I agree with all of that. I see the US with more of a "power behind the throne" type power structure at the top. People pulling the strings who find it's more effective to select zealous, attractive, young, ideologically driven upper-middle class people who share their opinions and support their campaigns. That's more successful than trying to gain those positions themselves and fill their lives with all the scrutiny and tedium that comes along with them. They exercise power by playing the role of king-maker, and that's why I think those sorts of people would be in charge of any kind of pay-for-play or political-appointments-for-sale type scheme.
Nations with a history of chaos and disorder donn't have any "king-maker" types, so they become ruled by "strong man" type leaders who lift themselves into power and rule with both ideological zeal and corruption. I think that's the type you're talking about, someone like Putin. Africa, the middle east, central and South America tend to have a lot of these types. The clintons seem to act like strong-men, and they use strong-man tactics, but they must have the cover and protection of king-maker types because otherwise the clintons would have figuratively been driven out to the corn field and beaten to death with baseball bats by now.
That's true and I totally appreciate that, I really do. If I were to build a pay-to-play system of corruption, the last thing I would want to do would.be to have some kind of record where someone officially declares their involvement in that scheme, or formally outlines what benefits will be acquired in exchange for what payment.
These are illegal transactions that can be sealed with a handshake and can't be enforced except through threats. Drug kingpins don't have signed contracts formalizing their relationships with manufacturers and distributors.
Pretty sure they got that stuff already, but the Republicans probably tried to talk about how to get rid of Trump and he won... sooo... waste of time to show the emails.
Pay to play references corruption so it doesn't make sense to put it on paper with a "corruption letter" since it would create incriminating evidence unnecessarily. I would expect that this has some kind of specific meaning within the context of that conversation, though I don't know what it might be.
It's not like you can take the DNC to court with your pay to play letter if they don't fulfill their side of the deal so I can't imagine what purpose it could serve if it's talking about receiving a bribe.
The letter is threat..i gave you this money. Do what i say in this letter or arrange a face to face OR 5 times this much money will go to your competition.
I kind of agree. At the same time, will they really use that particular phrase for anything else, unnecessarily risking the chance that it might get misconstrued at some point? So, since they used it anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if they really meant "pay to play" as we understand it. These are arrogant people with an "above the law" mind set, who often act recklessly because they are used to getting the pass.
PM_ME_UR_NOODZ ago
I agree with all of that. I see the US with more of a "power behind the throne" type power structure at the top. People pulling the strings who find it's more effective to select zealous, attractive, young, ideologically driven upper-middle class people who share their opinions and support their campaigns. That's more successful than trying to gain those positions themselves and fill their lives with all the scrutiny and tedium that comes along with them. They exercise power by playing the role of king-maker, and that's why I think those sorts of people would be in charge of any kind of pay-for-play or political-appointments-for-sale type scheme.
Nations with a history of chaos and disorder donn't have any "king-maker" types, so they become ruled by "strong man" type leaders who lift themselves into power and rule with both ideological zeal and corruption. I think that's the type you're talking about, someone like Putin. Africa, the middle east, central and South America tend to have a lot of these types. The clintons seem to act like strong-men, and they use strong-man tactics, but they must have the cover and protection of king-maker types because otherwise the clintons would have figuratively been driven out to the corn field and beaten to death with baseball bats by now.
PM_ME_UR_NOODZ ago
That's true and I totally appreciate that, I really do. If I were to build a pay-to-play system of corruption, the last thing I would want to do would.be to have some kind of record where someone officially declares their involvement in that scheme, or formally outlines what benefits will be acquired in exchange for what payment.
These are illegal transactions that can be sealed with a handshake and can't be enforced except through threats. Drug kingpins don't have signed contracts formalizing their relationships with manufacturers and distributors.
PM_ME_UR_NOODZ ago
Oh lordy, my pride is so damaged!
dickbutt ago
pay to play letters.
funny name, serious SEC codification. the RNC has these procedures also.
https://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/pay-to-play-faq.htm
bdmthrfkr ago
Holy shiiit.
Thank the Lord that the Republican Party at least has decent email security procedures, I would hate to lose all faith in my Government!
TimberWolfAlpha ago
You have faith in the government? You poor fool.
Philosopher_King ago
Pretty sure they got that stuff already, but the Republicans probably tried to talk about how to get rid of Trump and he won... sooo... waste of time to show the emails.
PM_ME_UR_NOODZ ago
Pay to play references corruption so it doesn't make sense to put it on paper with a "corruption letter" since it would create incriminating evidence unnecessarily. I would expect that this has some kind of specific meaning within the context of that conversation, though I don't know what it might be.
It's not like you can take the DNC to court with your pay to play letter if they don't fulfill their side of the deal so I can't imagine what purpose it could serve if it's talking about receiving a bribe.
0fsgivin ago
The letter is threat..i gave you this money. Do what i say in this letter or arrange a face to face OR 5 times this much money will go to your competition.
StateOfMind ago
I kind of agree. At the same time, will they really use that particular phrase for anything else, unnecessarily risking the chance that it might get misconstrued at some point? So, since they used it anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if they really meant "pay to play" as we understand it. These are arrogant people with an "above the law" mind set, who often act recklessly because they are used to getting the pass.
Wolfspider ago
I wonder when the dems are going to start saying these emails are fake or edited - they already said the next leak would be edited over a month ago.