Ammar Al-Hakim, who is looked at as the next in line to head the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, is making strong statements in speeches to followers that Iraq should move toward the creation of self-rule regions. The Kurds in the northern reaches of Iraq already consider themselves separate in most day to day affairs.

Turkey, which has been dealing with Kurdish separatists for 23 years, is positioning itself for attacks into Iraqi territory to engage the Kurds. Turkey is also moving further away from it's previous strong ally of the US stance, and the recent legislation regarding the Armenian genocide has had the effect of pouring gasoline on a fire.

So, we have allies in the Kurdish people living in Iraq, and we have an ally in Turkey, which allows for supply routes over ground and airspace. Which ally are we going to have to sacrifice?

If Iraq is partitioned and the Kurds have a recognized region of self-rule, we can expect Turkey to invade, if they haven't done so already. Several other countries in the region who have also had their history with the Kurdish people may also become involved. We have made promises to the Kurds and broken them in the past, so it is a matter of restoring credibility that we abide by any agreements and treaties made now.

And, speaking of treaties, the NATO Alliance will determine our actions regarding Turkey.


Ok, let me see if I have this right now.....

1. We ignored religious differences and beliefs.

2. We ignored tribal (sect) differences and history.

3. We ignored regional history and conflicts.

4. We ignored 23 years of conflict between Turkey and Kurds.

5. We ignored Saddam's role as buffer between surrounding countries.

6. We ignored lack of trained people to take over for those kicked out.

7. We ignored the need to set achievable goals equating victory.

8. We ignored the impact this could have on our super power status.


Some pretty ignore-ant folks running things.....


If they continue pushing partition, I would expect to see a massive build-up of the neighboring states militaries, and then wide open conflicts between Sunni and Shiite, within the next 10-15 years. I don't believe those living in the region will ignore all that we did, and have.

The arrogance of the Democrat Senate in thinking they can divide a sovereign nation into bits and pieces? Uhuh. "They're uniters, not dividers!"

I think their time was better spent writing misleading and nasty letters to Rush Limbaugh's employer.

We divide the country up and we sentence the Kurds to death imho.

Kurds are already in trouble. Turkey is already making forays and talking war talk with the Kurdish population. I'm not sure the other Iraqi factions would jump to their defense, even if they were able.

Only hope to reign in the Turks is their desire to join the EU. I haven't kept track but I know they were really hoping to help their economy by lumping in with the EU no?

Otherwise I don't see how we could sit back and let them wage genocide...again.

Fandros

From the Turk viewpoint, the Kurds are to them as the Basque separatists are to Spain, or AQ is to us. They have been experiencing "terrorist" attacks for over two decades, with nine of their soldiers being killed in the past week by Kurds (PKK).

If the Kurds are somehow able to rein in the more extreme faction among them, it is questionable whether Turkey will be willing to forget the past. As mentioned, entry into the EU might well be the only carrot that can be dangled at this point, that would tip the scales away from invasion of Iraq by the Turkish military. If such an invasion occurs, our troops are going to be in the middle of another conflict that should have been foreseen and planned for by the architects of the Iraq disaster.

Its called Federalism.

Think something more in line with our original Articles of Confederation than what we have now. Three powerful states, one weak central government.

The Kurdish population in Turkey is very militant and resort frequently to what the US classes "acts of terrorism". They are no better, in that case, than the (former) IRA or ETA, for example.

The Turks have every right to make forays in to Iraq, or attack the Kurdish minorities in the East of their country, than the Israeli's do in regards to Gaza and their Palestinian population.

Or because Kurds are "yey", is it all different?

We have had a working relationship with the Kurds for 10+ years, since the end of the first Gulf War.
That's a long time to have a group as an ally.
Do we turn our backs on them, because it is expedient to do so?
The Kurds claim the land where most of Iraq's oil reserves lie, as part of thier ancient tribal lands.
They also claim parts of Turkey, and Iran as well. Neither of those 2 countries wants to give up the land they have, and Turkey in particular seems to real issues with the Kurds having access to a resource that could finance the liberation of Kurdistan.
This has been an ongoing issue for longer than we have had a stake in the Middle East, and I fear there will be no easy solution.

Was doing some research about this very subject today while at work *on lunch!!*

I think Pelosi and crew are playing some dangerous background games to get their desire to force a withdrawal of the troops.

By singing out loud about the evil of the Genocide of the Armenians she and her ilk knew they'd piss off and possibly alienate the Turks. Who are now massing troops on the Iraq boarder for possible incursions into Kurdish seperatist held Northern Iraq.

The Turks, mind you, who allow us to convoy aprox 70% of our supplies needed for the boys and gals in Iraq.

Piss them off, shut off the convoy and therefore get what Nancy and her crew want....

I hate Politics more and more each day ;( Well the evil prideful vain bastards/bitches that flock to it. Probably reaching but if true I hope Mrs Pelosi roasts one day, real slow..

Fandros

I think Pelosi and crew are playing some dangerous background games to get their desire to force a withdrawal of the troops.


If such could be proven, and if the Turks do indeed reduce or remove access to supply routes thereby endangering our troops, I think we will be witness to the quintessential "LAST STRAW".

As badly as folks are viewing both parties, and rightly so, I think we could really see some life breathed into third party politics with the aim of getting rid of these political game-players who put ego and power-tripping over the best interests of the nation and it's citizens and military.

Much as I would like to see Independent candidates, I really do hope that we do not lose our relationship with Turkey. I was in Kindergarten when my step-dad in the Air Force was based over there, and sent home some pretty cool stuff for the house; that makes it around 57-58, so we have been allied through many changes of leadership. It would be a pity to throw that away for cheap political ground gaining maneuvers.

/nods Byl, the thought that such background bullshit brought to light could force a reality shift in our current political arena is an interesting *and welcome!* one.

I just haven't been able to wrap my head around the reasoning for throwing the Aremian situation into the faces of the Turks Now of all times.

Fandros

/nods Byl, the thought that such background bullshit brought to light could force a reality shift in our current political arena is an interesting *and welcome!* one.

I just haven't been able to wrap my head around the reasoning for throwing the Aremian situation into the faces of the Turks Now of all times.

Fandros

Well i think the real question is do you agree that it was Genocide?

If not, then i can see why you would be mad at them for bringing it up now.

If so, then wouldnt it show that it is ok to be friends with people that commit genocide, yet we should bomb others that haven't attacked anyone?

Dont mean to derail, but it is an important Moral question is it not?

No pumpkin, it's not relevant at all....

If it was of such moral highground then why befriend Germany, France or any of the other 21st century nations.

This is a question of today, quit dragging it into Persia's hayday and such to help further your spiraling efforts to convince anyone here that Iran is an upright and morally upstanding country...!!

Or I'll just drag every arguement into the Hostage crisis of the late 70's.

See I was alive and well into my mid to late teens then. I remember the bullshit we went through, and yes we were involved early on, but many of folks were innocents....

Unless you advocate the use of hostages and terror as viable tools of international diplomacy?

I don't think there's anything nefarious involved here. Pelosi has a large Armenian constituency, and as a representative, it's her job to represent that constituency. Some good background on the subject is here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902347.html). This is nothing new, either. Dole brought it forward in 1990 (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DC153FF93BA15751C0A9669582 60), where it also failed passage.

I do oppose the resolution. Turkey, for all its faults, has the kind of government we should be supporting, not aggravating.

There has never been a better time to condemn Turkish genocide of the Armenians.

The Kurdish people have become a very oppressed people in Turkey and events are leading to bad places. There has been a history of dealing with troublesome minorities in that country that leads to mass graves.

Turkey got away with the Genocide because they allowed themselves to "Strategically Important". Are we to allow history to repeat itself? Are we to look the other way when thousands of Kurds start ending up dead because we want maintain convenient supply lines? This trading of morality for utility is how we had such a major role in fucking this region up for the last 60 years.

Fuck Turkey. They fucking engaged in Genocide... why are they so adamant in denying it? If they cant take accountability for this, and understand there is never any consequence for it, and the US will turn a blind as long as they scratch our back when needed, whats to stop them from doing it again if the Kurds step too far out of line?

They constantly threaten to enter into North Iraq.. and we cower and scamper like scared children. How about a set of fucking balls, and we make it CRYSTAL clear that any unauthorized Turkish foray into sovereign Iraqi territory, beyond cases of hot pursuit, will cause them to be greeted by elements of the 101st Airborne and 1st Armor, tyvm.

Or we can keep meeting aggression with weakness. Usually works well.

"After all, who remembers the Armenians?"
-Adolf Hitler (1936)

I guess we only oppose Genocide when it isn't difficult to do so.

How will you respond when a Representative with a large American Indian constituency brings forward a bill condemning the US for the mass murder of the American Indian tribes?

Ill quickly adjourn and reconvene the meeting here (http://www.foxwoods.com/)

http://www.szilagyi.us/albums/Foxwoods/foxwoods.jpg

We can work to protect the Kurds without further antagonizing Turkey with the Armenian issue.

Ill quickly adjourn and reconvene the meeting here (http://www.foxwoods.com/)

http://www.szilagyi.us/albums/Foxwoods/foxwoods.jpg
That's a pretty nice teepee/wigwam.
Look, if we try and right all the wrongs from history, nothing will get accomplished.
Acknowledge them, yes. Forget them? No.
But the attitude of "We deserve to do _________ because your ancestors did _________ to my ancestors!" gets us nowhere, fast.
How far back to we go? To when Ugggh and Muggh decided to start fighting over which cavewoman/deer/dwelling each was going to have or try to take from the other?
It's a never ending cycle.....

I hear Pelosi's next resolution is going to condemn all the genocide committed by the Sunnis under Saddam. That'll sure bring progress and prosperity to Iraq.

What a tool head she is.

had a talk today with the Armenian immigrant i work with. I'll just say this meant alot to him.

Tell me I'm off base with my fear of Miss Pelosi playing hob with our boys lives in an effort to create a political situation more amiable to her liking.


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/pelosi-says-bush-hasnt-phoned-her-about-turkey-and-genocide/

I really hope to see her called to the carpet on this one.

Pelosi wavering...

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/pelosi-wavering.html

Tell me I'm off base with my fear of Miss Pelosi playing hob with our boys lives in an effort to create a political situation more amiable to her liking.


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/pelosi-says-bush-hasnt-phoned-her-about-turkey-and-genocide/

I really hope to see her called to the carpet on this one.


I'm just as dissapointed in Pelosi and the current Democrat controlled congress as I was with the Republicans...so no, I don't think you're off base.

Yea it was always a political game. The problem is Pelosi and Reid suck at politics. Tip O'Neil would have had Bush twisted in knots.

They'll get better as time goes on though.. Republicans are fucked six ways to Sunday next election. They have tons of retirements and are raising almost next to nothing for their war chest each quarter. They don't have enough money to defend contested or open seats and Democrats have enough money for strong defense and wicked aggressive offense.. they are gonna pour tons on money into republican strongholds and force the GOP to play last stand defense, leaving their outers to rot.

2008 is going to be insanely ugly for Republicans. The bulk of retirements are incoming this winter and spring as well.

It's a situation so perfect only Democrats could fail to take advantage of it.
Tell me I'm off base with my fear of Miss Pelosi playing hob with our boys lives in an effort to create a political situation more amiable to her liking.Like I said, she's representing her constituency. That's what representatives do. Hell, Fanny, your quote pretty much describes the last 4.5 years, don't you think?

Anyway, I'm glad she's reconsidering.

Acknowledge them, yes. Forget them? No.
Acknowledge is the problem actually, everybody knows it happened, everybody agrees it was a fact, but the first concerned.
How can you "educate" someone if they deny committing a fault?

But the attitude of "We deserve to do _________ because your ancestors did _________ to my ancestors!" gets us nowhere, fast.(...)
It's a never ending cycle.....
It is, but considering that sons and daugthers of people involved are still alive, I guess we aren't really talking of "ancestors".

Reminds me Halo's topic about WW1 and WW2 events that will fade/evolve soon into "history" rather than "last century" events. Eventually it will happen with Armenian's genocide, maybe next generation, maybe the one after, until then... I believe it's still part of our "nowadays".

/agree Ant.

When you think of the Armenian genocides, you have to consider it relative to the Armenian populations of the area at the time.
It is a considerable number who perished.

Yea it was always a political game. The problem is Pelosi and Reid suck at politics. Tip O'Neil would have had Bush twisted in knots.

They'll get better as time goes on though.. Republicans are fucked six ways to Sunday next election. They have tons of retirements and are raising almost next to nothing for their war chest each quarter. They don't have enough money to defend contested or open seats and Democrats have enough money for strong defense and wicked aggressive offense.. they are gonna pour tons on money into republican strongholds and force the GOP to play last stand defense, leaving their outers to rot.

2008 is going to be insanely ugly for Republicans. The bulk of retirements are incoming this winter and spring as well.

There's an old saying your big head should at least consider: don't count your chickens before they hatch.

They'll grow into it? LOL. They're just as likely to grow out of it. The Democrats have been an utter failure, sinking even lower in the polls than even Bush and the previous Repub congress.

And when a solidly blue Boston suburb Democrat barely wins their district with only 51% of the vote last night? This game is far from over.

The people of this country are frankly getting sick of both parties. At this moment, the military has a higher approval rating than our upper political classes and the media in general. That is not healthy for a democracy.

Case in point:

Like I said, she's representing her constituency. That's what representatives do. And the 3rd highest ranking leader in this country should also consider her other duties as well. She grossly did not.

/agree Ant.

When you think of the Armenian genocides, you have to consider it relative to the Armenian populations of the area at the time.
It is a considerable number who perished.There are two issues being lumped together here. The Armenian genocides were largely ignored/overlooked by the rest of the world. You almost never hear about them unless you dig around in history, and Turkey sure isn't talking about them. Really, outside of the Jewish holocost in WW2, little attention is paid to anything like this. If you ask me, it's frankly time that the world at least acknowledged what happened.

The second issue is the utter disappointment that the democrats have become in office, and it should be sepparated from the Armenians. It's a shame that they can't pull off half of what they promised, and that they've fallen to the same party bickering that the GOP has been mired in. Or to be fair, they were always there, it was just less interesting when they weren't in power. A lot of us were hopeful after the last round of elections that we'd actually see some change in government, and this isn't the right way to go about it.

The Dems attempts to achieve this or that suffer from two main problems:
1) The big one is the 'scared of their own shadow' fears of being seen as weak when it comes to national security, despite multiple polls showing most citizens rate them somewhat higher than Republicans in this regard. Their inability to bring an end to the Iraq disaster is the prime case in point.

2) Republican filibusters in the Senate that far outstrip (http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/18218.html) the number used by previous Congresses. A couple years ago, you'll recall, the media was filled with news that the "obstructionist Democrats" were bringing about a CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS they may require the NUCLEAR OPTION. Not so much, now. And, of course, they must contend with Presidential veto (e.g., S-CHIP).

No surprise that Republicans are much happier (http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=28741) with how Congress is doing than Democrats and independents. Bush is, however, trying to catch up (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3739995).

2) Republican filibusters in the Senate that far outstrip the number used by previous Congresses. A couple years ago, you'll recall, the media was filled with news that the "obstructionist Democrats" were bringing about a CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS they may require the NUCLEAR OPTION. Not so much, now. Filibustering a law and filibustering the nomination of a Supreme Court justice are two seperate things. The continuous spewing of rhetoric like this is exactly the type of conduct that has sent our politicians' approval ratings into the gutter.

How separate they are is entirely a matter of opinion. ~10 of 229 judicial nominations being filibustered is hardly a catastrophic abuse of power. Were it considered such when the filibuster rule came into effect, nominations could have been altered to be handled like appropriations bills, which cannot be filibustered. One could just as easily say that the continued blocking of legislation of popular items is what sends our politicians' approval ratings into the gutter.

Or the party that is in majority lacks the will to work on compromise bills that could pass without a filibuster, afterall, they're the ones controlling the committees.

Or perhaps they're just serving their constituencies. :rolleyes:

Or perhaps they're just serving their constituencies. :rolleyes:

thats a big part of keeping bills from passing, everyone putting in there own earmark to pass other things besides the main Bill bieng voted on.

Compromise bills like the bipartisan SCHIP, that Bush has vetoed? Also, part of the Dem image problem is their habit of backing down on important issues. Compromise won't always serve their, or our, interests.

Of course, the primary issue of the day is Iraq, and any compromise that could escape filibuster will still be vetoed by Bush.
thats a big part of keeping bills from passing, everyone putting in there own earmark to pass other things besides the main Bill bieng voted on.That's a very small part of bill passage prevention. The purpose of everyone getting their earmark in (and this is only for appropriations bills) is...so that everyone gets their earmark in. If one side screws the other and the other side gains power...then he who did the screwing gets screwed.

Akipt.

Check the numbers.. Republicans are getting demolished in fund raising. Its not even close.

Sept 26, 2007
* According to the latest fundraising tallies, the DCCC has $22.1 million in the bank, and $3.1 million in debt, for a total of $19 million. It’s Republican counterpart, the NRCC, has $1.6 million in the bank, and $4 million in debt, for a total of negative $2.4 million. That’s just astounding. No wonder House Republicans are freaking out.
also
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/14/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3365943.shtml

If you look at the seats up for play, almost none of them are Democratic ones.. all the close races are Republican held seats. With a Tremendous cash shortage.. thats REALLY not good.

check out the races yourself
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_elections,_2008

Cash = TV time. TV Time = points.

Couple that with the fact that the Republicans are going to field, at best, a weak candidate who will likely split the base and they are fucked.

Elections are decided not on election day... but long before

akipt gave the example of a 'heavily blue' district giving the Dem candidate (Niki Tsongas) only 51% of the vote over her rival. In most respects, this isn't the best cherry to pick (though the NRCC is crowing over it). There's red in that streak of blue, for starters; George H. W. Bush won the district in 1992, as did the then-more-liberal Romney in 2002.

Also, Niki Tsongas lived outside the district before she ran, which won't endear a candidate to residents. From what I hear, her nomination came in large part due to the local party machine and beat out a very popular progressive candidate. She won, rather than earned, her nomination, and only staunch support for SCHIP may have given her the seat.

Ogonowski, OTOH, was a strong candidate for the Repubs -- an Iraqi war vet who ran on reform, was very visible to the district, and also garnered a lot of sympathy for losing a brother on 9/11.

Bad Dem candidate against a good Repub candidate will yield a close vote. For the reverse of this, look at the Hackett-Schmidt race in Ohio a few years ago. Nothing to get too excited about.

And very low (abnormally so) voter turnout in a special, off season, election is a not a strong example to trend spot

I don't see what you are cheering about L2.

More than likely you'll see a rise in Independants winning chairs as the Dems have proven themselves just as dirty and incapable of handling the govt.

Which maybe will bring about a 3rd or 4th serious party...

Or better yet some candidates that will actually represent the folks they are elected by. Maybe running a transparent position and start making real clean changes in govt.

Or we'll see more voter apathy , and we all lose...

Im not cheering.

Politics in America is about money. End of story. The side with more of it wins 85% of the time.

Independents have NO shot. Zero. They cannot raise the funds, do not have the backing, have no issues except "Im not that guy" and generally if they had any political talent would have recruited by either party long ago.

As far as apathy this coming election... maybe... but signs do not seem to point there. We are in a highly charged political atmosphere with a highly charged topic (Iraq) fueling debate.

I dont think you will see record lows this election. At least on the Democratic side. The Republicans are going to be hurt because if the candidate is Rudy or Romney the Christian Conservatives are going to be staying home in droves. Democrats learned this lesson last election and Republicans are repeating a stupid mistake.. the Entire case for Rudy is that it is a vote against Hillary.
That didnt motivate people to vote for Kerry and it wont motivate people to vote for either of those two.

Or better yet some candidates that will actually represent the folks they are elected by.Unless they're Armenian.
the Entire case for Rudy is that it is a vote against Hillary. Hillary fear will be the driving force behind any Republican campaign, assuming she gets the nom.

Looks like I'm leaning towards a Romney/Hunter wish ticket atm.

I'd never vote for someone who actually believes in the Mormon ways of life...which Romney is correct?

Most folks have huge misconceptions about the Mormon belief system. While I'm not Mormon myself my gf is as well as many of my neighbors *I live in Utah afterall ;P*

The good ones leave you alone and are the most amazing folks, but just like any religion you have those snooty types that want to rule the world as well as your choices ;P

Check the numbers.. Republicans are getting demolished in fund raising. Its not even close.With donors like this, who can win?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/us/politics/18cnd-milberg.html?ex=1350360000&en=f9e49ba36850e828&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

The Democrats, in turn, enjoyed the support of Milberg Weiss and its partners, who together contributed more than $7 million to the party’s candidates since the 1980s.

Last year, the firm was indicted on federal charges of fraud and bribery. But the political partnership has not been entirely severed. Since the indictment, 26 Democrats around the country, including four presidential candidates, have accepted $150,000 in campaign contributions from people connected to Milberg Weiss, according to state and federal campaign finance records. And some Democrats have taken public actions that potentially helped the firm or its former partners. . . . Beyond campaign contributions, Milberg Weiss became deeply ingrained in the financial firmament of the Democratic Party in other ways. Members of the firm gave $500,000 toward construction of a new Democratic National Committee headquarters, and some of them became partners in a private investment venture with several prominent Democrats. They included former Senator Robert G. Torricelli of New Jersey, who is a fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton, and Leonard Barrack, a Philadelphia trial lawyer who was once the national fund-raising chairman for the Democratic Party.
...

The firm found a friend in President Bill Clinton, who, a few days after being seen chatting and shaking hands with Mr. Lerach at a White House dinner in 1995, vetoed legislation to make it more difficult to sue for damages in injury cases. Congress overrode the veto, but the image remained of a close relationship between the president and Mr. Lerach, a Lincoln Bedroom guest during the Clinton presidency who donated more than $100,000 to Mr. Clinton’s presidential library.

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=favorfactory14m&date=20071014&query=earmark

Tucked away on Seattle's Portage Bay, a sleek, 85-foot speedboat sat idle for years — save for an annual jaunt to maintain its engine.
The Navy paid $4.5 million to build the boat. But months before the hull ever touched water, the Navy gave the boat to the University of Washington. The school never found a use for it, either.

Why would the Navy waste taxpayer dollars on a boat that nobody wanted?

Blame it on Sen. Patty Murray and Congressmen Norm Dicks and Brian Baird. All three exercised their political muscle to slip language into a 2002 spending bill to force the Navy to buy the boat from Edmonds shipbuilder Guardian Marine International.

Year after year, the Washington lawmakers did favors for the tiny company, inserting four "earmarks" into different bills to force the Navy and Coast Guard to buy boats they didn't ask for — $17.65 million in all. None of the boats was used as Congress intended.

The congressional trio say they were helping Guardian Marine because it had a great product. But each has also received generous campaign donations from the company's three executives, its sole employees: $14,277 to Baird, $15,000 to Murray, and $16,750 to Dicks.


And I won't even mention Hsu who Clinton hasn't even bothered returning his money as she promised.

Yea.. those Democrats better clean up their corrupt ways.

Juiciest.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/17/defense-industry-embraces_n_68927.html

The defense industry this year abandoned its decade-long commitment to the Republican Party, funneling the lion share of its contributions to Democratic presidential candidates, especially to Hillary Clinton who far out-paced all her competitors.

An examination of contributions of $500 or more, using the Huffington Post's Fundrace website, shows that employees of the top five arms makers - Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon and General Dynamics -- gave Democratic presidential candidates $103,900, with only $86,800 going to Republicans.

Senator Clinton took in $52,600, more than half of the total going to all Democrats, and a figure equaling 60 percent of the sum going to the entire GOP field. Her closest competitor for defense industry money is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R.), who raised $32,000.

Insofar as defense workers making political donations reflect the interests of their employers, the contributions clearly suggest that the arms industry has reach the conclusion that Democratic prospects for 2008 are very good indeed. Since their profits are so heavily dependent on government contracts, companies in this field want to be sure they do not have hostile relations with the White House.

Gotta secure those contracts :devil

No surprise, lobbyists have been switching their support to the party with the best prospects for electoral success.

I've always been an advocate of shooting lobbyists, along with lawyers....

For the legions of Brownback supporters across America, there be weeping and gnashing of teeth. He's out.