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Non-Tech : The ENRON Scandal -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mephisto who wrote (1032)	1/23/2002 2:37:16 AM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 5185

" Aides to President Bush assert that since no one in the administration seems to have tried to rescue Enron, Enron's campaign money cannot be an issue. That is nonsense. In the last election cycle, Enron was one of the nation's biggest donors. The company and its executives doled out $2.4 million, more than two-thirds of it in unregulated soft money. What the administration fails to see is that, as Representative Christopher Shays points out, campaign money is given to obtain two things, influence and access. Enron clearly got what it paid for. Its executives were able to get through on the phone to virtually everyone they wanted. Although Enron did not get everything it wanted from Vice President Dick CHENEY's energy task force, the administration's regulatory policies were tailored to Enron's specifications. Last year's economic stimulus bill contained a tax break estimated at $250 million for the company." Excerpt from , "A New Rallying Cry for Reform " EDITORIAL The New York Times January 22, 2002 nytimes.com Editorial: Message 16947263

To: Mephisto who wrote (1032)	1/23/2002 2:40:37 AM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 5185

" The issue, though, is not Enron. It is the whole system. It used to be that corporate contributions and direct union contributions to candidates were illegal. Then in the 1980's, politicians discovered the soft-money loophole, through which donations could flow to parties instead of candidates. Soft money, which includes unlimited donations by rich Americans, has totally debased the system. Everyone in Congress knows it. The ban sponsored by Mr. Shays and Representative Martin Meehan of Massachusetts commands overwhelming support of the House. Speaker Dennis HASERT BROKE his PROMISE last year to bring it to the floor for a fair vote. Now supporters of the legislation are within two signatures on a petition to force it to the floor. They should succeed before the end of the month". Excerpt from , "A New Rallying Cry for Reform " EDITORIAL The New York Times January 22, 2002 nytimes.com Editorial: Message 16947263

To: Mephisto who wrote (1032)	1/23/2002 2:43:46 AM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 5185

"When Shays-Meehan gets to the floor, House members have to gird themselves for a tough, insidious battle by opponents. Tom DeLay of Texas, the House whip and probable future majority leader, is already making plans to gut it with amendments that would weaken the bill or repel supporters. He is also promoting a sham alternative sponsored by Representative Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican, that would allow vast sums of soft money to keep flowing. Lawmakers should see those tactics for what they are. Tom DeLay is practically Mr. Enron in Congress. His Texas district is near the company's headquarters. He has raised money from Enron for himself, the Republican Party and advocate groups, in return backing energy deregulation, the company's favorite issue." Excerpt from," A New Rallying Cry for Reform " EDITORIAL The New York Times January 22, 2002 nytimes.com Editorial: Message 16947263

To: Mephisto who wrote (1032)	1/23/2002 12:34:16 PM
From: Patricia Trinchero	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 5185

What disturbs me greatly is that so many in the Bush administration have direct ties to Enron. Many have worked for Enron in many different ways.....directly and indirectly. We would have to realize that our country is now being run by a big bunch of crooks!! ( we knew that before....LOL). Take a close look at the Fuzzy math that is being used to fool the people of this country into deficit spending, recession.....I have to wonder about what the crooks in this administration were planning to do with social security ...........stock market investments for your SS....maybe they would have advised the public to invest in ENron!!!! WAKE UP OUT THERE AMERICA!!!!! ( not you Meph...you know better)

To: Mephisto who wrote (1032)	1/23/2002 3:14:57 PM
From: Karen Lawrence	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5185

Lawmakers should not think that the voters will be fooled if they try to weaken it. And Mr. Bush, never a big fan of campaign finance reform, should recognize the obvious - that if he steps up and leads the fight, he could help cleanse his own administration of the taint of influence-peddling "If Bush leads the fight he can cleanse his administration." I doubt he'll do that. There's no motivation since there are so many more newsworthy issues he can address. AND Why would he press to eliminate a huge source for funds that helped elect him. Campaign finance is merely an adjunct of the Enron problem, not the heart of it. IMO if Congress, Senate et al spread themselves too thin with too many committees focused on minutia, they won't be able to resolve anything.