America's Richest Politicians

[ethics]

Two years ago, Americans elected George W. Bush, the first president with a master's in business administration. Last November, the biggest city in the country elected a self-made billionaire mayor, making Michael R. Bloomberg one of New York City's most impressive political arrivistes. B. Thomas Golisano, like Bloomberg a member of the Forbes 400, hopes to duplicate Hizzoner's success by capturing the New York state governorship on Nov. 5.

In celebrating the increasing success of capitalists in the political fold, we have ranked America's ten richest politicians. To narrow the scope, we only considered people currently holding elective office and those running in this November's election.
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<td><b>Rank</b> </td><td><b>Politician (Party)</b> </td><td><b>Office or Campaign</b><b> </b> </td><td><b>Net Worth</b> </td>
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<td>1 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide.html')">Michael R. Bloomberg</a> (R) </td><td>Mayor, New York </td><td>$4.8 billion </td>
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<td>2 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_2.html')">Winthrop Rockefeller</a> (R) </td><td>Lt. Governor, Arkansas </td><td>1.2 billion </td>
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<td>3 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_3.html')">B. Thomas Golisano</a> (Ind) </td><td>Gubernatorial candidate, New York </td><td>1.1 billion </td>
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<td>4 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_4.html')">John Kerry</a> (D) </td><td>Senator, Massachusetts </td><td>550 million </td>
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<td>5 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_5.html')">Tony Sanchez</a> (D) </td><td>Gubernatorial candidate, Texas </td><td>500 million </td>
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<td>6 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_6.html')">Amo Houghton</a> (R) </td><td>Representative, New York </td><td>475 million </td>
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<td>7 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_7.html')">Jon S. Corzine</a> (D) </td><td>Senator, New Jersey </td><td>300 million </td>
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<td>8 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_8.html')">Herb Kohl</a> (D) </td><td>Senator, Wisconsin </td><td>250 million </td>
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<td>9 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_9.html')">Jay Rockefeller</a> (D) </td><td>Senator, West Virginia </td><td>200 million </td>
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<td>10 </td><td>
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<a href="javascript:popit('http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/28/richpoliticianslide_10.html')"> Mark R. Warner</a> (D) </td><td>Governor, Virginia </td><td>200 million </td>
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<td class="mainarttblsrc">Sources: Forbes, Roll Call</td>
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[Sir Joseph]

Why are Democrats on the list? I thought only Republicans can be rich?

[Techie2000]

w00t there is hope for me being rich yet!

[midranger4]

Ethics,

One word.

Frightening.

[ethics]

Originally posted by midranger4
Ethics,

One word.

Frightening.

Before you think people are there to represent you and your views, take a look at that list.

What I fear the most, being that I am from FSU, is that representative Democracy will go the way of the Dodo bird.

[DSL Dan]

We get what we deserve. We are too damn lazy to research candidates and their positions, so instead we lazily follow the money and vote for the ones with the slickest campaigns and most pervasive advertising frequency. I hope the internet and cable news can make a difference before it's too late.

[ethics]

Originally posted by DSL Dan
We get what we deserve.

Well said, Dan!

[pupowski]

Bloomberg is a Democrat who ran as a Republican because he couldn't get the Democratic nomination. He spent something like $92 per vote to be elected mayor, about $69 million. Campaign financing abuses have distorted government by and for the people almost beyond recognition. An estimated one billion dollars will be spent on political advertising this election cycle. Bush has raised an unprecedented $475 million in for Republicans, in over 70 campaign trips. Much of that was "soft money", given ahead of impending restrictions.
Do big donors get a quid-pro-quo from both parties, do taxpayers ultimately pay the bill, and is this the face of representative democracy or a new royalty?

[drslash]

Originally posted by Sir Joseph
Why are Democrats on the list? I thought only Republicans can be rich? This is a huge myth about Americans. Democrats on the whole are wealthier than Republicans.

[Kangaroo]

Democrats can be rich. They just don't want <b>you</b> to be rich.

[DSL Dan]

Can someone please explain how a lot of these bozos head off to Washington with little net worth, earn their $150K/year or thereabouts, and depart as millionaires? Classic case was Bob Dole. Isn't it obvious the figures don't add up? Why aren't there investigations into the inexplicable increases in net worth? :rolleyes:

[ethics]

Originally posted by DSL Dan
Can someone please explain how a lot of these bozos head off to Washington with little net worth, earn their $150K/year or thereabouts, and depart as millionaires? Classic case was Bob Dole. Isn't it obvious the figures don't add up? Why aren't there investigations into the inexplicable increases in net worth? :rolleyes:

Stevent presented his case as to why. In short, we, the people, have become lazy.