GOP Activists' Bush Access Revealed

(AP)  Republican activists Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed landed more than 100 meetings inside the Bush White House, according to documents released Wednesday that provide the first official accounting of the access and influence the two presidential allies have enjoyed.

The White House released the Secret Service visit records to settle a lawsuit by the Democratic Party and an ethics watchdog group seeking visitors logs for the two GOP strategists and others who emerged as figures in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

Earlier this month, the White House suggested to the judge in that lawsuit that such records need not be disclosed because the information was privileged and might reveal how Bush and his staff get private advice, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press.

White House officials said Norquist, who runs the nonprofit Americans for Tax Reform, was cleared for 97 visits to the White House complex between 2001 and 2006, including a half-dozen with the president.

Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition and an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in Georgia earlier this year, got 18 meetings, including two events with Mr. Bush.

Officials said they believe all appointments with Mr. Bush involved larger group settings, such as Christmas parties or policy briefings for GOP supporters.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, however, it was possible some of Norquist's meetings might have been directly with Karl Rove, the president's longtime confidant and political strategist.

"He is one of a number of individuals who worked to advance fiscal responsibility, which is one of the key aspects of the president's agenda," Perino said.

Both Reed and Norquist became involved with Abramoff, the once high-power GOP lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to fraud and is now cooperating with prosecutors in an influence peddling investigation that has rocked Capitol Hill.

Norquist's group advocates lower taxes and less government and he built it into a major force in the Republican Party. Along the way he became friends with Abramoff and Rove.

E-mails obtained this summer by AP show Norquist facilitated several administration contacts for Abramoff's clients while the lobbyist simultaneously solicited those clients for large donations to Norquist's group. Americans for Tax Reform acknowledged Norquist helped Abramoff but said he did nothing improper.

Reed rose to prominence as an organizer of evangelical Christian groups, including the Christian Coalition, inside the Republican Party before moving into business ventures where he did work for Indian tribes at Abramoff's request.

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[long_rider]

What is the point to all of this investigation? The chimp has the backing of the Republican Party. This administration is so corrupt it is unbelievable, yet no one does anything about it. A second year law student could find numerous laws broken just in the Halliburton contracts, no one is investigating. The chimp has lied to the American people so many times I can%u2019t count all of them, no one does anything about it. The Supreme Court elected the chimp in the last election, against the law; no one did any thing about it. The 9/11 commission report was a farce, and no one did anything about it.

So now the press covers an old story, going no where, and it is supposed to be news? What joke!

We need to look seriously at political reform, quickly. The American people cannot afford to indulge party politics to the point where it supports the kind of uncaring, and dispassionate people we have in the Whitehouse. We must have a more responsive method for dealing with unresponsive party politics.

[lightnin38]

Welcome to out here in the middle, getcentered. We are headed for a re-run of late 19th century American politics, when honor and priciple were returned to government, only after the bosses and machines were taken out. Progressive political reform is easier and more effective after big upheavels in governmental workings. Corruption will never go away, but the upcoming elections will at least send the message, (though they will deny and rationalize that too), that the American people deserve much, much more respect than they have shown. (Seriously, they're still not gonna get it.)

[getcentered]

"He is one of a number of individuals who worked to advance fiscal responsibility, which is one of the key aspects of the president's agenda," Perino said.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!!?? Key Aspects?

The White House, and everybody in it, is F-ing corrupt! These people don't even know what it is to be a Republican. Record deficits at wartime while still cutting taxes and easing import tariffs. An expensive as hell, Medicare "benefits". Republican? Yea right!! Now we come to find out that VERY FEW PEOPLE drafted the major policy decisions. With no ability to listen to opposing opinions, they made huge mistakes!
What do you think of that?

Shame on Republicans for their lack of imagination, their cursory performance as leaders and their willful ignorance when adapting policies that effect the lives of every American. Mr. President you and your talking point robots of a constituency have lost my confidence. My vote is not going to be aligned with the GOP. Your party shows no willingness to show individuality, intelligence, and a freewill.
Mr. President, you and the GOP have failed us. WE WILL REMEMBER.

[grannysue1]

Me thinks when this scab is peeled all the way off your going to see a whole bunch of people caught up in the web for bucks all the way up the chain to the top! One can only hope there will be someone in D.C. who will have the kahonas to do something about it. Thanks