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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dan B. who wrote (266044)	6/21/2002 11:46:47 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

GOP SLEAZE MACHINE IN OVERDRIVE - FRAUD BY STATE - VIRGINIA - THE OTHER ROTTEN GEORGE Hi Dan, Re: My quote of Ray was out of full context, It's really unfortunate you've decided I ought to be the object of inspection and your affection (or is that affectation?) on this thread. Apparently, the machinations of King George aren't of interest to you. Behalf discovering the tawdry tale of a Virginia Senator on the take for peddling influence would interest you? ANOTHER CRUMMY GEORGE: dailypress.com Explain, senator $279,000 payment to Allen: For what? Email this story Printer friendly format Search archives TOP STORIES Animal control Whoa! Bowditch Ford Traveling in style Make a connection June 20, 2002 How's that old Ella Fitzgerald song go? "It's nice work if you can get it." George Allen, Virginia's junior senator, received $279,000 for serving less than a year, The Washington Post reports, on Lynchburg-based Com-Net Ericsson's "advisory board." He wasn't alone. Haley Barbour, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, Bush Sr.'s administration members Barbara Hackman Franklin (secretary of commerce), Samuel Skinner (chief of staff) and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney likewise served on the board and were compensated for their "advice." It must have been their technical expertise, right? More likely this stellar crowd was assembled for one reason alone: political influence. Allen's office hastens to point out a couple of things. One, as reported, Com-Net Ericsson made the payment to Allen as the result of a stock sale when the company was bought last year by a subsidiary of beleaguered Tyco Electronics. Two, Allen was entitled to the money for his service on the board in 2000 (while he was campaigning), though he received the payment after joining the U.S. Senate. As for what exactly the senator did to earn this wad, his staff gets a little vague and more than a bit defensive. Did Allen attend meetings of the advisory board? Jay Timmons, Allen's long-time associate and Washington office chief of staff, said he didn't know. Did the advisory board actually have regular meetings? Timmons said he didn't know. Were there any meetings at all? Probably, Timmons said. Maybe they talked on the phone. Yes, indeed, nice work if you can get it. Where do the rest of us sign up? As for Allen, who has spent his entire political career decking himself in down-home, log cabin, man-of-the-people symbols (Limo? No. Yacht? No. Cowboy boots? Yes.), this arrangement smacks of a classic insider accommodation, the sort of deal meant to enrich political bigwigs, gain valuable access and score riches. Allen's staff points out that it's not uncommon for important former officeholders - governors, for instance - to receive compensated board appointments. True. But there's a Grand Canyon's difference between serving on a governing corporate board, with fiduciary and legal responsibility, and an "advisory" board with responsibilities no one can exactly explain. Corporate boards also generally do not offer massive payouts for less than a year's service. The Conference Board says median compensation for that sort of thing ranged from $40,000 to $51,000 in 2001, depending on the industry sector. Former Gov. Gerald Baliles gets $68,000 a year for his service on the board of Norfolk Southern. By the way, that Fortune 500 company also has an advisory board. Its members get $500 a year. There's one other thing that Allen's folks hold up: A letter from the Senate Ethics Committee OK'ing Allen's deal with Com-Net Ericsson. But will that letter keep people from thinking that this quacking, waddling stinker is anything but a duck? So, we're left with the same question: What did Allen do to earn $279,000 in less than a year's labor (we're being generous here) on an "advisory" board? Inquiring minds would like to know. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Good Golly, Miss Molly, I think I know more about telecom technical issues than this tissue of a twit they pay to merely sit. -Ray