The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Ahh, the memories:

Abramoff Fundraises For Bush

Jack Abramoff Was A Bush/Cheney '04 Pioneer; Boasted How Easy It Was To Be A Pioneer. Abramoff raised over $100,000 for the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign, and was designated a 'Pioneer' for his fundraising efforts. A 2003 article profiled Abramoff's work: ''Everyone in town is trying to be a Pioneer or Ranger,' said Jack Abramoff, a top Republican lobbyist here, using the campaign's terms for the most elite levels of money collectors. 'But the only way to do it is to have contacts outside of D.C., which fortunately I do. So far I've raised about $120,000, and I haven't even really started making calls.' [International Herald Tribune, 7/22/03]

Always a Phone Call Away

Abramoff was A Republican insider and who had strong pull with the Bush White House. Abramoff's lobbying partner boasted that he is a phone call away from the President. 'Jack has a relationship with the President,' Abramoff's former spokesman and fellow lobbyist Michael Scanlon once said. 'He doesn't have a bat phone or anything, but if he wanted an appointment, he would have one.' [New Times Broward-Palm Beach, 2/22/01; Washington Post, 11/29/05]