Ex-AG Alberto Gonzales Paid $40k for First Speech

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 09:44:11 AM EST
Tags: Alberto Gonzales (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

What's the going speaker's rate for a disgraced Bush Administration official? For former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, his talk at the University of Florida yesterday cost the school $40,000.

It probably made the boos and jeers easier to swallow:

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales endured screams of "criminal" and "liar" during a speech at the University of Florida on Monday evening.....Early in his speech, two people climbed on the stage in hoods. Gonzales stopped talking for a few minutes as police led them away without incident, though there were several outbursts from the crowd.

The hooded demonstrators were charged with interruption of a public event, said Steve Orlando, a university spokesman. Several other people were ejected for yelling, and more than a dozen people stood for most of Gonzales' hour-long speech with their backs toward him.

Gonzales must really be hurting for legal fees.

< Tuesday Open Thread | Why John Edwards Is In Trouble In Iowa >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Ex-AG Alberto Gonzales Paid $40k for First Speech | 39 comments (39 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Wingnut Welfare (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by Repack Rider on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 10:07:50 AM EST

Means that no matter how badly you screw up, no matter how criminal your conduct, you will be paid well after you leave office for...

Something.

"Say, that tricycle in your driveway. Would you take $50,000 for it?"

Florida? Who's governor there? Could there be a connection?

Both Krugman and John Dean (5.00 / 0) (#4)
by Molly Bloom on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 11:04:52 AM EST

have pointed out in their recent books how it pays to be a movement conservative.


: It's because of (none / 0) (#5)
by Edger on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 11:08:00 AM EST

their enormous personal sacrifices while they gave such valuable selfless service to the country.
No?

Conspiracy theorist, huh Repack? ;-) (none / 0) (#3)
by Edger on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 11:04:44 AM EST

The police officers who removed the hooded demonstrators should have been charged with interruption of a public event, too.

Fair is fair? Right?


Maybe they should be (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by Jen M on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 08:01:48 AM EST

Considering they helped the protesters so much. The first protester was "Civil Liberties" the other was "Habeas Corpus"

Both were taken away by authorities while the former Attorney General said nothing.

They were vital to making the protester's point.


The facts are that we can have both (1.00 / 2) (#26)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 09:38:45 AM EST

The protesters can march and scream outside before, during and after his speech.

They can hiss, boo and challenge his speech AFTER it is complete.

No is denying them that right.

But when the protesters interrupt by screaming, shouting, etc., including inserting their physical presence on the stage they, and you, proves that too many on the Left do not believe in free speech, because they seek to suppress the speech of those they disagree with.

As edger said:

Do we offer them respect? Absolutely not. We do our best to marginalize and get rid of them

: You be funny (1.00 / 1) (#37)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 10:46:11 AM EST

As for booing and hissing: Gonzo deserved a helluva lot worse than what he got.
As you grow older you will find that many times you demand justice when what you need is mercy.
I saw the demonstrators interrupt the speech. I heard the noise associated with them leaving the stage.
That you give them kudos for not making a bigger scene is absolutely positively laughing out loud funny.
Their antics and your comments show that you do not believe in free speech. You believe in free speech for those you agree with.
That is hypocrisy to the max. And I think you are intelligent enough to know it.

Wow (1.00 / 1) (#8)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 04:53:31 PM EST

So if someone decides to speed, then the police who chases them is also guilty of speeding??

There is no doubt that you are totally "logic challenged."


The police (none / 0) (#12)
by Edger on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 05:28:03 PM EST

the police who chases them is also guilty of speeding?

Yes. They have to speed to chase them. There is just no law or sanction against the police doing it. Yet.

You mumbled something about logic? Have some coffee. Fresh air might help too. ;-)


: tehe (1.00 / 0) (#17)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 08:17:56 PM EST

Well, for someone who thinks that the Iraqi terrorists who are killing Iraqi citizens are trying to run the US off... I can see why you have such a distorted view..

The protestors should have stuck around.... (5.00 / 0) (#2)
by kdog on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 10:11:59 AM EST

after the speech, during coffee and cake, Gonzalez got in the dunk tank, a hundo per toss:)

Gore just lost an election (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Deconstructionist on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 04:55:22 PM EST

he wasn't compelled to resign because of undeniable incompetence and arguable corruption.

: Speaking of incompetence and (1.00 / 0) (#29)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 09:54:08 AM EST

political pressure...

Is there anyone who thinks that bringing political pressure to bear on the United States Attorney's Office to influence its handling of the Holy Land Foundation case might be...improper
But I guess things are different if a Demo Congressman is involved.

Its only about a fifth (1.00 / 0) (#7)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 02:54:56 PM EST

Its only about a fifth of what Al Gore is knocking down with the Global Warming Hysteria Schtick.

Absolutely (5.00 / 3) (#15)
by Repack Rider on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 05:57:34 PM EST

I guess the fact that Gore is not a disgraced wingnut in need of welfare helps his market value. We know for a fact that Gore was more popular than Bush in 2000, and he hasn't started any wars or let a city drown since then.

On the other hand, when in American history has such stunning incompetence and the inability to remember one's own name been so richly rewarded as in AG's case?

Other than Bush being paid $12 million more than his share of the Texas Rangers was worth, of course.

Okay, I'll give you Mike Brown. And Tenet. And Rumsfeld. And Powell. And Gingrich. And Palouse. And Bremer. And Feith.

I'm sensing a pattern here.


Actually Gore only gets about $100k per speech (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Edger on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 06:32:29 PM EST

But I agree with you that he's worth at least five, if not ten times as much as Gonzo.


Math help (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by Repack Rider on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 08:30:43 PM EST

But I agree with you that he's worth at least five, if not ten times as much as Gonzo.

What's 100K divided by zero?

See? You can't actually calculate how little Gonso is worth compared to Gore, because you can't divide by zero.


When it comes to giving speeches (1.00 / 0) (#27)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 09:41:41 AM EST

selling cars or moving furniture the "worth" is what the "market" will pay.


Yep. (5.00 / 0) (#28)
by Edger on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 09:44:08 AM EST

The "market" will pay more for things that are "worth" more.


that is premised on assumptions (none / 0) (#30)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 09:58:56 AM EST

not necessarily valid in the political speech making context.

I might pay more than FAIR market value for you to move my furniture for many reasons. One that might be relevant here is that I may desire to enrich you and make you more influential because we share common goals. I may want to do that by paying you to move my furniture because there are restrictions on how much I can pay you to do other things. Even in the absence of legal restriction on how much I can pay you to other things, I may want to designate the payment as being for furniture moving for appearance's sake.

I may also pay you more than FMV to move furniture today in hopes of currying favor with you in the hope you will return the favor at a later date.

That sort of "market analysis" falls apart pretty quickly in the political context. Did you ever wonder why so many politicians' books are on the remainder shelf for a 10th of the original retail price shortly after release even though very large advances were paid?


: I might charge you more (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by Jen M on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 11:20:41 AM EST

because I don't want to come speak at your function.

Heh! Good point. (none / 0) (#19)
by Edger on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 08:44:28 PM EST

I hope he donates some (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by jondee on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 11:57:58 AM EST

of it to the victims of NAFTA.

Very publicly reiterating the elementary point that we cant continue to sh*t in our nest forever is the least that he can do to make up for the former, IMHO.


: I don't know if he does (none / 0) (#33)
by Edger on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 12:10:26 PM EST

but I wouldn't be surprised to find that he is doing something like that, after seeing what he did with his Nobel Prize money. And I imagine his accountants will look for tax breaks too, which donations do provide.

How are you!! (1.00 / 0) (#11)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 04:57:55 PM EST

You are not allowed to insult the Gods of the Left.


Almost as bad as jokes (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by jondee on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 05:30:11 PM EST

about bears praying.

Does anyone have some numbers on what Gore is getting per talk/speech?


Google (1.00 / 0) (#21)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 10:23:30 PM EST

If you google:

"al gore" speaking fee

You will see numbers from $100,000 to $180,000 depending on when and where.


I see (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Repack Rider on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 10:40:36 PM EST

You will see numbers from $100,000 to $180,000 depending on when and where.

Since simple math shows that Mr. Gore does NOT command "five times" what Mr. Gonzales was paid, as you had previously claimed, shouldn't you finish your post with an apology for making a bogus claim?

Unless, of course, you are a Republican, which would explain the confusion on your part with simple arithmetic.


OK (1.00 / 0) (#34)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 03:27:45 PM EST

2.50 times to 4.50 times.

In whole numbers its close to 5X on the top end. Call it four times if you like, its still several times more.


: Republican Math (none / 0) (#35)
by squeaky on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 03:36:21 PM EST

I may be wrong on some of the less important details, but if you [don't] think about it, I am right.

Republican Math (none / 0) (#23)
by squeaky on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 11:04:31 PM EST

lol


Republican apology? (none / 0) (#24)
by Edger on Wed Nov 21, 2007 at 02:35:10 AM EST

Yea... (none / 0) (#14)
by desertswine on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 05:47:05 PM EST

Right here..

Well it's a Gore isn't it?

Oh OK bad joke.


Sure Jim (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by TomStewart on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 08:55:23 PM EST

That is your bit after all.


I'd say he got off lightly (none / 0) (#6)
by scribe on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 11:34:37 AM EST

getting yelled at, if only because tar is actually pretty hard to come by these days. Feathers, not so hard - just buy some pillows.

That, and there were no unidentified flying objects projected in his direction.

I have no probem with people yelling at him (1.00 / 0) (#10)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 04:56:24 PM EST

outside the room/building and/or demonstrating against him outside the room/building.

But if you believe in free speech, shouting, demonstrating, going on stage is designed to interrupt and prevent free speech.

But the hallmark of the Left has become interrupting. That speaks ill of them.


It's the frustration (5.00 / 0) (#38)
by glanton on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 12:09:54 PM EST

Of seeing him affect dignity.


Frustration by who? (1.00 / 1) (#39)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 07:07:31 PM EST

By the "demonstrators?"

Do you think that frustration is an excuse for bad behavior?? That's the same excuse wife beaters use:

Well, she burns the biscuits everyday....

Adults and people concerned with being sure we have freedom of speech don't use such excuses.


: Rightfully (5.00 / 0) (#40)
by glanton on Thu Nov 22, 2007 at 08:00:47 PM EST

Rightfully sickened by him standing at a podium giving a speech as though he were a dignified public servant.