Comments on: Chicago-style politics hits Washington, D.C. UPDATED

By: Obama’s Obsession | If Bush Had Done That

Obama’s Obsession | If Bush Had Done That — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:20:44 +0000

[...] Bookworm Room » Chicago-style politics hits Washington, D.C. [...]

By: Mike Devx

Mike Devx — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:40:33 +0000

I would imagine that threats and intimidation are a fairly common part of the behind-the-scenes political process. LBJ was notorious for hard-ball, bare-knuckle politics. It ain’t all kumbayah, never has been.

But I still think that through most of our past, when government was fairly honorable, the threats and intimidation were based on legislation. ”You’ll vote for this, or you’ll never see another one of your bills pass on the floor.” And they traded votes on legislation: “I know you don’t have any interest in my bill, but if you’ll vote for it, I promise you I will support you on that Bill XYZ that you want so much.” Horse-trading was an honored tradition.

But these days they just buy each other off with money. Bribery, a la Landrieu’s Louisiana Purchase, or Nelson’s Cornhusker Kickback. So these days it is more and more about blackmail and bribery, it seems. No more gentlemanly (and gentlewomanly) horse-trading of votes. That is what is different, unsavory, and corrupt about the reptilian nature of our national government nowadays.

By: How to Kill the Golden Goose (Uncle Sam, this post is for you) | Tech Wankers

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:42:42 +0000

[...] Bookworm Room » Chicago-style politics hits Washington, D.C. [...]

By: Gringo

Gringo — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:29:15 +0000

Rahm: Are you going to tell me that a ballerina has no secrets?
My downstate Illinois grandfather had good reasons for despising Chicago politicians.

By: The Anchoress | A First Things Blog

The Anchoress | A First Things Blog — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:07:47 +0000

[...] UPDATE: The Chicago Way [...]

By: suek

suek — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:34:09 +0000

You know…I’ve wondered just exactly how Ms Pelosi managed to keep all those Dems so securely in line. I kind of suspected, but then it could just be “we won’t support you with money when you run again”… This is much more malignant, much more corrupt, and completely believable.

My question now is whether this will be a single shot that brings others out of the woodwork, or just the single shot of a political suicide…