285 Bush donors have raised $38.5 million or more

[pruner]

Bush Campaign Raises A Record $49.5 Million
For Their Efforts, Fundraisers Also Gain

By Thomas B. Edsall and Sarah Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, October 15, 2003; Page A01

President Bush's reelection campaign yesterday reported raising $49.5 million in the third quarter, a decisive record for a three-month period. Since launching his fundraising effort in May, Bush has collected $83.9 million.

The record receipts -- more than triple the top Democrat's fundraising for the quarter -- were driven in large part by just 285 men and women, who collected $38.5 million or more, which was at least 45 percent of Bush's total take. This fundraising elite, many of whom were beneficiaries of Bush administration policies, included 100 "Rangers," who raised at least $200,000 apiece, and 185 "Pioneers," who collected at least $100,000 each.

<snip>

On Wall Street, major Bush fundraisers include Stan O'Neal of Merrill Lynch & Co., whose employees had already given more than $280,000 as of the end of June; Stephen M. Lessing of Lehman Brothers Inc., who raised $159,000; Joseph Grano and James P. MacGilvray of UBS Paine Webber, who raised $88,000; John J. Mack of Credit Suisse First Boston, who raised $124,000; and James E. Cayne of Bear Stearns Cos., who raised $137,000. The totals were based on data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

All told, there are at least 37 Rangers and Pioneers from the finance industry, which has been vocal in its support for the Bush administration's economic program, particularly the tax cuts.

<snip>

Leading fundraisers on Bush's list, such as Pioneer Dirk Van Dongen of the National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors, routinely advise the White House on business and tax matters. Bush's Pioneers include many prominent Washington figures, such as Bush strategist and former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed, as well as lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Wayne Berman and Lanny Griffith. Former senators Rudy Boschwitz, Alfonse M. D'Amato and John C. Danforth are on the list, as is former representative Tillie Fowler.

The power and energy industries, which the Bush administration has supported repeatedly with both legislative and regulatory initiatives over the objections of environmental groups, have produced at least 14 Rangers and Pioneers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27000-2003Oct14.html

[Flying_Pig]

1. 38500000/285=$135,000.00 (rounded), per donor. Must be nice

to have that kind of dough to bribe an illegitimate (p)resident. These people make me sick. Don't tell me there's not class war going on in this country right now!

:grr:

[prolesunited]

16. Don't point it out, though

That wouldn't be polite.


What pisses me off is they are dialing back the clock to the robber baron days of the early 19th century and eliminating the middle class. However, when you try to point it out, YOU are suddenly guilty of class warfare. Now, who's more guilty? The people actually waging the war or the person pointing it out?

[priller]

2. In the Texas gov's race last time,

only about 50 families contributed over half the Republican's total campaign contributions. Government by the wealthy and for the wealthy.

[7th_Sephiroth]

12. gee, i wonder

who is gonna get screwed if shrub actually wins

[JohnKleeb]

3. Told ya it was all about green

Probably one of the biggest reasons why I dont like the DLC and their more corporate beliefs.

[elperromagico]

4. Why don't they raise 87 billion?

Send it to Iraq, care of Halliburton.

I think we would all be eternally grateful to these bastards if they helped give us some real tax relief.

[Mari333]

5. Send it to Iraq!!!

and raise 80 billion more from your top 1% of ass kissing corporate executives and send that over too!!! You lying thieving sack of shite..

[Hippo_Tron]

6. National campaign requires money but we can raise it

Bush can't buy votes (legally anyway). The GOP can spend and spend, ironically the opposite of their government mentality, but democrats know how to run the government on a balanced budget as our campaigns and can reach the voters without buying them.

[elperromagico]

7. It's not the opposite of Bush's government mentality at all

Decrease revenue, increase spending: That's the Bush philosophy.

I wish it were possible to give each candidate $1 million for the whole campaign. Then maybe they might have to campaign on the issues instead of on who produces the flashiest TV ads.

[ComerPerro]

8. I am really not impressed at all

This is to be expected.

He gives $2000 a plate fundraisers, at which donors give him thousands in additional donations.

He fundraises all the time. He doesn't give press conferences, and rarely addresses the nation. If you see a soundbyte of Bush, there is a very good chance that it was recorded at a fundraiser.

He deserves every penny he gets from the social elites, because he has made damn sure that someone is looking out for them and protecting their interests. After the thousands of dollars he has literally handed them in donations, in the form of tax rebates (on taxes they don't pay), the elimination or reduction of taxes paid largely by the wealthiest Americans (such as the estate tax), and his corporate welfare; then donating a few thousand is no skin off the back of the average Republican donor. Hell, its the least they can do to thank him for the thousands they have plundered from the average working American.

Bush can take the money he has raised and shove it up his ass (which is a change of pace, normally he takes his money and it goes right up his nose, if you get my drift) because there are tons of true Americans all over the country who see what he is up to, and are disgusted. We see through his phony image. We see through the propaganda. We see through his attempts to completely reject the will of the people. We see through his extreme fascist views of patriotism. Our country has been hijacked, and the time will come when we will no longer sit idly by as a maniac drives our country towards its downfall.

[Yupster]

9. So why can't Democratis candidates compete?

Can Alec Bladwin and Brabra Streisand not be "Rangers" and find 100 of their friends to donate $ 2,000 each? Now that the limit is $ 2,000 per person, the wealthy are needed not just for their $ 2,000, but to go out and find friends willing to fork over their $ 2,000 too.
Certainly in NYC and San Fransisco and Hollywood, there should be no shortage of "Pioneers" and "Rangers."

Dean is changing the party by his aggressive fundraising. I see it as a real positive step. There's no reason that Democrats should be buried by Bush's money. They're just not used to raising it themselves.They've been too married to union money and rich people's soft money donations. I think Dean will show them the way to create a truly effective donation - raising machine, whether he wins or not.

[proud patriot]

10. 285 is all the votes bush is going to get too

by the time bush is done shoving all the money down our throats
with commercials people are going to be sick of hearing
his nails on the chalkboard voice .

[proud patriot]

11. Soldiers in Iraq get 1 meal a day and 2 liters of clean water a day

:grr: gosh this makes me that while our soldiers suffer
bush is raking it in ...Disgrace ..Shame

I wonder how many of those 285 people have sent
care packages to soldiers ..:mad:

[moondust]

13. Badge of Corruption.

In a healthy democracy/republic a candidate would be crowing about not contributing to the corruption of the political process by accepting private donations (bribes) which demand paybacks and induce unfair influence on policy. Amazing how thoroughly U.S. politics has been perverted.

[SahaleArm]

14. Ironic.

Corruption is rampant in every democracy across the globe, all that's required is power.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi SahaleArm!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Q]

17. The blatant selling of legislation...

...in return for campaign funding. Why can't the American people see the connection? The American media is to blame.