Ex-BushCo Officials Leveraged Their Way Into Private Sector
By Susie Madrak Tuesday Jan 13, 2009 4:00pmNot exactly a surprise, is it? This administration has set new records for greed and self-interest:
WASHINGTON — Shortly after leaving his job as U.S. energy secretary in early 2005, Spencer Abraham took a $60,000-a-year post as a director of Occidental Petroleum, which soon became the first firm in 20 years to ship oil to the U.S. from Libya.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge accepted director's fees and consulting work from several firms seeking contracts with his old agency.
Tommy Thompson, the former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has consulted, lobbied or worked as an employee for 42 companies since leaving office in January 2005.
All told, 17 of 24 former Bush Cabinet members have taken positions with at least 119 companies, including 65 firms that lobby the government and 40 that lobby the agencies they headed, a liberal-leaning watchdog group said in a report Monday.
Melanie Sloan, the executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that the group's six-month investigation "has shown that most of these former Bush administration officials have cannily leveraged their time spent in the public sector'' and "made a mint on the backs of American taxpayers."
"It may be legal, but it is certainly not honorable," she said.
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That figure seems awfully low for a sleazoid of Abraham's caliber? Is it a no-show job, like those the Mob gets for its soldiers?
had an article on McDonald's yesterday, stating their average store manager earns 62 grand a year. I find it hard to believe former government officials would make less than a McD's manager. Maybe on paper but not in bank accounts.
Most of the typical "no-show" jobs that political types get, ie-consultant, or board of govs. are typically six figures a year for one day a month, at most. Little people like us are not worthy to shine their shoes.
Don't see why anybody is shocked by it though. Happens with every politician. And then when the next election comes around and their party is back in power, amazingly they'll all come back into the fold. See Bush 1's gang. See Bill Clinton's gang. See Raygun's gang.They don't go away. They pretend to hide in the real world until the political tide turns back to them.
Ironically, Bush 1 had the common sense to reject a lot of RayGun's retreads. And then his idiot son had to go out of his way to round them up again, just to prove he wasn't a TOTAL Daddy's Boy.
But fortunately, most of RayGun's gang are getting too old to do any more damage. Elliot Abrams was probably the last cough of the RayGun disease.
on "gov'mint "experience" is nothing new. Both side do it.
I couldn't help but laugh at the Related section....
Bush for Sale.
Bring your own red light.
I think you must mean $60 000 000 for Abraham. I'm pretty sure most Republican politicians think that paper boys are paid $60K per year.
They're too inept to get real jobs.
It's a funny situation this time around, though. Normally, when politicians and executive branch types retire, they get picked up by companies that want to get access to their roladex. They want somebody who can make phone calls (that actually get through) to people in government. When there's a change of power, especially one of THIS magnitude, the value of those people goes way down. Which means they're usually left with just the standerd WINGNUT WELFARE job at The American Enterprise Institute.
So, I'm surprised that businesses would hire any of these guys thinking that they'll still have access to power in Washington, when in reality, if they try to call anybody in government they'll just be put on hold, and forced to listen to Barry Manalow singing "Looks Like We Made It" until the new Democratic officials stop laughing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuXucYrxbY
Otherwise, Ha! I make more money than Spencer Abraham!
Y'all must have dropped a zero or two on this dude's salary. I can feel way rich as a librarian, for a few minutes anyway...
Well the lobbying part should be illegal. But leave it to our self concerned Congress to make sure that THEY have employment security after we vote their sorry asses out.
Who in their right mind would expect "honor" from any of these Bushco criminals.
The only reason a republican gets into government is GREED!
You have no republicans in our government that went there to help the people they are only there to help themselves.
GREED and power is what makes the republican party go round. GREED is the only reason republicans are in office!
They are liars and criminals.
You cannot be a republican and be a christian.
republican = insanity!
There's no room for honor at the pulpit that worships the dollar. Greed has made screwing the person next to you so you can profit heroic. Honor is made to seem pathetic and week now. It really is a shame :(
Wait a minute - - 17 folks have jobs at 117 corporations ?? That's almost 7 jobs per person. See - the recession has hit the repubs too. Us "normal" folks may have to work two or three, part-time jobs to simply make ends meet. These guys need to work seven.
Talk about a "work ethic," eh ??
Every Drug Czar since the office has existed has been a proponent of drug testing, and whaddaya know happens after they end their 'public service'? They go to work for drug-testing companies. Went on no matter who was in the White House or Congress.
This used to be called 'featherbedding'. Now it's just SOP. Come on, people, this isn't that newsworthy...
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