In its March 20, 2009, EDITORIAL: Dodd Lied About AIG Bonuses, the ever-discreet New Haven Register commented that its own Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd “…is a lying weasel.”
If I were a weasel, I’d be offended. But it seems appropriate that Dodd should get the first Lying Weasel Award. Nominations are now closed.
Here are Chris Dodd’s top campaign contributors, according to Real Clear Politics: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00000581
Citigroup Inc $428,294
United Tech $380,550
Bear Stearns $347,350
**AIG $281,038**
Deloitte & Touche $270,220
Goldman Sachs $268,716
SAC Capital Partners $248,500
Travelers Companies $211,800
Morgan Stanley $211,325
Royal Bank Scotland $208,000
Greenwich Capital $206,000
Credit Suisse Group $200,050
JPMorgan Chase $185,073
Merrill Lynch $184,950
PricewaterhouseC $178,650
KPMG LLP $164,690
Ernst & Young $158,750
Lehman Brothers $154,300
General Electric $147,680
Hartford Financial $146,300
Is it just me, or do there seem to be a lot of WALL STREET BAILOUT names on this list? Oh, and his wife worked for an AIG subsidiary too, on its board. It’s a cozy place, that Washington DC !
Comment by mary — March 23, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
Which committee does Dodd sit on again? It’s difficult to determine based on those contributions.
Comment by Dan — March 23, 2009 @ 4:02 pm
The honorable Senator Christopher Dodd is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. He is the senior member of both the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Comment by Bill — March 23, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
Maybe the better question would be, What committees is he NOT on? That’s a whole lotta power. No wonder he gets the big money.
Comment by mary — March 23, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
Mary,
Exactly! Committee membership is critical, even down at the local level. That’s why some of Coeur d’Alene’s same names keep appearing on the same committees and commissions year after year. Those committees and commissions are pretty much under the voter radar. People there can “steer” actions that benefit them or their sponsors to the Council where, after a suitable amount of greasing, the action will be approved. That’s not to say a few people on our local committees and commissioners aren’t trying to do the right thing for the right reasons, but there are an equal or larger number who are there to prime the pump.
Comment by Bill — March 23, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
Very well put, Bill. From my experience, that’s exactly how the system works here in CdA too. Look, for example, at how many groups Jim Elder is on: He’s Vice Chair of LCDC, he’s the Mayor of Fernan, he’s CBNI chairman (Concerned Businesses of North Idaho), he’s near the top of CASA the court appointed advocate group for kids, he’s on a new committee to hand out charity dollars locally in CdA for a Spokane group, he used to be integral on the CdA Parking Commission (don’t laugh, it has a lot of clout) and he’s probably on many more than I can think of right now. I don’t have anything against Jim Elder. But really, is he the ONLY one that can be on these many, many committees? NO. He’s there for a reason. He keeps an eye on what’s happening for the power brokers in town. When you see it all laid out, it’s pretty obvious. Kind of like Sen. Chris Dodd.
Comment by mary — March 23, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
I’m not certain whether Mr. Elder is still Mayor of Fernan or CBNI chairman. He might also be on the Library foundation. But the essence of what you’re writing is correct: there is a small group of people who seem to be on every committee. Brad Jordan also serves on at least three city committees that I know of.
It don’t believe it’s being honest with the people of Coeur d’Alene when City Hall stacks committees with the same people over and over. I have submitted my application to be on the Arts Commission and I received no reply back (I wasn’t expecting one, given the crowd in City Hall). I also know many people who have applied to be on committees, No luck.
Perhaps some sort of limitations are necessary, such as term limits on all committees as well as a requirement that people can only serve on one committee at a time? I don’t see how anyone would be against that, unless they favor insider stacking of committees.
Comment by Dan — March 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
I think it should be like boy and girl scout organizations. A person can only be assigned to ONE position therefore getting more parents, in this case, citizens involved.
OOOOPS! What was I thinking. That would mean more people would know the internal workings. Sorry, cant have that now could we.
Comment by concerned citizen — March 24, 2009 @ 7:31 am
I think that Ronda Mitchell is the chair of Concerned Business. Dan, I have also heard from people who applied for open committee memberships but have never heard word one. The city should send an acknowledgement to all who apply. It is simply good manners.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — March 24, 2009 @ 7:34 am
Good manners from that lot Susie?? Surely you jest! 🙂
Comment by Faringdon — March 24, 2009 @ 10:56 am