I don't know. I really don't think there is a scenario in which Obama turns on Wall Street and joins a populist uprising against the bankster overlords, regardless of whether they want to pay him or not.

A lot of people want to think, "Oh, for all that money, they must be getting something back! Quid pro quo! Follow the money!" But really, $400,000 is pocket change to those folks and the institutions behind them. For a chance to see the former president in person, maybe say hello or shake his hand ... even after office ... a lot of people will pay a lot of money purely for vanity. And again, that's not a lot of money for those people.