Ignatz Mouse
Banned
My takeaway from this is considerably more pessimistic-- that after the failures of 2012, they're learning.
NYMag: Republican Billionaires Just Cant Seem to Buy This Election
- Thread starter Dalek
- Start date
- Status
That's true, thank god.
But they'll probably win the mid-terms, which might be worse.
djplaeskool
Member
Rove meltdown is one of the greatest moments in American politics.
diffusionx
Gold Member
It's great to see Rove's career destroyed. This gives his election night meltdown some context.
In the end, they still only get one vote.
In the end, they still only get one vote.
Wolfgunblood Garopa
Member
It was the most fun I've ever had watching TV. The laughs just kept coming. Fox News... I know too much is already said on the subject, but it still manages to surprise me just how fucked up it is.
teruterubozu
Member
Can't blame them when it's only Jeb for sale.
It was a glorious night for sure. GOP are not gracious losers in any sense. At least put on an act for the camera.
I'm fairly shocked there haven't been any cartels or whatever using them to launder money, SuperPACs seem tailor made to do the job.
Pai Pai Master
Banned
The best thing about it is the constant footage of people happily celebrating the Obama win while he keeps going back to that 911 number lol
From another New Yorker article:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/12/14/a-house-divided
An actual GOP Congressman reacting in shock that their rich members can't buy legislative influence. That self-inflicted country-club image, a byword for an insular, financially and racially discrimatory, fuck-yours-got-mine shitpile is the icing on the cake
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/12/14/a-house-divided
Mark Meadows said:
An actual GOP Congressman reacting in shock that their rich members can't buy legislative influence. That self-inflicted country-club image, a byword for an insular, financially and racially discrimatory, fuck-yours-got-mine shitpile is the icing on the cake
Link
The Autumn Wind
Why do you think the IRS is a prime target of the people running these groups? And it worked like a charm, too.
Yep. I admit to being surprised that big money hasn't completely corrupted federal-level elections, though it still comes with a myriad of other issues. But to think that all those millions that could be put to some tangible use or philanthropy is fired down the drain of political ad spends and mailers is disheartening.
SuperPACs would be pretty shitty ways of laundering money. Your car wash or corner store doesn't have to disclose donors or list expenditures. You'd have to do some convoluted system where you owned some political organ that would put out cruddy ads you overpaid for, and there would still be direct connections between the sources of money.
Here's what various PACs and NGO/non-profit organizations have to disclose: https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/rules.php
The fact that they're still shocked Romney lost should say something about how utterly impenetrable their bubble is. That was such a non-surprising election, yet they all seemed to have bought into the narrative that Romney was going to ride in on his white horse and trounce Obama. The same Romney none of them even fucking wanted in the first place.
Link
The Autumn Wind
That entire article is terrifying.
thestopsign
Member
I have never quite grasped how these rich doners decide to throw away millions and millions to win elections for favorable politicians that might not even introduce policies that save them as much money as the doners spend supporting them. On top of that, these elections aren't a sure thing so you are taking on double the risk. Always seemed stupid to me.
I think money is an important factor in elections up to a certain point. There is a threshold that can be crossed where additional support and ads just don't add much value.
I think money is an important factor in elections up to a certain point. There is a threshold that can be crossed where additional support and ads just don't add much value.
Wolfgunblood Garopa
Member
It's a social standing thing as much as anything else. It's like a club.
What's this about entitlement they're always talking about? I feel like 90% of Republican campaigns are to fleece rich people out of their money to pay for consultants and travel expenses.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
This is both hilarious and terrifying.
Corporate Donors will buy the election however, which is really how they win. They know the political spectrum is centered between crazy and bought, and simply bought.
Only a handful of people even know the extent a lot of this shit goes to. Its hardly about party.
Hillary will do what they want, the argument of "the GOP is losing, of course money in politics dont matter!" is simply obfuscating the real issue to detract from the core problem, which is how money in politics gets such a bad wrap from people who know what they are talking about.
Again, this is not about pure kind democrats against racist mean old repubs. Each party will bend to the will of the powerful regardless of their political leanings. Either one will do it brazenly, or one will do it behind their constituents backs while pretending to appeal to 'moderate thinking'.
Only a handful of people even know the extent a lot of this shit goes to. Its hardly about party.
Hillary will do what they want, the argument of "the GOP is losing, of course money in politics dont matter!" is simply obfuscating the real issue to detract from the core problem, which is how money in politics gets such a bad wrap from people who know what they are talking about.
Again, this is not about pure kind democrats against racist mean old repubs. Each party will bend to the will of the powerful regardless of their political leanings. Either one will do it brazenly, or one will do it behind their constituents backs while pretending to appeal to 'moderate thinking'.
Rudimental
Member
Karl Rove looks like someone drew a face on a balloon.
titiklabingapat
Member
Unlimited campaign funding basically just means some high paid consultants are just getting paid more now. There are strong evidences that the last few GOP primaries have been more like pyramid schemes than an actual political process.
water_wendi
Water is not wet!
Not finished reading but this part instantly reminded me of this:
adamsappel
Member
I certainly hope he cleaned that up for the interview, and that isn't how conservatives talk amongst themselves. My liberal father always says, "They've got a picture of [X] fucking a goat."
"A poor man never gave me a job."
Jeffolation
Banned
Poor ol Turd Blossom.
Sir Abacus
Member
I never heard a business owner say "I have too much money I should hire more people" either.
Yeah, that was my scary take away as well.
Well, to be fair that is a legitimate complaint regardless of who it is coming from. Individuals donate to political campaigns because they expect to see some effect, that their supported policies are being pushed forward. If an individual is continually donating large amounts of money to a party and they keep acting in the same losing manner they have every right to be upset.
What? The GOP frontrunner is a billionaire who persists despite villainizing entire ethnic and religious minorities as the cause of society's problems. If anything this shows how being rich can get you anywhere, even if you refuse to judge people on the basis of their character and are proud of it.
CharminUltra
Member
Trump has spent the least amount of money than all of the other candidates, his rise in popularity has everything to do with the people and not his money. You may not like the people that support him as they are a racist, xenophobic, emotional crowd but they are the ones propping Trump up not a handful of rich billionaires.
1.21Gigawatts
Banned
I think buying senators and congressmen is cheaper and easier and just as effective.
Elfforkusu
Member
The thing is, all money can really do (right now) is misinform and discourage. And thanks to aforementioned republican billionaires, we've reached peak misinformation at the national level.
Frozenprince
Banned
I mean, Trump is buying the election so. There's that.
It seems conservative culture have bad problem when it comes to cheaters, grifters, and scam artists. From conservative media to the establishment to the average conservative voter, it seems there's always a cloud of opportunists waiting to bilk the wealthy conservative financier (Karl Rove) to the lowly conservative factory worker (conservative media talking heads selling their book...or GOLD!!) of their money.
No saying this isn't the case with the Democratic side, but it seems especially bad on the conservative side. It seems opportunists and scammer naturally gravitate towards conservative culture.
No saying this isn't the case with the Democratic side, but it seems especially bad on the conservative side. It seems opportunists and scammer naturally gravitate towards conservative culture.
Hexa
Member
By spending less money than all his major competitors?
Charles Brandon
Member
Link
The Autumn Wind
He's only spent something like $250k. Compare that to the Bush camp who has spent $30 million.
Well, yes, of course. I'm sure all these people view it not as a purchase, but as an investment.
neogaffer1
Banned
yup. you don't need to spend money when all of your marketing is saying insane shit so that the media does your marketing for you.
- Status