Frank Schnittger: The real business is done behind close doors - and there is often a free lunch involved...

Although I had seen his name numerous times here over the last couple of years, the first time I read Matt Taibbi's stuff was when Sven posted this in Monday's Salon.

I was literally agape.

Still reeling from the virtuosity of this writing, I looked up Taibbi and learned that he often goes "undercover" to do his journalistic research.

Come to think of it, very much like Roberto Saviano.

If only Italy could get another Roberto Saviano or a Matt Taibbi (as yet obscure), to blow the lid on these politicos.

Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.

i am surprised ireland doesn't have equally colourful political intercourse.

i used to watch parliament and found it quite good, especially when claire short was speaking, for example. stirring stuff.

now i can't get it in my sky 'bouquet'.

i think, like redstar said of france, there is little reason to go film people doing their job responsibly, it's only here in italy that it's so controversial, because they've become so cosy with their power they realise that just watching them in sleazy action is to damn them.

anyway, di pietro is on the case. in the tangentopoli trials he used to look like the Avenging Angel, dressed in his long black robes, full of magisterial righteousness. inspiring actually, though most affirm here that nothing changed permanently from all his work.

once again the eternal problem...the left is fragmented. there's not too much real difference that i can see, but a lot of ego and limelight seeking.

not that the right's better.

beppe lacks the gravitas to be a real politician, but he makes a perfect gadfly. di pietro seems like he's in politics for the right reasons, self-aggrandisement not being the principal or only one...

what about behind closed doors, Frank? is anyone trying to get there to record it, if it's public business that's being discussed?

many more saw the youtube (30,000+) of the council meeting than would have been able to attend.

democracy in action!

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter