as a lobbyist he had long ago concluded there was no difference in how Democrats and Republicans conducted the business of government. The game stayed the same: It was always about favors and friends, and who controlled the dough. Party labels were merely a way to keep track of the teams; issues were mostly smoke and vaudeville. Nobody believed in anything except hanging on to power, whatever it took. .....
As a lobbyist, he realized early on that there was little real difference between Democrats and Republicans; both parties played the same game of securing favors, maintaining friendships, and controlling money. The political process was more about power dynamics than genuine policy or principle, with party labels serving only to identify teams rather than reflect meaningful ideological differences.
He saw issues as mostly superficial displays, with most politicians united by their desire to cling to power at any cost. The focus was on manipulating the system for personal and political gain rather than addressing real problems or serving the public interest, exposing the superficial nature of political negotiations and priorities.
