Was Miss Vicki (Iseman) a "swallow"?

[deminks]

http://www.atlargely.com/2008/02/marcy-wheeler-j.html

(snip)

In spook-speak, a Swallow is a term used to describe a female operative or agent (not officer) as "a female agent employed to seduce people for intelligence purposes."

Now read this very interesting analysis by Marcy Wheeler about John McCain's "friend"/lobbyist Vicky Iseman and tell me if she does not appear to be a Swallow for someone, installed in the McCain camp?

(snip)

This is something really interesting to consider. Is it possible that corporations are placing "swallows" inside the offices of our elected officials? If someone would have suggested this to me a few years ago, I would have laughed it off.

But given the almost lock-step approach of Congress to consistently voting against the citizens of this nation in favor of corporations, this possibility becomes that much stronger. If my theory on Ms. Iseman holds, then her past will reveal some interesting connections. My guess is that she got her sudden rise to stardom much the same way Susan Ralston did.

(end snip)


Link to the original article:

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/02/21/did-vicki-iseman-steal-honor-in-three-presidential-elections/

(snip)

Did Vicki Iseman “Steal Honor” in THREE Presidential Elections?
By: emptywheel Thursday February 21, 2008 9:16 am

Iseman's role in two media corporations who did big favors for Bush, rather than McCain, actually raises more questions for me than it answers. My biggest question about this whole scandal is why this is coming out in 2008, rather than during the South Carolina campaign in 2000. If Iseman was bragging so openly about her access to McCain--and if McCain's advisors saw it as one of his big weak points in the 2000 campaign--then why didn't Karl Rove use it?

The stories about Iseman all suggest (without saying what it means) that her career took off out of nowhere, from receptionist to president's special assistant to partner all in a matter of a couple of years. And her portfolio appears to be rather different than the earmarks portfolio that the company specializes in. Is there a back story to how Iseman became a one-person media lobbyist in such a short time? (Note, I'm not suggesting that she slept her way to the top--rather, I'm suggesting she may have been tapped to play a certain role for conservative media companies and that contributed to her value to the company.)

I don't think Iseman's earlier lobbying of McCain to help these two companies expand in 1999 and 2000 means Iseman had a role in the airing of Stolen Honor. But it does suggest something about the powerful people on whose behalf Iseman was lobbying McCain.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Isn't it terrible that with the discourse lately here

that I just knew this was going to be some type of misogynist crap?
I apologize for my thoughts.
Nice find.:thumbsup:

[LiberalEsto]

2. or a spit? nt

[tridim]

3. I think she's her lobbying firm's favor girl.

[Richard Steele]

4. K&R

[formercia]

5. I think "Sparrow" is the proper term.

To swallow or not to swallow is a totally different subject.

[deminks]

6. LOL, actually Larisa provides a link

http://www.intelligencesearch.com/spycodes-19.html

SWALLOW - a female agent employed to seduce people for intelligence purposes.

[jody]

7. What about Monica Samille Lewinsky? n/t

[deminks]

8. Another distinct possibility, IMHO. nt.

[deminks]

9. Also, why does Judith Miller keep popping up in my brain? nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. I think someone in the Kremlin said that they believed she was planted

for that purpose -- not that they sent her. Just that it sounded familiar.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. Honeypot

Lewinsky was a Honeypot used to lure Clinton to his demise, not to obtain intelligence from him.

However the corporate shadow government, long involved with the intelligence agencies, has adopted their 'best practices' to further their agenda.

[jody]

19. Honeypot! Don't forget the ties between the CIA and corporations from the beginning. Bill Buckley

was a CIA operative.

William Frank "Bill" Buckley, Jr. wrote "When in 1951 I was inducted into the CIA as a deep cover agent, the procedures for disguising my affiliation and my work were unsmilingly comprehensive."

[Eric J in MN]

10. Another way of looking at the issue,

...is to ask, how many corporate lobbyists are hired for their looks (despite lack of a law degree and lack of direct experience in the industry their lobbying for)?

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Beauty sells. Corps have known this for years. Why do you think they

hired gorgeous young girls to hand out cigarettes for free on corners for promos?

So, yes, I think Ms. Iseman swallows. That's why she makes the big bucks.

[jody]

13. Also pharmaceutical companies hire attractive sales reps to visit physicians. n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. They all have their stealth methods.

If it's not beauty, it's hiding behind the cross or wrapping themselves in the flag. Good camouflage.

[smoogatz]

14. The big corporate/international lobbying firms

still use pretty much the same tactics they always have to gain influence: booze, cash, gifts, trips and women. It wouldn't surprise me if there's an element of blackmail in the mix, too. No doubt the book on McCain was that he'd be receptive to the attentions of someone like Miss Vicki. And I certainly hope she does swallow, otherwise McCain will have sacrificed his shot at the white house for what amounts to a glorified hand-job. How sad is that?

[grasswire]

17. I wonder when that pic with W was taken

They look cute together.

[KharmaTrain]

18. I Think A Better Term Is "Player"

From the more I'm reading about this lady and her firm, I'm convinced that the real aphrodisiac that drove these people was money, power and status. It was the riding in the corporate jets, the golf tournaments and "retreats", the parties and high life...being "someone". She was the Washington equivelent of an agent/fixer...right in the middle of the action...getting and giving favors in exchange for more power and money.

One thing we've known about McCain is his ego is massive and he especially cherished his high profile media role. Surely Iseman and her clients saw that as well and played to making Mr. "Straight Talk" a big fish...giving his ego that boost to go for the nomination in 2000. If anything he was let down as the media alone couldn't win the nomination for him. One interesting side here is that most of McCain's advocacy on behalf of Iseman was before 2000.

Now it'll be interesting to learn more about Ms. Iseman...and who her other contacts on Capitol Hill were. Surely McCain wasn't the only one. I've asked if she or her firm were a part of the K Street Project or if she was able to get in and write regulations into the books that benefitted her clients.

I'm sure many of us have seen the "operator" in our business lives...the wheeler-dealer who can flirt or bribe or charm the pants off of someone without having to be sexual. They find a find to push the buttons and that's all it takes.

Keep your eye on Ms. Iseman...her story is the one that will really give this story legs...and nice ones at that!