This Could Change Everything: SCOTUS to hear Citizens United v. FEC

[phantom power]

You’ve probably heard by now that next week the Supreme Court will break up its summer recess to hear argument, for the second time, in Citizens United v. FEC. You may have the sense that this doesn’t happen often and that something important is going on. If so, you’re right and then some.

...

If the Court accepts this argument, it would do away with a distinction that has been in place in our Constitution since the Founding and our statutory law since the Tillman Act of 1907 (as explained in the brief CAC filed in Citizens United), and allow corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in elections. To appreciate how scary this change would be, consider that, according to the FEC, the Republican and Democratic parties combined spent slightly more than $1.5 billion between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, while Fortune Magazine reports that the 10 most profitable companies during the same period earned combined profits of over $350 billion. This contrast reveals that unleashing even a tiny fraction of corporate profits – from just a handful of companies – could overwhelm the campaign system with money that represents the narrowest interests of private, profit-driven entities.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/this-could-change-everything-by-digby.html

[pokercat999]

1. Me thinks the fix is in...... But it's not like the corporations don't

already have a strangle hold on the congress and ALL administrations going back to at least Ray-gun. The difference would be like being hit in the head with a 12 oz hammer or a 16 oz hammer. Anything short of the elimination of corporate person-hood is just a leaking bandage on a festering wound.

[Toasterlad]

3. Sadly Accurate.

[rurallib]

2. I expect the decision will be announced ASAP so the corps can

start snatching up what few politicians they don't already own.
Maybe in their decision, the SCOTUS will require politicians to wear NASCAR style suits emblazoned with their owners logos.

Chuck Grassley models future Senate wear

[TransitJohn]

4. End corporate personhood now! n/t

n/t

[MrsCorleone]

5. If Citizens United wins this case, the multi-nationals can & will destroy the real public servants

in office and throw endless dollars behind the campaigns of corrupt politicians.

This case can decide whether the people lose what little democratic power we have left.

Corporately owned media, of course, will not report on this. So few people know this is happening. Tragic.