Rep. Baker resigns to take lobbying job on K street.
By on Jan 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Rep. Baker resigns to take lobbying job on K street.
Earlier this month, ThinkProgress noted that Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) was in “serious talks” to become the president of the main lobbying group for hedge funds, the Managed Funds Association. Today, Baker made it official and announced that he is resigning from his House seat effective Feb. 7. As a legislator, Baker is probably best known for the callous comments he made after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast when he was overheard telling lobbyists, “We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did.”
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Another example of falling upward….
January 15th, 2008 at 3:00 pmRepublicans never tire of rewarding corruption.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:04 pmWhat happened to the cooling off period or is that just Senate? He is a scumbag of the first order and every article that mentions hedge funds should mention his callousness!
January 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pmAnother one bites the dust.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:07 pm“We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did…”
Huckabible & Duhryll would be sooooo proud….
January 15th, 2008 at 3:11 pmFourteen Defining Characteristics of Fascism
#9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not†citizens.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:13 pmRecommend prison time.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:16 pmMemo to next President:
Dear Sir or Madam;
Please take time from your busy days in the first hundred or so to cut the K street corporate whoremongers completely out of the legislative and executive loops.
Thanks for your prompt attention to this important matter.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pmWhat I don’t get is this: if all these Republicans are giving up their seats, that dramatically increases the chances of the various national and state Houses, Senates and Assemblies becoming more Democratic, almost to the point of super-majorities almost across the board.
Who will these new lobbyists be speaking to?
January 15th, 2008 at 3:24 pmSouthern Rightards never miss a chance to jump on the gravy train.
Trent ‘Hairpiece’ Lott (R) = K St.
Tom ‘Bugman’ DeLay )R) = K St.
R. ‘God cleaned it up’ Baker = K St.
K Street! You know, the house Jack Abramoff built!
January 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pmnot sure if you’re serious stefan…
January 15th, 2008 at 3:34 pmpeople on K st will prob not have a huge problem getting dems to bend to their will.
The important thing is that Baker will ahve a chance to hit up that burrito cart on 17th and K. Deelish.
tshirtinsurgency.com
I was half-serious. I know they’ll find willing Dems to speak with, but I suspect it’ll be a little more of an uphill battle to convince the ‘other side’ of their positions. Maybe not. But bottom line I’d rather see all those Repugs as lobbyists than as Congressmen! Preferably as a short respite before jail.
Burrito cart? 17th and K? Marking My Google Maps now…
January 15th, 2008 at 3:48 pmThe only one capable to take on K-Street is John Edwards. He is corporate America’s worst nightmare.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pmThe only one capable to take on K-Street is John Edwards. He is corporate America’s worst nightmare.
Comment by KansasLiberal — January 15, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
The only one willing, they are all capable, Hillary and Obama to too funded by K-Street to give a damn.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:06 pmBut add Kucinich to the willing list with Edwards.
In Michigan, we have “term limits” for our legislators and governor. This has created the situation where the legislature is just a elongated internship. These folks use their decade in the legislature to apply for lobbying jobs. For those folks and the “interest groups” they come to represent it’s a win-win situation. For the people of Michigan…not so much.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:13 pmGoing back to the pack to join his brother wolves. Oh, and thanks for working for your constituents for the full term they expected you to work (using the term work losely). This guy and dozens like him, including the entire congress are sellouts. Personal power, influence, and money have won them over.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:08 pm