Why politicians don't care that much about re-election (2012 article)

[merrily]

The Clintons are featured in this article from a few years back, but that is not why I am posting it, so I chose not to put that part of the article's title in the subject line.

Bill Clinton’s $80 Million Payday, or Why Politicians Don’t Care That Much About Reelection
Posted on May 22, 2012 by Matt Stoller

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Most activists and political operatives are under a delusion about American politics, which goes as follows. Politicians will do *anything* to get reelected, and they will pander, beg, borrow, lie, cheat and steal, just to stay in office. It’s all about their job.


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In fact, this is what politics is increasingly about, not elections, but staying in the club. Erskine Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff, lost two Senate elections. But he’s on the board of Facebook and Morgan Stanley, as well as authoring the highly influential Simpson-Bowles plan to gut Social Security and Medicare. Tom Daschle, who lost a Senate race in 2004, is a millionaire who in large part crafted Obama’s health care plan. Former Senator Judd Gregg is now at Goldman Sachs. Current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel made $12 million in between his stint at the Clinton White House which ended in 2000 and his election to Congress in 2002. Former Congressman Harold Ford, now at Morgan Stanley, is routinely on TV making political claims. Larry Summers is on the board of the high-flying start-up Square. Meanwhile, Russ Feingold, a Senator who did go after Wall Street, is a professor in the Midwest. Eliot Spitzer is a struggling TV host and writer.

Much more.
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/05/its-not-about-reelection-bill-clintons-80-million-payday.html

Please, please try to ignore specific names. This issue is mega, not limited to one or two politicians or elections. It's a systemic issue.

[GoneFishin]

1. What is the Presidents salary? A couple hundred grand, for example. So, yeah.

What is/was the Attorney General's salary at Doowie, Cheetum, and Howe before and after his government "service"?

[merrily]

3. It's a lot more than that, but the lifestyle is that of a pasha.

(I have no clue what a pasha is.)

Since 2001, the president has earned a $400,000 annual salary, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment. The most recent raise in salary was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 and went into effect in 2001

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States

Of course, the entertainment budget does not include state dinners, concerts by Paul McCartney, etc.

There are so many things, though, not reflected in any of that, such as Secret Service protection for life and Secret Service improvements to the original home that increase its re-sale value greatly. Plus, as I said, a lifestyle for 4 to 8 years that is tough for most of us even to imagine. Air Force One, a doctor traveling with you everywhere, the most secure limo in the world, 54 Christmas trees and other decoratons done by professional decorators flown in from all over the US, etc.

But, I digress. The article is telling us that the real money, not only for a President, but for a Tom Daschle or a Joe Lieberman, comes after the office holding stops. In theory, anyway.

[merrily]

6. Forgot to add: Holder was in government service before the Obama administration.

Then, he got a job in a firm known for hiring government employees. Then, he went into the Obama administration and went back to the same firm.

I mention this only in the unlikely event that someone learns his salary only before and after his service in the Obama administration. Those two facts alone will not tell the whole story.

[cantbeserious]

2. The 1% Play The Ex-Politicians For Chumps

eom

[merrily]

4. And all of them together play the 99% for chumps.

[cantbeserious]

5. ^^^ This ^^^

eom

[SheilaT]

7. It also happens somewhat on a local level.

It's not uncommon for someone to serve several terms in their State House or Senate, and wind up with a cushy job after. Doesn't happen to all, but it does happen.

[merrily]

8. Sure. Why should they be left out? Scott Brown started as a Massachusetts state senator.

The last two or three speakers of the House in Massachusetts are either serving time or finished serving.

"Greed, for want of a better word, is good." For some.