What Is The PELICAN Institute? The Landrieu PHONE BUGGING Case.

[Segami]

There's a lot we still don't know about the four men implicated in the alleged attempt to bug Sen. Mary Landrieu's phones yesterday, but a little-known organization called the Pelican Institute appears to be key to the story.

Located at 400 Poydras St. in downtown New Orleans -- half a block from Landrieu's office at 500 Poydras St. -- Pelican describes itself as a state policy think tank dedicated to advancing "sound policies based on the principles of free enterprise, individual liberty, and limited government."



" The Pelican Institute for Public Policy is a non-profit research and education institution that conducts scholarly research and analysis of Louisiana public policy. The Institute's mission is to advance sound policies based on the principles of free enterprise, individual liberty, and limited government. Institute staff pursues this mission by conducting timely research on important issues and then marketing the findings to elected leaders, the media, business leaders, community organizations, and individual citizens.


The Pelican Institute is governed by an independent Board of Directors and is a non-partisan, tax-exempt organization. The Institute relies on voluntary support from individuals, private foundations and businesses. It does not accept government funding and does not conduct contract research.


The Pelican Institute will fulfill its mission through a range of activities, including:


Informing citizens of our research by disseminating it through regularly published commentaries and reports
Organizing and participating in public forums that address matters of public policy
Legislative outreach, including frequent sharing of research with elected officials and their staffs
Media outreach, such as contributing op-ed pieces and appearing on talk radio programs "


<http://www.pelicaninstitute.org/about/>



James O'Keefe, the conservative filmmaker behind the ACORN stings who has been charged in the Landrieu case, was scheduled to give a talk at Pelican last Thursday on "Exposing Truth: Undercover Video, New Media and Creativity." Tickets were $35; the setting was the posh Plimsoll Club at the World Trade Center. An ad for the luncheon promised attendees insights into O'Keefe's special strain of new media genius:

"James' videos of ACORN employees providing advice on how to break the law created a sensation. Shortly after the videos were released Congress voted to defund ACORN. James has been a pioneer in the use of new media to drive these kinds of important stories. He will discuss the role of new media and provide examples of effective undercover video."

Another of the charged men, Robert Flanagan, works for Pelican, his attorney told the Times-Picayune. Flanagan allegedly dressed up a telephone repairman to infiltrate Landrieu's office.



<http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/landrieu_phone_bugging_case_what_is_the_pelican_in.php?ref=fpa>

[ellie]

1. I hate repukes

Bunch of lawless assholes.

[Segami]

2. I wonder how deep the Pelican Institute rabbit hole runs?

[Arctic Dave]

3. A think tank with five people?

Looks like a "free marketer" talking point mill.

[eleny]

4. I'd like to know who funds them

[Segami]

5. " The Institute relies on voluntary support from individuals, private foundations and businesses."

Its only a matter of time before more info starts surfacing about who these "individuals, private foundations and businesses " are who are funding this group.

[Arctic Dave]

8. I'm sure they are a completely grass roots type of organization.

[UpInArms]

6. just a few bad apples at the bottom of the pile - nothing to see here

move on - now move on....

:sarcasm: among other things

[niyad]

7. so flanagan works for this reichwing "think tank" and his daddy is the acting US attorney--courtesy

of diaper dave, who is holding up the confirmation of the nominee.

can't wait until KO and Rachel do their connect-the-dot things tomorrow.

[Segami]

9. Stay tuned and don't forget to pass the popcorn.

[blogslut]

10. Well, the guy who owns/runs it is named Kevin Kane

From the looks of the site, Robert Flanagan was basically a blogger/news aggregator:

http://www.thepelicanpost.org/

[niyad]

11. here is a little on kevin kane--and the last line is worrisome:

Kevin Kane flag
President, Pelican Institute

Kevin Kane is the president of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy. He is a native of Long Island, New York and a graduate of Tulane University and the Loyola University School of Law. After law... more » Kevin Kane is the president of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy. He is a native of Long Island, New York and a graduate of Tulane University and the Loyola University School of Law. After law school Kevin worked in the legal and compliance division at Merrill Lynch & Co., and prior to founding the Institute he produced legal seminars and conferences in New York City.

In 2008, Kevin established the Pelican Institute and moved back to New Orleans with his wife and two children. The Institute's mission is to identify and promote market-based policy solutions at the state and local level.

******Education reform is one of the Institute's primary areas of focus.********

http://littlesis.org/person/48200/Kevin_Kane

[Segami]

12. The FBI Affidavit

<http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/pdf/FBI_affadavit_012610.pdf>

[struggle4progress]

13. "Transparency" demands are a Pelican Institute favorite: I wonder how transparent they are

Transparency Pledge
The Pelican Institute would like to invite you to sign our transparency pledge.
http://www.pelicaninstitute.org/transparency/