Are there any known documentaries showing the inside dealings of Lobbying firms available?

Are there any known documentaries showing the inside dealings of Lobbying firms available?

Friday, November 14, 2008
How Lobbyist Work in Washington - For Dummies

In light of the massive change our President - Elect has to manage, it seems that understanding the good parts and bad parts about the operation and function of lobbyist needs to be explored. Although demonized to some extent, we also need to understand if they offer a benefit to navigating public relations between government and business in a way that offers benefits to all in the form of jobs, government reach in creating new opportunities for our businesses and business climate and how those efforts trickle down for good for America.

If I had my druthers, I would assign film-maker documentarians from all political spectrums, with an eye of a bit of the cynical to Ralph Nadar's organization to explore the world of the Lobbyist. Reading between the lines in many documentaries about government –lobbyist interactions include pictures of lots of cash and influence being peddled, but the function of that operation to enhance business and show benefit to workers, citizens, voters and the economy have not been linked in a cross-functional way that allows for a balance.

Insider camera operators showing good being done as well as corruption would be the invitation to those who's conscience would look to regulatete good business from the corrupt roots of cash peddling for pure influence into one-sided interests and policies. There are always going to be 'winners' and 'losers' with every policy initiative, the question is - "What will achieve a 'Greater Good" for All?

Capitalism is a component of these functions and has some grounds for survival and beneficial relationships in a global environment where the competition for honest business dealings is not always on equal footing in international settings. To that end, Michael Moore's perspective on exposing us to the seamy as well as the substantive portions of Corporate and Government interactions to benefit Americans as well as their own agenda's needs to be explored, revealed and given transparency to the public.

Seth Platt's Article "The Bureaucracy" needs to be resurrected and posted on the Internet for us to explore, realize and learn from the structures of how we build programs and overhead through government interaction and intervention, but also leave waste and legacy systems that do not always warrant extended life past the necessary tasks of running institutions long past the needed function in order for people to retain jobs or functions that are either no longer relevant, or unnecessary to the common good or purpose that they once were put in place to fulfill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

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Democrats Benefiting From Post-Election Lobby Boom
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By Matthew Mosk

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 14, 2008; Page A01

Barack Obama spent much of his presidential campaign decrying the influence of Washington lobbyists. In the 10 days since he was elected, he already has had an impact: He has touched off a mini-boom on K Street.

Top lobbying firms are gearing up to handle increased demand from corporate clients who fear that the Obama administration will expand its regulatory reach and target them for tax increases. Some firms, such asPatton Boggs, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and Alston & Bird, are also preparing for new business resulting from the ongoing effort to stabilize the economy.

And who is cashing in on this boom? Democrats who supported Obama, such as Jaime R. Harrison.

Harrison helped mobilize voter turnout for Obama in South Carolina, and for the past two years he directed floor operations for House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) -- credentials that made him a sought-after addition to firms looking for an edge in a new administration.

"I built a lot of strong relationships with members, as well as their staff, and some of my very best friends worked on the campaign," Harrison said. He will start with the Podesta Group next week.

For some Republicans, this is bad news. Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Comcast have recently replaced Republicans in top corporate lobbying posts with Democrats. But most Republicans, especially prominent ones, profess little concern about Obama's desire to shake up the culture in Washington, or seem chastened by strict new rules aimed at weakening their influence.

"Barack Obama campaigned on change. Well, change is good for the lobbying business," said Ed Rogers, who was an aide to President Ronald Reagan and whose firm has represented such clients as Citigroup, Pfizer and Raytheon. "People will need the expertise and guidance more in the next year than they have in the last five."
Many of the issues Obama has expressed an interest in tackling early, such as health-care policy, energy and taxes, have broad implications for some of the lobbying w