What was the lobbyist doing there when Scalise was shot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I read it's no big deal - he is an ex-baseball player and ex-staffer who loves the Congressional baseball game so continues to help coach the team. Sure we need to be careful about undue influence by lobbyists, but I don't think that's what's going on here.

And you know this because ... . Influence isn't always in the form of quid pro quo and galas and sweet boondoggle getaways. It's based on relationships, it's insidious, and a good lobbyist knows that friendship is far more powerful this any other form of influence.

Because I'm a human being with friends who used to be staffers and are now lobbyists.

Look - I get it - life is networking and relationships and we need to be careful at the intersection of government and business, it's an area where we should certainly be extra cautious. But we also need to leave room for the fact that everyone involved is a real person with real relationships. Lets start with giving folks the benefit of the doubt before we launch into outrage.

+1 Many staffers go on to become lobbyists. It doesn't alarm me at all that this guy was playing with them, and I'm no supporter of the big ag lobby. This happens. People start off as lowly staffers and then move on. You're acting like these people shouldn't even be friends. It just doesn't work that way on either side of the aisle. It's not unethical.

[Anonymous]

Getting shot.


That's what he was doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I read it's no big deal - he is an ex-baseball player and ex-staffer who loves the Congressional baseball game so continues to help coach the team. Sure we need to be careful about undue influence by lobbyists, but I don't think that's what's going on here.

And you know this because ... . Influence isn't always in the form of quid pro quo and galas and sweet boondoggle getaways. It's based on relationships, it's insidious, and a good lobbyist knows that friendship is far more powerful this any other form of influence.

Because I'm a human being with friends who used to be staffers and are now lobbyists.

Look - I get it - life is networking and relationships and we need to be careful at the intersection of government and business, it's an area where we should certainly be extra cautious. But we also need to leave room for the fact that everyone involved is a real person with real relationships. Lets start with giving folks the benefit of the doubt before we launch into outrage.

+1 Many staffers go on to become lobbyists. It doesn't alarm me at all that this guy was playing with them, and I'm no supporter of the big ag lobby. This happens. People start off as lowly staffers and then move on. You're acting like these people shouldn't even be friends. It just doesn't work that way on either side of the aisle. It's not unethical.

+1. It just seems like people who post dumb stuff about lobbyists either don't live here or have no idea how it all works. I made $15K on the Hill with a Master's degree and a JD. Damn right I was going to lobby. Lobbyists represents all parties including cities, universities, companies, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has been bugging me. One of the people who was shot along with Scalise was apparently a big ag lobbyist.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/06/14/reports-congressman-others-shot-baseball-practice/102838314/

Why was this lobbyist at an extracurricular event at 7AM with a bunch of members of the House and Senate? And how many other lobbyists were there?
Seems to me that this is exactly what's wrong with American politics: The constant presence of lobbyists everywhere, pitching their corporate agenda, wining and dining and buying our elected officials' votes and support, to the detriment of everyone else.

The shooter was clearly disturbed and one cannot condone or defend shooting people but there's a certain dystopian irony in all of it.

By all accounts the guy apparently posted rants on social media about this kind of corrupting influence in US politics.

It looks like he was right about that.

Op you are a douche. Go back to watching hate tv on CNN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I read it's no big deal - he is an ex-baseball player and ex-staffer who loves the Congressional baseball game so continues to help coach the team. Sure we need to be careful about undue influence by lobbyists, but I don't think that's what's going on here.

You are exactly right.
And, this information isn’t hard to find with a simple google search. Not sure why the OP posted this question (I think I do, but it shows her lack of resourcefulness and/or her desire to push a narrative).

The GOP team was preparing for a charity game against the Democratic squad, scheduled for Thursday. “As a former baseball player, he was volunteering at this morning’s practice to help the congressional team get ready for the game,” said Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), for whom Mika once worked.

Mika, a former college baseball and football player, was not scheduled to play in the game, Tyson said in a statement. His family described baseball as "one of his great passions" and said that his dedication to the congressional team is characteristic of the type of person he is.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/14/matt-mika-tyson-lobbyist-congress-baseball-shooting-victim-239546

[Anonymous]

Seek help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been bugging me. One of the people who was shot along with Scalise was apparently a big ag lobbyist.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/06/14/reports-congressman-others-shot-baseball-practice/102838314/

Why was this lobbyist at an extracurricular event at 7AM with a bunch of members of the House and Senate? And how many other lobbyists were there?
Seems to me that this is exactly what's wrong with American politics: The constant presence of lobbyists everywhere, pitching their corporate agenda, wining and dining and buying our elected officials' votes and support, to the detriment of everyone else.

The shooter was clearly disturbed and one cannot condone or defend shooting people but there's a certain dystopian irony in all of it.

By all accounts the guy apparently posted rants on social media about this kind of corrupting influence in US politics.

It looks like he was right about that.
E

Plus naive


You're a pathetic sick sob.

[Anonymous]

The Congress represents corporations and big business and donors, not citizens.

[Anonymous]

Scumbag lobbyists on this thread defending their scumbag, parasitic way of life. Disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scumbag lobbyists on this thread defending their scumbag, parasitic way of life. Disgusting.

You must be OP - a little upset that this thread did not go the way you expected.
I am not a lobbyist. And, I am disgusted by the fact that OP questioned this person’s presence at the ball field, making implications, without doing a simple search to find out more about him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scumbag lobbyists on this thread defending their scumbag, parasitic way of life. Disgusting.

You must be OP - a little upset that this thread did not go the way you expected.
I am not a lobbyist. And, I am disgusted by the fact that OP questioned this person’s presence at the ball field, making implications, without doing a simple search to find out more about him.

I am not OP.

[Anonymous]

This disturbs me too, OP.

There should be legal restrictions on lobbying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been bugging me. One of the people who was shot along with Scalise was apparently a big ag lobbyist.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/06/14/reports-congressman-others-shot-baseball-practice/102838314/

Why was this lobbyist at an extracurricular event at 7AM with a bunch of members of the House and Senate? And how many other lobbyists were there?
Seems to me that this is exactly what's wrong with American politics: The constant presence of lobbyists everywhere, pitching their corporate agenda, wining and dining and buying our elected officials' votes and support, to the detriment of everyone else.

The shooter was clearly disturbed and one cannot condone or defend shooting people but there's a certain dystopian irony in all of it.

By all accounts the guy apparently posted rants on social media about this kind of corrupting influence in US politics.

It looks like he was right about that.

Op you are a douche. Go
back to watching hate tv on CNN.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This disturbs me too, OP.

There should be legal restrictions on lobbying.

Absolutely. Lobbying is the exact embodiment of everything wrong with American democracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I read it's no big deal - he is an ex-baseball player and ex-staffer who loves the Congressional baseball game so continues to help coach the team. Sure we need to be careful about undue influence by lobbyists, but I don't think that's what's going on here.

And you know this because ... . Influence isn't always in the form of quid pro quo and galas and sweet boondoggle getaways. It's based on relationships, it's insidious, and a good lobbyist knows that friendship is far more powerful this any other form of influence.

Because I'm a human being with friends who used to be staffers and are now lobbyists.

Look - I get it - life is networking and relationships and we need to be careful at the intersection of government and business, it's an area where we should certainly be extra cautious. But we also need to leave room for the fact that everyone involved is a real person with real relationships. Lets start with giving folks the benefit of the doubt before we launch into outrage.

+1 Many staffers go on to become lobbyists. It doesn't alarm me at all that this guy was playing with them, and I'm no supporter of the big ag lobby. This happens. People start off as lowly staffers and then move on. You're acting like these people shouldn't even be friends. It just doesn't work that way on either side of the aisle. It's not unethical.

Disagree strongly. It's unethical and there should be a strong firewall and rules of engagement between members of Congress and lobbyists, along with oversight and accountability.

This kind of inappropriate friendliness is precisely how democracy is hijacked and undermined.