MP&W has a link to the White House on its Links page, Current Happenings of the President. Not a usual link for an accounting firm.

From Network Solutions:

Check out this link to aboutus.org/MPWCPA. MP&W apparently uses some software associated with this website, ExecUsite.com.

Just curious.

Did I ever ask you about Shari Waldie, former secretary of GWB Rangers Corporation? I've been curious about Waldie for the last five years but no one ever talks about her. The last time I brought up Waldie's name was here in the TPM Cafe when I asked Larry Flynt for help.  

I first brought up Waldie's name in the now-defunct NY Times Abuzz forum. Oddly enough, someone who claimed to be a Navy captain wanted to know where I got my info and then some of my links went dead.

This is what I know about Shari Waldie:

She was a Texas state lobbyist in 1999.

She is an enthusiastic runner who often runs in Dallas 10ks.

In 2001, Waldie was briefly Special Assistant to the State Department Chief of Protocol: WALDIE, SHARI C S/CPR (202) 647-4121 

Waldie was an overnight guest at the WH by herself some time between 2001 and 2003.

Waldie is now an employee of the State of Texas. 

From sunbiz.org:

Foreign Profit

GWB Rangers Corporation

Principal Address

9550 BERKSHIRE, SUITE 990
DALLAS TX 75225

Date Filed: 4/1/6/92

Event Date Filed: 8/26/94 (Inactive)

FEI (EIN) Number: 75227349

State: TX

Registered Agent:

SHAW, ANDREW, ESQ.
1390 MAIN STREET, 6TH FLOOR
SARASOTA FL 34236

Officer/Director Detail:

BUSH, GEORGE W.
5950 BURKSHIRE LANE,#990
DALLAS TX
CD

BUSH, GEORGE W.
5950 BERKSHIRE LANE,#990
DALLAS TX
PD

WALDI, SHARI [spelled incorrectly]
5950 BERKSHIRE LANE,#990
DALLAS TX
S

Is Waldie a GWB43 paramour who was paid off through GWB Rangers? Was GWB43 seeing her on the side in DC?

C92, I downloaded all 102 corp regs for 1400 Post Oak Blvd - Ste 900. "Butterscotch"

I'm looking at the Hispanic Alliance For Progress (HAP) website and there is an August 23, 2005 press release about HAP receiving US Treasury grant support but FedSpending.org has no record of HAP being awarded a grant.

Kind of an odd issue for HAP be to be involved in - "the proposed development and implementation of alternative products designed for economically disadvantaged consumers utilizing “Payday Loan” financial services." I would have thought there were a fair number of Bush supporters in the payday loan business.

Here is the 8/23/05 HAP press release:

"The Hispanic Alliance for Progress Receives U.S. Treasury Grant
Support for “Bridge to Banking” Initiative

For Immediate Release
Contact: Audrey Mullen
August 23, 2005
703-548-1160

The Hispanic Alliance for Progress (HAP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the economic and social development of Hispanics particularly through full financial participation in the economic mainstream.

HAP submitted a comprehensive business thesis: “Bridge to Banking” to the U.S. Treasury Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI Fund) for the proposed development and implementation of alternative products designed for economically disadvantaged consumers utilizing “Payday Loan” financial services.

The “Bridge to Banking” program will provide low cost emergency loan products and micro enterprise loans as alternative solutions for consumers in need of these products. Additionally, financial education and “coaching” will be provided to help these consumers access the path to full banking services. The grant will allow the deeper analysis of the proposed target market roll out, and full development of its underwriting, risk and portfolio management.

“This award recognizes our organization as a U. S. Department of Treasury start up Community Development Financial Institution,” stated Manuel Lujan, Chairman of the Hispanic Alliance, “It creates a significant platform for us to provide relief to those consumers relying upon fringe banking products. We look forward to developing and launching other innovative products and solutions to help disadvantaged consumers migrate into the financial mainstream,” Lujan continued.

The CDFI Fund vision is an America in which all people have access to affordable credit, capital and financial services. Its mission is to expand the capacity of financial institutions to provide credit, capital, and financial services to underserved populations and communities in the United States. This is accomplished through its network of Community Development Financial Institutions certified by the U.S. Treasury.

The Hispanic Alliance for Progress (HAP) is a platform for policy, development and delivery of innovative solutions targeting underserved Hispanic constituents."

The Hispanic Alliance For Progress, Inc. was registered in Delaware as a non-profit on 12/24/03. The Hispanic Alliance For Progress Institute, Inc. was registered in Delaware as a non-profit on 1/22/04.

The DC address of the Hispanic Alliance For Progress is 1101 Pennsylvania Ave, Ste 600, Washington DC 20004. The address of the  Impacto Group LLC is 1101 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Ste 600, Washington DC 20004. Looks like HAP and Impacto share an office.

According to its website, the Impacto Group is "a Washington DC-based strategic communications and market research firm dedicated to building integrated, effective solutions for clients who target the Women's and Latino-Hispanic markets in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America."

The Impacto Group LLC was registered in Virginia on 6/3/03 by Leslie Sanchez at 821 Summit Ave, Alexandria VA 22302. Leslie Sanchez has her own website, LeslieSanchez.com, which is linked on the Impacto Group site. (Sanchez is not shy about touting her accomplishments!)

The following "Impacto" companies were registered in Delaware:

Impacto Hispanic Media, LLC -  11/22/02
Impacto LLC - 11/22/05
Impacto USA Inc - 2/3/98 (Not in good standing and unlikely to be related to the other "Impactos")

A 9/1/204 NY Times Op-Ed that Leslie Sanchez wrote jointly with Lance Tarrance of Gallup indicates that Sanchez is a former official in the Bush administration. The Op-Ed, btw, comes across as Bush campaign advertising rather than an independent piece.

Here we go:

"...Her expertise carries over into the political arena as well. A former congressional aide, Leslie tackled some of the dicier political issues before Congress. As an aide to Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, Leslie served as co-director of the Congressional Border Caucus where she worked on high-profile immigration and border security legislation as well as other issues before the House Appropriations Committee. In recognition of her abilities, she was often tasked to work with the Office of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., where she is credited with helping House Republicans "put the foundation together" for their Hispanic outreach efforts.

A veteran of political and grassroots campaigns at all levels, in 2000 Leslie's portfolio included developing and executing the Republican Party's first-ever multi-million dollar advertising campaign aimed directly at Hispanic voters...."

More on Sanchez:

"...As the executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Leslie was President George W. Bush's point person on education issues pertaining to the Hispanic community. The grassroots network of 20,000 parents, educators and students Leslie built led to real change in U.S. education policy while she worked to build strategic partnerships between 30 Fortune 500 companies, foundations, government agencies, and associations. Before that, she led the first multi-million-dollar Hispanic advertising campaign undertaken by the Republican Party and oversaw its 2000 Hispanic vote strategy, from public opinion research to paid and earned media campaigns for the 2000 elections..."

I assume Beth Sturgeon and Leslie Sanchez know each other.

The HAP and HAPI board of directors do not pretend to devote any time to the respective organizations. Susan McClain, CPA, obviously did not ignore the IRS required disclosure regarding the number of hours devoted to the board of director positions because Manuel Luzan is listed as spending 1/2 hour per week on HAP and HAPI matters in 2005.

Dollars to doughnuts, HAP and HAPI picked up traveling and other expenses for the board members in 2004 and 2005.

HAPI Directors and Officers:

2004
Manuel Lujan, Jr.
1209 California Ave
Alberquerque NM 87110
Chairman

Jacob Monty
18964 Groscheke
Houston TX 77084
Board

Raul Romero
1717 Pennsylvania Ave
Suite 650
Washington DC  

2005
Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Chairman
1/2 hour

Jacob Monty
Board

Elias Behar-Ybarra
Conde Iberia 1 Ste J-3
554 Altamira San Juan
Board  

HAP Directors and Officers:

2004
Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Chairman

Joseph Samora
1882 Columbia Rd NW
#402
Washington DC 20009
Board

Elias Behar-Ybarra
Board

2005
Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Chairman
1/2 hour

Jacob Monty
Board

Margaret Martin
215 W. Bandera Road
Suite 114-619
Boerne TX 78006
Board

C92, you know much about the US Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the CDFI Fund)? I am reading about it now and it looks like one of those programs with lots of potential for abuse. LOL - As soon as I read the CDFI Fund had bipartisanship support, my built-in public corruption detector flashed red. I could be wrong but then again, the Hispanic Alliance For Progress appears to be a sham tax-exempt entity set up to funnel corporate money to friends and supporters of the president, doesn't it?

I wanted to try the secret message system here so I sent you one today. Let me know if you don't get it. You don't happen to own a decoder ring, do you?

I don't know if Beth Sturgeon's husband, Benjamin Britt Sturgeon, is involved in this US Treasury Community Development Financial Institution business but just in case he is, here are the other companies registered at 2620 Martin Road in Dripping Springs TX in addition to Strategic Outreach Services .

#1
TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE

Company Name: HAIRY FISH INK, LLC

Filing Date: 1/13/2006

Registered Agent: B. B. STURGEON

Registered Office:
2620 MARTIN RD.
DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX 78620

Members, Managers, Partners:
B. B. STURGEON
MEMBER
2620 MARTIN RD.
DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX 78620

RANDY WEST
MEMBER
824 CR 214
PO BOX 4081
VENUS, TX 76084

#2
TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE

Company Name: MISSING LINK GROUP, LLC

Status: FORFEITED EXISTENCE

Filing Date: 3/16/2004

Inactive Date: 2/3/2006

Members, Managers, Partners:
B B STURGEON
MEMBER
2620 MARTIN RD
DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX 78620

State Taxpayer Number: 32014631058

#3
TEXAS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAMES
 
DBA Name: STURGEON STONE

Business Address:
1121 REGAL ROW # C
AUSTIN, TX 78748-3707

Type: LICENSE

Filing Date: 7/30/2003

County: TRAVIS

Business Description: NONCLASSIFIED ESTABLISHMENTS

Contact Name: BENJAMIN BRITT STURGEON

Contact Address:
2620 MARTIN RD
DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX 78620

This story is getting pretty funny. I just found the Hispanic Alliance For Progress Institute website and 22 GOP members of Congress are on HAPI's Congressional Advisory Board. The HAPI website must have been jazzed up fairly recently because the latest version dated January 2006 filed in the internet archives is quite different-looking.

Take a look at the HAPI photo gallery. Unfortunately, HAPI does not identify the people in the photos so I only recognize a handful of  the more well-known GOP pols like Bush Sr.and Rove. Let me know how many GOP big shots you can name.

Maybe HAPI completely revamped its operations in 2006 and is now a legitimate tax-exempt organization but it is still operating out of the Impacto Group's offices in DC (see comment above about Leslie Sanchez etc).

More to come.

Do we have enough for a story yet?

What do your records show as the present registration information for Karl Rove & Co.

And what is a "fictitious corporation?" That is a technical term I do not understand.

Golden Oldies - Karl Rove (Note that the quote from Scott McClelland is repeated twice.) 

Dallas Morning News
By Wayne Slater
12/2/99

"Rivals again fault Bush over rumors"

AUSTIN, Texas - The fallout over apparent attempts to smear GOP presidential contender John McCain has prompted comparisons with a similar dispute in Gov. George W. Bush's political past.

   In recent weeks, the Bush campaign has been accused of _ and has denied spreading rumors that McCain may be unstable as a result of being tortured while a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

   Several Senate Republicans, among them party leaders who favor Bush for president, have been identified in published reports as being responsible for privately pushing the allegations.

   Also, James B. Stockdale, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran as Ross Perot's running mate in 1992, said he got a call from a friend close to the Bush campaign soliciting comments on McCain's "weakness."

   The senators have denied engaging in such tactics, and Bush has distanced himself from the episode, saying he is running a positive campaign.

   In 1994, in Bush's first race for governor, his campaign was accused of and denied fostering a whisper campaign in East Texas about Gov. Ann Richards' tolerance for gays.

   The issue became public when Bush's regional political chairman, Republican Sen. Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant, was quoted criticizing Richards for "appointing avowed homosexual activists" to state jobs.

   Bush said the senator was speaking for himself, not the campaign.

   Bush spokesman Scott McClelland said Wednesday, "Governor Bush has always run positive, issue-oriented campaigns."

   Chuck McDonald, who as Richards' spokesman blamed the Bush campaign in 1994, said this week that he sees some parallels with the McCain episode.

   McDonald said Bush political operatives have a history in which supporters spread stories while the candidate stays above the fray.

   "The Bush campaign in 1994 effectively used surrogates to spread any campaign message the campaign thought needed to be carried," said McDonald, now a political and business consultant in Austin.

   Political scientists and consultants say hardball tactics are common as candidates seek to win an advantage over opponents. But Bush has sought to set his campaign apart, saying he won't engage in that.

   Dan Schnur, a spokesman for McCain, said the Arizona senator doesn't know who is responsible for the whisper campaign. He said McCain plans to release hundreds of pages of medical records that will dispel any doubts about his fitness for office.

   Bush political rivals Steve Forbes and Gary Bauer both have blamed the Bush campaign for the McCain attacks.

   "There is no place for negative smear tactics against any candidates, particularly the type being used against Senator McCain," said Forbes.

   McDonald said the architect of Bush's political campaigns is Karl Rove, a longtime strategist with an aggressive style.

   "Clearly, Karl Rove has a formula, and everything in 1994, in 1998 (Bush's re-election) and this year fits within that formula," said McDonald.

   Rove did not return calls for comment.

   Rove, a colleague of the late GOP consultant Lee Atwater, got his start in Republican politics while a student in college.

   In 1973, Rove organized conferences that instructed young Republicans on campaign dirty tricks, such as going through a rival's garbage to obtain inside memos and contributor lists.

   As a Republican consultant in Texas over the last two decades, Rove has worked for most major GOP candidates seeking statewide office.

   As consultant to Gov. Bill Clements in his 1982 re-election bid, Rove distributed a mock newspaper suggesting that Democratic challenger Mark White was drinking while driving when he had a wreck as a college student.

   Rove was instrumental in 1990 in spreading information about an alleged contribution kickback scheme involving Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. Hightower was never charged, but three aides were convicted on
federal charges.

   In 1992, Rove passed along information that state Railroad Commissioner Lena Guerrero, a rising star in the Texas Democratic Party, had lied about graduating from college. The story hit the front pages of Texas newspapers and ended
Guerrero's political career.

   Asked about Rove, Bush spokesman McClelland said, "Governor Bush sets the tone of his campaign and has always run positive, issue-oriented campaigns."

As noted above, the Hispanic Alliance For Progress (HAP) was awarded a $46k grant in 2005 by thge Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, a US Treasury program.

The CDFI Fund maintains a searchable award database on the Fund website.

From the CDFI Fund award database:

Awardee Profiles Details

Hispanic Alliance For Progress
Houston, TX

No contact information is available. [Why not? What about Beth Sturgeon?]

Controlling Entity:
Controlling entity information has not been requested.

Organizational profile:
The Hispanic Alliance for Progress (HAP) is a start-up CDFI founded in 2003 to ensure access to full financial participation for Hispanics who are economically disadvantaged. HAP currently focuses on serving 12 counties in Texas and New Mexico, with Hispanic populations in excess of 70%, and high levels of poverty. The 2005 TA [Technical Assistance] grant will help the Awardee to launch, with 12 local partners, a microenterprise loan program and an emergency loan program to help combat the devastating effects of predatory lending practices.

TA 2005 Award/Allocation

Award
$46,000

Service Area
There is no service area for this award.

Percent urban & rural
Major urban:
Minor urban:
Rural:

Product type
There are no product types for this award

Profile
HAP will use the $46,000 TA grant to obtain (1) a market analysis, (2) a comprehensive community development performance and impact measurement system, (3) staff salary support, and (4) training for the board, staff, and local loan committees on underwriting, risk management, and portfolio management.

Other awards/allocations
There are no other awards or allocations for this organization.

Have you ever heard of Harry Sargeant III? Sargeant lives in the Palm Beach area and has made some substantial contributions to the RNC. He also donated big money to Charlie Crist.

Florida, like so many other states, makes it difficult to search for campaign contributions to state politicians. I gave up searching for Sargeant's contributions to Jeb Bush out of frustration.

Sargeant's primary business is or was Sargeant Marine which transports asphalt worldwide on ships owned by Sargeant. I read recently that Sargeant had a ship or ships built in Croatia and I wondered if US economic aid was involved in the deal.

I got interested in Sargeant when a TPM Cafe member posted a link to the DoD 's 12/28/06 press release about contract awards but I can't find the link to the press release at the moment.

I think this is the contract that caught my eye:

Defense Energy Support,  Fort Belvoir
Contract# SP0600-05-D-0457 
International Oil Trading Company, LLC 
$140 million sole source contract  

In 2005, International Oil Trading was awarded a $214 million contract from the Defense Logistics Agency.

I think these contracts are supply contracts for fuel in the ME and I think all Harry Sargeant does is affix his name to the company letterhead and collect his cut of the contract. I'd like to be in that kind of business!

Sargeant's partner in International Oil is Abu Naba'a Mustafa who I know nothing about. But I know Sargeant is a well-known donor to Arab charities, thanks to this list from the Mosaic Foundation.

More to come.

I don't know why anyone would question whether the Carlyle Group uses confidential government information to get the best deals.

From an early version of  the Carlyle Group website in the internet archives, circa 1999:

"Industries Impacted by Government. With its unique combination of senior-level government and corporate experience, Carlyle has a broad knowledge of the government regulatory environment. With its ability to discern the impact of government regulatory and spending changes, Carlyle has been successful in identifying investment opportunities before they become evident to other investors. This advantage provides Carlyle with proprietary deal flow and limited price competition."

Hello?

Kind of a fun thing to do if you are interested in the Carlyle Group is to look at the different versions of the Carlyle Group's website. I am almost reluctant to post the link to the internet archives because websites have a way of disappearing after I post about them but what the heck.

Michael Moore should have consulted with me before he filmed "Farenheit 9/11." I would have explained how James A. Baker et al pressured the Saudis to appoint the Carlyle Group as the official Advisor to the Saudi Economic Offset Program. What I don't know is whether the Saudis agreed to the arrangement before, during or after the Gulf War.

Read some of the fancy wording from the Carlyle Group about being the official Advisor to the Saudi Economic Offset Program and then I'll tell you what it really means.

From the front page of the Carlyle Group website:

"The Carlyle Group is the official Advisor to the Saudi Economic Offset Program. In this capacity, Carlyle actively identifies, structures and helps implement viable joint venture in the Kingdom.

The Saudi Arabian Economic Offset Program

The Saudi Arabian Economic Offset Program (EOP) is an innovative investment program established in 1984 to help form profitable businesses in Saudi Arabia. Designed to attract foreign investment, the program encourages joint ventures between foreign and Saudi companies which:

• diversify the industrial base
• transfer technology
• strengthen the private sector
• employ Saudis
• reduce reliance on imports
• use local raw materials

More than fourteen Saudi Offset companies had been formed or are under formation, representing approximately $700 million in total investments and employing more than 1,600 people.

Offset ventures have been established in a wide range of business sectors, such as electronics, aerospace, computer systems engineering, pharmaceuticals, automotive products and metals processing. Additional sectors currently targeted for development in the Kingdom include: downstream petrochemicals; health, pharmaceuticals and medical technology; telecommunications; environmental; mining and minerals; energy; agriculture and food processing."

More from the Caryle Group about the Saudi Economic Offset program: 

Carlyle - Offset 

The Saudi Offset Program

The Economic Offset Program (EOP) is an innovative investment program established in 1984 to help form profitable businesses in Saudi Arabia. Designed to attract foreign investment, the program encourages joint ventures between foreign and Saudi companies which:

• diversify the industrial base
• transfer technology
• strengthen the private sector
• employ Saudis
• reduce reliance on imports
• use local raw materials

Importantly, projects approved under the EOP enjoy investment incentives and the support of the inter-ministerial Economic Offset Committee (EOC).

Offset is commonly used by countries making major foreign procurements to ensure that a percentage of funds spent are re-invested to achieve economic development goals.

Offset programs of different varieties and forms are in place throughout the world, in both highly developed and developing nations.

A Record of Results

More than fourteen Saudi Offset companies had been formed or are under formation, representing approximately $700 million in total investments and employing more than 1,600 people.

Sectors of Development

Offset ventures have been approved in a wide range of business sectors, such as electronics, aerospace, computer systems engineering, pharmaceuticals, automotive products and metals processing.

Additional sectors currently targeted for development in the Kingdom include:

• downstream petrochemicals
• health, pharmaceuticals and medical technology
• telecommunications
• environmental
• mining and minerals
• energy
• agriculture and food processing

Major international companies participating in the Economic Offset Program include: AT&T, Boeing, British Aerospace, General Dynamics, General Electric, Glaxo Wellcome, Hughes, McDonnell Douglas, Rolls Royce, Tate & Lyle, Thomson CSF, and United Technologies. A Dynamic Market

Saudi Arabia, which possesses over a quarter of the world's oil reserves, is strategically located for investors seeking to enter the growing economies of the Arabian Gulf, Middle East and Central and South Asia.

Saudi Arabia's modern, well-developed infrastructure provides a low-cost manufacturing and export base, especially for industries which are energy-intensive or dependent on petrochemical feed stocks.

In addition:

• The rapidly expanding Saudi economy is now the 20th largest in the world with a GDP of approximately $123 billion
• Saudi Arabia currently exports non-oil products to over 70 countries
• Saudi Arabia enjoys preferred access to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, with a combined population of over 200 million
• New industrial licenses currently exceed 200 annually. Each year's approvals represent investment levels of about $1.5 billion
• Saudi Arabia's Sixth Economic Plan (for the years 1995-2000) explicitly encourages incentives for joint ventures and recognizes foreign investment as a cornerstone of private sector development

Saudi Arabia provides substantial incentives and support mechanisms for joint ventures. These include:

Financial

• low-cost loans from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF)
• corporate tax holidays for 10 years
• unrestricted repatriation of funds
• stable and freely convertible currency

Infrastructure

• modern infrastructure including industrial estates and advanced telecommunication systems
• low-cost utilities and fuels
• modern ground, air and sea transportation and related facilities

Regulatory

• government procurement preferences for joint ventures involving Saudi partners
• tariff exemption on imported equipment and materials
• exemption from export tariffs in neighboring states

Coupled with strong investment incentives, top level support is provided for approved Offset Projects by the ministerial-level Economic Offset Committee. The EOC consists of senior representatives of:

• Ministry of Defense and Aviation
• Ministry of Commerce
• Ministry of Industry and Electricity
• Ministry of Planning
• Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF)
• Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
• Ministry of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones

The EOC Secretariate provides the day-to-day administration of the Offset Program." 

The Saudis are very sophisticated business people who certainly didn't need advice from the Carlyle Group about their own country. I don't know how he did it but James A. Baker III held the Saudis up and they agreed to give the Carlyle Group a cut of all of the foreign business coming into the kingdom.

Want to do business in Saudi Arabia? First pay a bribe to the Carlyle Group. That's about all there was to the Carlyle Group being an official Advisor to the Saudi Economic Offset program.

Ask Frank Carlucci or Prince Bandar how the Saudi offset program worked if you don't believe me. Don't bother asking James A. Baker because he won't tell you the truth.

BTW, Prince "Bush" Bandar and his father, the Saudi minister of defense, had $50 or $60 million in the Carlyle Group a few years ago. I can just imagine how much more the Bandar investment is worth today.