Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Last week I wrote up a post titled Scott Walker: A Fiscally Responsible Governor or a Politician Who Is Playing Favorites?. Judging from the number of comments left at that post, it appears that people are very interested in what’s been going on in the state of Wisconsin. I think many people may believe that as Wisconsin goes—so goes the nation…and probably the life expectancy of labor unions and collective bargaining.
What got a lot of press attention was the story of the prank phone call that Governor Walker received from gonzo journalist Ian Murphy. Murphy pretended to be billionaire industrialist David Koch. He talked to Walker for twenty minutes. Murphy reportedly told the Associated Press he made the prank phone call in order to show how candid Walker would be in a conversation with Koch at a time when Democrats claim the governor was refusing to return their calls.
The prank phone call appears to show a cozy relationship between Walker and Koch, a top campaign donor who may have a financial interest in fighting unions. Union workers protesting in Wisconsin have already made monetary concessions to help with Wisconsin’s budget shortfall. One has to wonder what is really behind the governor’s demand that public employee unions be stripped of their right to bargain collectively. Is it all part of an agenda to “take unions out at the knees”—a strategy suggested by Scott Hagerstrom at the annual conference of the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC)? Hagerstrom is the Executive Director of Michigan’s chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
In a Mother Jones article, Andy Kroll writes: Walker’s plan to eviscerate collective bargaining rights for public employees is right out of the Koch brothers’ playbook. Koch-backed groups like Americans for Prosperity, the Cato Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and the Reason Foundation have long taken a very antagonistic view toward public-sector unions.
And who is Americans for Prosperity? Felicia Sonmez has written that AFP is really two groups—both of which were founded by David Koch in 2004: Americans for Prosperity, a 501(c)4 and the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, is a 501(c)3.
Somnez says that both groups are considered “not-for-profit” organizations under the Internal Revenue Service code—and that they do not have to disclose the identity of their donors or the contributions made by those donors. She added that David Koch is believed to be one of the group’s top donors.
In a New Yorker article titled Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama, Jane Mayer wrote about Peggy Venable, the Texas State Director of AFP: She (Peggy Venable) explained that the role of Americans for Prosperity was to help “educate” Tea Party activists on policy details, and to give them “next-step training” after their rallies, so that their political energy could be channelled “more effectively.” And she noted that Americans for Prosperity had provided Tea Party activists with lists of elected officials to target. She said of the Kochs, “They’re certainly our people. David’s the chairman of our board. I’ve certainly met with them, and I’m very appreciative of what they do.”
In August 2009, ThinkProgress said that it had obtained an exclusive memo from a Tea Party group that is supported by Koch’s Americans for Prosperity.
From Think Progress: “The memo outlined various ways for Tea Party activists to intimidate Democratic lawmakers and disrupt their town hall meetings on health reform. ThinkProgress published half a dozen articles exposing the role of Koch-funded groups like “Patients United” in encouraging opposition to health reform. For instance, in Virginia, a Koch-funded operative Ben Marchi assisted a birther who followed Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) around, yelling at him at town hall meetings.”
That’s all I’ve got for now, folks. Talk amongst yourselves. I need a break!
**********
Sources
Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama. (New Yorker)
Who is “Americans for Prosperity”? (Washington Post)
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Funded by the Koch Bros. (Mother Jones)
Why did Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker take a call from ‘David Koch’? (Christian Science Monitor)
Billionaire Brothers’ Money Plays Role in Wisconsin Dispute (New York Times)
On prank call, Wis. governor discusses strategy (Yahoo)
Koch Front Group Americans For Prosperity: ‘Take The Unions Out At The Knees’ (Think Progress)
Union Busting: The Real Call from the Koch Brothers (Huffington Post)
Charles And David Koch Exposed For Insidious Role In Crafting The Modern Right (Think Progress)
For Further Reading
Koch-Powered Tea Party Pushes Climate Denial Bill In New Hampshire (Think Progress)
Commentary: Koch brothers and the union-busting Kansas House (The Kansas City Star)
SL and Elaine: We just found out how much lower they can go. The Wisconsin Senate just voted 19-0 to have the Democratic 14 arrested and hauled to the Senate. I have a couple of problems with this. If they do not have a quorum, how can they conduct any business at all, including this? Second, since WI has a law against arresting members of the Senate while the legislature is is session, exactly how will that work? Finally, this is not an extraditable charge, so how will they get them back? Kidnapping? At this point, I would not put anything past the Koch-funded goons, so that is a possibility.
One more thing. Since the vote was 19-0, we see where the supposedly waffling Republican Senators really stand. The mask comes off and we see behind the curtain.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_8d9ad090-45bd-11e0-bf68-001cc4c03286.html
Stamford Liberal,
“!! How much lower than pond scum can one go??”
We’ll just have to wait and see.
“Change is coming but it won’t happen over night.” (Mike Spindell)
If my reading of history is correct, and I believe it is, any great movement sneaks up on people. Initially dismissed as insignificant, the overwhelming numbers eventually involved always seem to shock those in positions of power who can’t believe they are no longer in control.
There is definitely something going on in this nation and change has been in the wind for sometime and has been dismissed as insignificant by those in positions of power, yet the numbers keep building and the polls keep showing great and greater support for the matters being protested.
It’s sneaking up on them and the majority of our politicians and their corporate bosses still don’t have a clue as to what’s coming.
rafflaw,
!! How much lower than pond scum can one go??
That should read Swarthmore, not Swarthmoe!!
Swarthmoe,
Did you see the story about the Ohio union bashing law that snuck in language outlawing gay marriage, again?! http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/03/ohio-union-gay-couples/?wpmp_switcher=desktop
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/03/rasmussen_walker_flailing.php?ref=fpblg Walker getting crushed even in Rasmussen particularly by younger voters.
“Folks, I think by now it is abundantly clear that the trolls infesting this thread came here with the express purpose of disruption of any meaningful discussion of the issues at hand. In that, they have succeeded.”
OS,
Take heart. This is one of the more interesting threads in the years I’ve been coming here. The Trolls here far from disrupting, are adding comic relief and also moving the discussion forward, since many answers to them actually elicit responses with good information. What sets this thread apart from many others is that in addition to excellent argument points there has also been the riches of information that increases our understanding of the issues.
Slarti,
“Since anything further preaching would be to the choir (and the deaf), the question becomes: how do you start a grassroots movement?”
I think the movement has started and lo and behold there are no leaders. In any moment of change there is an advantage to a diffusion of leadership. This to me avoids the traps of the past, where the whims and emotions of leaders, corrupted the purity of the sentiment. A case in point from the other side is the Teabaggers, whose strings are pulled by outside money and the likes of Dick Armey. Many of their membership have a right to feel disaffected by the current state of this country, but have been led by their leadership into serving as pawns for the Plutocrats.
The glory of the internet as an organizational/informational tool is that it is diffuse. Rather than revolutionary party lines, there is a multiplicity of opinions that seem to coalesce into effective action. Whichever way it finally turns out Wisconsin serves as an example of motivation/stimulation of our side. It has helped to open people’s minds and change paradigms for them. The revolution this time won’t be quick and it won’t be violent. It will be the final rotting of the “Reagan Revolution” and the development of a new consciousness
regarding how our system is dysfunctional. Change is coming but
it won’t happen over night. Just as Sam Gomper’s radical idea of social security, took three decades to enact.
If this time we can focus on the problems macro-cosmically and develop macro-cosmic solutions, rather than getting bogged down in individual issues, we will be successful. To me the individual issues like educational reform; employment; health care; women’s rights; gay equality; pay equality; civil rights;
to name a few, all stem from the same macro-cosmic defect to wit: Corporatism and Plutocracy. We must fight to redress all those issues, but with a consciousness informed by the root cause of these abominations.
our side
Moar posted:
I hope that you are a child (or at least a teenager), because for an adult to be as close-minded and ignorant as you are is just sad…
AY,
“SL,
We may not care what he has to say but he does have aright to say it….we have a right to ignore moar until they get a new name…..I am just sitting here thinking about how primitive moars’ world would be if he really got what he wanted….. one thought was the commercial about the guy hand cranking the generator so they would have enough power to link to the net…. but if thats what he wants to do….is dig himself in a bigger hole….thats fine….lol”
Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating that Moar lose his right to free speech, but it is our right to ridicule his stupidity. For example, he posted this brilliance:
“In fact the Internet has been pretty much left alone so it is actually a good example of what could happen in the rest of the economy if government would get out of the way.”
As Moar has painfully exhibited time and again, he sorely lacks in historical knowledge. If it weren’t for government in connection with the internet …
Yup, that hole is mighty deep!
“Try and keep up Pokey.”
you call us ignorant and you didn’t know who Ayn Rand is? For you to espouse your attempted philosophy and not know who Rand is shows monumental ignorance. By the way you put Milton Friedman on your list of good economists. Google Friedman and Rand and see what you get dummy. You are an example of all the no nothing blowhards of the world, who attempt to expound with a limited knowledge base. Keep ’em coming Moar the unaware humor in your ignorance makes my day.
Agree with you Elaine. Bill in Portland Maine is a national treasure. Witty, timely and usually on the mark with his observations.
As a former teacher, I can really appreciate this post at Daily Kos today:
THU MAR 03, 2011 AT 08:42 AM EST
Cheers and Jeers: Thursday
by Bill in Portland Maine for Daily Kos
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/03/951933/-Cheers-and-Jeers:-Thursday
From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
My Teachers
Kindergarten: Mrs. Dunn
1st Grade: Mrs. Cline
2nd Grade: Miss Martin
3rd Grade: Mrs. Wiley
4th Grade: Mrs. Geoque
5th Grade: Miss Woolson
6th Grade: Mrs. Crouch
7th – 9th Grade: Mr. Lockwood, Ms. Edwards, Ms. Bermann, Mr. Ernst, Ms. Master
10th – 12th Grade: Mr. Bower, Mr. Bechtel, Mr. Houston, Miss Stillwell, Mr. Lupica, Mrs. Roeder, Mr. Pfeiffer, Mr. Marchal, Mr. Robertson.
My teachers taught me how to write (standard and cursive). How to read. How to do math. How to question assumptions and test theories. How to look at problems analytically and critically. How our system of government works. How to appreciate music and drama and literature. How to think and figure stuff out. How to accept intellectual challenges and succeed. And why all this learnin’ stuff mattered.
There’s a lot of vitriol being flung at teachers—particularly public school teachers—mainly by Republicans who manage to prove every day that they didn’t learn much when they were in school. I can only speak for myself, but my teachers were dedicated, mostly good-humored, hard-working, patient (Lord knows I tested their patience), and amazingly adept at herding rugrats.
No particular point to this except to say that I think much of the criticism being heaped upon them is bloody unfair. Sure, our education system needs improvement…it always has and always will. But without teachers we’re just a gaggle of nose-picking nitwits, halfwits and pimplewits (a term of partial-endearment my high school band teacher taught us…or, rather, used on us). They deserve reasonable class sizes, better pay, and a lot more respect. Also: there’s no reason they should have to buy books and supplies for their students out of their own pockets, as many do. Seriously…WTF?
Looking back, I regret that I never thanked my K-12 teachers for their role in fueling my brain and showing me how to use it. Back then they were just, y’know, my teachers. Today I look at them as my Yodas. Public school Yodas. And thank them I certainly do.
SL,
We may not care what he has to say but he does have aright to say it….we have a right to ignore moar until they get a new name…..I am just sitting here thinking about how primitive moars’ world would be if he really got what he wanted….. one thought was the commercial about the guy hand cranking the generator so they would have enough power to link to the net…. but if thats what he wants to do….is dig himself in a bigger hole….thats fine….lol
“For those of you too stupid to use the internet”
Rich coming from a tool who asked “Who’s Ayn Rand” and was too lazy and stupid to use the internet himself.
“This is has got to be the most ignorant group of people I have ever met.”
You say that as if we care what you think. Sorry if we gave you the that impression we did – Lol.
Asininely Yours:
The government may have developed it using tax payer dollars but the private sector made it what it is today. And there are many private hubs and cable which connects us.
In fact the Internet has been pretty much left alone so it is actually a good example of what could happen in the rest of the economy if government would get out of the way.
Thanks for bringing it up.
By the way I am forced to use those things. I don’t have a choice, if I don’t pay my taxes they will throw me in jail. So your assertion is false. And since I pay taxes I don’t have enough money to buy a generator or dig a well.
Scott Walker Interview about Wisconsin budget and Koch brothers
Case in point….Moar believes in the power of government and the ability to tax and make things happen with the tax dollars……. He is using the Internet….
Dr. Slartibartfast:
I actually did do a search of Ayn Rand since none of you real geniiesses could tell me what she thought.
I will have to buy a couple of her books and check it out.
I do you hope all of you understand that there are many free market economists out there. For those of you too stupid to use the internet:
Jean Baptiste Say
Ludwig Von Mises
F. A. Hyack
Frederic Bastiate
Milton Friedman
Maury Rothbard
and many others, but I leave that for you.
This is has got to be the most ignorant group of people I have ever met. I guess liberals are only smart in herds, you know group think.
Try and keep up Pokey.
Moar supports taxation and governmental actions and he knows it…..
You know how I know? He is using the internet in America. Mostly built with Tax Dollars and the Power of Emminate Domain.
He certainly would not be using the public roadways to drive on or water coming out of the sink or lights from electric bulb….. He is above all of that right?
So why are we even responding to this hypocrite…