1.   A McCain spokeswoman said this week that the senator welcomes support from the businesses he regulates, but that their contributions have no bearing on his decisions.

2.   After-tax contributions have other virtues, too.

3.   Bush says the contributions had nothing to do with his vote to support Federated Investors.

4.   But their behind-the-scenes contributions have often surprised historians.

5.   Defined contribution has several variations.

6.   In some cases, their requests were granted, though government officials say that the contributions had nothing to do with any official decision.

7.   Meddoff also told Ickes that the contribution had to be tax deductible.

8.   Meggett realizes his contributions have had to come more through leadership by example.

9.   Much of the aid so far has been wasted or stolen, so there is a reasonable demand that further contributions must have strings of conditionality attached.

10.   One reason the contributions have yet to pour in is the fact that no civil government is formally in place.