In Rahm's playbook, the purpose of political power is...

simply power for its own sake. Rahm has no commitment to ideology or values, except as a veil behind which to hide his Realpolitik. I believe he is totally cynical. That's why the progressives are "fucking retards"--they would allow their commitment to humanitarian ends stand in the way of Rahm's power games.

Take health care "reform" as a case in point. To Rahm, the whole deal is about satisfying the insurance companies by passing a bill that pumps money into them, while chalking up a "reform" bill on the score card to satisfy the rubes, who presumably won't notice that they just got very little of what they were promised. That will lead to the best of all possible worlds--happy insurance companies that keep the contributions flowing, and deluded peasant who keep the votes coming. Any policy that involves actual meaningful reform can only get in the way of a perfect system like that.

That's your Washington representatives at work. Keep the deals and money flowing, and win the next election. If you pause to try and effect change you get rolled.

Glad they get 6 figure salaries and great health care to "represent" me.

That's destruction. Power is creation. Any idiot can destroy things and people. It takes real power to save them, help them prosper and grow.

... what's behind that blind, values-free rush to power?

The sheer intoxication of power?
The "football game" of winning?
Plain ol' Mexican-style corruption?
The Family?

I spend hours trying to imagine what dialogs and inner thoughts produces the counter-productive behavior of a Rahm?

Why do Democrats slowly enact Republican priorities? Ever since Jimmy Carter?

It could be as simple as the fact that no one like you or me, J-Rad has been in the room for many decades. It's all millionaires - and mostly the type who's "work" in life has been opening the envelopes that the checks arrive in.

They fear that if you or I get one. single. benefit...... one. single. victory......... that the flood gates fly open and all that gamed-up wealth washes away in an instant.

I am just speculating of course. In an un-kind way.

But what else can we do when Democrats are secret Republicans?

:dem:

-Laelth

You are exactly right about Rahm, IMO.

Rec.

This will get read.

It's a blood sport to them, but they're playing with OUR blood.