DiFi and Blum: a Marriage Marinated in Money

[ensho]

http://counterpunch.com/parrish02262010.html


How Imperial San Franciscans Loot the Planet


(this is a long article which doesn't excerpt well - but is very informative about a huge can of worms, so to speak)

[NV Whino]

1. This is an important read!

"Richard Blum is a San Francisco-based finance capitalist presiding over a business empire that is, to say the least, expansive. Hedge funds? Blum owns one outright and wields a significant share of various others. Real estate? His primary investment vehicle, the $7.8 billion Blum Capital Partners, owns the largest real estate brokerage firm on the planet, CB Richard Ellis, of which Blum is chairman of the board. Construction? Until public scandal prompted him to sell off his holdings, Blum was a majority partner in a construction and engineering company that did billions in business with the US military, among other government clients. Education? Try being the resident Alpha Regent of the largest public university system in the world, the University of California, while also being a primary owner of the world's second-largest for-profit education firm, Career Education Corporation.

Large land-holding firms? Digital media company of which Al Gore serves as frontman? Health industry corporation fighting to undermine the expansion of public health care? Border-town maquiladora that build weapons components for the Department of Defense? Check, check, check, and check."

And who the hell unrec'd this? Jesus H!

[FrenchieCat]

2. DiFi signed Benett's letter,

so for now, I think we would be better served aiming our Ire
and energy at those who haven't.

She's my Senator, and although she's more conservative than some,
like say, Sen. Boxer, I'm not interested in attacking her at this moment,
as there is an election coming up, and she ain't running.

The Republicans have so many more unsavories to investigate,
I'm sure you can find a Counterpunch story to get that done.