Bush Pioneer

a neglected category, but still matters eg roi<p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-stretch: normal; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">om the International Business Times: <blockquote style="margin: 1.2em 0px; padding: 20px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(226, 226, 225); border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(226, 226, 225); border-top-style: solid; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background: rgb(246, 243, 236);">While Jeb Bush was governor of Florida, state pension officials committed at least $1.7 billion to financial firms whose executives were “Pioneer” fundraisers for his brother’s presidential campaigns. To achieve Pioneer status, the fundraisers had to amass at least $100,000 worth of bundled contributions to one of George W. Bush’s campaigns.An International Business Times analysis of Florida government documents and a list of George W. Bush’s bundlers compiled by Public Citizen found that 11 firms that received new Florida pension investments under Jeb Bush were Pioneers. IBTimes also analyzed data from the Florida Division of Elections and Political Moneyline to determine how much money executives from those firms donated directly to Jeb Bush’s campaigns, George W. Bush’s campaigns, the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Florida between 1998 and 2006.</blockquote><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/george-w-bush-fundraisers-whose-firms-received-florida-pension-deals-under-jeb-bush-1880624" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; color: rgb(124, 71, 12); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.ibtimes.com/...</a>

b2 energy dept transit team headed by DC incl 3 tx pioneers incl Lay 19  rfk2

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PIONEERS who are ambassadors

<a href="http://mapper.nndb.com/maps/333/000000333/">http://mapper.nndb.com/maps/333/000000333/</a>

rangers, some <a href="http://www.politicalfriendster.com/showPerson.php?id=4464&name=Bush-Rangers-and-Pioneers">http://www.politicalfriendster.com/showPerson.php?id=4464&name=Bush-Rangers-and-Pioneers</a>

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Just as local taxpayers enhanced the value of Bush�s Rangers by paying $135 million for their stadium, Hicks and Ross Perot, Jr. got Dallas taxpayers to spend $125 million on a stadium for their Dallas Stars and Mavericks in �98. Tom Hicks heads the corporate raider firm Hicks Muse Tate & Furst (Bush�s No. 4 career patron). Hicks Muse long wanted to tap the $13-billion University of Texas (UT) endowment for its takeover deals. As Bush assumed office in �95, Hicks was confirmed as a University of Texas Regent and hired lobbyists to push a bill creating the UT Investment Management Co. (UTIMCO). With Hicks as its first chair, UTIMCO began doling out contracts to private investment firms to manage portions of the endowment. A scandal blew up when the media discovered that UTIMCO awarded many of these lucrative contracts to firms tied to Hicks and Bush�including one that former President Bush reportedly owns a piece of. The UTIMCO board doling out these contracts included Clear Channel Chair L. Lowry Mays and the Pioneers Tom Loeffler, A.W. Riter, and A. R. Sanchez. Ed Bass and Pioneer Charles Wyly owned two firms that landed some of these contracts.

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<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/print/2004/jun/30/entertainment/et-oconnor30">http://articles.latimes.com/print/2004/jun/30/entertainment/et-oconnor30</a>

He does have a serious side. Freeman is one of the Bush campaign's elite Rangers, fundraisers whose amassing of at least $200,000 in individual contributions have allowed them to surmount the $2,000 individual contribution limit imposed by campaign finance reform.

Freeman helped raise $40 million as finance chairman of the Bush inaugural committee, and he donated the $100,000 maximum. He and his brother, a North Dakota attorney, were both Bush Pioneers in 2000, meaning they raised at least $100,000.

Quid pro quos are illegal, but giving fundraisers plum jobs is a bipartisan tradition. Altogether, at least 146 of the Pioneers and Rangers got federal jobs or appointments, some of them in positions to regulate their industries, according to a study by the nonpartisan Texans for Public Justice, which tracks the influence of money in politics. At least two became Cabinet members, 47 were named to postelection transition teams and 24 were made ambassadors.

California's share of Pioneers and Rangers trails only those of Texas and Florida. Of $213 million raised for the Republican presidential campaign, the Bush campaign has raised at least $15.9 million from Californians, compared with $7.6 million for the same period in 2000, according to Dwight L. Morris and Associates, which tracks the data.

</div>

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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer</a>

Bush Pioneers are people who gathered $100,000 for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush_presidential_campaign,2000" title="George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000">2000</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush_presidential_campaign,2004" title="George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004">2004 presidential campaign</a>. Two new levels, Bush Rangers and Super Rangers, were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCain%E2%80%93Feingold" title="McCain–Feingold" class="mw-redirect">McCain–Feingold</a> campaign finance law raised <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance_in_the_United_States" title="Campaign finance in the United States">hard money</a> contribution limits. This was done through the practice of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundling%28fundraising%29" title="Bundling (fundraising)" class="mw-redirect">bundling</a>" contributions. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-bundlers-0">[1]</a> There were 221 Rangers and 327 Pioneers in the 2004 campaign and 241 Pioneers in the 2000 campaign (550 pledged to try).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-bundlers-0">[1]</a> A fourth level, Bush Mavericks, was used to identify fundraisers under 40 years of age who bundled more than $50,000. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-maverick-1">[2]</a>

The Pioneer system was devised by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rove" title="Karl Rove">Karl Rove</a>. The network has roots in Texan GOP donor lists compiled by Rove, whose political roots are in direct-mail solicitation in the 1980s.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-telegraph-2">[3]</a>

Nineteen of the original Pioneers became ambassadors in 2001. Six Pioneers have been convicted of politics-related crimes.

Pioneers were involved in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_U.S._Presidential_election" title="2008 U.S. Presidential election" class="mw-redirect">2008 U.S. Presidential election</a>. An analysis in 2006 found that 12 were supporting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Giuliani" title="Rudy Giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, 21 supporting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a>, and 16 supporting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney" title="Mitt Romney">Mitt Romney</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-3">[4]</a> A July 2008 report found fewer than half of the 2004 Pioneers and Rangers had yet contributed their own money to McCain.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-4">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-5">[6]</a>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bush_Pioneer&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Prominent Pioneers, Rangers and Mavericks">edit</a>] Prominent Pioneers, Rangers and Mavericks</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Katharine_Armstrong&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Katharine Armstrong (page does not exist)">Katharine Armstrong</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Arnall" title="Roland Arnall">Roland Arnall</a>, founder of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameriquest" title="Ameriquest" class="mw-redirect">Ameriquest</a> and former Ambassador to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a></li>

<li>James A. Baker IV, son of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baker" title="James Baker">James Baker</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haley_Barbour" title="Haley Barbour">Haley Barbour</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_Mississippi" title="List of Governors of Mississippi">Governor</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a> and former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_National_Committee" title="Republican National Committee">Republican National Committee</a> Chairman</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pierce_Bush" title="Marvin Pierce Bush" class="mw-redirect">Marvin Pierce Bush</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_DeWitt,Jr." title="William DeWitt, Jr.">William DeWitt, Jr.</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati" title="Cincinnati">Cincinnati</a>, head of an investment firm and co-owner of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.Louis_Cardinals" title="St. Louis Cardinals">St. Louis Cardinals</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_J.Egan" title="Richard J. Egan" class="mw-redirect">Richard J. Egan</a>, billionaire from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopkinton,Massachusetts" title="Hopkinton, Massachusetts">Hopkinton, Massachusetts</a>; founder of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMC_Corp." title="EMC Corp." class="mw-redirect">EMC Corp.</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Ambassador_to_Ireland" title="United States Ambassador to Ireland">United States Ambassador to Ireland</a> 2001–2003; his sons, Christopher and Michael, are also Bush Pioneers.</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Evans" title="Don Evans">Don Evans</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fox" title="Sam Fox">Sam Fox</a>, national chairman of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Jewish_Coalition" title="Republican Jewish Coalition">Republican Jewish Coalition</a> and has donated well over $1 million to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s. His 2007 nomination as ambassador to Belgium was withdrawn after Sen. Kerry objected to his contributions to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Boat_Veterans_for_Truth" title="Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" class="mw-redirect">Swift Boat Veterans for Truth</a>; Bush then appointed Fox <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Ambassador_to_Belgium" title="United States Ambassador to Belgium">ambassador</a> when Congress was in recess.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-6">[7]</a></li>

<li>Frank E. Fowler, art dealer from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookout_Mountain,_Tennessee" title="Lookout Mountain, Tennessee">Lookout Mountain, Tennessee</a> who represents the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth" title="Andrew Wyeth">Andrew Wyeth</a> estate</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hastert" title="Dennis Hastert">Dennis Hastert</a>, former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives" title="Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect">Speaker of the House</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Lay" title="Ken Lay" class="mw-redirect">Ken Lay</a>, convicted felon, former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron" title="Enron">Enron</a> CEO</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mosbacher" title="Robert Mosbacher">Robert Mosbacher</a>, Mosbacher Energy Company</li>

<li>Andrew Bissell</li>

<li>Joe O'Neill, Texas oilman who introduced Mr. Bush to his wife, Laura</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_M._Miner" title="David M. Miner">David M. Miner</a>, State Representative of North Carolina</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Pataki" title="George E. Pataki" class="mw-redirect">George E. Pataki</a>, former Governor of New York State.</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Payne_%28lobbyist%29" title="Stephen Payne (lobbyist)">Stephen Payne (lobbyist)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Rooney" title="Francis Rooney">Francis Rooney</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Ambassador_to_the_Holy_See" title="United States Ambassador to the Holy See">United States Ambassador to the Holy See</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-rooney-7">[8]</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling" title="Robert Rowling">Robert Rowling</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_note-rowling-8">[9]</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Spanos" title="Alex Spanos">Alex Spanos</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton,_California" title="Stockton, California">Stockton, California</a> real estate developer and owner of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Chargers" title="San Diego Chargers">San Diego Chargers</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nate_Morris&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Nate Morris (page does not exist)">Nate Morris</a>, CEO of Rubicon Global</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Roberts_Stapleton" title="Craig Roberts Stapleton">Craig Roberts Stapleton</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Weintraub" title="Jerry Weintraub">Jerry Weintraub</a>, film producer, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville%28film%29" title="Nashville (film)">Nashville (film)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean%27s_Eleven%282001_film%29" title="Ocean's Eleven (2001 film)">Ocean's Eleven</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Wilkinson" title="Jim Wilkinson">Jim Wilkinson</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Wyly&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Charles Wyly (page does not exist)">Charles Wyly</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Wyly" title="Sam Wyly">Sam Wyly</a>, Texas brothers who collectively represented Bush's 9th greatest career contributor.</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Saul" title="Andrew Saul">Andrew Saul</a>, Chairman of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Retirement_Thrift_Investment_Board" title="Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board">Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Harless" title="James H. Harless">James H. Harless</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_baron" title="Coal baron" class="mw-redirect">coal baron</a>.</li>

</ul>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bush_Pioneer&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: References">edit</a>] References</h2>

<li id="cite_note-bundlers-0">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-bundlers_0-0">a</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-bundlers_0-1">b</a> Jim Drinkard and Laurence McQuillan (2003-10-16). <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"'Bundling' contributions pays for Bush campaign"</a>. USA Today.</li>

<li id="cite_note-maverick-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-maverick_1-0">^</a> John Cheves (2004-08-28). <a href="http://www.tpj.org/publication_view.jsp?pubid=442" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Raising $50,000 for Bush makes 23 year old a seasoned political player"</a>. Lexington Herald-Leader (via Texans for Public Justice).</li>

<li id="cite_note-telegraph-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-telegraph_2-0">^</a> Charles Laurence (2003-06-15). <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Bush's Rangers on trail to round up record $200m"</a>. Telegraph.</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-3">^</a> Chris Cillizza (2006-12-11). <a href="http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/12/the_whale_list_grows.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"2008 Whale List Grows"</a>. The Fix, Washington Post.</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-4">^</a> Mooney, Brian C. (2008-07-01). <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/01/bush_base_yet_to_rush_to_donate_to_mccain/" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Bush base yet to rush to donate to McCain: Funding woes tied to candidate's stances, GOP standing in polls"</a>. The Boston Globe.</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-5">^</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Noah" title="Timothy Noah">Noah, Timothy</a> (2008-07-01). <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2194626/" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"John McCain, Prisoner of Cash: How GOP fat cats will bring a Republican maverick to heel."</a>. Slate.</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-6">^</a> Tahman Bradley (2007-04-04). <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3009058" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Bush Swift Boats Belgium, Congress"</a>. ABC News.</li>

<li id="cite_note-rooney-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-rooney_7-0">^</a> Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey (2005-01-12). <a href="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6819145/site/newsweek/" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"The Oval: Partying at the Inauguration"</a>. Newsweek.</li>

<li id="cite_note-rowling-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer#cite_ref-rowling_8-0">^</a> Clint Johnson (2004-07-22). <a href="http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2004/07/22/TopStories/Texas.4thRichest.Man.Appointed.Regent-695023.shtml" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Texas' 4th-richest man appointed Regent"</a>. The Daily Texan.</li>

</ol>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_search.cfm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">White House for Sale.org</a>, with interactive name links.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/rangers.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">USA Today, October 15, 2003</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051028/NEWS24/51028001/-1/NEWS" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Noe indicted: GOP backer is accused of laundering cash</a> Mike Wilkinson and James Drew, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_Blade" title="Toledo Blade" class="mw-redirect">Toledo Blade</a>, October 28, 2005</li>

</ul>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bush_Pioneer&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a>] External links</h2>

<ul>

<li>Jim Hightower, <a href="http://www.bushfiles.com/bushfiles/hightower5_28.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">$hrub's Pioneer$</a>, BushFiles.com, May 28, 1999.</li>

<li>Charles Laurence, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Bush's Rangers on trail to round up record $200m</a>, news.telegraph.co.uk, June 15, 2003.</li>

<li>Steve Kingstone, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2999136.stm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Bush begins fundraising drive</a>, BBC, June 18, 2003: "If <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a> was the consummate campaigner, George Bush is the final word in campaign fundraising."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20030721edcamp21p2.asp" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Editorial: Bush's Rangers / Money shouldn't make the political world go round</a>, post-gazette, July 21, 2003.</li>

<li>Dave McKenna, <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/archives/cheap/2002/cheap0913.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Ambassadors of the Game</a>, WashingtonCityPaper, September 13, 2003.</li>

<li>Thomas B. Edsall and Sarah Cohen, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27000-2003Oct14.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Bush Campaign Raises A Record $49.5 Million. For Their Efforts, Fundraisers Also Gain</a>, Washington Post, October 15, 2003: "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."</li>

<li>Jim Drinkard and Laurence McQuillan, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" class="external text" rel="nofollow">'Bundling' contributions pays for Bush campaign</a>, USAToday, October 16, 2003.</li>

<li>Glen Justice, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/politics/campaigns/23DONA.html?th" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Once at Arm's Length, Wall Street Is Bush's Biggest Donor</a>, New York Times, October 23, 2003: "A study to be released today shows that the financial community has surpassed all other groups, including lawyers and lobbyists, as the top industry among Mr. Bush's elite fund-raisers. The list of those generating $100,000 and $200,000 now includes chief executives like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M.Paulson" title="Henry M. Paulson" class="mw-redirect">Henry M. Paulson</a> of Goldman Sachs, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J.Mack" title="John J. Mack">John J. Mack</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_Suisse_First_Boston" title="Credit Suisse First Boston">Credit Suisse First Boston</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_O%27Neal" title="Stanley O'Neal">Stanley O'Neal</a> of Merrill Lynch, whose firm has already raised twice the amount for Mr. Bush's re-election that it did during the entire 2000 campaign cycle. ... 'It's really a question of policy, that's what's driving this,' said <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marc_Lackritz&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Marc Lackritz (page does not exist)">Marc Lackritz</a>, president of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_Industry_Association" title="Securities Industry Association">Securities Industry Association</a>, which represents more than 650 securities firms. 'It's a pro-investor policy.'"</li>

<li>Glen Justice, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/politics/campaign/14MONE.html?th" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Newcomers Provide Fuel for Bush Money Machine</a>, New York Times, March 14, 2004.</li>

<li>Thomas B. Edsall, Sarah Cohen and James V. Grimaldi, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29142-2004May15.html?referrer=email" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Pioneers Fill War Chest, Then Capitalize,"</a> Washington Post, May 16, 2004.</li>

<li>Jonathan E. Kaplan, <a href="http://www.hillnews.com/news/051804/superranger.aspx" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"RNC offers 'Super Ranger' status,"</a> The Hill, May 18, 2004.</li>

<li>Greg Palast, <a href="http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=422&row=0" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Give It Back, George. Did Wyly Coyotes' Ill-Gotten Loot Buy White House?,"</a> gregpalast.com, April 11, 2005.</li>

<li>John Cheeves, <a href="http://www.tpj.org/publication_view.jsp?pubid=442" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Kentucky 'Maverick' reels in serious cash for GOP campaign"</a>, Lexington Herald-Leader, August 29, 2004.</li>

</ul>

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<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Bush's Rangers</h1>

Bush's Rangers, fundraisers for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Walker_Bush" title="George Walker Bush">George Walker Bush</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S.presidential_election,2004" title="U.S. presidential election, 2004">U.S. presidential election, 2004</a>, raised funds for <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush-Cheney_%2704_Inc." title="Bush-Cheney '04 Inc.">Bush-Cheney '04 Inc.</a> through the "practice of rounding up contributions from your friends [which] is known as '<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bundling" title="Bundling">bundling</a>'."<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>

"Bush's elite fundraisers span the worlds of finance, real estate, industry and politics. The common denominator: each is wealthy and has access to others with fortunes. With few exceptions, they are white, male and over 50." <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" rel="nofollow">[2]</a>

Bush "all but ensured that he would double his purse this next round when he signed the 2002 '<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=McCain-Feingold" title="McCain-Feingold" class="mw-redirect">McCain-Feingold</a>' campaign finance reform. While McCain-Feingold curbs certain abuses, it also doubled the value of Bush's Pioneer fundraising operation overnight by increasing federal contribution limits. A Bush Pioneer who raised $100,000 in 2000--by bundling $1,000 checks from 100 people--now can obtain $2,000 from those donors and enter Bush's new elite club of $200,000 'Ranger' fundraisers." <a href="http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1564" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1564" rel="nofollow">[3]</a>

<h2>Contents</h2>

[<a href="javascript:toggleToc()" class="internal" id="togglelink">hide</a>]</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush%27s_Rangers#.22Ranger.22_System_Designed_by_Rove">1 "Ranger" System Designed by Rove</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush%27s_Rangers#Some_of_the_.22Rangers.22">2 Some of the "Rangers"</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush%27s_Rangers#Related_SourceWatch_Resources">3 Related SourceWatch Resources</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush%27s_Rangers#External_links">4 External links</a></li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>"Ranger" System Designed by Rove</h2>

"The Ranger system, which was devised by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Karl_Rove" title="Karl Rove">Karl Rove</a>, Mr Bush's senior political adviser, has helped to ensure that recent reforms of American campaign finances have backfired on their Democrat supporters. The new rules restrict <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Soft_money" title="Soft money">soft money</a> donations - often sent straight to a party from a corporate chequebook and used for issues-based electioneering - - but have doubled to $2,000 the limit for "hard" money donations by individuals.

"Mr Rove's system has proved to be the most effective way of operating within the law while allowing Rangers to come to the President's table with far more money than the individual limit.

"Pioneers who helped to open the White House door to Mr Bush were generously rewarded. By the end of his first year in office, 19 of them had become ambassadors."

According to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Craig_McDonald&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Craig McDonald (page does not exist)">Craig McDonald</a>, who runs the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Watch_group&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Watch group (page does not exist)">watch group</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Texans_for_Public_Justice&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Texans for Public Justice (page does not exist)">Texans for Public Justice</a>, "the system had its origins in the campaign donor lists compiled for Republican candidates in Texas by Mr Rove, then a direct-mail solicitation specialist, in the 1980s. ... 'This is not Right-wing or Christian-Right money, and the motive [in giving] is simply self-interest,' said Mr McDonald. "From the start, the two largest sectors for donors were the energy and extractive industries, and then finance. ... 'These were the people who ran Texas. Rove thought President Bush would be a perfect fit with this oligarchy of Texas when he ran him for governor, and now they have expanded to system to cover America. They got it right.'" <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" rel="nofollow">[4]</a>

<h2>Some of the "Rangers"</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_Abramoff" title="Jack Abramoff">Jack Abramoff</a>, convicted on 5 felony counts. Given 5 yrs in prison and ordered to pay $21 Million in restitution on March 29, 2006.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_A._Baker_IV&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="James A. Baker IV (page does not exist)">James A. Baker IV</a> helped Bush set foreign policy. Was co-hcair of IRaq Report, which Bush refused to accept. Congress passed legislation enacting the Iraq Group report in early 2007.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Haley_Barbour" title="Haley Barbour">Haley Barbour</a> currently Gov of Mississippi</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Marvin_Pierce_Bush" title="Marvin Pierce Bush" class="mw-redirect">Marvin Pierce Bush</a> work in an office leased by the Saudi Royal Family in the Watergate, D.C.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Randy_%22Duke%22_Cunningham" title="Randy " duke="duke" cunningham="cunningham">Randy "Duke" Cunninghampled</a> guilty, on Nov 28, 2005 after resigning from Congress. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison, and a $ 1.8M restitution.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=William_DeWitt,_Jr.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="William DeWitt, Jr. (page does not exist)">William DeWitt, Jr.</a> of Cincinnati, head of an investment firm and co-owner of the St. Louis Cardinals.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Richard_J._Egan&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Richard J. Egan (page does not exist)">Richard J. Egan</a>, billionaire, Hopkinton, MA, "founder of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=EMC_Corp.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="EMC Corp. (page does not exist)">EMC Corp.</a>, which makes computer data storage units. He is the president's former ambassador to Ireland. His sons Christopher and Michael also are Rangers." IRish media implicated Egan in a $62 Million fraudulent tax shelter.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Don_Evans" title="Don Evans" class="mw-redirect">Don Evans</a> appointed US Commerce Secty bu Bush. Resigned Jan 2005.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Frank_E._Fowler&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Frank E. Fowler (page does not exist)">Frank E. Fowler</a>, art dealer, Lookout Mountain, TN, "who represents the work of American artist <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Andrew_Wyeth&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Andrew Wyeth (page does not exist)">Andrew Wyeth</a>."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Maurice_%22Hank%22_Greenberg&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Maurice " hank="hank" greenberg="" page="" does="" not="" exist="exist">Maurice "Hank" Greenberg</a>, "ousted in March [2005] from AIG, the Shanghai property insurance company he built into a revered powerhouse because of a U.S. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Securities_and_Exchange_Commission" title="Securities and Exchange Commission">Securities and Exchange Commission</a> investigation into his alleged stock manipulation" Indicted in New York on four counts in Sept 2006.</li>

</ul>

He and his two son's control the largest amount of insurance in the US.

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_Harless" title="James Harless">James "Buck" Harless</a>, a West Virginia mine operator.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dennis_Hastert" title="Dennis Hastert">Dennis Hastert</a> retiring in 2008, after losing his Speaker of the House when Dem retook the House in the 2006 elections. Tainted by several ethcis scandals, under his watch, including a cover up of the well know Rep. Mark Foley -R-FL's sexual online stalking of male Congressional pages.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mori_Hosseini&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mori Hosseini (page does not exist)">Mori Hosseini</a>, Chairman and CEO of ICI Homes, Trustee of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Larry_Householder&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Larry Householder (page does not exist)">Larry Householder</a>, former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives "under grand jury scrutiny for the alleged skimming of campaign funds" but was exonerated. LIves on his farm.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ray_L._Hunt" title="Ray L. Hunt">Ray L. Hunt</a> heir to the hunt Oil Fortune, Got Bush Presidential Library at Southern Methodist U, where he sits on school's board. Entered into probable illegal oil lease with Kurds in Iraq, in 2007, without authorization from official Bahgdad government.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=P._Nicholas_Hurtgen" title="P. Nicholas Hurtgen">P. Nicholas Hurtgen</a>,convicted on 3 felony charges in a hospital construction extortion scam, Was former aide to Wisc Gov. Tommy Thompson.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_Langdale" title="Mark Langdale">Mark Langdale</a> Bush appoints as Ambassador to Costa Rica in 2005

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Kenneth_L._Lay" title="Kenneth L. Lay">Kenneth L. Lay</a>, convicted in largest US fraud case in history. Died before sentencing.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_Noe&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tom Noe (page does not exist)">Tom Noe</a>, convicted of money laundering with Bushh-Cheny 2004 campaign, in May 2006.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joe_O%27Neill&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Joe O'Neill (page does not exist)">Joe O'Neill</a>, "the Texas oilman who introduced Mr Bush to his wife, Laura."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_E._Pataki" title="George E. Pataki">George E. Pataki</a>, former Governor of New York (1995-2006).</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alex_Spanos" title="Alex Spanos">Alex Spanos</a>, Stockton, CA, "real estate developer and owner of the San Diego Chargers."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Manuel_Stamatakis&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Manuel Stamatakis (page does not exist)">Manuel Stamatakis</a>, a "management consultant who once chaired the [Philadelphia] region's port authority" under investigation by FBI from the other "Rangers" Hurtgen and Noe, as of 2006.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Craig_Roberts_Stapleton" title="Craig Roberts Stapleton">Craig Roberts Stapleton</a> Bush made US Amb to Czech Republic. MArried to Bush's cousin.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_Tobin" title="James Tobin">James Tobin</a>, "Maine political consultant, guilty of jamming the Democrats' phone lines in New Hampshire three years ago"</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jerry_Weintraub" title="Jerry Weintraub">Jerry Weintraub</a>, film producer, "credits include Nashville and Ocean's Eleven."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jim_Wilkinson" title="Jim Wilkinson">Jim Wilkinson</a> Iraq War Planner and chrony appointee in US Sate Dept.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Charles_Wyly&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Charles Wyly (page does not exist)">Charles Wyly</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sam_Wyly&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Sam Wyly (page does not exist)">Sam Wyly</a>, brothers who "have 'fessed to concealing half their holdings in one of the rich boys' companies, Michaels Stores. The grand jury is still out on deciding to indict the two for the crime of fraud upon the stock market." Orignial founders of Swift Boat Vets for Truth, which was fined by FEC for campaign 'irregularities in the 2004 election.</li>

</ul>

Updated Sept 20, 2007 from Wikipedia, newspaper and other news sources. Simple Google search of Ranger's names brings up convictions and associations. Sources for names and contributions of Bush's Rangers:

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" class="external text" title="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" rel="nofollow">Telegraph UK, June 15, 2003</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_search.cfm" class="external text" title="http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_search.cfm" rel="nofollow">White House for Sale.org</a>, with interactive name links.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/rangers.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/rangers.htm" rel="nofollow">USA Today, October 15, 2003</a>.</li>

</ul>

<h2>Related SourceWatch Resources</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush_administration_scandals" title="Bush administration scandals">Bush administration scandals</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_Francis_Jr." title="James Francis Jr.">James Francis Jr.</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_%27culture_of_corruption%27" title="Republican 'culture of corruption'">Republican 'culture of corruption'</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_National_Convention" title="Republican National Convention">Republican National Convention</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>External links</h2>

<ul>

<li>Jim Hightower, <a href="http://www.bushfiles.com/bushfiles/hightower5_28.html" class="external text" title="http://www.bushfiles.com/bushfiles/hightower5_28.html" rel="nofollow">$hrub's Pioneer$</a>, BushFiles.com, May 28, 1999.</li>

<li>Charles Laurence, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" class="external text" title="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml" rel="nofollow">Bush's Rangers on trail to round up record $200m</a>, news.telegraph.co.uk, June 15, 2003.</li>

<li>Steve Kingstone, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2999136.stm" class="external text" title="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2999136.stm" rel="nofollow">Bush begins fundraising drive</a>, BBC, June 18, 2003: "If <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a> was the consummate campaigner, George Bush is the final word in campaign fundraising."</li>

<li><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20030721edcamp21p2.asp" class="external text" title="http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20030721edcamp21p2.asp" rel="nofollow">Editorial: Bush's Rangers / Money shouldn't make the political world go round</a>, post-gazette, July 21, 2003.</li>

<li>Dave McKenna, <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/archives/cheap/2002/cheap0913.html" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/archives/cheap/2002/cheap0913.html" rel="nofollow">Ambassadors of the Game</a>, WashingtonCityPaper, September 13, 2003.</li>

<li>Thomas B. Edsall and Sarah Cohen, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27000-2003Oct14.html" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27000-2003Oct14.html" rel="nofollow">Bush Campaign Raises A Record $49.5 Million. For Their Efforts, Fundraisers Also Gain</a>, Washington Post, October 15, 2003: "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."</li>

<li>Jim Drinkard and Laurence McQuillan, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm" rel="nofollow">'Bundling' contributions pays for Bush campaign</a>, USAToday, October 16, 2003.</li>

<li>Glen Justice, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/politics/campaigns/23DONA.html?th" class="external text" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/23/politics/campaigns/23DONA.html?th" rel="nofollow">Once at Arm's Length, Wall Street Is Bush's Biggest Donor</a>, New York Times, October 23, 2003: "A study to be released today shows that the financial community has surpassed all other groups, including lawyers and lobbyists, as the top industry among Mr. Bush's elite fund-raisers. The list of those generating $100,000 and $200,000 now includes chief executives like <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Henry_M.Paulson&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Henry M. Paulson (page does not exist)">Henry M. Paulson</a> of Goldman Sachs, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_J.Mack" title="John J. Mack">John J. Mack</a> of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Credit_Suisse_First_Boston" title="Credit Suisse First Boston" class="mw-redirect">Credit Suisse First Boston</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Stanley_O%27Neal&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Stanley O'Neal (page does not exist)">Stanley O'Neal</a> of Merrill Lynch, whose firm has already raised twice the amount for Mr. Bush's re-election that it did during the entire 2000 campaign cycle. ... 'It's really a question of policy, that's what's driving this,' said <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Marc_Lackritz&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Marc Lackritz (page does not exist)">Marc Lackritz</a>, president of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Securities_Industry_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Securities Industry Association (page does not exist)">Securities Industry Association</a>, which represents more than 650 securities firms. 'It's a pro-investor policy.'"</li>

<li>Glen Justice, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/politics/campaign/14MONE.html?th" class="external text" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/politics/campaign/14MONE.html?th" rel="nofollow">Newcomers Provide Fuel for Bush Money Machine</a>, New York Times, March 14, 2004.</li>

<li>Thomas B. Edsall, Sarah Cohen and James V. Grimaldi, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29142-2004May15.html?referrer=email" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29142-2004May15.html?referrer=email" rel="nofollow">"Pioneers Fill War Chest, Then Capitalize,"</a> Washington Post, May 16, 2004.</li>

<li>Jonathan E. Kaplan, <a href="http://www.hillnews.com/news/051804/superranger.aspx" class="external text" title="http://www.hillnews.com/news/051804/superranger.aspx" rel="nofollow">"RNC offers 'Super Ranger' status,"</a> The Hill, May 18, 2004.</li>

<li>Greg Palast, <a href="http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=422&row=0" class="external text" title="http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=422&row=0" rel="nofollow">"Give It Back, George. Did Wyly Coyotes' Ill-Gotten Loot Buy White House?,"</a> gregpalast.com, April 11, 2005.</li>

<li>Joshua Boak, <a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051218/NEWS09/512180354" class="external text" title="http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051218/NEWS09/512180354" rel="nofollow">"Criminal probes entangle numerous fund-raisers. 8 Pioneers and Rangers face wide range of allegations,"</a> Toledo Blade, December 18, 2005.</li>

</ul>

<div id="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Politics%28U.S.%29" title="Category:Politics (U.S.)">Politics (U.S.)</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Elections%28U.S.%29" title="Category:Elections (U.S.)">Elections (U.S.)</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Campaign_finance_%28U.S.%29" title="Category:Campaign finance (U.S.)">Campaign finance (U.S.)</a></div>

</div>

WASHINGTON - July 1 - The biggest of President Bush's big-money backers were revealed yesterday when the Republican National Committee (RNC) released the names of 62 "Super Rangers" - fundraisers who have collected at least $28.5 million for Bush's re-election efforts, according to an analysis by Public Citizen posted today at <a href="http://www.whitehouseforsale.org%20" target="_new">WhiteHouseForSale.org</a>.

The "Super Rangers" are high-powered fundraisers who have collected at least $300,000 for the RNC. All but a handful of these rainmakers already ranked among Bush's largest financial backers. Forty-five of the Super Rangers previously had been crowned "Rangers" after raising at least $200,000 for the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign - meaning they each have raised at least $500,000 this cycle. Nine more had achieved "Pioneer" status by collecting at least $100,000 for Bush.

"The fact that any individual is allowed to bundle half a million dollars for the president is an affront to our democracy," said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. "But the Bush administration has made clear from day one that it will shower its supporters with special favors, insider access and plum appointments. No wonder so many executives and lobbyists are competing for these titles."

Relying largely on the efforts of 211 Rangers and 314 Pioneers, the Bush campaign has raised an astounding $216 million so far. But since early April, the GOP has shifted its fundraising focus from the presidential campaign to the RNC's "Victory Fund." While donations to the Bush campaign are capped at $2,000, individuals can give a maximum of $25,000 to the RNC. Moreover, the campaign must spend all of its money before the Republican National Convention - when the president will opt into the presidential public financing system and pocket $75 million for a two-month sprint to Election Day.

The Republican Party, however, contends it can spend its money - which could be as much as another $200 million - throughout the fall. That's why Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and First Lady Laura Bush now headline private fundraisers for the RNC where the tickets start at $25,000 per couple.

WhiteHouseForSale.org, a Web site created by Public Citizen in conjunction with Texans for Public Justice to track contributors to Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, has posted the names of all 62 Super Rangers, along with their home states, employers and occupations. It also features charts showing the 24 states that are home to Super Rangers - led by California with nine - and detailing which industries have collected the most cash for Bush and the RNC.

Nearly a third of the Super Rangers are from the finance sector. These bankers, money managers and wealthy private investors include Roland Arnall, CEO of Ameriquest; Peter Coneway, who founded the Texas branch of Goldman Sachs; and William DeWitt, the longtime business partner of Bush campaign national finance chairman Mercer Reynolds - who recently moved his fundraising operation to the RNC.

Real estate developers accounted for seven Super Rangers, including three Florida fundraisers - Al Austin, Gary Morse and Al Hoffman, finance chairman of the RNC - who have backed both the president and his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. The president's uncle, William H.T. "Bucky" Bush, is a Super Ranger, too, along with former Czech Ambassador Craig Stapleton, who is married to the president's first cousin.

Other Super Rangers include Chiquita top banana Carl Lindner; Jerry Perenchio, the California billionaire who runs Univision; and Nancy Kinder, whose husband Richard is the former president of Enron, where she once worked as Ken Lay's personal secretary. Those on the RNC list who haven't been named Rangers or Pioneers include Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli and his top lobbyist, Kent Knutson, whose wife Karen was once a top aide to Cheney.

2004 http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0701-04.htm

</div>

Bush Pioneer

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