I regretfully acknowledge that it may even make practical sense to have a few hired guns like Norquist, Downey, and Weber around--people of value only for their connections to power, not for any knowledge or talent.
( ( ( ( I ( regretfully ( acknowledge ( that ( it ( ( may even ) ( ( make ( practical sense ) ) ( to ( ( have ( ( a ( few ( hired guns ) ) ) ( like ( Norquist ( , ( Downey ( , ( and Weber ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) around ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) -- ) ( ( ( people ( of ( ( value only ) ( for ( their connections ) ) ) ) ) ( to power ) ) ( , ( not ( for ( any ( ( knowledge or ) talent ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP I)) (ADVP (RB regretfully)) (VP (VBP acknowledge) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (MD may) (ADVP (RB even)) (VP (VB make) (NP (JJ practical) (NN sense)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB have) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ few) (CD hired) (NNS guns)) (PP (IN like) (NP (NNP Norquist) (, ,) (NNP Downey) (, ,) (CC and) (NNP Weber)))) (ADVP (RB around))))))))))) (: --) (FRAG (NP (NP (NNS people)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN value) (RB only)) (PP (IN for) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS connections))))) (PP (TO to) (NP (NN power)))) (, ,) (RB not) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT any) (NN knowledge) (CC or) (NN talent)))) (. .)))
It might be safer if we have hired guns to protect us.
( It ( ( might ( be ( safer ( if ( we ( have ( ( hired guns ) ( to ( protect us ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (MD might) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (ADJP (JJR safer)) (SBAR (IN if) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN hired) (NP (NNS guns)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB protect) (NP (PRP us)))))))))))) (. .)))