FISA: Follow the Money

Sorry this is a short diary, but there's not much to add.

The system is broken. Those with the most money can buy our government out from under us. If you didn't know that last week, know it now.

Telecom Donations Tied to FISA Vote

Excerpt after the fold...

When scores of House Democrats joined Republicans last week to reauthorize a controversial White House spying program, many critics attributed that support to election-year jitters. But as liberal voters continue to bash Democrats on the issue, some campaign finance reformers charge that political contributions from the telecom industry, which benefited handsomely under the bill, probably also swayed votes.

In an analysis released Tuesday, Maplight.org, a nonprofit campaign finance watchdog group, found that lawmakers voting Friday in support of the wiretap deal averaged roughly twice the donations from the nation's leading telecoms -- Verizon, Sprint and AT&T -- over the last three years as those voting against it.

I can't think of much to add to this. It's apparent that our "leaders" are willing to sell our rights to the highest bidder.

I'm committed to strengthening the Democratic majority, and putting a Democrat in the WH, because we can't survive more GOP manipulation of the SCOTUS and the DOJ, but it's clear that the "better Democrats" part of the mantra "More and better Democrats" needs to be taken seriously.

I'm going to filter candidates, in the primaries, by their committment to:

Restoring fairness in the media.

Removing the uneven playing field, "them that has the most gets", from political campaigns/elections.

Cleaning up the judicial branch and the DOJ.

Ending our dependence on fossil fuels, and generating a new renewable high-tech economy.

Social liberalism.

Fiscal conservatism, defined as cutting back on military spending until we have our debt under control.

I expect a lot of disappointment.