NYT on Hastert’s new lobbying gig: ‘Old incumbents never die; they just backslap away.’
NYT on Hastert’s new lobbying gig: ‘Old incumbents never die; they just backslap away.’
Former Republican House speaker Dennis Hastert recently joined Dickstein Shapiro, a “powerhouse Washington law and lobbying firm.” He will cash in on his time as a lawmaker and is estimated to make more than $500,000 a year. Today, the New York Times has an editorial on this troubling revolving door:
We never really expected Mr. Hastert to indulge the Jeffersonian fantasy and humbly return to his old calling as a high school wrestling coach. Still, his new job as access-enabler highlights the capital reality that old incumbents never die; they just backslap away.
More than 200 former members of Congress have crowded through the revolving door to lobby in recent years. More are lining up at the pay window. Congress’s designated ethics monitors already are bending the rules to let incumbents job shop their private-sector value while still on the privileged elected perch.
(HT: CREW)
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Is he going to hire Jeff Gannon as his “Front” man?
Or maybe get Mark Foley to work “under” him?
June 6th, 2008 at 6:34 pmGotta love that Wingnut Welfare™!!
June 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pmCronyism will surely be a good part of the demise of American freedoms.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:42 pmThis is from Crooks and Liars search on ‘Hastert”:
Hastert served as Speaker of the House from 1999 till 2007 when the Democrats took control of Congress, but will be remembered most for his disgraceful behavior in covering for former Rep., Mark Foley, who was hitting on underage male pages while in office.
Form your own conclusions.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:42 pmThis fat bastard is long overdue for a massive coronary.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:44 pmAre the food prices getting to him?
June 6th, 2008 at 7:01 pmGood ol’ Danny — first he took what he could from Illinois political graft, parlayed it into Washington, and on through the revolving door of lobbying. For a corrupt, fat, old, former wrestler, he’s still managed to wriggle through.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:26 pmWhat’s going to happen to him and the illegal deals he made with Turkey?
I meant Denny
June 6th, 2008 at 7:26 pmLet’s see, how about a law that says you must wait as many years as you served in congress, before you can begin a job lobbying congress after you leave.
One term as a Rep wait 2 years, one term as a Senator wait 6 years.
I could respect a career politician easier under those arrangements rather than the system now in place.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:48 pmShows you how out of it I am. I thought Dennis Hastert had a new gig at the Illinois State Pen.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:49 pm“Dickstein Shapiro”? That sounds about right..
June 6th, 2008 at 8:27 pmHow politically tone-deaf is that firm?
Hiring a loser like Hastert – who, while in office made few friends on the democratic side – just when republicans are poised to lose even more House and Senate seats, is a really stupid move. Maybe his wife is related to one of the partners.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:32 pmI find that picture of “Denny” and a young boy very disturbing…and very telling.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:44 pmSuch a stand-up guy, former wrestling coach, bringer of pork. Fact is he bailed out on the job for which he chose to run, leaving the taxpayers (constituents) with huge special elections bills for filling his seat. Had to beat that deadline for the change in the lobbying ethics rules, you know.
June 7th, 2008 at 12:09 amCan’t wait until Obama slams the door shut. With their feets in it.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:11 amWait, Wiki sez that he resigned his seat mid-session on November 26, 2007. Didn’t he retire early so he could avoid a new law requiring 2 years (instead of 1) before becoming a lobbyist?
And if my math serves me right, isn’t that just over 6 months?
June 7th, 2008 at 4:34 amI think it was Trent Lott who resigned just in time to avoid the new law…
June 7th, 2008 at 8:33 amWell, it ain’t to much to pay Denny, if your paying by the pound!
June 7th, 2008 at 2:29 pmHAasTurd is a boy toucher IMHO!!
June 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm