Welcome Back to the Machine

TAPped points to a New York Review of Books piece on the GOP's unholy symbiosis with Washington lobbyists, the so-called "K-Street Strategy." Makes good reading in tandem with Nick Confessore's Washington Monthly article from 2003.

Comments

[Randolph Carter]

There’s a funny article in The Hill about this today – K streeters are pissed at the “entitlement culture” of lawmakers who expect free booze, tickets, and meals. One story: A senate staffer was having drinks with a couple of friends, and spotted a lobbiest who spent time in the Senator’s office across the bar. When he was done drinking, the staffer got up, handed the lobbiest the bill, and walked out.

[kmw]

I expect this to be a good launching pad for General Marius, and his usual theme.

In this context, you really have to wonder. Seems almost like the Roman senate all over again.

[6Gun]

Somewhat on topic, apparently the GOP has a lot of unholy symbiosis with Washington lobbyists…as does the left. Here’s Dubya’s No Child debacle tied to military recruitment, undoubtedly a NEA/Pentagon tryst of some sordid nature.

With a zillion social programs, and with government lobbying itself daily in complete violation of separation of powers, is is any wonder this stuff happens?

[6Gun]

Lovely. Here are those links again:

military recruitment.

a zillion social programs.

[Lowdog]

6Gun – no.

And holy christ, look at all those acronyms!

[saw-whet]

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.I remember a Presidential candidate once saying that of all the useless bureaucracies, that’s the one he’d get rid of. No such luck, huh? And I see it is a self-supporting corporation.

[Douglas Fletcher]

So who’s the Republican Robert Strauss?