Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Dashle's withdrawal

It’s a two-sided knife and it cuts both ways. By the time you become an “insider”, you have consorted with too many people on both sides and your moral vision becomes blurred. You also have to trade too many favors and, in return, you get votes and contributions and sometimes perks that can be construed as “bribes” or just as a friendly gesture to someone you were friendly to. So Dashle was driven around by a driver for two years; a convenience offered by someone who wanted to be his friend and, of course, sooner or later, needed access or a favor. By being nice to so many people, and being forced to raise contributions regularly, a symbiotic relationship develops that sometimes is so close no one even recognizes it; it’s sort of just there. That’s why McCain has no moral compass, either, nor do most Senators or Representatives when they stick around too long. Obama appeaared to, but he’s learning how harsh the D.C. crowd can be (as harsh as Illinois, no doubt) because of the way the system works.