But the $87,000 Persian Rug really tied the room together

How much did this idiot donate to Bush & McCain?

John Thain and whether it was a good idea to spend $1.2 million of Merill's money redecorating his office suite.

"His office was very different than the general decor of Merrill's offices. It would have been very difficult for me to use it in the form that it was in."

This means so much to all those people typing from cubicles, shoveling coal, washing a diaper, or applying for unemployment benefits.

The answer on donations?

He's donated A LOT and OFTEN.

Thain is a "good buddy" to the ol' Maverick John McCain -- who I'm sure managed not to mention this the last few days.