Its the perks. Elected office is power, and power is usually rich, but rich is always power. So the guy who isn’t rich hangs out with, socializes with, makes friends with other powerful people. Who are usually rich. So he adapts to a new paradigm, accustomed to the exceptional treatment and deference he so richly deserves.
After a while, they stop noticing that they take more limos than cabs. That they can’t remember last time they stopped off to grab a quart of milk and some peanut butter. But that isn’t payment, those are perks. Having friends who can loan you a private jet or toss you a week in Vegas, that’s a perk too. Impressing the shit out of your wife - priceless…
Besides, what Republican wouldn’t want to help advance a bright young man with a good head on his shoulders and a sound, sober approach to the issues of the day. But that isn’t bribery, that’s civic virtue! People who can open doors for a bright young man, and if no door is available, build one.
An interesting look at Sen Rubio’s, ah, permanent record. If you can’t know for sure why a man works, its almost as good to know who he works for. See Corn Pone Opinions, Mark Twain, for a more detailed socio-political analysis.
I don’t know why you would hold Marco Rubio, of all people, to a higher standard than any other politician in terms of expensing business trips. The Politico analysis said Rubio expensed overall quite a bit less than those who followed him in office.
Most seem to agree that while Rubio was perhaps naïve and sloppy in handling his expenses, he didn’t steal or abuse.
What data are you using to compare my standard for Rubio with my standard for any other politician? You must have found some earlier posts of mine on this topic and are comparing them with this thread I’m assuming? Or else you are just inventing this accusation of hypocrisy out of thin air? Let me know where you got that idea so I can try to address that.
I’m actually just remarking about this particular case due to your defense about the 30% he so graciously contributed to his lavish week in Vegas on other peoples credit. I just think its odd for a Republican who is ostensibly all about fiscal responsibility and proper stewardship of the peoples money to be so cavalier about it when its his turn to take advantage of somebody else’s credit. But I guess that fiscal responsibility thing is what other people are supposed to do, not our man Marco. What did you mean by “of all people” anyway? Is he supposedly above reproach for some reason when it comes to matters such as these? What sets him apart?
Pretty sure he’d been designated the next Speaker by then (due to FL’s term limits), or at least was on the very short list. It’s not at all implausible that Adelson would have known who he was.
…makes sense if you read the Politico article that I mentioned. I’ll summarize.
Richard Corcoran, also a Republican, is about to be sworn in as House speaker. This puts him in exactly the same position as 05-06 Rubio, having clinched the speakership but not yet sworn in. Rubio, and now Corcoran, led House campaigns before being sworn in, so you expect some travel expenses. Rubio expensed $65k in 2 years. Corcoran expensed $335k in the last quarter.