ABO*
Posted by Michelle Moquin on February 5th, 2012
Good morning!
*Anybody but Obama. That’s their plan, and they’re putting up the big bucks to assist in making it happen.
Koch Brothers, Allies Pledge $100 Million At Private Meeting To Beat Obama
WASHINGTON — At a private three-day retreat in California last weekend, conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch and about 250 to 300 other individuals pledged approximately $100 million to defeat President Obama in the 2012 elections.
A source who was in the room when the pledges were made told The Huffington Post that, specifically, Charles Koch pledged $40 million and David pledged $20 million.
The semi-annual, invitation-only meeting attractswealthy donors, Republican politicians and conservative activists. Last year, hundreds of activists gathered outside the walled-off resort toprotest the meeting. This year, however, the conference went off quietly.
“Conference organizers and their guestssuccessfully slipped in and out of the Coachella Valley without being detected, by buying out nearly all of the 500-plus rooms at the Renaissance Esmeralda resort in Indian Wells,” reported The Desert Sun. “The resort closed its restaurants, locked down the grounds with private security guards and sent many workers home.”
This is the ninth straight year the Kochs have hosted the conference. As Politico reported last year, the meetings often adjourn “after soliciting pledges of support from the donors — sometimes totaling as much as $50 million — to nonprofit groups favored by the Kochs.”
The fact that the wealthy conservative donors pledged $100 million for the 2012 elections shows how intent they are on trying to get Obama out of office — and previews how intense, and likely nasty, the general election will be.
There are limits on how much an individual can give to a political candidate. Therefore, much of the money pledged at the recent gathering will likely go to super PACs or nonprofits that can spend and accept unlimited amounts of funds. GOP primary voters have already gotten a glimpse of how the political system looks with super PACs around: record amounts of money spent on a large number of negative ads in the early primary states.
The source told The Huffington Post that they lamented the direction the conference has taken over the years. They said it used to be about “conservative strategy” and building a movement, but now it was mostly an “alpha male” spectacle focused on fundraising to beat Obama.
The Koch brothers have been the major donors behind many Republican candidates, the Tea Party movement and efforts todiscredit the science around man-made global warming. Democrats frequently highlight the brothers to fundraise, and the first TV ad of the Obama reelection campaign invoked them as “secretive oil billionaires attacking President Obama with ads fact checkers say are not tethered to the facts.”
Also at the conference was Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of the Citadel Investment Group. He supported Obama in 2008, leading his employees to contribute more than $205,000 to the campaign. By the time of the election, however, he had switched his allegiance to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Since the election, he has openly discussed his “frustration” with Obama’s policies, stating that he is “greatly concerned about the fiscal instability of the U.S.” In the fourth quarter of 2011, Citadel employees completely abandoned Obama, contributing nothing to his campaign while giving $120,500 to presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The Center for Public Integrity also reported that for the first time, Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson attended the conference. Adelson and his family are largely bankrolling Newt Gingrich’s presidential run, with Adelson and his wife, Miriam, having given the pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future $10 million just this year.
Koch Industries did not return a request for comment.
EARLIER ON HUFFPOST:
********
Readers: All I can say is, ‘It isn’t going to happen”. With respect to Romney winning Nevada last night, all I wan to say is, “You LSOS“.
Social Butterfly: Love the article – thanks for posting it as well as the write about the screening of “Red Tails”. You’re on it girl! I look forward to the flick too.
With respect to Obama appointing Michael Taylor, what comes to mind is “…Keep your enemies closer”.
CS: I was cracking up at your comment, especially your last line, because it is so true.
Fatima, Hafsah: Absolutely barbaric.
Howie: Somebody’s got to be it. Most of the time I feel like I am posting bad news as well. But hey, there’s plenty to report. Not saying what’s up, doesn’t make it not so. If you are privy to it, we are grateful to get it.
George, WN: Like I said, it served its purpose.
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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February 5th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
I hope I can get in this time. It is such a shame that the supreme court allowed the crooks to take over our elective process.
February 5th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
The Kochs have always been generous to the arts, and have given money to groups opposing the Patriot Act and the Iraq War. So it is natural they would oppose the current fascist regime.
February 5th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
What exactly would these republican billionaires do and what do they really want?
ALEC is also doing the same thing separately from the Koch brothers and 300 other corporate heads…giving tens of millions to republican Pacs (do you even know who ALEC is?
Who is ALEC then open your mouth….Deregulating corporations, more tax cuts for the rich? increase subsidies for corporations bust unions the workers only voice…but increase corporate teams of million dollar lobbyist who resent ONLY the corporations interest...
Allow the rich send their money off shore, gouge at the pumps and continue to make it profitable to send jobs over seas for slave wages….no EPA restrictions to allow them to pollute no cost to them as the corporations please, file bankruptcy and steal workers pensions in the process – What exactly is these billionaires plan.-
Privatizing everything for even more corporate profits, overcharging, gouging, COLLUSION – getting rid of workers safety nets but never stop taking billions of dollars in corporate welfare (subsidies) that the rich & their corporations receive i.e..minimum wage MEDICARE & SOCIAL SECURITY, (WHAT WORKERS PAID INTO FOR 3O & 40 YEARS) get rid of more workers safety,y health coverage,, vacation& sick pay for even more profits –
they sell to a global market and want zero restrictions, lowest wages possible just peons, peasants, workers so the billionaire can get even richer…Using our tax paid military for corporate wars for profits & imperialism?
February 5th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
“The meek shall inherit the earth. But not its natural resources.”
~ John Paul Getty
February 5th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
The bought and paid for STARK decision – “Citizens United” – has absolutely guaranteed the dirtiest, most underhanded, money-controlled elections in American history.
Let’s just see how many and deep the lies and other half-truths or distortions of truth $100 million can buy!
February 5th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Why are so many people jealous of somebody who worked hard for what they got in life?
Earn your own damn money!
February 5th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
The return on their $100 million investment will be MASSIVE in comparision to what their return will be if they are successful in promoting Romney to the POTUS.
With the “INHERITANCE TAX” either eliminated or reduced, just think of the savings. i.e.: Return.
For instance: Walton family: 3 members in the top 10 wealthiest. Total Worth: $120 Billion, cut the inheritance tax to 5% in lieu of 20%, savings: $240 Billion minus $60 Billion equals: $180 Billion in inheritance tax savings.
Not bad for a weekend’s work and a combined $100 million invested.
And the sad part of the equation, is this: how does the federal government make up for the reduction in tax income by this adjustment?
You don’t even have to guess, you know the answer: YOU AND I !!
February 5th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Obama’s buddy Warren Buffett profits from inheritance tax. Often, a family owned business does not have the cash laying around with which to pay the inheritance tax,
so the business must be sold at fire sale prices in order to pay the inheritance tax.
Buffett is therefore able to buy good businesses cheap.
February 5th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Guam lawmakers last week introduced a “safe haven” bill in response to what the measure’s sponsor called the “growing number of abortions on this island.”
Its goal is to discourage abortion by allowing women to surrender their babies to the local government, with no legal penalty for abandonment.
Government data shows Guam has one of the lowest abortion rates in the nation — less than half the national average. And recently there was a sharp drop in the number of abortions performed here.
====================
This data shows that when Vice Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz, D-Piti, last week held a press conference to announce his safe haven bill, but was unable to provide abortion figures for the island, despite his statement about an increasing number.
When asked, he referred the newspaper to an anti-abortion web site, then said, “I don’t know what the real rates are. But whatever the rates are, one is too many.”
Michelle this is another candidate for the LSOS Club. He is just another tiny penis man looking to control women so he can feel bigger down there.
Hafa Adai
Anna
February 5th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
JD Says:
February 5th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
============
You are just the type of idiot that this “class warfare” bull works on. The inheritance tax doesn’t effect the first $million.
Since the tax only applies to inheritances in the millions, the family should have been prepared for such a thing.
==============
Turn Fox off and learn something other than the GOP’s latest talking point.
Rhonda
February 5th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
What Leading Conservatives
Say About Human Events
“The Wall Street Journal calls it ‘a Bible of the Right.’ I call it a must-read for conservatives.”
– Steve Forbes
President and CEO
Forbes, Inc.
“Human Events is the flagship publication for the conservative movement.”
– Oliver North
Lt. Col. (Ret)
Syndicated Columnist
“Not only do I write a weekly column for Human Events, I devour it from cover to cover. Why? Because it’s the one newspaper I can count on to bring me the absolute, unvarnished, hard-hitting truth. And so should you.”
– Ann Coulter
Bestselling Author
Nationally Syndicated Columnist
“Human Events not only keeps the Right informed as to where the liberal bodies are buried, it helped put many of them there.”
– Pat Buchanan
Nationally Syndicated Columnist
“Human Events has never strayed from the bedrock principles of conservatism. Its strong voice is needed more today than ever.”
– Phyllis Schlafly
Founder and President
Eagle Forum
“Human Events has been – and remains – my weekly source for vital information and commentary on the conservative scene. Human Events should be every thinking conservative’s primary news source.”
– Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D.
President
The Heritage Foundation
“Thanks to Human Events and Grandma Norquist I learned that one could not rely on the establishment media for the truth. If it hadn’t been for Human Events I would not have gotten involved in the Reagan campaign of 1980 and the taxpayer movement.”
– Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform
February 5th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Hafa Adai, Anna.
I hate the men on Guam. they are so self centered. They chase you with passion, but after you succumb to their persistent attentions. They move on to the next conquest.
Sometimes they marry you, to take you off the market. But they never stop chasing.
Those that can not get it up any more like Cruz attempt to make it very difficult for the woman. Hence the drive to make her pay if she gives it up and gets. pregnant.
Sick bastards.
Hana
February 5th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
So the facts would seem to indicate that the charges of “class warfare” being raised by the GOP is really a ploy to motivate lower middle class and blue collar voters against “them people” on welfare who want to take their stuff.
Because it is crystal clear that the super-rich in this country are very much aware and participating in their covert class warfare in order to keep all of worker bees in our place.
Time for a new Teddy Roosevelt to start evening the playing field again. Otherwise over the next 10 years, the OWS type protests are going to get bigger, and the police response will become more violent.
February 5th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
I can’t quite believe the cheapness of the Kochs. Together, they approach 100 billion. 100 million is one-tenth of one percent of that.
That’s not much of a commitment. I have about that same commitment to dental floss.
February 5th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
The Koch brothers are into everything. Boycott Gerogia-Pacific, that’s a Koch company.
Not only that, GP has cut down all of the pine forests of the east, the redwood forests in the west and is aiming to get the remaining five percent, the last of the old growth forests, both redwood and fir.
The Koch’s don’t believe in anything but the free market, practiced THEIR way, that is with all the rules written favoring them.
February 5th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
The Best Thing I Did in 2011 That You Can Do in 2012
Each year, we ask a diverse group of our experts to reflect back on the past year and name something they tried that went so well for them that they would recommend it to others. Here are their inspiring responses…
DAN BUETTNER: I banned red meat, sweets and “white foods” from my home but not my diet. I don’t believe in draconian diets that completely deprive us of the foods we enjoy.
So rather than force myself to give up red meat, sweets and unhealthful “white foods,” such as white flour, white bread, white pasta and white rice, I simply set a rule that I would never have these things in my home.
I don’t feel completely deprived of these foods because I still let myself eat them when I’m at a restaurant or eating dinner at a friend’s house—and not feeling deprived reduces the temptation to cheat.
Imposing this single rule allowed me to lose 15 pounds in less than nine months and keep the weight off—without ever feeling as if I was on a diet.
Dan Buettner is founder and CEO of Blue Zones, a company that researches international health, longevity and happiness practices.
Based in Minneapolis, he is author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest (National Geographic). http://www.BlueZones.com
MICHAEL V. PANTALON,
PhD: I stopped trying to be an expert on everything and instead hired experts to assist in my areas of weakness.
I had always thought that I needed to be good at every aspect of my business. Then I realized that all those hours I spent futilely trying to figure out parts of my business that I’m bad at were hours that could have been better spent focusing on my areas of strength.
I decided to hire coaches and consultants to help me.
In my case, that meant hiring a media coach and a blogging coach to improve the way I present myself in the media and on the Internet, things that I had been unable to master on my own.
Both coaches agreed that I needed to make bolder claims. Bold claims don’t come easily to me—the academic in me always is inclined to speak with caution—but my coaches understood that cautious words tend to be ignored or treated as having little value in the media and online.
Michael V. Pantalon, PhD, is a psychologist, motivational coach and member of the faculty at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
He is author of Instant Influence: How to Get Anyone to Do Anything—Fast (Little, Brown). http://www.MichaelPantalon.com
SANDOR NAGYSZALANCZY: I learned Google SketchUp. This program lets you create 3-D models on your computer.
I use it to create precise images of furniture that I intend to build, but it can be used to design anything from a new kitchen layout to a landscaping plan.
I helped a buddy lay out a fairly complex playhouse for his children in just an hour.
It’s useful even if you are not a do-it-yourselfer—you can create drawings to convey your design ideas to architects, contractors or landscapers.
And the program is free (a pay version is available, but the free version has everything most people need). Go to http://SketchUp.google.com.
Sandor Nagyszalanczy is a custom furniture builder based in Bonny Doon, California, and contributing editor to Woodworker’s Journal.
He is author of The Homeowner’s Ultimate Tool Guide (Taunton).
STUART DIAMOND: I used business negotiation strategies at home. I tried some out on my family, and I found that they made the whole family happier.
Traditionally, when two family members have different priorities, one simply surrenders what he/she wants for the sake of the other.
Trouble is, people eventually retaliate when they feel forced to do things that they don’t want to.
So rather than be outwardly self-sacrificing but secretly resentful, I tried to arrange trades that let both family members get something they wanted.
For example, my wife likes me to garden with her, but I don’t like it very much—
so I traded her gardening in exchange for three uninterrupted hours in front of the TV whenever a professional football game is on.
Stuart Diamond is practice professor of legal studies and business ethics at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
He is author of Getting More: How to Negotiate to Achieve Your Goals in the Real World (Crown Business). http://www.GettingMore.com
LEIL LOWNDES: I researched differences between men’s and women’s brains—and became more patient with my husband as a result.
In 2011, I dug into the latest neurological research for a book that I’m writing and came away with a clearer understanding of why men and women often have trouble seeing eye to eye—
the chemistry and construction of our brains are significantly different.
I now understand why my husband gets annoyed when I bring up old issues during new conversations—his brain doesn’t make connections between separate events as readily as mine, nor does his brain recall past events as well.
And I now understand why my husband angers more easily than I do—higher levels of testosterone make men more prone to anger.
Until my book comes out, I recommend reading The Owner’s Manual for the Brain by Pierce J. Howard, PhD (Bard), or The Female Brain and The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine, MD (Three Rivers).
Leil Lowndes is a communications consultant and corporate trainer based in New York City.
She is author of How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships (McGraw-Hill) and the upcoming book Hot Chemistry (DeCapo). http://www.Lowndes.com
DANNY LIPFORD: I used Liquid Stainless Steel to breathe new life into an ugly old refrigerator. I tried out a product called Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel during my TV show in 2011.
It did a wonderful job turning a rusty refrigerator into a “stainless steel” fridge that I put to use in my little river cabin.
The coating looks just like brushed stainless steel because it actually is stainless steel—microscopic particles of real stainless steel are suspended in a clear resin.
In addition to appliances, it can be used on most metals, tile and glass or on painted or primed plastic, wood or drywall.
Prices start at $3.95 for an 11-ounce spray can that is perfect for small projects. Refrigerator kits cost $69.95.
Danny Lipford has worked as a contractor in Alabama for more than 30 years. He is host of the nationally syndicated television program Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford. http://www.DannyLipford.com
JOEL HARPER: I learned to pause before accepting opportunities. In the past, I tended to say “yes” to every offer and request that came my way.
As a result, I often was overbooked, rarely had a peaceful day and sometimes had to turn down things I really wanted to do because I already had filled my schedule.
In 2011, I forced myself to take some time before responding to requests and invitations to consider how well the opportunities meshed with what I truly wanted to achieve.
For example, I turned down an invitation for a getaway that I wasn’t 100% certain about even though I had nothing else on my schedule—which made it possible to later accept a last-minute invitation to work with a company that I had always hoped to work with.
Joel Harper is a personal trainer based in New York City whose clients include Dr. Oz and Olympic athletes.
He is creator of Joel Harper’s Fit Pack workout DVDs (CustomFlix). http://www.JoelHarperFitness.com
DANIEL COLMAN, PhD: I learned to play the guitar. I’ve never really had a gift for music, but when my wife decided to learn to play the guitar in 2011, I thought it might be good for me to try, too.
I started with instructional books and videos—there are guitar instructional videos available for free on YouTube—but eventually, I hit a plateau and started taking lessons, too.
I’ve made slow progress and now can fingerpick Beatles tunes. It’s pretty rewarding when I finally figure songs out.
This has been a good reminder for me that age should never be a barrier to personal growth. I’m well into middle age, but I always can learn to do new things.
Daniel Colman, PhD, is director and associate dean of Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program, Stanford, California.
He also is lead editor of Open Culture, an independent Web site that provides links to free online courses, audiobooks and e-books. http://www.OpenCulture.com
February 6th, 2012 at 9:04 am
Many beings on earth are complaining about the lack of contact with their alien counter parts.
Yes, we are well aware that situation ptT-28/269/278 leaves us with less options than before. But we feel those could be accomplished with less interruption between interactions below if more coordination was used with Tyna.
Howie’s reference to this situation does imply that it can be done with safe concerns towards the motives of the TAO.
This situation has to be remedied.
7ne/3