FL Gov. Rick Scott attends secret Koch brothers meeting in Colorado

[seafan]

Source: Palm Beach Post

Florida Gov. Rick Scott attended a secret, invitation-only meeting outside Vail, Colo., hosted by conservative billionaire GOP donors David and Charles Koch, the governor’s staff confirmed today.

The meeting wasn’t on Scott’s official schedule and his spokesman Lane Wright initially refused to confirm or deny whether the first-term governor would make an appearance, saying he would not “speculate as to what he has done, or will do on his personal time.”

But, after The St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday Scott did attend the meeting, Wright confirmed that the governor was there but would not say whether Scott was in Colorado on Sunday or Monday.

.....

“It was very interesting,” he told the Times. “They wanted to know basically… what am I doing in Florida.”

Read more: http://www.postonpolitics.com/2011/06/rick-scott-attends-secret-koch-brothers-meeting-in-colorado/

---

That's what the entire state of Florida also wants to know, Mr. Scott.

By the way, Florida is under a state of emergency due to wildfires, and Mr. Scott sneaks out of state over the weekend to cavort with the Kochs in Colorado.


And from Tampa Bay's The Buzz:

Gov. Scott's low approval rating continues to gain attention outside Florida. This morning the New York Times featured him. But Scott presented a stoic face. "This isn't a popularity contest," he said. "This is a contest to make our state the No. 1 place to do business, and that's what I'm going to do."

Yeah, it's a real contest, Rick. Which new tea-stained Republican governor can destroy his state first?


Kiss the ring of your masters.

[lib2DaBone]

1. I knew it. pRick Scott gets his orders from the Koch Bros.

Just like John Kasich in Ohio and Scott Walker in Wis.

---------------------

Americans for Prosperity

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a Washington, D.C.-based political advocacy group. According to their literature, they promote economic policy that supports business, and restrains regulation by government. AFP was a major supporter of Republican candidates in the 2010 election cycle and is heavily involved in political activities aimed at reducing regulation of the oil and gas industry.<1> It was formerly part of Citizens for a Sound Economy, which split into AFP and FreedomWorks in 2004.

Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) had been established in 1984 by David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch. "CSE received almost $5 million from various Koch foundations between 1986 and 1990, and David Koch and several Koch Industries employees serve as directors of CSE and the CSE Foundation."




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Prosperity

[glinda]

12. Include Bachmann in that. And Pawlenty.

[TrollBuster9090]

24. This information deserves its own post. I think you can trace about 90% of the money in the dozen

in the dozen right wing "think tanks" and political action committees back to the same ten or so billionaire plutocrats.

Republican campaigns are funded, organized and underwritten by ten billionaire plutocrats, and manned door-to-door by 25 000 "social conservative" hillbillies, and computer-to-computer by 5000 libertarian Ron Paul zombies. Neither group has yet figured out how badly they're being exploited.

[No Elephants]

51. I'm guessing every Republican is pretty much obedient to the Koch brothers, whether they want

to be or not.

Imagine if the Green Party were strong enough to defeat Democrats in many primaries--and Warren Buffet had absolute control of the the Green Party. The Democratic Party would not cross Buffet often and neither would any Democrat who wanted elective office.

I suspect Rove and others will eventually end up kissing the hem of the Koch brothers' trousers.

[WillyT]

2. K & R !!!

:kick:

[SpiralHawk]

3. Billionaire PuppetMasters (R) pulling the SuckerPuppet (R) strings

And soon after this occult meeting, all the RepubliBagger Sheeple (R) will squat in front of their tubes to have the latest billionaire propaganda points pumped into their squashes...Ptoooey.

[TrollBuster9090]

26. Hey, I've got an idea. We tried playing nice, but it's time to put on the brass knuckles.

We tried doing this honestly, by passing laws that try to even the democratic playing field by limiting the amount of corporate money that can be used to distort elections...but we were submarined by the conservative 5 on the supreme court who, ever since they broke all precedent by stopping the Florida recount, and illegally putting George Bush in the White House, have not been playing fair.

Alright, if you want to fight dirty, how about the following Tony Soprano style tactics from the Executive Branch.

1. Every time corporations try to pervert and distort democracy by dumping truckloads of money into the election process on one side of an issue, or disproportionately to one political party...the Obama Administration chooses (coincidentally) to ENFORCE the anti-trust laws on those companies. The anti-monopoly laws on the books are rarely enforced. Maybe it's time to start enforcing them, and doing it SELECTIVELY. Stay out of politics, and we'll leave you alone. Try to BUY DEMOCRACY and we'll bust your comfortable little monopoly up.

2. If the Republicans succeed in drastically reducing funding to the IRS to the extent that the IRS has to carefully triage who it chooses to audit, how about just auditing those companies and plutocrats that funded the lobby campaign to de-fund the IRS? Sounds fair to me. "Somebody messes with me, I'm gonna mess with him!" - DeNiro as Al Capone, The Untouchables.

3. Again, if Republicans succeed in reducing funding to the IRS like they did under Phil Gramm in 1998, don't lay off all the high priced IRS auditors that specialize in high-end income tax returns, leaving only the ordinary auditors to hammer the middle class because they're least likely to fight back. Take all of the money you've got left to fund the IRS and put it EXCLUSIVELY into high priced tax lawyers who specialize in billionaire tax returns. ie-If you're going to defund the IRS, prepare yourself to be TARGETED by the IRS. No more of this crap where chopping the IRS off at the knees results in the middle class continuing to get audited while the plutocrats get a free ride. Let's have a standing policy where, if funding for the IRS goes down, the attention it pays to the upper 10% of income earners GOES UP.

[SpiralHawk]

36. Hey, I don't want to fight dirty. Like the vast majority if DUers, I value honor and integrity

I invite you to stop making false inferences, and to go forward with honor.

[TrollBuster9090]

44. False inferences?

[awoke_in_2003]

48. honor and a buck...

will buy you a cup of coffee at 7-11. Sometimes, you have to just smash a mother-f***ker in the mouth to get their attention.

on edit- the labor movement of the '20's understood this, and the fact that they may get punched, too. They didn't back down (unlike most of what passes as Americans these days)

[No Elephants]

55. Self defense is one thing, thuggery another. No thanks on the latter.

I'm still banking on the ability of humans to continue to evolve.

[TrollBuster9090]

60. Enforcing legitimate laws to counterbalance corporate malfeasance doesn't qualify as thuggery.

At least not in my opinion.

[rhett o rick]

65. All I am asking for is some self defense. We might have to get rough to defend ourselves.

Is it "thuggery" when we defend ourselves against thuggery? I am sick and tired of the Democrats not even using self defense.

[rhett o rick]

64. Good grief. There is a time when we need to fight back. nm

[The Wielding Truth]

72. Did you read the post? IMO,it does not mean "fight dirty". It enforces laws which

really need to be enforced.It is tongue in cheek. Not really fighting dirty but getting tough on Republican crime.

[No Elephants]

53. Sounds like Nixon's Enemies list. That aside, I don't know if antitrust laws have

a lot of teeth left in them.

[No Elephants]

57. OT, but great pic.

[Plucketeer]

4. I'd like to feel sorry for the people of Florida

But THEY'RE the rubes who elected this devious dolt.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[juajen]

6. Unfortunately, we have a lot of generalizing going on. Welcome, anyway.

[DirkGently]

9. You don't hear that Wisconsin "deserved" Walker, but somehow Scott's 1 point win indicts all Florida

[No Elephants]

56. ? I've heard and read, including in DU's LBN forum, that Wisconsin deserved Walker.

[DirkGently]

74. Well than that's bullshit too. But it's not the norm. Bashing Florida is. Indefensible.

[DirkGently]

8. No one needs your sympathy here, but save your cheap shots. America didn't all vote for Bush, either

[bluedigger]

7. "Attends meeting"/"Answers masters' summons"

Whatever.:shrug:

[TrollBuster9090]

29. Why do I get the feeling that if you shot David Koch with a Star Trek phaser, this would happen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REoN1sEYVZo

[Faygo Kid]

10. His Masters' Voices. Was there ever any doubt?

Nipper had more character in his tail than the sniveling Scott ever had in his whole body.

[pnorman]

28. Gotta save that image!

Thanks!

[No Elephants]

54. Did the dog in that ad really have a name? If so, I love it.

[Nihil]

67. Top up on your trivia here ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Master%27s_Voice

:hi:

[No Elephants]

69. Cool beans. Thanks.

Maybe next I'll look up what "cool beans" means.

[DemoTex]

11. Next question: how did Scott travel to Vail?

1. State jet?

2. Corporate jet (and, if so, whose)?

4. Airline (1st class or coach) with the fare paid by whom?

[Dappleganger]

35. This is why Gov. Voldemort refused to use the governor's jet in favor of his own...

so that he would not have to account for his whereabouts. He feels that he doesn't have to tell his constituents where he goes on that jet, who rides with him and the nature of those trips. He honestly believes that he is somehow not accountable to the state of FL during his time as governor for anything that happens on board that jet.

He's the quintessential corporate fascist who bought himself a governor's seat and thinks that there's no such as Florida sunshine.

[zbdent]

38. but, when you consider the Repugniconvicts' attacks on Planned Parenthood funding

because "taxpayer monies may be indirectly used for abortions", it seems that "taxpayer monies" appear to be used, albeit indirectly, for a secret meeting ... wonder how many bags of money were exchanged ...

[KamaAina]

13. "This is a contest to make our state the No. 1 place to do business"

Florida. Come for the crappy education, stay for the crumbling infrastructure. :eyes:

[Kingofalldems]

14. Republicans are a sneaky lot---definitely plotting something.

[Dj13Francis]

15. Wow

There's a surprise... Color me unsurprised.

[edhopper]

16. So why isn't

Glenn Beck up in arms over this political power play by these billionaires?

[LetTimmySmoke]

17. The Right has an obsession with secrecy.

The social conservatives do the same thing. Groups like the Council for National Policy hold secret meetings all the time where religious right leaders plot strategy. They even keep their membership secret.

Last time I checked, the Marriage Equality and Anti-Prohibition movements weren't that obsessed with secrecy. The religious right thinks they are, because they are projecting their own way of doing things onto the other side.

[Beartracks]

18. Why don't GOPers ever want to make their state...

... the #1 place to LIVE, instead of just the #1 place to "do business"?

:shrug:

===================================

[Amonester]

20. Because they stash up their loot in offshore tax heavens' PO boxes.

And that's where they (R supposed to) live.

[TrollBuster9090]

45. The Koch funded CATO Institute put out an amusing little propaganda video claiming that offshore

tax havens were a GREAT thing, because they put "competitive pressure" on the western democracies to keep their taxes low.
By the same logic, crooks who steal cars and then sell them on the black market at a reduced price are providing a public service by putting competitive pressure on automobile manufacturers to keep their prices low.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf14lkyH2dM

[999998th word]

47. Good Job....Thanks

[Amonester]

49. that RW propagandist would have made j. goebbels proud...

they want to destroy the planet, even if they will 'unconsciously' do it.

thanks for posting.

[TrollBuster9090]

62. Yeah, I was surprised Dan Woods was even able to keep a straight face on that one. nt

[Angry Dragon]

21. I was thinking the same thing

They must feel that business is more important than people
I seem to remember back many moons ago that some places used to have signs up saying, 'Such and Such place is a great place to raise your family'

Now it is just, 'If you want to make money, come here and we will help you'

[Angry Dragon]

19. I always thought that when people gathered together in secret

and plotted the overthrow of the government that this was called treason.
I do not think it matters that they are politicians.
These people are working together, plotting, to have a coordinated
attack on the foundations of this country. Teachers and unions attacked
in most states. Passing laws to let businesses do as they please.
Selling public property as if the politicians own it. Passing laws to
take away rights of citizens, mostly women.

It does not take a genius to see that there is a master plan, because there are too many states
doing the exact same thing. You can not tell me that all these people
thought of these things on their own.

There is treason afoot in this country and the Koch brothers are just part of it.
All politicians that meet with them should be brought before Congress and made to
answer all questions about their dealings with the Koch brothers.

[defendandprotect]

41. JFK wonderfully expressed disdain for secrecy .... JFK was fighting Koch's John Birchers -- !!

[Historic NY]

22. Republican Governor Bots report to their Overlords..for instructions.

interesting. This wasn't one of those quaking aspens meetings again?

[Lint Head]

23. These traitorous fucks are planning the next paradigm shift for the USA in the direction

of theocratic corporate fascism. Too much money is being made by these thieves while the middle class, poor and sick implode. They hope we all eventually die off. They want to create a megalomaniacal paradise of elitists. Are you ready to die for the Koch brothers? I'm not. They can all go to Hell.


Imagine this over your home. Who will they kill next? When will the federal government privatize torture so companies like Blackwater can profit from our new future society where our own personal privacy does not exist?

[oldbanjo]

25. He should run for Pressident,

he sounds like what the Republican Party is looking for.

[Initech]

27. America - now a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries.

:grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad::grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr: :mad:

[seafan]

30. Rachel Maddow is leading off with this right now.

Observers trailed Rick Perry's plane's tail number all the way to Vail over the weekend, LOL.

[madrchsod]

33. the folks in wisconsin have this.....

http://www.facebook.com/whereswalker

maybe florida should do the same.

big thumbs up to whoever was tracking the plane.

[TrollBuster9090]

46. Waste of energy. How about just introducing a bill requiring politicians to wear those ankle

bracelet transmitters, like people on probation? ;)

[No Elephants]

58. Also a waste of energy. Ripping up the Constitution would be a lot faster.

What is it with this thread?

[TrollBuster9090]

61. That may be silly (and I was being sarcastic), but it wouldn't be any more unconstitutional than

requiring gubernatorial candidates to disclose their financial records. Running for office is voluntary. If the people of a state want to pass a law stating that the location of the governor should be known at all times, and people are willing to run for office under those conditions, it wouldn't violate their right to privacy.

[valerief]

31. Well, when his bosses beckon him, he's gotta come a-running. nt

[SoapBox]

32. Scum...Scum...SCUM!

...how many times and ways can I say it...the guy and his ilk is Freak'n SCUM.

Nice way to vote Florida.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lonestarnot]

37. Blantant fucking puke isn't he.

:eyes: State on fire and run off to get some dough. That's a richie rich.

[KansDem]

39. His Master's Voice

[defendandprotect]

40. More rw business above people ! Koch Bros. Funded DLC has also done wonders for Dem party-!

[seafan]

42. Remember, Marco Rubio was the No. 1 recipient of Koch money in 2010 Senate races.

Just to remind everyone that Marco Rubio isn't an outsider, as the GOP narrative spins for their golden boy.



From gimleteye at Eye on Miami blog:

.....

There are reasons right wing strategists prefer to paint Rubio as an outsider. For one, it positions him "to the rescue" of the party. To suggest Rubio is a populist coming in from the cold is rubbish. One thing the Republicans do well is get their message frames straight: Rubio not only plays well to the TV cameras, he delivers sound bites flawlessly (and without question by the mainstream press) and can garner the short attention span of the Tea Party that is, itself, moved by the GOP like a herd of cattle to the sound of a cannon.

Yesterday, I likened GOP positions to Russian nesting dolls. In Rubio's case, he fits in neatly somewhere in the middle where the doll he nests within would be a figurine of Jeb Bush. Outsider? Not by a long shot.

Rick Scott. Jeb Bush. Marco Rubio.


Poisonous jellyfish in the waves of corruption that drown American politics and our way of life.

[russspeakeasy]

43. Ricky "the medicare thief" Scott is in the running for the worst

governor in the country. He won't stop until he has privatized everything in Florida. He and his friends are making a fortune and there is no end in sight.
Florida didn't earn it's rep as the most corrupt state in the union without leadership like slippery rick.

[Hugabear]

50. Rick Scott operates under a shroud of secrecy. He does whatever he wants, law does not apply to him.

He's rich. He's not a politician. He can do whatever the fuck he wants. Florida's "Sunshine Law" which requires all discussions and meetings pertaining to government to be open to the public simply does not apply to Rick Scott.

:sarcasm:

[Initech]

52. Well it's official: We live in the Matrix.

[No Elephants]

59. I hope Democratic papparazzi are watching the Koch brothers 24/7.

Ironicially, the money that started the Koch fortune came from Joe Stalin. Make sure every Teabagger you know is aware of that fact.

[Scurrilous]

63. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Recursion]

66. Wow, are they bad at keeping secrets... (nt)

[Blue Owl]

68. Fuck you Rick Scott

you piece of shit

[KansDem]

70. Is there any other kind of "Koch Brothers meeting?"

:shrug:

[Corruption Winz]

71. You know what I like from the people that run my country....

I like when they try to sneak off and talk to polarizing billionaires that are not interested in the safety and security of my nation.

What a douche.

[cascadiance]

73. Looks like I need to do a new photoshop to go along with these...