Politics

"Pay No Attention to Those Warheads Behind the Curtain"

by John Stauber — January 11, 2002 - 9:46am

Today's New York Times reports that Russia has "strongly criticized Bush administration plans to store rather than destroy decommissioned nuclear warheads, suggesting that such plans would undermine the credibility of any new arms control accord.... ... An assistant secretary of defense, J. D. Crouch, told a Pentagon briefing that the United States would hold in reserve a substantial number of warheads as a 'responsive capability.' ...

Main Source: 
New York Times

GOP Consultant Working With Pakistan Since Sept. 1

by Laura Miller — January 9, 2002 - 1:00am

Gary Polland, who heads the "well-connected" Houston-based firm Polland & Cook and chairs the Harris County Republican Party, has been smoothing out some of the "knotty issues" facing Pakistan since even before September 11th. According to PR trade publication O'Dwyer's PR Daily, Polland is "37.5 percent owner of a joint-venture known as 'Team Barakat' that is registered as lobbyist for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan." Team Barakat has a $180,000 contract, signed August 1 and effective Sept.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, January 9, 2002

PR Scandal in Hong Kong, But Not So In Washington

by Sheldon Rampton — December 24, 2001 - 1:00am

In Hong Kong, ex-legislator Gary Cheng Kai-nam has been convicted of corruption after he was caught double-dipping. While acting as a government official, Cheng set up his own PR firm and worked as a paid lobbyist. "It was bad enough that Cheng should have found it proper to set up a public affairs consultancy after becoming a legislator," observes the South China Morning Post.

Main Source: 
The Public-I, December 20, 2001; South China Morning Post, December 24, 2001

Clinton Campaigns to Defend His Image & Legacy

by John Stauber — December 21, 2001 - 9:30am

"Frustrated that his image has been battered since he left office, Mr. Clinton summoned several of his aides and advisers on Wednesday to devise ways to remind the public of his accomplishments and defend his legacy against criticism on matters including his role in the current recession and his failure to strike a fatal blow against Osama bin Laden... "

Main Source: 
New York Times

Russia Checkmated Its New Best Friend

by Sheldon Rampton — November 28, 2001 - 1:00am

When Pakistan ditched its ally, the Taliban, in September, and sided with the U.S., Islamabad and Washington fully expected to implant a pro-American regime in Kabul and open the way for the Pakistani-American pipeline. But, while the Bush administration was busy tearing apart Afghanistan to find Bin Laden, it failed to notice that the Russians were taking over half the country.The Russians achieved this victory through their proxy--the Northern Alliance. Moscow, which has sustained the alliance since 1990, rearmed it after Sept.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, November 28, 2001

Meet the Carlyle Group

by Sheldon Rampton — November 19, 2001 - 4:30pm

How will the President of the United States make millions, if not billions, from the war on terrorism? He'll probably inherit it, according to this collection of reports on the Carlyle Group, a secretive $12 billion private equity firm based in Washington that has parlayed a roster of former top-level government officials, largely from the Bush and Reagan administrations, into a moneymaking machine. Its members include prominent world leaders such as George Bush, Sr.

Main Source: 
http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html

UK's Labour Party Looking For Corporate Sponsorship

by Laura Miller — August 30, 2001 - 12:00am

The UK's Labour Party is offering "branding opportunities" to corporations during its annual meeting set for the end of September. A Party brochure obtained by the Guardian offers a price list for placement of corporate logos and messages to reach the conference's "captive audience". Up for sale were spots on ambulance service, relaxation zone, phone service, video screens, recycling bins, and gala dinner flower arrangements. McDonalds ponied up

Main Source: 
The Guardian Unlimited, August 30, 2001

Condit Wins the Bimbo Award

by Sheldon Rampton — August 27, 2001 - 12:00am

Gary Condit didn't just "injure" himself in his August 23 interview with Connie Chung -- he immolated himself, says PR pro Fraser P. Seitel. Other PR pros agree with this assessment. His performance was so bad that Spaeth Communications has awarded him its "Bimbo Award" for telling Chung, "I don't think I'm stonewalling." Merrie Spaeth, former Director of Media for President Reagan, gives the Bimbo Award to people whose denials are so unconvincing that they actually reinforce the impression they are trying to dispel.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, August 27, 2001

Free the Politicians

by Sheldon Rampton — August 25, 2001 - 12:00am

A recent survey of politicians found that they are as frustrated as the rest of us with the corruption of modern politics. The University of Maryland interviewed 7,500 winning and losing candidates for election and found that most candidates want the focus of campaigning more on the substance of policy ideas and were frustrated by the media's tendency to focus on personal foibles and insider clashes.

Main Source: 
Campaigns and Elections, August 25, 2001

PR Empire Owns Barbour, DC's 'Most Powerful Lobbyist'

by John Stauber — July 28, 2001 - 8:02am

Haley Barbour, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, "illustrates the synergistic relationship between lobbying and fundraising," said a July 23 article in the New York Times. His firm has been named by Fortune magazine as the number one lobby firm in the Capital, and Barbour is also the man in charge of raising money for Republican Senate campaigns. The New York Times noted that "Two years ago, Mr.

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