All The Presidents Money

I did some research on things tonight, using info I found through google
searches on each of the companies listed as donors for Bush on
opensecrets.org. First off, here are where some of the people who give money
to George Bush work, plus the total amount of money given to him:


Merrill Lynch ($364,300)
UBS Americas ($260,990)
PriceWaterhouseCoopers ($209,800)
Credit Suisse First Boston ($203,050)
Goldman Sachs ($196,850)
MBNA Corp ($196,600)
Blank Rome LLP ($193,900)
Lehman Brothers ($191,500)
Bear Stearns ($163,200)
Union Pacific Corp ($157,250)



Here's who those people are:



1. Merril Lynch ($364,300)

From thier website: "The year 2002, most would agree, was the most difficult
year in decades for our clients and our company. Geopolitical uncertainty,
economic weakness and the loss of investor confidence converged to form a
volatile market environment. The people of Merrill Lynch responded."


Responded by sending some money to the Economist In Chief! Good job, boys!




2. UBS Americas ($260,990)


This company made a huge profit last year. Guess what they do? They're "the
world's leading wealth management buisiness." They provide "…sophisticated
services through consultative relationships with affluent and high net worth
clients." Glad to see someone helping out the whole trickle-down thing. No
doubt thier profits came from those huge income tax reductions I got last
year as a middle class citizen- a whole $14.83!




3. PriceWaterhouseCoopers ($209,800)


This company, which monitors worker standards for Nike and the Gap, was at
the heart of the "Move Your Company To Bermuda" concept that everyone says
is costing this country billions in tax dollars. "Both Merrill Lynch and
Price Waterhouse Coopers were fined last year by the IRS for their role in
promoting improper tax shelters." (Miami Herald, 9/17/03).


Just to reiterate: Profits made by taking money from the people in this
country, with goods shipped to and from people on roads paid for by tax
payers, made by people with educations paid for by tax payers, are sending
their profits offshore so they don't have to give anything back. Its good to
see real "Patriots" stepping up to bat.



4. Credit Suisse First Boston ($203,050)


Ever heard of a "Swiss Bank Account?" These are the guys you go to with when
you want one for your $14.83 cent tax return that the President gives you.
But better than that, the American branch, CSFB, was run by Frank Quattrone,
who is- surprise! - out of court October 24th based on a mistrial in a case
concerning his actions after investigations into fraud claims were launched.
The case "centered on an e-mail written by a subordinate and forwarded by
Quattrone to his staff on Dec. 5, 2000, that encouraged employees to "catch
up on file cleanup" by destroying some documents. Quattrone added a brief
endorsement to the e-mail that concluded: "I strongly advise you to follow
these procedures." " (CBS News Website, Oct 24th, 2003)




5. Goldman Sachs ($196,850)


Yet another wealth management service. And yet another fraud investigation!
From the explanation of the class action lawsuit: "Stock analysts, it
seemed, encouraged customers to purchase and keep failing stocks; the result
of Goldman Sachs stock fraud tactics was that the investment bankers were
able to continue turning a profit on these companies. Goldman Sachs stock
fraud guaranteed the client companies continued investment funds from
shareholders, while selling the shareholder bad stocks. Goldman Sachs stock
fraud investigations also found that Goldman Sachs manipulated several
companies initial public offerings of stock (IPOs). Goldman Sachs stock
fraud in IPOs includes inappropriate gifts of IPO stock to executive
clients, such as Ford. The Goldman Sachs stock frauds also allegedly
inflated stock prices as soon as the IPO hit the market. The various Goldman
Sachs stock fraud tactics resulted in the loss of millions of dollars by
investors-victims of Goldman Sachs stock fraud include both individuals and
client companies." According to the Washington Post, "NYSE officials, who
police the exchange on behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
said they plan disciplinary action against the five firms on charges that
they violated "fundamental" exchange rules by making trades that enriched
themselves at investors' expense." (Washington Post, October 17, 2003; Page
E01) Spear Leeds, one of the five traders being investigated, is owned by
Goldman Sachs.



6. MBNA Corp ($196,600)


These guys are the largest credit card issuer in the world. That's not
hyperbole. When you don't have money for groceries at the end of the month,
you get to pay 9.6% more on the plastic to these guys. They clearly want
Americans to have good jobs because they really want to go out of business.
Doesn't every company? MBNA was a major contributor to a huge bankruptcy
reform legislation making it harder for people to get out of debt. "..their
debts will have to be repaid under a plan that makes payment of credit card
bills to wealthy corporations equal to paying child support or alimony."
(Pitt News, Pittsburgh, March 26th 2001) The article goes on to quote
then-Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota: "The big guys are going to win and
the little people are going to get smashed … no question about it. [The
bill] is a wish list for the credit card industry and a nightmare for
vulnerable families and vulnerable citizens."



7. Blank Rome LLP ($193,900)


One of the things this group of lawyers does is give advice to companies on
how to win government contracts. This is from their website: "Blank Rome's
Government Relations team maintains close working relationships with key
policy makers in the Executive office of the President, and regularly
consults with leadership at the Department of Energy, the EPA, and relevant
Congressional Committees on behalf of our clients." In other words, they
help set environmental policy. "We also represent businesses and financial
institutions before the United States Congress on corporate tax and estate
matters (e.g. repeal of the "death tax") pending before the Senate Finance
and House Ways and Means Committees, where we have successfully influenced
public policy and achieved significant results for our clients."




8. Lehman Brothers ($191,500)


Part 1: "Lehman Brothers, an innovator in global finance, serves the
financial needs of corporations, governments and municipalities,
institutional clients, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide." (From
their website)


Part 2: "In 2002, Lehman Brothers had its third best revenue year in another
very difficult market environment. Although the economy and financial
markets were weak, the Firm was strong."


Funny, when the economy was weak, the bank that caters to "high net worth"
individuals had its third best revenue year since 1844. They are for sure
looking out for the little guy, just like GW and Bill O'Reilly.




9. Bear Stearns ($163,200)

Subpoenaed! On Oct 16th 2003. We'll see how that turns out.


10. Union Pacific Corp ($157,250)


My favorite Bush Donor! A rail transportation and trucking company.
According to Forbes: "For the 9 months ended 9/30/03, revenues rose 3% to
$8.59B. [.] Revenues reflect increased shipments of military equipment and
ammunition and ethanol."



-eryk salvaggio