News

Not long after the 9/11 attacks, lobbyist Howard Marlowe sought help for the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). A letter to Congress his firm helped prepare said that the economic fallout from the attacks paled “in comparison with the unspeakable human losses of that day,” but said that urgent action was nonetheless required—specifically, lavishing money on wealthy beach communities.

“Many national leaders have stated that increased tourism is imperative to the recovery of our economic strength,” the letter claimed.

And just as the lobbyist used terrorism to seek a competitive advantage for the ASBPA, Six Flags’ P.R. department yesterday put out a release that sought to capitalize on recession and high gas prices. While it doesn’t quite reach the comic-opera level of absurdity of Marlowe’s letter, it’s still a good read for a lazy Friday afternoon:

“I am reaching out to you to see if you would like to set up an interview with our CEO, Mark Shapiro. He can be available to discuss Six Flags and the economy.

“With high gas prices rising to over $4.00 or more, families are looking for fun and entertaining things to do with their families that are exciting, affordable and closer to home. Six Flags definitely meets those criteria. With over 21 parks across the US, Canada and Mexico, Six Flags is the ultimate entertainment destination with something for every member of the family from child, tween, teen and even parents! With a jaw-dropping ride or family-friendly attraction in every park this season, Six Flags is THE place to be for all things entertainment, fun and thrill-seeking for guests of all ages.

“To combat the current economy, we have also lowered prices at some of our parks across the US and Mark is able to speak to this as well. Many families will be searching for something to do with their friends and families, and Six Flags is definitely the “daycation” for them. Let me know if you are interested.”

At least there was no mention of those horrific commercials featuring an old man dancing.


Date Title
5/31/08 Audit finds Civil War battlefield group reimbursed twice
5/31/08 Bill moves forward in La. Legislature to kill pet projects
5/31/08 Rep. David Hobson steered federal money to projects near properties he owns
5/31/08 National, Chestnut among road closings
5/30/08 HUD MAY INVESTIGATE PB LOW-INCOME HOUSING WOES
5/30/08 Porked: Earmarks for Profit
5/30/08 Frost Farm supporters celebrate federal funding for preservation
5/30/08 Businessman guilty of duping investors, feds
5/30/08 IG: DOE contractor overspends on conference meals, booze, cigars
5/30/08 New COLAs for feds in Hawaii, Puerto Rico
5/30/08 Current record
5/30/08 Federal funds are paying for Tierra Verde sidewalks, bike trails
5/30/08 Ex-Kanjo ally raps legislator on Fox
5/30/08 Orr gives Congress the vapors
5/30/08 FDA Commissioner Issues Laminated Values Card to Address Low Morale at FDA
5/29/08 The price of a good time at political conventions: $500,000?
5/29/08 Losing DOT Bids Get Consolation Prize
5/29/08 Rybak pushes self-service bike program for commuters
5/29/08 Lincoln Hall renovation among projects in proposed $31 billion capital plan
5/29/08 Father's embrace of earmarks beneficial to candidate Hunter
5/28/08 Report: Billions in defense spending unchecked
5/28/08 Woodstock Museum Calls Aquarians (but Not McCain) Back to Farm
5/28/08 Arts advocates thank Laura Bush for her support
5/28/08 Audit: WHA improperly spent funds
5/28/08 Walkway work takes first step
5/28/08 A Message about the Senate Restaurants and Catering Services
5/28/08 Machining the Vote: A brief history of lever voting machines
5/28/08 New Ethics Law Still Doesn't Stop Congressional Freebies
5/27/08 Most Say Stimulus Had No Impact & Best Economic Policy is Getting Government Out of the Way
5/27/08 Taxes subsidize ghost housing
5/27/08 Aid on its way to salmon industry
5/27/08 Memorials help keep Clyburn in public eye
5/27/08 Lab director admits 'mistake,' returns some money
5/26/08 Male-Male Courtship Pattern Shaped By Emergence Of A New Gene In Fruit Flies
5/25/08 Housing authority rebuked by audit
5/25/08 Public-housing troubles spread statewide
5/24/08 Another speed bump for Route 11 project?
5/24/08 The bike path to nowhere
5/24/08 Federal funds for bike racks may go unused
5/23/08 At $4K each, K-9 imports draw howls
5/23/08 Records say Cunningham tapped ATMs at casino
5/23/08 Salmon Fishermen Reeling In Your Tax $$
5/23/08 Stones River Greenway expansion under way
5/23/08 Feds should cut fuel use, Senators say
5/22/08 Locals Aim To Save Neglected Park
5/22/08 Many former feds on Defense contractor payrolls, GAO finds
5/22/08 Report: DOD Cannot Fully Account For $7.8B Spent In Iraq
5/22/08 Dispute Over House Panel's Earmarks Puts Hunter At Odds With White House
5/22/08 McConnell feels the heat on earmarks
5/22/08 African AIDS treatment advocates could force a hold on PEPFAR bill among US Senators
5/22/08 FBI probes possible misuse of federal money in Saginaw
5/21/08 Audit balks at Canaan grants
5/21/08 Federal money to fund study
5/21/08 Station upgrades begin this summer
5/21/08 Alaska Sea Grant announces 2008–2010 projects
5/20/08 Ex-CFO of bankrupt Valhalla research center avoids prison in misuse of federal funds
5/20/08 JPD likely will forgo $12.5M in officer-salary grants
5/20/08 District releases response to TEA report
5/20/08 Fort Myers Beach council approves beach restoration, despite concerns
5/20/08 Not All Earmarks Are Paid in Full, and a Senator Wants to Know Why
5/20/08 Jury deliberates the fate of fuel developer
5/20/08 Panel nixes Bush order on earmarks
5/20/08 America's Best Days
5/19/08 Buckroe Beach will open to metal detectors again
5/19/08 Ocean Isle Beach receives best restored beach award
5/19/08 Who pays for home washouts? Convoluted federal insurance plan keeps PI owners guessing
5/19/08 Campus Notebook
5/19/08 Report: City spends 20% of grant funds
5/18/08 Maine's delegates seeking earmarks
5/17/08 House panel OKs making Defense Dept. pay for munitions cleanup on beaches
5/17/08 Palm Beach gets federal help for sand plant upgrade to aid beach, but fails to reconstruct Reach
5/17/08 'Phoenix' of whaling national park reopens
5/17/08 Mayoral Hopeful, an Earmark Critic, Has His Own
5/16/08 NSF funds research into how email chain letters spread
5/16/08 Beaches
5/16/08 Audit: CSU misspent millions
5/16/08 Renovation of Aquidneck Mill building under way
5/16/08 A fish story: McCaskill can't throw back earmark
5/16/08 Beaches in Ocean City will be ready for visitors
5/16/08 Crews begin shifting beach sand
5/16/08 Lobbyist Talks Beach Funding with Avalon, Recent Storm Causes More Need
5/16/08 RIC says 'thank you' to Cong. Kennedy
5/16/08 Farmers frustrated by farm bill's earmarks
5/16/08 USDA Jobs A Day At The Beach?
5/16/08 Independent estimate cuts cost of Census contract almost in half
5/16/08 $1.7 Billion In Katrina Grants Remain Unspent
5/15/08 Critics question whether money for rail in western Vermont is being well spent
5/15/08 Lobbyist Asks Local Business Leaders to Help Protect Beaches
5/15/08 Everett Road improvement project to add hike, bike lane
5/15/08 Sites in National Forests at Grave Risk, Study by Preservation Group Indicates
5/15/08 Shuttle may link hot spots
5/15/08 Metro Detroit greenway projects to split $1 million in federal funds
5/15/08 Debt Limit Increase Will Be Needed Before End of Year, Treasury Says
5/15/08 On tap in space: Urine will not go to waste
5/15/08 Farm bill full of pet causes backed by individual lawmakers
5/14/08 Big wheels to dedicate new bike center
5/14/08 Hurricane museum backers to seek bids
5/14/08 Andrews defends earmarks for wife's school
5/14/08 Fuel developer claims his research was legitimate
5/14/08 Scenic byway designation could help boost county tourism efforts
5/14/08 Congress' Approval Rating Ties Lowest in Gallup Records
5/14/08 Prof: Strong Local Networks Can Stop Unwanted Dams, Airports and Other Controversial Projects
5/13/08 Historical society receives $30,000 grant
5/13/08 Executives far less satisfied with pay, survey shows
5/13/08 Shiloh project hits bumps in the road
5/13/08 Dems, GOP together nix Murtha earmark
5/13/08 Not everyone's happy with Crow Creek Road upgrade
5/13/08 Big Bird and His Friends From Sesame Street Take Kids on an Incredible Journey Through the Sky in: One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure
5/13/08 Ex-Tech worker pleads guilty in credit card fraud
5/12/08 Bay State Bike Week comes to Wilmington
5/12/08 FBI partially blames procurement rules for fake IT products
5/12/08 Death rate in Malawi falls by up to 35% due to free HIV treatment
5/12/08 Feinstein Warns Cafeteria Prices Could Rise
5/11/08 ABC11 Investigates: Flood Money
5/11/08 5:17 p.m.: Alexandria lobbies for title and gospel attractions
5/11/08 New Rockaway ferry route to Wall Street awash in funding brouhaha
5/11/08 Agencies finalize Lake Tahoe bike path
5/10/08 Farm bill includes $2.5 billion for research
5/10/08 Dignitaries hail progress of agriculture showcase
5/10/08 Route may connect tourists to South Jersey
5/10/08 Route may connect tourists to South Jersey
5/9/08 Some CDC grant money unspent by Latino clinic
5/9/08 Get your brain wet at exhibit
5/9/08 U-M: US grant allow $320,000 restoration of Pompeii pictures
5/9/08 Methuen police chief fired; mayor says it's time to 'move on'
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5/9/08 Shelley Elementary students learn bike safety
5/9/08 Trail along Riverview Drive in Kalamazoo gets $1 million state grant
5/8/08 Machining the Vote: A brief history of lever voting machines
5/8/08 Railroad to be enhanced
5/8/08 Post office $700 million in the red
5/7/08 Methuen police chief fired; mayor says it's time to 'move on'
5/7/08 Public Works division moving to City-County Building
5/7/08 Federal inquiry draws in Police Chief Monroe
5/7/08 Clinton Sidesteps Chance To Send Earmark Provision To Floor
5/7/08 Young Proposes Higher Gas Taxes To Tamp Down Demand
5/6/08 STUDY: Nearly all babies born to mothers with HIV can be spared infection with treatment, yet 1,800 babies are infected with HIV each day
5/6/08 Earmark Mystery Solved
5/6/08 Report: Grants poorly handled
5/5/08 Maritime museum seeks funds for gunboat study
5/5/08 Time to end Metro's gravy train
5/5/08 Applications will be Accepted for the Federal Recreational Trails Program Grant
5/5/08 Defense firm to pay $9.5M for obstruction
5/5/08 National Science Foundation Awards Political Scientists $490,000 Grant to Research African-American Issues in Presidential Election
5/3/08 NASA employees big spenders on government credit
5/3/08 A New Moment for Aquarius
5/3/08 Trail funding lags behind demand
5/1/08 Poor people’s advocate may need a little help itself
5/1/08 Brush and tree clearing on Crow Creek Road draws ire of residents:
5/1/08 Missing pieces
5/1/08 A futile walk down Coconut Road?
5/1/08 Young defends road earmark for Florida
5/1/08 Congress must restore culture of oversight
5/1/08 Coburn: ‘States game Medicaid'
5/1/08 The Census Follies
5/1/08 Money for elections was spent properly, Iowans tell panel
5/1/08 Chris Hayes tells judge she was in charge of misused funds
5/1/08 Federal dollars fund projects in Round Rock
5/1/08 Federal funds target blight in southeast
5/1/08 Lawmakers being forced to give up gas-guzzling cars
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