Mammoth Blog

Update: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Lawmakers

When the federal government announced two months ago that it would prop up mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, CRP looked at how much money members of Congress had collected since 1989 from the companies. On Sunday the government completely took over the two government-sponsored enterprises, and we've returned to our data to bring you the updates, this time providing a list of all 354 lawmakers who have gotten money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (in July we posted the top 25). These totals are based on data released electronically from the FEC on Sept. 2 and include contributions to lawmakers' leadership PACs and candidate committees from the floundering companies' PACs and employees. Current members of Congress have received a total of $4.8 million from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with Democrats collecting 57 percent of that. This week we also wrote about how much money lawmakers had invested of their own money in the companies last year--a total of up to $1.7 million.

All Recipients of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008
Name Office State Party Grand Total Total fromPACs Total from Individuals
Dodd, Christopher J S CT D $165,400 $48,500 $116,900
Obama, Barack S IL D $126,349 $6,000 $120,349
Kerry, John S MA D $111,000 $2,000 $109,000
Bennett, Robert F S UT R $107,999 $71,499 $36,500
Bachus, Spencer H AL R $103,300 $70,500 $32,800
Blunt, Roy H MO R $96,950 $78,500 $18,450
Kanjorski, Paul E H PA D $96,000 $57,500 $38,500
Bond, Christopher S 'Kit' S MO R $95,400 $64,000 $31,400
Shelby, Richard C S AL R $80,000 $23,000 $57,000
Reed, Jack S RI D $78,250 $43,500 $34,750
Reid, Harry S NV D $77,000 $60,500 $16,500
Clinton, Hillary S NY D $76,050 $8,000 $68,050
Davis, Tom H VA R $75,499 $13,999 $61,500
Boehner, John H OH R $67,750 $60,500 $7,250
Conrad, Kent S ND D $64,491 $22,000 $42,491
Reynolds, Tom H NY R $62,200 $53,000 $9,200
Johnson, Tim S SD D $61,000 $20,000 $41,000
Pelosi, Nancy H CA D $56,250 $47,000 $9,250
Carper, Tom S DE D $55,889 $31,350 $24,539
Hoyer, Steny H H MD D $55,500 $51,500 $4,000
Pryce, Deborah H OH R $55,500 $45,000 $10,500
Emanuel, Rahm H IL D $51,750 $16,000 $35,750
Isakson, Johnny S GA R $49,200 $35,500 $13,700
Cantor, Eric H VA R $48,500 $46,500 $2,000
Crapo, Mike S ID R $47,250 $40,500 $6,750
Frank, Barney H MA D $42,350 $30,500 $11,850
Bean, Melissa H IL D $41,249 $34,999 $6,250
Bayh, Evan S IN D $41,100 $16,500 $24,600
McConnell, Mitch S KY R $41,000 $40,000 $1,000
Maloney, Carolyn B H NY D $39,750 $16,500 $23,250
Dorgan, Byron L S ND D $38,750 $30,500 $8,250
Miller, Gary H CA R $38,000 $31,500 $6,500
Rangel, Charles B H NY D $38,000 $14,750 $23,250
Tiberi, Patrick J H OH R $35,700 $32,600 $3,100
Bunning, Jim S KY R $33,802 $29,650 $4,152
Stabenow, Debbie S MI D $33,450 $32,000 $1,450
Chambliss, Saxby S GA R $33,250 $22,500 $10,750
Menendez, Robert S NJ D $31,250 $30,500 $750
Enzi, Mike S WY R $31,000 $27,500 $3,500
Van Hollen, Chris H MD D $30,700 $11,000 $19,700
Landrieu, Mary L S LA D $30,600 $20,000 $10,600
Murray, Patty S WA D $30,000 $23,000 $7,000
Clyburn, James E H SC D $29,750 $26,000 $3,750
Crowley, Joseph H NY D $29,700 $25,500 $4,200
Sessions, Pete H TX R $29,472 $24,000 $5,472
McCrery, Jim H LA R $29,000 $26,000 $3,000
Hooley, Darlene H OR D $28,750 $19,500 $9,250
Royce, Ed H CA R $28,600 $4,000 $24,600
Renzi, Rick H AZ R $28,250 $28,000 $250
Lieberman, Joe S CT I $28,250 $11,500 $16,750
Baucus, Max S MT D $27,500 $21,000 $6,500
Moore, Dennis H KS D $26,550 $25,500 $1,050
Coleman, Norm S MN R $24,690 $12,000 $12,690
Matheson, Jim H UT D $24,500 $24,000 $500
Schumer, Charles E S NY D $24,250 $1,500 $22,750
Durbin, Dick S IL D $23,750 $14,000 $9,750
Rogers, Mike H MI R $22,750 $21,000 $1,750
Lynch, Stephen F H MA D $22,500 $13,500 $9,000
Rockefeller, Jay S WV D $22,250 $5,000 $17,250
Smith, Gordon H S OR R $22,000 $20,000 $2,000
Mikulski, Barbara A S MD D $21,750 $16,500 $5,250
McCain, John S AZ R $21,550 $0 $21,550
Spratt, John M Jr H SC D $21,500 $17,000 $4,500
Brown-Waite, Ginny H FL R $21,000 $21,000 $0
Davis, Geoff H KY R $21,000 $19,500 $1,500
Velazquez, Nydia M H NY D $20,750 $16,750 $4,000
Baca, Joe H CA D $20,500 $20,200 $300
Alexander, Lamar S TN R $20,500 $20,000 $500
Allard, Wayne S CO R $20,250 $0 $20,250
Neugebauer, Randy H TX R $20,000 $20,000 $0
Nelson, Ben S NE D $20,000 $19,000 $1,000
Salazar, Ken S CO D $19,900 $17,000 $2,900
Jefferson, William J H LA D $19,250 $8,500 $10,750
Byrd, Robert C S WV D $18,500 $8,000 $10,500
Hatch, Orrin G S UT R $18,250 $12,500 $5,750
Miller, Brad H NC D $18,000 $16,500 $1,500
Sherman, Brad H CA D $18,000 $12,500 $5,500
Craig, Larry S ID R $18,000 $15,000 $3,000
Roberts, Pat S KS R $18,000 $18,000 $0
Waters, Maxine H CA D $17,800 $15,000 $2,800
Biggert, Judy H IL R $17,750 $15,500 $2,250
Gerlach, Jim H PA R $17,750 $16,500 $1,250
Reyes, Silvestre H TX D $17,550 $2,000 $15,550
LaTourette, Steven C H OH R $17,500 $17,500 $0
Brownback, Sam S KS R $17,300 $14,250 $3,050
Barrett, Gresham H SC R $17,250 $13,000 $4,250
Watt, Melvin L H NC D $17,250 $13,000 $4,250
Scott, David H GA D $17,000 $13,500 $3,500
King, Pete H NY R $16,750 $1,000 $15,750
Cummings, Elijah E H MD D $16,700 $10,000 $6,700
Grassley, Chuck S IA R $16,500 $14,500 $2,000
Cantwell, Maria S WA D $16,250 $0 $16,250
Domenici, Pete V S NM R $16,226 $7,000 $9,226
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie H SD D $16,200 $4,500 $11,700
Putnam, Adam H H FL R $15,500 $15,500 $0
Feinstein, Dianne S CA D $15,250 $2,000 $13,250
Brown, Sherrod S OH D $15,000 $15,000 $0
Feeney, Tom H FL R $14,750 $13,500 $1,250
Sununu, John E S NH R $14,750 $0 $14,750
Hinojosa, Ruben H TX D $14,500 $13,000 $1,500
Capito, Shelley Moore H WV R $14,250 $8,000 $6,250
Burr, Richard S NC R $14,250 $13,500 $750
Jackson, Jesse Jr H IL D $14,000 $8,000 $6,000
Meeks, Gregory W H NY D $14,000 $13,500 $500
Cornyn, John S TX R $14,000 $12,000 $2,000
Collins, Susan M S ME R $13,000 $12,000 $1,000
Boxer, Barbara S CA D $12,750 $5,000 $7,750
McHenry, Patrick H NC R $12,500 $12,500 $0
Israel, Steve H NY D $12,050 $10,000 $2,050
Nunes, Devin Gerald H CA R $12,000 $12,000 $0
Davis, Artur H AL D $11,750 $11,500 $250
Martinez, Mel S FL R $11,750 $8,500 $3,250
Roskam, Peter H IL R $11,650 $8,500 $3,150
Pryor, Mark S AR D $11,650 $9,500 $2,150
Webb, James S VA D $11,550 $1,000 $10,550
Doolittle, John T H CA R $11,500 $11,500 $0
Harkin, Tom S IA D $11,450 $6,900 $4,550
Lee, Barbara H CA D $11,250 $11,000 $250
Thune, John S SD R $11,057 $1,000 $10,057
Klein, Ron H FL D $11,000 $11,000 $0
Mahoney, Tim H FL D $11,000 $11,000 $0
Fossella, Vito H NY R $10,750 $7,500 $3,250
Schultz, Debbie Wasserman H FL D $10,750 $9,750 $1,000
Thompson, Mike H CA D $10,600 $1,000 $9,600
Moran, Jim H VA D $10,500 $1,250 $9,250
Kennedy, Edward M S MA D $10,500 $3,000 $7,500
Clay, William L Jr H MO D $10,250 $8,500 $1,750
Payne, Donald M H NJ D $10,100 $5,500 $4,600
Dingell, John D H MI D $10,000 $7,000 $3,000
Lincoln, Blanche S AR D $10,000 $5,500 $4,500
Levin, Sander H MI D $9,800 $0 $9,800
Roybal-Allard, Lucille H CA D $9,800 $5,000 $4,800
Barrasso, John A S WY R $9,500 $9,500 $0
Nelson, Bill S FL D $9,500 $9,000 $500
Napolitano, Grace H CA D $9,300 $8,500 $800
Castle, Michael N H DE R $9,200 $7,000 $2,200
Drake, Thelma H VA R $9,000 $9,000 $0
Dreier, David H CA R $9,000 $7,000 $2,000
Bachmann, Michele Marie H MN R $8,850 $6,500 $2,350
Gonzalez, Charlie A H TX D $8,500 $5,000 $3,500
Lewis, John H GA D $8,500 $4,000 $4,500
Knollenberg, Joe H MI R $8,250 $5,000 $3,250
Moore, Gwen H WI D $8,250 $8,000 $250
Pastor, Ed H AZ D $8,100 $4,500 $3,600
Norton, Eleanor Holmes D DC D $8,000 $3,000 $5,000
Becerra, Xavier H CA D $8,000 $7,000 $1,000
Jackson Lee, Sheila H TX D $8,000 $0 $8,000
Larson, John B H CT D $8,000 $8,000 $0
Lewis, Jerry H CA R $8,000 $7,000 $1,000
Melancon, Charles J H LA D $8,000 $8,000 $0
Walsh, James T H NY R $7,750 $0 $7,750
Corker, Bob S TN R $7,750 $2,000 $5,750
Cramer, Bud H AL D $7,500 $7,000 $500
Cubin, Barbara H WY R $7,500 $5,000 $2,500
Ensign, John S NV R $7,300 $6,000 $1,300
Meek, Kendrick B H FL D $7,250 $6,500 $750
Wilson, Charlie H OH D $7,250 $7,000 $250
Leahy, Patrick S VT D $7,250 $2,500 $4,750
Cleaver, Emanuel H MO D $7,000 $7,000 $0
Marchant, Kenny Ewell H TX R $7,000 $7,000 $0
Thompson, Bennie G H MS D $7,000 $6,000 $1,000
Casey, Bob S PA D $7,000 $6,000 $1,000
Solis, Hilda L H CA D $6,800 $6,500 $300
Gordon, Bart H TN D $6,750 $4,000 $2,750
Pomeroy, Earl H ND D $6,750 $5,000 $1,750
Tiahrt, Todd H KS R $6,500 $6,500 $0
Boyd, Allen H FL D $6,000 $5,500 $500
Capuano, Michael E H MA D $6,000 $5,000 $1,000
Heller, Dean H NV R $6,000 $6,000 $0
Marshall, Jim H GA0 D $6,000 $6,000 $0
Whitfield, Ed H KY R $6,000 $6,000 $0
Klobuchar, Amy S MN D $5,650 $1,500 $4,150
Ross, Mike H AR D $5,550 $3,000 $2,550
McCarthy, Carolyn H NY D $5,500 $5,500 $0
Slaughter, Louise M H NY D $5,500 $5,500 $0
Hodes, Paul W H NH D $5,450 $5,000 $450
Cardin, Ben S MD D $5,300 $500 $4,800
Boren, Dan H OK D $5,250 $5,000 $250
Ackerman, Gary H NY D $5,000 $4,000 $1,000
Andrews, Robert E H NJ D $5,000 $0 $5,000
Camp, Dave H MI R $5,000 $5,000 $0
Cole, Tom H OK R $5,000 $5,000 $0
Davis, Lincoln H TN D $5,000 $5,000 $0
Hill, Baron H IN D $5,000 $5,000 $0
Pearce, Steve H NM R $5,000 $5,000 $0
Perlmutter, Edwin G H CO D $5,000 $5,000 $0
Weller, Jerry H IL R $5,000 $0 $5,000
Snowe, Olympia J S ME R $5,000 $4,000 $1,000
Wicker, Roger S MS R $5,000 $5,000 $0
Davis, Danny K H IL D $4,950 $2,000 $2,950
Chabot, Steve H OH R $4,750 $3,000 $1,750
Honda, Mike H CA D $4,750 $4,000 $750
Price, David H NC D $4,550 $2,050 $2,500
Hagel, Chuck S NE R $4,500 $0 $4,500
Lugar, Richard G S IN R $4,500 $1,000 $3,500
Kaptur, Marcy H OH D $4,350 $1,000 $3,350
McCollum, Betty H MN D $4,350 $0 $4,350
Carson, Andre H IN D $4,250 $4,000 $250
Obey, David R H WI D $4,250 $2,000 $2,250
Salazar, John H CO D $4,250 $4,000 $250
Sanchez, Loretta H CA D $4,250 $3,000 $1,250
Tanner, John H TN D $4,250 $3,500 $750
Cardoza, Dennis H CA D $4,000 $4,000 $0
English, Phil H PA R $4,000 $4,000 $0
Green, Al H TX D $4,000 $4,000 $0
Kilpatrick, Carolyn Cheeks H MI D $4,000 $3,250 $750
Murphy, Chris H CT D $4,000 $4,000 $0
Tester, Jon S MT D $4,000 $3,500 $500
Rodriguez, Ciro D H TX D $3,750 $3,000 $750
Donnelly, Joe H IN D $3,500 $3,500 $0
Matsui, Doris O H CA D $3,500 $2,500 $1,000
Paul, Ron H TX R $3,500 $0 $3,500
Price, Tom H GA R $3,500 $3,500 $0
Schmidt, Jean H OH R $3,500 $2,500 $1,000
Wexler, Robert H FL D $3,500 $3,500 $0
Wyden, Ron S OR D $3,500 $0 $3,500
Biden, Joseph R Jr S DE D $3,300 $0 $3,300
Gutierrez, Luis V H IL D $3,250 $2,500 $750
Harman, Jane H CA D $3,250 $0 $3,250
Hensarling, Jeb H TX R $3,250 $1,500 $1,750
Kennedy, Patrick J H RI D $3,250 $0 $3,250
Ryan, Paul H WI R $3,250 $2,500 $750
Myrick, Sue H NC R $3,200 $1,500 $1,700
Schwartz, Allyson H PA D $3,200 $2,000 $1,200
Diaz-Balart, Lincoln H FL R $3,000 $3,000 $0
Lucas, Frank D H OK R $3,000 $1,500 $1,500
McCarthy, Kevin H CA R $3,000 $3,000 $0
Souder, Mark E H IN R $3,000 $3,000 $0
Udall, Mark H CO D $3,000 $2,500 $500
Bingaman, Jeff S NM D $3,000 $3,000 $0
Levin, Carl S MI D $3,000 $3,000 $0
Stevens, Ted S AK R $3,000 $3,000 $0
Hobson, Dave H OH R $2,850 $0 $2,850
Johnson, Eddie Bernice H TX D $2,825 $1,000 $1,825
Berkley, Shelley H NV D $2,750 $2,000 $750
Jones, Walter B Jr H NC R $2,750 $0 $2,750
Ferguson, Mike H NJ R $2,700 $0 $2,700
Cannon, Chris H UT R $2,500 $2,000 $500
Childers, Travis W H MS D $2,500 $2,500 $0
DeGette, Diana H CO D $2,500 $2,000 $500
Ellison, Keith H MN D $2,500 $2,500 $0
Keller, Ric H FL R $2,500 $2,000 $500
Oberstar, James L H MN D $2,500 $0 $2,500
Serrano, Jose E H NY D $2,500 $1,500 $1,000
Shays, Christopher H CT R $2,500 $2,000 $500
McCaskill, Claire S MO D $2,500 $2,500 $0
Cuellar, Henry H TX D $2,450 $2,000 $450
Markey, Edward J H MA D $2,250 $0 $2,250
Smith, Adam H WA D $2,250 $2,000 $250
Butterfield, G K H NC D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Costa, Jim H CA D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Foster, Bill H IL D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Grijalva, Raul M H AZ D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Hastings, Doc H WA R $2,000 $2,000 $0
Moran, Jerry H KS R $2,000 $0 $2,000
Murphy, Patrick J H PA D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Olver, John W H MA D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Porter, Jon H NV R $2,000 $2,000 $0
Regula, Ralph H OH R $2,000 $0 $2,000
Reichert, Dave H WA R $2,000 $2,000 $0
Sanchez, Linda H CA D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Sires, Albio H NJ D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Tauscher, Ellen H CA D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Akaka, Daniel K S HI D $2,000 $2,000 $0
Cochran, Thad S MS R $2,000 $2,000 $0
Whitehouse, Sheldon S RI D $2,000 $1,000 $1,000
Allen, Tom H ME D $1,950 $0 $1,950
Stearns, Cliff H FL R $1,850 $1,850 $0
DeLauro, Rosa L H CT D $1,750 $1,000 $750
Towns, Edolphus H NY D $1,750 $0 $1,750
Hulshof, Kenny H MO R $1,700 $1,250 $450
Fattah, Chaka H PA D $1,500 $1,000 $500
Neal, Richard E H MA D $1,500 $1,500 $0
Diaz-Balart, Mario H FL R $1,450 $1,000 $450
Kucinich, Dennis J H OH D $1,349 $0 $1,349
Alexander, Rodney H LA R $1,250 $1,250 $0
Carnahan, Russ H MO D $1,250 $1,000 $250
Wilson, Heather A H NM R $1,250 $0 $1,250
Coburn, Tom S OK R $1,250 $0 $1,250
Feingold, Russ S WI D $1,250 $0 $1,250
Kyl, Jon S AZ R $1,250 $0 $1,250
Linder, John H GA R $1,150 $500 $650
Sestak, Joe H PA D $1,150 $0 $1,150
Specter, Arlen S PA R $1,100 $350 $750
Berry, Marion H AR D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Blackburn, Marsha H TN R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Boswell, Leonard L H IA D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Boucher, Rick H VA D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Boustany, Charles W Jr H LA R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Calvert, Ken H CA R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Campbell, John H CA R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Cazayoux, Donald J H LA D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Conaway, Mike H TX R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Cooper, Jim H TN D $1,000 $500 $500
Ellsworth, Brad H IN D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Filner, Bob H CA D $1,000 $0 $1,000
Graves, Sam H MO R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Hayes, Robin H NC R $1,000 $0 $1,000
Higgins, Brian M H NY D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Johnson, Hank H GA D $1,000 $0 $1,000
Latham, Tom H IA R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Lofgren, Zoe H CA D $1,000 $0 $1,000
McNerney, Jerry H CA D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Michaud, Mike H ME D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Mitchell, Harry E H AZ D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Musgrave, Marilyn H CO R $1,000 $0 $1,000
Ortiz, Solomon P H TX D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Rush, Bobby L H IL D $1,000 $0 $1,000
Schiff, Adam H CA D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Scott, Robert C H VA D $1,000 $0 $1,000
Smith, Chris H NJ R $1,000 $0 $1,000
Space, Zachary T H OH D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Terry, Lee H NE R $1,000 $0 $1,000
Walberg, Tim H MI R $1,000 $0 $1,000
Welch, Peter H VT D $1,000 $1,000 $0
Wolf, Frank R H VA R $1,000 $1,000 $0
Dole, Elizabeth S NC R $1,000 $0 $1,000
Lautenberg, Frank R S NJ D $1,000 $0 $1,000
Christian-Green, Donna D VI D $750 $0 $750
Inslee, Jay R H WA D $750 $0 $750
Duncan, John J Jr H TN R $600 $600 $0
Bilbray, Brian P H CA R $500 $0 $500
Bishop, Sanford D Jr H GA D $500 $500 $0
Castor, Kathy H FL D $500 $0 $500
Edwards, Donna H MD D $500 $0 $500
Hinchey, Maurice H NY D $500 $0 $500
LaHood, Ray H IL R $500 $0 $500
Mack, Connie H FL R $500 $0 $500
Pascrell, Bill Jr H NJ D $500 $500 $0
Pickering, Charles "Chip" Jr H MS R $500 $500 $0
Rehberg, Denny H MT R $500 $0 $500
Sarbanes, John H MD D $500 $0 $500
Shadegg, John H AZ R $500 $0 $500
Skelton, Ike H MO D $500 $500 $0
Smith, Lamar H TX R $500 $500 $0
Stark, Pete H CA D $500 $500 $0
Weldon, Dave H FL R $500 $0 $500
Wu, David H OR D $500 $0 $500
Graham, Lindsey S SC R $500 $0 $500
Brown, Corrine H FL D $450 $0 $450
Turner, Michael R H OH R $375 $0 $375
Hastings, Alcee L H FL D $300 $0 $300
Warner, John W S VA R $300 $0 $300
Aderholt, Robert B H AL R $250 $0 $250
Arcuri, Michael H NY D $250 $0 $250
Carney, Chris H PA D $250 $0 $250
Dicks, Norm H WA D $250 $0 $250
Lampson, Nick H TX D $250 $0 $250
Manzullo, Don H IL R $250 $0 $250
Platts, Todd H PA R $250 $0 $250
Watson, Diane E H CA D $250 $0 $250
Weiner, Anthony D H NY D $250 $0 $250
DeMint, James W S SC R $250 $0 $250
Sanders, Bernie S VT I $250 $250 $0

Total $4,844,572 $3,017,797 $1,826,775

Includes contributions from PACs and individuals. 2008 cycle totals based on data released electronically by the Federal Election Commission on Sept. 2, 2008. Source>>>

Highly regarded prospect Daniel Orton proved the power of prayer, including his father's communion with the almighty, by committing to Kentucky on Sunday.

"I was hoping and praying," his father, Larry Orton, said after the announcement in a Lexington hotel lobby.

A reporter asked why the prayer for Kentucky when his son had plenty of good choices (including Texas, Connecticut, Ohio State and Kansas). "But none better than Kentucky," said the elder Orton, who wore a blue sweatsuit to the announcement. "I think Kentucky basketball is it."

Judging by Orton's official campus visit this Big Blue Madness weekend, UK fans think the big man from Oklahoma City, Okla., is it.

Fans chanted his name repeatedly at Big Blue Madness. When he arrived at a public pickup game on Saturday morning, the fans gave him a standing ovation.

"Everybody had already told me the fans were crazy about basketball," Orton said. "That really sealed the decision. It let me know how serious they are about basketball."

Another factor led Orton to decide on Friday to throw his lot with Kentucky. Kansas Coach Bill Self called him to say the Jayhawks were giving their last available scholarship to another big man, Thomas Robinson.

"Kentucky wasn't the backup plan," Orton said. "But that made the decision a lot easier. ... I think (Self) thought and my parents thought I'd be really upset. It really did not bother me too much. Not at all."

While his father spoke of Kentucky as incomparable to other programs, a reporter noted that Kansas merely won the 2008 national championship.

"That was last year," Larry Orton said. A moment later, the elder Orton added, "We're going to win one here."

Larry Orton said his son, at age 9 or 10, told him he'd win four straight high school state championships.

"He's won three straight championships in high school and working on a fourth," the father said. "And he told me he's going to get a NCAA championship, then a NBA championship, and he's done.

"If Daniel tells me, I can't go against him. Everything he tells me happens."

Rivals.com rates Orton at No. 22 nationally (and Robinson No. 18). Rivals analyst Jerry Meyer noted Orton as a "really big presence" at 6-foot-10 and about 260 pounds.

"Where he can really improve and help Kentucky out is to become a better low-post scorer," Meyer said. "He's a little underdeveloped. The difference between him and other big guys is he doesn't score the ball at the same level."

Orton thrilled the Kentucky fans who watched the pickup games on Saturday. He appeared completely comfortable competing against college players.

"I think he's one of the three or four best high school big guys in the country," said analyst Brick Oettinger of Prep Stars, which also rates Orton at No. 22. "He's a terrific catch for anybody. Kentucky can certainly use him and he'll make a difference."

Orton said that UK Coach Billy Gillispie had told him "plenty of times" how the Cats would use the big man.

"The big guys, they really touch the ball as much as the guards do," Orton said he was told. "And most of the offense is run through them."

Of course, that's the role presently filled by sophomore Patrick Patterson, who may turn pro after this 2008-09 season. When asked if he'd play with Patterson, Orton said, "I really don't know. It's his decision, but I'd love to. He's a really good player."

Patterson played a role in the recruitment of Orton during the weekend visit and earlier.

"Realizing how all the people know him and love him, that really helped me out," Orton said.

Orton spoke of Patterson as a recruiter.

"Not with what he said," the prospect said. "Just the fact he kept in contact with me. He really showed an interest in me. That really helped me."

A question now is how long Orton will play for Kentucky. "Most people are talking of me staying one or two years," he said. "But it just depends on how everything goes."

He noted how his brother, Terrence Crawford, sustained multiple injuries and stayed at Oklahoma State five seasons.

"I hope that doesn't happen to me," Orton said of the injuries. "We'll have to wait and see. Players have to do what's best for them."

Orton's father joked about an early entry in the NBA Draft. "Actually, I'd love to see Daniel redshirt," the elder Orton said. "I'd love to see him stay five, six, seven years and grow up."

More seriously, Orton's father added, "If it comes and it's there and everything's right, we can sit down and talk about it." Source>>>

Chris Cornell & Timbaland Tour Dates Announced

Album launch performance dates

Chris & Timbaland Perform Together:
Oct. 17 Denver, CO Ogden Theater
Oct. 18 Salt Lake City, UT The Avalon Theater
Oct. 19 Tempe, AZ Marquee
Oct. 24 Las Vegas, NV The Joint
Oct. 25 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
Oct. 26 San Diego, CA House of Blues
Oct. 31 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Nov. 2 Seattle, WA Showbox
Chris Cornell Solo Dates:
Oct. 21 Tucson, AZ Fox Tucson Theater
Oct. 22 Ventura, CA Ventura Theater
Oct. 28 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
Oct. 29 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst
Nov. 1 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Nov. 6 Coquitlam, BC Red Robinson Theater
Nov. 7 Kamloops, BC Interior Savings Centre
Nov. 8 Banff, AB Wild Bill's (special radio show)
Nov 10 Edmonton, AB Edmonton Events Centre
Nov 11 Calgary, AB Macewan Hall (Univ. Of Calgary)
Nov 12 Bonnyville, AB Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre
Nov 14 Saskatoon, SK Odeon Events Centre
Nov 15 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre
Nov 18 London, ON Centennial Hall
Nov 19 Hamilton, ON Wentworth Room
Nov 21 Toronto, ON Kool Haus
Nov 22 Ottawa, ON Ottawa Civic Center
Nov 23 Montreal, QC Metropolis

*
Meet Chris Cornell & Timbaland!
Come to one of the Verizon Wireless store appearances for a chance to meet the artists, get music, get tix to the show that night and more

DENVER: October 17, 2008 3:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
SALT LAKE CITY:October 18, 2008 2:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
TEMPE: October 19, 2008 2:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
LAS VEGAS: October 24, 2008 3:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
INGLEWOOD: October 25, 2008 3:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
SAN DIEGO: October 26, 2008 EUR 3:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
SAN FRANCISCO: October 31, 2008 EUR 3:00pm Verizon Wireless Store
TUKWILA: November 2, 2008 EUR 3:00pm Verizon Wireless Store

*
Three New Songs From Chris Cornell at iTunes Now

"Scream"

"Ground Zero"

Watch Out"

Quicken Online has gone free!

Quicken is excited to announce that Quicken Online will become FREE starting Monday, October 13th. Until recently, Quicken Online was free to try, but cost $2.99 per month after a trial period. Beginning October 13th, there will be no charge to use the Quicken Online program.

What does this mean for you?
Free Quicken Online will be promoted heavily on our websites and the sign-up process will be much shorter and easier than the previous process.

Free Quicken Online has many cool new features including Quicken Beam, which allows users to check their balances from any mobile phone, Blackberry, or iPhone.

Your have 24/7 financial control at you fingertips with Free Quicken Online.

The Treasury Department, in its boldest move yet, is expected
to announce a plan Tuesday to invest up to $250 billion in
large and small banks, according to officials.

cientists have issued a health warning to the personal music generation about noise levels from their in-ear entertainment.

The quality of music reproduction at high levels on tiny players is now so good that more people are turning up the volume - risking permanent hearing damage.

A report from the European Union's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) estimates that five-10% of personal music player users risk permanent hearing loss if they listen for more than an hour a day at high volume settings for at least five years.

And if that sounds like a low risk, European Commission officials pointed to the rising numbers of people who plug themselves into loud music every day just for journeys to and from school or work.

Add up the hours and the decibels, they said, and the number in the EU risking some permanent hearing loss is put at between 2.5 and 10 million people.

The Commission ordered the study from the independent committee because of the soaring numbers routinely exposed to high noise volumes through personal players.

An EU safety standard already exists restricting the noise level of personal music players to 100 decibels, but the scientists said the danger level is long-term exposure to music pumped into the ears above 89 decibels.

At that level, users of personal music players are exposed to higher noise levels than currently allowed in factories after just five hours' listening.

EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, said the scientists had now clearly signalled "cause for concern" and she would be organising a conference early next year with governments, the music industry and consumers "to discuss the way forward".

Ms Kuneva commented: "I am concerned that so many young people, in particular, who are frequent users of personal music players and mobile phones at high acoustic levels, may be unknowingly damaging their hearing irrevocably." source>>>

One of Barack Obama's most potent campaign claims is that he'll cut taxes for no less than 95% of "working families." He's even promising to cut taxes enough that the government's tax share of GDP will be no more than 18.2% -- which is lower than it is today.

It's a clever pitch, because it lets him pose as a middle-class tax cutter while disguising that he's also proposing one of the largest tax increases ever on the other 5%. But how does he conjure this miracle, especially since more than a third of all Americans already pay no income taxes at all? There are several sleights of hand, but the most creative is to redefine the meaning of "tax cut."

For the Obama Democrats, a tax cut is no longer letting you keep more of what you earn. In their lexicon, a tax cut includes tens of billions of dollars in government handouts that are disguised by the phrase "tax credit." Mr. Obama is proposing to create or expand no fewer than seven such credits for individuals:
[Review & Outlook]

- A $500 tax credit ($1,000 a couple) to "make work pay" that phases out at income of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 per couple.

- A $4,000 tax credit for college tuition.

- A 10% mortgage interest tax credit (on top of the existing mortgage interest deduction and other housing subsidies).

- A "savings" tax credit of 50% up to $1,000.

- An expansion of the earned-income tax credit that would allow single workers to receive as much as $555 a year, up from $175 now, and give these workers up to $1,110 if they are paying child support.

- A child care credit of 50% up to $6,000 of expenses a year.

- A "clean car" tax credit of up to $7,000 on the purchase of certain vehicles.

Here's the political catch. All but the clean car credit would be "refundable," which is Washington-speak for the fact that you can receive these checks even if you have no income-tax liability. In other words, they are an income transfer -- a federal check -- from taxpayers to nontaxpayers. Once upon a time we called this "welfare," or in George McGovern's 1972 campaign a "Demogrant." Mr. Obama's genius is to call it a tax cut.

The Tax Foundation estimates that under the Obama plan 63 million Americans, or 44% of all tax filers, would have no income tax liability and most of those would get a check from the IRS each year. The Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis estimates that by 2011, under the Obama plan, an additional 10 million filers would pay zero taxes while cashing checks from the IRS.

The total annual expenditures on refundable "tax credits" would rise over the next 10 years by $647 billion to $1.054 trillion, according to the Tax Policy Center. This means that the tax-credit welfare state would soon cost four times actual cash welfare. By redefining such income payments as "tax credits," the Obama campaign also redefines them away as a tax share of GDP. Presto, the federal tax burden looks much smaller than it really is.

The political left defends "refundability" on grounds that these payments help to offset the payroll tax. And that was at least plausible when the only major refundable credit was the earned-income tax credit. Taken together, however, these tax credit payments would exceed payroll levies for most low-income workers.

It is also true that John McCain proposes a refundable tax credit -- his $5,000 to help individuals buy health insurance. We've written before that we prefer a tax deduction for individual health care, rather than a credit. But the big difference with Mr. Obama is that Mr. McCain's proposal replaces the tax subsidy for employer-sponsored health insurance that individuals don't now receive if they buy on their own. It merely changes the nature of the tax subsidy; it doesn't create a new one.

There's another catch: Because Mr. Obama's tax credits are phased out as incomes rise, they impose a huge "marginal" tax rate increase on low-income workers. The marginal tax rate refers to the rate on the next dollar of income earned. As the nearby chart illustrates, the marginal rate for millions of low- and middle-income workers would spike as they earn more income.

Some families with an income of $40,000 could lose up to 40 cents in vanishing credits for every additional dollar earned from working overtime or taking a new job. As public policy, this is contradictory. The tax credits are sold in the name of "making work pay," but in practice they can be a disincentive to working harder, especially if you're a lower-income couple getting raises of $1,000 or $2,000 a year. One mystery -- among many -- of the McCain campaign is why it has allowed Mr. Obama's 95% illusion to go unanswered. Source>>>

***USATODAY.com Breaking News***

Dow Jones industrials rise 900 in rebound from last week's devastating losses.
For more on this story, go to http://www.usatoday.com.

NCAA Basketball 09 is not just a new name; it introduces a new way to play college basketball that mirrors real life. A new, strategic gameplay feature challenges gamers to replicate their school's style of play, set the tempo and win. Whether your school plays up tempo looking to push the ball in transition, runs a half-court offense that utilizes the clock and limits possessions or features a balanced attack that combines transition offense with set plays, NCAA Basketball 09 rewards the strategic gamer and emphasizes team specific styles of play.

NCAA Basketball 09 will feature Division I coaches in-game for the first time. Each coach will provide real time instruction and feedback, helping gamers control the tempo by executing their team's offense and defense to perfection.

This year on Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3, NCAA Basketball 09 will operate on a new gameplay engine with over 1,000 new animation sequences that deliver a more responsive experience with improved ball physics and more intelligent AI. The new animation system enables gamers to apply pressure defense with new full-court presses and traps. Plus, improved AI and animations enable quicker players to get up and down the floor faster and make better decisions running the lanes and driving to the rim. Animations can be interrupted at any time, enabling you to read and respond to the action on the floor, just like real life. source>>>

Captain Munnerlyn returned a blocked field goal 81 yards for a touchdown and set up another score with an 84-yard kickoff return as South Carolina defeated Kentucky 24-17 Saturday, improving Steve Spurrier's record to 16-0 against the Wildcats.

South Carolina (5-2, 2-2) won its ninth consecutive meeting against Kentucky (4-2, 0-2), which came in with momentum after nearly upsetting Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Instead, the Wildcats' string of futility against Spurrier is the longest by any team against a single coach other than two losing streaks against Penn State's Joe Paterno.

The game, billed as a field position showdown between two of the Southeastern Conference's top defenses, lived up to that hype, at least until midway through the third quarter. That was when Spurrier, always quick with the hook on his quarterbacks, made a change that paid immediate dividends.

Stephen Garcia replaced a struggling Chris Smelley and led four consecutive drives into Wildcat territory, which the Gamecocks turned into 10 points. It could have been more if not for three missed second-half field goal attempts by Ryan Succop.

With the game tied at 17, South Carolina took the lead for good when Garcia found Weslye Saunders open in the end zone off a playaction pass from 8 yards out. The play was set up by a 37-yard post pattern from Garcia to Jason Barnes. Garcia completed 10 of 14 passes for 169 yards in limited duty.

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: A year ago, Kentucky's Big Blue Madness was about showing off a new coach. This time, it was about showing off a new look.

Billy Gillispie's Wildcats donned their new blue and white uniforms with a checkerboard pattern as the nation's all-time winningest program kicked off its preseason preparations Friday night in front of 23,000 of their closest friends.

While fans arrived before 9 p.m., it wasn't until 11:18 that the second-year coach finally made his appearance.

Last year, four large banners descended from the rafters, and when they finally dropped, there Gillispie stood, waving to the crowd.

This time, the banners fell while pyrotechnics filled Rupp Arena, but Gillispie was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he entered moments later, jogging through the crowd in his gray jumpsuit, dishing out high-fives along the way.

"I know they're excited to be here," Gillispie, already seemingly short of voice, said of his players. "They love being here at Kentucky."

Gillispie's entrance was far humbler than that of women's coach Matthew Mitchell, who appeared riding on a fire truck.

The men's team first took the court with a dunk contest that Ramon Harris clinched with an off the backboard follow that he jammed home.

Then, there was a defensive-minded scrimmage, in which both sides took more than three minutes to score. It was a troubling reminder of the team's slow starts at times last season, which ended with a loss to Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Although the checkerboard pattern on the new uniforms is subtle, those who designed them for Nike said they were intended as a nod to jockey silks representing the state's signature industry, horse racing. Penny Chenery, who owned 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, received an honorary jersey from Gillispie at midcourt during the festivities.

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Get the first complete live concert DVD from the platinum certified pioneers of evil disco starting tomorrow (October 14th). Get the internet only special edition Cannibal Killers DVD, featuring Static X's first live DVD, a complete collection of classic music videos, plus a rare, full concert bootleg from 1997. You can even make your own ringtones.

Get it tomorrow (10/14) exclusively at static-x.com

NASCAR, like so many others, is hurting from the current economic chaos. Races feature grandstands with patches of empty seats. Fans can't afford to attend. Corporate sponsors are skittish about spending more cash on stock-car racing.

NascarIt could get worse.

In the aftermath of the near meltdown in financial markets last week, General Motors reportedly has held separate merger talks with both Ford and Chrysler.

Those three, along with Toyota, are the car makes used in NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup Series, and combining any of them would raise the obvious question: Would their involvement in NASCAR stay the same or be cut back? (Jeff Burton won last night's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in a GM Chevrolet.)

That's not all. There are rumors in the NASCAR garage that the sanctioning body is mulling whether to cut the field for Cup races to 36 cars from the current 43 sometime in the future, Bob Margolis of Yahoo Sports report. source>>>

Go Fish is respected in both Christian and mainstream circles for their top-notch recordings and high-energy family concerts. For children, Go Fish may be their first real concert experience. It's a rock and roll show, says the group, tailor-made for kids. "There's a misconception out there of what children's music has to be," says Andy. "Quite honestly, it doesn't have to be simple. You don't have to dumb down music for kids. Because of that, parents really enjoy this music as well."

Following a string of successful independent recordings and two projects with the inpop label, Go Fish focused their energy on creating music for kids and families, releasing Splash in 2003, followed by Superstar in 2004 and Snooze in 2006, as well as the Showtime DVD and Christmas project, Snow, in 2006. However, it's the group's latest effort, Snazzy, that finds the Go Fish guys with an even stronger resolve to communicate Biblical truths to children these days.

Making kids' and parents' days is what Go Fish is all about. Great harmonies, direct lyrics, inspiring messages - rolled up into a dynamic presentation that is making an impact and creating memories for countless families across the country.

Be one of the first to get tickets to see the GO FISH CHRISTmas with a Capital "C' Tour at the Adler Theatre on December 18.

Click here and enter password : GO

1. (4) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 334 laps, 127.7 rating, 190 points, $280,208.

2. (15) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 334, 91.3, 170, $207,766.

3. (19) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 334, 94.7, 165, $145,750.

4. (11) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 334, 112.6, 165, $141,875.

5. (21) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 334, 88.6, 155, $128,775.

6. (1) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 334, 120.9, 160, $169,036.

7. (3) Greg Biffle, Ford, 334, 113.4, 151, $101,625.

8. (8) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 334, 98.7, 147, $141,961.

9. (14) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 334, 96.2, 138, $120,358.

10. (13) David Ragan, Ford, 334, 95.1, 139, $94,875.

11. (7) Tony Stewart, Toyota, 334, 112, 135, $140,536.

12. (5) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 334, 99.1, 127, $92,725.

13. (6) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 334, 77.9, 124, $121,061.

14. (18) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 334, 84.5, 126, $116,383.

15. (30) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 334, 65.9, 123, $102,064.

16. (12) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 334, 80.5, 115, $107,741.

17. (20) Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 333, 71.3, 112, $109,036.

18. (17) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 333, 95.7, 114, $79,550.

19. (33) Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 333, 57.6, 106, $89,208.

20. (22) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 333, 64.5, 103, $99,345.

21. (16) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 333, 73.2, 105, $109,350.

22. (36) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 332, 48.1, 97, $114,025.

23. (29) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 332, 55.9, 94, $78,600.

24. (31) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 332, 55.7, 96, $85,458.

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