@pattykimura The exceptions to the nepobabe presidencies (since JFK) are: Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Obama, Biden ...
It's almost like after Reagan one party switched to rule by hereditary aristocrats, and the other didn’t. (Gore: I'm in two minds as to whether he qualifies as a neo babe—dad was a US senator, but seems to have climbed the ladder as a lawyer. No obvious dynastic wealth …)
@cstross @pattykimura Post Carter, hereditary fortune remained at the forefront of politics via obfuscation, and a clever amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1976 which left a gaping loophole created by *Buckley v. Valeo.*
This allowed the FEC to rule that political parties could spend unregulated or "soft" money for non-federal administrative and party building activities - and eventually led to PACs and SuperPACs when delivered power back to dynastic wealth.
Charlie Stross
Dismal