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So, I'm just going to ask outright; what would it take to get a politician like Pai investigated? I'd find it very hard to believe at this point that he doesn't

So, I'm just going to ask outright; what would it take to get a politician like Pai investigated? I'd find it very hard to believe at this point that he doesn't have his hands stuck in exactly the sort of pies (no pun intended) that could get him in trouble.

GeneralMayhem 9y ago
Well, first, you'd need even a single person in his party not to be in it with him, and to be willing to cross party lines to do what's right. That's obviously not going to happen. Second, you'd need corruption to be illegal. Since the people who benefit from it are the ones writing the laws, it's not, at least not in the particular ways they generally do it.
- doctorshady 9y ago
  Maybe this is a stupid question, but why would it have to be someone of the same party? Why couldn't it just be some unhappy members of the FCC staff? Considering the jarring change from Wheeler to Pai, there's got to be a few people with a good look at his schedule that don't approve of it.
  - GeneralMayhem 9y ago
    Because the Republicans control all three branches of the government, and they're extremely well bought^H^H^H^H^H^H organized. In the rare case that a non-Republican has the power to do anything, they'll be removed with or without cause if they try (see: Sally Yates).
    - doctorshady 9y ago
      Let's say for the purposes of arguing though, that Trump or members of the Trump administration are removed by way of the Russia investigation. I guess it all works on a case by case basis, but generally speaking, how would that affect the FCC chair's standing?
frankzinger 9y ago
I see a few people in this thread asking this question. It's a large part of this administration's MO. Kill all regulation in favour of corporate growth. Trump talks about it all the time and he's taken direct action himself to achieve it. There's no reason to believe Pai is running his own scam here.
- doctorshady 9y ago
  Sure, but he's been in the FCC well before Trump has been in office, and his views haven't particularly changed. There's no reason why they can't be running things together now of course, but I'd be surprised if they were together from the start.
  - frankzinger 9y ago
    You may be right, but there'd be little point in going after Pai if he's supported by the administration (which I am certain he is, to be clear).
    - doctorshady 9y ago
      Would that not change if it's abundantly clear his policies are extremely unpopular? Think Marsha Blackburn and SOPA.

GeneralMayhem 9y ago

Well, first, you'd need even a single person in his party not to be in it with him, and to be willing to cross party lines to do what's right. That's obviously not going to happen. Second, you'd need corruption to be illegal. Since the people who benefit from it are the ones writing the laws, it's not, at least not in the particular ways they generally do it.

doctorshady 9y ago
Maybe this is a stupid question, but why would it have to be someone of the same party? Why couldn't it just be some unhappy members of the FCC staff? Considering the jarring change from Wheeler to Pai, there's got to be a few people with a good look at his schedule that don't approve of it.
- GeneralMayhem 9y ago
  Because the Republicans control all three branches of the government, and they're extremely well bought^H^H^H^H^H^H organized. In the rare case that a non-Republican has the power to do anything, they'll be removed with or without cause if they try (see: Sally Yates).
  - doctorshady 9y ago
    Let's say for the purposes of arguing though, that Trump or members of the Trump administration are removed by way of the Russia investigation. I guess it all works on a case by case basis, but generally speaking, how would that affect the FCC chair's standing?

frankzinger 9y ago

I see a few people in this thread asking this question. It's a large part of this administration's MO. Kill all regulation in favour of corporate growth. Trump talks about it all the time and he's taken direct action himself to achieve it. There's no reason to believe Pai is running his own scam here.

doctorshady 9y ago
Sure, but he's been in the FCC well before Trump has been in office, and his views haven't particularly changed. There's no reason why they can't be running things together now of course, but I'd be surprised if they were together from the start.
- frankzinger 9y ago
  You may be right, but there'd be little point in going after Pai if he's supported by the administration (which I am certain he is, to be clear).
  - doctorshady 9y ago
    Would that not change if it's abundantly clear his policies are extremely unpopular? Think Marsha Blackburn and SOPA.