When you’re head of innovation for a major company and you don’t really have to work, that’s very innovative.
Innovation, thy name is Nathan
When you’re head of innovation for a major company and you don’t really have to work, that’s very innovative.
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Let’s be honest here. This job at Qualcomm was nothing more than an easy way to keep the mortgage payment covered until the next political office opened up. Thank you Filner for expediting that effort.
There are no technology qualifications in his background that would allow one to be hired in at that level. I have known several executives at Qualcomm over the years and this is very strange.
The fact that he has no staff is further proof of this scam position being offered for political purposes.
Since when do the readers of this site care how much or for what a private employer pays one of its employees?
The post’s headline and lead in to the linked article don’t mention anything about salary.
The linked article mentions salary in the second paragraph and the paragraphs are very short. (Founding Father could take a lesson)
If the employer is paying a stipend to a defeated politician to perform innovative functions such as lobbying, loitering, posturing and waiting for the next self aggrandizing political opportunity then anyone with the slightest political curiosity would want to know what is the next target of the defeated politician and what hooks came with the stipend.
Mole,
I thought “taking care of” elected officials (past, present and potential) was only a problem when unions did it. I thought it was a perfectly acceptable business decision when done by a private entity. Someone needs to please explain the rules to me again.
Most are forgetting the tax angle. If you contribute money to a candidate, it’s not tax deductible (unless you are a labor union member and itemize — technically not legal, but most do it) — and it’s usually severely limited as to the amount.
But if you “hire” an “employee” and pay quadruple the wage that he would have “worked” for, then you still have a “legitimate,” deductible business expense — a.k.a. a tax deductible political contribution. Does anyone doubt that, if elected, Nathan Fletcher will carry out the agenda “suggested” by Jacobs? (Boy, that explanation required a LOT of quotation marks!)
Even better, if you run a public company, you can make such contributions with shareholder assets — in essence coughing up only a small fraction of the total dollars unwisely spent. Life is good if you are Irwin Jacobs!
Hypocrisy, I generally wouldn’t, except that I am a QCOM shareholder. I have heard from several friends at the company that the culture has changed dramatically since Paul Jacobs has been running the show.
Specifically to Nathan Fletcher, his collecting a paycheck while focusing on other endeavors seems to be a character trait. We just got rid of a mayor who also seemed to be in it more for himself than for the good of the city. We don’t need that again.
Was anyone here concerned with Dick Cheney’s “severance pay” from Halliburton when he decided to run for Vice-President? Or Jerry Sanders lucrative deal with the Chamber of Commerce inked shortly after he endorsed a Mayoral candidate he had previously called a psychopath?
EXCLUSIVE: Behind the scenes with 10News and Nathan Fletcher http://sdrostra.com/?p=35639
Hypocrisy, I know you’re not looking to truly discuss this because you’re a fan of Nathan and have been for a while. I’m guessing his implied future support of unions is convincing enough for you to overlook his character and integrity flaws.
Anyway, the point here is not how Qualcomm spends money, but how a high paying job with nobody under him and no actual business goals doesn’t qualify the guy to be mayor. Especially of San Diego.
Cheney provided value to Haliburton. Sanders took an unpaid vacation before joining the Chamber; since then he has been showing up and earning his paycheck. Fletcher does not seem to add any value (certainly not $400K worth) nor working to earn his paycheck.
Dick Cheney worked for his money and added value to the company. Fletcher does not (not $400,000 worth). Sanders took an unpaid vacation before starting his Chamber job, where he shows up and earns his money.
Michael,
I supported Fletcher when he was a Republican and had an 82% anti- labor voting record.
D7,
I will side with the Jacobs’ family over you when it comes to deciding who and what provides value to their business.
Hypo Q.
I thought “taking care” of elected officials (past, present and potential) was only a problem when unions did it. I thought it was a perfectly acceptable business decision when done by a private entity. Someone needs to please explain the rules to me again.
Dr. Jacobs is a private entity. So what is the question?
Mole,
My point exactly, but at least some of your fellow Rostrafarians think Dr. Jacobs is doing something wrong. Maybe if he wasn’t a Democrat or Fletcher was still a Republican they wouldn’t feel that way.
Again, what matters is that collecting an enormous paycheck while so many are unemployed and/or working hard to feed their family does nothing to prepare you to be mayor. It does nothing to prove you’d be a good mayor.
With all the talk of the “south of the 8” vote, how does Nathan’s past and present show he cares about those voters? How do voters look at Nathan and think “that’s fair”?
Michael,
“Collecting an enormous paycheck while so many are unemployed and/or working hard to feed their family…” You are beginning to sound like you belong with the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Can’t you admit that this wouldn’t be an issue for you if Fletcher hadn’t left the Republican Party.
Hypocrisy, can’t you admit that it would be a problem for you if it were an anti-union control candidate?
Next time you talk to Nathan (tomorrow) ask him just how friendly I was towards him when he was a Republican. Then report back here publically. If he lies and says anything short of how hostile I was towards his lack of character, I’ll go dig up some email exchanges.
Even though he was “A” rated by the NRA (a subject I am very, very passionate about), I have always been critical of his personal character. I became more vocal about my views on this website when he used this forum to tell Carl Demaio to “man up”. His bigotry towards openly gay political opponents who are actually qualified to hold office should never be tolerated.
But this news story isn’t about you and me Hypocrisy.
The point of the story is Nathan’s current job prepares him to collect a large paycheck. Nothing more. A much larger check than his co-workers, but do far less work.
If you look at his past he’s qualified to do three things: elect Republicans, shoot at people, and collect an undeserved paycheck.
Hypocrisy, That is fine. However, as a shareholder in THEIR business , they will side with me over you. Granted, we only own a small amount of stock; however, as I mentioned previously, there has been a notable culture shift within the organization…the stock is now trading at about a tenth of its all-time high (pre-split and unrealistic)…if enough large / activist investors become unhappy then relatively minor issues at the company such as Fletcher become much more problematic. Culture within the company has always been instrumental in its success, and the new Jacobs generation is losing it.
“and the new Jacobs generation is losing it.” I only wishing I was losing it like they are.
Go talk to some engineers at the company….they respected Irwin Jacobs; the new leadershp, not so much. When the rest of the “founders” generation retires and when the company cannot attract top engineers then all the Nathan Fletchers in the world serving on boards and giving speeches is gonna help them.
Hypo Q.
We all know that all political factions take care of their own. The Left and Labor in particular does it better. Jerry Butkiewicz did a really good job in the case of defeated City Council candidate Lorena Gonzalez. She came on as Labor Council Political Director under his tutelage and then was his choice to succeed him as Labor Council Secretary/Treasurer. Joining her was Voice of San Diego journalist Evan McLaughlin as Labor Council Political Director. Lorena Gonzalez is now elected to the Assembly and Mr. McLaughlin is her Chief of Staff. Jerry Butkiewicz is head of Workforce Development at SEMPRA. A little incestuous politics here and there but it all works out in the wash.