Koch brothers prepared to unleash nearly $1bn leading up to 2016 election

[Peace&Freedom]

In my impression, while conservative or libertarian on several issues, the Koch brothers are mainly about pro-Big Business, pro-Big Government protection of Big Business (including Big Military), and transforming the LP and liberty movement by co-opting them into doing the same.

There has been widespread concern from many leading Libertarians, from Murray Rothbard in the '80s-'90s, to Lew Rockwell today, that the Koch brothers had abandoned libertarian principles. This basic abandonment is believed to have continued to this day, hence it is not a past issue. They stopped putting money into the party because they failed at influencing the LP to follow suit.

 

[Krugminator2]

In my impression, while conservative or libertarian on several issues, the Koch brothers are mainly about pro-Big Business, pro-Big Government protection of Big Business (including Big Military), and transforming the LP and liberty movement by co-opting them into doing the same.

There has been widespread concern from many leading Libertarians, from Murray Rothbard in the '80s-'90s, to Lew Rockwell today, that the Koch brothers had abandoned libertarian principles. This basic abandonment is believed to have continued to this day, hence it is not a past issue. They stopped putting money into the party because they failed at influencing the LP to follow suit.

Can you actually cite a specific piece of legislation they pushed that is pro-big business or pro-big military? Maybe that have. I haven't seen it.

 

[NIU Students for Liberty]

They are big picture liberty activists. They tend not to support fringe candidates (unless it is them running) and aren't even known for getting involved in presidential primaries, anyway. If they get involved this time, something I'm not convinced they will do, I suspect it will be somewhat into the primary season when several candidates have dropped out. So if Rand or Walker is one of the last 4 standing and has a good shot at winning, maybe they will get involved.

They have worked against 100s of bad incumbents via issue campaigns over the years. You have to stay within the law.

Aside from donating money to the ACLU back in 2001 in order to fight the Patriot Act, they have not contributed anything of substance to libertarian causes. They ousted Rothbard from Cato and tried to install legitimate neo-cons & Republican mouthpieces to Cato's board back in 2012.

And in regards to them not getting involved in presidential campaigns, I beg to differ. David Koch donated $2,000 to Romney's campaign back in '08 and hosted a $50,000 per-plate dinner for Romney back in 2012. Oh and another million donated to a Romney-PAC.

Sources:

http://genehealy.com/2012/03/an-open-letter-to-koch-program-alumni/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers

 

[angelatc]

Aside from donating money to the ACLU back in 2001 in order to fight the Patriot Act, they have not contributed anything of substance to libertarian causes. They ousted Rothbard from Cato and tried to install legitimate neo-cons & Republican mouthpieces to Cato's board back in 2012.

You do realize that CATO was originally called The Charles Koch Foundation, right? The 2012 dispute revolved around the ownership of the shares of a founding board member who died - the board was attempting to wrest control away from the Koch's - not the other way around.

 

[Origanalist]

 

[Origanalist]

 

[Origanalist]

 

[Origanalist]

 

[angelatc]

Those bastards.

 

[56ktarget]

Funny how Paulites are for rampant oligarchian destruction of our democracy as long as the money flows towards their candidate.

 

[r3volution 3.0]

Funny how Paulites are for rampant oligarchian destruction of our democracy as long as the money flows towards their candidate.

awww, he still believes in democracy...

 

[Occam's Banana]

Our tyranny. (I know, I know ... "same difference" ... amirite?)

 

[georgiaboy]

imagine partnering their deep pockets with a,,, 6 miiilliion dollar money bomb. rounding error.

 

[Origanalist]

Funny how Paulites are for rampant oligarchian destruction of our democracy as long as the money flows towards their candidate.

Everybody funny, now you funny too....

 

[Natural Citizen]

Can you actually cite a specific piece of legislation they pushed that is pro-big business or pro-big military? Maybe that have. I haven't seen it.

Didn't you ask me that same exact question just the other day? And didn't I give you a specific example with the option to further discuss others beside the one that you asked for? Please...

 

[Origanalist]

Our tyranny. (I know, I know ... "same difference" ... amirite?)

Uhhhhyupp. You are correct sir.

 

[Natural Citizen]

imagine partnering their deep pockets with a,,, 6 miiilliion dollar money bomb. rounding error.

Well. Hm. I suppose that we could imagine a frog with wings too. Surely, he wouldn't thump his butt on the rocks given the scenario.

Of course, a frog doesn't have wings. Right? And so his butt gets paddled.

Kochs are going to use junior for one thing. And it is to generate support for the establishment republican candidate. Nothing else. The only beneficial thing out of all of that would be to establish who is whom in the support department for the scenario.

 

[Natural Citizen]

In my impression, while conservative or libertarian on several issues, the Koch brothers are mainly about pro-Big Business, pro-Big Government protection of Big Business (including Big Military), and transforming the LP and liberty movement by co-opting them into doing the same.

There has been widespread concern from many leading Libertarians, from Murray Rothbard in the '80s-'90s, to Lew Rockwell today, that the Koch brothers had abandoned libertarian principles. This basic abandonment is believed to have continued to this day, hence it is not a past issue. They stopped putting money into the party because they failed at influencing the LP to follow suit.

What we're seeing, though, are the hardcore right wingers and trustees in modern mercantilism kind of infiltrating the libertarian base and assuming their identity in name only. Kind of a stalking horse phenomenon to attempt to piggy back. One may certainly reference the Kochs as pro-big business or pro-Big Government protection of Big Business but at the end of the day they are mercantilists through and through. Legislation that they have penned with the help of others in various industry prior to retaining the services of members of congress to try to put it through are clearly indicative of this. The legislation itself has been an attack on sovereignty in order to protect themselves from a genuine free market. That is just a fact. Pro-big business or pro-Big Government protection of Big Business is a bitmore than the words themselves. A great deal more. And so the Koch network is able to use that presence from within the liberty movement to gain momentum and to try to repeat what they have always done. It's interesting to watch as it evolves from within the so called libertarian movement. Just looking through some of the threads we see a tremendous amount of support for tyranny in the name of some bastardized version of liberty. It's almost shocking to see it done out in the open so brazen. Could be just desperation. Not sure. But then we have the TPP out there too. And so we start to float toward foreign policy and these are dangerous people to pay for political say so by way of political representation.

 

[Keith and stuff]

Aside from donating money to the ACLU back in 2001 in order to fight the Patriot Act, they have not contributed anything of substance to libertarian causes.

AFP in NH has donated countless to libertarians causes. It organizes testimony in favor of liberty legislation and opposed to anti-liberty legislation. It sends out campaign materials about how statist incumbents vote the wrong way. I could go on and on but I'm not trying to reveal anything.

If you have even been involved with YAL, the Koch network has been helping YAL for a couple years now.

In NJ, the former AFP leader is supposed to be a liberty Republican. He ran for Congress and won. Hint, hint

Maybe the Koch network isn't working for freedom where you live, or maybe you don't know about? They keep bringing Rand Paul to give speeches where I live

 

[Natural Citizen]

Aside from donating money to the ACLU back in 2001 in order to fight the Patriot Act, they have not contributed anything of substance to libertarian causes.

I haven't seen anything that proves that they gave the ACLU that money beyond media reports. Frankly, I don't believe that they did.

Aside from that, the Patriot Act has been expanded.