The * Administration & Gangsters/Mobsters: What are the parallels?

[checks-n-balances]

Tonight (after Countdown w/KO was over) I tuned into a show about Joe Valachi, who "ratted" out his Mafiosi/gangster "associates" and gave the American public its first inside glimpse of the underworld. There were film clips of this man testifying before Congress about his past criminal activity, all of which reminded me of Watergate. But it was more ironic when my thoughts turned to the present, wondering when - or if - Congress would ever do anything again to hold our political criminals accountable...

There have been countless discussions on DU about those in power in our country today and the rise of fascism in the late 1930's. I also find unmistakable parallels between Corporate/GOP/right wing power (personified by such characters as Rove, Abramoff, Scaife, etc.) and the rise of powerful "organized crime" which took hold during that same era in our history. Even though there are differences in origin (rooted in mostly poor first-generation city-dwellers vs. predominantly Southern WASPs with inherited wealth), there are still some some striking similarities.

Here are just a few words that could describe mobster types of yesterday and today:

LOYALTY
SECRECY
CORRUPTION
INFILTRATION
SURVEILLANCE (although surveillance is done BY the criminals today)
TORTURE
REVENGE

We could probably make a mile-long list to describe those who have been systematically robbing our country at a faster pace every day, and it would be great if some of them could be incorporated into Democratic talking points (they seem to need some help in this area)...

None of these thoughts are really new or groundbreaking, but please feel free to add your own words or thoughts or discussion in this thread.

(Edited to add a word)

[Erika]

1. The Sopranos endorsed Santorum on TV

That says something.

[Notoverit]

3. Carmela voted for W

[Ecumenist]

2. Murder Incorporated. eom

[checks-n-balances]

4. Yes - certain people should stay out of small airplanes

or small rowboats, with regard to William Casey (who died mysteriously just before he was supposed to testify about Iran/Contra's connection with the 1980 October Surprise)... Wasn't it a rowboat?

And who knows how many people have been "disappeared" into "extraordinary rendition"?

[Solo_in_MD]

5. Well the original ones certainly had better molls

[no_hypocrisy]

6. In General Smedley Darlington Butler's opus, "War Is A Racket", he

made a similar comparison. He said that all Al Capone could control was three rackets in three cities while big business using the U.S. military controlled more than three continents for their rackets.