* Former US Sen. Mark Kirk attended the Illinois State Society of Washington inaugural ball last night…
Kirk said he will “probably” be setting up a firm to do “strategic consulting” for large Illinois employers doing business in Washington and Beijing. He will travel to Beijing next month with other former senators on a Chinese government-sponsored trip. With Republicans in charge of the House, Senate and White House, GOP lobbyists and “strategic” consultants will be in demand.
Kirk remains outspoken. His gaffes got him in political trouble. Asked if he ever got a ride with Obama on Air Force One, Kirk said, “white Republicans really didn’t get to go on that kind of trip.”
*Sigh*
His first client should be himself. Corporate types don’t usually dig public race jokes.
* More…
Duckworth was asked if she was concerned about Kirk setting up a consulting shop.
Duckworth, who moved up from the House, said, “I’ve always been worried about those things, and in fact, in the House Armed Services Committee I fought very hard to prevent retiring general officers from leaving the Pentagon and turning right around and coming back to be lobbyists on the Hill. . . . It’s why I voted against the waiver for General [James] Mattis, for example,” a reference to Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, who needs congressional approval for a waiver to be in the Cabinet because he has not been out of the military for the requisite seven years.
Should he reconsider? Said Duckworth, “I think Mark Kirk does want he wants to do.”
Yep.
*** UPDATE *** From February 9th of last year…
Kirk was asked to accompany Obama on Air Force One, but he declined because of Senate votes, said his spokesman, Kevin Artl.
Hat tip: McGrath.
- jim - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:21 am:
why shouldn’t he do what he wants to do? the campaign is over. he’s a private citizen. The Dems won. No reason to run to Duckworth to comment as it it’s October.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:28 am:
===he’s a private citizen===
Who wants to be a corporate consultant.
But we can always count on you to vigorously defend racist comments or actions every single time, Jim. It’s your specialty here. Thanks!
- Michael Westen - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:30 am:
Kirk cannot help himself. There is something wrong with him.
- Terry Salad - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:32 am:
Yet another statement you should blame on the stroke, Mark. It is the better option for you. Better yet, just shut the hell up.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:38 am:
Good riddance to the self fashioned generalissimo.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:38 am:
You know, when there’s no election, and nothing to be gained from dropping sleazy racist lies, I guess that’s just who you are, deep down.
Watch the drug-dealer-in-chief attack that nice white man in the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cudnqlYvrEk
The “Great Suburban Moderate Hope,” my tukkus. You, and the horse you rode in on.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:40 am:
Kirk needs to talk less. Not what you want in a lobbyist.
I also trust this means Sen. Duckworth will live up to her comments and find a different line of work whenever that time eventually comes.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:49 am:
Because he couldn’t get a ride on Air Force One he was forced to travel by automobile and speed through black neighborhoods.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:50 am:
–Kirk cannot help himself. There is something wrong with him.==
That’s convenient. Simple decency is a lot to ask from those who would be our leaders these days.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:54 am:
His ‘consults’ would have to be deeply discounted considering who’s ‘advice’ you’re seeking.
- Finally Out - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
Almost leaves you speechless. So glad the voters chose to retire him from representing us.
- Whoelse - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:38 pm:
I’m a Republican which is glad this rino is gone.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
Kirk’s public service legacy is a man whose words defined who he was, and Kirk was never afraid to continually show us who he was.
I’ll leave that there.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
Well that update is kind of a mic drop, huh?
- Pundent - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
The update really puts the punctuation mark on this. So not only was an offer extended, Kirk decided to ignore the truth in lieu of a race joke. Wow!
- Northsider - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
Kirk: Keeping it Klassy right to the bitter end.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
–Kirk was asked to accompany Obama on Air Force One, but he declined because of Senate votes, said his spokesman, Kevin Artl.–
Who didn’t see that coming?
Sure it was Senate votes, though, and not Kirk running the “War Room” at the Pentagon, with the big board and everything? Maybe engaged in aerial dog fights over Iraq? Discovering secret Chinese oil drilling off the coast of Cuba?
007 Kirk kept pretty busy outside of Senate votes.
- Responsa - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:10 pm:
Mark Kirk can do a world of good if he focuses a consultancy on people with disabilities and especially how to persevere and fashion a meaningful life after calamity befalls. He should not try to be a traditional political consultant/lobbyist as I cannot imagine who would be crazy enough to hire him.
- pskila - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 3:54 pm:
geezzzzz…racists really know how to kick you in the stomach don’t they?