TAB
Posted on 11/06/2008 5:55:24 AM PST by flattorney
A Barack Obama presidency and stronger Democratic majorities on Capitol Hill signal a power shift beyond the White House and Congress. Expect new faces in corporate offices and trade association suites downtown, even if Democrats don’t imitate the K Street Project, the campaign by Republicans to fill lobbying slots with their own. The shift was already under way before Tuesday, prompted by the Democratic takeover of Congress two years ago, though the impact of that victory has been mostly limited to a move away from the all-GOP business model and toward shops that offered well-connected Democrats.
Corporate offices and trade associations, more valuable as political entities because they offer access to large numbers of workers, have largely remained Republican. Those include trade groups that represent sectors of the economy — like energy and financial services — that are likely to see the most legislative activity in the 111th Congress. “Business is going to have to model their approach to Washington [in a way] more receptive to this White House,” said Joshua Ackil, a former senior aide to the Clinton White House. After Democrats took over Congress in 2007, Ackil started his own lobbying firm, Franklin Square Group, with fellow Democrat Matt Tanielian.
GOP aides and lobbyists have long insisted that corporations didn’t need to be pressured to react to the new power structure in Washington ushered in by the GOP takeover in 1994. Corporate America responded on its own, like a company altering its product line to meet the needs of a changing marketplace. Whether forced or not, Democrats now see themselves as the beneficiaries of K Street’s flexibility. “It is going to happen without any arm-twisting,” said Rick Kessler, president of Dow Lohnes Government Strategies. “It is ironic that we Democrats are going to benefit from Tom DeLay’s work.” Last week, Kerry Knott, a former aide to House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), was replaced as head of Comcast’s government affairs office by Melissa Maxfield, a former aide to then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.). Lobbyists expect to see more companies make similar moves heading into next year. But the change could take as long as the just-completed campaign did, if not longer. One immediate obstacle: There are a limited number of Democrats to go around.
The Barack Obama campaign sought to keep lobbyists at arm’s length by not accepting their political contributions. But an Obama administration is likely to raid lobbying firms as well as congressional offices for talent. David Axelrod, Obama’s chief strategist, said in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that lobbyists will have a place in the administration. They just won’t be able to work on issues that affect their former employers or clients. So, at the same time lobbying firms, companies and trade groups want to hire Democrats, they have a new competitor for the available talent; the new Democratic White House. “It’s going to take a little bit of time to see who wants to work in the administration,” said Ivan Adler, an executive recruiter at the McCormick Group.
More than 3,000 new positions will come open due to the new administration, and already, “The demand for Democrats is pretty high and the supply of those who want the jobs is pretty low,” Adler said. Several lobbyists said on background that they would be willing to quit for a position in the new administration. “I would take this opportunity to switch jobs,” one said. Prospective employers are particularly focused on Democrats with Senate experience, Adler said. Although Democrats expanded their narrow majority on Tuesday, they were still unlikely to reach the 60 votes needed to block filibusters. Companies will still face an easier time blocking bad bills in the upper chamber than in the House, where the rules favor the majority party. “Potential clients will need to recognize they need to build coalitions to get goals completed. You are going to have to reach across the aisle to achieve those things,” said Jessica Lenard, vice president for Dow Lohnes.
They ran a good campaign, but it is just more of the same. 'Our lobbyists are the good lobbyists.'
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Marxists consolidating power - Corporate
TAB
K Street will become MLK street in a year or less.
“The demand for Democrats is pretty high and the supply of those who want the jobs is pretty low,”
You don’t say.
They ran a good campaign, but it is just more of the same. 'Our lobbyists are the good lobbyists.'
The bitter backstabbing of the victors can be quite entertaining.
“but it is just more of the same.”
The change he wanted first and foremost was to be in charge and bring his bootlickers. That will be more of the same.
The other change...well, we’re seeing that on Wall Street today.
I just had the most maddening conversation with a co-worker, and yes, I semi-randomly chose this thread to vent on so I would not post a new vanity thread.
He called me for technical help, and in the middle of this he says...
Idiot co-worker: Hey, B*, you’ll never believe the hilarious email I just got.
Me: What about?
Idiot co-worker: This friend says that by voting for Obama I am supporting infanticide. Isn’t that hilarious!
Me: Do you know his voting record?
Idiot co-worker: Well, there are many ways to interpret that.
Me: Have you heard the audio of him arguing against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act? I have. It is chilling and starkly contrasts his publicly stated reasons for voting against it four times.
Idiot co-worker: silence.
Me: I’ll leave it at that. Let’s get back to work.
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Thank you. I am now out of vent mode.
Same old, same old. Obama was merely a vessel for the left wingers to take over the lobbying arm of Washington. For a party that's for the little guy, there sure are a bunch of millionaires and billionaires running around it.
I thought DeLay told the K streeters early on after 1994 win that they should at least share some of their bucks with the party in power seeing that the majority of their bucks have always gone to Dems.
Did I miss something or am I mistaken?
Thanks for posting — How true and How sad......grrrrrrr
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