Pinstripe Patronage: Political Favoritism from the Clubhouse to the White House and Beyond

by Tolchin,Martin

• ISBN13: 9781594515927
• ISBN10: 1594515921
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-09-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Political patronage ' awarding discretionary favors in exchange for political support ' is alive and well in 21st century America. This book examines the little understood patronage system, showing how it is used by 'pinstripe' elites to subvert the democratic process.'Pinstripe patronage' thrives on the billions of dollars distributed by government for the privatisation of public services. Martin and Susan Tolchin introduce us to government grants specified for the use of an individual, corporation, or community and 'hybrid agencies', with high salaries for top executives and board members. In return for this corporate welfare pinstipe partons giving politicians the ever-increasing funds needed to conduct their political campaigns. As budget cuts begin to bite, the authors argue that it is time to clamp down on the corrupt practice of pinstripe patronage.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
"The Only Way to Run a Government"	p. 1
Patronage Politics at the Grass Roots	p. 17
A Two-Edged Sword	p. 20
The Good Old Days	p. 22
The End of an Era?	p. 24
"Expediters" and Patronage Politics in the Nation's Capital	p. 28
Patronage and Corruption	p. 33
Mayoral Patronage Redux	p. 37
"Earmarks" New York Style	p. 40
County Patronage	p. 43
Portrait of a County Leader	p. 44
Statehouse Patronage	p. 47
Highway Handouts: Everything That Isn't Nailed Down	p. 50
The Soprano State: How Patronage Can Lead to Corruption	p. 54
Patronage in the Empire State and in Illinois	p. 57
Statehouse Loot	p. 60
Show Me the Money	p. 62
Vermont: The "Antipatronage" State	p. 65
Lobbyists, Patronage, and State Politics	p. 68
Web of Cooperation	p. 71
Congress: The Mother Lode	p. 75
Congressional Largesse	p. 79
What Have You Done for Me Lately?	p. 83
Earmarks	p. 87
Lobbyists and Earmarks	p. 89
Committee Leadership and Earmarks	p. 90
Indefensible Defense	p. 91
Midnight Maneuvers	p. 93
Presidential Favors	p. 93
In Defense of Earmarks	p. 96
"A Billion Here and a Billion There ..."	p. 97
A Patronage Puzzle	p. 97
The Senator from Wall Street	p. 98
The Polls and the Pols	p. 100
Life After Congress: The Nine Lives of Patronage	p. 101
Democracy's Paradox	p. 106
Justice on eBay	p. 107
From the Clubhouse to the Bench	p. 107
The Firing of U.S. Attorneys	p. 112
Judgeships: The Ultimate Reward	p. 117
Judgeships on eBay: Campaign "Finance"	p. 123
Courthouse Patronage	p. 125
Campaign Cash	p. 128
Patronage and Justice for All	p. 132
Presidential Patronage	p. 135
The Carrot	p. 139
Sticks	p. 141
Ninety-Nine Enemies and One Ingrate	p. 144
An Overseas Perspective	p. 146
Presidential Patronage Styles: FDR to Obama	p. 148
The Mother of Necessity	p. 156
Follow the Money	p. 158
Pinstripe Patronage: Outsourcing Government	p. 163
While America Slept	p. 163
Who's in Charge?	p. 166
What Is Government?	p. 169
Circular A-76	p. 170
The Costs of Contracting Out	p. 172
Why Privatization Matters	p. 174
Forever Quango: Learning About the Hybrids	p. 175
Outsourcing, Bush Style	p. 180
Privatizing Foreign Policy	p. 181
Governing the "Quango," Outside Contracts, and Other Hybrids	p. 187
Harbinger of Change	p. 189
Additional Resources
Judgeships in the United States of America	p. 201
Defense Contributions	p. 207
Contractors' Political Contributions and Contract Earnings	p. 209
A Brief History of Patronage	p. 211
Notes	p. 219
Bibliography	p. 237
Index	p. 261
About the Authors	p. 271
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