McCain links to Oleg Deripaska, Russia's richest billionaire / possible organized crime

[LVZ]

Олег Владимирович Дерипаска (Oleg Deripaska)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56854
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/12/01455/5934/674/513922

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012403383_pf.html

WASHINGTON POST January 25, 2008:

"Aide Helped Controversial Russian Meet McCain"

Was Russian Tycoon Oleg Deripaska on that boat in Montenegro for McCain's 70th birthday, the one with the lobbyist Davis and the Italian scammer/money launderer Raffaello Follieri?

We have a national security scandal on our hands, folks, if McCain is tainted with scammer/money launderer money-influence in connection with Russian-casino peddlers.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-na-vaticanscam11-2008sep11,0,5421278.story

Raffaello Follieri agreed not to appeal any sentence of up to five years and three months in prison for his plea to wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. Sentencing was set for Oct. 3.

http://euddoggwyn.blogspot.com/2008/09/john-mccain-and-oleg-deripaska.html

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081020/ames_berman

The Nation

Despite McCain's tough talk, behind the scenes his top advisers have cultivated deep ties with Russia's oligarchy--indeed, they have promoted the Kremlin's geopolitical and economic interests, as well as some of its most unsavory business figures, through greedy cynicism and geopolitical stupor. The most notable example is the tale of how McCain and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, advanced what became a key victory for the Kremlin: gaining control over the small but strategically important country of Montenegro.

Indeed, today, after its "independence," Montenegro is nicknamed "Moscow by the Mediterranean." Russian oligarchs control huge chunks of the country's industry and prized coastline--and Russians exert a powerful influence over the country's political culture. "Montenegro is almost a new Russian colony, as rubles flow in to buy property and business in the tiny state," Denis MacShane, Tony Blair's former Europe minister, wrote in Newsweek in June. The takeover of Montenegro has been a Russian geostrategic victory--quietly accomplished, paradoxically enough, with the help of McCain and his top aides.

Russia's virtual takeover of Montenegro was well under way by January 2006, when Rick Davis introduced Deripaska to McCain at a villa in Davos, Switzerland. They met again seven months later, at a reception in Montenegro celebrating McCain's birthday, as reported in the Washington Post.

Davis's team was vetted by Montenegro's Russian ambassador Rocen, who was returning from Moscow to oversee the independence campaign. Why was Davis hired? The top McCain aide was as much a political symbol as a campaign consultant. "I think the Montenegrins hired Rick to have political cover--it was important to show they had support from the United States," said an American democracy expert who's worked in Montenegro. Though disclosure is required by Montenegrin law, Davis Manafort's contract with the ruling Montenegrin party was never publicly released. In addition, Djukanovic's party never listed payments to Davis Manafort on its election filings, lending credence to private claims by top Montenegrin officials that Russian business interests paid for Davis's work through hired third parties, an oft-used though illegal tactic in Eastern Europe to disguise money trails.

Aside from a little campaign dough, what has McCain gotten out of all this? It's hard to tell--either he was utterly clueless while his top advisers and political allies ran around the former Soviet domain promoting the Kremlin's interests for cash, or he was aware of it and didn't care. McCain was reportedly so angry about Davis Manafort's role in stifling Ukraine's Orange Revolution that he almost removed Davis as campaign manager. But in the case of Montenegro, he should have known what Davis & Co. were up to. After all, McCain lent a helping hand. And by the time he visited the country, the Russian takeover was plain to see.

The story of how McCain's closest aides and employees have been undermining his vociferously expressed opposition to Putin and Russia's oligarchs offers a highly disturbing preview of what a McCain administration might look like. When McCain's campaign proclaims "country first," one has to wonder, Which country? The one with the highest bidder?

[and-justice-for-all]

1. I posted this last month and it sank...nt

[1Hippiechick]

13. Happens on here all the time - makes one wonder at times about the purpose of posting/reading here.

Sadly, I think it's "entertainment first" for many ppl here which = reading/responding to "sensational"-type posts. Some prefer the quick "sound-bite" summary rather than taking the time to read and comprehend the ramifications of a subject such as this, imo. Have to go to other sites for the more "serious" stuff w/more serious posters, imo.

I have posted the 6-part videos from YouTube entitled "Happiness Machines", and they sank. The title didn't "grab", so it got overlooked. These videos are shocking and eye-opening, and document how masses in a democracy are controlled by corrupt corporate America. It's a British documentary.

So, I share your pain. The other unfortunate contributing factor is the sheer number of posts AND the time of day when one posts. A topic can get "knocked" off the front page in a matter of minutes, unfortunately. I have not discovered the "formula" to generate activity/interest when posting. I will tell you this: One poster friend notifies me via e-mail when he posts, and I immediately go to his posts to respond. You might try that. Create a list of buddies who are interested in the more serious topics and alert them when you post. Just a suggestion.

[Starry Messenger]

24. I think time of day is really a key factor.

My own armchair analysis: most of the posters here seem to be on the east coast. Key times for DU reading: 6-9 am EsT (before work), 12-1:30 EST (lunch break) etc. After work, after dinner. It's fun seeing who pops on when.

[Colobo]

2. Why is nobody talking about this?

[LVZ]

30. Criminal ties, big money, opportunism - a pattern with McCain

500,000 Youtube views in 9 hours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDofbll86dY">

Ron Paul War Room:

Ron Paul War Room

SELF-STYLED REPUBLICAN “reformer” John McCain is right now positioned as one of the top figures in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. But one thing about McCain that the mass media chooses not to report is his family connection to the organized crime-connected interests that have run the state of Arizona (through both major political parties) since at least the 1940s.



Charles Keating - convicted felon, close personal and business friend of John McCain

Wikipedia:

McCain was criticized by the Committee for exercising "poor judgment" when he met with the federal regulators on Keating's behalf.

The Senate Ethics Committee did not pursue, for lack of jurisdiction, any possible ethics breaches in McCain's delayed reimbursements to Keating for trips at the latter's expense, because they occurred while McCain was in the House. The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct said that it too lacked jurisdiction, because McCain was no longer in the House.

Not everyone was satisfied with the Senate Ethics Committee conclusions. Fred Wertheimer, president of Common Cause, which had initially demanded the investigation, thought the treatment of the senators far too lenient. One of the San Francisco bank regulators felt that McCain had gotten off too lightly, saying that Keating's business involvement with Cindy McCain was an obvious conflict of interest.

On October 6, 2008, the Keating Five scandal, its possible parallel to the subprime mortgage crisis and liquidity crisis of September 2008, and specifically the role in the scandal of Republican presidential nominee McCain, were reintroduced into public political discourse.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. At least SOME in Barack Obama's campaign must be aware of this

and I'd hope they would make something out of it if they thought it would do some good. Perhaps it'll be revealed closer to election day.

[LVZ]

4. Rachel Maddow's Youtube comment ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mRFnvoxHO4

[1Hippiechick]

14. TY, TY, TY, for posting this video. I missed it! Here is what I posted on YouTube:

So easy to pick out the self-righteous, narcissistic, hypocritical republican posters on here. Don't discuss the video or the corruption in McCain's own campaign. Rather, attack Obama or Rachel Maddow. How juvenile! Do only low-IQ republicans repond to these videos? I have yet to read an intelligent post on the SUBJECT! It must be inbred in Republicans to attack, attack, attack, ignore the TRUTH, and float along in life in LaLa Land. Is there intelligent life in the Republican Party? Anybody?

[grassfed]

5. ABRAMOFF lobbied for Montenegro

Ney and Abramoff, whom DeLay once described as "one of my closest and dearest friends," crossed paths as early as 1996. That year Ney took a trip to Montenegro sponsored by a foundation that had links to Abramoff, who was a lobbyist for Montenegro.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701918_pf.html

[Liberty Belle]

6. Off to the greatest thread, and proud to recommend this.

Let's kick it around some more -- this needs to be seeen by all.

do we really want Russian mobsters calling the shots in the WH?

:kick:

[Skink]

7. They probably have Bin Laden down there.

[bridgit]

8. McCain London Fundraiser Tied To Deported Russian Oligarch...

'John McCain is on a world tour, and after flunking Middle East Politics 101 on the Jordan leg of his trip, he's now on his way to London, where his campaign will hold a fundraising event. (For American citizens only as foreigners can't contribute.) Proper attire for the luncheon affair is "lounge wear," according to the Washington Post, which also reported that the event will be held at Spencer House on St. James's Place, "by kind permission" of Lord Rothschild and Nathaniel Rothschild.

The latter "may become the richest Rothschild of them all," according to a profile last year in the New York Times. The story said Nathaniel Rothschild was "close to becoming a billionaire through a web of private equity investments" in Eastern Europe, and that he was "a principal adviser to Oleg Deripaska, one of the richest oligarchs in Russia." Indeed, the Daily Mail has said that Rothschild's wealth had "been accrued in his role as the adviser to" Deripaska.'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/mccain-london-fundraiser-_n_92393.html

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. Why has it been hands off with McCain and this fundraiser in London?

[bridgit]

22. That *is* the question. Round that time, when I brought up likelihoods of various...

and odd collusions & intrigues occurring at such an event having read & seen no-less than The Remains Of The Day; it was pointedly pointed out to me by a poster here at DU...that only Americans are able to donate campaign funds at fundraising events outside this country.

That assertion seems a bit naive today. Especially in a Spencer's House on St. James' Place attended by Rothschild's and Russian oil oligarchs if not within then standing very nearby indeed.

The mandala is often filled with images maybe only appreciated by some: St James' Cross

[amborin]

9. i posted this twice and it sank

[1Hippiechick]

27. Read post 1 and comments. n/t

[LVZ]

10. Rick Davis, John McCain, Bob Dole, Oleg Deripaska, Nathan Rothschild ... connect the $$ dots

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3364.shtml

Deripaska has attracted the attention of U.S. law enforcement and he has been the subject of several civil law suits filed against him because of his business practices. However, no federal criminal charges have been brought against Deripaska. That is because Yeltsin's son-in-law counts, in addition to McCain, former GOP Senator and 1996 GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole among his most ardent supporters. In 2005, Deripaska paid Dole $500,000 in lobbying fees and was granted a visa to enter the United States. However, in 2006, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. government refused to grant Deripaska another visa because the FBI discovered he made "inaccurate statements" to the bureau.

The nexus of McCain with Russian oligarchs like Deripaska, as well as Munk, Rothschild, and Rich signifies that McCain is owned and operated by the very same entrenched global interests who have held sway in Washington during the seven-plus years of the George W. Bush administration.

Rick Davis (campaign manager) ::::::: John McCain ::::::: Bob Dole ::::::::::::::: Oleg Deripaska ::::::::::: Nathan Rothschild

[LVZ]

11. McCain...Manchurian Candidate à la Rothschild

http://www.rense.com/general81/mcroth.htm



Do you think this is just a coincidence? ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/17/lynn-forester-de-rothschi_n_127047.html">Lynn Forester De Rothschild, Top Clinton Fundraiser, Backs McCain

[quantass]

12. And McCain's link to the the guy who thinks Rape is a Good thing

Cant recall the billionaire but McCain took money from him and he on public tv said something to the effect that women enjoy getting raped or something disgusting like that. I am sure i am getting the facts little off but it was totally appalling.

[LVZ]

15. ABC News: Oleg Deripaska, suspected Russian Mafia, tries to buy GM's Hummer brand

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5564699&page=1

In lawsuits in the U.S. and Great Britain, business rivals have accused Deripaska of bribery, extortion and other unsavory business practices. None of the claims have been substantiated, and no successful suit against Deripaska has been reported.

According to the German publication Der Spiegel, law enforcement officials in Germany have suspected the oligarch of having ties to organized crime, though they have not brought any charges against him. The U.S. State Department revoked Deripaska'a entry visa because of questions concerning the alleged ties to organized crime ... according to the Wall Street Journal.

The allegations add a layer of irony to the possible purchase, as the Hummer has been popular with the would-be outlaw set in the United States.

[Hope And Change]

16. K & R!

[SunsetDreams]

17. K&R

McCorrupt!

[kevinmc]

18. All the Vegas/New Jersey Casino Owners Back McCain, he lives where the old Mafia heads live ….

there is no doubt he has mob ties.

[iceman66]

20. Let's not forget:

http://www.democrats.com/john-mccain-married-to-the-mob

And generally speaking, I have no doubt that future historians will regard today's Republicans as a crime syndicate masquerading as a political party.

[LVZ]

25. Arizona mafia, Russian mafia, Cozy Connections, not surprising among national Republicans

http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/mccain_s_mob_connections_146.html

McCain’s father-in-law got his start as a top henchman for Kemper
Marley, who, for 40 years until his death in 1990 at age 84, was the
undisputed behind-the-scenes political boss of Arizona. But Marley was
much more than a machine politician. In fact, he was also the Lansky
crime syndicate’s top man in Arizona, the protege of a Lansky
lieutenant, Phoenix gambler Gus Greenbaum.

[LVZ]

26. McCain's father-in-law Jim Hensley

http://www.cozumel-hotels.net/yabbse/index.php?topic=8407.0

[TheCoxwain]

19. OCTOBER SUPRISE!!!! (nt)

[Frank Booth]

23. Please change your title to "McCain Pallin' arround with the Russian Mafia"

or not.

[LVZ]

29. "ruthless streak put Russian patriot at top of the rich list"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/feb/24/business.russia

[LVZ]

28. Oleg Deripaska - indebtedness in his empire

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/39bf0736-91ae-11dd-b5cd-0000779fd18c.html

Oleg Deripaska became the first Russian oligarch to be publicly hit by the global financial crisis yesterday after he was forced to divest his 20 per cent stake in Magna International, the Canadian car parts maker, to creditors.

Mr Deripaska had faced margin calls on the $1bn loan that helped fund the $1.4bn investment as the value of the stake in Magna he had offered as collateral plummeted, two people familiar with the situation said.