Big Bucks

It seems that virtually every entrenched politician is a multi-millionaire ... even if they had entered office a pauper. How do these often slow-witted people pull their enrichments off? Let me count the ways:

- Gifts and gifts-in-kind from lobbyists
- Book deals
- Kickbacks from overpaid staffers (illegal)
- Exorbitant speaking fees and go-alongs
- Syphoning money from campaign funds
- Insider stock and commodity trading
- Plush no-show jobs for spouses and relatives
- TV appearance fees
- Sweetheart real estate deals
- Fake foundations
- Fat salaries and pensions
- Pork from pork-barrel legislation
- Bribes (illegal)
- Padded expense accounts
- Free medical expenses and other allowances
- "Friendly" bank loans and loan forgiveness

It would seem that new forms of this political grease are constantly being invented. Chasing these ephemera is a frustrating and no-win exercise. The easier these money scams become, the more attractive politics becomes for low-life's. The only possible solution might be to force full annual public disclosure by politicians as to the sources of their net worth increases?

Big Bucks

Everyone (almost) looks on with envy on television personalities ... salivating at what they could pull down. Curious about the kind of money that these glitterati earn annually or for each appearance on the boob tube. So how much do they make? See: Variety Story. I'll list just the top twenty-four news and variety hosts below. Go to the hyperlink to see the rest:

Judge Judy!?!

Just Whistle

Last time around Wall Streeters (such as Goldman Sachs) contributed the big bucks to the Obama campaign ... this time, not so much.  But stepping into the vacuum are the lawyers ... particularly the lawyers representing government whistle-blowers (see: New York Times Article).  So far, this one small legal cadre have coughed up $3 million to Obama and will likely come across with lots more before November.  These lawyers have benefit under Obama to the tune of roughly 40% of the $1.6 billion that the government has rewarded whistle-blowers under the current administration.

I am in favor of the notion that whistle-blowers should be rewarded for the job-risks they take ... however I don't think that their lawyers are quite so exposed.  Also, I question the advisability of politicians taking big donations from a group of lawyers who benefit greatly if and when your administration caves-in on any legal matters they bring (to my mind, something Eric Holder has shown himself capable of doing.).  And, finally, I am also compelled to inquire as to how much the whistle-blower(s) on the $535 million Solyndra fiasco received?