Monthly Archives: September 2019

Campaign Finance: every time a billionaire writes a $50,000.00 campaign contribution check a twenty-something right wingnut campaign operative gets their wings

16 Monday Sep 2019

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Or, as the campaign operatives say, they’re “making billionaires millionaires.”

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a PAC, from a PAC, funded by a billionaire:

C190971 09/16/2019 Brattin Brigade PAC CL PAC 440 Medina Drive Saint Louis MO 63122 9/16/2019 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

CL PAC’s Treasurer: Mark Milton

And, of course, CL PAC has been recharged:

C171291 09/16/2019 CL PAC David Steward PO Box 1724 Maryland Heights MO 63043 World Wide Technology, Inc. Executive 9/16/2019 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

And they’re spending money elsewhere:

C171190 09/16/2019 Conservative Citizens Coalition CL PAK 440 MEDINA DRIVE ST LOUIS MO 63105 9/16/2019 $10,000.00

Nice typo. Was that on purpose? Just asking.

Ooh, look, “Brattin Brigade” is a brand spanking new PAC:

C190971: Brattin Brigade Pac
Committee Type: Political Action
12026 Manchester Rd
St Louis Mo 63131
Established Date: 09/10/2019
[….]
Treasurer
Mark Milton
12026 Manchester Rd
St Louis Mo 63131
[….]

[emphasis added]

With a name like that it’s just got to be right wingnut PAC.

So, do they save on postage by passing the contribution check from the treasurer’s left hand to the right hand? Just asking.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: $100,000.00 or so at a time (September 3, 2019)

Campaign Finance: It couldn’t be anything we said (September 4, 2019)

Client state

16 Monday Sep 2019

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That would be the United States.

Yesterday, from Donald Trump (r):

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!
5:50 PM · Sep 15, 2019

“…waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!”

A few of the responses on Twitter:

Translation: I will use the American military to do the bidding of Saudi Arabia because Jared still needs that sweet, sweet Saudi oil money to bail out his family’s shitty real estate deals.

America First!!

You didn’t believe they killed Jamal Khashoggi. Why should we believe anything they say about the attack?

No one believes you

Saudi Arabia is waging a terrible war in Yemen, which we are supplying despite a clear rebuke by Congress, and Yemeni forces attacked them. If they want to stop attacks on themselves, they should try ending their war in Yemen, not dragging US into an insane war against Iran.

Resign.

Saudi Arabia spent billions in advanced air defenses to stop jet fighters when they should’ve been looking out for cheap ass drones from Radio Shack. They should take the L and learn to be better next time. Also, spend less time killing a guy about to get married with a bone saw.

So we r waiting for the Saudis to tell u what the next move is?! R u serious?!

You report to the American people, not some prince in Saudi Arabia, you orange dumbfuck

Omg… right! let’s wait for the Saudi prince MBS to see what he says. Because he was so truthful about Mr. Khashoggi…

Here’s a wild idea. Let other countries fight their own wars.

The President of the United States just tweeted that he’s waiting to get his orders from “The Kingdom.”
This kingdom murders journalist who disagree with them. This kingdom raised 15 men who flew airplanes into our buildings on 9/11.

So the Saudis tell us what to do now?

That’s right. You always believe what the Kingdom says. They own you. You are so weak.

Nice of you to admit you are waiting orders from one of your bosses. How much are you getting paid?

You don’t work for Saudi Arabia. You work for us…I mean Putin

“No blood for oil.”

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh?

15 Sunday Sep 2019

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Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a new (What else is new?) PAC:

C190907 09/14/2019 Mighty Missouri PAC Missouri C PAC 145 Boonville Rd. Jefferson City MO 65109 9/13/2019 $10,000.00

C190907 09/14/2019 Mighty Missouri PAC American Federation for Children 1020 19th St NW Suite 675 Washington DC 20036 9/14/2019 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Yep, they’re new:

C190907: Mighty Missouri Pac
Committee Type: Political Action
12026 Manchester Road
St Louis Mo 63131
Established Date: 07/16/2019
[….]
Treasurer
Mark Milton
12026 Manchester Road
St Louis Mo 63131
[….]

The American Federation for Children?:

What We Do

The American Federation for Children is a 501(c)(4) organization that does lobbying and grassroots advocacy work in the states and Washington, D.C. We are affiliated with the American Federation for Children Action Fund, a political committee that supports and opposes state-level candidates for elected office. We work closely with our educational partner, the American Federation for Children Growth Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, to promote the benefits of—and the need for—school choice, make parents aware of their options, mobilize grassroots supports and ensure private school choice laws work for students.

Ah, defunding and dismantling public education.

A 501(c)(4), eh? Who’s paying for it?

[….]
On July 16, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced that tax-exempt nonprofit groups described under section 501(c) of the nation’s tax code would no longer be required to disclose the names and addresses of their donors on tax documents. The policy change did not apply to reporting requirements for 501(c)(3) groups, which remained unchanged. [….]

How convenient.

Back to the American Federation for Children:

The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. [….]

Someone on the board:

The Honorable Joseph Lieberman Board Member New York, NY

Betsy DeVos (r), too, eh?

Some of the headlines in the press section of the American Federation for Children web site:

AFC on Fox & Friends – Tommy Schultz on Fox News

AFC Board Member Sen. Joe Lieberman Discusses School Choice on Fox Business

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to Speak at 2019 American Federation for Children National Policy Summit

AFC and Liberty Justice Center Submit Amicus Brief to U.S. Supreme Court on Montana School Choice Case

School Choice Mentioned in the State of the Union Address – Uh, he craps all over everything he touches.

John Schilling Discusses School Choice on Fox Nation – The darlings of a single network, eh?

Educational Choice Candidates Prevail in Missouri Primary – Guess which party.

Campaign Finance: spread the wealth

14 Saturday Sep 2019

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Trickle-down economics as practiced in Missouri by political action committees funded by really wealthy people.

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C180688 09/13/2019 Freedom’s Promise PAC CL PAC 440 Medina Drive Saint Louis MO 63122 9/13/2019 $25,000.00

C190931 09/13/2019 Committee for Liberty CL PAC 440 Medina Drive Saint Louis MO 63122 9/13/2019 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Why the shell games? Wouldn’t it be easier just to write the check(s) directly? You know, eliminate the middlemen? Just for the sake of entrepreneurial efficiency?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: GNDN (June 19, 2019)

Campaign Finance: a busy little PAC (July 1, 2019)

Campaign Finance: $100,000.00 or so at a time (September 3, 2019)

Campaign Finance: It couldn’t be anything we said (September 4, 2019)

Campaign Finance: ode to joy

13 Friday Sep 2019

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC propping up Governor Mike Parson (r):

C180490 09/13/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC BURNS MCDONNELL 9400 WARD PARKWAY KANSAS CITY MO 64114 9/13/2019 $25,000.00

C180490 09/13/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC DRURY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 13075 MANCHESTER ROAD SUITE 200 ST LOUIS MO 63131 9/13/2019 $25,000.00

C180490 09/13/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC MCBRIDE & SON MANAGEMENT LLC 16091 SWINGLEY RIDGE ROAD SUITE 300 CHESTERFIELD MO 63017 9/13/2019 $10,000.00

C180490 09/13/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC JH BERRA CONSTRUCTION CO INC 5091 BAUMGARTNER ROAD ST LOUIS MO 63129 9/13/2019 $10,000.00

C180490 09/13/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC BUILD ST LOUIS PAC INC 10104 OLD OLIVE ST RD ST LOUIS MO 63141 9/13/2019 $6,500.00

C180490 09/13/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN 1020 19TH ST NW STE 675 WASHINGTON DC 20036 9/13/2019 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Someone’s really happy.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2019 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Even more happiness! (April 9, 2019)

Governor Mike Parson (r): April Campaign Finance Report – 2019 (April 17, 2019)

Campaign Finance: jump on that bandwagon (May 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: make some, someone happy (May 21, 2019)

Campaign Finance: we’re running out of happiness references (May 21, 2019)

Campaign Finance: $25,000.00 and $10,000.00 (May 29, 2019)

Campaign Finance: adding to the total (June 3, 2019)

Campaign Finance: piling it on (June 4, 2019)

Campaign Finance: they intend to make the rubble bounce (June 11, 2019)

Campaign Finance: For what now? (June 21, 2019)

Campaign Finance: For who and what now? (June 27, 2019)

Campaign Finance: What’s another $45,000.00? (July 27, 2019)

Campaign Finance: “…if you know what happiness is to you…” (September 8, 2019)

Campaign Finance: obscenely happy (September 9, 2019)

Last Night’s Democratic Party Presidential Debate – summarized

13 Friday Sep 2019

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Amanda Marcotte @AmandaMarcotte
I swear, pundits are literally the only people who think that paying a dollar in taxes is somehow more expensive than paying two dollars to an insurance company.
7:21 PM · Sep 12, 2019

And, it’s not like I love my health insurance company.

Jackson County Dems @jaxcodemocrats
Gentle reminder: everyone on the stage tonight would make a better, smarter, safer President than what we have now.
10:19 PM · Sep 12, 2019

Uh, yep.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris
The #DemDebate was three hours long and not one question about abortion or reproductive rights.
9:49 PM · Sep 12, 2019

Beto O’Rourke @BetoORourke
Three hours, not one question on abortion—with women’s rights under attack across our country.
9:47 PM · Sep 12, 2019

Synchronicity.

Andrea González-Ramírez @andreagonram
So…. candidates got the beauty pageant question instead of being asked about:
– labor rights
– abortion
– child care
– paid family leave
– LGBTQ+ rights
– student debt
– sexual harassment
– minimum wage
– etc.
#DemDebate
9:34 PM · Sep 12, 2019

And the pundits, whining on morning infotainment television about not hearing enough detail from the candidates, ignore the fact that they couldn’t state their name and address in the time allotted for answers in this “debate” format.

Nioshii @Nartist
I think if there’s one thing we can all agree on this morning it’s that majority of pundits suck.
6:33 AM · Sep 13, 2019

It’s still early.

Not on Tonight’s Democratic Party Presidential Debate Stage

12 Thursday Sep 2019

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There may be a reason or two.

Marianne Williamson [2019 file photo].

Marianne Williamson: ‘What does it say that the conservatives are nicer to me?’
By Rebecca Klar – 09/12/19 10:10 AM EDT

Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson is lamenting that the right wing seems to be “nicer” to her than the “lefties.”

“What does it say that Fox News is nicer to me than the lefties are? What does it say that the conservatives are nicer to me,” she said while caught on a hot mic after an interview on the conservative Sinclair TV network’s “America This Week” program last week.

[….]

Appearing on the Faux News Channel is probably one of those reasons.

Try as they might, the Faux News Channel and their viewers don’t get to choose the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nominee. Democrats do.

“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

Gee, if only you had enough support… (September 2, 2019)