I'm thinking more in the form of actually driving all policy rather than merely placing a desired candidate in office. For all I know, maybe we've already hit

I'm thinking more in the form of actually driving all policy rather than merely placing a desired candidate in office. For all I know, maybe we've already hit that point. Even the Soviets managed a rough balance between party/army/intelligence services, but modern surveillance and parsing have some serious mojo. I guess it'll become more obvious once the CIA Directorship becomes an inherited position.