Harold Simmons, Texas billionaire and influential Republican donor, dies at 82
Source: The Guardian
Simmons helped fund the 'swift boat' campaign against John Kerry in 2004 and backed Texas governor Rick Perry
Billionaire Harold Simmons, one of the richest men in America and a major contributor to the Republican Party, has died in his native Texas at 82.
The death, confirmed in a statement by Texas governor Rick Perry, was first reported on the website of the Dallas Morning News, which said he died on Saturday at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
His wife, Annette, told the newspaper Simmons had been "very sick for the last two weeks" and in Baylor's intensive care unit for the last eight days. She did not give a specific cause of death.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/30/harold-simmons-texas-billionaire-dies-82
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)warrant46
(2,205 posts)Trying to take it with him
His $10 billion fortune put him in the 40th spot in Forbes list of 400 wealthiest American for 2013. "Harold Simmons was a true Texas giant, rising from humble beginnings and seizing the limitless opportunity for success we so deeply cherish in our great state," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Sunday.
Mr. Simmons was once dubbed "The Waste Baron" by Rolling Stone magazine. In recent years, one company he controlled tried to persuade the state to allow it to dump low-level radioactive waste from other states in west Texas.
In the political arena, Mr. Simmons helped to fund the Swift Boat veterans' campaign against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 and ads against President Barack Obama's re-election in 2012. From 2010 through 2012, he also gave $20 million to Karl Rove's American Crossroads.
"Harold Simmons was one of my best friends, and it's never easy to say goodbye to close friends," oil man T. Boone Pickens said Sunday. "He was a passionate person...He was one of the most successful and focused men I've ever known. We should all leave such a rich legacy behind."
BARF
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)but he apparently donated heavily to Planned Parenthood and Public Broadcasting.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)I know you weren't, but I do see it a lot when a conservative dies or a Republican. If we do that like the case of Thatcher then we can't be pissed of when conservatives do it to Mandela or some other liberal. I wish both sides would refrain from that. Of course getting conservatives to act like adult is impossible, but we certainly could.
Mutiny In Heaven
(550 posts)At least one of them is a Democratic donor.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6760345
jsr
(7,712 posts)while doing everything they could to enslave and impoverish millions.
Aristus
(66,440 posts)Better have your ashes scattered, or this veteran is going to find your grave, and take a dump on it...
_ _|_q
go west young man
(4,856 posts)Considering the post right above it.
Aristus
(66,440 posts)I don't think I could ever forgive those Swiftboat slugs for the hatchet job they did on John Kerry.
Those right-wing assholes love to proclaim themselves more patriotic than thou, but when confronted with a veteran who didn't espouse their ideology, they disrespected his service without so much as a qualm.
Paladin
(28,271 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)For all the evil that this guy did, those donations don't seem to fit...I wonder if he even knew the Fondation did them or was it to make him look like he wasn't a 100% PukeBagger...only a 99% one.
Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)
cosmicone This message was self-deleted by its author.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)play?
Gothmog
(145,488 posts)I am glad that he will not be donating to Karl Rove
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)dem in texas
(2,674 posts)Bob Perry and Harold Simmons.
Nitram
(22,853 posts)A proud patriot gleefully smearing a decorated officer.
tblue
(16,350 posts)RIP. I got nothing more to say.
Tom Ripley
(4,945 posts)mitty14u2
(1,015 posts)According to information released by the IRS on February 22, 2005, more than half of the group's reported contributions came from just three sources, all prominent Texas Republican donors: Houston builder Bob J. Perry, a longtime supporter of George W. Bush, donated $4.45 million, Harold Simmons' Contrans donated $3 million, and T. Boone Pickens, Jr. donated $2 million. Other major contributors included Bush fundraiser Carl Lindner ($300,000), Robert Lindner ($260,000), GOP contributor Aubrey McClendon ($250,000), George Matthews Jr. ($250,000), and Crow Holdings ($100,000).
Remember this one; Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) challenges Chris Matthews to a duel after
Millers' speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Classic!
Check out the links at bottom of Wikipedia page, References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth
Newsjock
(11,733 posts)olddad56
(5,732 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)His crap kept Kerry from being elected president.
Theyletmeeatcake2
(348 posts)....................