[Speed Gibson,
Thursday November 4, 2004 at 10:02am]
McCain, Feingold, please report to the Board Room
Campaign finance reform, which was supposed to limit the role of money in elections didn't work at all. The Presidential race of 2004 spent well over twice that of 2000. I'd like to see John McCain, Russ Feingold, and for that matter, George W. Bush who signed it, summoned to the Boardroom.
"John, what happened?"
"It worked as best it could, but the 527 loophole was unexpected."
"Unexpected? It was there for all to see."
"We didn't think..."
"We agree on that. Russ, can you fix it? Can you outlaw the 527's?"
"Yes, and my staff is already working up such a bill."
"And that will do it?"
"We think so."
"I don't," says Carolyn. "The First Amendment is the biggest loophole of all."
"That's what I kinda thought, " says Bush. "When I signed it. Guess I shouldn't have."
"Carolyn's right. Today it's a 527. Tomorrow it'll be a 528, 529, whatever it takes."
"We'll get it right this time. We're checking everything," says McCain. Feingold nods.
Trump shakes his head no. "Boys, Washington DC is spending two trillion dollars a year, and that attracts a lot of flies. Somehow, some way, the money needed to tap into that is going to find its way into the process."
"That's why we need campaign finance reform," says Feingold.
"You can have that or the First Amendment," says Carolyn. "Not both."
"And by rigging the game just for the millionaires, you've made the problem worse," adds Trump. "I guess I should be happy about that. But frankly none of us should have to be here tonight in the first place. Mr. President, who would you fire?"
"Russ, though I ..."
"Senator Feingold has much of the blame, but he's doing what his party wants. John, it's you that bucked GOP tradition, crafting a bill that nobody needs and doesn't work.
"George, you shouldn't have signed it, you know that, right?"
"I do now, yes sir."
"Shouldn't I fire you?"
"Look, I could have vetoed it, but my cabinet didn't think it would really settle the argument. We didn't think the Supreme Court would go along, and their voice is the one we really needed to hear."
"So you gambled, passed the buck."
"I..."
"Skip it, I get it. John, that buck never should have got to the President's desk. A few more votes in Florida, and a President Gore signs it in a New York minute. It's one thing to oppose a measure like this, quite another for you to break ranks and openly promote it. I know you have your eyes on 2008, but this kind of judgment won't get you there."
"John, you're fired."
"John, what happened?"
"It worked as best it could, but the 527 loophole was unexpected."
"Unexpected? It was there for all to see."
"We didn't think..."
"We agree on that. Russ, can you fix it? Can you outlaw the 527's?"
"Yes, and my staff is already working up such a bill."
"And that will do it?"
"We think so."
"I don't," says Carolyn. "The First Amendment is the biggest loophole of all."
"That's what I kinda thought, " says Bush. "When I signed it. Guess I shouldn't have."
"Carolyn's right. Today it's a 527. Tomorrow it'll be a 528, 529, whatever it takes."
"We'll get it right this time. We're checking everything," says McCain. Feingold nods.
Trump shakes his head no. "Boys, Washington DC is spending two trillion dollars a year, and that attracts a lot of flies. Somehow, some way, the money needed to tap into that is going to find its way into the process."
"That's why we need campaign finance reform," says Feingold.
"You can have that or the First Amendment," says Carolyn. "Not both."
"And by rigging the game just for the millionaires, you've made the problem worse," adds Trump. "I guess I should be happy about that. But frankly none of us should have to be here tonight in the first place. Mr. President, who would you fire?"
"Russ, though I ..."
"Senator Feingold has much of the blame, but he's doing what his party wants. John, it's you that bucked GOP tradition, crafting a bill that nobody needs and doesn't work.
"George, you shouldn't have signed it, you know that, right?"
"I do now, yes sir."
"Shouldn't I fire you?"
"Look, I could have vetoed it, but my cabinet didn't think it would really settle the argument. We didn't think the Supreme Court would go along, and their voice is the one we really needed to hear."
"So you gambled, passed the buck."
"I..."
"Skip it, I get it. John, that buck never should have got to the President's desk. A few more votes in Florida, and a President Gore signs it in a New York minute. It's one thing to oppose a measure like this, quite another for you to break ranks and openly promote it. I know you have your eyes on 2008, but this kind of judgment won't get you there."
"John, you're fired."