Blunt, Boehner Share Broad Network of Lobbyist Ties With DeLay

[Synnical]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a64ZIkmVPv_w&refer=us

Jan. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Representatives Roy Blunt of Missouri and John Boehner of Ohio have been among the key intermediaries between Republican lawmakers and lobbyists since their party took control of the U.S. Congress in 1995.

Now, with both men vying to succeed Representative Tom DeLay as House majority leader, those ties may loom as an issue.

Representative Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican, said concerns that the two men are too close to Washington's K Street lobbying corridor may encourage a dark-horse candidate to run against them. ``We have three weeks until this election, and a lot can happen between now and then,'' Flake said.

<snip>

Both men's political action committees employ Jim Ellis, who was indicted along with DeLay. DeLay's PAC gave Blunt's committee a $150,000 donation in 2000, and Blunt's PAC gave $10,000 to DeLay's non-profit foundation that same year. Both lawmakers' PACs have employed Alexander Strategy Group, a Georgetown-based firm whose partners include former Abramoff and DeLay associates.

[underpants]

1. Blunt Boehner

I really love seeing those names together in headlines

[Richardo]

3. Blunt, Boehner, Flake and DeLay

"It's a lobbying firm!"
"It's a description the GOP caucus!"
"It's a lobbying firm!"
"It's a description the GOP caucus!"

Hold it, you two: It's a lobbying firm AND a description the GOP caucus!

[underpants]

5. Which works out great for me

Me too
Can I have some more money now?
Sure how much would you like?
I have to buy lunch.... :think: how about $10,000?
LEt's make it $9,900
mmmm okay

[Strawman]

4. They should run as a team

It's really perfect isn't it? It's like they're not even pretending anymore. It's as if they're saying "Hey, we're going to f* the country with a Blunt Boehner in '06. And we don't think there's anything you can do about it." I think that perfectly captures the philospohy of the current GOP.

[Tiggeroshii]

17. blunt boehner

hahaha... it's like a boehner.. that's blunt..

:rofl: heh heheheheh

:rofl:

i'm too tired to work in any complicated cognitive thought right now so yeah... blunnt boehner, the republicans have a boehner... that's blunt

:rofl:

alrighty, i'm done :-)

[Rose Siding]

2. Glad to see this covered. GOP corruption is pervasive

No quick fixes for them!

[Synnical]

6. Alexander Strategy Group

Just noticed that this lobbyist group is the one mentioned here:

Lobby Firm Is Scandal Casualty, Abramoff, DeLay...Blamed For Shutdown

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2031913&mesg_id=2031913

[MoJoWorkin]

7. When Blunt was named temp DeLay replacement, I knew the GOP

would eventually have to go so deep to their bench to find an untainted congress critter to "lead" them, they would likely end up leaderless.

I am from MO, and you don't have to SHOW ME that Blunt and his crime family are a corrupt bunch of crap--along with most of the other GOP is EVIL bunch. :puke:

[ClintonTyree]

8. Up and down the Republican power structure.........

there's nothing but Corporate slime oozing out every crack and pore. These Republicans and the Corporations that buy their votes have no place in our government. It's time to cleanse the halls of Congress and remove this scum. Give the power back to The People! :headbang:

[bonito]

9. Abramoff and the Heritage foundation

He was the executive director for citizens for america, located at the heritage foundation.
Also chaired the heritage's (usa) foundation, this guy has footprints everywhere.

[wordpix]

23. I despise that org, heritage my ass

[emald]

10. with all candor

is there any repuke that can claim his party is above board and willing to work for the american people instead of the american corporations? I can't see one. Maybe ted "hulk" stevens should apply. His rare grasp of the law and congress should serve us all well :sarcasm: OOPs forgot, he won't swim with the democrats anymore.
GOP=THIEVES, LIARS and CORRUPTION. Orange suit the entire operation.

[starroute]

11. Here's a fun one I spotted

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-01-08T212116Z_01_KWA682113_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-DELAY.xml

While Blunt, 55, has not made a formal announcement, an aide said he began reaching out to fellow Republicans for support on Saturday after DeLay announced his decision not to try to take back the job.

The aide, Jessica Boulanger, said: "He (Blunt) hopes to have the votes at the end of the day to win the post. He is encouraged by the support he has seen so far."

"He starting make phone calls yesterday after a private discussion with Tom DeLay."

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/031505_lobbyist.html

"My life is too confusing, especially as of late!!!! I should have become a lobsterman and lived on the New Hampshire seacoast," Todd Boulanger wrote in an e-mail on a recent Thursday afternoon. . . .

And he’s well-connected. Tony Rudy, a former aide to Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), introduced Boulanger to his future wife, Jessica Incitto, a former Syracuse cheerleader who has worked for DeLay and GOP Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce (Ohio). The two met in Broward County, Fla., during the 2000 presidential election recount. She is now Majority Whip Roy Blunt’s (R-Mo.) press secretary, and the couple live in a basement apartment with a bamboo plant. . . .

In 1999, he joined Preston Gates & Ellis, an emerging GOP lobbying firm that was founded by Bill Gates Sr. Jack Abramoff, the GOP superlobbyist, also worked at Preston Gates. "I started working on his business because he had all of it," Boulanger said, and in 2001 he followed Abramoff to Greenberg Traurig. Boulanger joined Cassidy & Associates last year.

[Synnical]

14. The circle of corruption doesn't stop - more

To add to your comments regarding Preston Gates & Ellis:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/business/media/09magazine.html

MAJOR MEDIA AMONG ABRAMOFF'S CLIENTS

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: January 9, 2006

The press has spilled plenty of ink writing about Jack Abramoff, the powerful Washington lobbyist at the center of an extensive corruption scandal. But little noticed is that among Mr. Abramoff's many clients was the press itself, at least part of it. In 2000, he represented the Magazine Publishers Association, and it turns out that some of the association's money may have been funneled to Mr. Abramoff's political allies.

In documents last week in which Mr. Abramoff pleaded guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to bribe public officials, he revealed that he and an unidentified Congressional aide worked to stave off an increase in postal rates - a significant benefit for an industry that depends on the postal service.

The plea document said that Mr. Abramoff and the Congressional aide performed "a series of official acts, including assisting in stopping legislation regarding Internet gambling and opposing postal rate increases."

The corruption scandal could involve dozens of members of Congress, political operatives and lobbyists suspected of arranging bribes in exchange for favorable legislation and other benefits.

The magazine association paid at least $1.4 million from 2000 to 2003 to Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, the lobbying firm where Mr. Abramoff was the chief lobbyist.

[starroute]

15. Oh, it gets better

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Todd_A._Boulanger

"Take Todd Boulanger for instance. You may remember Boulanger as the 'Team Abramoff' lobbyist who drafted an unprecedented letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton on behalf of the client Louisiana Coushatta tribe --a letter ultimately signed by Speaker Hastert, Republican Leader Tom Delay, and Republican Whip Roy Blunt. Abramoff, with Boulanger's help, took the Coushattas for about $32 million," Jeff Mazur wrote October 5, 2005, in Fired Up Missouri.

[Demeter]

12. One Of Our Local Engler Spawn Is Running, Too

John Engler gutted Michigan in his 12 years as governor, with the help of the red-neck based Michigan GOP. Now a hitherto unknown has decided he's just what the doctor ordered to run the House.

"Rep. Mike Rogers of Brighton, who has been in Congress since 2001, announced Monday that he will seek the position of majority whip -- the third most powerful position in the Republican-controlled U.S. House.

"I enter the race to serve as your whip at a significant disadvantage," wrote Rogers in a letter to his Republican colleagues Monday afternoon. "My candidacy is not predicated on a `sure thing.' To be clear, I am not running against anyone. I am running to give our members a choice for change."

Rogers, a former state senator, currently serves as deputy majority whip. In that position, he is coalitions leader and basically responsible for building relationships between the GOP Caucus and the business community. He also serves on two committees -- Energy and Commerce and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. "

http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1136891410178520.xml&coll=1

[DainBramaged]

13. Walking around with a name like Blunt

Must be an embarrassment when he speaks to kids. Clueless, in it for the money. Will never know the glory of a real blunt.

[orleans]

16. they are all so damn dirty they should a resign!

neither one of them can run for "leader" -- they both have blood on their hands.

[OKNancy]

18. kick

[Judi Lynn]

19. Blunt, DeLay Abramoff Connections Similar

Blunt, DeLay Abramoff Connections Similar

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer
Posted January 11 2006, 4:28 AM EST


WASHINGTON -- Rep. Roy Blunt and the man he wants to succeed as House majority leader, Tom DeLay, shared similar connections to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and to corporate lobbyists.

Blunt, R-Mo., wrote at least three letters helpful to Abramoff clients while collecting money from them. He swapped donations between his and DeLay's political groups, ultimately enriching the Missouri political campaign of his son Matt.

And Blunt's wife and another son, Andrew, lobby for many of the same companies that donate to the lawmaker's political efforts.
(snip)

Blunt and DeLay and their aides frequently met with Abramoff's lobbying team and even jointly signed a letter supportive of an Indian tribe client at the heart of the Abramoff criminal investigation, according to records published by The Associated Press over the past year.
(snip/...)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/ats-ap_top12jan11,0,3622011.story?coll=sns-newsnation-headlines



Blunt on the right, Delay behind Hastert

[rodeodance]

20. so it is a Blunt family affair.

And Blunt's wife and another son, Andrew, lobby for many of the same companies that donate to the lawmaker's political efforts.

[aquart]

21. Dirty dishes all.

[Judi Lynn]

22. That entire family needs to be examined.

It's goddamned creepy that money Tom Delay raised ended up plumping up Roy's son's gubernatorial campaign budget.

Sons Matt, and Andrew:

No easy to locate photos of the Mrs., but I did find this compellingly AWFUL page of photos of a benefit Roy Blunt attended, with some Republican faces you may be sick to see again!

http://www.washingtonlife.com/issues/2004-06/friends/

(It's possible the "Abby" Roy Blunt is dancing with is the woman who married him after his divorce. Her name is "Abigail.")

What a slimey bunch!

[wordpix]

24. Blunt described as Delay's right hand man on MSNBC last night

[UpInArms]

25. from a related article - re Blunt and Boehner

http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2006/01/11/ap2442508.html

excerpt:

Blunt, R-Mo., wrote at least three letters helpful to Abramoff clients while collecting money from them. He swapped donations between his and DeLay's political groups, ultimately enriching the Missouri political campaign of his son Matt.

And Blunt's wife and another son, Andrew, lobby for many of the same companies that donate to the lawmaker's political efforts.

<snip>

Boehner in 1996 admitted he distributed a tobacco political action committee's campaign checks on the House floor, but said at the time he would never do it again. He served in the House leadership in the 1990s, but lost his post after the party suffered losses in the 1998 elections.

...more...

[PhilipShore]

26. CBS/AP: Blunt, DeLay Share Abramoff Connections

CBS/AP
Politics
Jan. 11, 2006

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/11/ap/politics/mainD8F2LDG81.shtml

(AP) Rep. Roy Blunt has ties to corporate lobbyists and convicted influence peddler Jack Abramoff that rival Rep. Tom DeLay's,...

[TomInTib]

27. I used to have the tallest Gingko tree in the Western Hemisphere..

as the autumnal equinox would near the leaves would turn this beautiful lime gold color and a few days before the equinox the leaves would begin to trickle from the tree.
Then, when the glorious day arrived, EVERY LEAF ON THAT TREE WOULD FALL TO THE GROUND. Every single one.

[TheFarseer]

28. And Blunt wants GOP congressmen to be stupid enough

to elect him the new majority leader! Talk about not learning anything. When are they expected to pick a new leader anyway?

[MoJoWorkin]

29. I bet this won't make the news here in his district, though, or even

be reported much nationally.

He divorced his wife of 30 odd years to marry that young lobbyist, but he is a "good Christian man" to these idiots in SW Mo. The Blunts are so holy--they can do no wrong. :sarcasm:

I hope his whole crime family gets exposed BIG TIME!:nuke:

[MO_Dem]

30. Their hypocrisy really is amazing

I can't understand why that divorce and remarriage was not a bigger story. Wonder if the Abramoff connection will turn out to be a "family affair" (both Roy and his new wifey and also little boy Blunt)?

(Dream big, I always say!)

[threadkillaz]

31. According to Larry Kudlow, CNBC, and others right wingers.

They think Blunt is NOW done.

Wow.