Peter writes:
The former governor of Illinois, who is spent time in prison on corruption charges, so he knows a thing or two about big city machine politics and political shenanigans, was quoted as saying that if the question is whether the Democrats are stealing votes in Philadelphia, his response is, “Is the pope Catholic?” He would know more about it than anyone in this forum, and in his mind it is simply par for the course for old Democrat machines in massive, northern urban centers to do whatever it takes and expect to get away with it.
I comment:
What is this, Peter? A grade-C gangster movie by a wannabe Scorsese? Get real. A multi-corrupt Illinois politician doing time for multi-crimes and you think he has a key to something? Have we really gone that low in this modest forum? Are you really so desperate for the word, "corruption," to be thrown around?
Respect for law and for the people involves should suggest that nothing - repeat nothing - about corruption matters unless there is evidence presented by credible people in the proper places.
But I'm a writer, always with book and plot ideas. So let's take it this way.
The politician-con is heard joking in the yard about the Philadelphia election. Another con gets on the phone to his ex-brother-in-law who is connected to the Trump campaign. And up the ladder it goes.
Two days later, guys in nice suits visit the jailed politician. But he's no fool.
"Whatcha got for me?" he says.
"We could probably get you out of here, maybe right now, maybe in a month or two. If you provide the right information."
"Yeah," says the con, "the right information, I think I got stuff you're gonna think is real right."
The suits lean forward.
"But I'm gonna need a little more," says the con, "You know, maybe some walking-around money, maybe a nice stake for a new life on the outside."
"Could be possible," says a suit. "If your stuff is good."
The con laughs "Oh it's good. But there's only one thing."
"What's that?
"How true do you want it to be? I'll have to give it to you a little ways down on the 'truth scale,' but just tell me how far down I can go."
(And the rest of the dialogue plans how many lies the suits will buy to attack Pennsylvania voting.)
That's how I think this might be handled in real life.