Reply #25: OpenSecrets.org

[ihavenobias]

Of course many people don't realize it's a 3 hour show, and there's plenty of nuanced discussion (and a whole new channel just for long, http://www.youtube.com/user/TYTInterviews|substantive interviews> with Congressmen, authors, journalists, reporters, activists, etc.) that isn't always shown in the 2-8 clips that are chopped out for the main YouTube channel. There are countless interviews discussing the impact of politicians needing so much money to run for office, and also the implicit bribe of retiring to the private sector after deregulating a particular industry, etc. That's a systemic bipartisan issue, one that we shouldn't ignore just because someone has a D next to their name. That's not some grand conspiracy, it goes right to the heart of the corruption of our entire political process.

The bottom line is that some confuse discussion of these issues as well as pressure and criticism with mindless bashing, a "circular firing squad" or as one DUer put it 'droning on and on while rarely providing insight'. It was terrible when Republicans did it for 8 years under Bush and R's in Congress, and it's terrible now when Democrats do it under Obama and Dems in Congress.

This website has all of the facts I need to support my argument. Feel free to challenge it: http://www.opensecrets.org/