Blackmail-how much of a part do you think it plays in politics?

[liveoaktx]

For example, Bush has a lot to lose if the full details of his involvement with the Saudis comes out, or perhaps his paid-for-abortion in Texas, or dealings with UAE-could UAE be putting the squeeze on him because he owes them so much money, done so many favors and there's a threat to spill beans if he doesn't?

I always thought that about Tom DeLay, that he has/had the goods on other Republicans and used blackmail as a threat to get his crap through. Or Duke Cunningham and the CIA involvement.

[boobooday]

1. A HUGE part

At least since the days of J. Edgar Hoover.

[leveymg]

2. You aren't allowed to play the game unless they have something on you.

You have to commit a serious crime before you're a "made man" in the Mafia. Works the same way in all organized crime networks.

Look at Chertoff, Gonzales, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Powell, etc. -- Poppy and Dubya are no exceptions. Even the First Lady killed her boyfriend and wasn't charged.

[im10ashus]

17. Well, we ALL probably have something that could embarrass us.

That's why I learned to laugh at myself. :-) It takes the pressure off.

All kidding aside, it's the way they use it against people that's so criminal to me. I would love to be the person that stands up and says "F*#k you and your posse. I couldn't care less what you use against me. I am voting my conscience."

But that would be an ideal world.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. With the republicans, it's blackmail aplenty.

I think that's the only thing that really holds these power-mongers together, is their mutual distrust of each other and their mutual ability to destroy one another. Which is why, I think, they felt it perfectly natural to have mutual-destruction with nukes capability with Russia - it's the only paradigm they know.

And you can see how they act whenever someone is no longer useful - they simply dump them, and practically deny their existence. There is NO loyalty in the republican party. They make it look like it, but it's all mutual fear of destruction.

And I'm sure the UAE and many in the mid-east have some awful crap they're holding over Fuckstick's head.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Major

that is the only way they can maintain their power and to control people. One of the major benefits from the Anthrax attack was access to all computers and materials at America Media and the Hart Office Building. They really 'cleaned up' on that one.

[BuyingThyme]

5. In Bush circles, 100%. It starts off with Skull & Bones masturbation

rituals, and takes off from there. (I'm not joking; this is the way it actually works.)

[KittyWampus]

8. yeah, but if you inform on a fellow S&B member about masturbating

that indicates you've done it as well.

[im10ashus]

6. I forget who said it.

But nothing in politics happens on accident. I think it was Roosevelt that said it. What we call blackmail they call business as usual.

[leveymg]

7. It was FDR. They may be murdering bastards, but they're our . . .PICS

bastards. Roosevelt said something similar about Somoza's father.

Blackmail and mass murder are business tools. What we call Crimes Against Humanity is just another day at the office.

There's a reason they hung that huge American flag in front of the NYSE. You know, what they say about "the last refuge of scoundrels" is true.

BEFORE


AFTER

[im10ashus]

9. "the last refuge of scoundrels"

I've always admired that quote. Not to sound too philosphical, but, another is “They deem him the worst enemy who tells them the truth.” It's always seemed an apt quote for politicians.

[leveymg]

13. Strip the thin patina of law & politics, and underneath it's all about

MONEY AND GUNS

[im10ashus]

14. Boys with toys. n/t

[KittyWampus]

10. Remember the GOP congresscritter who opposed the Medicare Bill

a while back? Think he was a dentist... older gentleman who held out and opposed it cause he knew it was bad. He finally got called into WH and came out CRYING and changed his position.

Bastards probably have pix of him with a woman or something.

[im10ashus]

12. Indeed I do.

I believe it was Dana Rohrabacher from California. He was opposed to treating "illegal immigrants" at the border. So much for the sanctity of life.

[electropop]

11. Anthrax.

It's how they rammed through the PieceOShit Act the first time, and proably how they did it this time. Think about it. The Senate leader has medical training and is known to be ruthless and a criminal.

[Octafish]

15. Blackmail is how things get done.

Watergate plumber and right-wing nutjob G Gordon Liddy, when he worked for the FBI, explained how b blackmail worked (Paraphrase from memory from a 1970s or 80s TV interview):

"Mr. Hoover would find out that a Congressman had had too much to drink and had gotten into an accident with his girlfriend. The next morning, Mr. Hoover would send me and another agent over to the Congressman's apartment. We'd knock on the door, identify ourselves and when he'd answer we'd tell him: 'Mr. Hoover is aware of the unfortunate accident last night. He wants you to know that he's doing everything in his power to keep it out of the press.' Of course, the Congressman would get the meaning right away. And when the FBI budget came up for review, that Congressman would vote for an increase. It worked every time."

Sorry, the only link is in my memory.

More on the subject:

J Edgar Hoover (Spartacus Schoolnet)

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhooverE.htm


J. Edgar Hoover With Supercomputers

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/01/05/j_edgar_hoover_with_supercomputers.php


Dirty Politics-- Hoover, Blackmail, Hemingway and Murder.

http://dirtypolitics.50megs.com/hoover.htm



Some (including me) believe J Edgar had the goods on Prescott Bush, Averell Harriman and the rest of the NAZI loving scumsuckers:

George W. Bush - Terrorist in the White House

DARK HISTORY
PAST EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE WORLD

http://www.nogw.com/dark_history.html

Of course, the CIA had the goods on the cross-dressing Hoover:


Know your BFEE: Corrupt Craftsmen Hoover and Dulles

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3908104

[rucky]

16. How much is the information worth to you? n/t