Revolving Door
More On Governor Graft
Indicted Gov. Rod Blagojevich is a foul-mouthed pig. But what’s really vulgar about him is that he’s the norm, not the exception in today’s politics.
December 10, 2008 | Read More
Obama Realilty Check - Healthcare Edition
Obama says he wants to fix our diseased healthcare system. But can a former healthcare lobbyist be trusted to do that?
December 1, 2008 | Read More
Obamanomics
Obama is relying on two people who helped cause the economic meltdown to help him fix it
November 19, 2008 | Read More
The Revolving Door Spins Into The Obama White House
Obama’s chief of staff earned millions as an investment banker by exploiting his knowledge of government. Now that he is set to become the right hand man of the most powerful man in the world, will anyone be able to exploit him–or his new boss?
November 19, 2008 | Read More
The War of Independents - Responding to Feedback
There’s been some interesting, and thoughtful, feedback to my op-ed in the San Jose Mercury News a few weeks back on sending independents to Congress.
One commenter, calling himself majick275, praised the idea but said it won’t work because the American people are hooked on receiving wasteful pork from their congressional representatives. Without caucusing with one Dead Old Party or the other, majick275 reasoned, independents won’t be able to make deals with their colleagues so that they can bring home the bacon for their constituents, which will keep voters from selecting them.
This is a legitimate concern. But I simply do not believe most voters…
October 1, 2008 | Read More
Slam the Revolving Door
Men like George Bush Sr. should be ashamed. After he left office, he went to work jetting around the world and shilling for the Carlyle Group. In other words, he cashed in on his time as president like it was some kind of corporate internship instead of public service. He’s not alone. Just about every other president has used his post-White House years in similarly vulgar fashion.
This kind of unsavory exploitation of public office is all too common-and it’s a real problem. How can we trust our leaders to make the right decisions while in office if they’re all just bucking…
August 26, 2008 | Read More
Get out of the Lobby!
I’m not one of those people who believe all lobbyists should be banned. As much as I’d enjoy seeing all those well-healed mouthpieces tossed out of Washington on their rumps, lobbyists should be allowed to speak with lawmakers all they want. They’re American citizens after all and our elected officials work for them as well. But here’s the catch: they should not enjoy any special or secret access.
First of all, no lobbyist should ever be allowed to write any part of any piece of legislation. It’s absurd that I should even have to say that. But that’s how bad it’s…
August 26, 2008 | Read More
Reason #34: Washington’s Money-Go-Round
These days, more and more lobbyists are former politicians. In 2005, Public Citizen found that over 40 percent of recently retired lawmakers went into lobbying. But even that high number is actually drastically low. It doesn’t include hundreds of “retired” office holders like ex-senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole, who is not officially registered as a lobbyist but still works for a major lobbying firm providing, “strategic advice to clients.”
These ex-pols turned professional mouthpieces barely change their daily routines when they switch careers. They walk the same halls, schmooze with the same people, and toil for the same special interests.…
August 26, 2008 | Read More
Reason #32: The Carlyle Group - Putting Government to Work
Brown and Root and Enron both used their political connections to call in favors and earn handsome profits. But no company has used Washington insiders to reap huge windfalls like the powerful investment firm, the Carlyle Group. Carlyle treats the highest levels of government like one big recruiting pool. They hire politicians and policymakers straight out of office and, in return, those figures exploit their inside knowledge of the system.
Carlyle treats the highest levels of government like one big recruiting pool.
Back in the late 80s, for instance, Carlyle brought newly retired defense secretary Frank Carlucci on as CEO. Carlucci parlayed his Pentagon…
August 26, 2008 | Read More
Reason #29: The Well-Oiled Revolving Door
As a reward for his work for the drug industry, former congressman Billy Tauzin slid from the public to the private sector for $2 million a year. But many government officials go the other direction, from corporate boardrooms to government posts, and still do quite nicely for themselves - and their former employers.
Dick Cheney is probably the worst example. He went from government to industry and back to government again, but no matter where he hung his hat, he kept making money for his benefactors in the business world. As defense secretary during the first Bush Administration, Cheney helped a company called…
August 26, 2008 | Read More
