A good way for the Democrats to regain and stay in the majority:

[brentspeak]

Denounce ALL lobbying. ALL hard and soft money. Everything.

None of this "stronger laws against lobbying abuses" nonsense, just a total repudiation of lobbying, plain and simple.

(..."You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...")

[Oceansaway]

1. Touche !!..n/t

[bluestateguy]

2. I want members of Congress to refuse to meet with lobbyists

If I was a member of Congress, I would serve one term only, and I would refuse to meet with any lobbyists. I would only meet with individual citizens, which has got nothing to do with lobbyists.

[IndyOp]

3. Can't get them elected to repudiate lobbying til election fraud combatted

:grr:

[brentspeak]

That's another issue that would resonate with the American voter

If the Democrats could get on board together (a rare occurance) and raise a big fuss over rigged Diebold machines, etc., they'd stand a chance of getting votes from a lot of people who don't vote Democrat, including Greens.

Nothing should raise the ire of an American citizen more than the prospect that their vote is not being counted.

[serryjw]

4. Imagine

I have a poster of that on my wall..Yes, I am a dreamer, and love your idea. IF they had the balls to do it,the thugs WOULD HAVE to agree,

[John Q. Citizen]

5. That would mean people like Greenpeace, or The SPCA, or

anyone whose a paid employee of thousands of non-profits couldn't ask their representitives to carry a bill for them.

American Cancer Society? Nope

School boards?- Nope

Unions?-nope

red Cross? - nope.

The Velvet Revolution?-nope

The list is endless.

[brentspeak]

10. I see your point

Do organizations really need to give politicians money just to gain their ear? There must be a way to get around that.

[HardWorkingDem]

6. Union vs corporate lobbying...

Well, sorry to ask this, but if this were to happen, what would be done about labor unions, environmental groups, human rights groups and the sort. There has to be a distinction between lobbying on behalf of organizations that are focused on the public interest and good versus that of those that are lobbying for the benefit for corporations or the bottom line.

[Vincardog]

7. Public Financing of campaigners. Ban ALL Corporate MONEY

[robbedvoter]

8. Get rid of Diebold?

[brentspeak]

12. Of course

If I were president (as I should be, heh heh) I would sign an executive order banning all private companies from handling any aspect of federal elections. The system would be federalized; all voting machines would be standardized in every state, with iron-clad transparency, and run and financed by the federal government.

[Grateful for Hope]

9. Good point

I also think need to get rid of the "person" status of corporations. They are not voting citizens, and should not be recognized as such.

I think this would put quite a damper on lobbying.

[babylonsister]

11. Can you wait until Wednesday?

Dean to deliver speech outside Gov. Taft's office Wednesday.


Others set up around the country.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/15/161320/911

On Capitol Hill, Reid and Pelosi will detail legislation calling for a ban on Congress members' acceptance of trips from corporate lobbyists and for a clamp-down on lobbyist gifts, including meals and entertainment.In Ohio, Dean will deliver his address outside the office of Gov. Robert A. Taft, a Republican who is under fire for accepting golf outings and who is at the center of a scandal over $10 million in missing workers' compensation funds that had been invested in rare coins.


And there is a little more:

The Times got some excerpts of Dean's Wednesday speech: In his Columbus speech Wednesday, Dean plans to say that "the Abramoff scandal is the tip of the iceberg," according to excerpts from his address provided to The Times.

Dean will argue that the Abramoff scandal is a specifically Republican embarrassment, kicking back at GOP assertions that Democrats share culpability. He will catalog ethical questions facing Republicans including Rove and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, who is under scrutiny for possible insider stock trades.

"The Republican culture of corruption must come to an end," he plans to tell his audience, a theme to be echoed by Pelosi and Reed in Washington and by leading Democrats in Minnesota, Montana, Utah and other states.

[More Than A Feeling]

13. Every time you call their office, you are lobbying n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

15. That is true, but you aren't a lobbiest. In Montana if you are

paid over $150 by an employer (be it a union , a non-profit, or a multinational corporation and you contact State a representitive about legislation or an issue that is important to your employer you have to register as a lobbiest

[ktowntennesseedem]

14. Either that, or

throw all Republicans in prison.

Nah, your idea is better!