For Obama’s ex-aides, it’s time to cash in

[limpyhobbler]

The decision on whether to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline is a political headache for President Obama. But to five of his former aides, it represents a business opportunity.

Four of them — Bill Burton, Stephanie Cutter, Jim Papa and Paul Tewes — work as consultants for opponents of the project, which would carry heavy crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries. Another, former White House communications director Anita Dunn, counts the project’s sponsor, TransCanada, among the clients of her communications firm.

Keystone XL is just one of several upcoming administration decisions providing lucrative work for former Obama advisers on issues ranging from gun control to mining to legalized gambling. Just this week, three of Obama’s top former political advisers — Robert Gibbs, Jim Messina and David Plouffe — were given five-figure checks to deliver remarks at a forum in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, which is in the midst of a campaign to burnish its image in Washington.

Obama came into office promising that his administration would hew to higher standards than his predecessors did. He implemented rules barring former aides from directly lobbying the government for two years and frequently decries the influence of “special interests” in Washington.
...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-obamas-ex-aides-its-time-to-cash-in-on-experience/2013/05/30/a649ccde-c867-11e2-9245-773c0123c027_story.html

[KoKo]

1. Sad...what else can one say. It's the way business is done..

the "Revolving Door" and all that stuff. It's perfectly acceptable. Nothing to see there...move along.

[theaocp]

2. www.wolf-pac.com n/t

[OKNancy]

3. I read the article at the Post site

the comment section seem tilted toward rightwingers calling the Obama administration corrupt.
My reaction: whatever. So some ex staffers are working against Keystone. Big deal.
Some are finding ways to get around the two year limit. Is this all they have?

[woo me with science]

4. Wow, your knee must hurt.

Right on cue.

Keystone will be a disaster. But, hey, it's the BLUE TEAM cashing in!

[ProSense]

7. Well,

"Wow, your knee must hurt.

Right on cue.

Keystone will be a disaster. But, hey, it's the BLUE TEAM cashing in!"

...given that you likely didn't read the piece, get a bandage for the knee.

ODS

[forestpath]

8. Results of jury

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Get some thicker skin.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I think they meant "knee jerk reaction", not "knees" plural ROTF thanks for the laugh though
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Not really. On bended knee would imply subservience to royalty. Get your mind out of the gutter. And the partisan stratosphere.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: As usual, woo hit the nail right on the head! Alerter is really reaching with their comments.

[OKNancy]

9. better the blue team than the one you cheer for

[dsc]

10. 4 of the 5 are working for opponents

in case you forgot, when you oppose something, you are against it.

[HiPointDem]

5. kr

[ProSense]

6. Oh,

Four of them — Bill Burton, Stephanie Cutter, Jim Papa and Paul Tewes — work as consultants for opponents of the project, which would carry heavy crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries.

...the horror!

Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president for government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters, said her group hired Burton, the former White House deputy press secretary, to highlight problems posed by Keystone XL. The State Department is still conducting an environmental review of the project.

Too bad he couldn't find a gig at Fox.