The Koch Brothers Freeze Out Donald Trump

[big_dog]

Source: Politico.com 7/29/15 5:16 AM EDT



The Koch brothers are freezing out Donald Trump from their influential political operation — denying him access to their state-of-the-art data and refusing to let him speak to their gatherings of grass-roots activists or major donors. Continued stiff-arming by the powerful Koch network could limit Trump’s ability to build a professional campaign operation to mobilize supporters ahead of primaries and caucuses. The Koch operation has spurned entreaties from the Trump campaign to purchase state-of-the-art data and analytics services from a Koch-backed political tech firm called i360, and also turned down a request to allow Trump to speak at an annual grass-roots summit next month in Columbus, Ohio, sponsored by the Koch-backed group Americans for Prosperity, POLITICO has learned.


Despite a long and cordial relationship between the real estate showman and David Koch, as well as a raft of former Koch operatives who are now running Trump’s presidential campaign, the Koch political operation appears to have concluded that Trump is the wrong standard-bearer for the GOP. And the network of Koch-backed policy and political outfits is using behind-the-scenes influence to challenge Trump more forcefully than the Republican Party establishment — by limiting his access to the support and data that would help him translate his lead in the polls into a sustainable White House campaign.




In addition, Trump was not invited to the annual summer gathering of the network of hundreds of conservative mega-donors and operatives helmed by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. That’s despite the Trump campaign filling out a questionnaire detailing the candidate’s policy positions and submitting it to Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, the Koch umbrella group organizing the summit. The three-day meeting in Orange County, California, will feature appearances from a handful of candidates whose politics reflect more closely the Kochs’ fiscally conservative worldview — including Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker — and even long-shot Carly Fiorina. Rand Paul, who is also fondly regarded by some in the Koch operation, was invited, but he has not accepted and is unlikely to attend.



It’s unclear whether the Koch network intends to weigh in more directly against Trump, with the preferred approach seemingly being to allow him to flame out on his own. But if the network were to decide to mobilize against him, it could strain its efforts to remain above the GOP fray, while also testing its ability to shape the primary.




Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/kochs-freeze-out-trump-120752.html

[djean111]

1. The Kochs have selected Scott Walker to be the next president.

They will REALLY bankrupt Trump, if they have to. I think Trump is (literally) a useful idiot for them right now because he is eclipsing all the rest of the candidates. I think the eventual nominee will be the result of a throw-down between the BFEE and the KochFEE.

[JackInGreen]

22. Really

If they've selected scotty, we could end up with both bankrupt and a liberal in office. Win/win.

[Chasstev365]

28. Agreed, but...

They've picked the wrong man! (Thank God)

1. He is too young and projects inexperience. Hillary or Bernie would make he look like a dopey school boy in a debate.
2. The national press will finally start to pick up on his scandals in Milwaukee and the WI recall election.
3. He's vocally against Gay Rights, Immigrants, Pro Choice, Labor, and diplomacy. Who is left to vote for him in a national election?
4. The man is CLEARLY not ready for prime time. I predict he would rival W and Dan Quayle!
5. By dissing Trump, he Kochs will play into the megalomaniac mind and I predict he will run as an independent. (Hopefully with Palin as a running mate. HA!)

[pscot]

30. And yet W was elected president, twice

You're over estimating the voters.

[mikeysnot]

37. Selected once

elected once.

[heaven05]

56. we was robbed, twice

[Ford_Prefect]

40. W never won an election. He was "selected" the first time and "Ohio'd" the second.

In neither case did he win by outright vote. There is more than enough evidence in both cases.

So W makes a poor example to present for the opposition unless you are proposing that any of the presumptive GOP candidates may have a similar advantage in "adjusted" vote tallies. That question may indeed favor Walker as he has already managed this tactic at home.

[markmyword]

48. 3 Strikes You're Out!

Ring of Fire Mike Papantonio was talking to Ed Schultz about TPP (listened to video July 28 Tuesday)and on the same Ring of Fire site there was another video with Infowars (another radio show) about TPP which went into more detail about it.

This is in the TPP document that no one has seen, no politician can talk about it, they can read it, can't take notes, if they talk to each other about TPP they can be prosecuted.

Three strikes you're out means ANYONE who sends anti government or anti corporation information out to anyone on the Internet can do it 3 times, after that you're barred from the Internet!!! FOREVER????

So good bye social media, organizing like we're doing on the Internet for a candidate, petitions, raising money, informing the public about our politicians. The Internet providers will be monitoring what we do. So if you send 3 friends anti Bush,anti Koch Brothers, anti Comcast etc. You'll be cut off from Internet usage.

Mike Papantonio wrote on Ring of Fire/video why Ed was fired.
Ed Schultz was fired, because Comcast who now owns MSNBC didn't like that Ed talked against the TPP. Comcast helped write the TPP and Ed talked about it on his shows (15-18 times) Chris Hedges mentioned TPP once and the rest of the media ZERO TIMES!!!!

So elections will be the billionaires anointing their little KING and we the people are going to have a tough time organizating. NO newspapers, they own the RADIO, TV , CABLE and the INTERNET!
Please check out this INFOWARS which was on the Ring of Fire site. They talked about health care jobs all in the TPP. Not a pretty future for the U.S. Or the world.

[WDIM]

53. Well that will cut down internet traffic.

Couldnt people just change their ip or go to libraries or other public place to access the internet. The logistics of banning people from the internet seems like it would be difficult.

Im not doubting the story. The use of social media to organize the masses is seen as a real threat by the elites but the beast is harder to control than they realize.

[whathehell]

54. So the fascist takeover is complete?

No First Amendment rights on the internet?

This is freaking scary.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

41. In 1920, H L Mencken wrote:

The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.

The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Mencken was thinking specifically of Warren G Harding, but W fits just as well.

[harun]

59. Your thinking from the wrong side. All those are positives for conservatives.

For them the dumber the better. They just want an actor to do their bidding. Walker will be their golden boy.

No conservative has been better at union busting, pissing off teachers and tax cuts for the wealthy. All that and he won election twice in a state that used to be very Progressive (WI).

[Duval]

44. I believe Walker (or Bush) is

their choice, also. Thom Hartmann has been saying this for weeks. What is it going to take to get Campaign Finance Reform?

[Ford_Prefect]

52. Eliminating Fox News and arresting Roger Alies for treason would be a great 1st step.

But that would require a DOJ that actually pursued real criminals like senior bank executives, or dangerous felons like Cliven Bundy.

[underpants]

2. "grassroots activists" who are controlled by corporate political operations

Yeah, that's not how it's supposed work.

Damn shame really, a Trump was digging them a generational hole they'll have a hard time getting out of.

[Roland99]

11. Yeah, exactly. There's not one damn thing that's "grassroots" re: the Kochs

[BeyondGeography]

3. Sounds like a good excuse in the making for that 3rd party run

You can't keep an angry man down.

[annabanana]

32. yuppers!. . . .n/t

[Demeter]

4. Given the Koch Bros. record of non-success nationally

I'd put my money on Trump trumping this power grab.

Koch doesn't have anything that Trump can't get elsewhere, and cheaper.

[greymattermom]

5. Folks around here who like Trump like that he says what he thinks.

If he's shut out by the Kochs, he may say some interesting things. He knows how to work the media, right?

[lobodons]

6. Not playing nice

This could be the "not playing nice" that Trump was referring to for a third party run. ??

[LiberalElite]

7. Sorry Bros - you can't kill your Frankenstein

bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

[RKP5637]

8. More and more people are getting wise to what the Koch brothers are and what they represent.

Many have no use for them and also avoid their products as best they can. At minimal, some people are getting more aware that elections are more then TV ads. They well might not be able to control what they have unleashed.

[think]

9. GOP voters need to learn that Koch OWNS them. Disgusting.....

[KansDem]

38. Isn't that the truth!

Over the years, I've been amused by the Republican mantra of "less government," yet they don't mind being owned by BigCorp. It seems their whole existence centers around Big Government: "bad" Big Corporations: "good"

They don't want government "of, for, and by the people." They want government "of, for, and by the corporations."

[AllyCat]

10. Sorry, the "grassroots" cannot be millionaire donors

And Trump can fund his own campaign.

[Still In Wisconsin]

12. Awww big mean tRump gave their little Scotty a sad, so

big mean tRump gets a spanking.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

55. sctty has been making his own sads, with regularity

I suspect the kochs may be having buyer's remorse.

[Still In Wisconsin]

60. I wonder...

would Uncle Chuck and Uncle Dave ever cut Scotty loose if it becomes apparent that he doesn't stand a chance in hell of being elected? If so who would they back- Jebbers? Carnival Cruz?

[BumRushDaShow]

13. So will Adelson step in and pick up the baton

for Trump like he did for Gingrich?

[tanyev]

14. Don't you take that from them, Donald. Go after them!

Nobody puts The Donald in a corner!

[RoccoR5955]

15. Good, then T-Rump will run as an independent,

and split the RepubliCON vote. Automatic win for Dems!

[patricia92243]

16. I thought Donald said he would fund his own campain and not be beholden to anyone???????

[R Merm]

34. That's why

Trump doesn't need Koch money he has his own. No money no control, he will never be theirs. Walker has already proved to be their lap dog.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

43. I regularly refer to Walker as "a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries". N/t

[hedda_foil]

50. Oh my, Fortinbras, what a fantastic name for him! May I use it? Please? nt

[Xipe Totec]

17. When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers - Swahili proverb

Doesn't matter who wins this fight, does it?

[blackspade]

18. Nope, no corruption of the political precession to see here....

Move along citizen.....

[TBF]

19. Donald Trump is an independent thinker -

(albeit crazy and an asshole) but ad hoc comments are not what the Koch Bros. value. They want a blank slate like Scott Walker who will do as he is told.

I would imagine Trump would tire of this pretty soon and head back to his boardroom. The real threat is folks like Walker who they will be pushing with a massive amount of $$$.

[HFRN]

23. correct

Koch needs a blank slate (or at least a matching beta slate to their alpha), and Trump isn't interested in either, (being beta or worrying about matching his slate to anyone else)

[rpannier]

20. Curious what they'll do should he get the nomination

My guess is, donate generously

[HFRN]

21. Koch isnt going to back someone of independent means

it isn't a good investment for them - too much risk

[Sunlei]

24. The difference is kochs are shadow figures who have to pay & handle their pick & Donald Trump can

dress himself, do his own make up and speak without '100 handlers'.

[GP6971]

25. K & R

[svpadgham]

26. I get the feeling this will accidentally help Trump

Something about billionaire industrialist hell bent on buying the government not wanting to do business with Trump could go a long way.

[restorefreedom]

46. i think it could

Drive the trump supporters to digging their heels even more, and possibly bring new trump fans into their fold.

[Darb]

27. They are all in to steal it for Bush/Walker. Just watch.

They will do anything and everything to rig the vote. They are already doing it.

[TBF]

45. Interesting -

I thought they might go Walker/Rubio ... but either combo I can see.

And they are similarly frightening.

[safeinOhio]

29. All this proves one thing

The zillionaires have way too much money.

The one good thing, get to watch lots of money tossed into the wind.

[titaniumsalute]

31. He with the microphone wins the message

The Kochs are very powerful behind the scenes. But Trump has the mic and the stage. Media loves the guy. He says "Boo!" and the media all will cover it. I think he could also be the best way to "Out" the Kochs for who they are if he gets really pissed.

The one thing I do admire about Trump is that he doesn't seem to be a part of the Billionaire club where they all have each other's backs. Yes Trump is a misogynist, narcissistic, racist turd but he certainly does march to the beat of his own drum. And he could really be a thorn in the Koch's butts.

[Thespian2]

33. Looking back...

I think the Roves of the world were surprised in 2012 because Ohio was supposed to be rigged for R-Money...something happened to the electronic voting machines that was not supposed to happen...Rove and others looked like abject dickheads when the rigging didn't work...Will the Kochs be working harder at rigging the 2016 voting machines?...The Koch heads will be in over-drive to make sure their candidate wins this election...At the moment, Snot Wanker seems to be the choice...for, as others have said, he already does the bidding of the Wisconsin Koch Machine...Take away Koch money, and Snotty folds up like a used diaper...

[Kip Humphrey]

36. The Ohio Sec. of State announced he was going home at 5:45pm on election night.

He apparently got cold feet and chose not to flip the Ohio election results even though he had a tabulator set up in his office. I don't think Rove saw that announcement as he was engaged in Faux Noose commentary, so he was surprised by the lack of miraculous Ohio returns.

[Thespian2]

64. Electronic voting makes

all elections scary...here in the Maritimes, we use old fashioned paper ballots and pencils...seems to work...

[Kip Humphrey]

65. jealous I am.

[allan01]

35. shame they dont spend this amount of monies on their employies and taxes

[Zambero]

39. Too many thistles and not enough Teflon

The GOP establishment has spoken and their favored candidate appears not to be Donald Trump.

[turbinetree]

42. Amazing...............................

political corruption at work and basically saying--------------------YOUR FIRED



Honk------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[ananda]

47. Poor widdle Donnuh!

Cwy me a wiver.

[Jack Rabbit]

49. This is going to be good

[Gothmog]

51. Trump is not a viable candidate and the Kochs will not waste their money on Trump

[mitch96]

57. Trump does not care about the Kochs

He'll just spend his own money and buy the election…. Like the putz down here Florida…
m

[lark]

58. Kochs absolutely don't want an ultra rich person as president.

He wouldn't be beholden to them enough. They want someone they can own, lock, stock and barrel. Someone like Walker or Rubio is a much better fit for them. Awful as he is, I almost want Trump as the general candidate, though I would be shocked as shit if he got it. Trump would make it so easy for the Dem to win.

[Still In Wisconsin]

61. This, I think, is why they like Walker.

Walker comes from very modest means so he is, as you say, totally owned by his big donors. Without them he is finished and he knows it.

[chapdrum]

62. As if Trump needs them

He sure doesn't need their money.
And the Kochs are nowhere near the brand name that Trump is (and we sure as shootin' love our brand names).

[Angry Dragon]

63. The Inheritors of the John Birch Society

[awoke_in_2003]

66. Trump is a distraction

to take away from the real candidates- to make them look sane. The Koch brothers are probably giving T-Rump a lot of money.