And Now a Word From Karl Rove

Karl Rove, formerly Bush’s Brain, spent the last four years milking billionaires to fund huge PACs to defeat the Democratic president and congressional candidates. He spent the  last year spending all that loot. Post-election return on investment for his American Crossroads Super-PAC? 1.29%. No wonder he can’t handle the truth.

He also can’t handle the paperwork. His Crossroads GPS organization never filed as a charitable organization in its home state of Virginia, as required by law. Crossroads GPS raised and spent tens of millions of dollars. Fee to register with Virginia’s Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs: $325.

“Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS Never Filed Legally Required Registration,” Josh Israel, Think Progress

‘My Super PAC Can Beat Up Your Super PAC!’

You probably think you know who’s running in the South Carolina Republican Primary. You’re wrong. The contenders are billionaires Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess, and Jon Huntsman, Sr. They’ve given millions to huge political action committees (Super PACs) attacking the opponents of  (respectively) Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and (no surprise) Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Who’s funding the Super PAC behind front-runner Mitt Romney? Bain Capital, the private equity concern he unleashed into the realm of shadow banking. Other big donors to Restore Our Future include more Wall Street types and Mr. Romney’s co-religionists, the Marriotts.

The Palin Bus Tour: Why

Sarah Palin is spending her summer vacation just like you, on a simple family trip funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations. Mrs. Palin, along with her parents, sullen pre-teen daughter Piper, and husband Todd (Alaska’s former First Thug), is motoring between historic East Coast sites in a chartered luxury coach with her name painted on it.

Is the trip a vacation or presidental campaign tour? Mrs. Palin won’t say, to the consternation of the media. The bus is being tailed by reporters and news crews as it meanders along its secret itinerary. Far from keeping the trip private, the “magical mystery tour” aspect merely spurs the media frenzy. Where will she be next?

Fear-Mongering for Fun and Profit

 

The Republican National Committee is planning to raise money from the little guy by scaring the bejesus out of him. The more fear, the more funds for the GOP in the next election cycle. Politico‘s Ben Smith got the Powerpoint RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart pitched to top GOP fundraisers in February. Ugly stuff.

“Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on ‘fear,'” Ben Smith, Politico.

“GOP: Nothing To Sell But Fear Itself,” Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone.

 

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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It’s Not What They Eat, It’s What They Spoil

The incoming Obama administration and Congressional majority claim they will banish “earmarks.” Legislative “earmarks” at the federal, state, and local levels are often targets of government reform efforts, but for the wrong reasons. While dollar amounts seem impressive in isolation, “pork” per se forms a negligible percentage of government budgets (only about one percent of the federal budget, for example).

But the true cost of earmarks is much higher than dollar amounts suggest. In the words of  revered political theorist Darrell K. Royal: “It’s not what they eat, it’s what they spoil.”

Bill “Blago” Richardson?

Bill Richardson’s career in President Obama’s cabinet was mighty short. It never happened.

The New Mexico Governor withdrew from consideration as Commerce Secretary after media noise about a Federal grand jury probe into at least one state contract. Since Mr. Richardson was on tap to handle Commerce in a crashing economy, questions about financial ethics would not do. While Team Obama’s vetting of Richardson left something to be desired, it is true that the ethical bar was raised recently thanks to the inimitable Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Oh, BAR Coasters!

We wondered why the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities was using bar coasters to promote today’s New Year’s Eve event, the one that is “perfect for youth ages 3 – 16.” Indeed, along with the DC arts community, we also wondered where the Commission’s new Director had obtained her arts administration training and experience.

Imagine our chagrin upon learning that Washington City Paper‘s Loose Lips had answered both questions back in September.

The House That Todd Built?

This is the house that Todd built. Perhaps. Todd Palin claims he built his family’s house on Lake Lucille (above) in 2002 with the help of a few “buddies” who are building contractors. At the same time, less than a mile away,  Palin pals and political contributors were building the monument to Sarah Palin’s stint as the Mayor of Wasilla (pop. 5500), The $12.5 million dollar Wasilla Sports Complex. Were the Complex contractors Todd’s “buddies?” If so, is this unethical or illegal?

Pigs and Lipstick in Virginia

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) was campaigning for the presidency in Southwestern Virginia the other day, and commented that Republican candidate John McCain’s policy could not possibly be called “change.” As he has been doing since the Democratic primaries, Senator Obama compared that to “putting lipstick on a pig.” The crowd reacted enthusiastically.

The Republican campaign immediately took umbrage (NotionsCapital is campaigning to make “umbrage” a controlled substance), accusing Senator Obama of calling Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin a pig. This is curious, since Governor Palin called herself a “pitbull in lipstick.” Perhaps Mrs. Palin, a Miss Alaska runner-up, will organize a beauty contest between pitbulls and pigs. Senator McCain would be a good judge, since he only marries former beauty queens.  But we digress.

Will McCain Put Cindy’s Jet on eBay?

 
Just plane folks.

Those luxury jets. So useful for commuting from house to house to house to house . . . .

Governor Palin’s misleading fibs about luxury jets and eBay jogs our memory about Senator McCain’s use of his wife’s corporate jet during the campaign, first questioned by Barry Meier and Margot Williams in the New York Times but perfectly allowable under the “Rich Guys in Congress Election Rules,” or something like that. Cindy’s Cessna Citation  is just a simple business jet, after all; sure it’s fast, but why all the fuss?