The Skinny: Follow The Money? Nah

Democrats' Ethics Reform Package Leaves Out Campaign Contributions

(CBS)  The Skinny is Hillary Profita's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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It's the special day we've all been waiting for. A "week of choreography designed to deliver the message that [Democrats] did not intend to do business as usual in Washington," as the New York Times described the majority party's introduction of proposed ethics reforms, has now reached its pinnacle.

The 110th Congress begins work today and the front pages are buzzing about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's ethics overhaul package -- "a down payment on her pledge to run 'the most ethical Congress ever,'" writes the Washington Post. Ever!

The irony there is not lost on newspapers' front pages, which note the inconvenient reminders of the Democratic Party's own ethical lapses – like Rep. William Jefferson and the FBI raid that uncovered $90,000 in his freezer and a taped conversation in which he appeared to solicit a bribe.

Jefferson's presence in the House (while he has been stripped of his position on the Ways and Means Committee) "will be a constant reminder of the fine line the new speaker will have to walk between rhetoric and reality, between the cross-cutting demands of her caucus and the demands of the public," writes the Post.

The proposed ethics changes in the Democratic House (which appear in traditional convenient bullet-point format in USA Today) include a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists, barring congressional travel on corporate jets and limitations on trips paid for by lobbyists. As for much-maligned pork barrel legislation, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer "predicted there would be fewer earmarks in the Democratic Congress because of new rules," writes USA Today.

But Somebody Forgot Campaign Contibutions ...

What don't the new rules address? Campaign donations! The presence of lobbyists and other contributors was indeed not limited at the host of fund-raisers this week, including this evening's event thrown by Pelosi. The NYT describes it as a "$1,000-a-head fund-raiser with performances by Tony Bennett, Carole King, Wyclef Jean and the surviving members of the Grateful Dead. 'Ms. Pelosi is a huge Dead fan,' her spokeswoman said."

Nancy Fest 2006

The Los Angeles Times takes note of Pelosi's own "three-day celebration of her ascension" as House Speaker, which began yesterday and was apparently "packed with more product placement than an infomercial." The products, of course, were symbols of her identity (cannoli from a Baltimore bakery, white lilies on the altar of a chapel at her alma mater.)

Some critics derided the events as a "Nancy Fest," but supporters, like Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, told the paper: "We've eaten so much crow over the last 12 years I have no problem with popping the champagne, if only to remind us we've worked hard but now it's time for us to work for the American people."

Spy Pooh-Bah Hooks Up With Condi

As a new Congress begins its work, the nation's first Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte will take on a new role, according to "administration officials." He'll resign as DNI to become deputy secretary of state, a position that apparently no one is too interested in. The New York Times notes that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "asked several people who have turned down the post."

It's a "critical job that has been vacant for months," and is a "leading role in shaping policy in Iraq." But it's also a job that "on paper," is of lower ranking than the DNI, "raising questions about why the White House would seek — and why Mr. Negroponte would agree to — the shift."

The Price Of Failure

Finally, in what appears to be the "personnel changes" edition of The Skinny today, the ouster of Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli is gaining front-page attention. Mostly because he's a bazillionaire. The Wall Street Journal is all over it, but the L.A. Times wins the prize for blunt headline of the day ("$210 Million To Step Aside," a reference to Nardelli's $210 million severance package, which included $20 million in cash severance.) It's one that "dismayed some corporate watchdogs who have seen a string of departing CEOs collect high-dollar payouts in recent months," writes the LAT.

In addition to a host of other factors (sagging stock prices, an "autocratic" management style) it was the compensation that lured Nardelli to the company that "became a lightning rod for criticism that the board felt compelled to address," writes the Journal.

An anonymous "director" told the New York Times that "compensation was not the reason for Mr. Nardelli’s departure and that there was no 'smoking gun' behind his resignation." According to the Journal, over his tenure at Home Depot, Nardelli "received compensation valued at more than $240 million."

As for the compensation of Nardelli's incoming replacement, Frank Blake, "[d]irectors are still working out final details" and a "person familiar with the matter" tells the Journal that the "elements of his pay package will resemble 'what shareholders have been asking for.'"

[processor2]

The Skinny: Follow The Money? Nah
Democrats' Ethics Reform Package Leaves Out Campaign Contributions

Of course not,

Then billionaire George Soros couldn't contribute to the Democrat/MoveOn.orgers.

Democrats new motto:

"Leave no billionaire behind"

.............

[bluestardad]

If the Democrats were serious they would forward a measure to take away retirement of any congressional member convicted of a crime.

[bildooreilly]

Both parties are total crooks, when are you two party morons going to wake up and face the facts?

[bildooreilly]

Sad thing is nobody is going to hold either one of these political parties accountable until everything is too far gone and this country is mostly or completely destroyed and bankrupt, you're a pathetic excuse for a citizen if you voted for any democrat or republican crook and liar.

[one_american]

Fancy-pants Nancy, sneaker of the house, called herself "the most powerful woman in America".

It's easy to see, she is certainly the most arrogant.

[mt5937]

It was too far gone 30 years ago.

Clearly, rules apply to the subjects of the royalty.

[one_american]

"Ms. Pelosi is a huge Dead fan."

Looks more like a little shriveled dead ostrich, to me.

[bildooreilly]

I bet she won't mind if 1000 dead heads come crash at her estate...

[jimboblaze7]

One_American, and processor2 are sad examples of Conservatives who simply won't give anyone a chance. "Leave no billionaire behind"? Please. Democrats are keeping their promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and Republicans are FIGHTING for the wealthy to keep their tax breaks as well. You're full of it. As for One_American, its great knowing his uninformed, sarcastic remarks have been marginalized after the last election. Glad to see you can quote out-of-context Drudge headlines ("most powerful woman", eh?) that make you look like the bitter loser you are. Who's whining now, schmuck? Of course, I'd be mad too if it took my party 50 years to reclaim Congress the last time they lost both houses to the Democrats. Next time, don't tell people how to live their lives in this FREE country and maybe you'll hang onto power. Till then, have a nice defeat!

[goyboyim]

In hindsight, her affinity for the Dead is probably a result of her knowledge of the CIA/Mossad connection with the band and was a major conduit for drugs, especially LSD, TARGETTING the youth of the nation. Mickey Hart, one of the entertainers for the corination, was a member of the band and now a member of Bohemia Grove as is Phil Lesh, another band member. Bill Graham, band producer, was probably an agent, certainly a Zionazi.

The effects of band on the nations young is immeasurable, totally devastating many, many of the youngest and brightest. Remember, these guys got their start in the mid sixties, performing in hundreds of concerts and Woodstock type events that lasted for days.

In other words, they were drugged into liberalism!

[jimboblaze7]

goyboyim,
You are nuts. Are you implying that Nancy Pelosi had something to do with teh CIA bringing drugs to the US? What a whack job! Yeah, drugs destroyed the "best and the brightest" alright. Lowell Bergman, the 60 Minutes Producer...and subject of the movie The Insider, drugs REALLY destroyed his career. Many of those "hippies" are now running huge corporations and doing quite well for themselves. Spare us the Conservative myths about the 60's, they've been disproven over and over again. What next? Your expert re-telling of the Diane Linkletter story? Go watch Reefer Madness and keep living in ignorance, the rest of us realize the War on Drugs is a huge bureaucratic waste of resources and money, and exists now only to keep DEA and FBI agents (whose ONLY "service" to the public is busting college students with pot) employed. There are REAL threats to this country, get a clue.

[bildooreilly]

Very perceptive there boygoyim, you can find old pictures of Jerry Garcia (was he a mexican jew?) giving the old illuminati masonic signs.. Like the one Stalin gave all the time where you stick half your hand inside the other side of your jacket.. like the famous photo of Napolean, while he's pointing up like the famous photo of Baphomet (satan). Anyone that knows what to look for knows the dead is a CIA/Illuminati contrived psychop, much like the government contrived bands today, the gangster rappers, the marilyn mansons.. he goes by his initials now MM (master mason) all designed to suck up kids souls...

[bildooreilly]

Jim, the drug trade is controlled by the government if you haven't figured it out yet, even people like Cheech and Chong are CIA covert ops... practically the entire "entertainment" industry is a big cia mind control festival.. You can easily recognize it if you know the signs....

[bob graham las vegas]

Why so many snivelers? Most of you elected the ones who let the CIA deal drugs while using the DEA to shore up prices by reducing supply. What difference does the speaker's likes/dislikes of music make as long as she is smart enough to know she and her cohorts were elected to keep the US out of stupid wars, use all means to protect our borders, increase new high tech civil and defense production, and remember who it was that put her in the position to do so? IF she can show that we are started in this direction she becomes not only THE woman but YOUR'S AND MY WOMAN!

[darkstarr69-2009]

EVERYTHING I JUST READ MAKES ME *** SICK.....
THE GRATEFUL DEAD ....is by far the greatest touring band ever ...and ever will be !!!!
they are still ...turning fans ON as far as the forth generation now ...
AS A MUSICIAN.....i tell everyone reading this that if u think the goverment had anything to do with the dead CHECK YOURSELF IN TO BELLVUE .....U R A *** UP!!!!!!
hmmmm ....would u work for next to nutting and travel nonstop 365 /for 30 years give or take ??? for the goverment????
I DO NOT THINK SO ...
now to all those who have read this say
THANK YOU... GRATEFUL DEAD FOR THE 30+ YEARS U HAVE GIVEN US!!! AND MAY THE FOUR WINDS CARRY JERRY HOME ....
LOVIN HUGGS
DARKSTARR

[darkstarr69-2009]

oops sorry ...
U GO MS.PELOSI
AND MAY THE 4 WINDS CARRY ALONG .....
LOVIN HUGGS
DARKSTARR