A brief swerve into political mode (Unbridled Cynicism Dep't)

[dianeduane]

Hey, look: it's the congressional version of a Hugo Losers' Party.

A closed-door panel of defeated and retiring members [of the U.S. Congress], including Katherine Harris, R-Fla.; Clay Shaw, R-Fla.; Mike Bilirakis, R-Fla.; Anne Northup, R-Ky.; J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz.; and Ed Case, D-Hawaii, turned up in the Longworth Building on Tuesday for a career advice panel called “Life After Congress.”

“The main idea is you’re making the transition between being the grovelee versus the groveler,” said former Appropriations Chairman Bob Livingston, who now helms his own lobbying shop. “Before you were a Democrat or Republican. Now you are bipartisan beyond belief.”

He suggested they talk to some of the 37,000 lobbyists in the city and find out what they do, according to our spy in the room.

Oh yeah, just what we all need:  more lobbyists. (headclutch)

 

Comments

[wolf-moonshadow.livejournal.com]

Only a *headclutch*? That rates a full on headache and a *spineshiver* in my book.

No shocker there.

[trdsf.livejournal.com]

There really needs to be something barring former Representatives and Senators from becoming lobbyists for at least five to ten years after leaving office.

Yeah. Like they'll vote that through. The sad thing is, being a member of Congress is basically your portal to the real promised land: the seven-figure contract to going back and lobbying your former colleagues.

On the plus side, even if they turn around and become lobbyists the day after the next Congress convenes, it's worth it just to be finally rid of some of these people.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

The company is far more entertaining at a Hugo Losers Party.

I agree that there should be some sort of cooling off period (years?) where retired legislators cannot be lobbying.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Katherine Harris, as a lobbyist? What's she gonna lobby for, IDIOCY??? *headdesk*

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Thanks to Republican lawmakers who made it clear they wouldn't deal with Democratic lobbyists, being a lobbyist is now only bipartisan somewhere short of belief.

Which means the job prospects of the Republicans on that list aren't as good as they might be. Offhand, I'd say they would do better trying to get jobs with conservative think tanks.

[dduane.livejournal.com]

(just a tiny grin) Helps to be able to think, first.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Not necessary. Almost all "think tanks" could more accurately be called "kneejerk tanks."