According to this list the top donor was University of Calif at 1.6MM - http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&...
$994,795 seems like a pitifully small number on the scale of Goldman Sachs & government donations - but I would think this is a drop in the bucket. I don't buy that ~1MM buys the administration. Wouldn't it be more likely this amount was donated simply by Goldman employees acting independently? If the amount was $100MM then yeah, I think you have a case for the conspiracy theory.
It is also tough for me to believe that $80,000 buys the chief of staff.
Am I off-base?