>>He's a lawyer and legislator which means he can talk a good game, but he doesn't know how to play. The country's almost broke and he's sending money to Pakistan, most of which will end up in politicians pockets. The least he could do is demand Bin Laden, his Egyptian buddy and Mulla Omar be turned over to the U.S. before he sends the cash.
>
>Once upon a time I read a definition of an honest politician: "once bought, he remains bought".
>
>The main purpose of money sent to such countries is to buy off their politicians so they'd be pliant and do as they're told. Obviously, you don't want a scenario like "sorry, we can't take the money, we have no idea where bin Laden is, we'll get our money from someone else" to cause political instability in the region.

The best American book about politics ever written (and one of the best American novels period IMO) is "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren. The main character, Willie Stark, is very thinly based on the career and life of Huey Long. One of the most memorable experiences of my stay in Baton Rouge last year was visiting the state capitol, a truly magnificent building. Huey had it built and was assassinated in it three years later. It's an opulent old building, not modern at all. It gives you a chill to walk through it, taking the creaky old elevator up to the top (tallest capitol in the U.S.) and looking out over Baton Rouge and the Mississippi. What I did not know was that he is buried on the grounds. Right next to a huge statue of him -- of course. Every man a king. He was as corrupt as the day is long but he did some significant things to improve the lives of the have-nots of Louisiana.

It has been made into a movie at least twice, once starring Broderick Crawford -- that one won Best Picture -- and again starring Sean Penn.

I miss college sometimes --

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/warren0408.htm