Senator Kyl: I'll Walk if any Defense Cuts are Proposed

[Nebor]

What did you do about it?

Because bl4ckfl4g is secretly General Schwartz. 🙄

 

[Moonbeam]

The simple explanation in my opinion is that Kyl's campaigns are paid for by defense contractor lobbyists.

 

[woolfe9999]

The simple explanation in my opinion is that Kyl's campaigns are paid for by defense contractor lobbyists.

I thought that as well and it turns out not to be the case.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00006406&cycle=Career

However, Howard McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who is he GOP's number 1 guy on defense appropriations, and who is quoted in the article I linked as opposing defense cuts, is basically in the pockets of the industry:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cycle=Career&type=I&cid=N00006882&newMem=N

- wolf

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I thought that as well and it turns out not to be the case.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00006406&cycle=Career

However, Howard McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who is he GOP's number 1 guy on defense appropriations, and who is quoted in the article I linked as opposing defense cuts, is basically in the pockets of the industry:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cycle=Career&type=I&cid=N00006882&newMem=N

- wolf

If you really believe that he's not in the pocket of the defense industry then I have a bridge to sell to your gullible ass.

 

[Phokus]

Cut the defense budget like 90% and we still have a military too big. I'd do that then shift all that money to real shit we need: Single payer healthcare and education.

 

[woolfe9999]

If you really believe that he's not in the pocket of the defense industry then I have a bridge to sell to your gullible ass.

Shrug. I don't know what the limitations of opensecrets.com are, other than that it wouldn't cover things like gifts and trips given on the sly. But then, why does McKeon's disclosed contributions basically show him in their pockets and not Kyl's if there is a conspiracy to cover it up?

 

[Fern]

The simple explanation in my opinion is that Kyl's campaigns are paid for by defense contractor lobbyists.

I thought that as well and it turns out not to be the case.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00006406&cycle=Career
-snip-

- wolf

Moonies claim sounded pretty reasonable until I saw Wolfe's link and also realized Kyl is retiring. He doesn't need, and can't use, any campaign contributions.

Fern

 

[werepossum]

Cut the defense budget like 90% and we still have a military too big. I'd do that then shift all that money to real shit we need: Single payer healthcare and education.

Because history is crystal clear, nothing breeds success and security like an excess of healthy people with doctorates in 17th century French poetry . . .

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Campaign contributions are hardly the only way to pay someone off.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Moonies claim sounded pretty reasonable until I saw Wolfe's link and also realized Kyl is retiring. He doesn't need, and can't use, any campaign contributions.

Fern

I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska.

Dear God you are dumb.

 

[Phokus]

Because history is crystal clear, nothing breeds success and security like an excess of healthy people with doctorates in 17th century French poetry . . .

Things like world wars are literally history. We don't even need the 2nd biggest military.

 

[sactoking]

I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska.

Dear God you are dumb.

You do realize that you just implied that Kyl and John Does #1-100 are committing felonious bribery of a Congressperson, right? If not, then pot, meet kettle.

 

[werepossum]

You do realize that you just implied that Kyl and John Does #1-100 are committing felonious bribery of a Congressperson, right? If not, then pot, meet kettle.

"Imply" is a pretty hard word, so I'm guessing not.

 

[Nebor]

I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska.

Dear God you are dumb.

... you know there are hundreds of bridges in Alaska, right?

 

[Craig234]

Moonies claim sounded pretty reasonable until I saw Wolfe's link and also realized Kyl is retiring. He doesn't need, and can't use, any campaign contributions.

Fern

I refrained from any statement about his motives, but what are his plans after retiring?

With 50% of retired legislators going into lobbying, that would EXACTLY fit this.

 

[Engineer]

Moonies claim sounded pretty reasonable until I saw Wolfe's link and also realized Kyl is retiring. He doesn't need, and can't use, any campaign contributions.

Fern

But he can use a great lobbying job with a defense company after he leaves Congress. Just like so very many do (Trent Lott, others).

 

[Moonbeam]

Moonies claim sounded pretty reasonable until I saw Wolfe's link and also realized Kyl is retiring. He doesn't need, and can't use, any campaign contributions.

Fern

Retiring to what, a job in the defense department?

 

[Fern]

I refrained from any statement about his motives, but what are his plans after retiring?

With 50% of retired legislators going into lobbying, that would EXACTLY fit this.

But he can use a great lobbying job with a defense company after he leaves Congress. Just like so very many do (Trent Lott, others).

Retiring to what, a job in the defense department?

I have no idea what his plans are. He'll be over 70 yrs old though, retire might mean retire.

A look at his resume doesn't indicate he's particularly well suited to the defense contract industry. I can't find any committee work etc or any connection to the defense industry.

I think it more likely he's pro-defense given he's from AZ. It's my understanding that's a very pro-defense red state.

If you wanna claim bribery, by all means go ahead, lack of evidence and the like have never stopped you before.

For the reasons Wolfe outlined I can't imagine the defense industry was all that pleased with his remarks anyway. While I'm sure they'd like somebody looking out for their interests, walking out seems very counter-productive to that.

Fern

 

[Engineer]

If you wanna claim bribery, by all means go ahead, lack of evidence and the like have never stopped you before.

Who was that directed at?

 

[Fern]

Who was that directed at?

Wouldn't a quid pro quo for no defense cuts in return for lobbying money be a bribe?

If not, I withdraw the comment.

Fern

 

[Engineer]

Wouldn't a quid pro quo for no defense cuts in return for lobbying money be a bribe?

If not, I withdraw the comment.

Fern

Don't have a clue if it's considered bribery or not and wasn't implying it was (I assumed it was legal so don't throw shit at me). I just know that many do it. Trent Lott helped one of the big defense companies in Mississippi get a billion dollar contract on his last day in office. The next day, his new lobby firm received it's first bit of business....a $1,000,000 contract for lobby work from that very same company. Probably just a coincidence.

I know this because the stock of a competing company that I owned was shredded to bits after that happened causing me to lose a small fortune (to me anyway).

 

[Fern]

Don't have a clue if it's considered bribery or not and wasn't implying it was (I assumed it was legal so don't throw shit at me). I just know that many do it. Trent Lott helped one of the big defense companies in Mississippi get a billion dollar contract on his last day in office. The next day, his new lobby firm received it's first bit of business....a $1,000,000 contract for lobby work from that very same company. Probably just a coincidence.

I know this because the stock of a competing company that I owned was shredded to bits after that happened causing me to lose a small fortune (to me anyway).

I thought we had a law against that? I thought there was a waiting period after leaving office before they could work as lobbyists. Maybe they just talked about it but never did anything?

Fern

 

[Engineer]

I thought we had a law against that? I thought there was a waiting period after leaving office before they could work as lobbyists. Maybe they just talked about it but never did anything?

Fern

I just read that and you are correct. Lott's lobby firm was awarded the money, not Lott directly. He was not able to lobby "personally" for one year after leaving office, yet his "firm" was able to lobby at will. Well isn't that special...

 

[trenchfoot]

The AF training detachment here had extra money at the end of the year, so they improved some Army barracks that airmen have to stay in for ~10 weeks. Now they have wifi, satellite TV and a 40" Samsung LCD in every room. The airmen still get substandard living conditions pay for staying there. 😀

Having served both in the Army and the Air Guard I can support your statement as fact.

Like the Air Guard recruiter told me when I was shopping around for a local unit to nest in, "You got'ta join the Air Guard, man. Because when the Army deploys, they live in tents out in the boonies. When the Air Force deploys, they live in hotels downtown."

And he was right.😀

 

[Moonbeam]

I have no idea what his plans are. He'll be over 70 yrs old though, retire might mean retire.

A look at his resume doesn't indicate he's particularly well suited to the defense contract industry. I can't find any committee work etc or any connection to the defense industry.

I think it more likely he's pro-defense given he's from AZ. It's my understanding that's a very pro-defense red state.

If you wanna claim bribery, by all means go ahead, lack of evidence and the like have never stopped you before.

For the reasons Wolfe outlined I can't imagine the defense industry was all that pleased with his remarks anyway. While I'm sure they'd like somebody looking out for their interests, walking out seems very counter-productive to that.

Fern

Don't be nasty. I always go by the evidence. If we disagree on something it has to be the result of you know knowing what the real evidence is, no? So you might be right here; it could be senility.

Edit: Silly me, I didn't see Engineer's quote above mine. You had to have been talking about him. Moi, not pat attention to evidence, Sheech!