NYT: Bush's Money Men Pass the Hats One More Time

[kskiska]

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
CRAWFORD, Tex.

President Bush said that 2004 would be his last campaign, but for his legion of political donors there is no end in sight. No sooner was the election over than they began bracing for another appeal for money, this time for the $40 million or more needed to put on the behemoth party that will be known as Mr. Bush's second inaugural.

One might think that the donors would be exhausted from writing and persuading so many others to write the checks that fed the $273 million Mr. Bush collected for his re-election, a record for an American presidential campaign. But one would be wrong.

At least, that is the view of Brad Freeman, the presidential chum and the most talkative in the triumvirate of Bush fund-raisers tasked with calling people up and asking for $100,000 each to help with the swearing-in festivities.

(snip)

Mr. Freeman, a California financer worth an estimated $100 million who took in the presidential tomcat, Ernie, when the Bushes moved to the White House (his claws were deemed ruinous to the furniture), will get together with other inaugural fund-raisers for a planning session in Washington on Saturday.

(snip)

And what of Ernie? "Unfortunately, the cat's still alive," Mr. Freeman intoned. "So it's what I've got for the next four years."

Or at least until the fund-raising for Mr. Bush's library begins.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/national/29letter.html?oref=login

[Skittles]

1. I can't believe that sick bastard celebrating during the war he started

you can bet it will be an unbelievably gaudy affair too. :puke:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. Rove is already doing the math on the library costs

There was an article I posted here a week or two ago, I believe from Salon, about Rove and Bush getting special "pre-opening" tours of the Clinton Library. Rove asked a lot of questions about logistics, design...and price.

We already know that Junior's "library" will HAVE to cost more than Bill Clinton's. There is NO WAY that he will approve construction for one that costs less.

As someone else on DU so aptly put it: "A presidential library for a president who HATES TO READ."

:grr:

[MissMarple]

3. Perhaps they will have a ritual book burning.

It doesn't seem to be totally out of character.

[daleo]

5. They should devote a wing to "The Pet Goat" n/t

[daleo]

4. Not a donation, an investment

Rich Bush donors know they will get everything back, many times over. I am not sure about the church motivated poor supporters, though.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

6. The "Pioneers" ($100,000+ donors) get Bush administration jobs

...write a "Pioneer-sized" check, get a title. He did the same thing for the legal team that helped him "win" the 2000 election...as soon as the dust settled, they got job offers.

God Bless America.

:grr:

[daleo]

8. These supporters are in a position to benefit handsomely from tax cuts

After all, they are the "haves and have-mores...my base" (Bush, F911).

[MRDU]

7. "Unfortunately, the cat's still alive,"

Mr. Freeman intoned. "So it's what I've got for the next four years."

What a heartless bastard. I would never refer to one of my pets
as an "IT".

I feel sorry for Ernie.

[baby_bear]

9. Mr. Freeman is clearly an "it," on the other hand.

We should start a Free Ernie fund!!

Hopefully Ernie, being a cat and therefore smarter than Republicans, has not been corrupgted by his erstwhile human cat-food-can openers.

Free Ernie!

bb

[kskiska]

10. Didn't Ernie run away once?

Isn't he the cat who was found strolling down Hollywood Blvd?

[baby_bear]

11. You are so right, kskiska

The Avenue of the Stars, to be specific.

http://archive.salon.com/politics/red/2001/04/10/blue/

I had no idea...

bb

[DeepModem Mom]

12. kick