GOP Uses Public Service to Cash In

[realFedUp]

got this as an e-mail...

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/05/gop-sees-public-service-as-cash-cow.html

GOP Uses Public Service to Cash In

With news today that former Bush Commerce Secretary Don Evans has accepted a top corporate job, a clear (but not surprising) pattern has emerged: Top Republicans are now making an art out of selling off their government experience to the highest bidder.

DON EVANS: Goes from Secretary of Commerce which oversees U.S. industry, to CEO of the Financial Services Forum. There, he will "interact closely with the CEOs of the largest financial institutions in the world" and push their agenda.

TOM RIDGE: Goes from Secretary of Homeland Security to corporate board member of Savi Technology, a company that the New York Times noted has won more than $100 million in government contracts for security technology. This one really is no shocker. As CBS News reported, "the day after President Bush named him homeland security secretary, Tom Ridge visited the Arizona home of a friend whose lobbying firm represented companies that were later awarded contracts by Ridge's department."

TOM SCULLY: Goes from head of Medicare, to health care lobbyist immediately after using his government office to help pass the health care industry-written Medicare reform bill through Congress.

BILLY TAUZIN: Goes from chairman of the committee that oversees the drug industry, to the head of the drug industry's lobbying association.

ARI FLEISCHER: Goes from top White House spokesman to opening "Ari Fleischer Communications" - a firm the New York Times reported on 7/14/03 "that will advise corporate executives."

JOHN ASHCROFT: Goes from Attorney General to K street lobbyist/consultant for corporations on security issues.

CHRIS WRAY: Goes from Bush's top corporate cop to top corporate criminal defense lawyer.

RUDY GIULIANI: Goes from Mayor of New York to high-paid consultant for the pharmaceutical industry. He also does security consulting work.

Ridge, Ashcroft and Giuliani are particularly shameless. They went from using their platforms to raise fears of terrorism, to then going into industries that are making a millions off those fears.


Sources:
Don Evans sells out: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=46730
Tom Ridge sells out: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8575.htm
CBS on Ridge previewing his sellout early on: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/13/politics/main666698.shtml
Tom Scully sells out: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0404/040904nj1.htm
Billy Tauzin sells out: http://www.phrma.org/whoweare/prescorner/
Ari Fleischer sells out: New York Times 7/14/03
John Ashcroft sells out: http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050502-112422-5153r.htm
Chris Wray sells out: http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/bushs-top-cop-to-defend-corporate.html
Rudy Giuliani sells out: http://news.corporate.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20050411/11apr2005153949.html
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/18/news/newsmakers/giuliani_deal/

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. And this goes all the way down to the local level.

Don't fool yourself. There are unholy networks between local government and organizations such as the Rotary Club. Unfortunately, in order to stop them, you find yourself fighting City Hall which is a futile effort. The other option is Civil lawsuits, but the networks are so intricate that you can never be sure that the sitting judge is a hunting partner of the guy you're sueing.

[Sub Atomic]

2. amen to that [sic]

these fu(kers have been planning this since the 70s when they started taking over local community seats and then moved to the school boards.

does anyone really think this is an overnight phenomenon?

is anyone that stupid?

[realFedUp]

3. kick

kos I can

[Mark E. Smith]

4. Certain irony in this ...

... because it is not like they haven't been working for these folks all along.

So are these lucrative positions that they are winning in the private sector due to their accomplished administrative skills and connections, or merely rewards for services already rendered?

[realFedUp]

5. Exactly

It's like getting more money for a used
car than when you purchased it new.

[Mark E. Smith]

6. I Like The Analogy

And if it really was a used car lot they could call it: "Honest George's Lemon Exchange."