John has this amazing ability to ignore everything that's negative - and only emphasize the stuff that's positive about his client (s). Although to date he's only had the one client.
Which brings us to #LindseyGraham "#powertop."
Recently, salacious, spurious outlets - mostly on twitter - outed the august Senator as "Lady G" who went to see "rent boys" in DC often. One of his frequent renters (leasees?) went so far as to offer that "Lady G" was the nickname used for the Senator from South Carolina.
If true, and Johnny Baron is not claiming its true, it would explain - perhaps underline - the sudden change in tone, demeanor and behavior with regard to the august Senator's formerly fetid opinions of the current President. Initially Senator Graham was happy to give his unvarnished thoughts and opinions ("Biden is a saint" "Trump is a jackass") who after the inaugural began to act as if he had been "warned" by a high school principal, or called out by the coach - that if he didn't "toe the line" the secrets held would be exposed.
The idea of rich white fellas threatening a gay man (not saying he's gay, just saying, the idea that they might claim he was and threaten to reveal that) has been around for centuries. Well, after the Greeks perhaps, where it was hip to be old and gray and have a few younger Spartans at one's side.
But those days are gone - that good ship lollipop has sailed. And today's world it's "we have this salacious info that you don't want revealed because it would ruin you."
Despite folks like those in Russia (who claim no gays are in Russia) or anywhere in the world where despots claim gay people are "less than" - or on the fringe or a fringe minority - again, those days are long gone. How so?
To quote "Gone With the Wind" -
"FRANK. NO ONE CARES."
(That's not a reference to Barney Frank, an august Congressman for many years, who when he came out of the "closet" learned that his constituents couldn't care less what side of the fence he was on. Didn't care when he was accused of renting folks either. He was smart and beloved. End of story.)
However, something changed when Johnny Baron's premier client djt found his way into the White House. (His only client).
Suddenly Mr. Graham no longer had ill will, nor negative things to say about the person he had excoriated only weeks earlier - and seemed to be willing to "toe some invisible line" and basically go with the flow. During the campaign he called the new fella in the White House "A race baiting xenophobic jackass..."
The good Senator became the quiet as a mouse Senator. Rubber stamped whatever needed to be stamped. He looked and spoke like someone who had been humiliated, humbled or been shown the "Kompromat" on him by the overlords.
Then these revelations came out about a possible persuasion.
Not really revelations, because the folks who reported them were sent death threats so they backed off. But not before one fellow (not the original accuser) came forward with an account of LG as a "power top" who likes to howl "like Mickey Mouse" when it came time for him to "end the power play" or "score the goal."
Certainly that revelation sent twitters through twittersphere - as if "sounding like Mickey Mouse" was a negative thing. Comedians weighed in - sang in that falsetto voice, "MIC-KEY M-O-U-S-E" and everyone ignored the more important term in this "revelation" aka the idea that Lindsey is a "Power Top."
I won't repeat what the definition is - but it signifies someone who is doing "most of the work" let's say - and ultimately is someone known for "power" as well as "being good at what they do." So in the parlance of those who use it, or to give it context; it's a compliment.
Not a negative comment. At all.
For those who've seen the show "Billions" there's a moment when Paul Giamatti gets caught literally "with his pants down" in an S & M parlor while running for high office in New York State. And the slanderous photos are certain to doom his career - except they don't.
He takes the information and reveals it in public, in a "mea culpa" "I am a masochist" speech that talks about human rights, personal rights, and the rights for S & M folks to do whatever it is that S & M folks do. And he wins that office.
In light of what happened this past weekend in New York Dept. of injustice - the Southern District - SDNY - it appears the "power top" has come back to stand his ground.
As Rachel Maddow so aptly laid out the scenario in her show on the 22nd of June - where she pointed out that the "coup" of Bill Barr taking over the very SDNY office in DC and gutting it -"Barr Emboldened To Attack SDNY After Success Hijacking DC Office In Trump's Favor | MSNBC" effectively ending long standing investigations into malfeasance and criminal behavior and in some cases (Roger Stone) actually reducing sentences, or trying to vacate convictions altogether (Mike Flynn).
As Maddow points out - "they're at it again, only this time, they couldn't do it." Because of... (cue the Mighty Mouse music) "here he comes to save the day...."
The Power Top.
Senator G signaled that he would not support the person Bill Barr wanted to replace the New York prosecutor. And Lindsey further insisted that they "leave in place" the second in command who was loyal to her boss. In effect, the "Saturday night massacre" (done on a Friday) was stopped by one Power Top.
Why?
Because they have nothing to hold over him any more. Because when word got around that he hired rent boys, or made funny voices during the act itself - no one cared. No one still cares. Boring. Just not worth getting into a tizzy over.
Can't hold something over someone if no one cares about it.
So here's to the return of the Power Top Senator Lindsey Graham.
As someone who has been on the sidelines for a long time, let's just say, I wouldn't be surprised if the Power Top wins again in his home state. Because there's nothing to hide anymore and if there's a scintilla of integrity left in the fellow (I suspect there may be based on this nixing of the Barr plan), then there this may be the "new face" of that old face. (He's younger than most Senators, but perhaps older than them tricks.)
And surfing that wave is the power top himself, "Lady G."
I'm John Baron and I'm sticking to my story whether it's true or not.
