IDIOTS' GUIDE TO THE US ELECTIONS.

I did, too, but after a little investigating, it seems to be ok. Opensecrets.org is just the website for the Center for Responsive Politics -- a nonpartisan research group that tracks political donations. It's referenced by other reputable sites, as well, so I'm thinking they're pretty reliable in their reporting.

Transparecy is an issue - both a fact and a problem - here as in most modern countries. There are laws regulating the maximum contribution from individual donors and by both unions and corporations. Many of them were struck down by the recent Supreme Court decision with respect to the McCain Feingold Law, which had established the most restrictive provisions. There were and are few limits on the rights of individuals, corporations, or labor unions to participate in or contribute to activities relating to specific political issues (as opposed to individual candidates), or to encourage registration and participation by selected groups of voters. There are also a plethora of advocacy organizations (generally registered as non profit corporations) focused around key issues, and their activities and contributions involve very few legal restrictions. All of these activities run very closely together during political campaigns. In the real world, the chislers are usually cleverer and more motivated than are the writers of rules. I suspect that is true in Australia as well (I recall the furor over the colorful Alan Bond during the Perth America's Cup races a couple of decades ago).

I'll go along with that!



Oh yes, chislers & operators are pretty much the same, the world over, I'd suspect.
As for the colourful Mr Bond, a very blotted copybook! He's also been known to conveniently lose his memory over critical details during legal proceedings about his activities.

Still, he was an amiable rogue.

That depends on whether he ripped you off or not!

I'll give you that !

Yes, it would be rather hard to see him as lovable if you happened to be one of his out-of-pocket investors!

John McCain top contributers

Merrill Lynch $373,595
Citigroup Inc $322,051
Morgan Stanley $273,452
Goldman Sachs $230,095
JPMorgan Chase & Co $228,107
US Government $208,379
AT&T Inc $201,438
Wachovia Corp $195,063
UBS AG $192,493
Credit Suisse Group $183,353
PricewaterhouseCoopers $167,900
US Army $167,820
Bank of America $166,026
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher $159,596
Blank Rome LLP $154,226
Greenberg Traurig LLP $146,437
US Dept of Defense $144,105
FedEx Corp $131,974
Bear Stearns $117,498
Lehman Brothers $114,357

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00006424

I did all this research BEFORE the election. Thats how I knew who Obama owed and worked for.

More a question about US politics.

I came across this today:



Could someone explain, please? : what is a RINO?

Republican In Name Only.

Not to be confused with a DINO.

Thank you, Joe.

Ah.
Here it is.
Found it at last!
This was the thread I was actually looking for, to ask my question yesterday.
Couldn't find it anywhere!

As I recall it was a pretty good thread with lots of good & useful information .. & which became a little volatile at times.

My first question, way back in August, 2009:


Ha.

Quick answers to US politics queries for those of us not in the know.:
http://able2know.org/topic/135884-1