Soros is staying. The Phoenix Group re-grouping.
FT.com / World / US - Soros group raises stakes in battle with US neo-cons
Few months ago I posted a link to the article about progressive donors uniting to support progressive infrastructure. By now we all must have heard or read about the famous Rob Stein's power-point presentation, which he showed to individuals and groups across the country. There were several possible meeting of billionaires reported throughout past few years. The mysterious "Phoenix Group" was mentioned together with other potential names like "Band of the Progressives". Whatever the name, the group seems to be working and un-affected by Democrat’s defeat in November. As I wrote earlier it has been suggested that this defeat may in fact have far better consequences for unification of progressive forces and their financing than the victory, which could have resulted in many to relax and withdraw pressure. FT reports that this time the gentlemen met in San-Francisco behind close doors:
The amounts speculated vary significantly, but is said that the group decided to invest more than they already spent in 2004. Others like Stephen Bing are rumored to join the group.
Few months ago I posted a link to the article about progressive donors uniting to support progressive infrastructure. By now we all must have heard or read about the famous Rob Stein's power-point presentation, which he showed to individuals and groups across the country. There were several possible meeting of billionaires reported throughout past few years. The mysterious "Phoenix Group" was mentioned together with other potential names like "Band of the Progressives". Whatever the name, the group seems to be working and un-affected by Democrat’s defeat in November. As I wrote earlier it has been suggested that this defeat may in fact have far better consequences for unification of progressive forces and their financing than the victory, which could have resulted in many to relax and withdraw pressure. FT reports that this time the gentlemen met in San-Francisco behind close doors:
George Soros, who made his fortune in the hedge fund industry; Herb and Marion Sandler, the California couple who own a multi-billion-dollar savings and loan business; and Peter Lewis, the chairman of an Ohio insurance company, donated more than $63m (£34m) in the 2004 election cycle to organizations seeking to defeat George W. Bush.The details of the meeting are obviously closely guarded as even the aides were asked to leave the room.
At a meeting in San Francisco last month, the left-leaning billionaires agreed to commit an even larger sum over a longer period to building institutions to foster progressive ideas and people.
But the still-evolving plan, according to one person involved, is “joint investment to build intellectual infrastructure”.
The intention is to provide the left with organizations in Washington that can match the heft of the rightwing think-tanks such as Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute. At a state level, the aim is to build what one person called a “deeper progressive bench”.
The amounts speculated vary significantly, but is said that the group decided to invest more than they already spent in 2004. Others like Stephen Bing are rumored to join the group.
posted by Shus at 1:30 PM
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