The TRUTH about the Tea Party, Koch brothers

Future Predictions: The Billionaires Tea Party Strikes at Political Ambitions for 2012, Thanks to the Koch Brothers $100 Million

Filed under: 2012, Politics by futurepredictions — Leave a comment

April 27, 2011

Photo Credit>>>

The Truth About the Tea Party

“Who is behind the Tea Party? David H. Koch in 1996. He and his brother Charles are lifelong libertarians and have quietly given more than a hundred million dollars to right-wing causes.”
Read more>>>

Sardonicky: Taking Stock This Labor Day Weekend

Sardonicky: Taking Stock This Labor Day Weekend

Obama Full-Month Approval in August Falls to Lowest of His Presidency

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_month_by_month

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
In August, the number who Strongly Approve of Obama’s job performance was at 21%.  That’s down three points from 24% in July and the lowest level measured during Obama's entire presidency.  The previous low was 23% reached in both April and June of this year.

Since July 2009, the number who Strongly Approved of the president’s performance has now ranged from a low of 21% to a high of 31%.  By comparison, 43% Strongly Approved of Obama's performance in January 2009.

The number of voters who Strongly Disapprove of the president’s performance increased a point from July to 42% in August.  The number of voters who Strongly Disapproved has ranged from 37% to 44% since July 2009.

The full-month Presidential Approval Index rating for August is down four points from July to -21.  That’s by far Obama's lowest full-month approval index rating since taking office in January 2009.  Prior to this survey, Obama’s lowest level of approval was -17, reached three times since January 2009.  With a few exceptions, the president’s approval index rating has stayed between -14 and -17 since the beginning of 2010.

The full-month numbers for August show Strong Approval from 43% of Democrats, while 73% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among voters not affiliated with either party, 14% Strongly Approve and 42% Strongly Disapprove of Obama's job performance.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

 
The president’s total job approval dipped two points in August to 44%, also the lowest level of approval to date.  The last time half (50%) of voters approved of Obama’s performance was in July 2009.  For 2011, prior to this survey, the president’s total job approval on a full-month basis has remained in the narrow range of 46% to 49%.  Throughout 2010, Obama’s full month approval ratings ranged from 45% to 47%.
Fifty-five percent (55%) disapproved of the president’s performance in August, the highest level measured yet.  That finding has ranged from 49% to 54% since July 2009. 

The economy remains the top issue on the minds of voters, while perceptions of the president’s handling of the issue has fallen to a new low.
Most voters continue to blame the struggling economy on the recession that began during the Bush administration, but the number who trusts their own economic judgment more than Obama’s is at a new high. 
Voters continue to have mixed views on the president’s leadership style.
Obama earns his lowest level of support yet against a generic Republican in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup for the week ending Sunday, August 28.  For the first time this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry leads the president in a national Election 2012 survey.  Other Republican candidates trail the president by single digits.  

2009	Strongly  Approve	Strongly  Disapprove	Approval  Index	Total  Approve	Total  Disapprove
Jan	43	20	23	62	34
Feb	39	25	14	59	39
Mar	37	30	7	57	42
Apr	35	31	4	55	44
May	35	29	6	57	42
Jun	34	32	2	54	45
Jul	30	37	-7	50	49
Aug	30	39	-9	49	50
Sep	31	39	-8	49	51
Oct	29	39	-10	48	51
Nov	28	40	-12	48	52
Dec	26	41	-15	46	53
2010
Jan	27	41	-14	47	52
Feb	25	39	-14	47	52
Mar	27	42	-15	46	53
Apr	30	41	-11	47	52
May	27	41	-14	46	53
Jun	26	42	-16	46	53
Jul	26	43	-17	46	54
Aug	27	43	-16	46	53
Sep	27	44	-17	45	54
Oct	28	43	-15	47	52
Nov	26	42	-16	46	53
Dec	25	40	-15	46	53
2011
Jan	27	38	-11	48	51
Feb	26	39	-13	47	52
Mar	25	40	-15	46	53
Apr	23	38	-15	47	52
May	25	36	-11	49	50
June	23	38	-15	47	52
July	24	41	-17	46	53
August	21	42	-21	44	55

Platinum Members have access to other measures of the president’s performance which can be found on the new Presidential Page.  This page includes full demographic breakdowns, a first-hand look at crosstabs and historical trends for the president.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion polling information.  We poll on a variety of topics in the fields of politics, business and lifestyle, updating our site’s content on a news cycle throughout the day, everyday.
Rasmussen Reports Platinum Members get an all-access pass to polling news, analysis and insight not available to the general public.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade. To learn more about our methodology, click here.

Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Rick Perry Pushed Prison Health Privatization

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/09/01/309831/rick-perry-pay-to-play-private-prisons/

After Taking Nearly $100K From Private Prison Industry, Rick Perry Pushed Prison Health Privatization

By Ian Millhiser on Sep 1, 2011 at 1:00 pm

Last year, when Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) ran for re-election, the private prisons industry gave Perry tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations. Perhaps that explains why he suddenly developed a passionate desire to privatize Texas’ state prison health system after his campaign was over:

[Corrections Corporation of America lobbyist Michael] Toomey, who had not contributed directly to any of the Governor’s previous gubernatorial campaigns, opened up his wallet for two separate $10,000 donations to Perry two months before Election Day in 2010. Thomas Beasley, the founder of CCA, has given $17,000 to Perry’s campaigns over the last decade. Another private prison firm, the GEO Group, poured $15,000 into Perry’s 2010 reelection effort in 2010 through its eponymous political action committee. Luis Gonzalez, a GEO Group lobbyist, meanwhile, gave $50,000 to Perry’s reelection bid.

Perry first floated the health care privatization proposal in his 2011 budget, which noted: “The Governor’s budget recommends canceling necessary contracts early to explore private sector delivery options, or instructing the state-supported institution to provide correctional care according to the constitutional minimum level.” Mike Ward of the Austin American-Statesman reported that Perry adviser Mike Morrissey held a closed-door meeting in March to discuss the privatization proposal with potential vendors—but not, pointedly, the state university-operated facilities that currently run things.

Perry’s privatization plan eventually died in Texas’ overwhelmingly Republican state legislature because, in the words of Republican State Rep. Jerry Madden “[t]here was no evidence that it could be done cheaper.”

Despite this fact, Perry is just one of several right-wing state governors with cozy ties to the prisons-for-profit industry. Two of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s (R) most senior aides are current or former lobbyists for private prisons, and this industry stands toearn a windfall off the anti-immigrant SB 1070 law that Brewer recently signed. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) turned over $600 million in corrections funding to the private prison industry after one private prisons company doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to Scott and the Florida GOP. And Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) plans to sell five of its prisons to a private company. Meanwhile, the private prisons industry has spent millions to lobby state lawmakers to make criminal laws harsher in order to drive up their profits.

Yet while private prisons are having no trouble getting the attention of GOP lawmakers, they aren’t actually very good at running correctional facilities. A study of Arizona’s prison system found that private prisons cost more than their government-run counterparts, despite the fact that they typically steer clear of the costliest inmates.

Discussing Obama’s Motivations: Dr. Michael Hudson

Max Keiser probes Michael on the framing of today’s political thinking.

Tags: Chicago School, Max Keiser, neoliberalism, Obama, TV

Krugman responds to Obama staffer's bashing

Hippie Punching

Via Greg Sargent, I learn that some people in the Obama campaign really, really dislike people like me, who complain when the president gives in to GOP blackmail.

Well, at least they’re paying attention.

I would say this: on one side you have the GOP, which responds to completely crazed Tea Party demands by doing all it can to assure the hard right that it’s on its side. On the other, you have the Democratic 
establishment or at least part thereof, which responds to complaints from its own base that it’s going too easy on the crazies by lashing out at the base, with a bit of bearded-professor bashing on the side.

Way to strengthen your bargaining position, guys.

Protestors Greet Big Names in GOP At Golf Fundraiser in Wayzata

Big names in the GOP tee'd off today at a high-buck golf fundraiser in Wayzata after they were confronted by protestors.
Organizers say more than 100 Minnesotans who are unemployed, connected with low-income and minority communities and the activist group "Minnesotans for a Fair Economy" used puppets, signs and chants to get the attention of the politicians.
In a press release, the group said House Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Erik Paulsen, Rep. John Kline and Rep. Chip Cravaack hosted the $10,000 a person golf tournament fundraiser at the Wayzata Country Club.
Protestors say they believe these republicans are pushing "radical" budget cuts that will "kill" jobs.

Hundreds Protest Outside GOP Fundraiser in Wayzata

Influential Republican members of Congress remained out of sight and earshot of protest.

• By Jay Corn

Protestors calling for an end to military operations overseas, tax reform, job creation and an end to Wall Street special treatment gathered in front of the Wayzata Country Club Wednesday.
Speaker of the House John Boehner, Congresswoman Michelle Bachman and other featured guests reportedly used a service road to enter the golf course and did not pass by the protestors on their way in.
It was originally announced that Wednesday's fundraiser was to take place at the Spring Hill Golf Club in Orono, but protestors and media got wind at about 10 a.m. that the event would actually be taking place in Wayzata.
Tickets to attend the fundraiser were $1,000 per plate, and $10,000 was supposed to buy a round a golf with Speaker Boehner—although he was not spotted on the course by 12:15 p.m.

Related Topics: Gop, John Boehner, and Michele Bachmann

Boehner-Bachmann $10,000 Golf Event Attracts a Crowd

About 200 angry citizens gathered at Wayzata Country Club outside of the Twin Cities on Wednesday where they hoisted puppet versions of members of Congress members as an airplane flew overhead towing a banner that read, "Where?s our piece of the pie? JOBS NOW.? The puppet version of Michele Bachmann said she was going to play golf, but had no handicap.

House speaker John Boehner and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann were scheduled to host a $10,000-a-ticket golf outing at Spring Hill Golf Club. Today the Spring Hill entrance was blocked and protesters were told of a shift in venue to Wayzata Country Club, 2 1/2 miles away. The Wayzata entrance was guarded by local police and sheriffapos;s deputies, none of whom would confirm or deny the event. A small group of peace activists were first on the scene followed by three school buses of protesters from the group Minnesotans For a Fair Economy. Boehner and Bachmann were to be joined by Congressmen Chip Cravaack, John Kline, and Erik Paulsen. Saying that radical budget cuts to healthcare and education would kill thousands of jobs for already struggling Minnesotans, the crowd called on the representatives to focus on putting Minnesotans back to work before courting high-dollar donors.!--more--

Boehner, Bachmann, Cravaack, Paulsen and Kline have voted for zero job-creation bills and have instead supported a budget that economists say will kill 2.5 million American jobs. Meanwhile, all four voted to give $2.9 trillion in tax breaks to the rich and big corporations. Puppets representing Boehner, Bachmann, Cravaack, Kline and Paulsen crashed the party by arriving in a black limousine that didnapos;t stop for the police guards and rolled into the country clubapos;s main entrance. Once the occupants were revealed, the limo left the entrance drive with the Boehner puppet appearing through the roof of the car. As the puppets walked along and mocked the crowd they were booed by the protestors. A plane appeared on the scene towing the "Piece of the pie," banner.

Cravaack has come under fire as unemployment continues to rise in northeast Minnesota and even his wife left the state for work. He has also been criticized for pay-to-talk events in Duluth. Minnesotans for a Fair Economy spokesperson Donna Cassutt said, ?It?s shameful that Reps. Bachmann, Cravaack, Paulsen and Kline are more interested in donors willing to pay $10,000 for a round of golf in order to protect tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, while the Twin Cities has the second highest rate of black unemployment among large metropolitan areas in the United States."

Minnesotans for a Fair Economy is a community/labor coalition representing working families that has advocated for fair taxes and good jobs for all Minnesotans. Member groups involved include Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), TakeAction Minnesota , and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1189.

Note: Since no real confirmation was available, it is possible that the Boehner golf event was in fact at the exclusive Spring Hill Golf Club.