2000-2007

Feds Taxes Paid: $33.7 million
Charity: $10.2 million
Her Senate Salary: $1,051,606
His Presidential Pension: $1,217,250
Her Book Income: $10,457,083
His Book Income: $29,580,525
His Speech Income: $51,855,599

Jealous, Deane?

What exactly is your point?

Most every successful politician has significant wealth.

Should I point out how wealthy Mr. McCain is? Is that what you want?

Looks to me like the bulk of the Clinton wealth is generated by bringing a product to market and selling it...isn't that part of the American way?

"What exactly is your point?"

There was no point, other than "don't feel sorry for them", they're doing just fine.

McCain was the one who played the "poor" card last summer, riding by bus, laying people off, not paying bills, while at the same time he had access to more than $100 million from his wife.

Let's look into DUHbya and DICKsters financial status......
How about McCain? I bet Johnny Mc is making some good green....
It doesn't look good for my guy....

I don't like or support either of the Clintons, but more power to them if they can make money.

As long as it's legal, I've no problem with someone amassing riches.

More is better! Long live capitalism!

This is probably the one thing that pisses me off more than anything else in politics -- former politicians of all stripes “cashing in”. It seems that every time you read an obit of a dead former member of Congress, they’ve spent the rest of their days in Washington DC working as a lawyer or lobbyist. And then all the former members of Congress who set up their own lobbying firms – “cashing in” on their connections in Washington DC. And it’s members of both parties doing it. Another trend by some members of Congress is to set their children up as lobbyists – former Republican Congressman Tom DeLay being a prime example.

My favorite example is Billy Tauzin, former Republican Congressman from Louisiana. He chaired the committee which approved the creation of Medicare Part D. While chair, he was lobbied hard by the pharmaceutical industry not to allow the government to negotiate prices of pharmaceuticals with the manufactures. And wouldn’t you know it, before he resigned his seat in Congress, he announces he would become the head of the Pharmaceuticals Research and Manufactures of America – a front group for the pharmaceutical industry. This is pure sleaze.

Power and money seem to go hand and hand. Another really depressing trend that I feel is problematic is the creation of multi-millionaire journalists in Washington DC. Rather than reporting on the politicians of Washington DC, they socialize together at gala events and cocktail parties. These reporters have more invested in million dollar homes and million dollar lifestyles as opposed to their role in being good journalists. They’re like watching a gaggle of Barbara Walter’s wannabes delivering infotainment journalism. Nothing but style over substance. Thank God for Brian Lamb and C-SPAN.

Puts new meaining into " I feel your Pain"...what pain? Not a very good image especially for a democrat candidate. Republicans are supposed to be rich. Democrats , "Nada"...

I love this place, you create a topic to talk about the Democrats and it quickly gets turned around to talk about the Republicans.

I have never felt sorry for the Clintons. Has anyone here even heard of someone who felt sorry for the Clintons because of their money?

And from what I have read - admittedly scanned - McCain does a pretty good job keeping his wife's fortune at arms length. As to avoid, you know, some non-reality based scandal that Democrats would LOVE to use against him. I like that, if it's true. I know he's got some tools afforded him ( planes and stuff ) but hey, I see nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'm not even sure what I would have a problem with should he NOT keep his wife's wealth at arms legnth. Maybe it's something that goes against some kind of agreement between him and her estate - some kind of political pre-nup. He's doing just fine without her wealth as far as I can tell.

But back to The Clintons ( and you just know that " The Clintons " will be some new reality show should Hillary not get the nomination. I mean, all of her elected career will be for not - the moving to New York, the handpicking of which floor votes to participate in to avoid anything unseemly when the planned campaign comes to " life ", etc - if she loses ) when I first read that story, I missed that it was over a 7 year or so period. I thought it was all in 2007. And while I can't say that I would have been in any position to pass any judgment on them about it had it all been in 2007 - I would have been pretty shocked.

Alas - no. I'm less shocked. It's still a lot of dough though. To say nothing of the security that I THINK is paid for by us, no? I know former Presidents get " free " protection. I don't know how her personal security detail is paid for. They certainly need it - I don't have a problem with it. But that's a thing that costs some money too.

And I can start another thread on this if anyone fears a sinister hijack; At what point, if at all, do the candidates have to itemize how they spend they donated money? Like, how much went to catering, travel, etc.? Do they pay for the police escorts or is that, you know, done without charge? I know that the obvious expense is advertising on TV and print and radio. But the other stuff, I'd just be curious from a " how does that work? " standpoint.And what happens to the funds donated to a candidate after they drop out? Do they funnel the funds to someone else? Does it get returned?

I can't think of an area I know less about, when it comes to campaigning, than this area.

You know, I'm with you CJ. I don't know much about campaign finance either.

I'd be willing to bet a good steak dinner that there is some real creative accounting that goes on though!

Here are a few of my thoughts on how it should be.

I don't really care about accounting for the spending if they are spending their own money. However, if they are spending donated money, I think each and every dollar should be accounted for and made public.

I don't think ANY candidate for ANY office should get public (pronounced; Tax Dollars) money for ANY campaign. If you want to get elected then you have to raise your own funds through your personal money or donations.

No single donation to ANY candidate or to the general party from either a person or corporation can exceed $500 in a calendar year. You could however, donate up to $500 each to multiple candidates if you so wish.

IMHO.

When the Clintons left the white house, their net worth was less than zero. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red. Did they pull a Bush and file for bankruptcy? No. They made money the good old fashioned way -- worked hard for it. Wrote books, gave speeches and ran for Senate. No family or rich friends in Saudia Arabia bailing them out.

Dean said: "2000-2007"

So, why not tell the whole story and do a "1992-1999"?

Or a Dick Cheney 1992-2000? That'll be a juicy one for sure.

"I'd be willing to bet a good steak dinner"

New thread

At least Hillary is willing to raise taxes on herself, being that they make more than $250K. McCain just wants to hoard his young wife's fortune while cutting services to seniors and the poor.

One little detail that is slipping out is the most of the $10 million in charitable donations was to the Clinton Foundation. That money didn't go on to charity, but just sat there UNTIL Hillary declared her candidacy for President, then they gave some of it away. Slippery.

Who does Bill Gates donate his money to?

"Who does Bill Gates donate his money to?"

To the Bill Gates Foundation which it then pays out to the designated causes.

Is Bill Gates slippery? Or does he get the same advice the Clinton's get?

"Is Bill Gates slippery? Or does he get the same advice the Clinton's get?"

Not surprisingly, you just don't get it.

You always say that. It makes no sense. Just say what " it " is and take a stand, for cryin' out loud. You think everyone does and should think like you. They don't unless you can explain how or even IF you think. You think your " gut " is some kind of fool-proof divining rod.

Jesus, man. Try, just TRY to see another's point of view around here. We've all explained how and why we feel the way we feel or think - you just " If you have to ask " yourself into a non-point making stance. Do you even want people to actually listen to you? Or do you just want to say things?

Do you own a bird?

Rhetoric? Probably. Rhetorical? No.

I guess I don't get it, Deane. Please explain to me the difference between the foundations of Gates and Clinton, and why you criticize Clinton but not Gates.

Vitalogy - You don't get it; It's a SECRET. And if he actually typed out what " it " is, it would sound pretty funny. It's better to just pretend it's some deep-thought out logic that mere mortals cannot understand.

The thing is, I recall having this same type of conversation with Deane about a year ago. he finally just said - and I'm paraphrasing " Look, it's just the way I feel about it. I know it's unpopular and possibly even unsupported. But something about me makes me feel this or that way and to deny that would be not true to the one thing I hold dear; Myself."

And when he said that, and I believe it was even about a relatively mundane topic like slavery or Gitmo or something, I could relate to that. But to imply that there is something VERY obvious that ALL others just cannot or will not see it intellectually dishonest. And I will admit, that's a thing that gets under my skin on just about all counts. That is also why I have a hard time with Nwokie.

Herb, however, has gone out on enough limbs to give him the benefit of the doubt and cause me to be reminded that while we differ, I can at least relate to HOW he gets places. It's not always the path I would have taken - but at least he CAN trace his steps and show his work.

Deane, I do not have very many answers. I'm not all that smart. You have much more experience on things than I do.

Do you own a bird?

Vitalogy - You don't get it; It's a SECRET. And if he actually typed out what " it " is, it would sound pretty funny. It's better to just pretend it's some deep-thought out logic that mere mortals cannot understand.

The thing is, I recall having this same type of conversation with Deane about a year ago. he finally just said - and I'm paraphrasing " Look, it's just the way I feel about it. I know it's unpopular and possibly even unsupported. But something about me makes me feel this or that way and to deny that would be not true to the one thing I hold dear; Myself."

And when he said that, and I believe it was even about a relatively mundane topic like slavery or Gitmo or something, I could relate to that. But to imply that there is something VERY obvious that ALL others just cannot or will not see is intellectually dishonest. And I will admit, that's a thing that gets under my skin on just about all counts. That is also why I have a hard time with Nwokie.

Herb, however, has gone out on enough limbs to give him the benefit of the doubt and cause me to be reminded that while we differ, I can at least relate to HOW he gets places. It's not always the path I would have taken - but at least he CAN trace his steps and show his work.

Deane, I do not have very many answers. I'm not all that smart. You have much more experience on things than I do.

Do you own a bird?