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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Koch Brothers Pity Party
The Koch Brothers Pity Party
By Ed Kilgore
Need a quick boost to your blood pressure? If so, I strongly recommend that you read the Wall Street Journal op-ed today penned by former Solicitor General Theodore Olson, who holds a bizarre pity party for his law clients the Brothers Koch...Olson claims the president and his sinister henchmen have placed Charles and David Koch, innocent private citizens, at the top of an enemies list of people to be defamed, harassed and destroyed in the pursuit of he presidents re-election. He also compares the Kochs to the victims of McCarthyism in a passage that would have greatly amused the Kochs late father, a founder and mainstay of the John Birch Society.
How could this happen, Olson wonders, to these productive citizens, employers of many thousands, and generous philanthropists? Heres the thing:
I bow in admiration to the craftsmanship with which Olsen turns the Kochs vast, unprecedented empire of political agitprop, special-interest lobbying, and campaign skullduggery into a wonkish set of policy preferences...I do not have remotely the space for a documented analysis of the scope, reach, power, and sheer viciousness of the Kochs many political projects, but would refer you as a starting point to the 2010 New Yorker profile by Jane Meyer, and this illustrative quote:
On issues ranging from climate change to health reform to tax policy to corporate regulation, in venues far and wide from Congress to state legislatures to Tea Party rallies to every foot of nearly every campaign trail, the Kochs have become an omnipresent force in right-wing politics, and a big factor in the polarization of the country. With the collapse of campaign finance rules, their ability to wield influence with little or no accountability is becoming almost unlimited. Even if you agree with them on every conceivable issue, the idea that they are cowering victims of the big-bad-bullies in the White House has to make you just burst out in derisive laughter. If I, God forbid, were a Koch Brother Id fire Olson instantly for making me look so weak and feckless.
But thats how they roll at the opinion pages of the WSJ. Its just shameless.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_02/the_koch_brothers_pity_party035140.php
By Ed Kilgore
Need a quick boost to your blood pressure? If so, I strongly recommend that you read the Wall Street Journal op-ed today penned by former Solicitor General Theodore Olson, who holds a bizarre pity party for his law clients the Brothers Koch...Olson claims the president and his sinister henchmen have placed Charles and David Koch, innocent private citizens, at the top of an enemies list of people to be defamed, harassed and destroyed in the pursuit of he presidents re-election. He also compares the Kochs to the victims of McCarthyism in a passage that would have greatly amused the Kochs late father, a founder and mainstay of the John Birch Society.
How could this happen, Olson wonders, to these productive citizens, employers of many thousands, and generous philanthropists? Heres the thing:
Their biggest offense, apparently, is that they also contribute generously to nonprofit organizations that promote personal liberty and free enterprise, and some of those organizations oppose policies advocated by the president.
I bow in admiration to the craftsmanship with which Olsen turns the Kochs vast, unprecedented empire of political agitprop, special-interest lobbying, and campaign skullduggery into a wonkish set of policy preferences...I do not have remotely the space for a documented analysis of the scope, reach, power, and sheer viciousness of the Kochs many political projects, but would refer you as a starting point to the 2010 New Yorker profile by Jane Meyer, and this illustrative quote:
Charles Lewis, the founder of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan watchdog group, said, The Kochs are on a whole different level. Theres no one else who has spent this much money. The sheer dimension of it is what sets them apart. They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. Ive been in Washington since Watergate, and Ive never seen anything like it. They are the Standard Oil of our times.
On issues ranging from climate change to health reform to tax policy to corporate regulation, in venues far and wide from Congress to state legislatures to Tea Party rallies to every foot of nearly every campaign trail, the Kochs have become an omnipresent force in right-wing politics, and a big factor in the polarization of the country. With the collapse of campaign finance rules, their ability to wield influence with little or no accountability is becoming almost unlimited. Even if you agree with them on every conceivable issue, the idea that they are cowering victims of the big-bad-bullies in the White House has to make you just burst out in derisive laughter. If I, God forbid, were a Koch Brother Id fire Olson instantly for making me look so weak and feckless.
But thats how they roll at the opinion pages of the WSJ. Its just shameless.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_02/the_koch_brothers_pity_party035140.php
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The Koch Brothers Pity Party (Original Post)
ProSense
Feb 2012
OP
Aggravating whole states at you like Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere may have something to do with it.
Kurmudgeon
Feb 2012
#2
I wipe my fanny with Koch brothers toilet paper, to support the Union workers that make it.
bluestate10
Feb 2012
#6
ProSense
(116,464 posts)1. Kick! n/t
Kurmudgeon
(1,751 posts)2. Aggravating whole states at you like Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere may have something to do with it.
aquart
(69,014 posts)3. That's not Obama's list. That's MY list.
polly7
(20,582 posts)4. Well they are at the top of one list
Online voters gave them top spot as the most abusive corporation of 2011.
1. Koch Industries Inc.
http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/corporatehallofshame
"Was it the role Koch played in attempting to deprive public employees of collective bargaining rights? Or the dollars it spent promoting climate change denial? Either way, the energy giant swept this years voting for the worst corporation.
muntrv
(14,505 posts)5. Teddy Olsen sucks Koch.
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)6. I wipe my fanny with Koch brothers toilet paper, to support the Union workers that make it.
I would gladly send the Kochs some samples that I no longer want to have around.