Kenny and Georgie

Madison Capital Times

John Nichols: Bush and Ken Lay: partners in fraud

"The man who paid many of the biggest bills for George Bush's political ascent, Enron founder Kenneth Lay, has been found guilty of conspiracy and fraud almost five years after his dirty dealings created the greatest corporate scandal in what will be remembered as an era of corporate crime.

A Houston jury on Thursday found Lay guilty on six counts of fraud and conspiracy. In a separate decision, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ruled that Lay was guilty of four counts of fraud and making false statements.

Lay, whom President Bush affectionately referred to as "Kenny boy" when the two forged an alliance in the 1990s to advance Bush's political ambitions and Lay's business prospects, contributed $122,500 to Bush's gubernatorial campaigns in Texas..."