• Optional@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    “I’m convinced there are two people Putin pays; Rorabacher and Trump.” - future Speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy in 2016

    “Shhh! STFU!” - then-current Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

  • str82L @lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    For many of these politicians, based on their actions, they’re compromised, evil, stupid or insane. Quite possibly all the above.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Does the person blackmailing them have a name very similar to a popular Canadian dish made with french fries?

  • NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    US: We could easily destroy Russia in traditional warfare, we have the best weapons, we will never stop fighting them

    Russia: Here’s a suitcase full of money

    US: Oh, I love those! Never mind, do whatever you want

  • theodewere@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    compromised? JFC, they tried to overthrow the fucking government itself… they’re enemies outright…

  • edgemaster72@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Until lobbying is eliminated and campaign finance severely overhauled, assume they’re all compromised. It’s just a matter of who they’re bought and paid for.

  • BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca
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    11 months ago

    Given how little money it takes to sway the politicians votes I’m amazed it has taken this long

    I’m still all for crowd funding the buying of politicians votes at this point. The politician will think it’s some private benefactor or multinational patrolling them.

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Never. Putin doesn’t need the videos he has on Trump. Trump isn’t a victim of kompromat; he’s a fanboi. He’s betraying American democracy and doing Putin’s bidding simply because he wants to, not because he’s being coerced to!

  • zzzz@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    “Absolutely. And other powers. It doesn’t have to be foreign powers.”

    NSA has entered the chat.

    • Doesnotexist@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I trust the NSA a lot more than, for example, the Koch brothers, or some nameless billionaire none of us have heard of.

      I rich dick can do more damage than a bunch of government employees. Giant conspiracies just don’t exist.