Lobbyists Looking To Call Themselves Something Else: Here Are A Few Suggestions
from the suggest-your-own dept
Like many people, I have a somewhat negative visceral reaction to the concept of lobbyists and lobbying. However, my thinking has been shifting, in large part due to last year's This American Life episode all about lobbying, where you begin to realize that lobbying is a symptom of a messed up campaign finance system, rather than "legalized bribery" as some believe. All too often, it appears, politicians are chasing down lobbyists, trying to get donations, rather than lobbyists "offering up" something. Besides, in theory, having people who can help educate clueless politicians about important issues could be a good thing -- if those politicians are actually hearing from all sides on an issue and then making a decision based on the facts (I know, I know, stop laughing...). Of course, that's not the system we have. At all.And, because of that, many people blame the lobbyists, and, indeed, under today's system, many lobbyists engage in highly questionable practices, because the potential returns are so high.
Given all of this, it appears that lobbyists are trying to "rebrand" themselves. Apparently the preferred name is "Government Relations." Yes, it's the perfect kind of whitewash of "lobbyist." However, the NY Times has suggested "Congress Plus" as a more appropriate name:
We suggest “Congress Plus” as a more truthful name for an industry that employs more than 400 former members of the Senate and House, plus former Congressional staff members estimated in one study to total 5,400 people over a recent 10-year period. Not to mention untold dozens of lobbyists who smartly shift back and forth to Congressional committee posts as the electoral pendulum makes partisan swings that prove increasingly lucrative for experienced insiders.So, what are some other suggestions for how lobbyists should rebrand? Here are a few suggestions, and we welcome more in the comments:
- "Corporate Congress"
- "Corporate Congressional Liaison"
- "Special Interest Wrangler"
- "Government Guide"
- "Legislative Influencer"
- "Regulatory Realignment Specialist"
- "Senate Sherpa"
- "Government Guru"
- "Congressional Connector"
- "Lawfluencers"
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Filed Under: lobbyists, rebranding
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how about
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Re: how about
Hahahahahahaha.... Isn't that the truth.
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Re: Re: how about
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Re: Re: Re: how about
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Re: how about
Actually, around here, "Anonymous Coward" works more.
And I do mean "works" in the sense of "employed."
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Re: how about
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Re: Re: how about
Mike Masnick: Why don't you deal with this troll?
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Re: Re: Re: how about
Its just possible that Masnick stands up for free speech, and is against censorship.
I don't have to like what you say, but I will die for your right to say it. Is it possible that Mr Masnick is of the same opinion?, or do you think free speech and censorship should be selectively applied simply to accommodate your biases ?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: how about
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Re: Re: Re: Re: how about
The line you have quoted refers to government censorship. This is a privately owned and operated website, and you have no legal or moral expectation of free speech. You and everyone else here are granted the privilege of commenting, and Mike can take steps to prevent you from commenting is he so wishes. Techdirt has an extremely high tolerance of purely trollish behaviour, but I have no problem at all with someone who contributes nothing of any worth (i.e. not even a dissenting opinion) being prevented from commenting.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: how about
I am only asking Mike to deal with off topic flaming trolls. "prenda fanboy" comments have little to do with the topic at hand, and are rather false on top of it. You can see that the entire discussion here has been uprooted by your trolling.
It's sad that Techdirt chooses to ignore your very obvious actions.
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Re: Re: Re: how about
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Re: how about
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Re:
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Re:
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Remora
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Here's an idea
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Re: Here's an idea
Better to remove money from politics, in each and every form. That would give equal standing.
I am not yet convinced that lobbyists are 'good' in any way. It interferes with the communication with the constituents, whom the representatives are supposed to represent. The concept of them being 'consultative' without being 'manipulative' seems like a contradiction of experience based upon, well, the last 60 or so years of my lifetime.
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Re: Re: Here's an idea
Even the charities who bring their interests to government? They are lobbyists.
What about the people who start petitions for a cause and bring those to governments? They are lobbyists too.
There is more to lobbying than corporate lobbying and I really wish people would remember this.
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Re: Re: Re: Here's an idea
I think lobbyists who appeal to the merit of their cause, rather than by purchasing support are Special Interest Groups. Not sure, though.
As of this posting I have not received a US National Security Letter or any classified gag order from an agent of the United States
Encrypted with Morbius-Cochrane Perfect Steganographic Codec 1.2.001
Saturday, October 19, 2013 12:37:47 PM
lemon hymn turtle carpet bulb minute square college
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Re: Re: Re: Here's an idea
The rest goes to the engine that generates revenues.
So are charities good? Questionable.
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Re: Re: Re: Here's an idea
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Re: Re: Re: Here's an idea
Can you say astro turf?
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There are others I would use, but it seems they are more traditionally used in the porn industry and I wouldn't want to give porn a bad name by being associated with our elected officials (local, state or national)...
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Re:
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Just call them what they are
Election Facilitator.
It doesn't sound so sinister when you hear that Duke Energy hired a lobbyist or Facebook opened an office in D.C. But if you hear that Exxon hired a new Chief Election Facilitator it would be calling a spade a spade.
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Re: Just call them what they are
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which ever defines them better. whatever everyone else is.
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I got a couple
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How about...
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Congress
Usurping
Nation
Trasher
S?
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You figure out the acronym.
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Substitute Political for Drugs
Political Pusher
Political Bagman
Political Dealer
Political Trafficker
Political Dealer
Political Pedlar
See just swap out the word 'Drug' for Political and 'ewww' it all seem more accurate and even worse than lobbyist, truth hurts.
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They are just cogs in the machinations of the 1%.
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Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers
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The Senate and Congress are the monkeys
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test samples
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MFs
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Strings of Puppetmasters
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Here in the UK we have a really bad piece of legislation on the go that has been suitably dubbed the 'Gagging Bill' that seeks to seriously limit the power of ordinary people to influence government.
Of course, corporate lobbying has got out of hand with companies spending eye watering amounts on lobbying efforts. This should be drastically curbed but NOT at the expense of the public and special interest groups.
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Re:
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BBG
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Assholes.
Okay, maybe it's just my word, but it does have a nice ring to it and it's the only word which truly emphasizes the people who seek to destroy civil liberties of others.
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Re: Names
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hmmm
Economic Espionagists
USA haters
Democracy Destroyers
Greedy Bastards
Lew Perverters
Lobbyists is fine, people know what it means.
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Officists would be closer to the truth.
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My vote is for
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Non-Combatant Casualties
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One more that comes to mind...
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Politician Puppetmasters
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Corporate Shills
Corporate Pimps
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Scandalous
Legislative
Usurping
Traitorous
Scumbags
It is sufficiently derogatory and fitting enough for those who resort to such practices.
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Survey
Specialists
Helping
Out
Legislative
Efforts
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Money And Legislation Workshops Are Reoccurring Events - MALWARE
Valuable Inside Relations Under Siege -VIRUS
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- Law surveyors
- Law salesman
- Facelaw adimin.
- Law handyman.
- GoG - Government over growth.
- Boom, boom lawmaking, We all like parties right?
- Strange public agency growth. SPAG's
- D&D G-Player. The G is not for gay/gal/girl/groupie is for government dude.
- Stripclub negotiator.
- Bench lawmaking, how do you call the people who get benched and still keep screaming what others need to do?
- Wamlaw.
- Law making clerks?
- Up & Down people.
- NIC - Non Interactive Character
- NPC - Non Playing Character.
- FAAP - Future A.A. Participant
- Marvin Gaye Lawmaking, There is no "donation" low enough.
- SAS - Shark Attack Session.
- Law raider
- Law rider
- Carousel operator.
- Merry Go Round VIP.
- Government Resources Analyst Personnel.
- Congress barnacle.
- Parasitic law making.
- BDSM - Bureaucratic Deep System Manager
- COG - Children of G.
- Law Dealer.
- Law Pimp.
- Law Pumper.
OMG I could spend the whole day doing this.
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More labels from someone who 'does not like labels'
But I guess when it's the hatred for the US Government, you'll just say ANYTHING !!
I am very sure, there would be a great number of 'labels' that could (accurately) directed towards you.
A least you've developed the art of writing a "FLAMEBAIT" piece.
I am sure your "insert label here" readers are really impressed !!!
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Mr Masnick
Which label do you prefer ?
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Imageneer - dream laws up.
Weirdlawmaking - law making based on spooky behavior at a distance
Lobotomist - responsible for transforming laws into vegetables.
Wannabegov - poser trying to pass for lawmaker.
MOTS - Master of the skunks.
GC - Gloryhole clerk.
Cabbie - they all ride the government hard all year long.
Lawshisper
Govwhisper
Lawwasp - the sting is a bitch.
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How about
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Re: How about
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Overlords,
The Masters,
Earlobe Ninjas,
Dingleberry Cartel Crew= DCC,
Earwax Conglomerates of America = ECoA,
Honorless America Killers = HAC,
Corporation Kings,
Serial Killers ,
Remember folks Corps think they a a single entity a person
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My Constituency
I have no trouble with lobbyists, per se -- it is the money they dispense that causes corruption.
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Friend of Administration
Presidents Bag Men
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