Billionaire Bidding for Tribune Company a Friend of Bill, Former Black Panther Supporter

Just in time for the 2008 presidential race, a certified "Friend of Bill" is bidding to acquire the Tribune Company, which owns the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. As reported in this New York Times article , FOB Ronald W. Burkle and Eli Broad sumbitted their bid yesterday to Tribune management.

According to his Wikipedia entry:

• Burkle is a well-known political contributor and longtime Democratic fundraiser.
• He supported the Black Panthers in the Sixties.
• Burkle has supported California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and employed former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown
• Burkle is a close friend of former President Bill Clinton, who calls Burkle's Boeing 757 private jet "Ron Air."
• Clinton, who is a senior adviser to Burkle's company, Yucaipa, wrote in his memoir, "My Life", that Burkle "became one of my best friends."
• Burkle and Steve Rattner helped finance Al Gore's cable Current TV network.

Burkle has also given over $200,000 to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. But given the Terminator's terminal veer to the left, that hardly makes Burkle GOP-friendly.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net