Entering September, New York has begun to feel a little hot, but it is still within the acceptable range, and it is generally comfortable and livable.

At this time, Sheila Clint is not back in New York, and she should be nervously preparing for the Democratic National Convention on September 10, where she will be officially nominated as the new Democratic presidential candidate of the United States. The Democratic National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about 160 kilometers from New York.

Debbie Wasserman, president of the Democratic National Convention, said in a previous statement, "In addition to the city's commitment to make the convention error-free and safe, Philadelphia's place in American history will provide the perfect setting for this special gathering." ”

The location of the two national conventions varies from year to year, and there is a deep meaning hidden in it. As the fifth largest city in the United States and the birthplace of the American Revolution, Philadelphia's place in American history cannot be underestimated: the Continental Congress of 1774 and 1775 was held here, the Declaration of Independence was signed here on July 4, 1776, and the first Constitution of the United States was born here in 1787. From 1790 to 1800, Philadelphia was the capital of the United States, where President George Washington took the oath of office. For this reason, Philadelphia is also known as the cradle of the United States of America. The fact that the Democrats are here for this convention is a clear demonstration of their determination to win, and Sheila Clint is probably only one final and most crucial step away from the presidency.

But it doesn't matter, Sheila's arrival in New York doesn't have much of an impact, just giving Li Jie more time to set up.

Sitting in the new Rolls-Royce Phantom LWB, Lee Kit and Raul Marcos are meeting a new guest. Their understanding of the political ecology of the United States is still in vague outlines, lacking a comprehensive and in-depth grasp, so they need a professional political consultant. And the guest in front of him is the candidate selected by Flor's network. So in a sense, it's also an alternative interview.

"Mr. Rabbi, if you have anything to drink, please feel free to drink it." Li Jie put down the glass containing whiskey in his hand, took a heavy puff on his cigar, and pointed to the luxurious wine cabinet and refrigerator in the car.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Lee. It's just that I'm getting older, and although I used to enjoy these thrills, my body has protested, and I can't bear it anymore. The speaker was James Madison University political science professor Tim Rabbi (tim_lapira), a sixty-year-old man with black hair and, despite wrinkled faces, could not hide his lean look and keen gaze, and appeared to be in excellent condition.

Politics is a technology, and consulting is a business.

Today, the U.S. campaign has become a highly specialized game, from the president to the congressman and governor. Behind them is a well-organized, staggeringly profitable campaign industry with more than 40,000 employees. These professional campaign specialists, known as political consultants, provide professional services to candidates and their election committees, including poll analysis, media communications, direct mail, fundraising, and analysis of events and opponents. What they all have in common is that they are well-connected, calculating, and the only measure of their professional record is the number of times they successfully send clients to win the crown.

Tim Rabbi is one such person who has served more than double-digit governors and legislators on both the Democratic and Republican parties, knows the election situation in each state inside out, and knows the experience of each politician very well, and can provide a truly high-level consulting service. He is good at promoting what his customers pay him to promote, and he can say it round or flat, and he is just as good at playing left as he is playing right. It is worth mentioning that Tim used to be Bill Crint's chief adviser, and later handed in his resignation because **and let ** sit in on his phone call with Clint was exposed by the media.

So Tim Rabbi can be summed up in one sentence - he has no factional tendencies, and if he has pragmatism, he is also pragmatist. It doesn't matter what you're advocating or what his own opinion is, he can really split his brain in half.

"That's a shame." So Li Jie shrugged his shoulders and looked at the other party. "So, Mr. Rabbi, I think Flower has told you what I need, what do you think I need to do now?"

"I heard that you have invested heavily in the general election, and I believe that you have done a very good job in this regard, and we can slowly operate on the specific things in the future." Tim Rabi spoke slowly, calmly and confidently. "I have two small suggestions for your current situation, I wonder if you are interested?"

"Of course." Li Jie nodded, this luxury car that costs a lot of money has done enough work in terms of comfort, although driving on the busy streets of New York, there is no bump and noise at all, and the car is quiet as if isolated from the world, a good place to talk about things.

"The first suggestion is that after the conventions of both parties, you should consider making appropriate investments in Republican candidates at the same time. This is the usual practice of a big man like you, and you will never let yourself be in the awkward position of failing in an investment, even if you are very optimistic about Mrs. Clint. Tim Rabi said with a smile, then paused slightly.

This year's Republican National Convention will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, two days after the Democratic Convention, on Sept. 12, where they will elect their party's new presidential and vice presidential candidates. Tim Rabbi's suggestion is clearly to bet on both sides at the same time, which is a unique way to bet on the US election, which increases the cost but ensures that the benefits are not lost due to the defeat of the election. This is a method that is akin to cheating, which is unlikely to occur in real gambling games, but is not uncommon in money campaigns. Of course, on the other hand, it also shows how high the returns on political investment are, and double the investment can ensure returns.

"Very well, keep talking." Li Jie became more interested, and flicked the ash of the cigar in his hand.

"The second piece of advice is that you should start looking for a lobbying firm of your choice." Tim Rabi is clearly well versed in these things, and as an expert on lobbying and interest group politics himself, he naturally has plenty of confidence.

The so-called political lobby is not only a very representative political phenomenon in the US congressional politics, but also another huge industry beyond imagination.

In English, the word "lobby" is derived from the word "lobby, porch", which can be said to be very vivid. When members are resting, lobbyists representing various interest groups usually stand in the hallways of Congress, waiting for lawmakers to enter and exit the halls of parliament in order to appeal to them about the legislative demands. In Washington, lawmakers can always take a few minutes out of their busy schedules to chat with visitors, and well-informed lobbyists often appear at lunches and receptions attended by lawmakers.

In Congress, there are interest groups for almost every topic discussed. Once a bill is introduced, many groups try to influence policy decisions and even the agenda itself. In addition to providing legislative advice, these groups have also taken action to employ "lobbyists" with extensive connections in the government to gain the benefit of their clients in the legislative process by influencing government officials. And these professional lobbyists are often from the lobby group represented by the lobbying company, so they are also called extra-hospital groups, starting from A Street near the Capitol Building in Washington, followed by B Street and C Street...... K Street, just ten blocks from Capitol Hill, is home to some of the most influential lobby groups and corporations in the United States.

These professional lobbying companies not only serve various interest groups in China, but also serve foreign governments and their interest groups. In Washington alone, there are more than 30,000 full-time and part-time lobbyists, most of whom have worked in the U.S. federal government or congressional offices, which gives them the opportunity to speak for their clients by connecting with bipartisan functionaries in the White House and Congress. This means that on average, every member of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives is surrounded by more than 60 lobbying advisers.

According to incomplete statistics, in 2015 alone, the amount of money spent by major interest groups on lobbying companies in the United States exceeded $3 billion, and there are not only local telecommunications companies represented by Google that spend tens of millions of dollars every year, but also companies with Chinese backgrounds such as Huaguo Xiangjiang Hutchison Whampoa and Huawei.

It is important to note that all of these lobbying actions are legal. According to the Lobbying Disclosure Act, which was amended and passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998, a lobbying firm is employed by other agencies and collects a service fee to influence the decisions of the employees of the legislative or executive agencies, and if it reaches a certain number of exchanges in a short period of time, the lobbying firm needs to obtain a lobbying license issued by the government before it can practice. Licensed companies are required to report to the government on a regular basis the details of their lobbying projects.

In other words, if the lobbying activity does not meet the above conditions, it does not even need to be licensed, which shows that there is a lot of room for operation. As a representative of the lobbying company, K Street is even jokingly called the "fourth pole of politics" in addition to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Of course, Americans are the best at taking these nicknames, for example, the news media often win this title, which shows that American politics is like a big broken shoe, and anyone can intervene.

"So, what should I do?" After Tim Rabbi's brief but vivid introduction to some of the lobbying firms, Lee Kit was already intrigued.

"From financial and political scholars to ordinary people, they like to talk about how American conglomerates influence politics, but few can tell us which companies spend so much money on lobbying and why." Tim Rabbi laughed. "For most businesses, lobbying is a long-term game. If you're ready to invest for the long term, look for a lobbying advisor or a team of lobbying advisors who are adept at judging the situation, building relationships with policy makers, agency representatives, including Capitol Hill and the White House, and acting quickly and accurately when something happens that could affect your business plan. ”

"Thank you, Tim. It seems that we will be working together for a long time, and for specific things, Flower will be in touch with you. Li Jie smiled with satisfaction and reached out to shake the old man's hand.

"Mr. Li, you won't regret this decision." Tim Rabbi smiled impatiently, he saw that he had arrived at the place, took his leave, and prepared to get out of the car.

"Don't you want to talk about compensation?" Li Jie asked.

"I've always believed that as long as you fully demonstrate your worth, you will definitely gain something." Tim Rabi laughed, his old spicy and sly expression.

"Looks like I couldn't agree more." Li Jie also laughed with a wordless tacit understanding, signaling Gus, who was sitting in the front, to use the intercom to stop the driver on the other side, and then watched the old man get out of the car with vigorous steps and disappear into the crowd.

"He's a good hunter, but you'll have to watch it a little closer." Li Jie looked at Tim Rabi's back and said lightly. "We have to go through every lobbying consultant in person and hold it tightly in our hands, so as to ensure that we are obedient and do not bite the master."

"I understand, I'll keep an eye on it." There was a cold glint in Flower's eyes, and he had clearly made up his mind.

The luxurious RV continued to drive smoothly through the streets, heading towards Li Jie's final destination this time.

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