If you hate the Koch Brothers, don't read this . . .

[sonofdaxjones]

http://freebeacon.com/columns/oligarchy-in-the-twenty-first-century/


 There you have it: A wealthy Democratic donor admits he funds candidates to improve his bottom line. And yet I hear from the Senate floor no denunciations of his attempts to buy American democracy, no labeling of him as un-American. I have not received a piece of direct mail soliciting donations to fight David L. Cohen’s hijacking of the political process, nor do I wake up every day to investigations of the Cohen political and charitable network. Why?

---------------------------------

The Obama team did not have to hit up Pritzker Simmons for cash. She and her husband, an heir to the Montgomery Ward fortune, have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats and liberal groups in recent years, including to ActBlue, the DSCC, Harry Reid’s Majority PAC, Priorities USA, Elizabeth Warren, and congressional candidate Sean Eldridge.

-----------------------

The popular rhetoric of income inequality, the attacks on Charles and David Koch, the assertion that the system is rigged against the common man, the accusations that a vast right-wing conspiracy has despoiled the American landscape and society and polity—these are the means by which the ruling class masks its true position and justifies its continued agglomeration of power and of wealth.

The campaign against inequality and the call for higher taxes and the regulatory burdens placed on extractive industries further the self-interest of the liberals who rule our world partly because those liberals are already established in society and have already made their money, partly because like David Cohen or Tom Steyer or George Soros or Elon Musk or Warren Buffett they stand to benefit financially from their preferred outcomes, but also because there are fortunes to be made, there is status to be gained, in justifying the continued expansion of the welfare state, in designing plans for the redistribution of tax dollars, in demonizing those sections of the elite, and that minority of Americans, which dissent from the ruling ideas.

Seven of the 10 richest counties in the country voted for Barack Obama in 2012, many of them by huge margins. Six of the 10 are in the Washington, D.C., metro area, which has benefited from government employment and payment regulations, from government contracting, and from consulting, lobbying, and lawyering for clients petitioning the government. The median income of Falls Church City, Va., is $121,250 dollars. In 2012, Falls Church City voted for Obama 70 percent to 30 percent.

Democrats represent eight of the ten richest congressional districts in the country. Democrat Carolyn Maloney represents the district with the highest per capita income of $75,479. Outgoing congressman Henry Waxman represents the district with the second-highest per capita income of $61,273. The only two Republicans on the list are Rep. Leonard Lance, whose New Jersey district ranks seventh, and outgoing Rep. Frank Wolf, whose Virginia district ranks tenth. The average per capita income of Democratic House districts is $1,000 more than Republican ones.

[GCJayhawker]

I'm going to go ahead and say that these types of political contributions are why there needs to be meaningful campaign finance reform.

Also, TIA to the person who puts together the actual amounts spent by the Koch brothers and the individual democratic donors.

[steve dave]

I don't know anything about the koch brothers but I dnr anyway

[Rage Against the McKee]

Each person should be limited to $100. Corporations and other entities should be limited to $0.

[Jabeez]

 The Koch brothers are also dividing the republican party,  I see why it's a bigger deal than the united front the democrats have. I'm for saying campaign finance reform is needed, but wonder about the system that would be in its place.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

[bubbles4ksu]

crazy how all of these first generation billionaires are dems. the waltons and the kochs inherited their wealth(the kochs began life worth $300M).

if/when the millennials and their tech money ever decide to get politically involved it will be game over for the conservatives. 

Top 20 Richest Americans & Which Political Party They Donated To!
Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on March 20, 2011
America, Money

Rank Name Net Worth Age Residence Source
 
1  Bill Gates  $54 B 55 Medina, WA Microsoft
2  Warren Buffett  $45 B 80 Omaha, NE Berkshire Hathaway
3  Larry Ellison  $27 B 66 Woodside, CA Oracle
4  Christy Walton & family $24 B 56 Jackson, WY Walmart
5  Charles Koch  $21.5 B 75 Wichita, KS Diversified
5  David Koch  $21.5 B 70 New York , NY Diversified
7  Jim Walton  $20.1 B 63 Bentonville, AR Walmart
8  Alice Walton  $20 B 61 Fort Worth, TX Walmart
9  S. Robson Walton  $19.7 B 67 Bentonville, AR Walmart
10  Michael Bloomberg  $18 B 69 New York , NY Bloomberg
11  Larry Page $15 B 37 Palo Alto, CA Google
11  Sergey Brin $15 B 37 San Francisco, CA Google
13  Sheldon Adelson $14.7 B 77 Las Vegas, NV casinos
14  George Soros $14.2 B 80 Westchester, NY hedge funds
15  Michael Dell $14 B 46 Austin, TX Dell
16  Steve Ballmer $13.1 B 54 Seattle, WA Microsoft
17  Paul Allen $12.7 B 58 Mercer Island, WA Microsoft, investments
18  Jeff Bezos $12.6 B 47 Seattle, WA Amazon
19  Anne Cox Chambers $12.5 B 91 Atlanta, GA Cox Enterprises
20  John Paulson $12.4 B 55 New York, NY hedge funds
 
http://www.forbes.com/wealth/forbes-400
 
 
Which political party they donated to:
D = Democrat
R= Republican
I= Independent
 
1. d
2 d
3 d
4 r & d
5 r
5 r
7 r
8 r
9 r
10 d, i, r
11 d
11 none
13 r
14 d
15 r
16 r & d
17 d & r
18 d
19 d
20 d & r

http://www.cudahynow.com/blogs/communityblogs/118337144.html

[Rage Against the McKee]

crazy how all of these first generation billionaires are dems. the waltons and the kochs inherited their wealth(the kochs began life worth $300M).

if/when the millennials and their tech money ever decide to get politically involved it will be game over for the conservatives. 

Top 20 Richest Americans & Which Political Party They Donated To!
Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on March 20, 2011
America, Money

Rank Name Net Worth Age Residence Source
 
1  Bill Gates  $54 B 55 Medina, WA Microsoft
2  Warren Buffett  $45 B 80 Omaha, NE Berkshire Hathaway
3  Larry Ellison  $27 B 66 Woodside, CA Oracle
4  Christy Walton & family $24 B 56 Jackson, WY Walmart
5  Charles Koch  $21.5 B 75 Wichita, KS Diversified
5  David Koch  $21.5 B 70 New York , NY Diversified
7  Jim Walton  $20.1 B 63 Bentonville, AR Walmart
8  Alice Walton  $20 B 61 Fort Worth, TX Walmart
9  S. Robson Walton  $19.7 B 67 Bentonville, AR Walmart
10  Michael Bloomberg  $18 B 69 New York , NY Bloomberg
11  Larry Page $15 B 37 Palo Alto, CA Google
11  Sergey Brin $15 B 37 San Francisco, CA Google
13  Sheldon Adelson $14.7 B 77 Las Vegas, NV casinos
14  George Soros $14.2 B 80 Westchester, NY hedge funds
15  Michael Dell $14 B 46 Austin, TX Dell
16  Steve Ballmer $13.1 B 54 Seattle, WA Microsoft
17  Paul Allen $12.7 B 58 Mercer Island, WA Microsoft, investments
18  Jeff Bezos $12.6 B 47 Seattle, WA Amazon
19  Anne Cox Chambers $12.5 B 91 Atlanta, GA Cox Enterprises
20  John Paulson $12.4 B 55 New York, NY hedge funds
 
http://www.forbes.com/wealth/forbes-400
 
 
Which political party they donated to:
D = Democrat
R= Republican
I= Independent
 
1. d
2 d
3 d
4 r & d
5 r
5 r
7 r
8 r
9 r
10 d, i, r
11 d
11 none
13 r
14 d
15 r
16 r & d
17 d & r
18 d
19 d
20 d & r

http://www.cudahynow.com/blogs/communityblogs/118337144.html

Not if we change the laws to only allow each of them to donate $100 it won't.

[bubbles4ksu]

well i don't see the politicians who were elected by raising and spending a shitload of money deciding to level the field in that way.

[sys]

We cannot be partisan. We can’t say, ‘OK, this is our party, right or wrong,’” Charles Koch said Sunday as he gave a pep talk to his deep-pocketed pals who plan to spend as much as $400 million heading toward the 2018 midterm elections. The network’s official position, taken Sunday with no caveats, was that Trump’s immigration ban was anathema.

During a later session at the Koch retreat near Palm Springs, Calif., the co-chairman of the policy and politics network told donors not to expect Trump to get a pass, especially if he goes after specific groups of people or adds red ink to government budgets.

“We have the courage to oppose bad policies that will only harm people’s lives, regardless of who proposes it,” Brian Hooks said. “Remember: A trillion-dollar government stimulus was a bad idea under Democrats. It’s a bad idea when a Republican proposes it.” Hooks, one of Charles Koch’s top aides, vowed that the Koch network would “hold all politicians accountable, regardless of political party.”

i like him.

[SdK]

Who are the Kotch bros?

[SdK]

It rhymes with crotch

[SdK]

Pedophiles ?

[SdK]

Who loves pedophiles on this blog?

[SdK]

I mean hot 17 year old son, sure. But come on

[SdK]

I'm watching house. They usually don't have ovaries but testicle instead

[SdK]

Is that Tranny love?

[renocat]

well i don't see the politicians who were elected by raising and spending a shitload of money deciding to level the field in that way.

I think you have nailed the sentiment of the public who are tired of little weasel politicians who are more concerned about their careers  and will not stand on their principles.  Instead they bow to do what group is howling the loudest or to the wishes of their cash cows.  This afflicts both sides.  Koch's control Wichita, and put Tihardt in office.  People saw him statewide as a koch,-lackey and did not elect him.  Trump was elected because he is not beholden to cash cows - result is pissed power bastards.

[IPA4Me]

If you reform donation laws, you nearly guarantee only wealthy will be elected as they'll be the ones that can afford it.

[Kat Kid]

If you reform donation laws, you nearly guarantee only wealthy will be elected as they'll be the ones that can afford it.

already the case.

[8manpick]

We cannot be partisan. We can’t say, ‘OK, this is our party, right or wrong,’” Charles Koch said Sunday as he gave a pep talk to his deep-pocketed pals who plan to spend as much as $400 million heading toward the 2018 midterm elections. The network’s official position, taken Sunday with no caveats, was that Trump’s immigration ban was anathema.

During a later session at the Koch retreat near Palm Springs, Calif., the co-chairman of the policy and politics network told donors not to expect Trump to get a pass, especially if he goes after specific groups of people or adds red ink to government budgets.

“We have the courage to oppose bad policies that will only harm people’s lives, regardless of who proposes it,” Brian Hooks said. “Remember: A trillion-dollar government stimulus was a bad idea under Democrats. It’s a bad idea when a Republican proposes it.” Hooks, one of Charles Koch’s top aides, vowed that the Koch network would “hold all politicians accountable, regardless of political party.”

i like him.

Yep.  Koch Bros: voice of political reason.

[Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!)]

It's clearly a ruse to make them richer, DO NOT BE FOOLED!!!!

[Tobias]

stay woch

[SdK]

Lol