Market Improvement Act, another bill that Dodd fought earnestly for, was supposed to provide oversight of the mutual fund and securities industry. While it contained some good consumer provisions, it ultimately weakened oversight that would have protected investors. And, in October of last year, Dodd lined up as a cosponsor of the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act, an extension of the earlier securities litigation legislation. The bill was strongly supported by The Uniform Standards Coalition, an ad-hoc group of securities, accounting and high-tech computer firms. Even trial lawyers who opposed such securities litigation legislation, and heavy givers in their own right, especially to Democrats, could not compete with the industry's donations or lobbying efforts.

Rather than beef up consumer protections and enforcement for investors – at a time when more people are investing in stocks and mutual funds for their retirements – Congress is busy protecting Wall Street, with help from Senator Dodd. The Investment Company Institute, the main trade association for the mutual fund industry, reports that Americans currently have more than $1 trillion earmarked for their retirements invested in mutual funds. Most investors lack a basic understanding of financial terms and how investments work. Meanwhile, securities fraud is on the rise.

Of the $910,304 in campaign contributions that Senator Dodd received between January 1993 and December 1997, Wall Street and other investment firms came in as the heavy hitters, with firms like Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, Salomon Brothers and others donating $523,551 in PAC and individual contributions. The accounting industry – perhaps the biggest winners in the 1995 securities litigation reform law – donated $345,903 in PAC and individual contributions. This includes such giants as Price Waterhouse, Ernst & Young and Coopers & Lybrand, among others. Deloitte & Touche's contributions to Senator Dodd increased nearly five-fold from 1995 to1996 soon after Congress passed the reform law the industry championed. The computer industry – a fairly new player in the campaign contribution field – ponied up $40,850 in contributions.

Public Campaign's Golden Leash Award focuses public attention on politicians who do particularly egregious favors for their cash constituents, highlighting their captivity to special interests at the expense of average voters, taxpayers and the public at large. Representative Bill McCollum of Florida was the first recipient of the Golden Leash last month. Senator William Proxmire is a member of Public Campaign's National Advisory Board and has bequeathed to us his legendary Golden Fleece Award. It was Senator Proxmire himself who said that Congress has a "golden leash" around its neck and that he sees a connection between the pork-barrel politics he highlighted years ago and the special interest campaign contributions that have grown exponentially through the years.

Public Campaign is a non-partisan, non-profit organization working on behalf of comprehensive campaign finance reform.

[montomike]

Shouldn't it be..."A Chamberpot Full of Candidates"?

[mewzilla]

We've really got to think up names for all these guys. My biggest stumbling block is that Sleazy fits all of them so well. If anyone has any ideas, feel free. How many dwarves are we up to, anyway?

[BlessedBeGod]

Senator Dudd? LOL

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[mewzilla]

And if Hilliary! runs there's always Crusty...

[Taffini]

I may be wrong...but isn't dodd the other piece of "bread" in the ted kennedy "sandwich"? Remember the incident with a waitress (she played the chicken salad role)

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I may be wrong...but isn't dodd the other piece of "bread" in the ted kennedy "sandwich"? Remember the incident with a waitress (she played the chicken salad role)

Rich and reckless Democrats stink up the Senate!

[Liz]

Dudd and Fudd (LIEberman) - love, love, love it.

[Liz]

Leading Dumbocrap prez candidates prepare for primary Gong Show.

[Liz]

Dumbocraps portable john - has wheels for the elder statesmen.

[Dan from Michigan]

Florida's Bob Graham

He scares the hell out of me. Seniors love him, and he's also Southern, and a former governor.

Edwards, Graham, and Dean. Those three can win. I'm not nearly as worried about the others.

[ricpic]

Stole my thunder. I was gonna call it a waitress sandwich that he and Teddy boy inflicted on that working class heroine: one of "the people" they profess to care for so much.

That incident alone will keep him from ever running.

[Liz]

Hmmmm. Maybe. Still, I'm not so sure the Three Stooges you picked are prez material.

Edwards is a millionaire trial lawyer - you know that's a downside when President Bush cites it in the SOTU.

Graham may have gravitas but we have yet to see what positions he stakes out.

Dean? You gotta be kidding me.

[Liz]

Hey, Teddy, Dodder, cut that out. When do you guys come up for air, for Pete's sake."