Janine Wedel - Unaccountable - How Elite Power Brokers Corrupt Our Finances, Freedom, and Security

101. Ibid.

102. Ibid.

103. Ibid.

104. Russell Gold and Stephen Power, “Oil Regulator Ceded Oversight to Drillers.” Wall Street Journal, May 7, 2010 (http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704370704575228512237747070?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704370704575228512237747070.html).

105. Juliet Eilperin, “U.S. exempted BP’s Gulf of Mexico drilling from environmental impact study.” Washington Post , May 5, 2010 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/04/AR2010050404118.html).

106. Ibid.

107. Russell Gold and Stephen Power, “Oil Regulator Ceded Oversight to Drillers.” Wall Street Journal , May 7, 2010 (http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704370704575228512237747070?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2Fb SB10001424052748704370704575228512237747070.html).

108. Ibid.

109. Michael Isikoff, “How BP Works Washington.” Newsweek, May 6, 2010 (http://www.newsweek.com/how-bp-works-washington-72727).

110. Sources: Dan Eggen, “BP is getting more political, and that may help weather oil-spill storm.” Washington Post, May 6, 2010 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/05/AR2010050504804.html); Michael Isikoff, “How BP Works Washington.” Newsweek, May 6, 2010 (http://www.newsweek.com/how-bp-works-washington-72727); and “Former Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell to Discuss World Hot Spots, State of Congress at National Press Club Newsmaker Tues. March 4 10 AM.” PR Newswire, February 25, 2014 (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-senate-majority-leader-us-special-envoy-george-mitchell-to-discuss-world-hot-spots-state-of-congress-at-national-press-club-newsmaker-tues-march-4-10am-247133101.html and http://news.psu.edu/story/296327/2013/11/22/administration/mitchell-commends-university-leaders-athletics-integrity).

111. Isikoff, op. cit.

112. According to the http://www.boemre.gov/ website, “On October 1, 2011, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), formerly the Minerals Management Service (MMS), was replaced by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) as part of a major reorganization” (http://www.boemre.gov/).

CHAPTER 7

1. James McGann of the University of Pennsylvania conducts an annual survey of think tanks. See: James McGann, “2013 Global Go-To Think Tank Index Report.” Think Tank and Civil Societies Program, International Relations Program, University of Pennsylvania (http://gotothinktank.com/dev1/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/GoToReport2013.pdf).

2. McGann’s survey shows that think-tank creation exploded especially in the decade following the end of the Cold War (1991-2000); the rate of increase has slowed down since. James McGann, “2007 Global Go-To Think Tank Index Report.” Think Tank and Civil Societies Program, International Relations Program, University of Pennsylvania, p. 5 (http://www.thinktankdirectory.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/mcgann_2007_the-global-go-to-think-tanks.pdf).

3. According to the 2013 Global Go-To Think Tank Index, there are 6,826 think tanks in the world, of which 1,828 are in the United States. The largest concentration of think tanks is in the nation’s capital (395), followed by Massachusetts (176). The 2012 Global Go-To Think Tank Index notes that 31 percent of think tanks in the United States were created between 1981 and 1990 (James G. McGann, “2013 Global Go-To Think Tank Index.” Think Tank and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania, January 22, 2014; James G. McGann, “2012 Global Go-To Think Tank Index.” Think Tank and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania, January 28, 2013.)

4. Bryan Bender, “Many D.C. think tanks now players in partisan wars.” Boston Globe, August 11, 2013 (http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/08/10/brain-trust-for-sale-the-growing-footprint-washington-think-tank-industrial-complex/7ZifHfrLPlbz0bSeVOZHdI/story.html).

5. “The Corruption of Think Tanks.” JPRI Critique , vol. 10, no. 2, 2003 (http://www.jpri.org/publications/critiques/critique_X_2.html).

6. Brookings, “Brookings Institution History.” Brookings Institution (http://www.brookings.edu/about/history).

7. One effect of this blurring, Medvetz writes, is that think tanks become a place where elites can “shop for policy expertise to support their pre-held views.” Thomas Medvetz, Think Tanks in America . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012, p. 179.

8. Ibid., book jacket.

9. Ibid., p. 179.

10. Donald E. Abelson, “Old world, new world: the evolution and influence of foreign affairs think-tanks.” International Affairs, vol. 90, issue 1, January 2014, pp. 125-142 (http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/International%20Affairs/2014/90_1/INTA90_1_08_Abelson.pdf).

11. The New York Times notes: “The job switch should have substantial financial benefits for Mr. DeMint, whose 2010 net worth, $65,000, was among the lowest in the Senate. Edwin J. Feulner, the current head of the foundation, in 2010 earned $1,098,612 in total compensation.” Jennifer Steinhauer, “Tea Party Hero is Leaving the Senate for a New Pulpit.” New York Times, December 6, 2012 (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/us/politics/jim-demint-to-leave-senate-to-run-heritage-foundation.html?_r=0)

12. Ibid.; Bryan Bender, “Many D.C. think tanks now players in partisan wars.” Boston Globe, August 11, 2013 (http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/08/10/brain-trust-for-sale-the-growing-footprint-washington-think-tank-industrial-complex/7ZifHfrLPlbz0bSeVOZHdI/story.html).

13. See http://www.alternet.org/story/75950/’third_way’_think_tank_pushes_telecom_agenda_on_fisa_bill.

14. Jon Cowan and Jim Kessler, “Cowan and Kessler: Economic Populism Is a Dead End for Democrats.” Wall Street Journal, December 2, 2013 (http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304337404579213923151169790).

15. Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren, “Letter to Jamie Dimon, Brian T. Moynihan, Michael L. Corbat, John G. Stumpf, Lloyd C. Blankfein, and James P. Gorman,” December 4, 2013 (http://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/Letter%20from%20Elizabeth%20Warren%2012-4-2013.pdf).

16. Lee Fang, “Third Way: ‘Majority of Our Financial Support’ from Wall Street, Business Executives.” The Nation, December 11, 2013 (http://www.thenation.com/blog/177569/third-way-majority-our-financial-support-wall-street-business-executives#).

17. Lee Fang, “GOP Donors and K Street Fuel Third Way’s Advice for the Democratic Party.” The Nation, December 3, 2013 (http://www.thenation.com/blog/177437/gop-donors-and-k-street-fuel-third-ways-advice-democratic-party).

For background on the lobbying activities of Peck Madigan, Jones & Stewart, see OpenSecrets.org, “Lobbying Spending Database: Peck Madigan Jones.” Center for Responsive Politics (http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000034920&year=2013).

18. Lee Fang, “Third Way,” op. cit.

19. Ryan Grim, “Third Way Memo on Public Health Care Stirs Progressive Outrage.” Huffington Post , July 9, 2009 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/08/third-ways-anti-public-he_n_212816.html).

20. “Matt Renner | Telecom Group Key Player in Immunity Battle.” Truthout, January 31, 2008 (http://www.truth-out.org/archive/item/76005:matt-renner--telecom-group-key-player-in-immunity-battle).

21. Eric Lichtblau and Scott Shane, “Companies Seeking Immunity Donate to Senator.” New York Times, October 23, 2007 (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/washington/23nsa.html?_r=0).