Jay began writing politically themed commentary and founded his blog, Swimming Freestyle, in October 2007. Here he'll write about politics from a progressive perspective.

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Arizona Land Deals and Professional Lobbyists: They Have Something In Common

1 comment

May 9, 5:05 PM

by Jay McDonough, Progressive Politics Examiner

We know an awful lot about Barack Obama; he and his wife's finances, his pastor, his ex-Weatherman neighbor down the street (William Ayers), his ties to a corrupt Illinois businessman (Tony Rezko), and his voting record in the Illinois legislature. Some of it fair. Some of it not.

John McCain, on the other hand, has gotten a pretty easy ride from the mainstream media. A story in this morning's Washington Post may signal the beginning of a closer look at Senator McCain.

Sen. John McCain championed legislation that will let an Arizona rancher trade remote grassland and ponderosa pine forest here for acres of valuable federally owned property that is ready for development, a land swap that now stands to directly benefit one of his top presidential campaign fundraisers.

Initially reluctant to support the swap, the Arizona Republican became a key figure in pushing the deal through Congress after the rancher and his partners hired lobbyists that included McCain's 1992 Senate campaign manager, two of his former Senate staff members (one of whom has returned as his chief of staff), and an Arizona insider who was a major McCain donor and is now bundling campaign checks.

When McCain's legislation passed in November 2005, the ranch owner gave the job of building as many as 12,000 homes to SunCor Development, a firm in Tempe, Ariz., run by Steven A. Betts, a longtime McCain supporter who has raised more than $100,000 for the presumptive Republican nominee. Betts said he and McCain never discussed the deal.

A town official opposed to the swap said other Yavapai Ranch land sold nine years ago for about $2,000 per acre, while some of the prime commercial land near a parcel that the developers will get has brought as much as $120,000 per acre.

Senator McCain has promoted himself as "Mr. Clean" and opposed to the influence of special interests in Washingon, but dances around questions of the same lobbyist's influence on his campaign and the extraordinary number of professional lobbyists working on the McCain campaign.

...when McCain huddled with his closest advisers at his rustic Arizona cabin last weekend to map out his presidential campaign, virtually every one was part of the Washington lobbying culture he has long decried. His campaign manager, Rick Davis, co-founded a lobbying firm whose clients have included Verizon and SBC Telecommunications. His chief political adviser, Charles R. Black Jr., is chairman of one of Washington's lobbying powerhouses, BKSH and Associates, which has represented AT&T, Alcoa, JPMorgan and U.S. Airways.

Senior advisers Steve Schmidt and Mark McKinnon work for firms that have lobbied for Land O' Lakes, UST Public Affairs, Dell and Fannie Mae.

It's entirely appropriate the candidates be fully vetted. In the mix, sadly, will be some issues that seem superfluous and trivial. The Arizona land deal and the extent of lobbyist's influence in the McCain campaign are legitimate issues to explore before November.

Topics: General Election , Obama , McCain , Lobbyists

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A PIcture for the Day

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October 7, 5:50 PM

An ultra-Orthodox Jew prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, before the start the holiday of Rosh Hashana. Jews will mark the two-day holiday of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, at sundown on Monday. (Photo: Bernat Armangue/Associated... Read More
Topics: A Picture for the Day

Mail Goggles

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October 7, 4:26 PM

An advancement rivaling sliced bread:As mornings after go, there are few combinations more deadly than a computer, too much alcohol and a seething sense of indignation.But there could soon be a solution for people who cannot resist sending an ill-conceived... Read More

Why the Ayers attack won't work

2 comments

October 7, 3:58 PM

Given the energy the McCain/Palin camp is putting into linking Barack Obama and William Ayers, they clearly view it as their last hope to make up support they've lost as a result of a couple crappy debate performances and an economy that is teetering... Read More
Topics: Obama , McCain , Ayers

Shameful outbursts now common at McCain/Palin rallies

17 comments

October 7, 1:24 PM

Partisan loyalty is normal. Folks don't typically go to campaign rallies unless they support the candidate and some will, obviously, have extreme loyalty to that candidate. But at what point does that partisan loyalty become a blinding... Read More
Topics: Republicans , McCain , Palin

Afghanistan government in peace talks with Taliban

1 comment

October 7, 12:39 PM

The other day I posted an update on the war in Afghanistan, now being characterized as "grim" by an unreleased National Intelligence Estimate. Included in the post were comments by NATO commander, Gen. David McKiernan, suggesting a longer... Read More
Topics: Afghanistan , Taliban

Veterans group gives McCain a "D"

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October 7, 9:44 AM

Despite John McCain's efforts to claim he's is a friend of veterans, there's ample proof otherwise. During the recent presidential debate, Senator McCain once again claimed his support among veterans groups:“I’ll take care of them.... Read More
Topics: McCain , Veterans , IAVA

A Picture for the Day

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October 6, 5:52 PM

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Topics: A Picture for the Day

One more thing about the bailout.....

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October 6, 5:45 PM

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Topics: Bailout

It continues to be all about credit

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October 6, 5:25 PM

Anyone else get a knot in their stomach watching the stock market today? The Dow was down 800 points during the day, eventually closing down nearly 370 points. Anyone hoping the market would respond favorably to the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief... Read More
Topics: Economy , Bailout