Koch Brothers Plan To Funnel Tens Of Millions To Conservative Allies To Influence 2012 Elections

Posted: Jun 2, 2012 - 5:57am

Koch Brothers Plan To Funnel Tens Of Millions To Conservative Allies To Influence 2012 Elections

Posted: Apr 29, 2012 - 12:42pm

PRICELESS: Colbert Rips David Koch to His Face at TIME Magazine Gala

Posted: Apr 12, 2012 - 7:14am

Filmmaker Robert Greenwald Tells Truthout How the Koch Brothers Endanger Democracy and Our Health

Posted: Mar 13, 2012 - 6:00pm

Tell the IRS: Investigate the Kochs’ takeover bid

The Koch brothers are at it again. Not content with their attempt to buy our elections through donations to shady SuperPACs, they’re out to hijack the Cato Institute and turn it into a shill for their corporate agenda.

The Kochs just filed a lawsuit to take control of the institute and use its tax-exempt status to promote their partisan political agenda. While we often disagree with Cato on policy issues, we totally agree that it must remain independent — not a partisan or corporate mouthpiece.

Sign the petition and tell the Internal Revenue Service to crack down on the Koch’s latest scheme to push their corporate agenda.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 3:13pm

arighter2 wrote:

With nothing else to go by, the source seems unlikely to be pre-prejudiced against the Koch's, and the assumption seems reasonable. Why else would they sue, other than to gain directorial influence?

Hard to tell. The lawsuit is about ownership and hinges on procedural matters after the death of William Niskanen (one of the owners).

The Kochs have complained that Cato doesn't have concrete results to show for the money they've spent, but it being a think tank and all it's not clear what they're complaining about. If they want Cato to mix it up in partisan politics they might score some points in the short term, but that would compromise the institution as a leader on the intellectual front.

The only way we'll know what their aims are is if they win the lawsuit.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 2:35pm

Lazy8 wrote:

arighter2 wrote:

I suppose if I say it sounds like the Koch's are involved in a hostile takeover, I'll be guilty of spinning...

You'd sound like you were quoting from the article.

With nothing else to go by, the source seems unlikely to be pre-prejudiced against the Koch's, and the assumption seems reasonable. Why else would they sue, other than to gain directorial influence?

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 2:29pm

arighter2 wrote:

I suppose if I say it sounds like the Koch's are involved in a hostile takeover, I'll be guilty of spinning...

You'd sound like you were quoting from the article.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 2:20pm

Lazy8 wrote:

Not sure this fits in your narrative, but I'm sure you'll find a way to spin it:

Koch Brothers Sue Cato in Ownership Dispute

Matt Welch | March 2, 2012

Fancy building, disputed

In a move that could have significant impact on institutional libertarianism, Cato Institute founder Charles Koch and his brother David (the latter of whom sits on the boards of both Cato and the Reason Foundation, which publishes this website), are suing Cato, Cato President Ed Crane, and the widow of recently deceased former Cato chairman William Niskanen in a dispute over Niskanen's ownership shares in the $39 million libertarian think tank.

I suppose if I say it sounds like the Koch's are involved in a hostile takeover, I'll be guilty of spinning...

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 1:14pm

Not sure this fits in your narrative, but I'm sure you'll find a way to spin it:

Koch Brothers Sue Cato in Ownership Dispute

Matt Welch | March 2, 2012

Fancy building, disputed

In a move that could have significant impact on institutional libertarianism, Cato Institute founder Charles Koch and his brother David (the latter of whom sits on the boards of both Cato and the Reason Foundation, which publishes this website), are suing Cato, Cato President Ed Crane, and the widow of recently deceased former Cato chairman William Niskanen in a dispute over Niskanen's ownership shares in the $39 million libertarian think tank.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 12:09pm

How The Kochs Are Fracking America

At the Republic Report, Lee Fang details how the Koch Industries petrochemical empire is involved in the boom in natural gas hydrofracturing.

The right-wing Koch brothers have developed a vertical empire designed to extract wealth from every point in the hydrocarbon lifecycle. A small fraction of their profits is funneled into corrupting our political system, in order to prevent government from protecting society against the costs of the waste products.

The October 2011 issue of Discovery, the in-house Koch Industries newsletter, explains how the Koch Industries empire is profiting from the “really exciting”fracking boom:

– 1. Koch Pipeline is partnering with NuStar Energy to develop a dormant pipeline from Pettus, TX to refineries in Corpus Christi. The pipeline will transport natural gas from fracking sites in southern Texas. Koch Pipeline is a Koch Industries subsidiary.

– 2. Flint Hills Resources recently purchased a small craft pier and wharf in Ingleside, TX to store shipments of natural gas from fracking operations in the Eagle Ford shale formation. Flint Hills Resources is a Koch Industries subsidiary.

– 3. Koch Supply & Trading, a Koch Industries company that deals with commodity trading and financial products, is “already trading Eagle Ford crude” to help supply Koch companies and other customers, according to a Koch Industries newsletter.

– 4. Koch Chemical Technology Group is designing a processing facility near Yoakum, TX to help process natural gas fracked in southern Texas. Koch Chemical is a subsidiary of Koch Industries.

– 5. John Zink, a Koch Industries company, is providing flares for a natural gas processing plant in Helena to service the fracking industry.

– 6. Georgia Pacific produces resins used for chemicals used to prop open micro-fractures, an important process for fracking to occur. GP is a Koch Industries subsidiary.

– 7. Koch Fertilizer, a Koch Industries company, has tapped into increased natural gas production from fracking to develop fertilizer.

From Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney to the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundationand Americans for Prosperity, the Koch political network has been furiously attempting to block any oversight or regulation of the pollution and risks associated with fracking, no matter the danger to the American public.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 12:07pm

romeotuma wrote:

What the frack makes you think you have the authority to tell other people what they should do?

Can you discuss an issue intelligently, without sounding like a 3rd grade brat? These are not rhetorical questions— I do not know the answers— so please inform us with your wisdom...

Stick to your sleeze, oh chivalrous one. Your record is bare too. When I want your opinion I'll scrape it off the bottom of my shoe.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 12:06pm

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 12:05pm

oldviolin wrote:

I know, I know. I live to torture the weak. That's my gig. Attacking without provocation. Especially women and children...and cripples, don't forget them. I love watching poor people stand in line for a potato too. Plus, let's not forget sick people. Oh, all these are you? My bad...

yeah, here I go. Good-bye cruel world! Feel sorry for me PLEASE! I'm so, so, deviod of decency I can't live. Good-bye...Good-bye...

{#Lol} That's pretty funny actually...You should have seen my expression.

In a word. STOP!

out

That's what bullies always say.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 12:04pm

oldviolin wrote:

Try to project a good attitude and decent demeanor toward people who disagree with you for a change, and see if the tide turns for you. You might be surprised.

What the frack makes you think you have the authority to tell other people what they should do?

Can you discuss an issue intelligently, without sounding like a 3rd grade brat? These are not rhetorical questions— I do not know the answers— so please inform us with your wisdom...

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 12:03pm

hippiechick wrote:

See, there ya go.

I know, I know. I live to torture the weak. That's my gig. Attacking without provocation. Especially women and children...and cripples, don't forget them. I love watching poor people stand in line for a potato too. Plus, let's not forget sick people. Oh, all these are you? My bad...

yeah, here I go. Good-bye cruel world! Feel sorry for me PLEASE! I'm so, so, deviod of decency I can't live. Good-bye...Good-bye...

{#Lol} That's pretty funny actually...You should have seen my expression.

In a word. STOP!

out

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 11:56am

oldviolin wrote:

hippiechick wrote:

My question was perfectly innocuous, in fact friendly. Youare the one who is overreacting, not me. I know you think that making fun of me is amusement for you, so don't give me this bullshit.

I am always nice to people who are nice to me, it's the ones who are not that I give shit to.

You're so vicitimized. I'm starting to feel sorry for you now. Stop, I'm begging you.

See, there ya go. Just once, admit you're wrong. Apologize. Go ahead, I dare you, Mr. Holier Than Thou.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 11:55am

hippiechick wrote:

My question was perfectly innocuous, in fact friendly. Youare the one who is overreacting, not me. I know you think that making fun of me is amusement for you, so don't give me this bullshit.

I am always nice to people who are nice to me, it's the ones who are not that I give shit to.

You're so vicitimized. I'm starting to feel sorry for you now. Stop, I'm begging you.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 11:52am

oldviolin wrote:

Hippiechick, I think it is well known and fair to say that the example you set for what you believe is filled with contempt for anyone and anything else but. The less you know about me, the better. Try to project a good attitude and decent demeanor toward people who disagree with you for a change, and see if the tide turns for you. You might be surprised.

My question was perfectly innocuous, in fact friendly. You are the one who is overreacting, not me. I know you think that making fun of me is amusement for you, so don't give me this bullshit.

I am always nice to people who are nice to me, it's the ones who are not that I give shit to.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 11:48am

hippiechick wrote:

That's it...when you don't have a good answer, you attack me. Isn't that called "ad hominem"?

I was just asking you to fill in your opinion, not making an accusation toward you. But I guess you are looking to start a little trouble here.

Hippiechick, I think it is well known and fair to say that the example you set for what you believe is filled with contempt for anyone and anything else but. The less you know about me, the better. Try to project a good attitude and decent demeanor toward people who disagree with you for a change, and see if the tide turns for you. You might be surprised.

Posted: Mar 3, 2012 - 11:46am

sirdroseph wrote:

Fortunately no, but I hear the lamentations of my friends and acquaintances that are all the time. Not to mention the problems they cause for us non-union employees.

I hear about unions from my teacher friends, where they play an important part, are hardly greedy, in fact they really don't work hard enough to get teachers all that they deserve.

I can't imagine how much teachers would be taken advantage of without unions.