From the L.A. Times story:
Faced with the challenge from three of the world's largest telecommunications firms, Global Crossing filed an antitrust complaint with the U.S. Justice Department and asked the Federal Communications Commission to block the three long-distance carriers from building the undersea link.
It also signed up Anne Bingaman, a former assistant attorney general at the Justice Department, as their chief lobbyist on the issue. Between January and June 1999, Global Crossing paid Bingaman $2.5 million, according to the company's lobbying records. At the same time, Global Crossing solicited letters of support from several lawmakers, including McCain.
From the Department of Justice
"Allowing Microsoft to buy a dominant position in this highly concentrated market would likely result in higher prices for consumers who want to buy personal finance software and would cause those buyers to miss out on the huge benefits from innovation," said Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division. "Moreover, Microsoft's control of that market will give it a cornerstone asset that could be used with its existing dominant position in operating systems for personal computers to seize control of the markets of the future, including PC-based home banking."
Ping for Hugh.
And all along-- every time I hear about Global Crossing-- it makes me think of that guy who sees dead people and passes on trivia from the "other" side of life.
Thanks for the post. The FEC records of campaign donations referred to by this organization, Center for Responsive Politics (
www.opensecrets.org) do not include big $$$ corporate donations to the party itself, $$$ for parties (a la Peter Paul's big $$$ party for Hillary, Anderson Consulting's big $$$ golf tournament for Gore, Enron's big $$$ party for Bingaman at the DNC convention, Enron's fundraiser for Breast Cancer, featuring illary)...overlooks loopholes and diversions and I do believe that the Dems., especially Clinton, McAuliffe, Rubin, etc., etc., gave plenty of pals high powered jobs in new industries that quickly folded and moved on....one big political shell game, boiler-room operation complete with Presidential pardons for some. Clinton and co. brought business after business with them as they attempted to push their business ideas (telecom, internet, natural gas, etc.) into unprepared third world countries....making promises and spreading tax-payer $$$ wherever they went. The press going after Bush on Enron after decades of Dem.-business corruption and especially the flim-flam Clinton administration is worse than low, hypocritical, unethical....a good friend would be telling them to repent - NOW.