That sophisticated political observers outside the Beltway or even within, as in within sight of the Capitol itself, really don’t know how the game is played shouldn’t surprise one in our Twilight. Almost every lobbying firm worth its salt attends every possible fundraiser, cocktail party or speech of a senator or congressman who could theoretically cost shift billions of dollars for their industry. (The telecommunications and spectrum reform people, whom the Stiftung knows well, are especially skilled at this fine art). Moreover, that a lobbying firm would send a svelte blonde on its behalf is not only not particularly unusual, in some cases it might be malpractice. The entire Hill literally is a bee hive of the young and the psychologically/physically tempting. That’s the whole point.
Every lobbyist writes cheques, bundles cheques or performs other favors such as monitoring developments elsewhere. It simply is. The questions are two: did they have an affair (and that is a yawner to the Stiftung either way) or, and more importantly, did he cross the line and use his official position as a personal favor to her. It’s hard to describe for those who are not swimming in that sea. For example, as readers here are likely tired of hearing, we’ve worked closely with the Senator’s office and Committee Staff. The intertwining of substantive policy discussion, nuances of relationships, how they are formed, strengthened, the ballet of when calls are returned, all of these are the subtle art that can’t be outsourced to Bangalore just yet.
So it is not uncommon to be active on an issue before a Senator or his Committee staff and have them go in another direction (for hundreds and hundreds of different reasons). But it is the relationships that are ultimately important and the prize. There is always another day.
All of which is to say writing a letter to the FCC is a normal activity for any Senator or Congressman as we understand McCain’s letter. As to whether they had a tryst is known only to them and perhaps a few others. The story perhaps could start an infection if it is not stamped out quickly. McCain’s entire image is based on fundamental rectitude. Who knows what can spread from the smallest wound? If it is a three day story, as it looks like today, he’s out of the woods. We’ll just have to see.
Anon says
How ’bout these apples?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article3419840.ece
A Random Quote says
Richard Nixon’s Road to Miami
1. Must defeat Romney to gain winner image.
2. Test run against Romney and Reagen. Crucial.
3. Moderates’ territory. Warm up Shafer and Scranton.
4. Steer a safe course between Volpe and Brooke.
5. Pick up 22 safe delegates.
6. Head off take-over by Reaganites.
7. Talk Rhodes out of swinging to Rockefeller.
8. Best all comers to win 16 delegates.
9. Lose ground if defeated, but not out of the game.
10. Reaganland. Plant a few friends in the delegation.
11. Show interest in Love as possible V.P.
12. Leave it to Percy, but keep lines open to Dirkson.
13. The Establishment. Stay on speaking terms with Rocky, Javits, and Lindsey.
14. Keep delegation uncommitted.
15. Make peace between Evans and Goldwaterities.
16. Keep Tower from flirting with liberals to get V.P. nomination.
How Nixon Plans to Bring It Off
Fortune Magazine, 12-1967
A. James Reichley
A Random Quote says
“The government’s secrets are often quite ephemeral.”
~Lord Radcliffe
1962 report on state of British security
Comment says
Media Matters has missed some Tweetisms in the past few days – Just glancing misleading comments from Tweety that the nit pickers should pick up on. Tonight, once again, he tried to re-define what it was he “got in trouble” for with HRC. It was just passing BS when Mitchell and C. Todd were on. He implied, falsely, that he was getting in trouble for making comments about generic feelings or his habit of noticing things about Hillary. At a certain level, he probably has real problems distinguishing btw. abusive speech and critical speech. He’s having lots of women on to do the work for him.
Comment says
Baker misrepresents a bit – that missle shot the satellite several days after Michelle’s “adult lifetime” gaffe.
The casual Baker reader in the UK would get the impression that M.O. saw that missle hit, decideded she was not proud of it, and thought of her husband.
She probably would not put all that together even if she was thinking of it.
Anyway – from what we’ve heard about Michelle is that she is very much in her own world and very different than her husband psychologically. She is conservative and parochial – not in the contemporary political sense.
Comment says
Speaking of Schumer – there is some really funny footage of Schumer Schooming toward a camera on Youtube. It was clear that Schumer did not realize the he was visable on camera as he was rushing to it while his colleagues were speaking. So all you see is this dot in the distance rapidly emerging toward the camera – then suddenely you can make out Schumer and voila, he zooms in behind Nacny Pelosi. But he slows down in the last few feet to make it seem like he was not running.
Dr.LeoStrauss says
Larry,
My sense in general is that McCain is less tainted by the business as usual “when in Rome” syndrome. But he is a politician. He had been placing his people in Republican organs before 2000 — they’ve now been ruthlessly purged by the Warlord’s people. So he does know the game and plays it.
Regarding the less overt venality, our experience is he pretty far removed from it in one sense, but deep into in another. re the former, like all politicians, he likes to know where the players are, who has been “helpful” on other pieces of legislation important to his office, etc., where they stand on the donor list. His office and staffers traditionally honored loyalty, friendship and relationships across an issue — i.e., it was possible to agree to disagree on Bill X but work together like brothers on Bill Z at the same time. re the latter, the joke in Washington is getting between Chuck Schumer (Sen. NY) and a TV camera. McCain wouldn’t be so unseemly as rush to a camera, but his thirst for media approbation burns like the sun.
Dr.LeoStrauss says
This may give Obama too much credit — we don’t think he has a developed, coherent political philosophy at all, just an amalgam of notions, sentiments and possible suppressed anger at having to play the “non threatening . . .” stereotype. His wife is more emblematic of that.
None the less, Baker writes here as if Obama does have a Left ideology.
YMMV.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article3412540.ece
Comment says
We don’t think this will hurt McCain – It may net net in his favor and innoculate him from some charges later on. Unless solid proof comes that shows him being deceptive now.
LarryM says
It occurs to me that there is, perhaps, an underlying issue here. When we talk about “corruption” in Washington, we generally are talking about two different things: (1) corruption in the strong sense – law breaking, self dealing, etc. Then you have corruption in the weak sense – basically business as usual, glad handing, trading for (political favors), close relationships to lobbyists, etc. Now, I’m perfectly willing to believe that McCain isn’t corrupt in the strong sense – but then, as negative as my feelings are with regard to Washington politicians are, I’m willing to bet that, despite the recent wave of corruption charges, that most politicians aren’t corrupt in that sense. But McCain has a reputation of being above even the typical “business as usual” corruption (the kind of corruption that is inherent in the system, but is legal or on the borderline) that one finds in DC.
In your opinion, is there any real sense which this is true?
LarryM says
The story aside, I don’t begin to buy into McCain’s “fundamental rectitude.” Not a terribly original observation, perhaps – but the point of my comment is to ask you, with your more direct knowledge of McCain – do YOU think that McCain is, in that regard, any better than the typical Washington politician? Is there ANY validity to the “straight shooter” image? Because I just don’t see it.