KINDELAN ISSAQUAH, WA December 18, 2008 Edited



Government officials are always for sale. We don't (usually) refer to them as prostitutes or corrupt in most cases, but as astute politicians who carefully, usually, tiptoe through the financial contribution limits with their in-house lawyers standing by in case there's a line that might be crossed and cause eyebrows to raise or flat out outrage and investigation to be launched. This usually happens to egocentric sorts with little connection to the fact that they really aren't demigods, but only persons. Buying power isn't something new, and unlike Russia where power is often bought by using the threat of bodily harm, something done for thousands of years, instead, we resort to money, status or both. It's the American Way. If one thinks a moment, and puts this in a lesser context, for instance, rather than an employment agency being paid to find a qualified prospect, the prospect pays someone (unknown to the company itself) in the company who has the authority to hire and therefore eliminate the competition. It's been done before and certainly if a friend recommends a friend who isn't as qualified as someone without such a connection, one could say, couldn’t they, that's signing on to a skewed hiring format? Okay, so what does this have to do with Bill Clinton, Hillary, and whether or not all is ethical and oh so 'yummily' honest and acceptable? Lots. In the first place, or possibly fourth place, why do the American people allow such obvious corruption to go on? Is it that we are corrupt ourselves, that we lack ethics based on equality, justice, and planning of our economic and social survival? Yes to all, though there are many very honest, very intelligent, and very articulate people in our midst but there's a problem with them; they're analytical, they wax impressively about the need for socio/economic changes designed to save the planet, our health, and our species along with many others, then they turn on the TV, have a glass of wine, stick with their illusions, and soon their off on another idea that turns into a tangent passage in their fertile brain housed in no-action behavior. In other words, they're all show and no go, if I may be forgiven for being trite as I often am.



It looks like Clinton is expected to do something. He is, he's walking and talking and collecting cash, but for what? Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Warren Buffett, and a few other billionaires, could, if they dare, actually help direct Clinton's efforts to solving the core problem we now on only face, but which has been unleashed upon us. Climate Change is a misnomer, it's not climate change we face, that's only a symptom of our stupidity, the true name of our problem, a problem touching every human being on earth, is human species death fast approaching terminal proportions. Clinton, Obama, Gates, and every person with enormous wealth must bite the environmental bullet and put the power and wealth into changing American priorities, in fact, changing our lifestyle. If this isn't done we will not one day have our time capsules read by those who come after us, there will be no human species to do so. Some will say, "That's monstrous, that's not possible, no, I must put my ear pieces from my I pod in place and listen to Jazz or some other diversion, it's too much to contemplated.” Clinton's piddling bit of cash is nothing, nor is Gates if put against industrial interests, but wait a minute, we have Obama, and millions of very anxious people waiting, god how long we've been waiting and trying and raging, and praying for change to be initiated, only to see the best people quit because they can't deal with bureaucrats whose only interest is not to cause waves so that someday they can retire with a hefty pension. Were a Caesar to storm the ramparts of repression and resistance, heads would roll quickly, things would change overnight, diplomacy has been tried and it doesn't work, rules need to be implemented, and the best information available must be made public. No exaggerations, just the truth and what is happening and what we can do to reverse the suicidal direction we're going.



There are people, people in our midst who claim to have the answers to global warming, one is, if we increase world wide soil organic matter by 5% we can reverse global warming. If 5% sounds a small thing, I assure you it's an enormous undertaking. This information comes from very bright people who have spent their lives studying, teaching, and doing soil conservation, returning health to sick soils, and who are ready to present the solutions to a planetary problem affecting everyone.



The other is to forgive debt and reduce it to a level in the past, much as Caesar did. Not total forgiveness, but large forgiveness. That's across the board, but with those suffering the horrors of losing their homes in foreclosure, forgive mortgages, and no taxes on property, period, & drive politicians and banders crazy, fun to think about. RLK Flag

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dnewman Guilford, CT December 18, 2008 Follow the money. Flag

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marilyn chs sc December 18, 2008 I am surprised, sorry if it's naive, at the wealth donated by people from certain countries, especially India. With such rampant poverty, I hope the richest people in the world there would help there own. Also, I would hope the Clinton funds that are collected help not only the poor worldwide, but the indigent, uninsured, ill, homeless, and poor, and needy, eg Katrina, here in many many parts of the US, as we go into deepening recession.



I am happy to see Hillary as Secretary of State, if ppl have problems with her husb, she should div him and be the leader she can be.



marilyn Flag

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janelynne Philadelphia December 18, 2008 In the runup to the election,the conservatives and the media did everything possible to undermine Hillary Clinton's bid. Now Bill Clinton's list is made available with unprecedented transparency, and I wonder if the media will start up again on the Clinton's. Where have the media been these last eight years and where are they now? Who is uncovering the Bush White House, the SEC, The FDA, the FED, Wall Street, the banks, the insurance companies, the oil companies, the pharamceutical companies, et al, in their conflicts of interests? NOBODY is. It is lazy, hypocritical, and downright conspiratorial to turn a blind eye on vital information that simply sits there, awaiting to be made transparent. Chasing the Clinton's is a distraction. Flag

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Brian NY December 18, 2008 To #12: If you think the Saudi's were buying influence with the potential "POTUS" (in the event Sen. Clinton had won,) what must you think of Pres. GW Bush walking around holding hands with Saudi Princes? Flag

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petrusbenjudah Asia December 18, 2008 and to think i thought i gave US$1 when i watched Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."



This thing reminds on a dollar here, 10 dollars there, a hundred from the "millions" of folks...



In a quintessential, old fashioned American way, did they not help make the good President-elect's solid, winning campaign? Flag

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Truth17 California December 18, 2008 Are we to expect that politicians, such as Clinton, are supposed to free US from foreign oil? After millions received in effectively kick-backs? Come now. The problem isn't that the US People are expecting miracles. We know how the system works. There are some, such as Blago, that are idiots who cannot control their mouths; and, there are others, like Clinton, who are more prudent in their approach. The end, however, is "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours".



The challenge is that there is no clear fix to this twisted system. The rich always find a way to game the system (thus, the "rich and powerful"). The question is how does one 'reset' the system once in a while without a wholesale revolution. We'd like to shake the tree and dislodge the special interests. Historically, this has involved a revolution that overthrows the government (French revolution, American independence, etc.) or a deterioration and collapse of the government (Soviet Union). These events inevitably set off the seemingly inevitable ups and downs of the balance of power. Ideally, we need to think of a way to do this shake up without such upheaval. The goals isn't to knock ourselves from being the best country in the world nor is it to reinvent the governmental structure. The governmental structure has, of course, worked reasonably well over the past 200+ years. The problem is that with time, there is a natural tendency for the wealthy special interests to take control. Shaking this up without uprooting the darn thing is what we need to achieve. Only then, energy independence, renewable energy, resolving global warming will become a reality. Flag

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Jen Boston December 18, 2008 I wonder who would have been on the Bush I list, if discolsed, when his son was running for, and was appointed president. Flag

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Poppy NY December 18, 2008 Maybe Senator Clinton shouldn't be Secretary of State but why all the attacks on these donors. His foundation is pretty serious stuff. If you haven't you should read up on an independent source as to what they are up to...a source without any whining, just the facts. Why shouldn't these donors give money to a cause with a purpose of reducing polution, greenhouse gases, and our dependence on oil. For god sake these are quality of life issues for Republican's, Democrats, and our children around the world. Sheesh. Flag

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Dr Wu, I'm just an ordinary guy Boston December 18, 2008 So what's new? Same folks gave to Bush, whoever...Folks with money run the world--time for a change! Flag

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Keiichi Kamekura Tokyo Japan December 18, 2008 I could know that Bill Gates is one of the biggest financial backers of former President Bill Clinton's foundation over last decade.



I have been reading the biographies of Bill Clinton and Bill Gates.



Both of them, I think, are very excellent and likable persons. I like both of them.



I hope that they help Obama and change America. Flag

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KN NY December 18, 2008 The "Children's Investment Fund Foundation" is run by the wife of an aggressive activist hedge fund manager Chris Hohn, hedge fund named "Children's Investment Fund Management." I would speculate that profits earned at the hedge fund were run through the 'charity' which in turn donated money to Clinton. Flag

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edweirdness Dallas December 18, 2008 #28



Actually, the overwhelming majority of Obama contributors, particularly small, multiple donors, and a surprising number of donors outside the United States are still unknown. Not surprisingly, there are is a substantial number of donors (i.e. the starting line up of the Cowboys, many fictional and comic book characters, etc,,,) that cannot be positively identified. Flag

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mommadona CA December 18, 2008 Bill Clinton is the biggest embarrassment in the Democratic Party today.



BUSINESS AS USUAL - as long as it puts the bucks in his OWN pocket.



He's George H W Bush's BFF for a reason.

He KNOWS where that skull and bone is buried, and he wants a piece of that action.



He has SOLD OUT.

Elmer Gantry couldn't have done the deed better.



ANOTHER reason I'm registered as an Independent.



Democratic "Leadership" Council - indeed.

Rip Off Artists. Flag

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edweirdness Dallas December 18, 2008 Mrs. Clinton, regardless of her desire for power, and the deals that were cut with the Obama administration, should do the right thing, and step aside. America's Citizens deserve better than this. In a job this important, even the appearance of impropriety is not something we should condone or tolerate. There are any number of Americans' with the skill and objectivity to do a fabulous job as secretary of state. We, the people, should not allow our international policy to be circumscribed by doubts or backroom political deal making. Flag

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James East Hampton NY December 18, 2008 Those calling for Clintons hanging... Perhaps you'd want to take a closer look into the Bush gangs ties with Halliburton, Blackwater and myriad other war contractors,big oil, big banks, hedge funds... Well, you get the idea. Flag

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Joan San Francisco December 18, 2008 Clinton is the prime facie example of power corruption. No wonder the world is such a mess. Remember the Clinton are shameless. They will cheat, will say anything to beg for money. Bill Clinton used his power position to beg for money worldwide. Money stays in the power circule, not trickling down to the needed. They rich give to each other for reasons of power, tax evasion, gaining more power and fame and quidproquo. The powerful gives to one another. They need slaves. My ordinary world citizens, don't give a dime to these non profit profiteers! especially the Clintons like! Flag

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Deja Vue San Diego, CA December 18, 2008 CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN:



Change your selection for SecState, Mr. Obama. Flag

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Concerned citizen San Fran December 18, 2008 Though it is welcoming to see the transparency offered by an ex-prez, it is equally shocking to see vast amounts of money donated by govt. officials/affliates from India when those very same amounts of money could have been used to better equip the commandos who lost their lives on 11-26 (India's 9-11) saving lives in Bombay. Flag

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vwoodruff seneca falls, new york December 18, 2008 Given such fundraising prowess, perhaps Bill should be appointed U.S. Senator before Caroline Kennedy is "annointed." Flag

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iliketocomment paris, france December 18, 2008 there is an inherent conflict of interest here. the mere fact of disclosing the names of the donors does not mean the clinton no longer feels some sort of obligation towards them. i can't believe that anyone would still fall on the trap of "oh, it's in the open so it can't be so bad". it's like paulson saving the banks: everyone knows it, but that does not change the fact that it is like making a drug czar clean up the cocaine business. i am a staunch democrat and have dreamed of the clinton years for the last two bush terms. i was never deluded, though, to thinking that bill clinton is not a slime ball. he is, albeit often with the right goals in mind. people should not forget that. Flag

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Rodney Los Angeles December 18, 2008 I do not have a problem with whom ex-president Bill Clinton raises money from for his personal family foundation. However I do have a problem that the money to the Clinton foundation is shared by his wife Hillary, who is requesting confirmed as Secretary of State. If Hillary is divorced from Bill let her be confirmed----if she is married to Bill I feel she should not be confirmed. It’s a simple matter of a conflict of interest when she is negotiating with a foreign country whose money supports her family foundation---even if you call it a Library or whatever.



Rodney Bloom



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Vijay New York December 18, 2008 This is reductio ad absurdum. I don't like either Clinton but have people forgotten that the man in charge is OBAMA? Is she going to subvert his presidency by secretly responding to the purse strings that funded the foundation? Assuming she would have such an inclination - a non zero probability - Obama's core team which includes folks like Susan Rice (no love lost between the two ladies) will ensure that Hillary hangs herself by doing so.



As for the Pakistanis who are getting their knickers into a twist over the prospects of ex-President Clinton "influencing" the course of events against their state - they ought to get a life. Obama if anything, despite his statements about sending US forces into Pakistan based on "actionable intelligence" is likely to err on their side (upto a point). He is the first US president to have visited Paksitan as a tourist and has several Pakistani friends and surely knows the lay of the land far better than Bush who was gulled by the beguiling Musharraf. Flag

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Doug Karo Durham, NH 03824 December 18, 2008 Does anyone know if contributions to the Clinton Foundation to pay for the Clinton Library were kept separate from contributions for other activities. The article suggests his Foundation both pays for his library and funds philanthropic work. Since charities contributed to the Clinton Foundation (more than $25 million from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation for example) it would seem odd to me if charities were helping to fund a Presidential Library. The 'donate online' part of the Clinton Foundation website does not make a distinction between funds for the library and for other purposes, but perhaps he is no longer raising money for his library. Flag

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Javier M. Washington, DC December 18, 2008 So in the end it was not--according to Michael Moore- the Bush/Cheney relationship with Middle Eastern oil states that was so worrisome. The fact was that it was the Clintons who were in cahoots with our so-called "Arab allies"!!! Flag

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