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Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Billgls, you are confused. Not only is Franklin Raines not connected to the Obama campaign (this has been debunked for days if not weeks), but McCain's campaign manager was on Fannie's payroll just to provide access to McCain. The only reason anyone connected Raines to Obama is because they are both African-American.

From Newsweek:

Never mind the fact that Raines never actually advised Obama on anything. The real problem here is that McCain's campaign is swarming with 26 advisers or fundraisers who have lobbied for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac--including nearly a dozen who lobby right now. As the Washington Monthly's Steve Benen wrote last week, "one of McCain's top policy advisers, Charlie Black, was lobbyist for Freddie Mac for 10 years, while his campaign manager, Rick Davis, lobbied to help Fannie and Freddie steer clear of additional federal regulations [and earned $2 million in the process]... Tom Loeffler, who serves McCain's campaign co-chairman, also lobbied for Fannie Mae. Aquiles Suarez, a McCain economic adviser, was a Fannie Mae executive. Dan Crippen, a McCain adviser who helped craft the campaign's health-care policy, lobbied for Fannie Mae (and Merrill Lynch). Arthur B. Culvahouse, who helped lead McCain's VP search committee, also lobbied for Fannie Mae." According to former Fannie Mae executive William Maloni, "photographs of Sen. McCain's staff... loo[k] to me like the team of lobbyists who used to report to me." Without these ties--which are far more extensive than Obama's--McCain would have every right to say that associating with officials from troubled financial institutions is a sign of bad judgment. Again, it's not like Obama's hands are spotless. But with them, McCain offers Obama an otherwise unavailable opportunity to remind voters that McCain's own judgment--at least by McCain's own standards--is worse. So much for "no seat... at the table."

www.blog.newsweek.com/...

Predictions on Imclone's Suitors

Jeez. Is it not possible to disagree with Derek without calling him "incompetent" as well? What are your credentials?

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

"John McCain's campaign manager and Freddie Mac essentially had what amounts to a secret half a million dollar lay-a-way plan. For almost three years and as late as last month, Freddie Mac made secret, monthly payments of $15,000 to Rick Davis's firm, apparently in exchange for providing special access to a future McCain White House. If McCain knew about this, his presidential campaign should be in serious trouble. If he didn't know about it, he ought to fire Rick Davis immediately," said David Donnelly, Director of Campaign Money Watch.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

Uh, Dick Morris is an authority now? I'd be insane to believe that.

ImClone and the Mystery Bidder

Icahn is the chairman of IMCL board. If he goes out in front of shareholders and completely makes stuff up, they can sue him.

ImClone's Icahn Is Holding a Pistol to Bristol

Since Icahn's an insider and the chair of IMCL board, I think he could be in deep doo-doo if he is completely making this stuff up.