Koch brothers summon Bush, Cruz, Walker, Rubio to SoCal confab

Have you ever pondered on the fact that there are no really great presidential candidates? Well the reason is simple our uber rich hand choose who we are allowed to vote for, not we the people.

Four leading GOP presidential candidates – Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker – are traveling to a Southern California luxury hotel in coming days to make their cases directly to the Koch brothers and hundreds of other wealthy conservatives planning to spend close to $1 billion in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Freedom Partners’ annual summer conference is set for August 1 through August 3, and is expected to draw 450 of the biggest financiers of the right for sessions about the fiscally conservative policies and politics that animate the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch and many of the donors in their network. Most have the capability to write seven- or even eight-figure checks to the super PACs fueling the GOP presidential primary, and a significant proportion have yet to settle on a 2016 choice, or are considering supporting multiple candidates. That includes Charles and David Koch, as well as Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and hedge fund billionaires Paul Singer, both of whom will be represented at the conference by advisers, and a number of other attendees of past conferences whose 2016 leanings are being closely watched.

source

I always thought the money needed to even run was a direct result of that theory.

Most of the people who run for presidency have never lived an actual american life, they live the " everything I want and need is handed to me " life which doesn't build a very good candidate for a country of have nots.

We need people who know the plight of it's people, who has seen the issues needed to be handled and who has a single goal bettering the country by fixing the problems at the root.

This is why the whole voting system is being re-engineered by the people, we the people want the votes to be transparent, there is a effort to move voting to the blockchain, where it should be.

BitCongress

How the Blockchain could usher in Digital Democracy

Blockchain technology, the key to secure online voting

Blockchain voting, used by Danish political parties

a reply to: AlaskanDad

"Have you ever pondered on the fact that there are no really great presidential candidates?"

I have addressed this question on several threads before, and come away with no discernible answer. Look at the current roster on the Rep. side, and you'll find no candidate the majority of people can identify with. Sure, Trump spews things, slinging mud on everyone hoping not to get back-splattered to the delight of many, but has no concrete plan to revitalize the economy and job market. The others are retreads from previous runs, toning down their viewpoints in an effort to gain appeal.

IMO, the Pubs need to come up with an unknown entity, successful in executive experience on a state level with the possibility of transition to the national arena. Similar to BHO's run in '08, they need a fresh face with voter pull, and experience that doesn't require on-the-job-training in the WH.

This makes me want to vote for Bobby Jindal. What say you ATS?

Monsanto lobbyist raising money for Clinton campaign

A Monsanto Co. lobbyist is among those who have used their networks to put together contributions for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton.

Jerry Crawford, of Crawford, Quilty & Mauro, assembled more than $35,000 in so-called "bundled" contributions to Clinton, according to filings released this week.

source

Lobbyists bundle $2 million for Hillary Clinton

Lobbyists bundled just over $2 million for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign during the second quarter of the year, according to FEC filings submitted Wednesday.

Forty lobbyist bundlers raised a collective $2,075,344.60 for the Democratic candidate

source

Having both parties that are addicted to big money campaigns is making our nation weak!

Looks like it's pay back the favors time for 4 politicians.

Donald Trump wasn't invited ? Big mistake, The Donald currently has the hot hand in this rodeo.

Apparently the GOP is content to tear itself apart and give the elections to the dembs.

The DNC must feel they have been blessed by GOD!

originally posted by: olaru12
...
Apparently the GOP is content to tear itself apart and give the elections to the dembs.

The DNC must feel they have been blessed by GOD!

Ironic since the word on the street is the GOD is a republican.

originally posted by: roadgravel

originally posted by: olaru12
...
Apparently the GOP is content to tear itself apart and give the elections to the dembs.

The DNC must feel they have been blessed by GOD!

Ironic since the word on the street is the GOD is a republican.

That's what I heard as well but with the likes of Cruz and Jack Fellure running; there are rumors he might be switching over to the Libertarians.

a reply to: Tranceopticalinclined


We truly need a better voting system, a system using Blockchain may well be it.

Ballot boxes being stuffed has been around since voting was created, and our current voting machines are a joke!

a reply to: AlaskanDad

People on MSNBC call this the Koch Brothers primary. Whomever genuflects (with promises mumbled while subjugating) wins, and America and the world loses.

What better way to get the Lobbys set up and guided in the "Right" direction !!

a reply to: AlaskanDad

Bernie Should be able to fix all this.

originally posted by: olaru12
Donald Trump wasn't invited ? Big mistake, The Donald currently has the hot hand in this rodeo.

Apparently the GOP is content to tear itself apart and give the elections to the dembs.

The DNC must feel they have been blessed by GOD!

No because they know if he makes it to the debates he wont last more than a few weeks.......he will be torn apart and they can continue on.....

originally posted by: Nickn3
This makes me want to vote for Bobby Jindal. What say you ATS?

Nope makes me want to vote for Rand Paul

originally posted by: AlaskanDad
Have you ever pondered on the fact that there are no really great presidential candidates? Well the reason is simple our uber rich hand choose who we are allowed to vote for, not we the people.

I actually think Bernie Sanders is a great candidate. He has a history of practical activism and public service thoughout his life. I thought Ralph Nader the same. Each for me is the "Public Servant" not "Corporate Servant" (which would include almost by definition the Wealthy's Servant and the Self Servant).

I guess it depends on ones definition of what a great candiate is. Obama certainly had the charisma of a great cadidate but has a disappointment though has gotten some very big wins.

Fundamentally I don't think anyone that woud run for President or want the job is qualified to carry out the job.

Wisdom is a must - but there is not much wisdom in the world today. Respect for other viewpoints and opinions.

The candidate is different then the President - two different people by neccessity.

What makes a good candidate, doesn't make for a good President as our sitting President is a fine example. I do believe he tried but couldn't make the leap.

Maybe it's just too big of a job for one person even with a large staff. The large staff insulates the President from so much that he needs to be aware of.

Who do you think of as great candidates?

originally posted by: AlaskanDad
a reply to: Tranceopticalinclined


We truly need a better voting system, a system using Blockchain may well be it.

Ballot boxes being stuffed has been around since voting was created, and our current voting machines are a joke!

You know, after all the hullabaloo about voting machines, I think I'm in favor of old fashioned paper ballots and lots of people involved.

The more people involved in every step of the counting process (and recounting) the less opportunity of corrupting the acutal count.

Any machine system is open to corruption but software driven ones particularly so.

I've always thought 'open-source' vote counting software with real time monitors could do it. I don't know about 'Blockchain' but hope it's open-source whatever it is.

a reply to: FyreByrd

I didn't think I would vote for a Dem, but Bernie I could vote for.

If Hilary runs I'll vote green or some other obscure 3rd party.

The world has gotten so complicated, and we’ve dug ourselves in so deep, I can’t think of anyone out there capable of straightening it all out. What a mess we’re in. We’ve gotta somehow pull a rabbit out of our hat soon or we’ll be in deep yogurt.

There’s noone in the running at the moment, ON EITHER SIDE, who gives me any feeling that the good times are ahead. Noone with a plan, a mission, or a vision of what could be if we only focus and work hard toward a common goal. All I’ve seen so far is rich land grabbers, textbook idealists, lunatics, religious zealots, people under indictment, and a few corporate marionettes. Noone I’d really trust with the launch codes.

Maybe all we need is someone who can inspire us to at least move in a positive direction, and give us some reason to look ahead. And, most importantly, someone who can bring us together as a nation, and break this cycle of divisiveness we’ve fallen into. As long as we’re divided, we don’t stand a chance.

As far as I’m concerned, the folks mentioned in the title of this thread are basically self-serving political whores, and Koch is Big Daddy.

Charge!!

PS: I’ve gotta say, Bernie is my favorite. I’ve always liked him. Unfortunately, he’s probably not looney enough to win over the hearts of the American electorate.

a reply to: FyreByrd

It is hard to have a secret ballot and not have a system open for corruption.

I feel the Blockchain with a printed ballot might be a good possibility. It would be nice to know your vote was counted and it actually counted towards the candidate of your choice.

Anon was rumoured to have saved the last election by installing a firewall blocking access from Carl Rove to the voting machines. I always wondered if this was true, did these talented individuals intercept Rove's login and password and tweak the vote?

Either way it made me feel that our system needs reform.