Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kpete

(72,022 posts)
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 05:17 PM Jan 2014

This is two guys -- TWO FREAKING GUYS!--Two Unaccountable Guys, All The Power - By Charles P. Pierce

JAN 6, 2014
Two Unaccountable Guys, All The Power
By Charles P. Pierce at 12:15pm


Photo Illustration by DonkeyHotey via Accompaniment To This Post)

Some days, you read something and you think to yourself, you know, there's the Pacific Ocean right over there, I could start walking and keep going because what in the name of god is the point any more?

The resources and the breadth of the organization make it singular in American politics: an operation conducted outside the campaign finance system, employing an array of groups aimed at stopping what its financiers view as government overreach. Members of the coalition target different constituencies but together have mounted attacks on the new health-care law, federal spending and environmental regulations. Key players in the Koch-backed network have already begun engaging in the 2014 midterm elections, hiring new staff members to expand operations and strafing House and Senate Democrats with hard-hitting ads over their support for the Affordable Care Act.



This is two guys -- TWO FREAKING GUYS! -- and they have more power within the American political system than a million earnest volunteers knocking on doors. They have more influence than millions of people writing letters to the editors, protesting outside school boards, or organizing online. This is two guys -- TWO FREAKING GUYS! -- whose politics were formed on what was still considered the Republican fringe in the 1950s and 1960s, and they have more power within the American political system than what's left of the entire infrastructure of organized labor.

Two freaking guys.

Amazing.

Two freaking unaccountable guys.



...........

WAY MORE HERE: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/koch-brothers-political-network-010614
24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This is two guys -- TWO FREAKING GUYS!--Two Unaccountable Guys, All The Power - By Charles P. Pierce (Original Post) kpete Jan 2014 OP
we have the best government money can buy. spanone Jan 2014 #1
Well... those two guys do. The rest of us? Nah. Squinch Jan 2014 #2
if we had their money.... spanone Jan 2014 #3
...we would be much nicer. Squinch Jan 2014 #5
They're old, I wish they'd hurry up and die. diane in sf Jan 2014 #4
Hell yawns. Squinch Jan 2014 #6
No shit. loudsue Jan 2014 #8
do they have spawn???? dixiegrrrrl Jan 2014 #9
This message was self-deleted by its author MFM008 Jan 2014 #11
As Yoda would say, "wish not, do". AAO Jan 2014 #14
How the Koch Brothers Bought Washington D.C. mitty14u2 Jan 2014 #7
They will reap what they sow... mercymechap Jan 2014 #10
No they won't. I hate to burst your bubble, but truth2power Jan 2014 #12
Being kept alive isn't always mercymechap Jan 2014 #23
Karma kpete Jan 2014 #18
Not in my experience. /nt Marr Jan 2014 #24
No, it's not two guys. It's ALL the people who do their bidding that gives them power. nt valerief Jan 2014 #13
The corrupt + the corruptable = The corrupt AAO Jan 2014 #15
You Got THAT Right BodieTown Jan 2014 #19
In 2014 any candidate running as a republican should be labeled " brought & paid for by the Koch's" kimbutgar Jan 2014 #16
And why are they not in prison yet? Initech Jan 2014 #17
The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks Own And Control The World And We Are Now Their Serfs cantbeserious Jan 2014 #20
Bozo the clown heaven05 Jan 2014 #21
Citizen's United Was A Major Blow To Our Country colsohlibgal Jan 2014 #22

Squinch

(51,021 posts)
5. ...we would be much nicer.
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 05:39 PM
Jan 2014

Honestly, they show such a lot of signs of sociopathy. They cannot possibly need more money, or more power, but they have put all their energy into redistributing money away from people who are in financial hardship, just so they can pile up more wealth.

There is no way they don't know what they are doing. They are so dedicated to it that it must give them some kind of a thrill.

That's some serious evil, there.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
9. do they have spawn????
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 06:18 PM
Jan 2014

I am sure they will leave their money to like minded people when they go
and thier going will be delayed as long as they can buy the best of medical care...
just like Cheney.

Response to diane in sf (Reply #4)

mitty14u2

(1,015 posts)
7. How the Koch Brothers Bought Washington D.C.
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 05:51 PM
Jan 2014

The Koch’s are extremely anti-regulation, particularly when it comes to the climate. Koch industries emits over 300 million tons of CO2 into the air each year (The New Yorker), and when rumors of an emissions tax began to circulate among big oil and Capitol Hill, the Koch brothers took swift action. Koch Industries Public Sector LLC (the lobbying branch of Koch Industries) quietly began gathering signatures from legislators on a pledge that would effectively halt all efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This pledge made signatories promise to vote against any climate tax hike unless the tax increase included an equal amount of tax cuts. Because many solutions to climate change involve a tax on the polluters, this pledge would limit most climate legislation .

While gathering signatures for this anti climate regulation pact, the Koch brothers started a smear campaign in an attempt to debunk the reality of climate change. It’s pretty difficult to debunk an accepted scientific fact, so what the Koch brothers did was make their own studies that “proved” that climate change is a myth. In order to facilitate this “research”, Koch- funded foundations financed two prominent climate change denial groups: the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Heartland Institute. ALEC and the Heartland Institute (which famously displayed a billboard in Chicago likening global warming supporters to the Unabomber) often justify their climate change denial by citing two studies published by the American Tradition Institute and State Policy Network, both of which also happen to receive Koch money. The Koch brothers have used their money to manipulate science in order to support their agenda of deregulation.

http://2ferquarterly.org/2013/11/01/how-the-koch-brothers-bought-washington-d-c/comment-page-1/

Evil, and all that follow for gains contribute to the Evil, if Karma is alive and well they should choke on a pea!

mercymechap

(579 posts)
10. They will reap what they sow...
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 06:21 PM
Jan 2014

one day, someone stronger and richer will challenge them, they will topple and the cycle will start all over again.

truth2power

(8,219 posts)
12. No they won't. I hate to burst your bubble, but
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 07:15 PM
Jan 2014

If you believe in a God who will give them their just deserts, forget about it.

And if you think "providence" or some such will take care of it, look at the BFEE....or Cheney. I predict Cheney will be kept alive until he's 100 years old.

mercymechap

(579 posts)
23. Being kept alive isn't always
Sat Jan 11, 2014, 09:03 PM
Jan 2014

such a good thing.....you don't always have to witness it to know that payday comes around for everyone...payday someday.....

BodieTown

(147 posts)
19. You Got THAT Right
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 01:50 PM
Jan 2014

These two clowns require masses of American workers who are willing to do anything in exchange for a Koch paycheck.

kimbutgar

(21,209 posts)
16. In 2014 any candidate running as a republican should be labeled " brought & paid for by the Koch's"
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 07:58 PM
Jan 2014

Someone should print up stickers and paste them on the tea party posters/ signs saying, "Koch approved".
The Koch's are even training candidates to follow the approved talking points. We need to expose these puppets and make the Koch's the villains keeping Americans from moving forward.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
21. Bozo the clown
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 02:27 PM
Jan 2014

wow, two of them! America is at risk because of these two clowns. SAD! We, possibly could have stopped this bullshit by defeating Nixon and Reagan. Also we should have had a better candidate than Clinton, all in hindsight, of course. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. No help for us now. Warren and Bernie, maybe.

colsohlibgal

(5,275 posts)
22. Citizen's United Was A Major Blow To Our Country
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 03:24 PM
Jan 2014

Clowns like these bozos should not be influencing anything outside their contemptible circle. The fact that they are getting away with it with much help from middle class people who by doing so are sabotaging their own life is amazing.

Charlie Pierce rocks, he speaks great truth to power and is falling down funny while doing it.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»This is two guys -- TWO F...