For Starters. . .

Hmmm.  Where to begin. . .

With so many individuals and organizations to choose from, it seems a bit difficult to lock onto one deserving enough of my ridicule and scorn.  I could start with the obvious gang of regulars.  You know, your O'Reilly's, Beck's, or Limbaugh's of the world.  I even hear that Sarah Palin has a new work of fiction about to hit the bargain bins just in time for the holiday season (ahem. . . I mean X-mas for you purists).
I think, though, that I should start big.  Maybe I should go after an entire body of politicians who cannot seem to "do the right thing".  Congress.

I could single out a group of legislators, like the Blue-Dog Democrats, who just cannot seem to shake loose from the shackles of those pesky Health Industry Lobbyists, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into re-election campaigns or writing (for them) talking points about Health Care Reform, but it seems too small a target. I could go after just the Republicans who cannot seem to grasp reality at all, even when it smacks them in the face.  I could simply deride Minority Leader Bohner's orange hue, but that just seems petty and like something the politically-charged version of Perez Hilton would do (yuck!).

  Rather, I think I will take on the entire lot of them!   Why not, cause when it comes to reform, this legislative body could start at home:

 Dozens in Congress Under Ethics Inquiry.  It's a very sad state of affairs when the greatest legislative body in the United States cannot monitor its own ethics when it comes to Lobbyists.

It's a real possibility that Lobbying might just be a major deterent to progress--don't ya think (thanks Sarah!)?  To whom do our congresspeople answer?  Constituents or the groups that offer them gifts as they try to buy votes?  When members of the Ethics Committee in Congress themselves come under fire, will real Lobby Reform happen?  Bloody unlikely!

I would definitely appreciate a congressional body that did the responsible thing for once, rather than the thing that had the money backing it all the time.  (Ahem. . . health care please!)

Anyway, why would the Obama administration take issue with these Lobbyists?  Isn't it interesting that upon assuming office Obama Bars Lobbyists from His Administration.  In fact, the Obama Administration has continued its "No Lobbyist" ban through even last week as reported: White House/ Lobbyists Still At Odds

Could it be that our new president sees the ethical challenges faced in Congress presented by these Lobbyists?  Could it be that he wants to avoid exactly these types of scandals, everpresent in our current legislative system?  It may appear that I am after the Lobbyists here in my first post; however, self-interest will never die.  Companies and organizations will ALWAYS be in the business of self-preservation.  It's the way they are allowed to influence our lawmakers that is being called into question. Lawmakers, especially those elected to the offices of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, need to understand exactly why they have been put into office.  Not because it is God's will (don't get me started), but because they have an ethical responsibility to make life better for their constituents.

As bailed-out banks are being blamed for our current 10% unemployment and as their CEOs continue to take multi-million dollar bonuses, the right thing for our lawmakers to do is start at home:   Reform Lobbying!  It's the Responsible thing to do.