The shill at the three-card-monte game is hired to pretend to win and then to “side” with the yokels and show them how to do the same. The politician presents himself as the friend of the voter, but, elected, can only vote at the direction of his owners. He is their employee and, absent their favor, has no other means of support. Once “on the inside,” he is free to wheel, deal, and connive with the folks any side of the aisle, for his personal benefit, as long as his choices do not harm his employer’s interests. Here he is like the crooked bartender, allowed a certain latitude in making
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