The Goons Behind the Loons

Remember Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall? What a long time ago it was that political machines controlled party nominations and patronage. Ah, the days of yesteryear when machines could put whomever they wanted on the ticket or get any crazy law passed they wanted. For instance, getting a pseudo-doctor or a witch the nomination for Senate. Or, passing a law that allows industries to pollute as much as they want. Wait, what’s that? That’s happening now?

So who are the present day William Tweeds? Let’s start with David and Charles Koch. They’ve got billions and they’re pouring it into the Tea Party, they poured millions into getting Prop 23 passed in California which would repeal the state’s key climate and clean energy laws, they’ve got Supreme Court Justices in their back pockets.

Then you’ve got Joe Ricketts, founder of Ameritrade and owner of the Chicago Cubs, whose poured $600,000 into the Nevada Senate race to defeat Harry Reid.

Then there’s Rupert Murdoch, who ONLY became an American citizen (birthers, where are you?) so he could own American TV stations, who controls the largest, most watched news organization in America, who is pouring money into Republican campaigns because “It is in the best interest of the company“!

And these are the people we know about. According to Democracy 21:

this year, there is a massive infusion of special-interest money into U.S. politics that is secret, not reported. Corporations and other interests will spend more than $250 million of undisclosed funds to affect the outcome of the Nov. 2 national elections.

That’s incredible. I actually don’t oppose corporate spending in elections, but I think there should be total transparency. I think you should know that the owner of the Cubs wants Harry Reid out of office and that he’s willing spend more than half a million dollars to get it done. The only reason we know that fact is because he admitted it. He didn’t hide behind the 501(c)(4) organizations that so many others are hiding behind.

They should have to run at the end of a campaign ad all the disclosures that they require of anti-depressant ads. “This ad was brought to you by David and Charles Koch. They operate under the name Tea Party. Their annual income is in the billions. Listening to what they have to say may cause dizziness, lightheadedness and the inability to vote for the most qualified candidate. You may find out the next morning that you put someone in the Senate who just got their college degree this year. There is no legalized morning after election pill so you’re SOL on that one. Good luck.”

Daily Show: Healthraiser

Republican scare tactics filter into the real debate on health care reform, taking their toll on President Obama’s sales pitch.