# The prosecution of Bob McDonnell is a distraction **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528 "2014-09-04T22:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/1 "2014-09-04T22:31:18Z")
This bothers me, they throw small potatoes at us and expect us to be impressed. This countries political system is totally corroded with plutocracy, oligarchy, businessmen running things, private interests writing laws that will regulate them, etc. And nothing meaningful is being done about that. Instead they go after governors who collude with supplement manufacturers. Same with Rick Perry. I personally didn’t find what he did to be a big deal compared to other abuses of power in this country (excusing torture, massive surveillance). In about 20 states it is illegal for the state or cities to set up municipal broadband to compete with private companies. The ex head of the FCC went to work for private industry. Nobody from the financial industry was really held accountable for their crimes. Studies have found the US is an oligarchy now, not a democracy. Ex-politicians and public figures get offered jobs by companies they were responsible for regulating when they were politicians and public figures all the time. That is one of the reasons for the 2007 economic collapse. All the public figures who were supposed to give honest ratings to the banks and their investments didn’t want to give bad ratings because they were afraid it would make it harder to find a job with those same companies after their public service was done. This whole effort to hold people accountable on the state level feels to me like a dog and pony show to give us the illusion that justice, transparency, accountability and democracy exist on the federal level. If we had a fraction of this accountability on the federal level then things wouldn’t be so fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/2 "2014-09-04T22:44:01Z")
Another slightly less paranoid-conspiracy-y point of view is that it’s the small potatoes guys that are not smart enough and/or rich enough and/or well-connected enough to cover their tracks or buy their way out of trouble, which is why we see them being prosecuted. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/3 "2014-09-04T22:57:02Z")
I’m sorry, that OP is a complete mess. You seem to be lumping together McDonnell’s case, in which he has been convicted by a presumably impartial jury, and Perry, who has only been charged, not convicted, then something something about municipal broadband, and some politicians land in cushy jobs in industry, which I think most of us knew about already. Hey, I’m all ready and willing to get outraged, but I prefer to focus it like I’ve got a fricken’ laser on my head, on one thing at a time. Which of the above gets it? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/4 "2014-09-04T23:02:23Z")
It is about the fact that collusion between business and government, or abuse of power (to a lesser degree) are rampant but nothing is done about it, and it sometimes feels like they are becoming draconian (in some ways) on the state level to combat the cynicism in this country because many people are realizing our system is broken. Just throw a few governors prosecuted for firing a DA or colluding with a supplement company to distract us from how deeply plutocratic this country has become. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/5 "2014-09-04T23:58:21Z")
Yeah, I’m sure we wanted to get Al Capone on murder and racketeering charges, too. We fight the battles in front of us, not the ones we wish we had. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/6 "2014-09-05T00:49:43Z")
The OP sounds like a sophomore in college wrote it. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/7 "2014-09-05T00:51:07Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The OP sounds like a sophomore in college wrote it. Thanks. I was going to write it in all caps and make numerous references to Alex Jones but decided against it. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/8 "2014-09-05T01:24:14Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > This whole effort to hold people accountable on the state level feels to me like a dog and pony show to give us the illusion that justice, transparency, accountability and democracy exist on the federal level. If we had a fraction of this accountability on the federal level then things wouldn’t be so fucked up. I think it’s more like the agencies have to do something to justify their existence and some of these guys are just too blatant. Like that guy many years ago who had $100K in his freezer. But really, what’s a couple stacks between political friends? Or they have to do something when the corruption hurts other well connected people. Big mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/9 "2014-09-05T02:12:25Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > It is about the fact that collusion between business and government, or abuse of power (to a lesser degree) are rampant but nothing is done about it, and it sometimes feels like they are becoming draconian (in some ways) on the state level to combat the cynicism in this country because many people are realizing our system is broken. Just throw a few governors prosecuted for firing a DA or colluding with a supplement company to distract us from how deeply plutocratic this country has become. So you’re upset by the corruption, but prosecuting corrupt people for their crimes seems wrong? :dubious: Do you want us to enforce the laws or not? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/10 "2014-09-05T03:07:37Z")
Who the fuck is Bob McDonnell? In other words, link? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/11 "2014-09-05T03:13:56Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Who the fuck is Bob McDonnell? In other words, link? Ex Governor of Virginia. He and his wife were convicted of various felonies because they accepted gifts and loans from someone who ran a supplement company. > **[Ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Guilty of Corruption](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jury-virginia-gov-bob-mcdonnell-guilty-corruption/story?id=25250287)** > > The pair accepted gifts and favors from a wealthy businessman. The whole system is corrupt, but they throw convictions like this to give the illusion of justice and accountability. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/12 "2014-09-05T03:26:34Z")
You can’t talk about They on a public message board. You crazy? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/13 "2014-09-05T04:09:31Z")
Don’t worry, he’s using dial-up so They can’t trace him. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/14 "2014-09-05T05:06:43Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Ex Governor of Virginia. He and his wife were convicted of various felonies because they accepted gifts and loans from someone who ran a supplement company. > > [Ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Guilty of Corruption - ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jury-virginia-gov-bob-mcdonnell-guilty-corruption/story?id=25250287) > > The whole system is corrupt, but they throw convictions like this to give the illusion of justice and accountability. Echoing the last two posters before me, who is this “They” that is pulling the strings, behind the scenes of all of this? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/15 "2014-09-05T05:09:58Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Studies have found the US is an oligarchy now, not a democracy. > > . Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/16 "2014-09-05T05:51:12Z")
Yeah, ‘they’ is a little weird, but there is still a valid pitting in here somewhere. Is the system corrupt? Seems like it. But why not get McDonnell? He is a criminal governor, not exactly ‘small potatoes’. But in post Citizens United America, buying influence seems like the name of the game, no? And it seems to be getting worse, right? Polish it up a little and we can have a nice pitting here. You know what sticks in my craw? Banks participate in crime-of-the-century scale shenanigans and leave the entire country screwed while they hand out bonuses to their cronies. When the investigation uncovers what they’ve done, they settle with the government, pay a fine, and nobody goes to jail. It strikes me as collusion, namely the government simply takes a cut of the crooked banks’ ill-gotten gains in exchange for letting everybody go, while the public remains screwed. I’d have started a thread about this by now but just haven’t had the time to do the proper research. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/17 "2014-09-05T06:40:03Z")
Bob McDonald bought the farm Eee Eye Eee Eye O! With an oink! oink! here And an oink! oink! there Here an oink! There an oink! Everywhere an oink! oink!.. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/18 "2014-09-05T08:57:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Cite? Discussed in [this thread of mine.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=721018) (My OP has a link to a blog post about the study; that link in turn has more direct links.) I’ll add, though, that I’m still not convinced that such subjects can be scientifically proven the way physics and mathematics can, and thus anyone who says it has been is, IMO, stretching things. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/19 "2014-09-05T13:31:59Z")
Did anyone see the Green Bay/Seattle game last night? Damn, I was hoping Green Bay would trounce them. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528/20 "2014-09-05T14:20:20Z")
Shorter OP: the real crime isn’t what they do that’s illegal, but rather what they do that’s perfectly legal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prosecution-of-bob-mcdonnell-is-a-distraction/697528.md?page=2)