What's the Going Rate for Bribing a Politician these days?

[Philosoraptor]

I wonder what dollar amount is required to buy or rent a senator or congressman in the same way that lobbyists do? How small can a small interest group be, and what's the Minimum Bribe to curry influence?

This is afterall how its done, its how you do it, you hand them money, they curry favor, that's how its did.

You can write them, call them and leave messages, you can even vote for them and walk around your community meeting people for them and they wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire, but, simply meet with them, hand them the minimum required bribe, and statement of your desires, and shake their hands and leave, knowing you have finally gotten someone in our government to realize you are alive, and represent you.

Wouldn't it just be simpler and quicker to take the direct approach, ask them their price, take up a collection and pay the man? Think of all the time we'd save voting, and campaigning and debating and yelling and simply pay it openly?

Christian Conservatives do it, Energy Companies do it, hundreds of evil special interest groups do it, let's do it, let's bribe the man.

[bluerum]

1. Ha ha - reminds me of a cartoon I saw once - if anyone can find it

I would be more than amazed.

But this is what it was about:

A picture of a mechanic was working on a car on a lift - hands buried in the cars' underwokings. The worried owner fretted nearby when the mechanic said, "Here is the problem! You have too much money in your checking account."

[elehhhhna]

2. Duke had a "menu" Google "duke bribe menu"

[yorgatron]

3. a billion here,a billion there,pretty soon you're talking about real money

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Duke_bribe_menu.jpg

[Karmakaze]

4. Related question re campaign finance....

Say a person runs for Governor. Say that person really has no chance of winning because they were involved in what looks to be illegal manipulation of election results during a Presidential election. Say the President who was "elected" because of these manipulations then organises a series of payments amounting to nearly 1 and 1/2 million dollars that are donated to said person's campaign fund.

Now tell me, what happens if said person doesn't spend all the money? Do they get to keep it? What if they don't win and decide never to run for office again?

Hypothetically speaking, if they do get to keep the money, couldn't this be used to disguise a bribe for the election manipulations and keeping their mouth shut?

I asked this once before but the thread I asked it on died and I never got an aswer. Do candidates keep the money donated to them if they don't spend it during the campaign and they lose?

[Jacobin]

5. If you go to Opensecrets.com

It'll tell you.

I'm always amazed at how cheap our congresswhores are given the amounts of money that a small bribe can generate in favorable legislation.

I've often thought that DU should start a People's PAC and we could each put up $25 a month or whatever and send in a *cough* contribution to congresscritters on the edge of a voting issue where we needed a couple more votes to get something done.

When it comes to blowing up Iran and starting WWIII, which is the Next Big Thing on the agenda, methinks we would be talking about way more money, though

[porphyrian]

6. There are already lobbying companies in DC you can hire...

...to do all the work for you. Of course, that means even more money you have to raise, but the access and familiar-face thing pay off in the long run.

[Philosoraptor]

7. looking for one dishonest man

[Philosoraptor]

8. ...

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