Currently Gov Bob McDonnell (R-VA) is being subjected to State and Federal investigations on the acceptance of money from a Virginia businessman.
I detect a bad smell from the whole thing. Yeah, right, Virginia law doesn't require the Guv to report gifts made to his family ....... but what kind of father makes his daughter pay for "catering" at her own wedding ?? Hell, did he charge her rent for the wedding venue (the State Governor's residence) ???
When your wife just "gives" you a $6K engraved Rolex, did you think she's been real frugal with the grocery money ??? Then there's her (Mrs Guv) shopping sprees in NYC - - all paid by the same "businessman." I also get a whiff of Mrs Guv's active participation and encouragement in all this (oh well, we all know what Republicans think of women).
The whole thing smacks of the sense of "privilege" that our politicians today seem to exude. Though that sweat smells of corruption.
In case you're unfamiliar with the definition:
1priv·i·lege 
/ˈprɪvlɪʤ/ noun
plural priv·i·leg·es/ˈprɪvlɪʤ/ noun
1 [count] : a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others
▪ The prisoner's exercise privileges were taken away. [=the prisoner was no longer allowed to exercise] ▪Good health care should be a right and not a privilege.
2 [singular] : a special opportunity to do something that makes you proud
▪ Meeting the President was a privilege. [=honor] ▪ We had the privilege of being invited to the party. ▪ I had the privilege of knowing your grandfather.
3 [noncount] somewhat formal : the advantage that wealthy and powerful people have over other people in a society
▪ He lived a life of wealth and privilege. ▪ children of privilege [=privileged children; children from wealthy families with high social status]
4 [noncount] : the right to keep important information private
▪ attorney-client privilege [=the right an attorney has to keep information shared by a client secret] ▪During the investigation, the President invoked executive privilege.
5 [noncount] Brit : the right to say or do something without being punished for it
▪ parliamentary privilege
▪ The prisoner's exercise privileges were taken away. [=the prisoner was no longer allowed to exercise] ▪Good health care should be a right and not a privilege.
▪ Meeting the President was a privilege. [=honor] ▪ We had the privilege of being invited to the party. ▪ I had the privilege of knowing your grandfather.
▪ He lived a life of wealth and privilege. ▪ children of privilege [=privileged children; children from wealthy families with high social status]
▪ attorney-client privilege [=the right an attorney has to keep information shared by a client secret] ▪During the investigation, the President invoked executive privilege.
▪ parliamentary privilege
(Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary)
I call attention to numbers 1, 3 and 4. Seen any of that goin' on lately ??? (sure as hell doesn't seem to fit #2, eh ??). How often have you heard a scoundrel hide behind the words, "... but it was legal?" -- Yeah, but it wasn't right.
McDonnell was a rising star for the Republicans (he's term limited and this is his last year in office) and often mentioned as a possible Prez or Veep contender. Guess he should check his watch and see that time's up.
** 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.' Lewis Carroll - "Through the Looking Glass
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