Could Lieberman be offered $1,000,000 for early retirement?

[wuushew]

this represents the six remaining years of his current $165,200 a year salary. Clearly some degree of job satisfaction is derived from his paycheck or else he would do his job for free.


I think at least 10,000 Lieberman critics exist who would donate the $100 necessary. Hollywood or the business community could put up additional amounts in excess made negotiating his retirement.


Does making a formal financial offer to Senator Lieberman have any merit and when it is invariably rejected who would look better from it?

[NYCGirl]

1. Do you really think he's doing it for the money? He could make more in the private sector.

Or much more from lobbying.

[Phredicles]

2. My guess is that'd be chump change to a guy like that.

I can't imagine one becomes such a shameless servant of the establishment without $ignificant rea$on$, y'know?

[onenote]

3. In answer to the question: you would make him look good when he turned it down

Under what reasoning would he look bad turning down what is essentially a bribe?

[wuushew]

4. There is no quid pro quo

I am not offering money to change his vote on any amendment or bill. The money is exactly equal to compensation that would have been provided by his salary.

Connecticut would still be represented in the Senate, just by a different person. I don't see the ethical problem you do.

[onenote]

6. Maybe not a bribe in strict legal terms, but its how it would be perceived

by the public: an attempt to get someone who was elected with 50 percent of the vote in his state to abandon his elected office in return for cash and that attempt is motivated by a disagreement with his votes and positions.

Whether or not its a bribe, it would be perceived as one by the public who would applaud Lieberman for rejecting it and think poorly of those who made the offer, if for no other reason that it would set a horrible precedent (lots of rich repubs out there who could cobble together lots of $$ for similar offers).

[LeftishBrit]

9. Yes but...

'Connecticut would still be represented in the Senate, just by a different person. I don't see the ethical problem you do.'

Well, what if the Republicans then paid Feinstein or Boxer in California to take early retirement, so that the Terminator could replace her? California would still be represented in the Senate - but that would not be much of a comfort when the Dems lost their majority and the Californians got a right-winger.

Once you do it anywhere, it sets a precedent.

[brentspeak]

5. Sounds a bit like bribery.

Then again, 98% of Congress engages in legalized bribery every day.

[LeftishBrit]

7. I doubt that he needs the money...

Especially as all former senators get a very good pension deal, as I understand it.

He's doing it because he likes the power and because he believes in himself.

Anyway, if he took early retirement wouldn't the Republican governor appoint a Republican successor (this had come up before when it seemed possible that he'd replace Rumsfeld)?

Also, why just him, and not the 49 Republicans? And no doubt once it was attempted the Republicans would also try to see if they could pay off some of the Democratic senators.

[wuushew]

11. Did he see the VP slot as a path to more power in 2000?

?

[EstimatedProphet]

8. I'll pitch in!

If he'll take it, I'll donate!

[IChing]

10. $1 million sounds like something Dr. Evil would suggest.

When he came out of his coma

Chump change these days.

[KoKo]

12. You are KIDDING! He Get's Three or Four Times that amount from

.........to Spew his CRAP! YIKES!