[SteveH]

Good points all, except possibly for the part about Arnold bribing Democrats with sops. That sounds a bit too much like appeasing Ds by capitulation. But whatever... thanks...

[Iris7]

Bribery is one of politics main foundations. United States foreign policy is of three parts, sweet reason, the threat of overwhelming force, and "foreign aid", that is "export credits", access to US markets (big bucks in that one), IMF/World Bank "loans", and direct payments to politicians. Even Arafat gets tons of US government cash in return for his promise to play nice. English power in the old days was based mostly on bribery, backed up by military force. As is ours.

Vote buying, that is bribing the voters to vote the way you want, is a very old American tradition. Social Security is one big modern example. The Roman Empire worked so long as Rome could afford huge "government contracts" for "services" and to operate their "social welfare" system. The list is endless.

If you leave this potent political weapon in the sole hands of the Left you fight with your strong arm tied behind your back. The Right in the USA has been so dumb for so long that the Right would raise the money and the Left would use the money raised for the "public good" by the Right to buy votes for the Left! How incredibly stupid! We HAVE to win this thing!!