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Subscribe to RSSDespite outraising its Democratic counterpart by a 2-to-1 margin, the Republican Governors Association won only four of 11 races in the 2012 election, a far cry from the success it enjoyed two years ago.
The Washington D.C.-based political organization raised almost $100 million, according to recently released Internal Revenue Service data. The group targeted six states it considered winnable, losing five of them. Democrats won seven of the 11 contests, but the GOP managed to pick up one seat in North Carolina, long held by Democrats.
The top donors to the so-called “527” organization, which can accept unlimited contributions from billionaires, corporations and unions, are familiar Republican Party patrons — No. 1 is Bob Perry, a Texas homebuilder and perennial RGA supporter, who gave $3.25 million. That’s a little more than half of what he gave in 2010.
Billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is No. 2, with $3 million in donations between him and his wife. According to the latest Federal Election Commission reports, Adelson is the top donor to super PACs in 2012, doling out more than $93 million along with his family.
Conservative billionaire David Koch — who has not made any contributions to super PACs — was the organization’s third-highest donor, writing two checks totaling $2 million. Koch is co-owner of the second-largest privately held company in America, Koch Industries, an energy conglomerate.
Seven of the RGA’s top 10 donors are corporate executives who gave at least $1 million. Two of them, Paul Singer and Kenneth Griffin, are hedge fund managers.
Six of the Democratic Governors Association's top donors were unions. The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees topped the DGA donors list, giving about $1.3 million. The Service Employees International Union gave about $1.1 million, while the American Federation of Teachers gave at least $772,000.
Top corporate donors to the DGA included pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, which gave almost $700,000, and AstraZeneca, which contributed nearly $600,000. The companies also gave comparable sums to the RGA. The DGA also got corporate support from health insurer United Healthcare Services Inc., and AT&T.
The DGA raised nearly $50 million, the organization's "strongest fundraising year ever," according to spokeswoman Kate Hansen.
'Enormous impact on state elections'
The DGA and RGA have devised national strategies for collecting unlimited funds from unions, corporations, and wealthy individuals, and funneling the money into state races. Both have used networks of state-based PACs to maneuver around various state limits on campaign giving.
“They’ve had an enormous impact on state elections across the nation,” said Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, an election law expert at Stetson Law School. “In many states they were consistently a top spender.”
The circuitous methods used by both organizations to inject corporate and union cash into state races and mask the identity of its donors have raised legal questions, prompted lawsuits, and tested the capacity of state election boards to enforce limits on outside spending.
Both organizations have told the Center for Public Integrity that they fully comply with campaign finance laws, and that they report their donors and spending to the IRS.
The RGA set up a federal super PAC called RGA Right Direction, and fed it with $9.8 million in contributions. The super PAC — another type of organization that can accept unlimited donations from individuals and corporations — then made a large contribution to Indiana Republican candidate Mike Pence, and bought ads in tight state races in Montana, Washington, New Hampshire, and West Virginia.
Super PACs are normally used to spend money on federal campaigns. By passing the funds through the super PAC, which reported its sole donor as the RGA, the association effectively shielded the identities of the donors who paid for ads in the state races.
In North Carolina, the RGA spent millions of dollars, directly from corporate treasuries to win in a state long led by Democratic governors. The unlimited contributions from dozens of corporations across the country went toward ads supporting Republican candidate Pat McCrory, who won convincingly over Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton.
The DGA, too, used a network of state-affiliated PACs, to fund ad campaigns in battleground states like Montana and North Carolina. It was the primary funder of a PAC called North Carolina Citizens for Progress, which purchased ads attacking McCrory.
While America’s wealthiest corporate executives tend to prefer the RGA, and unions give almost exclusively to the DGA, some donors played both sides this election.
Agricultural giant Monsanto, credit card company Visa and health insurance company Humana were large donors to both the RGA and DGA — each giving about $100,000 to both groups.
Despite the Republicans' win-loss record, RGA spokesman Michael Schrimpf called 2012 "a successful year by any standard" with Republicans now in control of governorships in 30 states. Most of those gains, however, came in 2010. The North Carolina win and the failed effort to recall Scott Walker, Wisconsin's Republican governor, in June, were high points for the GOP this year.
In addition, in five states targeted by the RGA where it lost, the Democrats held advantages unrelated to fundraising.
Missouri and West Virginia featured Democratic incumbents. Three other states — Montana, Washington and New Hampshire — had open seats where a Democrat had previously been in power.
The two organizations will put their fundraising powers to the test again in 2013, when Virginia and New Jersey choose their next governors.
Michael Beckel contributed to this report.
The Center for Public Integrity is a non-profit independent investigative news outlet. For more of its stories go to publicintegrity.org
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"Six of the Democratic Governors Association's top donors were unions."
And. in a nutshell, the reason for the right wing's war on unions. Its not about "right to work" and other nonsense euphemisms, its about trying to strip Democrats and American workers of what little financial power they have left. In their world (and the world of the poor and middle class right wing sycophants, who think if they suck up to big business and do their bidding, they will get some of their crumbs), corporations should have one hundred percent of the power and the workers zero percent. Back to the 1880s for the American worker, that's the right wing hope. And the poor and middle class conservatives are all too (blindly) happy to help big business and the rich reach their goal of complete domination. Pathetic.
Dale
I agree with you.
The buying of our government and the way it has been done. This is a part of the reason the fiscal cliff problem has not been solved yet. The big money boys are crying fowl and don't make me pay for it ( not out of my pocket you don't ). If you want to win an election . You must sell your sole to the devil and do their bidding. Without getting the money out of the election process we are doomed . What was it ??? Two billion dollars spent or more just to run for president . Yes sir, the best government money can buy. To bad the middle class and down can't play. We are to busy trying to hold a job and make ends meet.
O.K. Dale.....in your convoluted, shrinking world, let's see what would happen if we did away with all those evil corporations and private business entrepreneurs that you despise. No problem ...? I'm sure all your union bosses would have no problem launching new businesses and then running the companies that provide the jobs that your people seek....right? So why don't you and all your union people go out there and get it done....show us how to create the jobs. It's real simple to do..anybody can create and run a company...correct? What you idiots forget.....there would be nothing for you at all, no jobs, nothing....without the people that first make it happen...the entrepreneurial businessman that launch and then manage companies...both small and large.
First off I don't think anyone is saying that we don't need Corporations and Private Business. I think what people are saying is they have gotten too greedy. When they try to control every aspect of our lives they have gone too far. They say they want to get rid of Unions but they have a Republican Union of Governors, can't you see the hypocrisy of that?
WOW, GOP performed worse than 2010 even with more money. At least there is some good news. As in Mitt's case, money can't buy ... all elections at least.
I hope Gov. Christy wins in NJ; I like that Jersey Girl.
ceo-722851,
You think that corporations exist on their own? That the CEO and board members just willed them into existence as rich entities who provide all these jobs and resources? And that the products and services just fall out of their rear ends with no help from anyone else?
Sorry, but the workers are the reason the capital exists, just as much as the workers exist because of the capital. Companies are circular, not linear. Yet in your world, companies are linear and that it all magically starts with the CEO and the richest Americans and everything just flows from them. But in my actual world, it is circular. Yes, without the moneymakers, we would not have jobs. But without the workers, the rich would not have a company or the things that make them rich in the first place.
I am in a rare situation - I work at a university as a system engineer. I help build and maintain the public computing sites and background services that our staff and students use. But I am also in a union, a rare thing for "white collar" workers. And while it is true that my comfortably paying job could not exist without the university and its students, the university could not exist and would not attract students (and thus capital) without my skills. The same holds true for any for-profit enterprise.
But when you turn what should be a circular endeavor into a one sided affair, eventually that other side is not going to want to play any more and everyone will lose.
The truth is that Super PACs are the enemy weather they are funded by Unions, Corporations or Millionaires. They use their extreme wealth to drown out the voice of the average citizen who can't hop to compete. There is a lot of talk going around about State Rights, but when a Supper PAC from New York pours million's of dollars into a political campaign in Arkansas, that really isn't much better than DC trying to tell them what to do.
Dale
What you have said may very well be true. The thing that has me all fired up is this. The blatant disregard for the employees by the CEO's and board members. The off shoring of jobs for the use of slave labor. The dummy companies and shell companies for tax evasion purposes , along with blatant disregard for safety rules and EPA laws. All in the name of profit. Then the buying of our government in order to obtain rulings and laws to protect them from being prosecuted for their wrong doings.
Don, you are absolutely correct. Get rid of all Super PACs. The Supreme Court's ruling on that was horrendous.
My complaint though is with the existing system, corporations have all the power, the workers none. If they are going to allow PACS, then you can't have corporations allowed to run willy nilly, while unions are being cut down by government.
Bobt,
What you said is true, but in regards to corporations, I understand why they would want to get rid of unions, just like I understand why works want unions - its self preservation. If I were a CEO, I probably wouldn't want a union at my company either.
My beef is with the government. They should have ZERO role in this, with these GOP governors and legislatures getting in on it and essentially banning unions by siding full on with corporations and the nation's richest . That is completely unacceptable.
This is a simple strategy, pack the governments at the state level with republicans and you accomplish two things. 1.) you can attack the unions and thereby weaken the Democrats fund raising base and 2.) they can gerrymander congressional districts to insure they maintain a majority in the Congress. It works, even though they failed to gain the Senate and the White House in the short term, they have succeeded in their long term plan. Until Citizens United is reversed we will have an even more corrupt partisan government.
OK, a lot of good comments, ideas but there is never any follow-thru! I think most posters on both sides would agree we need campaign finance reform... but how do you get it? You have to approach the very people who are on this teet and get them to pass legislation that would ban it.
You would have better luck getting a heroin addict to pull back the needle once he has plunged it half way into his arm.
I wish I had a suggestion how to get it done, but seriously people, we have these criminals supposedly representing us but they take care of special interests. They may campaign on change but once they get to D.C. they are met by the Gatekeepers that tell them how it really is... take your seat and shut up!
Workers dont want unions, that is why unions are terrified of right-to-work, they know that given a chocie, workers will opt of of extortion, errr unions.
The only workers that want unions, are the life long members who's whole family grew up as a brainwashed union lacky and brainwashed their spawns to think unions still have a purpose. Educated people see right through the union lies.
Maybe it's because people are beginning to see the bold corruption plaguing the GOWP. Take for instance, Michigan's Governor Snyder, another multi-millionaire, worth north of $200million dollars, standing firm on the side of big-business and his millionaire/billionaire buddies who put him in office to put strength and bargaining, firmly back into the hands of those businesses by reducing your salary, your hours, your benefits, and your rights to bargain for YOUR life.
It's simply amazing the number of 47%ers whom these republicans like Romney spoke of, whom they are not concerned with, to be voting these people in office left and right. It's like these idiot voters are begging to be slaughtered.
Exactly, but it is those corporations that are supporting these elections to these very offices so these specific governors/legislators, can do their bidding.
Without unions, corporations and people like you would run rough-shod over employees. Unions have
bargaining points to keep people like you and corporations from screwing workers to death. Looking at your response, it would probably be ok to bring back slavery.
trudat6445,
Spoken like someone truly ignorant of modern unions.
The End Game is coming to the GOP, stop trying to buy our Democracy with the Koch Baggers Money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Folks...the true item not mentioned or comminted on is easy to see if you want to..and that is honesty among our elected..which we do not have nor have had for years. The banking failures during Bush's term brought most of this to a head. The banks, playingf fast and lose with money from the average citizens ruined this nations economy and not one banker has gone to jail nor will. It is folks all about money...the wealthy want it all and they have the backing at this time of a congress that is made up of members of the wealthy. And now during this past election we say just how bad the wealthy want to win and what party they are focusing on to do so. it is the voters who have the power if we become for a change smarter and actually do the reading required to know what is going on in this nation. Consider the company's that have taken jobs elsewhere..it is congress who allow this to happen and then hand out no fees at all for itmes brought back to this country. Consider too that every nation other than this one has a tax on anything imported from other nations to protect their own workers...even the slave labor in china ..but not in this country..not a single worker is protected but every business is. Every nation we deal with has a Value added tax ...not this nation...no workers are protected..only company's. IF you think not then ask your own representatives and see just what kind of answer you get...see if you agree with it.
You unnion hacks are so funny, you can never come up with an argument that can be rationalized post 1920.
The corrupt unions are going down people, this will be great for the country, but keep lying to people that it will bring back sweatshops.
You republican cronies are truly sad in your one-sided attempt to destroy the middle-class/working class/poor of this country. What people like you want is the return to slave days. Exactly how much profit is enough for you people?
I can picture you at one of these plush hotels with a plush cigar bar smoking illegal Cuban cigars, drinking expensive Scotch, bragging about your enormous wealth, how you can make more, and who's screwing whom.
Yes mosh, everyone that knows; how corrupt unions are, how irrelevant they are, and knows that you libs just love buying elections with taxpayer money, are mega wealthy billionaires.
What an idiot you are.
trudat6445,
Wages are at their lowest in 30 years and unions are at their lowest in enrollment in 30 years. Do the math.
Guys, if unions are so great, why are you afraid of people having a choice?
Wont they opt into the great union?
Please explain this to me.
Its not about choice. Its about cutting the financial power of unions in politics. GOPers can never stand a level playing field and this is just another cheat for the GOP to get rid of opposition - just like gerrymandering is the only reason the GOP can even hold the House.
People who don't pay their massive $2 a month fees still get the benefits of union negotiation. No one is going to purposely pay (even $2) for something they can get for free.
Perhaps I should start a movement to force the NRA to stop charging a fee to join. You should get their benefits for free. Then watch the GOP politicians screech.
Let's see union membership is at it's lowest in years, but the Rethugs still see them as a major threat to the American way of life! What way is that? No OSHA, 12-18 hour days, no medical coverage, no vacations or pensions and 6 1/2 days of work a week?
This is all about sending a subtle message to the worker bees. Do not unite against the ruling classes or you will be punished. Do not support their politics or candidates or you will lose your jobs, and we will make it so you can't get another.
You will find out the hard way why you need unions. The only thing you have to sell is your labor and you are entitled to a decent wage for it. Do you really think the boss is going to appreciate you. How many times have you done a good job only to have some suck up get promoted ahead of you and your work load increase?
"Those who will not learn history are destined to repeat it"!
And Tru: if you could get something for free, why would you voluntarily pay for it???
I didnt know i was required to join the NRA, at all, nevermind to secure a job. Great analogy, if youre an idiot.
You still cant answer the question, obviously unions just arent that great if people are opting out of them when not being FORCED to join.
You fail at this, your unions failed, and now the people have spoken.
Corporate and union money should be banned from elections. Only citizens should be able to donate and up to a $2500 limit. If you can't vote for a candidate because you don't live in his/her state or district you should not be able to donate to that campaign. Bundling should not be allowed. It's time to stop the PACS, Super PACS, 5013cs or what ever they're called and these groups with Orwellian sounding names from hijacking our government.
For those of you that are anti-union asnwer one question: When unions were on their rise or at least holding there own Americans wages where rising as where their standards of living. Since they have been in decline the wages of Americans and their standard of living has and is falling. Why don't you see the connection?
I agree ban the super pacs, corps, and unions from donating. They've bought another empty suit for the next 4 yrs but I don't see any of you left wingers crying about that!!!!
Devil's Son, I agree with your analogy regarding Unions but political donations I differ. I would counter it's time for term limits for starters. I'd then push for campaign finance reform in that each candidate is afforded a specific amount period. No donations from any other source the candidate has to run on the funds made available no pandering to anyone.
TruDat...you may not understand because you are not a Union member the ramifications of the Michigan vote. Perhaps this will help...private Union contractors maintain a Union work force for one very good reason. Unions and Contractors agree and sign a contract for wages, benefits, working conditions and transportation issues. When you become a Work at Will State a Contractor can hire Non-Union workers along side Union Workers. Now...Who do you think will have work and who won't? Contractors and business owners will opt for the Non-Union worker because they are not obligated to pay agreed wages, benefits, meet standards for working conditions or transporation issues. When state's eg. Michigan decide to broaden their power to Private Unions eg. trades you now have ended Unions. Public Unions are those that the State negotiates with and has a stake in but Private Trade Unions are Just that. So Mr. Synder and his cronies basically just reversed a decades old law of allowing people to UNIONIZE. He busted UNIONS in favor of Corporations. If corporations were such great team players then answer this question. Why are the Fortune 500 Corporations sitting on 3Trillion Dollars and our Unemployment rate where it has been and continues? I'll give you a hint...GREED.
Mary, the only reason unions and their members are against this legislation is because they know they can not compete in a free market. They need to force themselves into jobs because they know they make jobs more expensive.
Why would anyone pay more for the same product (usually worse, with cut corners when done by union members) when they dont have to.
Union members are afraid of having to compete for fair wages, they like getting paid more for less.
Yeah Dale, that's the problem. Not to point out the obvious, but unions represent a vast amount of people including people who actually live and work in the state. Whereas the money on the right comes from people who do not live in the state and represents several people.
Give me one good reason, Bob Perry who reside in Texas, or the Koch brothers who reside in California care about Scott Walker in Wisconsin ? Hmmm, a real conundrum and you are dumb enough to by into it. It's no big secret that the uber wealthy would love it if we worked for 3rd world wages and benefits. But keep pumping the wealthy, maybe, with any luck you can find yourself working for a deplorable wage with no benefits. The you all can hold hands and sing with glee know you defeated those evil democrats and Unions who wanted to get blue class labors wages they can live on.
And with any luck you can retire without social security or medicare, a republicans wet dream.
trudat6445,
They aren't "opting out". They start already "out" and the (GOP) government is forcing them to ask to join and pay.
My NRA example is only not understood if you are an idiot. The point was, the Dems could find ways to make it harder for the NRA and other pro-GOP groups to contribute to GOP causes and thus, politically neuter them, just like the GOP is trying to do to pro-Dem groups.
And YOU never answered the question as to why you are so concerned about such a small (10-12 percent) group like union people.
trudat6445,
Union workers work no more or less harder than regular people and their products are no more or less shoddy than any other product. You are believing the right wing propaganda again.
Gee thats a tough one, well not really if you live in a bankrupt blue state like i do with skyrocketing property taxes because of the unsustainable union pensions. For sh!tbags who require to be paid 9months back pay because they were fired for stealing from the city.
Yep, no reason to care at all you dope.
Sorry dale, only union workers think they put in the same effort, and your NRA analogy is still irrelevantly stupid.
trudat,...I to live in a state with skyrocketing property taxes but not because of Union members or Pensions alone. I blame the state legislators and leaders for negotiating unrealistic agreements for extended periods of time. If states negoiated public union contracts for one year maximum 18mos. cost effective means could be realized. Unfortunately both side assume longer agreements benefit because compensation packages are fixed for the duration. You may also research how often in recent years union members have taken cuts in pay, pension and medical benefits to remain competitive with the free market. Several problems on both sides still need to be addressed. You probably from your post are not a union member and most likely have taken a loss on income, benefits and pension. As research shows unions have done the same to remain competitive. However, I believe absolutely no one including corporate management should be allowed to touch employees pension funds for corporate capital. Those funds are deposited for your benefit because of your hard work not some fictional character. I'd say it's time to close the cookie jar lid on pension fund borrowing. Thus many would not have seen their 401K's raided eg. Hostess perfect example.
Your post at 1.29... I respectfully disagree as I know several union and non-union members who work in both public and private sectors. Union members are required to continue education, be certified and meet state requirements not arbitrary or union requirements alone. One example. teachers who must continue their education and show proof of their doing so. The educator who does not meet state requirements has their teacher certification revoked. I agree there are some who give union membership a bad name by their actions. However, I urge you to investigate what it takes to become and be a union member such as in the trades. Ask about the process, how long the apprenticeship program will take, what is required once your an apprentice and after. Unions do serve two purposes, one is a check and balance for workers and yes employers. Importantly, unions do not just protect their members they work in the behalf of customers perhaps such as you. Unions do establish a set criteria or standards that members must meet along side state requirements for licensing and certification. You, the public and those who choose to use union workers benefit from those standards. You reference how unions cut corners I am curious to what your referring to. Where I live state, city and county inspectors make sure corners are not cut to increase someone's profit. I have seen and known inspectors to stop work and hold up projects for failure to meet local, state and county ordinances. One trade union member explained, the electrical code for most major cities is based off of Chicago's code. Why? Our Lady of Angels School fire that killed students and nuns. Apparently the loss of so many resulted in stiff building ordinances enforced to this day.
Unions represent millions of people while the republican super PACs represent 1 person attempting to buy special breaks for themselves. The largest republican donor, Sheldon with the tax breaks and tax holiday on repatriating money proposed by Romney was estimated it might save him as much as 2 billion the first year. Anyone really believe Romney's proposals had nothing to do with paying for this mans money?
trudat.....
the reason people want to work in a union shop is because they pay decent wages and most have decent benefits. the people that go to work in a union shop know that it is union and are willing to have a very small portion of their pay withdrawn as union dues. it is typically 2hrs of pay per month. PEOPLE AREN'T THE ONES COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TO PAY UNION DUES. THE REPUBLICANS ARE! and they complaining because a small portion of those dues, approximately 1%, are used to support candidates. and believe it or not they always don't go to democratic candidates. and the union workers are not told that they MUST vote for a certain candidate.i worked for the UAW for 40 years. took advantage of their education benefits. completed med school. and became a Pharmacist. and by the way.....the UAW took on all the cost of their members health care. so our union dues also provide us with health care. and one other little tid bit of information...........Chrysler was run into the ground by a BAIN-LIKE company called Cerebus. They ran Chrysler into bankruptcy and because of the union they could not rob us of our pensions. another reason people might want to work in a union shop.
Your statement reminds me soooo much of those made by the financial institutions that Bush bailed out before he left office. When asked why they thought it was appropriate to issue large bonuses after having to be bailed out by the government they said "well, we have to do this to keep competent people."
Excuse me? The same "competent people" who cause so much of this mess in the first place?
Those union bosses you denigrate couldn't possibly do a worse job running the companies that provide the jobs that your people seek than the present captains of industry. They have done a fine job providing jobs in China - here in the US, not so much!
I saw on the news how especially the southern right-to-work states attract business like German auto and other manufacturing and how Michigan wants to become like that. Because of the tax benefits, too, these states are the new cheap labor states of the world. Do we as Americans really want that? Look at Germany, a country which has strong unions, high wages and high taxes, has an extremely strong economy and will have paid off their deficit in the near future. Their economy is so strong that they can use the US to get around their own strong labor protection laws which require health care, long vacations and other benefits, maternity leaves for both parents, and union support. Funny how that works. We have become the new China.
Or Chimerica?
SDaisie, also understand that the German unions and companies train their workers in a apprentice programs where here companies expect to hire employees with all the job skills they require. Germany has the lowest unemployment rate in the EU and thats one of the reasons why.
SD, good post. I would like to see the US develop an educational model similar to Germany's. One with a skilled apprentice type of track and one for a college level track. As citizens, we need to take back our state governments and start from there. The solution to fixing this is bottom-up not top-down.
We use to have that in our high schools....but thanks to Bush and his NCLBall schools got rid of any type of tech program to just focus on the test. They also got rid of gym and one of the big reasons why kids are so fat.
Before the '80s there were apprenticeship programs in different trade unions. I was an apprentice printer / typesetter in the late 60s. It was a four year program. In my case, a newspaper hired me at a reduced rate. I got incremental raises as I advanced in the program. After four years I became a journeyman printer. Not much like that around these days.
We are slowly becoming The Individual States of America.
jp....i thought it was ECLB.......Every Child Left Behind.
What a joke. all that did was force teachers to make sure students got good grades, whether they earned them or not, so the schools could get more government funding and the bush admin could get credit for improving education. Even though more high school students graduated from high school that couldn't even read.
No Child Left behind - do you happen to know who sponsored that bill?
On 5/23/2001 Boehner sponsored the No Child Left Behind bill.
With all the money that was poured into the election, it makes it very clear that there should be a spending cap. It was ridiculous. The incessant television ads, telemarketing phone polls, shiny mail literature--pathetic! What a total waste of time and money. No one, and I mean NO ONE I spoke with said they listened to one word of the television tripe. Thank heavens for caller ID. And the shiny mail literature? I find that it makes an excellent dust pan to sweep up the kitty litter around the cat box.
If the politicians had half a brain (yeah, here's to wishing), a smart one would say, "You know with these millions upon millions spent on re-election, I'm going to spend my money on two things. The first one is a simple black and white advertisement that will run throughout my campaign, and it will support the other expenditure: 'I gave all my (other) election advertising cash to the federal government for the express purpose of paying down the national debt.'" For the state positions, it could be the same thing at state level. I would vote for that person in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately for the politicians, it would require the half of a brain.
you can thank the koch bros for that. they bought the SCOTUS and that's why we have citizens united.
Wait, NBC News is saying that donations had anywhere near the impact their "Democrat Campaign Slogans disguised as news" did? NBC, take credit for the enormous and deciding impact your efforts had on national and state-wide elections -- be proud of an accomplishment you worked so hard for! You won!
Aint that good.
And yet on politifacts list of most blatant lies this campaign the top 5 were republicans. Obama had 6 and 8. The reason right wingers believe only democrats ran a dirty campaign is because you believe every right wing conspiracy about Obama and think every question raised about Romney didn't matter. When you pull your head out of the sand and consider points raised by both sides instead of just yours maybe you'll see what the rest of us does. Otherwise you'll continue to lose when you believe you've clearly won on points. Next election when you see post after post questioning your candidates character and you hear the right chanting it doesn't matter they can't prove anything, remember we don't have to.
First of all, that's not what they said at all... that's what you said!
Secondly, your comment is fricking hilarious. Just look at the number 1 LIE from Politifact:
It was a lie told in the critical state of Ohio in the final days of a close campaign -- that Jeep was moving its U.S. production to China. It originated with a conservative blogger, who twisted an accurate news story into a falsehood. Then it picked up steam when the Drudge Report ran with it. Even though Jeep's parent company gave a quick and clear denial, Mitt Romney repeated it and his campaign turned it into a TV ad.
And they stood by the claim, even as the media and the public expressed collective outrage against something so obviously false.
People often say that politicians don’t pay a price for deception, but this time was different: A flood of negative press coverage rained down on the Romney campaign, and he failed to turn the tide in Ohio, the most important state in the presidential election.
So you know what? Republicans don't have to worry about any left-leaning press. All they really have to worry about is their own damned lies... disguised as news, of course!
Good for the economy, better than taxing them.
US government is totally ruled by money.
What is apparent, is both the Left and Right pay to influence who is sitting in the Governor's chair. Did we really expect anything else? The bottom line is really what matters in this world, whether in businesses or politics. Americans aren't that stupid to think it would be anything else.
What they are surprised to find at times, is just how deep some pockets are and who is behind the chair supporting the person sitting in it. That is because so many average folks still have ethics and integrity. Something long ago abandoned by our political leaders.
No matter how loud and long the Democrats complain about the Republicans or vice versa, both sides play the same game.The average citizen is just disgusted and tired of being used and lied to by each side, pretending to have their best interests at heart. Yet, once elected, it's every leader devoted to whoever supported their election and bribes keeping them there the most.
I worked in accounting for one of the largest prescription processors in the world. They carried a PAC on the books and I remember one day they scrambled to make correcting entries because things weren't quite right. This company never touched a single piece of medicine. They just sent data to different places. They made over $15 million a month in profit. The owner was able to put this huge business together in just a few short years, negotiating contracts with every major health insurance company in the country in like 6 years. The place made so much money, everyone had personal shoppers and drove BMWs. Lunch was provided by chefs. If your child was sick they sent you a personal nanny so you could go to work. The owners silk suits were so expensive they literally glowed. Of course, everyone paid a lot more for their prescriptions, but no one cared. The owner was a college roommate of Bush 2.0.
Thank you for your honesty.
That is why US can't have a national healthcare program. No opportunities for fraud by well connected scammers.
Bush implemented his drug plan which pumps 100 billion a year in new money to a hand full of big pharmaceutical companies. Instead of doing as Obama did and negotiating discounts for this new flood of money he simply paid full freight. Obama negotiated over 700 billion in cuts from hospitals, doctors and drug companies based on the fact with 30 million new patients able to pay instead of being treated free via emergency rooms they could make more with nearly every patient being able to pay. The right rails over the massive cost of Obamacare but ignores the fact the yearly cost isn't much more than Bush's drug plan. I guess they think it was free simply because Bush didn't bother to pay for it. Like his wars.
more crap from msnbc
Clearly any article that actually quotes facts instead of focusing on the latest Obama conspiracy theory is crap unlike a real news outfit like Fox. That's why you people lost the election. You relied on one liners, insults and conspiracy theories about Obama and ignored any questions about Romney's character as unimportant. To the majority of Americans unproven conspiracies by nutjobs like Limbaugh and Trump didn't matter while character issues concerning Romney did when he refused to address them. But you are a typical right winger. You think you'll sway peoples opinions with only 4 words. more crap from msnbc.
2014 is coming quickly bye-bye gop governors
Unions donated nearly $1 billion combined, and 91% went to the democrats. Nothing about that in the article.
You always pull numbers out of your ass? This is an article addressing donations to governors and far more money was given to republicans by individuals. Unions represent millions of workers and donations amount to a few dollars per member while 1 republican, Sheldon donated almost 100 million by himself. No reasonable person would think it's fine for 1 person to buy special policies just for him yet those representing the concerns of millions shouldn't be heard. Romney promised a tax holiday if elected to allow repatriation of foreign money which was estimated to save Sheldon 2 billion his first year. You believe that was a coincidence?
It doesn't matter how much money unions donated to democrats and it doesn't matter how much money CEO/management gave to republicans. What does matter is that our campaign finance laws need fixing. Conservatives give money to governor's races in states where they don't live and are not affected to accomplish what they want politically. It is none of the people's in Texas business whether Michigan has unions or not. It is none of the people's business in Michigan whether Texas is a "right to work state or not". What is at stake is that unions overwhelmingly support democrats because democrats believe in collective bargaining. CEOs/management are overwhelmingly republican because they are anit collective bargaining. Neither side is right and neither side is wrong. I do however, believe collective bargaining in one state does not affect another unless the benefits become obvious. Our campaign finance system is broken and it is like our government. The excuse for the excesses and poor behaviour by one side is blamed on the excesses and poor behavior of the other side. We are paying a lot of money to be represented by children.
What is so sad is that when the middle class is gone these 1% folks will also shrink, after all when we all make $12/hr who can afford that new car or afford to get health care. The 1% depends on us to spend, when all we can do is pay for a basic livelihood then quite a few 1% will become the new middle class, just a lot smaller.
The 1% doesn't need us to spend anymore - there are brand new middle-classes growing in India and china. They only need us to continue to provide the political means to do their business and they buy that.
Isn't that the truth!!
I think the libs are a little sore from their loss in Michigan yesterday...as in sore losers.
Voters better start waking up to the fact that they will soon be governed by Koch industries, a war mongering Jew named Adelson, and the State of Israel. Of course anybody with half a brain could have predicted this with the Citizen United decision. The S. Ct. put our whole political system up for sale to the highest bidder.
If I have to choose between the capitalist Koch Bros, or the marxist obama???
The Koch Bros are the odds on favorite!!!!!
Gary,
Please define marxist.....
And also, look up unrestrained capitalism -
The US was built upon restrained capitalism...
jody, dear I have lived under unrestrained capitalism for many years, have fought communist and choose unrestrained capitalism!!!
You cans share all the wealth you choose to, this is still America and not yet the amerikka you and obama intend to create!!!
Look at the 50's and 60's, those were the years of restrained capitalism in the US. The years my family reached ahead, along with many others. The middle class was booming, inventions were multiplying, capital was flowing. Yes, those are the years I would like to see the US go back to.
Unrestrained capitalism only helps the top 2-3% of the population.. It is the reverse and the same as communism in many ways -- primarily because both lead to income inequality (see Russia before its downfall) and finally major unrest in their populations when the people see the light. Over the past few years, two decades of family wealth in the middle and upper middle class have been wiped out.
I live in a more socialist country right now. Higher education results in math, science, and reading; universal health care, best economy among the G7 countries, 2nd happiest people in the world (based on 2012 report), lower maternal and infant mortality rates, higher probability of upward mobility among the young, longer life, etc.
Yes, I pay higher taxes then if I lived in the US, but we are in private business and make a super living, travel a great deal, pay for our kids to go to US colleges out of pocket. Oh, by the way I vote conservative here (because it is like the old fashioned republican beliefs that I had growing up. You know, financial conservatism and keep you nose out of social issues. Yeah, kind of how my parents raised me in the middle of Illinois. We had plans to move back to the US, but based on how weather has decimated most of the places we would want to move, plus the huge negativism of the US, we are reconsidering.
jody, dear just how low can you go???
I must really, LMAO!!!!
Most liberals aren't concerned too much with what happens in other states. We worry about our states, local government and national ones. That's why Democrats don't pump massive amounts of money to states where we don't live. Unlike republicans who spend hundreds of millions in governor races in states they don't even live in to push their radical agenda.
every serious or great depression we have faced has one thing in common..............a republican controlled congress that lowered taxes. the only republican to raise taxes to pay for a war was Lincoln. he doubled the top rate from 5% to 10% to pay for the civil war.
Anyone who thinks that the issues faced by the USA can, or WILL, be fixed by a single Political Party, and is willing to support that concept is politically and HISTORICALLY ignorant. That concept always leads to oppressive dictatorships, and ultimately wealth for a Preferred Class ONLY. Hope for AT LEAST strong 2 Party Systems, and a 3rd Party if possible. That is the ONLY way to keep the politicians anywhere near HONEST. U.S. Voters are for the most part STUPID.
just look at the results of democratic run states and that tells the other side of the story. I'm sure unions have their place and way back they had their purpose but now in this global economy the right to work states are where businesses flock to because the non right to work states cost to much to do business unless you have a sweet deal every time a company threatens to leave IL. to go next door all of sudden they negotiate give out gifts and raise taxes on the working class to make up for the gifts they gave away it's a cruel situation. Thank goodness IL. it's not run by democrats Chicago is so strong Republican honest ,fair and attentive to balancing a budget yes I live at the bottom of the sea
There is probably nothing that can save unions in the long run. Real wages have not gone up in this country in 30 years and neither party has any idea what to do about it. It is caused from different sources that are outside of our control. We don't need as much labor because of the advances we have made. Nothing can change that but the days of being a high school graduate and making a good living to support a family and buy a home are coming to an end. It is sad. Unions and the GI bill started the middle class after WWII and that is coming to an end too. There are many people who are anti union that will be wishing we had unions when the public's buying power starts shrinking. Companies and government entered into contracts with collective bargaining because they needed the labor. They do not anymore so no one is paying. Management always blames labor for their failings, partially because they can and partially because it is human nature. We may not have a middle class when this is all over which means there will be another revolution because that is what always happens when there is a huge wealth disparity. Sad
into it
For all those people in Republican states, do you ever stop, ever, to ask why are the Koch bros, Adelson, and company funding your governors and state representatives. Is it because these guys are so into looking out for you. Or do you just sit there with the channel changer locked in your hand and just digest the ads without considering their profit motive.
In 2010, the top 10 percent of earners gained more than $105,000 dollars in income, primarily through bonuses and salary increases. No other group did so well. The middle 60% of earners, gained a paltry $80. per annum. I will bet that Adelson, Koch and company think that no one in any other group should be making anything more, because their greedy little eyes are on the whole pie.
And no, I am not in a union, I am a psychologist interested in how people think (if they do, insert kock ads instead of activating grey matter) and how the cognitions lead to their actions.
Practicing psychology on a news blog???
Attempting to engage with the crap you posted above???
Many more happy dreams???
Enjoy your comrade obama, your marxist!!!
Look above at previous post 15.4, Gary. I own my own business, fully engage in my little capitalist world with benefits, live a great life. I don't 'practice psychology on the blogs, but some of the concepts of cognitive - behavioural sciences really do apply to the political world, advertising, all the stuff that goes on behind the curtains in your alice in the wonderland world.
Still no definitions. Sad
gary, dear
guys should use endearments always, right.
I do believe you are a troll. Never deal with facts, such as statistics #19, always fling around terms like Marxism, without substantiating them, short barbs to incite others, great way to communicate.
I have to go now, workday begins in an hour into early evening.
Gary, Jody is not talking psychology or Marxism, he's talking statistics and campaign publicity fact, if you can't tell the difference...oh never mind. *facepalm*
No wonder the Republicans are totally against any form of campaign reform! How many people could have been hired with the billions spent on the election? Corporate greed and power are the two single most important objectives of the Republican party. People and the states in which they live should have sole control over the election of their state officials! And to think the Republicans are supporters of state's rights. Hypocrisy again! And then let's talk about the Religious Right and their "values" plan while they accept millions from gambling revenue from Adelson, but let's forego the religious precepts because winning is everything! Quite an investment for a losing team!
There is an idea, let's just outlaw republicans from raise campaign contribution???
DeMint said he'd rather have 30 true believers in the Senate than 60 who would merely talk the talk. Meaning if they didn't truly believe in the right wing agenda he didn't want them. Republicans don't need to be outlawed they apparently are perfectly willing to become as insignificant as the green party.
Republicans may govern a majority of states- but how does that translate into terms of overall population?
Here's a list and a map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_governors
Many of the states in question cover significant areas, but have very low population densities.
It turns out that the split, based on population, is a little less than 50/50- so the perception that Republicans enjoy any significant dominance is completely illusory.
In fact, these losses are significant, and represent the continuation of a trend in progress.
The nation isn't impressed, and will continue to thin Republican ranks unless they can stop focusing on obsessive service to wealth and get down to the business of running a nation- instead of running it into the ground for the sake of short-term profit.
Spending twice as much and losing a majority of your races makes it pretty obvious- most people aren't buying the baloney; in fact, people like the Kochs are having to hire bloggers instead of inspiring them.
Every key state went for Obama despite who they had as governor.
It won't be long the politicians will be on Ebay. Putting ads up: 1 million will buy you a politician. I will be your slave and only do what you want me to do if I'm elected. Giving you: "A pathway of owning America."Only on Ebay, we give you a party of your choice of owning America.
President Lincoln warned the America people in one of his speeches years ago:
Beware of a few elite rich people wanting to own America buying off corrupt politicians. Bringing down our democracy of all American people.
Are we here today? Guess each American must make that decision on their votes.
Democrats:
We must work (across state lines) to undo republican gains at the state level.
Contact---- http://www.democrats.org/about/in_your_state/null ----to learn how you can help.
As the socio/econo/political knowledge of a population increases, the power of those who wish to influence the governance of its nation with money will decrease, and laws will be written more closely into the interests of the many vs. the few. The very intention of a democracy, yet there are still those of us who barely know how to spell.
Educate yourselves, folks. The very future of the nation is at stake.
They rant about unions pumping money into these governors races but ignore the fact that unions pretty much stick to donations to governors in the states where they work while republicans brought in hundreds of millions from all over the country to buy these seats in states they don't even live in. The same with congressional seats. Democrats wish to elect people to represent them, republicans to push their agenda where ever they can.
Ah yes! The Republican/Conservative Movement. They want to return the power and decision making back to the states where they can promptly turn around and subvert public opinion with outside money and if that fails they will work hard to suppress the vote. Gotta love them!
We can only hope the tearepugs continue as they are; spending millions and losing the majority of what they are spending for.
Americans are more educated now; notice how many just tune out the derogatory rhetoric of the recent campaign. Just because they are not shouting on the airways does not mean they haven't given thought to the way the country is headed. I believe the populace has seen and has made their decisions known with Nov. 6th.
Americans are more educated now???
I am very curious how you can substantiate that???