Washington, D.C.: A Hotel California for Politicians

Hardhatters ^ | 05/14/2014 | Jordan Long

[thetallguy24]

As America withers from the effects of falling incomes, a shrinking labor force, abysmal economic growth, and decaying social capital, our imperial capital city remains vibrant. Washington, D.C. is as prosperous and prominent as it has ever been. Parenting magazine has named DC as the best place in America to raise a family. The counties of Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland which surround the capital are seven of the ten wealthiest in America. While Houston does petroleum, New York finance, and San Francisco technology, the business of Washington is influence peddling, palm greasing, and sausage making.

Perhaps this explains what makes our federal city such an attractive place of residence for ex-legislators. It’s an unfortunate reality that most national politicians do not return to the communities they represent at the end of their legislative careers. Many come to DC for the public service, but stay for the lucrative job opportunities.

The chart below shows the extent of this phenomenon. It lists some Senators who have retired, willingly or otherwise, since 2006, and what they’re up to now.

 

Senator	Current Employment	Location
Joe Lieberman	Senior Counsel, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, and Friedman- New York	New York
Trent Lott	Senior Counsel, Patton-Boggs	Washington, DC
Jim DeMint	The Heritage Foundation	Washington, DC
Jim Talent	Distinguished Fellow, The Heritage Foundation	Washington, DC
Conrad Burns	Senior Advisor, GAGE International	Washington, DC
Ben Nelson	Chief Executive, National Association of Insurance Commissioners	Washington, DC
John Ensign	Veterinarian	Las Vegas, Nevada
Jeff Bingaman	Distinguished Fellow, Stanford Law School	Stanford, California
Mike DeWine	Ohio Attorney General	Columbus, Ohio
Bill Frist	Professor of Business and Medicine	Nashville, Tennessee
Kay Bailey Hutchison	Senior Counsel, Bracewell and Giuliani	Dallas, Texas
Herb Kohl	Owner, Milwaukee Bucks	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wayne Allard	Senior Counsel, The Livingston Group	Washington, DC
Larry Craig	Lobbyist, New West Strategies	Washington, DC
Max Baucus	U.S. Ambassador to China	Beijing, China
John Sununu	Senior Policy Advisor, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld	Washington, DC
Gordon Smith	President, National Association of Broadcasters	Washington, DC
Christopher Dodd	President, Motion Picture Association of America	Washington, DC
Evan Bayh	Strategic Advisor, McGuirreWoods	Washington, DC
Kit Bond	Parnter, Thompson Coburn	Washington, DC
Judd Gregg	CEO, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association	Washington, DC
Byron Dorgan	Senior Policy Advisor, Arent Fox	Washington, DC
George Voinovich	Retired	Cleveland, Ohio
Russ Feingold	President, Progressives United	Middleton, Wisconsin
Scott Brown	New Hampshire U.S. Senate Candidate	New Hampshire
Chuck Hagel	Secretary of Defense	Washington, DC
Jon Kyl	Counsel, Covington and Burley	Washington, DC
Tom Daschle	Senior Policy Advisor, DLA Piper	Washington, DC

 

This represents a departure from the American ideal of the citizen legislator. If politicians are permanently residing in Washington, how attuned are they to the states and districts they are supposed to advocate for? The legislators and bureaucrats who live in DC comprise a permanent political class with its own interests and desires. As government continues to expand, so does the reach of this elite.

Political power in the United States is supposed to rest with the American people, not D.C. How can we square that with the rise of the permanent legislative residence at court in Washington?

[thetallguy24]

DC just seems like a Venus Fly Trap for anyone who goes there.

Are they seriously all lobbyists now?

The Founders are rolling in their graves.

[Jacquerie]

<>The Founders are rolling in their graves.<>

As long as power is concentrated in DC, the money will follow.

The answer is to diffuse power once again, with repeal of the 17th Amendment.

Article V.

[latina4dubya]

this one is my favorite on the list:

John Ensign Veterinarian Las Vegas, Nevada

[latina4dubya]

what is most telling to me is that that is a short list... that list needs to be much longer... i would say that the US Legislature is a Hotel California for Congressmen and Senators...

[thetallguy24]

It’s a short list, because there’s so little turnover. 90% or more of the Senators are reelected every election cycle.

[Dilbert San Diego]

It’s funny to me that a parenting magazine rated Washington DC as the best place to raise a family. They certainly don’t mean the city itself, with its disfunctional public schools, ghettoes, and expensive neighborhoods located outside of the ghetto.

And that area has some of the most expensive housing of any metropolitan area in the country, which will strain any middle class budget, even if mom works full time along with dad. Hard to see that area as some mecca for family life.

[musicman]

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[latina4dubya]

It’s a short list, because there’s so little turnover. 90% or more of the Senators are reelected every election cycle.

that's what i mean... Capitol Hill is the actual Hotel California for the U.S. Legislature...

[Night Hides Not]

My favorite?

George Voinovich Retired Cleveland, Ohio

[Linda Frances]

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
Then I was thinking to myself this could be Heaven or this could be Hell
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say

“Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year
(Any time of year)
You can find it here”

Her mind is Tiffany twisted, she got the Mercedes Bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

So I called up the captain, “Please bring me my wine”
He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969”
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say

“Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They’re living it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise
(What a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis”

Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice
And she said, “We are all just prisoners here of our own device”
And in the master’s chambers they gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can’t kill the beast

Last thing I remember I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
“Relax,” said the night man, “We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like but you can never leave”
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/eagles/hotel-california-lyrics/#UMceP81rmmIEf5f0.99