Expect cronyism and undying loyalty from people they appoint to high government positions, that is. Bob Dole's scathing email to Scott McClellan reads, in part:

"In my nearly 36 years of public service I've known of a few like you," Dole writes, recounting his years representing Kansas in the House and Senate. "No doubt you will 'clean up' as the liberal anti-Bush press will promote your belated concerns with wild enthusiasm. When the money starts rolling in you should donate it to a worthy cause, something like, 'Biting The Hand That Fed Me.'

This is reminiscent of something Democrat Leon Panetta told the New York Times last month regarding once loyal Clintonites who switched their support from Hillary to Obama.

“These are people that the Clintons gave an opportunity to serve,” said Mr. Panetta, speaking generally. “They helped give them the titles they now have, and made them a lot of money. I think the Clintons probably feel they are owed something.”

Megan McArdle makes exactly the right retort. She is responding to the Dole email, but the thoughts are bipartisan.

As an American taxpayer I'd like to think that I am the hand that fed Mr. McClellan, along with my fellow citizens. He owed loyalty to the United States of America, our constitution, laws duly enacted by our legislature and our citizenry. It may be that Mr. McClellan betrayed some of those loyalties, but the mere fact of criticizing the president after having left the administration isn't "biting the hand that fed" him.