Here’s a little something from Tribune’s 55-page request to the bankruptcy court that it be allowed to pay bonuses to management-level employees:

“Implementing the Key Operators Bonus component of the 2009 Management Incentive Plan similarly is vital in order to motivate 23 key operating leaders to continue to focus on transformation of their respective businesses throughout 2009.”

Pardon us for asking, but shouldn’t the fact that the 23 employees in question are still drawing paychecks be motivation enough to do their jobs?

Not to lay it all on the 23 employees. Bonuses would go to about 700 people overall, and Tribune makes a similar argument in favor of those payouts:

“Although the Debtors’ management team thus has the clear capability to deliver strong performance under extraordinary adversity, the fact remains that doing so involves incredible effort, focus and dedication, and requires strong yet reasonable incentives in order to motivate and fairly compensate these key personnel to optimize the successful pursuit of the Company’s businesses for the benefit of all constituencies.”

Tribune makes another interesting argument in favor of the bonuses. Earlier in its request, when addressing a particular part of the bonus plan, Tribune says, “These payout opportunities are even more reasonable when compared to the approximately $7.5 million per month that the Debtors’ estates are paying for professionals fees and expenses related to the bankruptcy.”

Well, there you go.