Here's an email from a senior Democratic hill staffer to Josh Marshall of 'Talking Points Memo" that helps me clarify the difference between lobbying and 'effective lobbying'....
"Its not illegal to be lobbied, and hell, we couldn't do our jobs if we didn't interact with them. Legislation/regulation/oversight can't be done solely by Google research. What is illegal is to go out of your way, and use your position, as quid pro quo for gifts, jobs, and campaign contributions. The vast majority of Democratic staffers work on the Hill, despite the miserable pay and long hours, to try to achieve some measure of good. Many, many Republican staffers- convinced that government is an evil- work here in order to make money off that necessary evil. That breeds corruption. When you have a majority of members and staffers that could care less about policy ad governing and more about power/influence/money/profit Abramoff is inevitable. When the hard, tedious work of legislating and oversight is done by people motivated by careerism rather than professionalism not only do you have Abramoff, but you have Michael Brown, Halliburton, and illegal NSA wiretapping."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007656.php
I don't know if I buy the whole "Democrats good, Repulicans bad" but the results based on the motivations painted here ring true.
-UF
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