You left out the other half of the equation: the importance of Big Money to the Democratic Party.

Just view congressional votes on any given day.

People seem to be leaving out the plainest part of the Jane Harman scandal neoconservative run up to the Iraq war, which is actually the worst part of it: the importance of big money to the Israel lobby.

It is no accident IMHO that the power of the Israel lobby expanded along side the financial bubble that so enriched Wall Street — many of whose honchos were and are Zionist Jews.

In this respect the news that Wall Street pay is bouncing back because of massive US help to the banking industry is bad news for those looking to bring the lobby down a few pegs. because

"…The front of the room is where the action is: Democratic lawmakers are spouting their pro-Israel credentials and their initiatives for health care reform; [Israel???] the Jewish donors, who came to Washington for intimate meetings just like this one, are eating it up word for word.

In the back stands Reva Price, with a ubiquitous smile, perhaps a sarcastic word, and a pressing agenda. She is essentially the policy matchmaker between the Jewish community and Democratic lawmakers — and her role as an adviser to Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California is about to get a lot more interesting…

…Price worked hard to counter that perception for this election, orchestrating an online town hall where congressmen tackled tough questions from the community head-on. Jewish lawmakers made clear that the Democratic caucus would support Israel, and those members who were not supportive would not have influence on foreign affairs. In one exchange, Pelosi said that former President Jimmy Carter — who has a new book out that harshly criticizes the government in Jerusalem — “does not speak for the Democratic Party on Israel.”…"

The Forward: Pelosi’s Price is Right for Jewish Community
By Matthew E. Berger — Nov 24, '06
” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.forward.com/articles/9012/

The $$$ Fearmongering:

"…More important than the question of winning Jewish votes, though, is the question of winning Jewish dollars and Jewish political energy. "The primary emphasis in the Republican Party has not been to win Jewish votes but to attract major Jewish giving and, at a minimum, to deprive Democrats of that giving," says Douglas Bloomfield, a Democratic former legislative director for AIPAC. Even a moderate shift of 20 percent in Jewish giving to the Democrats could have a devastating impact on the party, says Forman. Already in 2000, Bush had won the votes of 53 percent of the Jews who earned more than $150,000, according to Cohen's study…"

American Prospect: Jews in Play?
Republicans go after the Jewish vote (again)
by Garance Franke-Ruta — Apr 30, '03
” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=6775