Why am I not surprised to see Ted Stevens there? I also note that a bunch (but not all) of the Democrats listed are the 'mid-line' types, which could indicate a pattern.

Either way, let's give 'em hell.

I was just going to comment on Ted Stevens's presence. "We must stop the tube pirates from stealing the personal internets of thousands of musicians."

I bet the money the RIAA gave these guys came out of all the lawsuit winnings.

Am I the only one who finds the numbers surprisingly low?

And what's with the contact information? Do people expect their politicians to need people to point out every little thing they do wrong? Please, vote for somebody else. This is why there's still war in Iraq.

Don't bother trying to send e-mail to Diane Feinstein at her web site. You will get a "Sever error 404.1" when you try to send a completed comments form. Typical of her performance as a Senator during this current term.

is that really enough money to sway anybody's opinion? seems like you'd have to donate a lot more than $9,000 to get someone to change their mind for you.

As if I needed another reason to not like HillDog

John McCain also seems to be OK with the cable/phone companies charging and making profit however they want (aka, against net neutrality). Another one not to vote for.

I'm kind of ahead of you guys already and have been sending my Texas reps mail for 5 years now on this topic. Every year all I get back is a form mailed letter that basically says they disagree with me and that we dumb citizens "just don't get it". U.S. democracy is failing right before our very eyes and transforming in to totalitarianism.

Why is it any business, lobbyist, or person with money can talk to any politician?

If you go to the website of any member of congress and try to leave a message you'll see a note that only those that live in their area will be seen.

@Nekoincardine: Just so you know, you're not quite right that the Democrats listed are "mid-line" types. The Americans for Democratic Action reviews voting records and assigns each congressman a number based on how many times they vote in line with their philosophy. Of the twenty-one Democrats who were in congress in 2006, only seven of them got a rating lower than 90% and only four were below 75%, with Ben Nelson being the only outlier at 35%. In fact, eight of them, (including Obama and Clinton) had at least a 95% rating. The American Conservative Union does similar ratings for congress and the results are roughly skewed the same.

Most reputable political scientists agree that special interest campaign contributions don't buy votes.

At best campaign contributions buy seats.

Contributions go to congressmen who already share the political views of the special interest group. The money helps get them into power, not to change their voting. As noted previously, most of these type of contributions are pretty miniscule amounts...certainly not enough to change someone's opinions.

I wonder if John Edwards has taken money...

I am more concerned with how members of Congress vote than where their campaign contributions come from. Sometimes those are related, but not always. Case in point -- Jay Inslee, who is on this list, just introduced the Internet Radio Equality Act to save internet radio from new, outrageously high fees on webcasters. Can't imagine that's on the RIAA's priority list.

@strathmeyer:

More like "Am I the only one who finds some of these numbers kinda high?" $5000 is the limit for a corporate contribution to a Federal candidate, I believe.

I was able to send an email to Diane Feinstein from her site. Not sure it will really matter though. In the past I've sent her notes about other similar topics like BPL (Broadband over Powerlines) which is evil and should never make it here. (Other countries have banned it because of the RF noise it eminates) and DMCA issues.. Each time, the response was basically the same.. She didn't agree with my views and was going to continue to support those organizations.. I for one will never vote for her again.

My shitheel douchebag Republican representative is the second on the list. I am writing him a letter right now.

I've sent her notes about other similar topics like BPL (Broadband over Powerlines) which is evil and should never make it here. (Other countries have banned it because of the RF noise it eminates)

all you ham radio operators need to step out of the way. BPL is coming whether you like it or not.

I could have sworn that accepting money to potentially gain a favorable outcome was called 'bribery'.

I guess that only happens in nasty middle east countires?

Haha Ted Stevens is there too.

Goodness, that name has become a punchline. From his infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" to his "series of tubes" comment to the secret hold he placed on placed on that Act Obama introduced.

I await his next act of stupidity.

The PAC contribution limit is $5,000. Corporate contributions aren't allowed. They have to cover it up with clever PAC names like "Americans for Integrity."

What I want to know is why they are giving Robert Wexler so much money. He represents Boca Raton. Are a lot of Jewish grannies torrent freaks?

Ah, that's the sound of the founding fathers rolling over in their graves...fuck this, I'm moving to New Zealand...but then all governments, every single one of them, are fucked up. Some are just less fucked up than others.