>>>>
>>>>Yeah, but telling the truth as in "I have no intention of raising your taxes" or even "I did not have sex with that woman" is on a different level from not reporting a blatant attempt by a foreign agent to bribe a congressman. Makes you wonder how many other people may have approached this guy (the FBI sting didn't approach everybody - so they may have had some idea who might play) that didn't get on tape because the approachers weren't Feds.
>>>
>>>Ok, yes. I have to concede the probable truth of that. I don't really know much about him, so I don't know what he might have been up to beforehand that might have put the FBI on his tail - unless they were just targeting randomly.
>>>
>>>>I have a pretty good instinct that if they had approached Dan Moynihan, Bobby Kennedy, Barry Goldwater, Orin Hatch, Al Gore (unless speaking Chinese), Rudy, Newt, and maybe even Teddy Kennedy it would have been a very different story. And Bill Clinton would have insisted they go through Hillary's brother, like everybody else.
>>>
>>>You might be right. But it's sad to feel sure about such a small handful out of the entire system. Don't forget to add Larry Pressler to your list - I'm pretty sure he'd turn it down (ain't hindsight great). The one that killed me was Pete Williams. Imagine arguing that he didn't really accept a bribe because the titanium stock he accepted turned out to be worthless. You gotta give him an 'A' for chutzpah.
>>
>>"I'm not a prostitute - the check bounced ! "
>>
>>Actually, I think there is a lot of quid pro quo in regard to campaign donations and access, but I suspect the legislator who is flat out bought for cash is the exception rather than the rule.
>>
>>But as PJ O'Rourke - our modern Mark Twain - has said "When legislation controls buying and selling the first thing bought and sold will be legislators."
>
>Mark Twain! Do they come from the same town or something?

Okay, O'Rourke is a better writer ;-) I really do think his stuff will be seen a hundred years from now the way we see Twain now. Have you read his books? Really remarkable stuff and Twain comes to mind immediately when you read All the Trouble in the World or Holidays in Hell I would love to teach a course in cultural history using O'Rourke, Tom Wolfe, Christopher Hitchens and Krauthammer. ( which would be convenient as they are all invited to my fantasy dinner party )