"No Controlling Legal Authority"

This was the response of former Vice President Al Gore when it became 

known he was being investigated by the Obama Justice Dept in 2009
for  engaging in a felony of campaign finance laws, soliciting campaign 

contributions from his White House office.  

Although Gore's action took place while he was Vice President, the
Bush Justice Dept. never decided to prosecute even after his eight
in the presidency. Only after Obama was elected did the Justice Dept.
quickly end the investigation.

Why bring up "no controlling legal authority"​ two decades after Gore's solicitations were made?   

Only because Gore's defense came to mind as I was pondering who
actually governs our nation, is it the people we elect or the various 

unelected groups that populate Washington, DC.

With money as the common yardstick used, the five biggest spenders
wield a lot of influence starting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 
followed by the National Association of Realtors,  Blue Cross Blue Shield, 
the American Hospital Association and the Pharmaceutical Research  & Manufacturers of America. Rounding out the top 10 are the American 
Medical Association, Boeing, the National Association of Broadcasters, 
AT&T and Business Roundtable.

But, these major influence peddlers should not concern us as much as the

ones that do not spend as much money but have an even greater amount

of influence.

You may already know their names, as they are the most politically partisan groups, all have narrow agendas but a wide range of influence on legislation coming from Congress and regulations from the Executive branch.

The following are the few major, yet politically influential,  groups lobbying 
the people WE elect yet often "govern" to their satisfaction, and include the American Civil Liberties Union, National Rifle Association, Planned Parenthood, American Bar Association and Heritage Foundation.

What similarities do these obviously different groups share?  There are 
two that quickly come to mind.

First, all of them are powerful, conveniently have offices in our nation's 

capital, and influence the men and women we have elected to represent 

all the American people fairly and equally, not lean to partisan initiatives 

at the expense of the common interests of all citizens.

Second, none of them have the "controlling legal authority" Gore cited 

nearly a decade ago when defending financial improprieties. No member 
of these groups hold elected office, although many former members of 
Congress are quickly hired to work for them after retiring.

Nor do these groups have any legal authorization to write legislation or 
federal regulations despite the fact their "fingerprints" can be easily seen 
by anyone who looks to see.

Just something to think about.....

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