OK: "Hi Ben, what are your views on rates?"
Still OK: "Hi Ben, John Smith is in your old seat, what do you think of him, what does it imply for our strategy?"
Less OK (I think, still legal in FICC although not in equities): "Hi Ben, mind giving John a call before his morning press meet to check what he's going to say" [1]
Really bad (if somewhat unlikely): "Hi Ben, John's going to be more bullish than expected, but we have a fairly large short on; mind having lunch with him this week before the next meeting and try change his mind?"
The Carlyle Group (headquartered in Washington, unlike, at the time, most of the industry) is probably the most famous for hiring fresh-off-the-administration politicians [2], and being "lucky" with portfolio companies and defence contracts. Disclaimer: I'm of course not implying they are related in any way; could just be that their better insider knowledge allowed them to present a more appropriate offer in those cases.
The Carlyle Group (headquartered in Washington, unlike, at the time, most of the industry) is probably the most famous for hiring fresh-off-the-administration politicians [2], and being "lucky" with portfolio companies and defence contracts. Disclaimer: I'm of course not implying they are related in any way; could just be that their better insider knowledge allowed them to present a more appropriate offer in those cases.
[1] http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jan/04/switzerland-...
[2] http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Triangle-Inside-Secret-Carlyle/dp... - although the book obviously has an agenda.