Question: is there really no limit for donations to politicians from people/organizations affiliated with foreign countries? At what point would you then have to qualify as a foreign agent? Like, I can't see anyone in the US being okay if say this was say from the Chinese War Lobby, and any foreign influence on our government seems a touch risky.
People keep thinking it's the stroke, but I think this is what happens when you vote for a guy who doesn't have much of a record in the first place. It's really easy to talk the progressive talk, but it's much harder to walk it.
The moment he used TDS as a way to denigrate his fellow Democrats is the day this position jumped into the toilet and flushed. Monolithic, do you even understand its meaning in this context?
Just wondering, not related to this asshole, but what if someone who had a spine just wanted to do something hilarious? Like for example, what consequences would come from taking an astonishing amount of money from AIPAC like this, and then after the money's yours and the check has cleared, put them on blast and call them stupid and be entirely public about the fact that aipac gave you enough money to retire on just so you'd send american kids to go die for them, and then call them assholes?
Because I mean I know there's supposed to be some kind of principal behind not taking blood money and I totally get that, but what if you're taking it from them with zero intent to do what they want and you just use it to make them look stupid? Like the investment income you net from that 2 mil would be enough to run year-round ad campaigns calling israel dumb as fuck and blasting the capitalist system, right? Kind of funnels the money towards good causes and fucks the donor class.
It's complicated. These numbers are large, but a PAC can only give $5,000 to a candidate's actual campaign per election cycle. So 99% of the number is either going to PACs that buy ads on the candidate's behalf, OR it's AIPAC buying the ads themselves, OR it's the aggregate of many donors who have ties to the pro-Israel lobby, though may not necessarily be donating for the cause of Israel exclusively. A lot of the money might have nothing to do with Israel, but if the candidate turns on Israel,
that network of donors may decline to donate for future election cycles. So even if a candidate isn't giving a full-throated support of Israel, they may stay quiet on the issue, for fear of offending donors who would be mad if they did something more confrontational. American elections are very expensive, members of congress literally spend at least one work day a week doing fundraising, so having that money spigot cut off is a BIG deal to them. We gotta get $ out of politics!
There isn't any leftist representation. You're confusing liberalism with leftism which is understandable because the current US political discourse routinely conflates the two terms on purpose in order to legitimize the democrat party as they claim to be leftists but are in fact right of center. And when the right of center steps further to the right to compromise with the far right, you get people like Fetterman, and ultimately the overton window shifts rightward and a new center is established
The shifting of the overton window towards the right in by the political ratchet system is also really only just political theater used to manufacture consent for atrocity and exploitation. It allows them to say "this is what they voted for so this is just the way things are" no matter what they do, and they can use that to justify anything. Both actors work for the same show and go backstage to the same masters and the same people write them checks, and they laugh all the way to the bank.
He doesn't have very much power at all. He's a first-term Senator and not supported by his party. Also, apparently he's got quite serious medical problems.
I'm not entirely so cynical that I believe every person on that list is on the take, some of them are just doing it for the love of the game while also getting rich off their Zionist warmongering!
I mean, if I was running for office, I would take a special joy out of taking Zionist money and then using my power to work against them. Not that I think any of these fuckers have that much spine.
How about a forensic audit of his finances, his families’ finances. And for good measure, Kirsten Sinema, Joe Manchin and all of the other republicans. We need meaningful ethics rules for Congress, the court and executive, with enforcement and transparency.
Unfortunately the only branch of government with the power to enforce ethics and the law on Congress...is...well busy being unethical and breaking the law.
Fetterman and Manchin were very consistent throught their careers and campaigns on their positions. People assumed Fetterman was a leftist because he wore hoodies, was pro-worker and was running against a deranged Dr. Oz when he always held many conservative positions in a state with a lot of very red voters.
Manchin was a coal billionare from a state that Trump won with nearly 70% of the vote, he was also going to have many conservative opinions but was still better than an actual republican.
The only reason we will NEVER get any kind of rule or legislation to hold Congress accountable is because they would be the ones who have to enact the laws for that. It doesn’t matter what party or political leaning you are, very few people will ever do that. Those that are willing to do it already hold themselves accountable by not doing it in the first place even without the legislation.
This is the fate of all real campaign reform. These rules are what got all of them here, and they know how to play by these rules. Any change is asking them to risk that, and they won’t. Sometimes one or two will rush it as an issue, but never enough to move the needle
Currently, if we had paid $10M to each Congress person annual, since the turn of the millennium to NOT take AIPAC money and go to war with Iran, the US would be money ahead right now
No its called campaign funding. They made sure to write the laws very specifically for this reason. Kickbacks are illegal. Just like bribes. But you can get unlimited money donated to your campaign.
The process was the laundering. It would have been embezzlement to just reroute the same amount of taxpayer funds to their election, but if they send it to someone else and they send it back it’s (as you put it) now legal, as in laundered. That’s what laundering money is.
Yeah but it is limited on what you can spend it on. Hence the first reason they tried to impeach tangerine. That being said it didn't work so how illegal it is is anyone's guess.
Frndlylion
DINO
AnythingMuchShorter
Maybe he's brain damaged, maybe it's bribery (read like the Maybelline ads)
IBroughtASpareDrainpipe
What a lying fuckup Fetterman turned out to be.
SomeGeek75ygh
More like (R)
activeracer28
I remember when he was promising. Didn't last long.
GwaboButt
This POS, as usual, voted with his pedophile masters to advance FuckFace Mullin
RigidGristle
Fuck him & those entitled pieces of shit
Ostegonation
As a resident of PA who voted for this guy over Oz... Fuck Fetterman.
evoroadster
So Lurch got caught taking money for favors.
drago1337
Question: is there really no limit for donations to politicians from people/organizations affiliated with foreign countries? At what point would you then have to qualify as a foreign agent? Like, I can't see anyone in the US being okay if say this was say from the Chinese War Lobby, and any foreign influence on our government seems a touch risky.
TheOvy
People keep thinking it's the stroke, but I think this is what happens when you vote for a guy who doesn't have much of a record in the first place. It's really easy to talk the progressive talk, but it's much harder to walk it.
Danny215
It seems that he forgot who put him there in the first place!
Gorglax9
A hearty “Go Fuck Yourself!” to the shambling idiot known as John Fetterman 🖕🖕
Grimlinnan
Israel Agent and Traitor.
astronomygeek7
I’m so sad, because I thought he was one of the few blue collar representatives in office that would speak for the working class. 😢
DildoMussolini
Wtf. Any time I post anything about AIPAC, it gets removed immediately
TheVillageGrouch9000
Asshole. Sellout.
OozingRabbit
He went from hero, to zero. What a shame. Hope he gets another stroke.
Samja192
This guy was supposed to break the mold. Guess that mold is mighty comfy
TheLastSpaceman
This is straight up foreign influence through bribery coming from war-criminals.
76000BatteryLlamas
Get that fake fucking D away from his name
Questionmorality
Right, if you don't obey the monolithic leftist worldview in fascistic goose-step, you get the fascism treatment.
Maviyakuku
Found the Nazi.
Questionmorality
You are the Nazi. And you will be defeated.
urusername2
He was a Democrat until he got elected. Just another MAGA
ButtblasterMcAssmaster
He was always vehemently pro-Israel, though. That hasn't changed at all.
urusername2
Paid performer!
Questionmorality
Right, if you don't obey the monolithic leftist worldview in fascistic goose-step, you get the fascism treatment.
jimhotep
The moment he used TDS as a way to denigrate his fellow Democrats is the day this position jumped into the toilet and flushed. Monolithic, do you even understand its meaning in this context?
urusername2
You are way off base, and it sounds as if you are fascistic goose-stepping.
Maviyakuku
Found the Nazi.
michaelfire
Epstein Honey Trap? Google Maxwell's father, Israel ties http://www.timesofisrael.com/for-writer-who-broke-epstein-case-a-rumored-mossad-link-is-worth-digging-ining-into">http://www.timesofisrael.com/for-writer-who-broke-epstein-case-a-rumored-mossad-linto h">ing-into">http://www.timesofisrael.comk-is-wor">to h">ing">/for-wri">k-is-wor">to h">ing-into">http://www.timesofisrael.com/for-writer-who-broke-epstein-case-a-rumored-mossad-link-is-worth-digging-into https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/jeffrey-epstein-steven-hoffenberg-intelligence-agencies-spy-1197708/ http://www.jpost.com/israel-news/jeffrey-epstein-may-have-had-links-to-israeli-leaders-the-rolling-stone-674244 www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/business/jeffrey-epstein-interview.html /gallery/arpNy8U
Spoonland
wasn't he in Hot Fuzz
woodworkerf
Narp?
BOBNOBODY
Yarp!
CaldariBob
Rory McCann is a goddamn acting treasure! You keep his name out of your bitch-ass mouth!
sauvrel
No, the guy from Hot Fuzz was a thinker, by comparison
literallymike
Michael was too well-dressed.
dynamojoe
That's the Hound
paulwall117350
Just wondering, not related to this asshole, but what if someone who had a spine just wanted to do something hilarious? Like for example, what consequences would come from taking an astonishing amount of money from AIPAC like this, and then after the money's yours and the check has cleared, put them on blast and call them stupid and be entirely public about the fact that aipac gave you enough money to retire on just so you'd send american kids to go die for them, and then call them assholes?
an0therthr0waway
They'd probably just JFK you and look for their next nsfw patsy. /shrug
paulwall117350
Because I mean I know there's supposed to be some kind of principal behind not taking blood money and I totally get that, but what if you're taking it from them with zero intent to do what they want and you just use it to make them look stupid? Like the investment income you net from that 2 mil would be enough to run year-round ad campaigns calling israel dumb as fuck and blasting the capitalist system, right? Kind of funnels the money towards good causes and fucks the donor class.
TheOvy
It's complicated. These numbers are large, but a PAC can only give $5,000 to a candidate's actual campaign per election cycle. So 99% of the number is either going to PACs that buy ads on the candidate's behalf, OR it's AIPAC buying the ads themselves, OR it's the aggregate of many donors who have ties to the pro-Israel lobby, though may not necessarily be donating for the cause of Israel exclusively. A lot of the money might have nothing to do with Israel, but if the candidate turns on Israel,
TheOvy
that network of donors may decline to donate for future election cycles. So even if a candidate isn't giving a full-throated support of Israel, they may stay quiet on the issue, for fear of offending donors who would be mad if they did something more confrontational. American elections are very expensive, members of congress literally spend at least one work day a week doing fundraising, so having that money spigot cut off is a BIG deal to them. We gotta get $ out of politics!
Questionmorality
This 'asshole' is the only democrat with power that has a spine. He's not a servant of the leftist Kings and is now being castigated for it.
paulwall117350
There isn't any leftist representation. You're confusing liberalism with leftism which is understandable because the current US political discourse routinely conflates the two terms on purpose in order to legitimize the democrat party as they claim to be leftists but are in fact right of center. And when the right of center steps further to the right to compromise with the far right, you get people like Fetterman, and ultimately the overton window shifts rightward and a new center is established
paulwall117350
The shifting of the overton window towards the right in by the political ratchet system is also really only just political theater used to manufacture consent for atrocity and exploitation. It allows them to say "this is what they voted for so this is just the way things are" no matter what they do, and they can use that to justify anything. Both actors work for the same show and go backstage to the same masters and the same people write them checks, and they laugh all the way to the bank.
custardandfishfingers24
He doesn't have very much power at all. He's a first-term Senator and not supported by his party. Also, apparently he's got quite serious medical problems.
twoamartist
Corey Booker has received over $5 million. Check your reps here. https://www.trackaipac.com/congress
MagicBeets
Well this was a pretty grim search. Fuck me. All these assholes
defensivebackhair
NJ has the chance to do the right thing and unseat him.
ownzyou123
I'm not entirely so cynical that I believe every person on that list is on the take, some of them are just doing it for the love of the game while also getting rich off their Zionist warmongering!
CorGoBrrrr
I mean, if I was running for office, I would take a special joy out of taking Zionist money and then using my power to work against them. Not that I think any of these fuckers have that much spine.
HelloImMarshall
No wonder they won't do shit to stop it...
DonL9
Some real fucking disappointments on that list.
EggOfWisdom
They’re all corrupt. Blue red yellow purple. Doesn’t matter
Garwoodxx
How about a forensic audit of his finances, his families’ finances. And for good measure, Kirsten Sinema, Joe Manchin and all of the other republicans. We need meaningful ethics rules for Congress, the court and executive, with enforcement and transparency.
AShartInTheWind
It goes far beyond just the Republicans.
Questionmorality
The only reason you guys are even against him is because he started to defy the leftist hegemony.
M4UsedRollout
No, I’m against him because if I wanted a Republican stooge I would have voted for Oz.
GreatOdinsTaint
Unfortunately the only branch of government with the power to enforce ethics and the law on Congress...is...well busy being unethical and breaking the law.
an0therthr0waway
we need all congress to be limited to TWO terms. One in office, and one in prison.
Hev118
Lol!!
poscduke
Fetterman and Manchin were very consistent throught their careers and campaigns on their positions. People assumed Fetterman was a leftist because he wore hoodies, was pro-worker and was running against a deranged Dr. Oz when he always held many conservative positions in a state with a lot of very red voters.
Manchin was a coal billionare from a state that Trump won with nearly 70% of the vote, he was also going to have many conservative opinions but was still better than an actual republican.
poscduke
Seinema did campaign as drastically more liberal than she ended up voting in the Senate and aligned herself with the tech bros unexpectedly
stayingalive4life
The only reason we will NEVER get any kind of rule or legislation to hold Congress accountable is because they would be the ones who have to enact the laws for that. It doesn’t matter what party or political leaning you are, very few people will ever do that. Those that are willing to do it already hold themselves accountable by not doing it in the first place even without the legislation.
chefsoda
This is the fate of all real campaign reform. These rules are what got all of them here, and they know how to play by these rules. Any change is asking them to risk that, and they won’t. Sometimes one or two will rush it as an issue, but never enough to move the needle
M4UsedRollout
A majority of states could do it through a constitutional convention.
This has never happened and probably never will
Barjack
Living proof that conservative views are a sign of brain damage
Questionmorality
Your comment is a sign of brain damage. Conservative views are inherently good.
boevis
Literally fear of new things, because their brains cannot handle adapting.
unluckyandbored
Conservatism leads to misery, pain and death everywhere it's taken hold. It's only good for the rich ruling class. It sucks for the rest of us.
TheRealArclight
BS...
noReallyIamPrincessBob
mikeatike
Says the troll that keeps posting the same comment over and over
Dannoboyo
If you only care about yourself, sure. That's why they idolize Trump.
Az663
Which ones? Having women as second-grade citizens? Not trusting foreign people? Supporting religions? Drinking ethanol to celebrate?
SomeGeek75ygh
Must be the facism and genocide, obviously.
Az663
If this tribalism even meant something, but thinking that several million people can form a functional tribe is... delusional at best.
GanjaPlanet
Money laundering grift: Send billions of taxpayer money to Israel, they send millions back to your campaign.
mmmurppp
“Fetterman has received approximately $244,000 from the pro-Israel lobby, according to a report.”
edthach
Currently, if we had paid $10M to each Congress person annual, since the turn of the millennium to NOT take AIPAC money and go to war with Iran, the US would be money ahead right now
NoUserNameIsTaken
It's called "kickback"
Isthe4thtimethecharm
No its called campaign funding. They made sure to write the laws very specifically for this reason. Kickbacks are illegal. Just like bribes. But you can get unlimited money donated to your campaign.
NoUserNameIsTaken
Then comes the laundering
johneventually1
It's legal already. You didn't need to wash it
GanjaPlanet
The process was the laundering. It would have been embezzlement to just reroute the same amount of taxpayer funds to their election, but if they send it to someone else and they send it back it’s (as you put it) now legal, as in laundered. That’s what laundering money is.
Isthe4thtimethecharm
Yeah but it is limited on what you can spend it on. Hence the first reason they tried to impeach tangerine. That being said it didn't work so how illegal it is is anyone's guess.