Interesting stuff, Tom, and I do agree with you that the influence of money on our political system is distinctly unhealthy.

You spun it a bit, with:

Note that despite the image of corporations being solidly Republican, most of them distribute the goodies to both parties to cover their bets.


It's worth taking a look at the site's Energy Briefing. While it's technically true that corporations hedge their bets by contributing to both parties, the report points out that the contributions certainly aren't equal. 78% of the oil & gas industry contributions go to the GOP, and Bush was the #1 recipient of their largesse; and also, "Bush, with more than $1.8 million in contributions, got more money from the industry during 1999-2000 than any other federal candidate over the last decade,". Ditto for electric utilities: "Electric utilities can spot an ally when they see one. The electricity industry heavily favored George W. Bush over Al Gore in last year’s presidential election, giving almost $7 to the Texas governor for every $1 they gave to the vice president. " Donations to the Democrats are a sidebet, as in blackjack.

It's reasonable to conclude that corporate donors perceive Republicans as providing a better return on investment than Democrats. I'm not implying that Republicans are more easily bribed, just more simpatico to Big Business; and that the Bush regime is perceived as especially simpatico with the energy sector. Not exactly a news flash, is it?

--Robert