What does "Washington insider" mean to you?

[ColbertWatcher]

We've heard the term bandied about by the GOP-controlled media so much in the past few years, but little discussion about what it actually means.

What does it mean to you?

What does someone have to do to be considered a "Washington insider?"

[ColbertWatcher]

1. For me it's a person who's career has centered around Washington, D.C. politics. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

11. I'm gonna add ...

... a career has centered around Washington, D.C. politics and be a "gatekeeper" to either a hugh chunk of money or a very powerful position, without virtue of being elected.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Lobbyist.

Or looking to become a lobbyist.
Or looking for a spouse to become a lobbyist.
Or looking for quid pro quo.
Or working for the man.

[BOSSHOG]

3. A term

used by many because they think the unwashed in "flyover" country think its a pejorative. Just another easily bandied about term used by those who give loyalty to a political party and not a nation.

Likewise when a politician tells me they are a "christian conservative with family values" I respond by telling them that means you think I'm a fucking idiot who can be very easily duped into voting for you.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. What % of politicians are working for your needs or wants?

Are those working against you insiders?
Are those working for you insiders?

[BOSSHOG]

10. I chuckle when I hear

some knucklehead like McCain blather on against Washington Insiders. Every elected official in Washington is literally an insider. And being such does not make a person bad or against my interests. On the other hand, I am a member of the fleet reserve association which LOBBIES on behalf of retired Sailors, Marines and Coasties as Washington Insiders and I wish them all the best in their endeavors.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. Funny, ain't it?

[endarkenment]

4. Agent of the Kleptocracy.

[stillcool]

6. Shadow Government...

not the bit players. I think of 'insiders', as those people we don't know. The one's with all the real power. I bet there's lots of layers to 'Washington Insiders', but most are on the outside looking in.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. "people we don't know" Good distinction. I added something like that to my reply above. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

7. A person who knows how the current dysfunctional system works.

The corporate media connotation depends on whether the subject is a Democrat or Republican, the emphasis can be subtly placed on either being adept or corrupt, depending on the corporate media motivation.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Capos, Bag-Men, Extortionists (usually from the Pentagon), crooks.

"Right here in this heart and home and fountain-head of lawyers, this great factory where are forged those rules that create good order and compel virtue and honesty in the other communities of the land, rascality achieves its highest perfection."

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."

Mark Twain

[KamaAina]

9. Tweety Matthews

he actually boasts about being a Washington insider at the beginning of the Tweety Chris Matthews Show!

[gravity]

13. Meaningless jargon

You use it when you have nothing else better to call your opponents.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Excellent point. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Think the first Prez.

Then think of of his wife.

It'll come to you.

[arcadian]

16. It's somebody who works for the Federal government when their party is in power.

And works as a lobbyist when they aren't. Some are political operatives some are bureaucrats.

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Nice. Very Poetic. Thank you for posting. n/t

[kentuck]

18. Andrea Mitchell

Is married to the former head of the FED. Knows everyone inside and out.

[kwassa]

20. Someone who can actually get something done

as opposed to the outsiders who think they change everything but can't once they get there.