lobbyists

"Put it all on red, Mr. Romney?"Even if the repeal of the 1913 out-of-state wedlock law turns Massachusetts into "the Las Vegas of gay marriage" as Mitt Romney once said, at $45 million, he's still the highest-stakes gambler of them all.

It's Massachusetts Winners and Losers for July 18, 2008. CLICK HERE

First, to co-opt a line from the Trix cereal commercials: 'Silly Republicans -- beating Van Hollen is for Democrats!'

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that during the 90-day legislative session that ended last month, close to $1 million was spent on meals and receptions hosted by lobbyists and their largely corporate clients.

Barack Obama has been speaking out recently about John McCain's ties to lobbyists and special interests in his campaign.

Amist all the hullabalou, Obama must have forgotten about his own.

On the same day that John McCain is bringing the presidential spotlight to the Central Valley area, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking aim at a Stockton U.S. House candidate who is slated to campaign with McCain: Dean Andal. At issue is Andal’s relationship with lobbyists.

“Dean Andal is far more radical than John McCain,” said DCCC spokesman Yoni Cohen. “In the State Assembly, Radical Andal spent 60 percent of his time with lobbyists. On the campaign trail, Radical Andal has failed to denounce negative advertising from shady outside groups. Where does Radical Andal stand? With John McCain or with lobbyists working with special interests to increase the cost of gasoline, education, and health care for California families?”

Disturbed by troubling connections and unflattering publicity, John McCain has just purged several prominent Washington lobbyists from his presidential campaign. Surely his intentions are laudable, but if Mr. McCain is consistent in ridding the campaign of such compromised people, he will find himself riding lonesome on the Straight Talk Express.