Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
The Campaign Jungle
The NYT is not pleased with candidate super PACs: "The time has come for the Department of Justice to step in and pursue criminal complaints against the candidate PACs. Limits on spending used to prevent donations from becoming outright bribes, but now the limits are gone, and the path to corruption is clear."

Amend the constitution and overturn Citizens United, by Sen. Tom Udall
Sens. Udall, Durbin, Schumer, Merkley, and Whitehouse write about their constitutional amendment: "Now more than ever, the American people are showing just how fed up they are with the explosion of big corporate influence over our politics. And now more than ever, the Supreme Court is ignoring its own precedents to unleash a torrent of corporate and special interest money in our elections."

Lawrence Lessig and David V. Johnson: Reclaiming the Republic
An interview with Larry Lessig "about Occupy Wall Street, whether transparency is overrated, and whom to invite to a constitutional convention."

Under the U.S. Supreme Court: unveiling secret corporate political money
"The Securities and Exchange Commission is being flooded with support for a proposed regulation that would undo at least some of the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission -- which opened the floodgates to often secret corporate political contributions that threaten to swamp American elections."

Where is George Orwell when we need him?, by Fred Wertheimer
"On October 28, 2011, the Rove-inspired organization asked the FEC to declare that expenditures by American Crossroads for TV ads to promote certain candidates that would be 'fully coordinated' with those candidates and that would even have those candidates appearing in the ads are not 'coordinated expenditures' with those candidates. Where is George Orwell when we need him?"

Congress/2012
Jack Abramoff making a multimedia effort at redemption
The headline sort of says it all. "At 53, he is unemployed, insolvent and trying — as you may know from his numerous appearances last week — to redeem and rebrand himself."

Fracking for dollars
The Toledo Blade editorializes on fracking, highlighting Common Cause's new report on the subject: "Either way, industry campaign contributions must not be allowed to dictate the debate over fracking regulation -- or cause Ohioans to believe that they will."

The new progressive movement
Jeffrey Sachs writes that Occupy could be the beginning of a new progressive movement after decades of increasing income inequality. And this: "Both parties have joined in crippling the government in response to the demands of their wealthy campaign contributors, who above all else insist on keeping low tax rates on capital gains, top incomes, estates and corporate profits."

Anti-lobbyist White House asks lobbyists for help
"Key White House officials solicited at least 10 notable lobbyists for their support of the Obama administration’s jobs initiatives during a a two-hour briefing Thursday that included a total of between 70 and 80 people, four individuals present at the gathering confirmed to POLITICO"

'60 Minutes' on 'honest graft'
"CBS’ 60 Minutes went after Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) in a Sunday story covering allegations of insider trading and 'soft corruption' by powerful members of Congress."

Crossroads ad pulled off Montana cable network
You'll be shocked to hear that an ad by Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS was pulled off the air in Montana for being totally false. Ok, maybe you won't be shocked.

To catch up, Perry makes a big ad buy
"Ramping up his effort to recover from his embarrassing debate performance on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas purchased nearly $1 million in advertising time on Fox News Channel, an extraordinary commitment of resources intended to jolt his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination back on track."

Occupy Louisville to have "7 days of solidarity"
In Louisville this week? "They'll protest campaign finance reform on Tuesday.

Labor unions, Occupy Wall Street plan "day of action" urging lawmakers to invest
"The AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union and the Laborers’ International Union of North America will partner with Occupy Wall Street for 'We are the 99 percent' rallies on Thursday. Liberal groups like MoveOn.org and the American Dream Movement plan to participate."

Romney campaign aides headlining December fundraiser
Another day, another Mitt Romney lobbyist fundraiser

Congressional fundraisers grab their guns
"Now that it’s hunting season, lawmakers are putting small animals--and big dollars--in their crosshairs with a panoply of guns-and-cammo fundraisers."

Deficit panel may put off tax deliberation
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/deficit-panel-may-put-off-tax-deliberation
The supercommittee, a way for Congress to punt on its responsibilities, may punt its responsibilities back to committees of jurisdiction. #ViciousCycle
- More on supercommittee from The Hill.
- And even though just half of the people in a new poll know about the supercommittee, 69 percent believe it will fail after hearing about its mission.
- And, from The Hill, "Automatic cuts wouldn’t be triggered until 2013, which gives lobbyists plenty of time to try to change minds in Congress." http://thehill.com/homenews/news/193273-if-the-supercommittee-fails

Wielding assault rifles, police arrest Chapel Hill occupiers of building left derelict by developer
Loved/cringed at this bit of detail in this story about police arresting Occupy Chapel Hill protesters: "The Chapel Hill Transit bus used to transport the arrestees had a Wells Fargo ad, prompting the chant, 'Who do they serve? Wells Fargo! Who do they protect? Wells Fargo!'"

Other
Pearce: I will not retreat
Former Sen. Russell Pearce has this op-ed on why he lost, trying to prove it wasn't about immigration. And, thanks for the shout out, Russell! "Additionally, there was a prolonged smear campaign against me for accepting (with dozens of other legislators) free college football tickets that loomed over the campaign. These attacks are groundless and I did nothing illegal or unethical and I followed legal counsel’s advice. However, the main point is that this had nothing to do with my positions on illegal immigration. In fact my opponent barely discussed the issue."
- And some polling on this shows, "A full 42 percent of LDS voters said they based their decision on issues like a 'personal shortcoming' of Pearce’s or 'his dishonesty or corruption.'"

Money in politics: Gifts during legislative sessions
Salt Lake Tribune editorial board hits back at politicians complaining about a fundraising ban during the legislative session. And, they've figured out the game: "In the meantime, the ban on contributions during the legislative session raises a larger question: Why should donors be allowed to buy influence at all?"

Scott Walker, Wisconsin governor, cancels GOP fundraiser appearance amidst protest, recall plans
"Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), who is currently under threat of being recalled from office, is canceling his plans to attend a GOP fundraiser in Wichita, Kan., and labor unions are taking the credit."

PowerPlayer: Common Cause executive director John Marion
Common Cause RI's executive director is featured in this article.