Jimmy Jam Carville and Enron

[poseidon]

I heard on the radio yesterday that James Carville was invited to do a speaking engagement at Enron in a couple of months. He was contracted to do this back in November.

James Carville gets $100,000 per speech.

It is my understanding that it is typical to pay someone 50% as a down payment, and then after the speech occurs they get the other 50%.

So, it would seem that James Carville received $50,000 up front for a speech that he won't have to deliver.

I wonder if he'll blame Ken Starr for the downfall of Enron... I also wonder if he'll be donating that $50,000 to that employee fund...

You know, I'm can't help but sit here and wonder about that Ken Starr. You know he's a space alien and such. You know, it's all about that Ken Starr. I mean that downfall of Enron. It probably wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for that Ken Starr. You know, Ken Starr. He's always butting his nose where it doesn't belong. Everyone knows that about Ken Starr. Ken Starr, Ken Starr, Ken Starr. If it wasn't for Ken Starr, then President Clinton could have been elected to a third term. It was that nasty Ken Starr who wouldn't allow it. That Ken Starr kept making things up about some 22nd Constipational Amendment. Like a Constipational Amendment even exists! Ha! It's that nasty Ken Starr. By the way, did you know that Ken Starr wants all your children smoking cigarettes? He does!

[erik_kosberg]

I hadn’t heard anything about a speech, but Carville was offered a consulting job with Enron and turned them down. The job was then offered to Ralph Reed who accepted. Curiouser and curiouser...

[kurt_messick]

Hey, if they're paying people to not give speeches, my rates begin at $5000 to not give a speech. I'm a bargain!

[Redlass]

Originally posted by poseidon
I heard on the radio yesterday that James Carville was invited to do a speaking engagement at Enron in a couple of months. He was contracted to do this back in November.

James Carville gets $100,000 per speech.

It is my understanding that it is typical to pay someone 50% as a down payment, and then after the speech occurs they get the other 50%.

So, it would seem that James Carville received $50,000 up front for a speech that he won't have to deliver.
[/i]

Um, so you're saying that you guess he's received $50,000 based on what he normally gets and the fact that businesses typically pay a downpayment?

I'm not sure there is a discussion here unless we know that Carville received $50,000 up front (instead of guessing that he probably did).

Or am I being naive and missing a point here?

As a sometime freelancer, I know the whole reason I ask for money up front is because I've blocked out my time for that contractor and if they don't deliver the work for me to complete, then I still deserve compensation for the time that I might have given to someone else.

[poseidon]

Yes, it is a guess. That's exactly what I've implied.

And I'm wondering if he's donated the $50,000 to the employee bake sale fund or not.

[drmomentum[$]]

Originally posted by poseidon
Yes, it is a guess. That's exactly what I've implied.

And I'm wondering if he's donated the $50,000 to the employee bake sale fund or not.

Let's guess he has.

-JP