My introduction to the news site Politico came in being handed some of its articles for our newspaper to republish. The problem was in refitting them to our available space – they were way, way too long, and very difficult to distill. For the record, I love long, closely reasoned reports, even though I’ve also been an avid briefs fan for much of the daily news budget.

From the pieces our publisher had selected, I perceived an underlying leaning to the Republican establishment. Still, having such connections can allow access to unique insights and information. I’ll listen, as long as it’s grounded in fact.

More recently, I was surprised to learn that the organization includes not just the oft-quoted Politico.com website, either, but is more crucially built upon a Capitol Hill newspaper that is published anywhere from once a week to five times weekly, depending on the political insider news happening. (Oh, how I love that flexibility. Just imagine being free to say, “Let’s hold off another day.”)

As we sink into the big money at play in the ongoing Republican presidential primary season – and the congressional and statewide elections to follow – Politico’s investigations into the billionaire Koch brothers, Charles and David, become especially intriguing. I’d thought, as conservatives, they’d all be in the same camp.

Instead, Politico is ruthlessly on their trail. It makes for some fascinating – and frightening – reading.

For some of the latest, click here.

Bribery is corruption. And that’s what we have in big-money political donations. Yes, it’s for a campaign. But it’s no “donation.” They’ll want their money back, in spades. From the public purse.

At least Donald Trump is admitting as much. As for the others? Follow the money, if you can.

For some of the latest, click here.

How can we have political equality when one voice can pay to drown out all others? Or buy off all the candidates?

The flood of campaign spending from the super-rich has already corrupted our democracy. At what point does it destroy it?

Conservatives like to quote Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Now it’s time to look in the mirror.

Repeal Citizens United.

One way or other.

For some of the latest, click here.

Not just big government – big business, too.

And, for the record, the labor movement’s anything but big anymore.

So where’s the balance?

For some of the latest, click here.

When it comes to the cloud over Hillary Clinton’s emails, a natural question would ask, “What was she thinking?”

In light of serious Wikileaks involving other diplomatic matters, I wouldn’t be surprised if she feared the official site would be compromised, targeted, already hacked, or simply betrayed by a disgruntled employee. Confidentiality, like it or not, is part of international diplomatic maneuvering.

Hillary learned early that not even the White House was safe from intrusions by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, who somehow left notes on the guest room pillows.

You’re not paranoid if there’s a reasonable expectation of attack. Had somebody suggested to her to go another route? It could have been viewed as prudent, perhaps.

Just a hunch. We’ll see.

When it comes to Bernie Sanders’ chances in a national election, much discussion seems to revolve around his self-proclaimed “socialist” identity. The critics say it would repulse most voters in the heartland – and that’s why he wouldn’t get far on the road to the White House.

While he wouldn’t be the coalition builder Hillary Clinton embodies, I’m not so sure Bernie’s really a socialist. But as I look at his positions, the label I see is “hippie.” Or as I’ve been arguing, hippies came – and still come – in all varieties, few of them fitting the mass-media stereotypes. Bernie could have been living down the dorm hall from me, or even in the rundown apartments we rented.

Early in the race, his rallies did look like hippie reunion time. All we needed was the right band to dance to. And now? It’s a youth movement, ripe for the Revolution of Peace & Love.

At least our alternative isn’t another Hubert Humphrey, rest his soul. No, I suspect Hillary was also a hippie – one of the intense ones of the activist sort.

And both with something resembling a social conscience.

Trying to define exactly where Donald J. Trump stands politically brings up a reminder of his hand in the casino business. The roulette wheel goes round and round before eventually landing somewhere.

Maybe somebody wins, but a lot more lose.

And the house always profits.

No wonder I’m getting dizzy!

Just what’s his game, anyway?

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”

Maj. Gen. Smedley Darlington Butler, USMC
— from War Is a Racket

 

Donald Trump seems to believe he deserves the White House just because he was born here. Meaning, well, somewhere in the upper crust.

That’s not how it works.

Just ask anyone who’s had to work his or her way up through a company, rather than be born to its owners.

~*~

But what about Jeb Bush? Strange you should ask.