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Extortion: How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own Pockets Hardcover – October 22, 2013

by Peter Schweizer (Author)

213 customer reviews

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A bombshell investigation reveals how Washington really works: politicians extort money from us, then use it to buy each other’s votes. Best-selling author Peter Schweizer reveals:

*Obama’s "Protection Money": How the Obama Administration targeted industries for criminal investigation but chose not to pursue key political donors.

*John Boehner’s "Tollbooth": How the Speaker of the House extracts money by soliciting political donations before he will hold crucial votes on the House floor.

*The "Slush Fund": How politicians extract "campaign contributions" and then convert them to bankroll lavish lifestyles complete with limos, private jets, golf at five-star resorts, fine wines, and cash for family members.

*Capitol Hill’s "Underground Economy": How congressmen use a little-known loophole that allows them to secretly link their votes to cash.

Extortion finally makes clear why Congress is so dysfunctional: it’s all about making money, not making law.

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Product Details

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade (October 22, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0544103343
ISBN-13: 978-0544103344
Product Dimensions: 1 x 6.2 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (213 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #29 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > United States > Legislative Branch

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

PETER SCHWEIZER is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and he is the founder and director of the Government Accountability Institute. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek/Daily Beast, and elsewhere. His books include Throw Them All Out, which exposed congressional insider stock trading and led to the passage of the STOCK Act.

Customer Reviews

(213)

4.7 out of 5 stars

5 star		162
4 star		41
3 star		4
2 star		2
1 star		4

See all 213 customer reviews

This book is very well researched and written.

Will

Every industry can be extorted for more political donations... at the expense of the American economy.

anireader

EVERY AMERICAN VOTER MUST READ THIS as this information in the book needs to be known.

Justin D. Cofer

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 88 people found the following review helpful

Every American Should Read This Book

By anireader on October 28, 2013

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

An easy, fast read which is supported by a comprehensive set of footnotes supporting all the painful facts. If you make the investment in this book, you will quickly learn the realities of our "raise campaign funds or loose" political system and how it has evolved into a "donate or get screwed" extortion system where the fundamental purpose of government is being lost in the seemingly unavoidable quest to capture power and money. This brilliant book finally explains the universal attacks on the tea party and Sarah Palin: The real reason they are portrayed by both parties as a radicals is because they are a huge threat to the current old guard methods of milking of donors by deliberately drafting threatening legislation, only to kill it when the coffers are refilled by another round of $30,000 a plate dinner guests. Nothing is sacred under the new system - intellectual property, high tech, the film industry, airlines, banking, telecommunications, energy, and, of course, health care. Every industry can be extorted for more political donations... at the expense of the American economy. Even more shocking is the revelation that neither you or I can bribe a politician - no surprise - however, it is perfectly legal for politicians to pass out the checks to other politicians right in the Capital building after a successful vote. Who pays? You do. If you ever had your suspicions about your local two faced Senator or House member, this book will confirm what was really going in by delivering hard, documented facts. Every American, regardless of party or political viewpoint, should read this book. Even if you are as critical of conspiracy theory allegations as I was, you will probably come to the same conclusion - it is time for some change in the way work in Washington gets done. Perhaps this is the one thing all Americans except for a minority DC elite can agree on.

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61 of 63 people found the following review helpful

Excellent Fact Based Report

By Two Mirrors on October 23, 2013

Format: Hardcover

Fact based complete with over a thousand pieces of direct evidence of corruption. Moreso, further documentation is available for readers to overview what their politicians are doing in their state or neck of the woods and how in DC they funnel money to special interests that is funneled back to the politicians so they can buy homes all over the world and party like there is no tomorrow.

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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful

Do Rich Tycoons and Corporations Have Politicians in Their Pocket, or is it the Other Way Around?

By Alastair Browne on November 5, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition

It is generally known that rich and powerful people and corporations have Congressmen in their pocket. They ask a Congressman for "favors" and tell them to vote a certain way on a bill, and that entity, whatever it is, will take care of that politician, donating money for his or her campaign to insure that he or she will be reelected.
What if, in reality, it's the other way around? What if it's the politician that has the corporation, or some other powerful entity in his pocket, and it's the politician, be it a senator or congressman, that tells that entity to donate to his campaign, how much to donate, and that congress will insure that the corporation will remain in business with handsome profits to boot.
This is what this book is about, a role reversal of the two entities, and how it is the politician who has the power, not the corporation, company, or rich tycoon, for lack of a better phrase.
This book has been thoroughly researched by the author, and what you will find here may surprise you.
The congressman, or senator, is the one who has the power to vote on a bill that will affect corporations and individuals, and he knows this. Because of this, they will use their leverage to get what they want, mostly money, for reelection, but also to put in their own private bank accounts, and even the accounts of their fellow officeholders, and all this is legal. I'll give you a few examples. When a bill is passed that will affect an entity, that will cost it money to adjust their company, be it environmental or otherwise, that politician can go to this entity (corporation) and tell them how it will affect them, what they will have to pay for, and how much money it will cost them.Read more ›

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64 of 68 people found the following review helpful

Compelling and Eye-Opening

By Maria Duffus on October 22, 2013

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

The book nails what is wrong with Washington. A phenomenal, heavily researched look at why change needs to happen. A must read.

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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

Important Book, Good Price!

By American on October 28, 2013

Format: Hardcover

This is an extremely important book for Americans in these troubled times. There are few things more dangerous to We The People than corrupt politicians abusing the awesome and deadly power of government to enrich themselves, even as they neglect our interests, the very interests we elected them to represent us for, and trusted them to protect. This book explains in detail how they do it and how widespread it is, up to the highest levels and across party lines.

I rate this book five stars for content, but if it were possible I would give this best-selling book six stars based on its bargain price. Consider that it could not be researched and written by most individuals in many lifetimes. Yet some malcontent cheapskates (who likely pay hundreds per month for just their Internet, cell phone and cable TV) have given it one star based on its "high" price which, at $13/$16, is actually about average for most other books of its type.

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40 of 44 people found the following review helpful

Pulls the Sheet Off the Criminal American Political System

By Bill Baehr on October 25, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

This book explains the system of politics in America better than any other. Should be read by everyone so they understand the deeply embedded corruption of American politicians. Don't be a sucker for the Democrat/Republican/Tea Party political drama on TV and in the news because it's all just a "work" like pro wrestling. It's all about putting on a show to extort money from the marks. There is no real conflict between the political actresses and actors except over who is getting the most loot.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

A Bunch of Skunks Rule

Book arrived in fine condition--thank you. No old library book here! "EXTORTION" is a great read. This Peter Schweizer made me think that this country is run mostly by a bunch... Read more

Published 6 days ago by Rob W.

Well Researched Book

Peter Schweizer seems to have really done his homework in this book. I was astounded by the facts he has uncovered.

Published 10 days ago by FLORA MCQUEEN

Five Stars

Good book.

Published 19 days ago by Peacock

You'll be disillusioned with this insight into politics. I ...

You'll be disillusioned with this insight into politics. I mean, you often wondered how it worked...now you'll know. Very disturbing read.

Published 19 days ago by ProviewBDA

All Voters Must Read This Book

Lazarus Man (The Cyberhawk Series) (Volume 1)Peter Schweizer is a fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, president of the Government Accountability Institute, a former White... Read more

Published 28 days ago by Chet Nagle

Great info, horribly depressing

Not sure "like it" is a real option; it's terrifying to think our federal government has become simply a commodity regardless of the party affiliation. Read more

Published 1 month ago by S. R. Hoover

amazing how government really works

A must read for anyone who wonders why our elected officials act the way they do. The system does not represent the people it raises money.

Published 1 month ago by Tom Mclaughlin

Our government is a train wreck.

This is awful stuff. Downright sickening. The government is far worse than you ever imagined.
The best argument for term limits I have seen.

Published 1 month ago by Solzhenitsyn

An Infuriating Must-Read

Whether you are on the left or right of the political spectrum, please read this book. Schweizer does an excellent job of demonstrating the corruption that is endemic to the... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Matt Gertz

depth and the intensity of the existing corruption compels one to come...

Mr. Schweizer's research is impeccable. His descriptions right on the mark. He provides remarkable references which are absolutely irrefutable.

Having worked in D.C. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Quentin Ledford