Stephen Payne, a Bush pioneer and a political appointee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council,
was caught on tape offering access to key members of the Bush administration inner circle
in exchange for “six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush’s presidency.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/12/bush-library-donation-scandal/

So what's the big deal? Happens all the time. Clinton did it. Bush does it. Obama will do it.

By the way, how come you haven't started a thread pointing out that McCain has gained considerable ground on Obama in the polls and they are now tied? Just wondering.

"By the way, how come you haven't started a thread pointing out that McCain has gained considerable ground on Obama in the polls and they are now tied? Just wondering."

Because it's not true. He hasn't gained "considerable" ground.
The average of polls shows Obama's lead as big as it's been all year (go to the link, look at the graph). His lead now is as big as it was in February.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccai n_vs_obama-225.html

"By the way, how come you haven't started a thread pointing out that McCain has gained considerable ground on Obama in the polls and they are now tied?"

Because polls are irrelevant right now.
Just like you and your Red State ilk.

From 15 points behind to tied in the Rasmussen poll seems like at least a little bit of gain, don't you think?

I agree, polls at this point don't mean much. I'll be far more interested in them when the press gets a chance to ask Obama some hard questions.

Wait till after the conventions in late August -- then start following the polls. That's when they have real relevance. And too, pay attention to who is conducting the polling. Some are much better predictors than others.

As for selling access, it's a real problem. Most of its done legally, using K Street as a way to influence policy. Not to say I think it’s healthy, because it think it can be a terribly corrupting influence. Just look at the financial services sector. They dump millions into influencing public policy and what do we get in return? The need to dump billions into banks because bankers made BAD business decisions and we're left to pick up the pieces. Their golden egg, aka mortgage trickery, made them billions and they didn’t want anyone to spoil the party.

What matters is the electoral vote, and how each state is polling.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/ shows that Obama is polling at 320 EV's.

Then Governor Bill Clinton received 370 electoral votes in 1992 -- and that's with three major candidates running. I'm sure Senator Obama can do as well.