Dark Money, Dark Souls (UPDATED)

Jane Mayer's new book, "Dark Money," looks at the sinister influence that right-wing billionaire money has had on the American political system for decades, and contains one very illuminating story about the secretive Koch family: their father, Fred, helped the Nazis build one of their largest refineries. The notorious Fred Koch was well-known for his extreme right-wing positions -- indeed, he was one of the founders of the extremist John Birch Society -- and his ideology was passed on to his sons.  Other rogues in the dark money gallery include the late Richard Mellon Scaife, heir to the Mellon banking loot and funder of anti-Clinton witch hunts, and the Bradley brothers, Harry and Lynde, who have poured millions into right-wing think tanks and causes like destroying public unions and education. Mayer writes:

"Philanthropists and political donors who poured hundreds of millions of dollars into think tanks, political organizations and scholarships, [the billionaires] helped win acceptance for anti-government and anti-tax policies that would protect their businesses and personal fortunes, she writes, all under the guise of promoting the public interest. (snip)

Many of the families owned businesses that clashed with environmental or workplace regulators, come under federal or state investigation, or waged battles over their tax bills with the Internal Revenue Service, Ms. Mayer reports. The Kochs’ vast political network, a major force in Republican politics today, was 'originally designed as a means of off-loading the costs of the Koch Industries environmental and regulatory fights onto others' by persuading other rich business owners to contribute to Koch-controlled political groups, Ms. Mayer writes, citing an associate of the two brothers."

The most infamous of those Koch-controlled political front groups is the so-called "Americans for Prosperity," an "astroturf" organization which provided financial and logistical resources to the Tea Party movement, which blocked meaningful tax reform that would have impacted the Kochs and their billionaire brethren, along with attempts to kill the Affordable Care Act and any other domestic proposal put forward by President Obama.

UPDATE:  This explains a lot (hehheh):
 

Oh my, Charles Koch was literally toilet-trained by a Nazi. (via @lhfang) https://t.co/61ZEpruezy pic.twitter.com/sEQRcvGQsL

— Bae Talese (@elongreen) January 12, 2016

The Income Inequality Republicans Are Really Concerned About

As we noted the other day, the House Crackpot Caucus Republican "slumlord" budget proposal for 2016 (essentially the "compromise" passed yesterday) manifested the party's commitment to tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and blasting a hole in the social safety net for low- and middle-income Americans, a plan that would continue to grow the gap between, as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Galt's Gulch) would put it, the "makers" and "takers."

But there is an income inequality issue Republicans are concerned about.  Consider the plight of  Oklahoma entrepreneur Terry Neese, a Dumbya bundler in 2000 and a major Republican contributor in 2012:

This year, no potential White House contender has called — not even Bush’s brother, Jeb. As of early Wednesday, the only contacts she had received were e-mails from staffers for two other likely candidates; both went to her spam folder.

“They are only going to people who are multi-multimillionaires and billionaires and raising big money first,” said Neese, who founded a successful employment agency.

“Most of the people I talk to are kind of rolling their eyes and saying, ‘You know, we just don’t count anymore.’ ”

It’s the lament of the rich who are not quite rich enough for 2016.

Yes, it must be heartbreaking not to be grifted stroked by the various Republican hopefuls up to this point, just because you're only a lousy millionaire!  It's all because of those billionaire Republican contributors =cough= Kochs Menard Adelson =cough= that are millionaire-shaming you!

That's income inequality, Republican-style, for you!

BONUS:  As if on cue, far-right Republican Tory George "Quill Pen" Will tells us why income inequality is good for us.  Smug, incorrigible wanker.

They're Loaded, So Why Do They Hate America?

From ABC News:

"Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign toasted its top donors Wednesday aboard a 150-foot yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands.

"The floating party, hosted by a Florida developer on his yacht “Cracker Bay,” was one of a dozen exclusive events meant to nurture those who have raised more than $1 million for Romney’s bid.

"The event, attended by no more than 50 people, along with Romney relatives, including older brother Scott, appeared on no public calendars. ABC News obtained a schedule of the Romney campaign’s 'Victory Council' and waited dockside to speak with members.

“'It was a really nice event. These are good supporters,' said billionaire Wilbur Ross, an energy industry executive." (our emphases)