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
