JOHN ASHCROFT

A friend sent me an e-mail, which I cannot resist posting, lock stock and barrel.

"I just heard that our former Atty-Gen'l John Ashcroft is becoming a lobbyist.

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has joined the ranks of the nation's lobbyists where, through the offices of The Ashcroft Group, he will be renting his self-described "integrity" to any client able to pony up the cash. In particular, Ashcroft plans to use his years of experience prosecuting corporate misconduct…to help misbehaving corporations avoid prosecution. Presumably, it’s what Jesus would do."

The attached link leads to an article in the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/17/politics/17ashcroft.html


From which an interesting quote:
""...Clients would call in an individual who has a reputation for the highest level of integrity," he said in an interview in his office. "Those who have been in government should not be forbidden from helping people deal with government, which is what I see myself doing." In the hourlong interview, Mr. Ashcroft used the word "integrity" scores of times. "

Which is followed by:
"...One of Mr. Ashcroft's newest clients is ChoicePoint, a broker of consumer data that is increasingly being used by the government to keep tabs on people within the United States. The company received millions of dollars in contracts from the Justice Department under Mr. Ashcroft as part of the war on terror and has now hired him to find more.
"The Ashcroft Group contacted us and we initiated a relationship," said Chuck Jones, a ChoicePoint spokesman. "He's got a lot of knowledge that could benefit ChoicePoint.""


One has to wonder: was there an 'advantageous' relationship before Ashcroft left the Justice Department? While I would hazard that that is unlikely, there is no disputing that there is one now.

I'm not entirely sure how having insiders with pull getting great deals for their corporate clients benefits the people. But we no longer have government of the people, by the people, for the people. We have government for those who can pay, whether it is by contributing to campaign coffers (effectively pre-buying influence, before the crook is even in office), or by simply hiring expensive clout-meisters.

This may explain why the Halliburton presidency will go down in history as one of the worst administrations ever, surpassing even the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant.

Certainly it is one of the most expensive presidencies. And that's merely the price-tag up-front, not the long-term damage which still needs to be paid for.


And lastly:
"...To maintain his conservative ties, Mr. Ashcroft signed up as a visiting law professor at Regent University, a Christian graduate school founded by Pat Robertson, the political evangelical broadcaster. "

I normally do not associate the idea of 'integrity' with either 'Christian' OR 'evangelical'. Associating with Pat Robertson is in fact what someone with integrity should not do.

Oh well...., at least neither gentleman is a bastard.