An interesting take on the nature economic, political and social networks in the South - as opposed to the North - after the Civil War and their lingering consequences.
- How the South was Lost.
- Inputs and Institutions as Conservative Elements.
Showing posts with label political networks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label political networks. Show all posts
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thursday, April 30, 2009
LittleSis
I've added a link below--under the tab networks--to LittleSis which calls itself the involuntary Facebook of powerful Americans. It claims to detail the connections that powerful Americans with each other and with governmental agencies, and Congress.
It's worth a look. Should be a great way to help connect the dots among the interests that tend to determine the direction of public policy.
It's worth a look. Should be a great way to help connect the dots among the interests that tend to determine the direction of public policy.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
New Link: Networked Governance
I'm increasingly convinced that the most important service I can offer my students (even more than instructing them in the basic principles of democratic government) is to introduce and connect them to the political networks that control the bulk of what government does. I am still determining how best to do this in fits and starts, but here's a website that I am now linking to that shows how seriously academia is taking the subject:
The Program on Networked Governance.
The Program on Networked Governance.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Iron Triangling
I know you are all concerned that the people who recently post positions due to President Bush having to leave office will land on your feet. Well then this item will lift your spirits. It comes from a press release from the Texas Association of Business.
Austin – TAB is pleased to announce that Sandy Kress will join the organization, leading its public education lobbying efforts during the 81st Texas Legislature.
Kress served as a senior adviser to President George W. Bush on education, and is the former President of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Public Schools.
“When it comes to education, Sandy is simply the best in the business,” said TAB President Bill Hammond. “His commitment to improving the lives of our children and the architecture of our public school system is unwavering. We are thrilled to have him on board this session.”
Kress formerly served on the Education Commission of the States, and he currently serves as counsel to the Governor's Business Council. He is also a Life Member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Business & Education Coalition.
Kress has an extensive background in tackling the toughest challenges facing Texas public schools. Mr. Kress was appointed by then-Lt. Governor Bob Bullock to the Educational Economic Policy Center and the interim committee to study the Texas Education Agency. In 2007, Mr. Kress was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Select Committee on Public School Accountability, which is tasked with thoroughly reviewing the public school accountability system. Also, in 2007, Perry appointed Kress as Chairman of the Commission for a College Ready Texas, which issues recommendations to promote greater college and work readiness among Texas high school graduates.
No word on specific responsibilities, but with that background Kress will probably be able to make many doors open for the TAB.
Austin – TAB is pleased to announce that Sandy Kress will join the organization, leading its public education lobbying efforts during the 81st Texas Legislature.
Kress served as a senior adviser to President George W. Bush on education, and is the former President of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Public Schools.
“When it comes to education, Sandy is simply the best in the business,” said TAB President Bill Hammond. “His commitment to improving the lives of our children and the architecture of our public school system is unwavering. We are thrilled to have him on board this session.”
Kress formerly served on the Education Commission of the States, and he currently serves as counsel to the Governor's Business Council. He is also a Life Member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Business & Education Coalition.
Kress has an extensive background in tackling the toughest challenges facing Texas public schools. Mr. Kress was appointed by then-Lt. Governor Bob Bullock to the Educational Economic Policy Center and the interim committee to study the Texas Education Agency. In 2007, Mr. Kress was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Select Committee on Public School Accountability, which is tasked with thoroughly reviewing the public school accountability system. Also, in 2007, Perry appointed Kress as Chairman of the Commission for a College Ready Texas, which issues recommendations to promote greater college and work readiness among Texas high school graduates.
No word on specific responsibilities, but with that background Kress will probably be able to make many doors open for the TAB.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama, Roberts and the Harvard Law Review
Here's a neat connection: Barack Obama and Chief Justice John Roberts - the man who swore him in today - both served on the Harvard Law Review, as president and managing editor respectively. An impressive list of people are also alumni.
Here's the question: is the success of past members of the review because they are capable and smart (I assume that's the case) or because of the connections that come with the position?
Here's the question: is the success of past members of the review because they are capable and smart (I assume that's the case) or because of the connections that come with the position?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Blagojevich's Network
At the heart of the current controversy involving the Illinois governor's attempt to sell Obama's vacated Senate seat is a network of interests who placed him in a position to be able to think he could do such a things, and that these things are perfectly fine. These connections apparently flow through his wife.
From the NYT:
Federal officials have declined to discuss the role of Ms. Blagojevich in the case. She has not been charged in the case. But officials have suggested that she and others involved in the taped phone calls would be looked at as part of the continuing investigation.
Ms. Blagojevich has a deep-rooted political pedigree as the daughter of Richard Mell, the longtime Chicago alderman and a leader in Cook County Democratic politics, who is considered to have been instrumental in getting Mr. Blagojevich in politics.
...in recent years, Ms. Blagojevich, who has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a real estate broker’s license, has attracted attention through the dealings of her home-based real estate company. Her clients have included people who were awarded state contracts or made political contributions to the governor.
The Chicago Tribune, in an analysis, reported that her firm, River Realty, had earned more than $700,000 in commissions since her husband began raising money in 2000 for his first run for governor. The Tribune reported that more than three-quarters of those commissions came from “clients with connections,” not including commissions she earned from Antoin Rezko, a developer and fund-raiser for the Blagojevich campaign, who was convicted of fraud and bribery this summer.
From the NYT:
Federal officials have declined to discuss the role of Ms. Blagojevich in the case. She has not been charged in the case. But officials have suggested that she and others involved in the taped phone calls would be looked at as part of the continuing investigation.
Ms. Blagojevich has a deep-rooted political pedigree as the daughter of Richard Mell, the longtime Chicago alderman and a leader in Cook County Democratic politics, who is considered to have been instrumental in getting Mr. Blagojevich in politics.
...in recent years, Ms. Blagojevich, who has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a real estate broker’s license, has attracted attention through the dealings of her home-based real estate company. Her clients have included people who were awarded state contracts or made political contributions to the governor.
The Chicago Tribune, in an analysis, reported that her firm, River Realty, had earned more than $700,000 in commissions since her husband began raising money in 2000 for his first run for governor. The Tribune reported that more than three-quarters of those commissions came from “clients with connections,” not including commissions she earned from Antoin Rezko, a developer and fund-raiser for the Blagojevich campaign, who was convicted of fraud and bribery this summer.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Making Connections
This is how you play the game:
In late 1998, while Washington was in the throes of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Rahm Emanuel, a departing senior political aide to President Bill Clinton, ventured out to an elegant restaurant in Dupont Circle for something of a job interview.
John Simpson, who ran the Chicago office of the investment banking boutique Wasserstein Perella & Company, had flown to Washington to meet with Mr. Emanuel at the behest of Mr. Simpson’s boss, Bruce Wasserstein, a major Democratic donor and renowned Wall Street dealmaker who had gotten to know Mr. Emanuel.
“I had this idea that this could work and that it had upside,” said Mr. Wasserstein, now chairman and chief executive of Lazard, the investment bank. “It worked out better than I could have hoped.”
...
Mr. Emanuel, who was chosen last month to become President-elect Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff, went on to make more than $18 million in just two-and-a-half years, turning many of his contacts in his substantial political Rolodex into paying clients and directing his negotiating prowess and trademark intensity to mergers and acquisitions. He also benefited from the opportune sale of Wasserstein Perella to a German bank, helping him to an unusually large payout.
Sweet.
In late 1998, while Washington was in the throes of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Rahm Emanuel, a departing senior political aide to President Bill Clinton, ventured out to an elegant restaurant in Dupont Circle for something of a job interview.
John Simpson, who ran the Chicago office of the investment banking boutique Wasserstein Perella & Company, had flown to Washington to meet with Mr. Emanuel at the behest of Mr. Simpson’s boss, Bruce Wasserstein, a major Democratic donor and renowned Wall Street dealmaker who had gotten to know Mr. Emanuel.
“I had this idea that this could work and that it had upside,” said Mr. Wasserstein, now chairman and chief executive of Lazard, the investment bank. “It worked out better than I could have hoped.”
...
Mr. Emanuel, who was chosen last month to become President-elect Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff, went on to make more than $18 million in just two-and-a-half years, turning many of his contacts in his substantial political Rolodex into paying clients and directing his negotiating prowess and trademark intensity to mergers and acquisitions. He also benefited from the opportune sale of Wasserstein Perella to a German bank, helping him to an unusually large payout.
Sweet.
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