The Bucks Start Here

From THINK PROGRESS:

Two months ago, the Washington Post revealed that Mitt Romney’s presidential bid is largely fueled by Wall Street money, including major donors from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America.

Today, the former Massachusetts governor took a step that will undoubtedly make bankers happy, appointing the chairman of a Wall Street front group to his campaign. Romney tapped Norm Coleman, the former Minnesota senator and current chairman of the Board of the American Action Network, to be his “special adviser for policy.”

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Say Cheesy!

From THE HUFFINGTON POST:

Just how much are Republican donors willing to pay for a private photo opportunity with conservative firebrands Sarah Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)?

The folks at Minnesota-Bachmann Victory Committee are putting the price tag at a whopping $10,000 per couple, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Huffington Post.

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Even His Family Votes Against Him!

From The Los Angeles Times:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman says his family voted 3-1 against him running for governor, so he will not join the race.

Coleman’s decision comes in the wake of his bruising Senate loss to former “Saturday Night Live” comedian Al Franken.

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That’s Life….as in sentence! (and other news)

From Courthouse News Service:

A federal judge sentenced convicted Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff to 150 years in prison for orchestrating the largest and most sweeping Ponzi scheme in history. Scattered applause broke out in the crowded courtroom after the judge issued the maximum sentence to the disgraced 71-year-old.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin rejected a request by Madoff’s lawyer for leniency and said he disagreed that victims of the scheme were seeking “mob vengeance.”

Chin called Madoff’s crimes “extraordinarily evil,” and said it “was not merely a bloodless crime that takes place on paper but one that takes a staggering human toll.” He said the maximum sentence was important for deterrence.

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Don’t Count on Us!

From THINK PROGRESS:

Next year, the 2010 Census will be sent to every American household, as required by the U.S. Constitution. The far right has issued dire warnings of the Census; on a May 29th episode of Bill Bennett’s radio show, RNC Chairman Michael Steele intoned, “Certainly the collection of this information is going to be part of an ongoing political campaign by this administration.”

Oh no!!! The evil census! 😯 It’s a Democratic trick, so leave us out, and just…

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Electile Dysfunction

From CITYPAGES:

Speaking before the Minnesota Republican State Central Committee this weekend, Norm Coleman assured those gathered that his unwillingness to recognize the recount tally and a District Court election ruling has nothing to do with him, his political career, or even the Republican Party.

Rather, his refusal to acknowledge reality is due to his love of America.

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How much bull can a governor dish out? P-aw-lenty!

From The Washington Independent:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) said today that he won’t validate a winner in the long-running Senate standoff between former Sen. Norm Coleman (R) and Al Franken (DFL) until “we get a proper result” — a process that will likely take “a few more months.”

Franken currently holds a 225-vote lead, but a three-judge panel is scheduled to count 400 contested ballots tomorrow. Asked if he would sign the election certificate if that panel finds Franken the winner, Pawlenty said he would not, instead waiting on the likely appeals process to play itself out.

…snip…

For Republicans, of course, the delay itself is the desired conclusion.

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Pardon My Pardon!

From Times Online:

President Bush has been forced into an unprecedented U-turn over a pardon he recommended for a convicted fraudster after it emerged that the conman’s father had given a sizeable donation to the Republican Party this year.

Isaac Toussie, who conned hundreds of poor New Yorkers in a 2001 property fraud, was one of 19 people whose names were put forward for clemency by the outgoing President.

But after it emerged that Toussie’s father, Robert, had given $28,500 to the Republican National Committee in April – his first political donation – the Bush Administration did a rapid volte face.

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