2) Rattner is a slimy investment banker, a former NYT reporter, and a man with his nose in Pinch Sulzberger's anus. Recall, Pinch is the only person Ann Coulter flatly says is a "traitor". Rattner is a major Dem money man.
3) Diller is a famously gay media mogul. I am pretty sure he is a big Dem donor, but I couldn't get into the opensecrets.org website. I wonder how "arms length" this transaction is likely to be.
4) And of course, scalping the enterprise from the French makes is all perfect.