Don't just count the politicians. While at Lucent, I observed a manager/project management expert who seemed to be permanently between projects. I was told not

Don't just count the politicians. While at Lucent, I observed a manager/project management expert who seemed to be permanently between projects. I was told not to ask about him again, since his cousin/brother-in-law (can't remember which at this late date) was a powerful US senator. In retrospect he probably should have stayed with ATT... With respect to lobbyists, from the lobbying firm's point of view it might be a good deal to pay a former office holder lots of money for doing nothing at all, if he or she did something particularly helpful before stepping through the revolving door. Quid pro quo.