Day: January 18, 2005

Creepy story in Florida’s St. Petersburg Times.

“A mysterious committee backed by members of a secretive religious group whose members are forbidden to vote spent more than $500,000 on newspaper ads last year supporting President Bush and U.S. Senate candidate Mel Martinez.”

The group was one of many that tried to worked around campaign finance reforms by not identifying itself until the final days of the election, according to the paper.

“The group of men who formed the committee belong to the Exclusive Brethren, a reclusive religious group with roots in England and Australia. The group includes members from Knoxville, Tenn., Omaha, Neb., and other U.S. cities. Members of the Exclusive Brethren do not vote, read newspapers, watch television or participate in the outside world, according to published reports. So why would they care who gets elected in the United States?

“That’s hard to say and members contacted by the St. Petersburg Times wouldn’t say anything except to praise President Bush and say they wanted to see him re-elected.

“Steve Truan, owner of a Knoxville map store, was listed as the contact person for the group, which formed just days before the November election. He said the group likes to �fly beneath the radar� and refused to talk about the ads, all of which were placed by a Knoxville advertising agency whose owners refused to answer questions.”

Of course Bush and Martinez, who seem to have benefited big time, claim the donation was unsolicited.

“The ads included a full page in the New York Times and a smaller one in the Tampa Tribune supporting the president, and a quarter-page ad in the St. Petersburg Times endorsing Republican Mel Martinez for U.S. Senate because of his support for traditional marriage.

“Both campaigns denied knowing anything about the committee or its members.”

How can these guys get away with claiming they represent mainstream Americans? And why do the Democrats let them?

I�ve been sick of the prospect of George W. Bush�s second inauguration since November, but it�s reaching critical mass. Another appalling story of Republicans spending like drunken sailors at the prospect of the mind-numbing celebration. And who but Florida�s own Katherine Harris to set the tone?

According to an article in the Tampa Tribune, Harris knows her priorities.

“�Faced with the choice of golfing in her campaign fundraiser or trying on ball gowns for Thursday’s inaugural gala for President Bush, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris took a few strokes and then left dozens of chilled bankers and the chairman of the House Banking Committee.”

Now here�s a great big WHY from the same article:

“Designers are trying to land their dresses on first lady Laura Bush and daughters Barbara and Jenna with an aggressiveness the industry generally saves for Hollywood celebrities.”

Better make them vodka-proof and use a fabric that won�t show cigarette burns.

But back to Katherine. Where does she get this kind of money?

“�Harris arranged to have seven ball gowns delivered from Saks Fifth Avenue to the Legacy Country Club in south Manatee County on Monday.

“�They came straight from the runway,� Harris said.

“That created another problem: fitting into dresses worn by rail-thin models. Immediately after choosing a gown, Harris hit the gym. Afterward, she went back to the fundraiser to greet her guests.”

Yeah, that one trip to the gym will take care of it. How does this towering intellect fit into such a petite body?