January 14, 2006

How About “No Thanks”?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 4:55 pm

Can you imagine the following?

Joe Lobbyist: “Good morning, Senator. Thanks for seeing me.”

RepubDem Senator: “Good morning. What can I do for you?”

Joe Lobbyist: “As you know Senator I am with the Association of XYZ, and our members have a particular interest in the passage of Senate Bill No. 3233, which provides for increased subsidies to our members.”

RepubDem Senator: “I’m familiar with the Bill. I’ve scheduled you for twenty minutes, so why don’t you tell me why you think I should vote for this Bill.”

Joe Lobbyist: “It might take longer than that, Senator, and that’s why I would like to invite you to spend a weekend in Aruba with me and some of our members. Of course, airfare, hotel, meals and a round of golf or two are all included. It will give you an opportunity to learn more about the Association of XYZ and how passage of this bill would be good for our members and good for America. Oh, and you can bring your wife too.”

RepubDem Senator: “No thanks. I don’t accept trips. Why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind.”

Joe Lobbyist: “OK. I understand that your schedule might be a little tight. How about you join us in our box on Sunday for the Redskins game? Afterward, we can do dinner, and we can talk.”

RepubDem Senator: “No thanks. Please get to your point.”

Joe Lobbyist: “Lunch? At my club? We can talk then.”

RepubDem Senator: “No thanks. I don’t accept gifts of any kind from lobbyists. I believe you have about ten minutes left.”

Joe Lobbyist: “Senator, it is a complicated issue, and I think the Aruba thing would give us plenty of time to fairly present all the issues to you in a more relaxed stetting.”

RepubDem Senator: “I believe I’ve heard enough. Good day, sir.”

Is it really too much to expect lawmakers to simply say “No” when people with an interest in legislation offer them things of value?

Isn’t it a damned shame that we can only imagine ethical behavior from our legislators, when we have every right to expect it?

It’s about time that we demand it from all of them. [/soapbox]

8 Comments »

  1. Ha, Ha! Good one, Jim! Ethical behavior from our legislators. Stop! My sides are breaking!

    Comment by Sluggo — January 15, 2006 @ 8:23 am

  2. I wish Jim, ohhh I wish. And I keep hopin’. A girls gotta have her dream, ya know!

    Comment by Tammi — January 15, 2006 @ 10:26 am

  3. Amen, brother. Amen.

    Comment by Craig — January 15, 2006 @ 10:48 am

  4. Jim, you don’t think these guys get to be millionaires by spending their own money on anything, do ya??

    Comment by MCPO Airdale — January 15, 2006 @ 10:51 am

  5. Sigh. But once they’re in there, it’s like they all turn into Gollums protecting “the preciousssssssss.”

    Comment by dogette — January 15, 2006 @ 6:02 pm

  6. Tell ya what, Mr. Lobbyist.

    Take me on that trip to Aruba, and I’ll see to it that your opinion is made clear at my blog.

    Of course, MY opinion of it will follow, one way or the other.

    RWR

    Comment by RightWingRocker — January 15, 2006 @ 8:21 pm

  7. Have sympathy for these guys. They are poor! Especially the ones out West who have to spend a ton of money every year flying out to see their constituents. That’s why they’re more corrupt than the East Coast guys. Smaller populations = smaller campaign warchests to pay for travel. That’s probably Conrad Burns excuse. I say we forgive him.

    – Jersey Perspective

    Comment by Jack — January 17, 2006 @ 5:09 pm

  8. a-freaking-men. thank you! so, so sad that this little piece is fiction and not a transcript of an actual interaction between a politician and a lobbyist. we can only dream.

    Comment by dawn coleman — January 17, 2006 @ 5:27 pm

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