We haven't even touched the level of 'slim' that infects our politics have we Eric?    Do we know how much money has passed between Big Pharm and the Legal profession into the hands of Democrats and Republicans?   Does the Energy Industry not pay off congress to be sure they caste doubt on global warming and keep the money flowing toward the current fossil fuels industry?

This is some serious stuff, lost in the mundane committee activity headed by Chairmen, appointed by the majority party, that collects 10 times the money of other Congressmen and controls exactly what the assembled congress is going to consider.

Campaign tricks are nothing new, just as deplorable as they always have been.  The problem is the PUBLIC which stops paying attention when the elections end.      Obama blinded rank and file Democrats willing to look for graft, Trump is doing the same thing with Republicans.     Both parties are intent on 'winning' and kicking back the favorable treatment to the deep pockets.