How Intelligent / Arrogant is Conrad Burns !?

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:05 am

So tell me folks with all that is swirling around Conrad Burns, does the following demonstrate his arrogance or lack of intelligence.

Sorry I forgot to post the link

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006 ... news03.txt

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:21 pm

Suppose you're an idiot.
Suppose you're a member of Congress.

But I repeat myself.

(20 points to whoever can name the person I stole that quote from)

Post by **kmax** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:27 pm

Mark Twain

Can I retroactively donate my 20 points to the Bobcat Basketball team for last Saturday?

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:30 pm

kmax wrote:Mark Twain

Can I retroactively donate my 20 points to the Bobcat Basketball team for last Saturday?

No, but I'll give you 15. Good Job.

Post by **kmax** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:33 pm

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:
kmax wrote:Mark Twain

Can I retroactively donate my 20 points to the Bobcat Basketball team for last Saturday?
No, but I'll give you 15. Good Job.

How bout 16 and we'll bring em all back for overtime?

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:39 pm

kmax wrote:
Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:
kmax wrote:Mark Twain

Can I retroactively donate my 20 points to the Bobcat Basketball team for last Saturday?
No, but I'll give you 15. Good Job.
How bout 16 and we'll bring em all back for overtime?

Only if Durham promises to keep his son in the game.

Post by **kmax** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:51 pm

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:
kmax wrote:
Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:
kmax wrote:Mark Twain

Can I retroactively donate my 20 points to the Bobcat Basketball team for last Saturday?
No, but I'll give you 15. Good Job.
How bout 16 and we'll bring em all back for overtime?
Only if Durham promises to keep his son in the game.

Unnecessary smack talk. Fifteen yards and loss of warm oly.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:23 pm

Man, the ref's are missing all kinds of calls this week.

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:19 pm

mslacat wrote:So tell me folks with all that is swirling around Conrad Burns, does the following demonstrate his arrogance or lack of intelligence.

Sorry I forgot to post the link

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006 ... news03.txt

Back on topic, I seriously wonder if he just thinks this will go away. I'm starting to see that with a lot of politicians, they do or say real dumb things, and just hope they go away.

PapaG · Post by **PapaG** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:54 pm

There is a reason lobbyists exist.

It isn't all nefarious, contrary to the Abramoff aftermath that seems to have smeared an entire industry.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:59 pm

PapaG wrote:There is a reason lobbyists exist.

It isn't all nefarious, contrary to the Abramoff aftermath that seems to have smeared an entire industry.

papa, if you make me a a sizable donation, I'll vote any way you want.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:17 am

PapaG wrote:There is a reason lobbyists exist.

It isn't all nefarious, contrary to the Abramoff aftermath that seems to have smeared an entire industry.

PapaG is correct.

If you're in a union - you have a lobbyist.
If you belong to the Chamber of Commerce - you have a lobbyist.
If you go to MSU or UM - you have a lobbyist.
If you belong to 4H - you have a lobbyist.
If you are a farmer or rancher - you have a lobbyist.
If you sell cars - you have a lobbyist.
If you sell Real Estate - you have a lobbyist.

Of course, I could go on....
It all boils down to the people's constitutional right to petition their government to redress grievances....and most people are too busy making a living, taking care of kids, building businesses, etc.
Are there problems that need to be addressed - absolutely, and should be soon.
But I think the bottom line is that the government can put you out of business, or drastically change your life with a stroke of a pen - Are you, yourself paying close enough attention to what the government is doing to feel comfortable that you are protected?

MSUCATS · Post by **MSUCATS** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:05 am

What about Cat Griz football?!

MSUCATS · Post by **MSUCATS** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:06 am

Well I have to give Senator Burns props for his support during the Cat vs Griz football game. He sure knows how to pick the best football team!

He was sporting the BLUE and GOLD Montana State University T-Shirt on game day!!

So I would have to say that he has more intelligence than those who wear the Maroon and Silver!

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:08 pm

This wouldn't be happening without the 1996 Telecom Act that Burns was the Chief Sponsor of........but we aren't hearing much about this.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.ph ... phones.inc

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:01 pm

Burns (among many others) was paid to vote for something that turned out to be money laundering, basically, right? He voted to approve casinoes in 5 states that in turn gave J.A. a lot of that gov't money back. Doesn't sound right to me.

Conrad has said racist and sexist things before, and to top it all off amidst a lobbying scandal he books his birthday party at a lobbying firm, and then moves it as soon as the press catches wind.

Lobbying has its place, but what was done was illegal, correct? He accepted funds (and his staff accepted trips) that they should not have. Conrad has been around long enough to see whats right from whats wrong.

IMO, its time for him to go, I'm embarassed that what seems like the only press a Montana senator has gotten over the last few years has been bad press.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:12 pm

Re/Max Griz wrote:Burns (among many others) was paid to vote for something that turned out to be money laundering, basically, right? He voted to approve casinoes in 5 states that in turn gave J.A. a lot of that gov't money back. Doesn't sound right to me.

Conrad has said racist and sexist things before, and to top it all off amidst a lobbying scandal he books his birthday party at a lobbying firm, and then moves it as soon as the press catches wind.

Lobbying has its place, but what was done was illegal, correct? He accepted funds (and his staff accepted trips) that they should not have. Conrad has been around long enough to see whats right from whats wrong.

IMO, its time for him to go, I'm embarassed that what seems like the only press a Montana senator has gotten over the last few years has been bad press.

I'm not sure you are representing the facts quite right. If Burns changed his vote on an issue based on a campaign contribution, then he did something wrong. I have yet to see anyone in the press even allege that this happened. All of the articles I have read just cast a shadow of presumed guilt, but shy away from coming up with anything concrete that really points to wrong-doing. If I missed some articles with more teeth, please do post them for my benefit.

The one item that keeps getting mentioned is a deal regarding the Marianas Islands. I know on very good sources that this particular story involves absolutely zero wrong-doing on Burns' part.

The feds are investigating, so if he did something wrong, we will know soon enough. In the meantime, everything that is out there is pure speculation, and adequately sensationalized.

As for the racist things, and being smart enough to avoid the bad appearance (even if there is no actual wrong-doing) of hosting a fundraiser in a lobbyists conference room, I can't really argue. Presentation-wise, Burns is not my favorite. But in terms of whether he did anything illegal, I think we need to wait until some proof surfaces as opposed to relying upon allusions of wrong-doing by reporters. If he did engage in any quid pro quo (I hope I am using that correctly) votes, then the election will be a non-issue, as he will likely be more worried about prosecutions than campaigns.

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:53 pm

Brad,

Thanks for the clarification, as I stated in another thread, I'm not incredibly up to speed on lobbying laws.

Based on the issues that are important to me I would like to see him voted out, lobbying scandal or not. I guess regardless of if he's found in any sort of violation or not I suppose none of this is helping him.

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:52 pm

Alright,

Read about this in the Missoula Independent, and now it's on the Missoulian as well.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006 ... news06.txt

Signs point to Burns' vote being altered by J.A.'s $5,000 "contribution." Of course Burns now claims that it was from reading two different reports, but when immediatley asked after the vote he could not provide a reason, why would that be? Couldn't he have just said, "I read two reports that changed my mind."

Suspect...

Post by **SonomaCat** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:04 am

As I said earlier, this one has no legs. Trust me on this one. I can't say how I know what I know, but this particular vote was completely legit, and not influenced by any contibutions. As for him not remembering why he voted for it ... because Senators don't know why they vote for most of the things they vote for -- they do what their staffers recommend on the mundane issues (which this was surely was).

And if he could be bought for 5K, he's too cheap. Even I would charge more than that to corrupt me, and I'm easy.

How Intelligent / Arrogant is Conrad Burns !?

How Intelligent / Arrogant is Conrad Burns !?

Re: How Intelligent / Arrogant is Conrad Burns !?