The World's Oldest Profession--Lobbying?

We here a lot these days about the corrosive impact of interest group politics.  In fact, Jim Webb, a former Democratic Senator in Virginia, just alleged that "the Democratic Party has basically turned into a party of interest groups.

But let's face it, where would all these interest groups be without the geishas of the political world, the lobbyists who connect interest groups to politicians.

And, lest we stop there, let's also ask where those poor lobbyists would be without a roof over their head?  Probably--GASP--in a strip mall.  Lucky for them, there's always a lobby shop from which to hang your shingle--that venerable house of political prostitution that will take your business regardless of your political affiliation (or those of your interest group clients).  Lobbying, it seems, is an end in itself.

Take Annapolis, for example.  The blue state of Maryland now seems a little more purple with the recent election of a Republican governor--Larry Hogan. So, how does your Oldest Profession respond?  Well, they start hiring Republicans of course. 

According to today's Washington Post, the Annapolis lobby shop Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston, Levitan & Silver just hired a "long time Republican strategist" as the firm's "director of business development."

And, to burnish the new 'goods' for sale at the shop, the firm quoted the co-chair of Hogan's transition team complimenting the firm's newest lady of the evening'strategist.'  

Who says we live in a partisan world?  Political prostitution is as purple as it gets.