Giuliani Firm Has Tangential Chavez Ties

Republican Contender's Law Firm Has Gotten Money To Lobby Texas Legislators On Behalf Of Citgo

(AP)  Rudy Giuliani's law firm has received $100,000 to $200,000 since 2005 to lobby Texas legislators on behalf of Citgo Petroleum Corp., a Houston-based oil company ultimately controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Records with the Texas Ethics Commission show that Shannon H. Ratliff II, an attorney with Bracewell & Giuliani of Houston, has been registered to lobby the state legislature for Citgo since April 2005. But David McCollum, a spokesman for Citgo, said the company has had a lobbying contract with the law firm since the mid-1990s, when it was named Bracewell & Patterson.

"I think the only reason this is coming out is because this is a political year and Mr. Giuliani's name is on the law firm," McCollum said. "But Mr. Giuliani has no personal involvement in this at all. ... If this weren't a political year, this would get no attention at all."

Giuliani, a former New York mayor, is the front-runner for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Although Citgo Petroleum is a U.S.-based company, it was bought in 1990 by Petroleos de Venezuela, the national oil company of Venezuela. The Bush administration has criticized Chavez as being uncooperative in the global war on terrorism.

Chavez has become President Bush's most strident critic in Latin America, denouncing the president as "the devil."

Giuliani's campaign said the candidate does no lobbying for Citgo.

"Mayor Giuliani believes Hugo Chavez is not a friend of the United States, and his influence continues to grow because of our increasing reliance on foreign sources of oil," Maria Comella, a campaign spokeswoman, said in a statement. "As the mayor has consistently stated, the development of alternative fuels is a priority that demands a solution in order to ensure the United States energy independence."

McCollum noted that Citgo Petroleum Corp. employs nearly 4,000 employees in Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Georgia and New Jersey. More than 1,200 of those employees are in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, requiring the company to pay close attention to the actions of the Texas legislature.

"We're in the business of running a business," McCollum said. "And any big business in the state of Texas is going to be concerned about issues that come up in the state legislature that would impact their business. ... As far as international politics, we leave that to the politicians."

[sjc_1]

Chavez was giving discounted heating oil to the poor in this country while Bush was cutting back assistance for heating to the poor in this country. I leave it to reasonable people to decide who has more compassion for the poor.

[randalds]

Actually I'd go out of my way to buy Citgo products, but they're not much available here in L.A. I applaud Chavez for his contributions of much needed fuel oil to American poor in the North-East because it filled a need that used to have a government program for, but that Bush had slashed to the bone to help pay for his war of profit in Iraq. I certainly hope Chavez will continue to use his control of Citgo to benefit Americans that Bush is ignoring to the point of them freezing to death without Chavez's help. Bravo to you sir!

[figuy30]

don't use citgo products. i would'nt take them if they were free. if they were the last gasoline company on the face of the earth i'd walk. we don't need chavez. he needs us. what is citgo's profit margin anyway? do you think that maybe their expenses to lobby their products might be passed on to the consumer? i'm sure that giuliani's law firm would'nt mislead america just for a few bucks????

[j-whitman]

Rudy,,,, The cross dressing, terror profiteering example the New Republican Democracy in America -- He's leading the GOP - ROTFLOL

[forthepeaple]

I was once proud to be american and proud to say i i'm a vet,now i just want out.You all in congress and capital hill and white house should be working for america and the americans that elected you to protect us,that isn't the case and i know why. I have been looking and found something that all america has forgotton.Who said this statement: If the personal freedoms of all americans by the Constitution and bill of right are Inhibiting the Government ability to (Govern)that meant control, the people of united states of america..Than we Should look to Limit those GUARANTEES #2.The united states Government CAN'T BE so fixed on our desires to preserve the RIGHTS of ORDINARY AMERICANS #3.I can do any ********* thing i want,I'm president of the united states and you dont forget that.....who am I..... so you all have been following your orders well i want you all to know that i hold all of you accountable for the murders of thousends of americans that have died and wounded in a war we have no buisness being in, you all are makeing large sums of money on americans lives and you all will pay a big price for that someday,heavens gates will never open its golden gates to you.. i hope someday that america and true americans will wake up and see that this washington crime family has sold our country to the highest bidders, china being # 1 and is # 1 in the world now, they are the supper powers of the world now. THANKS..DAVID A BELANGER,FOR AMERICANS FOR AMERICA,AT [e-mail]

[sero5]

Too bad the Federal Trade Commission allowed Venezuela to buyout Citgo from the Southland Corp. back in 1986 and 1990. Poor Giuliani.

[randalds]

Giuliani is buddies with Chavez.
Posted by jh6379 at 07:54 AM : Mar 16, 2007

If that were true it'd certainly make me much more likely to vote for him.

[randalds]

Giuliani is buddies with Chavez.
Posted by jh6379 at 07:54 AM : Mar 16, 2007

If that were true it'd certainly make me much more likely to vote for him.

[agnim]

"Giuliani Firm Has Tangential Chavez Ties"

AND EXXON MOBILE and other US oil companies have what kind of a tie with Venezuela? LOL

[rafterman1]

"That's all you libs have....DailyKoz rhetoric. No proof, no evidence, just talk. Your daily dose of MoveOver.org is probably coming due."

No proof? You cannot be that monumentally stupid, can you? How many incidents of the Bush corruption machine are you going to need to take in before you finally realize something is wrong? Almost every week there is something new on how Bush and company has f*cked up. Haven't the last six years been enough proof? Are you an American first or a Republican first? WHat's your first loyalty?

To paraphrase Richard Pryor, are you going to believe Bush or your lyin' eyes?

[us_infidel]

Bad wars, massive debt, fraud, ignoring the constitution, leaking classified info, all for politcal gain. But all that is OK apparently. Maybe GWB needs to get a BJ in the White House before it becomes serious enough for Republicans to react.

Posted by Rafterman1 at 07:39 AM : Mar 16, 2007

That's all you libs have....DailyKoz rhetoric. No proof, no evidence, just talk. Your daily dose of MoveOver.org is probably coming due.

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
americans need a real american to run this country so vote for david a belanger for president he is a real american and will only help america and americans. [e-mail]
whats next congress i'll tell you, REVOLUTION OR CIVIL WAR.KEEP IT UP

[rafterman1]

"Lawyer-Client privelage. Ever hear of it? Clinton's justice department used it EXTENSIVELY!"

An argument the Bush administration will be using quite often as well. You know, improper conduct between the WH and the Justice Department was article two of Nixon's impeachment. Hmmm. Now where does that sound familiar? What current event could it be similar to? Hmmm.

Bad wars, massive debt, fraud, ignoring the constitution, leaking classified info, all for politcal gain. But all that is OK apparently. Maybe GWB needs to get a BJ in the White House before it becomes serious enough for Republicans to react.

[baldfrog-2009]

To ALL you Republican W4 Iraq War Lovers being paid by Rove probably to publish his cockroach *** on here. Yes being paid to go through the INTERNET for articles, the press to publish editorials in papers call in radio media you rotten pastie faced Rovian Young Turks.I am not buying it and trust me I know Roves tactics from the Committee to Reelect the President in 1972.He will stoop to anything.Ask someone who lived through that(Watergate era) who ole Rover's former boss was a player.Maybe ask John Dean? who knows about that one.I suspect that's all ya'll do is go through press articles,the net,to and call Rush Bimbas E.D.Limba, call in show over and over again masturbating him with Republican accolades,yet another turk probably on the Republican payroll.
Hop on over to the recruiters office and enlist take the rest of you pals with ya.Surge on!. Ya don't even have to do desert warfare training anymore so they can get you in the game quick.Check out Joe Bidon's comments on W's War, from the Senate.Then go bleed blood for the war you so dearly believe in.Report back to us the Mission.Take Mitch McConnell,Lindsey Graham and Rove with ya to Cover Your Back.Yeah go join and after your 3rd tour or so come back and tell us all how Iraqi Freedom is all working.Be sure to get some tips at Walter Reed beore ya GO!Another great Republican bungle that hurt our troops.

[karlimhof]

Almost everyone knows that before you sit down to dinner, you wash your hands.

Giuliani has dirty hands - and he's big enough to know better.

All the candidates hands have to be checked and those who don't make the muster are out!

No more free rides - good natured and believing Americans have had their noses bloodied enough these last 6 years.

[dallison7]

Lawyer-Client privelage. Ever hear of it? Clinton's justice department used it EXTENSIVELY!
Posted by US_Infidel



Why don't you write "Clinton did it, it's Clinton's fault" 100 times and get out of your system? Oh, that's right, then you would have nothing left to talk about.

BECAUSE THAT IS ALL YOU EVER SAY!!

[zootallures2]

Well, Chavez said the World Trade Center wasted more electricity than what could be used to run a whole country. Rudy Giuliani cashed in on that wasted electricity. Sounds like a match made in hell. Add that to Bush getting to invade Iraq, Cheney gets rich off weapons, UNICAL getting the Afghan pipe line, the CIA getting Afghan heroine, the UK gets to implement more government control, Iran takes over the moral high ground, Russia get to use terrorim to hold Europe hostage with Chechnyan oil, Israel makes Islam look like the bad guys for thir military conquests, China getting whopping interest revenues on taxpayers loans, Larry Silverstien getting free property in NYC, and the swindle goes on and on and on and on...

[forthepeaple]

agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america

[forthepeaple]

I was once proud to be american and proud to say i i'm a vet,now i just want out.You all in congress and capital hill and white house should be working for america and the americans that elected you to protect us,that isn't the case and i know why. I have been looking and found something that all america has forgotton.Who said this statement: If the personal freedoms of all americans by the Constitution and bill of right are Inhibiting the Government ability to (Govern)that meant control, the people of united states of america..Than we Should look to Limit those GUARANTEES #2.The united states Government CAN'T BE so fixed on our desires to preserve the RIGHTS of ORDINARY AMERICANS #3.I can do any ********* thing i want,I'm president of the united states and you dont forget that.....who am I..... so you all have been following your orders well i want you all to know that i hold all of you accountable for the murders of thousends of americans that have died and wounded in a war we have no buisness being in, you all are makeing large sums of money on americans lives and you all will pay a big price for that someday,heavens gates will never open its golden gates to you.. i hope someday that america and true americans will wake up and see that this washington crime family has sold our country to the highest bidders, china being # 1 and is # 1 in the world now, they are the supper powers of the world now. THANKS..DAVID A BELANGER,FOR AMERICANS FOR AMERICA,AT [e-mail]

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
americans need a real american to run this country so vote for david a belanger for president he is a real american and will only help america and americans. [e-mail]