FOX's Brian Wilson distorted Kerry connection to Lay and Enron
Wilson's remarks echoed Republican Party talking points, which surfaced the same day Kerry denounced the delay in indicting Lay while on the campaign trail. As The New York Times reported on July 10, "Steven Schmidt, a Bush spokesman, said: 'The Kerry campaign's political attack is baseless and hypocritical. Ten months after Enron went bankrupt, Ken Lay was dining at Kerry's Georgetown home.'"
While it is true that Lay and Heinz Kerry both served on The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economic and the Environment Board of Trustees -- which includes, according to The New York Times, "representatives of government, scientists, environmentalists and businesspeople" -- all board members were invited to attend the dinner (to which Wilson referred) at the Kerrys' Georgetown residence on September 23, 2002.
Wilson's second piece of evidence suggesting ties between Kerry and Lay was that the Kerrys owned "more than $250,000 in Enron stock before the company's collapse." However, Wilson neglected to mention how long before the company's collapse the Kerrys sold their stock in Enron. As the Boston Herald reported, the stock was sold in 1997 -- four years before the company's collapse.
As for the Gubenator:
The Frame Around Arnold
This frame hides the national Republican effort over several years to make Davis look bad by hurting the California economy. It hides the fact that energy deregulation was brought in by Republican governor Pete Wilson. It ignores the fact that there was no real "energy crisis." It resulted from thievery by Enron and other heavy Bush contributors, thievery that was protected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission run by Bush appointees. The Bush administration looked the other way while California was being bilked and went to great lengths not to help California financially in any of the many ways the federal government can help. Arnold had had a meeting with Ken Lay and other energy executives in spring 2001 when Lay was promoting deregulation, but denies any complicity in the theft. Arnold is now promoting energy deregulation again.
It also ignores the fact that California's Republican legislature also went out of its way to make Davis look bad, refusing to support reasonable measures for dealing with the budget problems. It ignores the fact that the recall petition was paid for by a wealthy conservative legislator and that signature gatherers were paid handsomely and that some signatures were from out of state, which is illegal. And it ignores the enormous amount of money and organization put into the Schwartzenegger campaign by Republicans. This was no simple popular revolution. Most of all, the "Voter Revolt" frame does not explain why Schwartzenegger should have been the candidate chosen.
And more about the Gubenator's "appointment":
ENRON: Washington's Number One Behind-the-Scenes GATS Negotiator
The recent deregulation of energy services in the U.S. became a major demonstration case of Enron's political clout, as well as perhaps a major clue as to how the new GATS rule making could play out on the international scene. Known as the 'Enron Bill' in D.C. circles, Sen. Tom Delay's legislative package called for a national deregulation of energy, particularly electricity. To strengthen their position, a series of moves were made in regards to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. First, CEO Ken Lay and other Enron officials interviewed prospective candidates to fill vacancies on the Commission and President Bush chose two people recommended by Enron. Then, the New York Times revealed on May 26, 2001 that Lay himself wrote to the Commission Chair, Curtis Hebert, saying that if Mr. Hebert changed his views on electricity deregulation, Enron would continue to support him in his new job. Hebert was reportedly offended by Enron's move, refused the offer and feared for his job. Again, on May 26th, Ken Lay met with actor Arnold Schwartzenegger, LA Mayor Richard Riordan, and former junk bond dealer and fraud convict, Michael Milken, to drum up support for Enron's deregulation solution to what then appeared to be America's looming energy crisis.
Meanwhile, Enron was able to reap huge profits from the California energy crisis. When sudden energy shortages translated into massive cost increases, major suppliers of commercial and industrial energy like Enron were able to cash-in big time. In the last quarter of 2000, Enron raked in $377 million in profits, largely due to the California energy crisis. The market should be even more deregulated, argue Enron officials, to allow 'demand' and 'supply' forces to resolve the ongoing energy crisis. A cartel of corporations, including Enron, are now being investigated by California state officials for holding back the supply of power through plant shutdowns in order to spike prices and profits. In addition, the Los Angeles Times has reported that the CEOs of energy corporations took advantage of the California crisis to pocket unusually high options transactions themselves. Enron's Ken Lay, for example, is reported to have netted $123 million in 2000, which is three times higher than his 1999 take and ten times higher than what his 1998 figures.
Interesting to say the least. And thanks for the agreement, forestlady.
[edit on 28-3-2007 by ceci2006]
wonder what the conversation was about? Considering that Terry Kerry owns all that Wal-Mart stock, it could have been some interesting
business advice! 
