I wish we could talk sanely about the Clintons and their long history

[justiceischeap]

50. Here's a list of the 10 richest politicians in US politics

The Clinton's aren't on the list but since you're combining their net worth, I guess, technically they could have made the list (if they were current politicians). However, if you divide their speaking fees in half (you know, to be generous because I doubt MRS. Clinton is making nearly as much as PRESIDENT Clinton on their speech circuit) that puts each at $62.5 million total net worth for speaking engagements. Still not close enough to the 10th richest person on the above list but we're not talking about royalties from books that Mrs. Clinton has written (ghost-written). So theoretically she could have made as much as her husband since leaving the White House and made the list, if she were still in office.

We cannot have this discussion without discussing the fact in the era of modern politics, it's all about the money. You almost have to have money to make or raise money to get anywhere within politics nationally. Is this the Clinton's fault? Did they start this trend? Or was it started because Democrats started out fundraising Republicans, so the repubs decided they'd level the playing field by screwing everyone?

In the Senate, over the last 6 years, Elizabeth Warren has raised $45,964,247 for her political war chest (how long has she been in office?). Al Franken has raised $30,770,856--these are the top 2 Democratic fundraisers currently in office.

The 2012 Presidential election cost almost $7 billion dollars.

I agree, we need big money out of politics. If it were more like the UK's 38 day election season, I'd say our elections would cost a lost less. There's also a spending cap in UK elections ($33 million US), another smart idea. If we, the American people, demanded things done this way, maybe our politicians would get on with representing us than spending the majority of their time fundraising so they can actually win office.