Science fiction tales of human creations—be they machines or monsters—turning on their creators always describe the moment of epiphany when the creation gains self-awareness, a knowledge of themselves as being separate and apart from—and, upon reflection and consideration, superior to—their human creators. Either for humankind’s own good or simply for the good of our newly sentient creations, the only logical solution in their view is to use their overwhelming power and advantage to shape the future to their own vision of what’s best.

From Bellotti to Citizens United, Mary Shelly, Isaac Asimov and James Cameron would be horrified that facts have caught up with their fictions.

Placement agents would be subject to strict gift limits, campaign contribution prohibitions, and be prohibited from receiving compensation contingent upon any California public pension investment decision. The placement agents, their firms and employers would be required to report quarterly on their fees and compensation and on any honoraria or gifts.

Long a priority of the FBI and the Justice Department, efforts to police corrupt business payments have intensified in recent weeks, with multimillion-dollar corporate settlements and coordinated arrests of individual executives accused of attempting to grease the skids.

The proposed law would apply to any contact between lobbyists and any city and Redevelopment Agency officials and board members, including employees, unless they have a purely clerical or secretarial job.

Toyota’s lobbying is mentioned in this story about the company’s recalls.

The company has sought to sow good will and win allies with lobbying, charitable giving, racing in the American-as-apple pie NASCAR series and, perhaps most important, creating jobs.

The Post discusses lobbying on a Nantucket Sound wind farm here today.

Governor Paterson needs to negotiate with the Legislature to quickly come up with a stronger ethics reform package. Any law must have a requirement that all lawmakers — lawyers included — tell the public exactly how they earn their outside income.

Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda.

Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

The Slate’s

The man to credit—or to blame—is Republican media consultant Fred Davis, the closest thing political advertising has to an auteur.