I have often thought that Adolf Hitler wasted national wealth and resources persecuting Jews and others who might have otherwise recruited to the Nazi war effort as loyal Germans. Maybe he could have won the war had he not been distracted.
We are persecuting people who are largely valuable to our economy and whose children will be leaders like little MR himself.
It's a good point, Bill, and I've thought that too...so much energy and time wasted in being evil, when gathering everyone together would have been so much more efficient as a strategy. The case for DEI!
Commendably well laid out and executed. Interspersed with wry humor. I especially enjoyed the spinelessness comment and also the shell company having an appropriately nautical name. Ho ho.
I’m not finding the best words to describe how much I love this piece.
Amazing research. The descriptions of disgusting flip-flopping and lies reminded me of today's local news. In Ma$$achu$$ett$, our blue-collar town's average income is about $57k, barely survival-level here. Yet we pay 400 of our 2000+ town employees more than $100k/yr-- many, in excess of $200k plus countless perks -- town manager, about $300k. That's almost $100k more than Boston pays its mayor, and they have many more higher-income taxpayers. But we were here first, since 1620, longer to cultivate corruption. We peons are so worn down by corruption and self-dealing that few even bother (or dare) to comment. All of the maybe 6 responses to today's news story "explain" to us why no capable person could ever be found do these 400 crucial jobs for less money and how glad we should be to pay. In fact, an ethical high schooler with good grades could run this town more successfully. It's a mess of favoritism, waste, and incompetence. But people believe the bs. So here I am again, back at: we're doomed by human gullibility and brainwashing -- and apathy. Such a spectacularly researched story about Rubio. Why aren't legions seeing? Why is corruption so "successful"? I still suspect Robert Hare's book about white-collar psychopathy's charisma describes the answer. I think unless the world does extensive "psychopathy awareness and avoidance" education, especially facing AI, humanity is doomed. But with education being dismantled, I hope I'm nuts. My other suggestion: headline all Greg Olear articles, bold print, max volume, all media, forced attention.
Exactly, especially about “we peons,the ethical high schooler, the rampant corruption “etc. You ask why is corruption successful? It’s because the corrupt dance outside the rules. They don’t realize there is something better than money so they seek power and influence from all the other bad pennies creating a network of criminals who barge straight through our laws. Those who follow ethical standards have not been taught why it is necessary to do so. Somebody has to understand enough in order to nip lawbreakers in the bud at the moment it is discovered. But more importantly we must raise our children with love and respect for each other, to notice the sheer joy of Nature’s gifts, and to recognize and stop injustice in its tracks (as well as knowing which is an injustice in the first place).
Thank you, Maureen. Something I cut because of space is that, in Florida, state pols can double-dip as "consultants" who are basically lobbyists. Rubio's income trebled when he became speaker, I believe. But they all do it. Disgusting.
There is a puniness to Little Marco that is captured perfectly in this piece. He's the kind of person you flick off your shoulder with a piece of lint. He is not even a Little Man, but a Little Boy -- always looking for acceptance and praise from his masters, of which there seem to have been many throughout his life. The best part of Marco is that I think most people see him for what he is. Even MAGAts don't really like him and only pretend to because THEIR whoremaster is pretending to at the moment. He will never get higher in government than he is right now, and let's face it, being Secretary of State in a Trump administration is little more than a joke. I'm sure he'll try for the presidency again in 2028 and will fail miserably as he has in the past. He seems to have no idea just how embarrassing he is, and how little he is thought of. Unfortunately, he is also the kind of person that will never learn any lessons from his public life, and at the end, wonder why he never became popular outside of Florida. He lives a life of regrets.
Thanks, Steve. I learned a lot I didn't know doing this piece, but one thing that surprised me was how confident and flat-out GOOD Rubio was at that 2016 debate. They took him out right after that and he hasn't been the same since. Which suggests, of course, that they have something on him. You're right -- people hate him. They mock this on SNL.
Little Marco and the Orange Imbecile, two peas in a pod. BTW where is the bit about LM inheriting from his dad? Nothing, I guess he is a self made little con man.
Marco has never been wealthy, and I doubt he made much, if anything, from inheritance -- at least as far as I know. He's had a lot of financial issues, which is what happens when you have four kids but live somewhere else.
Stunning, Greg. And fascinating. So now I see why our Secretary of State fits perfectly with the wanna be mob boss in the White House. Terrifying stuff from you again. And the general public is clueless as always. We have turned our country over to the latter day mob, billionaire tech bros, grifters and shysters, Russian agents and crooks, and all the rest. Make America morally, politically and financially bankrupt again. Amazing, yet shocking and frightening work here. Thank you.
Thanks, Rick. It was fascinating to deep dive. I didn't know a lot of this stuff. People in FLA know a lot of it, I'm sure. But hopefully the hypocrisy is clear this way.
Wow, Greg this is riveting and it’s like reading a screenplay, one would never believe the history of Marco so now I’m no longer surprised to see how his moral compass has been shoved up his anus. Surely Trump et al have him by the balls. Great work! I wish one of peeps @MSNBC would have you on. I have no followers so restocking not happening but will def favor.
Thanks, LLB. Oh, Marco has never had much of a moral compass. He has become the sort of person who would have put his own parents in an El Salvadoran death camp. It doesn't get lower than that.
That 1946 conclave of the mafia leaders seems ripe...the next year, in '47, Lucky Luciano would be released from prison in New York and deported to Sicily, when he would then direct splitting the world into seven sectors of mafia influence. This appears to me to be one of the basic structures of our world now in many, many ways - from counter currency (bit coin) to the deceptive governments in South and Central America and their entree into the US via Miami, New Orleans, Houston and the East coast. The Godfather I starts with a similar splitting of the US territories in the early 1950s.
We are on a wrong path being led by zombies.
I have often thought that Adolf Hitler wasted national wealth and resources persecuting Jews and others who might have otherwise recruited to the Nazi war effort as loyal Germans. Maybe he could have won the war had he not been distracted.
We are persecuting people who are largely valuable to our economy and whose children will be leaders like little MR himself.
Boo!!! billserle.com
It's a good point, Bill, and I've thought that too...so much energy and time wasted in being evil, when gathering everyone together would have been so much more efficient as a strategy. The case for DEI!
RECIPE FOR MOROS
By Bill Serle
Cook those black beans and boil the white rice.
They’re different but, when cooked together, so nice.
The dish is ‘Moros’ – short for Moros y Christianos –
Black and white, Moors and Christians, negros y blancos.
Rice, a staff of life, tastes good enough
but is much better when mixed with beans
enough to give rich flavor
and mouth textures to savor.
Even better, as you chew and swallow,
the divine slither of sweet green peppers
and onions sweated on the stove so hot
it married the ingredients in the pot.
~~~
People can mix just so,
each one brings something to
the work and art of the world
whether it be high or low.
All work is important.
The soft hand that rocks the cradle
is not less than the hard hand that
breaks the earth in construction.
Pyramids would not be possible
without the planner and the laborer.
The boss with the whip is just mush
without a simple grunt to push
the blocks up into the sky.
Abundance is more possible when people
cooperate as often as they compete.
So, let’s celebrate in common meet.
~~~~
Look around and what do you see?
Are they working just like you and me?
Happy faces will always make me smile
I relate to their happiness all the while.
Can we celebrate our differences
without indulging mean thoughts and hate?
Kawanzaa, Hanuka, Ramadan and Christmas
could elevate earthly peace to Heavenly state.
Fantastic deep dive 👏🏼
Thank you!
Superb reporting.
Commendably well laid out and executed. Interspersed with wry humor. I especially enjoyed the spinelessness comment and also the shell company having an appropriately nautical name. Ho ho.
I’m not finding the best words to describe how much I love this piece.
Thanks, Susan. Much appreciated.
Yeah! Batista! That's the comparison that fits. Where is Fidel?
Right?
Amazing research. The descriptions of disgusting flip-flopping and lies reminded me of today's local news. In Ma$$achu$$ett$, our blue-collar town's average income is about $57k, barely survival-level here. Yet we pay 400 of our 2000+ town employees more than $100k/yr-- many, in excess of $200k plus countless perks -- town manager, about $300k. That's almost $100k more than Boston pays its mayor, and they have many more higher-income taxpayers. But we were here first, since 1620, longer to cultivate corruption. We peons are so worn down by corruption and self-dealing that few even bother (or dare) to comment. All of the maybe 6 responses to today's news story "explain" to us why no capable person could ever be found do these 400 crucial jobs for less money and how glad we should be to pay. In fact, an ethical high schooler with good grades could run this town more successfully. It's a mess of favoritism, waste, and incompetence. But people believe the bs. So here I am again, back at: we're doomed by human gullibility and brainwashing -- and apathy. Such a spectacularly researched story about Rubio. Why aren't legions seeing? Why is corruption so "successful"? I still suspect Robert Hare's book about white-collar psychopathy's charisma describes the answer. I think unless the world does extensive "psychopathy awareness and avoidance" education, especially facing AI, humanity is doomed. But with education being dismantled, I hope I'm nuts. My other suggestion: headline all Greg Olear articles, bold print, max volume, all media, forced attention.
Exactly
Exactly, especially about “we peons,the ethical high schooler, the rampant corruption “etc. You ask why is corruption successful? It’s because the corrupt dance outside the rules. They don’t realize there is something better than money so they seek power and influence from all the other bad pennies creating a network of criminals who barge straight through our laws. Those who follow ethical standards have not been taught why it is necessary to do so. Somebody has to understand enough in order to nip lawbreakers in the bud at the moment it is discovered. But more importantly we must raise our children with love and respect for each other, to notice the sheer joy of Nature’s gifts, and to recognize and stop injustice in its tracks (as well as knowing which is an injustice in the first place).
Thank you, Maureen. Something I cut because of space is that, in Florida, state pols can double-dip as "consultants" who are basically lobbyists. Rubio's income trebled when he became speaker, I believe. But they all do it. Disgusting.
Nauseating. And yet... there are more of us than them.
It’s TUESDAY🎉
Amen!
There is a puniness to Little Marco that is captured perfectly in this piece. He's the kind of person you flick off your shoulder with a piece of lint. He is not even a Little Man, but a Little Boy -- always looking for acceptance and praise from his masters, of which there seem to have been many throughout his life. The best part of Marco is that I think most people see him for what he is. Even MAGAts don't really like him and only pretend to because THEIR whoremaster is pretending to at the moment. He will never get higher in government than he is right now, and let's face it, being Secretary of State in a Trump administration is little more than a joke. I'm sure he'll try for the presidency again in 2028 and will fail miserably as he has in the past. He seems to have no idea just how embarrassing he is, and how little he is thought of. Unfortunately, he is also the kind of person that will never learn any lessons from his public life, and at the end, wonder why he never became popular outside of Florida. He lives a life of regrets.
MAGAts don't even like themselves, in the mirror they see the reflection of a loser. This underpins what we call a cult.
Thanks, Steve. I learned a lot I didn't know doing this piece, but one thing that surprised me was how confident and flat-out GOOD Rubio was at that 2016 debate. They took him out right after that and he hasn't been the same since. Which suggests, of course, that they have something on him. You're right -- people hate him. They mock this on SNL.
How did Rubio's chiropractor treat him when he has no spine???
[cue: rimshot]
Little Marco and the Orange Imbecile, two peas in a pod. BTW where is the bit about LM inheriting from his dad? Nothing, I guess he is a self made little con man.
Marco has never been wealthy, and I doubt he made much, if anything, from inheritance -- at least as far as I know. He's had a lot of financial issues, which is what happens when you have four kids but live somewhere else.
Incredible piece. Thank you. Sharing.
Thanks, MaryPat.
Another Robert Menendez this time in Florida.
Rubio isn't as cool lol
Trump sure knows how to pick his underlings to do his dirty work.
Sure. He picks the ones he knows he can fully control.
It probably will not make a difference but after 77 years Donald is getting the education he never had.
I don't think it will stick.
Stunning, Greg. And fascinating. So now I see why our Secretary of State fits perfectly with the wanna be mob boss in the White House. Terrifying stuff from you again. And the general public is clueless as always. We have turned our country over to the latter day mob, billionaire tech bros, grifters and shysters, Russian agents and crooks, and all the rest. Make America morally, politically and financially bankrupt again. Amazing, yet shocking and frightening work here. Thank you.
Thanks, Rick. It was fascinating to deep dive. I didn't know a lot of this stuff. People in FLA know a lot of it, I'm sure. But hopefully the hypocrisy is clear this way.
Greg, superb analysis and insight!! Thank you so much for your thoughts!!! 👍👍
Thanks so much, Diane!
Wow, Greg this is riveting and it’s like reading a screenplay, one would never believe the history of Marco so now I’m no longer surprised to see how his moral compass has been shoved up his anus. Surely Trump et al have him by the balls. Great work! I wish one of peeps @MSNBC would have you on. I have no followers so restocking not happening but will def favor.
Thanks, LLB. Oh, Marco has never had much of a moral compass. He has become the sort of person who would have put his own parents in an El Salvadoran death camp. It doesn't get lower than that.
Geez, sitting here thinking how much time you put into this and can’t help thinking what a great film this would make.
You are soooo good at exposing these soulless creeps.
That 1946 conclave of the mafia leaders seems ripe...the next year, in '47, Lucky Luciano would be released from prison in New York and deported to Sicily, when he would then direct splitting the world into seven sectors of mafia influence. This appears to me to be one of the basic structures of our world now in many, many ways - from counter currency (bit coin) to the deceptive governments in South and Central America and their entree into the US via Miami, New Orleans, Houston and the East coast. The Godfather I starts with a similar splitting of the US territories in the early 1950s.
I think you’re on to something with this take.