The Koch Brothers: Big Donors With Tiny __________
Posted by Michelle Moquin on June 23rd, 2014
Good morning!
If you didn’t get enough of the Koch Brothers yesterday, I thought a dose of them on a Monday morning too, would give you the same jolt as coffee. Get used to these big smiling faces because if we don’t stop them in this momentum they’re trying to get going, we’re going to see them a lot more than we’d like, and with grins bigger than you can imagine
This was the closed-door gathering of big donors yesterday’s article spoke of.
From The Daily Beast:
Koch Brothers Unveil New Strategy at Big Donor Retreat
In the face of expanding energy regulations, stepped-up Democratic attacks and the ongoing fight over Obamacare, the billionaire Koch brothers and scores of wealthy allies have set an initial 2014 fundraising target of $290 million which should boost GOP candidates and support dozens of conservative groups—including a new energy initiative with what looks like a deregulatory, pro-consumer spin, The Daily Beast has learned.
This weekend, at a posh California resort near Laguna Beach, energy is expected to be among the topics as Charles and David Koch and their extensive donor network hold a semiannual fundraising and policy seminar. Political allies including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and libertarian political scientist Charles Murray are slated to speak, according to conservatives familiar with the Koch network.
The energy initiative is being created under the umbrella of the largest Koch network nonprofit in apparent response to a number of developments: the commitment by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer to steer $100 million into ads in several states to make climate change a priority issue in the elections; numerous setbacks at the state level where Koch network backed advocacy groups have been fighting against renewable energy standards; and the new EPA regulations to curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
The meeting will cap a frenetic fundraising season for the conservative donor network. This year the Koch network not only hosted a similar January conference, but several smaller gatherings in Palm Springs, Newport Beach, St. Louis, and other locales to attract new donors, according to an email from Koch fundraising honcho Kevin Gentry obtained by The Daily Beast In his email, Gentry called the Palm Springs event— which drew some 50 wealthy conservatives in March —a “highly successful recruitment reception” and encouraged other veteran donors to get involved by holding local gatherings in their areas.
Koch network operatives also have held periodic conference calls—sometimes with members of Congress on the line—to update loyal check writers on various issues and keep them in the fold, say conservative sources.
Now, hitting the $290 million goal seems within reach: almost $170 million of that total was pledged at the last big Koch donor seminar in January this year, say two conservative sources. The hefty haul will help fund a mix of politically active nonprofits like the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, and a newer outfit called the Libre Initiative that’s aimed at appealing to Hispanics with a small government, free-market message. AFP alone is expected to spend upwards of $125 million this year on a variety of political and advocacy projects including air and ground operations, according to Politico.
By comparison, in the 2012 presidential cycle, the Koch donor network raised more than $400 million to help underwrite 17 politically active nonprofit groups—including AFP and Libre Initiative— according to The Washington Post.
A few Koch network-backed nonprofit groups including AFP have long fought against climate change regulations, a carbon tax, and subsidies for renewable energy. But lately, the Koch universe seem to be facing bigger energy threats stemming from Washington, state governments and big liberal checkbooks.
The new energy initiative is the handiwork of Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, the Koch network’s central fundraising hub, which was established in late 2011 as a trade group, according to an email to the group’s members from Gentry. In 2012, the fledgling group —which claims some 200 members who each kick in at least $100,000 yearly— funneled over $230 million dollars to numerous other non-profits in the Koch ecosystem according to the group’s 2012 tax returns.
In an April 1 missive, Gentry invited Freedom Partners members to join an upcoming conference call about a “significant new Freedom Partners initiative” which he touted as one that would “drive the national narrative around energy and the tremendous benefits of reliable affordable energy for all Americans, especially for the less fortunate.” The email indicated that discussions about the energy project began last summer at another Koch donor event in New Mexico, which drew outgoing House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Rep. Paul Ryan among others.
Gentry’s email stressed that liberal donors, led by hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer, have plans to spend as much as $100 million on climate change issues and ads to make it a top-tier issue in the election. He noted that environmental groups had recently run a $5 million “clean energy” ad blitz in Iowa, Michigan, and North Carolina, all of which are considered “focus” states for Freedom Partners and among the states where Americans for Prosperity has spent over $35 million on attack ads against Democratic Senate candidates on Obamacare.
In a chagrined-sounding PS, Gentry opined that the “new multi million dollar campaign by environmentalists is arguably an effort to distract from the failures of Obamacare. But you and I know energy is a critically important issue for the United States.”
The details and scope of the new energy initiative, which has not been announced, aren’t clear yet, but it’s expected to cost in the seven figures and be a topic at the Koch donor conference this weekend— especially in light of the Obama administration’s newly unveiled EPA regulations to curb carbon emissions from mostly coal fired power plants. Two sources familiar with Koch donor world told The Daily Beast that a new nonprofit group is being formed to help run the new energy initiative. Neither spokesmen for Freedom Partners or Koch Industries responded to requests for comment about the new initiative or fundraising efforts this year.
The Koch brothers combined net worth exceeds $80 billion, according to Forbes magazine, and is derived from their control of Koch Industries, the eponymous energy and manufacturing conglomerate
Based on Gentry’s email and recent energy drives by other Koch network groups, the initiative is likely to mix a minimalist regulatory and free-market message with a pro-consumer spin.
On its website, Freedom Partners explains its energy policy goals very broadly as “increasing access to affordable energy that helps societies-businesses, families and especially the poor—prosper and thrive.” It says that the role of federal government is to “administer smart and safe environmental regulations” but argues that too often there’s a lack of transparency and that “unsound science” is used to justify decisions without weighing costs versus benefits.
The new energy initiative may partly stem from setbacks in many states where advocacy groups funded by the Koch network like Americans for Prosperity and allies have been waging mostly uphill battles to roll back renewable energy standards. In these fights the conservative nonprofits have often portrayed renewable mandates as very expensive for consumers, a point that’s frequently been rebutted by independent groups.
Even in Kansas, the home of Koch Industries, the Koch-backed advocacy network failed to repeal the state’s renewable standards, which were enacted in 2009 Under Kansas’ Renewable Portfolio Standard, 20 percent of the state’s electricity is supposed to come from renewables by the year 2020.
The Kansas fight suggests part of the strategy that Koch-linked groups are expected to pursue to broaden their message and try to appeal to consumers. Alan Cobb, a former lobbyist for the company who also did stints with AFP and Freedom Partners, was hired this spring by the newly created Kansas Senior Consumer Alliance, which sent thousands of postcards to elderly citizens criticizing the renewable standards. The postcards, with pictures of worried-looking seniors opening their mail, said that there had been 15 rate hikes since 2009 when the renewable standards were enacted and urged seniors to contact their representatives to protest them.
A state commission has found less than 2 percent of recent rate increases can be attributed to the renewable standards.
Groups backed by the Koch network in several other states have also been rebuffed in their drives against renewables. But in late May, in a rare victory, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed off on a two-year freeze on the Buckeye State’s renewable energy and energy efficiency requirements.
On the 2014 electoral front, other Koch donor supported non-profit groups like the American Energy Alliance (AEA) have poured funds into ads targeting Democrats in close Senate and House races, knocking their opposition to building the Keystone XL pipeline. In May, the AEA spent over $400,000 on ads in Colorado attacking Sen. Mark Udall for his stance opposing the Keystone pipeline. AEA, which is run by former Koch Industries lobbyist Tom Pyle, has also been fighting to end wind energy subsidies. Last year, Congress ended a two-decade old tax credit for wind energy companies after vigorous lobbying by Koch-backed groups including AEA and AFP. This year, the groups have continued to fight against attempts to revive the credit.
The fight over climate change took a personal twist this spring when Tom Steyer challenged the Koch brothers to a debate about the issue and whether more regulations are needed to curb man-made pollution. The Koch brothers turned down the invitation. In an email to a local Kansas paper, Koch spokesperson Melissa Cohlmia explained “we are not experts on climate change.”
The Koch seminar this weekend is scheduled to feature a speech by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who last month sparked a small firestorm when he said that “I don’t believe that “human activity is causing these dramatic changes in our climate the way these scientists are portraying it.” Rubio, whose view is contradicted by many scientific studies showing that carbon dioxide emissions have accelerated global warming, added that he thinks proposed laws to deal with climate change “will only wreck our economy.” Rubio’s position should get a warm reception among the libertarian leaning donors at the conference.
*****
Readers: I HOPE you enjoyed the weekend! I certainly did. I noticed there were a flurry of comments from the ladies on Saturday, and a few from the boys too. I’m looking forward to catching up.
Oh…by the way…like the title? Did you fill in the missing word? I couldn’t help but say it because the only thing these “big donors” have is “big bucks,” and they are doing the darnedest to make sure the black man with a “big pair +,” fails at his last term in getting anything accomplished. There is no way they will let Obama, a black man, go down as the best president we have ever had. Oh…and let me remind you, their plans to do whatever they need to is all at the expense of the American people. BECAUSE THEY DONT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEM AND THEIRS.
The solution is simple – we know what we need to do.
PeAceOuT
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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June 23rd, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Prism Princess I smell a bit of jealousy concerning Howie. Why not just allow that he too has information that comes from places other than the mind of humans.
June 23rd, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Scott, just my opinion but I don’t believe that’s the crux of whatever issue they having going on.
June 23rd, 2014 at 4:53 pm
Okay Mimi, why do think Prism Princess goes out of her way to dis Howie? He never mentions her. He simply retells the tales Carr tells him.
I would venture to guess that many like me love to hear the tales he unfolds.
June 23rd, 2014 at 4:55 pm
How to Avoid Assuming the Worst
My friend’s husband was recently late coming home from work.
Instead of assuming that he was stuck in traffic (which he was), she immediately wondered if he had died in a car accident or was having an affair.
She doesn’t have these types of catastrophic thoughts all the time, but she has them on occasion—and they cause her a fair amount of anxiety.
She’s not sure how to make these kinds of thoughts stop.
So I called Ron Breazeale, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Portland, Maine, who has helped catastrophic thinkers throughout his career. He gave me some simple and creative ways to break this bad habit.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR THOUGHTS
The next time you have a catastrophic thought, stop yourself in that moment and consider following these tips from Dr. Breazeale…
1. Identify your thought as “catastrophic.” Recognize that what you’re thinking about is extremely unlikely to happen—think seriously about the realistic odds. Your partner getting run over by an 18-wheeler or cheating on you in a hotel room with a colleague on his way home from work, for example, are possible explanations for tardiness, but they aren’t likely explanations.
2. Think about the more likely explanations. Force yourself to come up with other potential scenarios—ones that are much more likely to happen in real life. With the above example, consider that your partner is stuck in traffic…on a long line at a gas station…stopping at a drugstore for some razor blades…picking up dry cleaning, etc.
Then tell yourself that chances are one of these “more likely” scenarios is the real reason he’s late. The more that you consciously force yourself to do this, the more likely you are to start thinking rationally automatically when you’re stressed.
3. Take action (when possible). In certain cases, there’s an easy way to disprove your catastrophic thought and confirm a “more likely” reason for the problem at hand—for example, you could simply call your tardy husband on his cell phone to find out what’s causing the delay, and that might help you relax.
But here’s an important part of this step: Make only one call. If you call him and he doesn’t pick up, and that is going to prompt you to call him 10 more times or make calls to 10 other places (his office, the gas station, the drugstore, the dry cleaners, etc)…then skip this step altogether, because it’ll only inflate your worries.
4. Dig deeper. Ask yourself if your partner’s tardiness, for instance, is what you’re really worried about. Your anxiety might be manifesting itself as stress about your partner, but it actually may be stemming from a separate problem altogether.
For example, maybe you’re seriously scared because you’re struggling financially…or maybe you’re panicked about a serious health diagnosis…or maybe you’re not performing well at work. If you figure out the root problem and then take steps to solve that problem, you might find that your catastrophic thinking dissipates.
GET EXTRA HELP, IF NEEDED
If the tips from Dr. Breazeale above don’t curtail your catastrophic thinking and it’s interfering with your life in a serious way—perhaps it keeps you from sleeping or hurts your relationships, for example—then it’s time to seek help from a psychologist who uses cognitive behavioral therapy.
Find one near you at http://locator.apa.org, the site of the American Psychological Association, said Dr. Breazeale, and ask him or her, “Can you help me with catastrophic thinking?”
Source: Ron Breazeale, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Portland, Maine, who has helped catastrophic thinkers throughout his career.
June 23rd, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Scott and Mmi that entry Howie posted yesterday from PrP’s blog was from about a year and a half ago. Seriously. I went back through Michelle’s entries to find out what it all might be about. Reading through them it was obvious they were cordial with each other at one point. As a matter of fact PrP was very deferential when talking with him. Something changed for sure. But I can’t find any contact again between them since that time – 18 months ago. Something must be cooking for it to be relevant again now I’m thinking.
Holly
June 23rd, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Holly, Howie is usually a pretty calm dude. I suspect he mistakenly thought your post was current. I’m sure as soon as he realizes it wasn’t he will apologize.
I love the stuff he writes even when it is not about aliens. My cousin is stone crazy about his alien chronicles. I have to admit they are the stuff of blockbuster alien movies.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Things Go Badder With Koch
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:02 pm
These Koch types are whorish slaves.
The fact that Presidential candidates go to kiss the rings of billionaires in a quid pro pay to play and play to pay corruption scheme is something always missed by the media makes you wonder about how much kissing the media do also.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Obama energy policy is maybe a distraction from Obamacare?
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:03 pm
I actually saw the first ever Koch Industries propaganda commercial
I can recall seeing the other day. It was patterned after those ‘clean natural gas’ commercials that always talk about how many jobs are created by the gas and oil industries.
Went on about all of the different brands under the Koch umbrella, and how many jobs were created by them. I felt the need to shower after watching it. They must really be getting annoyed at all the bad press they’ve been getting lately.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Drew#9, In other words “saving your life through environmental action is a distraction from saving your life through health care – neither of which we like”
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:05 pm
The goal by the 1% is to thin us out with illnesses.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:05 pm
I noticed that they didn’t name their brands in that commercial. That’s too bad.
It would make a better bull’s eye for products to avoid if you love the environment, unions and health care.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:07 pm
The way I see this thing between Prism Princess and Howie is that they both are probably aliens and from different parts of the galaxy or Universe.
Just like humans from different countries or parts of the country don’t get along, they are having their differences.
I suspect that since they are of a higher order, they will find a way to make up.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:08 pm
It should be simple, whoever they support, you don’t.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Some of these republicans are just plain sick and need to be weeded out like the vermin they are.
How about this evil headline they are not spreading.”Doctors Warn of Looming Health Crisis Due to Flood of Young Illegal Immigrants”
There is just no low they won’t sink to.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Okay who are the assholes voting against mother nature besides S.T.A.R.K.?
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Not listed but sure to be discussed is an update on the Giant Needles-Miniature Camels Project.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:31 pm
We don’t have to be worried about foreigners coming over here with the intent to kill us. We have crazy as white people with legal guns.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:32 pm
The people, united, will never be defeated. It’s time to take on Corporate America. The odds are 99 to 1. Let’s do it!
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:35 pm
yeah, Paula#19, but have you noticed when it is bat crazy white folks off on a killing spree, it’s “domestic terrorism.”
I’m fine with it though, White folks killing white folk.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:36 pm
Debbie#20, Please don’t forget that the Democrats also have billionaire supporters that have big feet in corporate America.
This article seems to be a rather ridiculous waste of journalistic energy since the Koch Bros. rank around 37th in total political contributions ($5mil+) and 29th in total lobbying ($10.5mil). Hardly the evil empire. (Check out opensecrets.org) .
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Aldofo#21, I’m enjoying this. The cops had words with them, but since they were white, they didn’t see any reason to jack them up.
Good for them.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:40 pm
Cops just never stop lying. They murdered those two and then claimed that they committed suicide.
Now the new lie is the cops admit they kill the dude but now they claim that the woman took her own life.
Like we believe that after two civilians killed two of theirs they were going to allow them to surrender.
Please!
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Yes, Craig#22, but people like George Soros devote his energies to issues that benefit humans and human rights, not corporations. George Soros was sent by God. The Kochs devote their efforts to benefit themselves and they clearly are from some lower region.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Yes, Craig#22, but people like George Soros devote his energies to issues that benefit humans and human rights, not corporations. George Soros was sent by God. The Kochs devote their efforts to benefit themselves and they clearly are from some lower region.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:47 pm
I, must admit I enjoyed hearing about those pigs getting theirs. I personally am tired of the cops in this town acting as if they are judge and jury when they confront anyone they take issue with.
Fuck I hope more of them get theirs. I say arm as many luny white people as you can and turn them loose.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Whoa, I was about to say that was a little harsh Thomas, then I remember that insane cop who broke my 17 year old cousin’s arm and told him if he filed a complaint he would be charged with assault upon a police officer.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:51 pm
Yes, Martin#26, Yes, but people like George Soros devote his energies to issues that benefit the leftist/communist agenda.
” George Soros was sent be God.” That’s exactly what he thinks.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:52 pm
I like Prism Princess and i don’t believe she has a hostile bone in her body. I think Howie just jumped to the conclusion that she had it in for him and reacted precipitously.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Gary#29, I knew it was coming the Soros Smear. I mean the right believes that if some rich person does something for the people without looking to make a profit he must be a communist as they know for certain that no true capitalist would do damn thing for the needy or poor unless there was a tax break in it for him or a nice tidy profit down the line.
June 23rd, 2014 at 7:58 pm
Real people used to make a living on the land. Then the corporations grabbed it, and the water, and their lives. NOW corporations are the only place that MIGHT let you make a living, if you got a pretty mouth.
June 23rd, 2014 at 8:00 pm
The Koch brothers are a blight on this country. Evil corporations that game the system, expect free rides from workers, pay no taxes and poison the air, water and land are the evil ones.
If you don’t know it, you’re either a fool, a tool, or part of the 400 hot-shot families who think they are entitled to anything they see…no matter who it belongs to.
June 23rd, 2014 at 9:42 pm
#12 Joshua, you nailed it, I watched a lengthy docu on YouTube recently (I’ll have to find the link and post it, 2+ hours) and it’s scary what the Rockefellers amongst others want to do to thin the population, they’ve already tried eugenics (Michelle posted that awhile ago) and if they can’t do that well then they need to hit food supply, etc… It makes no sense to off people slowly like that … if we;ve got overpopulation (and we do and it’s not sustainable) then get the birth control/abortions out there, there are many ways to approach this issue without killing off people slowly …
I’m sure Howie and PrP will sort out their own deal and it’s likely that there’s a lot more back story to this than is being disclosed here, I’m just watching bc I luv em’ both and we all make mistakes, even those who know AB’s intimately as they both do.
Luv, Zen Lill
PS just getting caught up with weekend reads also, saw my name mentioned but what old me you were making reference to made little sense so I guess ‘have fun on my behalf’ is all I can say? : )
June 24th, 2014 at 8:43 am
Zen Lill I asked that same question. I have only been here 3 years. How old is this blog? And how long have you been posting here? You are one of my favorites. I really miss your take on the issues. I usually wait to hear your side before I take a definitive stand.
June 24th, 2014 at 8:52 am
Michelle this is the craziest blog I have ever seen. Usually the blogs are well defined when it comes to what to expect from the regulars or the general posters. But on some days you could be in the heart of Nazi dom here. Or super liberals the next. It is very difficult to hijack your blog because so many knowledgable regulars come to debate.
Social Butter is my favorite, but I love Alycedale and Zen Lill. This new dynamic with Howie and Prism Princess just adds spice to delicious intellectual meal. Howie has access to something I don’t think anyone can define, but Prism Princess has a way of exhibiting an air of privy that makes one look to her for assurance.
I love this blog.
June 24th, 2014 at 9:09 am
Lois, thank you for your comment, I appreciate that. This blog has been around 6+ years and I’ve been on since day one. I’m like any other human and make mistakes in life and here and there are those that get that and those who would like to nay say no matter what I say or do and frankly (re naysayers) I don’t care… It’s fine if others think they know better about me than I do…
I could probably give my two on Saturdays post but I think other women here covered the cause fine without my commentary : )
Luv, Zen Lill