Underworld Overworld II: Abramoff, DeLay and Bush

On October 23, 2005 I posted Underworld, Overworld.  I had completed reading my eighth or ninth book on the Mob and saw the intricate links of the underworld with the American political system:

It was fascinating to read about the structure and method of operation of the underground. Strategies and tactics used in the old world found effective results in America by immigrants and their sons.  Traditional practices of bribing public officials was the cornerstone of every operation. Money to look the other way, money to pass favorable laws, money to create islands exempt from traditional regulation, money to overlook prosecutions, money to buy elections that emanated from old world practices which were in some instances designed to protect the family from oppressive rulers, emperors and corrupt police.

If you look at the modern political landscape we see that the overworld has perfected these techniques, principally with legal campaign contributions. The money buys the same results. It no longer goes into the personal wallets of the governing, it now goes into their campaign committees.  The results are the same.

I was too generous or careless, in light of Abramoff, to conclude that, "it now goes into their campaign committees."  It goes into their campaign committees, their wallets, their friends wallets, and sometimes it is nothing less than freeloading on a grand scale.

I doubt that Bush took money.  The 'fronts' or the 'beards' were always kept clean.  In Chicago and Las Vegas, The Outfit always made sure that the operators who sat in the chair were never tainted or touched by those who bagged the money.

Bush got what he needed and delivered in return.  But there are no paper trails, money changing hands; no tapes; no videos.

The cash came from Abramoff to DeLay and the Congress was elected, and owned. Then the casino licenses were issued or revoked, the no bid contracts were awarded or rescinded.

Somewhere there is a smoking gun.

Comments

[Jim Rockingham]

Totaly agree Bush got what he needed and delivered in return with no paper trails or money changing hands.....

[Paul]

Thanks, Jim. I posted before the port deal but it seems that is one more example.