# Corrupt and Democratic corrupt.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [July 3, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153 "2015-07-03T18:11:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/1 "2015-07-03T18:11:57Z")
I swear if you wrote this as a screen play and took it to Hollywood, nobody would buy it because it just is too wild.
Friday the 13th? Makes sense
Harry Potter? Could happen
Battleship? Perfectly logical
[Leland](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Former-Sen-Leland-Yee-changes-plea-to-guilty-in-6360935.php) [Yee](http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article25986487.html)? Come on, get real. This could never happen.
This guy was one of the leaders in the gun control movement here in California. He was so anti-video game (won’t someone think of the children) his law got tossed out in a court challenge. He got an A+ from the Brady people.
So what you ask?
Read this from the Sacramento Bee article linked above
> [@](#):
>
> And he acknowledged offering to facilitate a multimillion-dollar arms deal for shoulder-fired missiles and automatic weapons with a source tied to Muslim rebel groups in the Philippines – a particularly bizarre and damaging allegation for the staunch gun-control advocate.
Let the irony of that sink in for just a minute. A gun control advocate selling RPGs. Of course he wanted to outlaw AR-15s, he didn’t want the competition. :eek:
Oh and a few other tidbits that make this the best story ever:
He was involved in this with a gang leader named, get this Shrimp Boy Chow.
The terrorists he was dealing with in the Philippines are named the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Yup he was involved with a MILF
For one of the funniest take on this story, read [Leland Yee Super Villian](http://monsterhunternation.com/2014/03/28/leland-yee-super-villain/).
> [@](#):
>
> If Yee had a machine that could control the weather he’d be a Batman villain…
> The rebels were actually called MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) So when you hear that a Green Beret bagged a MILF, it really could go either way.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/2 "2015-07-03T18:32:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> …So when you hear that a Green Beret bagged a MILF, it really could go either way…
Do we actually have any Green Berets operating against Islamic insurgents in the Philippines? Haven’t checked my hourly update, so I’m not quite sure. At any rate, that is the boffo punchline for the piece? Mmmm. 'K.
---
### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/3 "2015-07-03T18:33:45Z")
Leland Yee was in fact the picture of liberal respectability, and apparently all the time he was venally corrupt in a particularly hypocritical manner. I’m very glad that the FBI caught him (and the others in the case).
Does this undercut the validity of what he was trying to do legislatively? No it does not (if that stuff was wrong, it was wrong for other reasons).
Has anyone ever anywhere claimed that Democrats could not be corrupt? No, they have not. Is your title reference an attempt at “tu quoque” pushback? Yes, it seems to be.
Is it endemic corruption and hypocrisy that makes so many Republican candidates and platform planks objectionable? No, not primarily.
By the way, Mr. Chow is some sort of local gang leader, so it’s not surprising that he has a colorful nickname.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/4 "2015-07-03T18:43:12Z")
Did he name his son Puppy?
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/5 "2015-07-03T18:48:48Z")
How many Yees would you have to glue together to make a Cheney?
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/6 "2015-07-03T18:53:09Z")
> [@Rick](#):
>
> He was so anti-video game (won’t someone think of the children) his law got tossed out in a court challenge.
I don’t get it. If he had been less anti-video-game, would “his law” have been upheld?
---
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/7 "2015-07-03T19:19:28Z")
Wow, the OP seems positively giddy to have found this story. Glad your day has been made.
> [@Rick](#):
>
> I swear if you wrote this as a screen play and took it to Hollywood, nobody would buy it because it just is too wild.
>
> _Snip_
Yeah, I guess so, if one doesn’t read much about politics or see many movies. Sorry, seems like a rather ordinary and tawdry case of political corruption to me. What makes it so ‘wild’ to you? Is it the whiff of the exotic from the principals being of Asian descent?
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/8 "2015-07-03T19:32:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#):
>
> I don’t get it. If he had been less anti-video-game, would “his law” have been upheld?
well when your video game law violates the [first amendment](http://kotaku.com/5978958/leland-yee-who-wrote-unconstitutional-anti-game-law-tells-gamers-quiet-down) I think it is not much of stretch to say his law was just a bit over the top.
But hey, that’s just me. I think that people in the legislature should try to write laws that conform to the Constitution.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/9 "2015-07-03T19:33:59Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#):
>
> Wow, the OP seems positively giddy to have found this story. Glad your day has been made.
>
> Yeah, I guess so, if one doesn’t read much about politics or see many movies. Sorry, seems like a rather ordinary and tawdry case of political corruption to me. What makes it so ‘wild’ to you? Is it the whiff of the exotic from the principals being of Asian descent?
smuggling RPG working with Islamic militants? That doesn’t strike you as just a bit more out there than taking a kick back on a construction project?
---
### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/10 "2015-07-03T20:08:32Z")
Hey, I’m a democrat, and _I_ was positively giddy when they arrested this asshole. Yee was always an asshole and an embarrassment.
That being said, selling arms to terrorists isn’t “democratic” corrupt. That’s _Reagan_ corrupt.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/11 "2015-07-03T20:09:28Z")
> [@Rick](#):
>
> I swear if you wrote this as a screen play and took it to Hollywood, nobody would buy it because it just is too wild.
> Friday the 13th? Makes sense
> Harry Potter? Could happen
> Battleship? Perfectly logical
> [Leland](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Former-Sen-Leland-Yee-changes-plea-to-guilty-in-6360935.php) [Yee](http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article25986487.html)? Come on, get real. This could never happen.
>
> This guy was one of the leaders in the gun control movement here in California. He was so anti-video game (won’t someone think of the children) his law got tossed out in a court challenge. He got an A+ from the Brady people.
> So what you ask?
> Read this from the Sacramento Bee article linked above
> Let the irony of that sink in for just a minute. A gun control advocate selling RPGs. Of course he wanted to outlaw AR-15s, he didn’t want the competition. :eek:
> Oh and a few other tidbits that make this the best story ever:
> He was involved in this with a gang leader named, get this Shrimp Boy Chow.
> The terrorists he was dealing with in the Philippines are named the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Yup he was involved with a MILF
> For one of the funniest take on this story, read [Leland Yee Super Villian](http://monsterhunternation.com/2014/03/28/leland-yee-super-villain/).
Well, you sure got us.
Yup.
Corrupt Democrat.
And we will denounce & charge him.
That’s One for Democrats, and…what is it? 500 for Republicans?
BTW–when will you start admitting to yours, much less indicting them?
---
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/12 "2015-07-03T20:20:58Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> Hey, I’m a democrat, and _I_ was positively giddy when they arrested this asshole. Yee was always an asshole and an embarrassment.
>
> That being said, selling arms to terrorists isn’t “democratic” corrupt. That’s _Reagan_ corrupt.
That particular allegation isn’t very well explained in the articles cited by the OP, but the _SFGate_ article indicates Yee was ‘facilitating’ (whatever that may mean) the shipment of arms from the Philippines to the US, not the other way round.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/13 "2015-07-03T20:40:14Z")
I’m getting a bit giddy keeping track of the _tu quoques_.
> [@El\_Kabong](#):
>
> That particular allegation isn’t very well explained in the articles cited by the OP, but the _SFGate_ article indicates Yee was ‘facilitating’ (whatever that may mean) the shipment of arms from the Philippines to the US, not the other way round.
Well, that might keep him off the dais at the next Brady Center function. ☹
It’s a good story, at least as enjoyable as an evangelical church leader being caught buying sex and crystal meth from his masseur.
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### Author:  [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/14 "2015-07-03T21:04:41Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Do we actually have any Green Berets operating against Islamic insurgents in the Philippines? Haven’t checked my hourly update, so I’m not quite sure. At any rate, that is the boffo punchline for the piece? Mmmm. 'K.
It is a great ounchline. It’s less likely now than a couple months ago. Your hourly update failed for the 13 years JSOTF-P (Joint SPecial Operations Task Force - Phillipines) was in existence. That mission [recently ended.](http://news.usni.org/2015/02/27/u-s-officially-ends-special-operations-task-force-in-the-philippines-some-advisors-may-remain)
Some choice quote from the link:
> [@](#):
>
> Though the mission — begun in January of 2002 — put U.S. forces in largely an advisory role, 17 U.S. troops died as part of the mission, including 10 who perished in a 2002 helicopter crash.
>
> … while some of the personnel will return to their units, some will remain as part of foreign liaison elements, and continue to advise and assist Philippine counterterrorism efforts…
>
> “This represents a shift in focus for U.S. Special Operations Forces from advising and assisting at the small unit level to providing operational advice and assistance at higher levels…
The biggest cause of American dead was the crash that a quick search shows was at least reported to be on a training mission. That still leaves 7 more US dead unexplained. Likely we have bagged MILFs as part of advising and assisting at “the small unit level.” When you go out with your buddies chasing MILFs sometimes you bag the MILF yourself. The change is a shift towards just being the wingman now.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/15 "2015-07-03T21:16:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> I’m getting a bit giddy keeping track of the _tu quoques_.
If I also get giddy doing that, is that an _ego quoque_? And should that have been “keeping track of the _tu quoqui_”? 🙂
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/16 "2015-07-03T21:26:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> If I also get giddy doing that, is that an _ego quoque_? And should that have been “keeping track of the _tu quoqui_”? 🙂
Now, now, let’s be inclusive. _Nos quoque_.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/17 "2015-07-03T22:16:42Z")
I condemn him. But isn’t this old news? I swear we pitted this guy a long time ago.
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### Author:  [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/18 "2015-07-03T22:39:56Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> Hey, I’m a democrat, and _I_ was positively giddy when they arrested this asshole. Yee was always an asshole and an embarrassment.
>
> That being said, selling arms to terrorists isn’t “democratic” corrupt. That’s _Reagan_ corrupt.
Are you saying that Democrats underperform compared to Republicans?
😃
---
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/19 "2015-07-03T22:49:13Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#):
>
> I condemn him. But isn’t this old news? I swear we pitted this guy a long time ago.
He just [copped a plea.](http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_28415152/leland-yee-pleads-guilty-corruption-case?source=rss) It’s front page news in the Bay Area.
---
### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-and-democratic-corrupt/724153/20 "2015-07-04T00:12:58Z")
If I’m giddy anytime any politician gets pointed out as a two faced lying scumbag. The irony and schadenfreude is wonderful.
The predictability of the responses is also so much fun.
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> Does this undercut the validity of what he was trying to do legislatively? No it does not (if that stuff was wrong, it was wrong for other reasons).
Typical politician. Laws are for the small people. You can’t have an AR-15, but I’m going to bring RPGs into this country. Or to pick another California politician [Dianne Feinstein](http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2012/12/19/flashback-dianne-feinstein-s-own-conceal-carry-permit-story/). She had a concealed carry permit to defend herself when she felt threatened. She wants to keep me from doing the same if I feel threatened.
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> How many Yees would you have to glue together to make a Cheney?
Ah, the equivalency argument. Refresh my memory, how many felony convictions did VP Cheney get? He was arrested for what again? I forget.
> [@Miller](#):
>
> That being said, selling arms to terrorists isn’t “democratic” corrupt. That’s _Reagan_ corrupt.
So again, when was anyone in the Regan presidency caught smuggling RPGs into the United States?
> [@DinoR](#):
>
> It is a great ounchline. It’s less likely now than a couple months ago. Your hourly update failed for the 13 years JSOTF-P (Joint SPecial Operations Task Force - Phillipines) was in existence. That mission [recently ended.](http://news.usni.org/2015/02/27/u-s-officially-ends-special-operations-task-force-in-the-philippines-some-advisors-may-remain)
>
> Some choice quote from the link:
> The biggest cause of American dead was the crash that a quick search shows was at least reported to be on a training mission. That still leaves 7 more US dead unexplained. Likely we have bagged MILFs as part of advising and assisting at “the small unit level.” When you go out with your buddies chasing MILFs sometimes you bag the MILF yourself. The change is a shift towards just being the wingman now.
Since that comment was written in March of 2014 when Yee was arrested, it was timely and funny as hell. The double entendre is wonderful, but you have to have a sense of humor to appreciate it. I mean go back and read your sentence “When you go out with your buddies chasing MILFs sometimes you bag the MILF yourself.” I have to ask are you referring to at the bar or in the jungle? 🙂
> [@El\_Kabong](#):
>
> Is it the whiff of the exotic from the principals being of Asian descent?
Bingo!
**El Kabong** has nothing to say to refute what I posted, so he goes for the nuclear option and calls me a racist. Doesn’t matter if I am a racist or not, doesn’t matter if anything I posted is racist or not. He called me a racist, therefore I must be one. :dubious:
I swear some people around here are as predictable as the tides.
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