“Report: Koch Industries leaders quietly bankrolling Tea Party philosophy - Minnpost.com” plus 1 more

Report: Koch Industries leaders quietly bankrolling Tea Party philosophy - Minnpost.com

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 06:48 AM PDT

WASHINGTON — The men who run Koch Industries, one of the largest oil companies in America with a significant presence in Minnesota, have quietly spent more than $200 million bankrolling the libertarian-conservative movement that became the foundation of the Tea Party movement, according to a New Yorker report out today.

Koch, a Wichita, Kansas-based firm, owns and operates several refineries in Minnesota and hundreds of miles of pipelines across the state. Their pipelines include those deliver jet fuel to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and propane through the state to Wisconsin.

According to the report, David Koch and his brother Charles Koch through both direct donations and various foundations to support groups that as far back as the Reagan administration were expanding the influence of Austrian economics and Robert LeFevre-style opposition to most things government. The New Yorker also reported that an organization they started has funded training for Tea Party leaders.

Here's a key section of the report:

The anti-government fervor infusing the 2010 elections represents a political triumph for the Kochs. By giving money to "educate," fund, and organize Tea Party protesters, they have helped turn their private agenda into a mass movement. Bruce Bartlett, a conservative economist and a historian, who once worked at the National Center for Policy Analysis, a Dallas-based think tank that the Kochs fund, said, "The problem with the whole libertarian movement is that it's been all chiefs and no Indians. There haven't been any actual people, like voters, who give a crap about it. So the problem for the Kochs has been trying to create a movement." With the emergence of the Tea Party, he said, "everyone suddenly sees that for the first time there are Indians out there—people who can provide real ideological power." The Kochs, he said, are "trying to shape and control and channel the populist uprising into their own policies."

A Republican campaign consultant who has done research on behalf of Charles and David Koch said of the Tea Party, "The Koch brothers gave the money that founded it. It's like they put the seeds in the ground. Then the rainstorm comes, and the frogs come out of the mud—and they're our candidates!"

The Kochs and their political operatives declined requests for interviews. Instead, a prominent New York public-relations executive who is close with the Kochs put forward two friends: George Pataki, the former governor of New York, and Mortimer Zuckerman, the publisher and real-estate magnate. Pataki, a Republican who received campaign donations from David Koch, called him "a patriot who cares deeply about his country." Zuckerman praised David's "gentle decency" and the "range of his public interests."

The Republican campaign consultant said of the family's political activities, "To call them under the radar is an understatement. They are underground!" Another former Koch adviser said, "They're smart. This right-wing, redneck stuff works for them. They see this as a way to get things done without getting dirty themselves." Rob Stein, a Democratic political strategist who has studied the conservative movement's finances, said that the Kochs are "at the epicenter of the anti-Obama movement. But it's not just about Obama. They would have done the same to Hillary Clinton. They did the same with Bill Clinton. They are out to destroy progressivism.

Read it all here. Fair warning, the piece clocks in at 9,976 words (!) so set aside a few minutes (or hours) before you click.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent.

Italian philosophy inspires Johnson - FOXSports.com

Posted: 06 Sep 2010 05:14 AM PDT

Rivals

TEAMtalk Media Group

Updated Sep 6, 2010 8:15 AM ET

06/09/2010 06:44 +0100

The winger celebrated his competitive debut for England by scoring his first goal for his country in Friday's 4-0 win over Bulgaria in a Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley. It was a big boost for the former Middlesbrough player after he failed to make the final 23 for the World Cup. But Johnson can see similarities between the approach of fellow Italians Capello and Mancini in providing a solid defensive basis which gives attacking plyers like himself more freedom. Johnson said: "Capello and Mancini are pretty similar in their approach. I think in some ways the Italian mentality is different to the English attitude when it comes to management. "There is an emphasis on the tactical side and the shape of the team. "Obviously, every manager has things to do differently, but overall I think Mancini and Capello are pretty similar. "I think if you can get a team to defend the right way, then there is more freedom for the forwards to attack. "Obviously I like to do that and, when the defence is right, then it gives you a solid base to go forward - and both managers I play for like to do that. "It gives me freedom in the final third to try things, to score goals and try to play attractive football. The defence gives you the confidence to do those things." Johnson took consolation from missing out on the World Cup in Capello naming him as one of the bright hopes for England's future as he looks to rebuild. He said: "I watched all the games at the World Cup. I am an England fan and, obviously got a lot of mates who were out there playing, so I was supporting them as well. "It was difficult to watch in a way, knowing I was so close, but I wanted England to go all the way and I was as disappointed as anyone to see how it went. "But it was fantastic hearing good things about me from the England manager (about the future). "It's exciting for me when someone like him is saying good things about me. "My aim is to get a few more caps and play as many games for England as I can. "I'm sure it's the same for the other young lads but playing for my country is all I've ever wanted to do. It's exciting." Johnson has also settled in with England with the help of his City team-mates who have also been involved. He says it definitely helps with people Gareth Barry, Joe Hart and James Milner being in squad. "When you come away with England, to have so many team-mates there is a big help." Johnson is as excited as anyone about what the future may hold for City but he is refusing to get carried away. He said: "They are exciting times at City. Yes, absolutely. But I think we've just got to take each game as it comes. "A lot of people are saying we are going to do this and that but we are focused on ourselves. "We've started reasonably well and we've just got to carry that on, keep winning and see where it takes us. "Like I said, these are exciting times but we are not getting too carried away with ourselves."

Philosophy

Monday, September 6, 2010