As if buying Scott Walker’s way into the Wisconsin governor’s office weren’t enough, the Koch-funded advocacy group Americans for Prosperity is running banner ads, with television and radio ads to come.
After unions announced they would be running ads in Wisconsin, the Washington D.C.-based and pro-business front group Americans for Prosperity countered with an announcement that they, too, would be running ads. Banner ads are already appearing on websites, which was how we became aware of the AFP move.
AFP is funded by rich, conservative donors, and might as well be called a Koch Brothers front group. Like a mafia, now that their boy is under seige, they need to protect him.
How surreal is it that this comes not two days after the Buffalo Beast aired a recording of a comedian Ian Murphy posing as David Koch and pranking Scott Walker? One needs only the right name to get a direct line to the governor’s office—the same can definitely not be said of any of the thousands of state labor union members protesting in Madison.
The Kochs brothers like to hide behind these nostalgically anonymous front groups, but their fingerprints are there and illuminated for all to see.
And while we cannot be sure if the Kochs have any direct financial stake in the Wisconsin, it is mostly irrelevant, for their game lies elsewhere—in breaking unions nationwide to enrich their various corporations and by extension, themselves.
To that end, the banner ads link to the Americans for Prosperity website, where you follow a link to sign a petition and watch the AFP pro-Walker ad, which we’ve embedded below.
And just so we can all be certain that this is a concerted national effort, the end of the petition reads, “every state should adopt Governor Scott Walker’s common sense reforms.”
February 25, 2011 at 7:57 pm, Giantsquid208 said:
Give Walker his walking papers. We ain’t fooled.
February 26, 2011 at 1:34 pm, NoKoch said:
The video was made by Koch. Why would you think progressives would make such propaganda as that video? Why would you think that?
February 25, 2011 at 8:03 pm, Blather said:
Damn right we’re gonna regulate the H-E-double hockey sticks out of polluters like Koch heads and bandits like Jamie Dimon. Teabaggers are the stooges of the rightwing radicals. Big business is going to suck the life blood out of you and you small businesses (they are already and you are too stupid to see it).
February 25, 2011 at 8:20 pm, Dan Wood said:
Crack pot conspiracy theories and insults. . . that’s what “progressives” have been reduced to.
February 26, 2011 at 2:21 am, Dr. Matt said:
Glenn Beck is a progressive?
February 26, 2011 at 2:51 am, Anonymous said:
Interesting: were you paid to sit and post the first comment on any Koch head brother’s articles, Mr. “Wood”?
Well, you didn’t fool us nor earn your money:
Boycott all Koch head companies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 25, 2011 at 8:47 pm, Daniel Hough said:
The Tea Partying of America has started, and the country now stands at a defining moment where it will be determined whether the rich and powerful forces behind the Tea Party and the millions of people they have lied to and deceived will succeed in destroying our democracy. See more here > http://wp.me/pNmlT-BT
February 26, 2011 at 3:04 am, Anonymous said:
The Koch family got rich making Stalin powerful. No kidding. How many repiglicans know this?
http://www.alternet.org/economy/146504/the_roots_of_stalin_in_the_tea_party_movement?page=entire
February 26, 2011 at 4:20 pm, Anonymous said:
Great article and great story! Thanx 4 da Link! If only it wasn’t true!
As interesting as the Bush (crime) family story and intertwined! One day there will be movies about all of this.
February 26, 2011 at 3:33 am, Anonymous said:
These people need to go the way of the Dodo – they’re an outrage, they are the criminal element feeding on society, and we need legislation against them.
February 26, 2011 at 3:43 am, Anonymous said:
Time to get over the conservative/progressive divide and start caring about the people. And, Dan, “crack pot” is an insult so saying progressives have been reduced to insults is kind of like the pot calling the kettle, unless you are a self-hating progressive.
February 26, 2011 at 6:33 am, Jeremy Kopka said:
Koch is the piece of shit who funds Scott Walker.
February 26, 2011 at 8:08 am, Anonymous said:
Tomorrow we are in the streets!
February 26, 2011 at 11:25 am, BadgerDad said:
To your point that you are unsure if the Koch’s have any business interests in Wisconsin, you need to know that Koch Industries owns Georiga Pacific, which owns a VERY LARGE tissue-paper manufacturing facility in Green Bay. It’s the former Fort Howard Green Bay mill, one of (if not the biggest) tissue-paper mills in the world. Brands made there include Soft-n-Gentle toilet tissue. So, yes, they have financial interests in Wisconsin.
February 26, 2011 at 3:04 pm, Anonymous said:
Right you are, BadgerDad. That’s why I only buy Marcal Small Steps paper products. They are made from 100% post consumer recycled paper, are soft and absorbent, are clean and decent and are reasonably priced. Only problem is you can’t find them everywhere like the Koch brothers products. I have requested them at many different establishments and have gotten good results.
February 26, 2011 at 3:08 pm, Anonymous said:
If I sound like a commercial for Marcal, I apologize. (no i don’t) I just believe strongly that we all should stop fueling the destruction of our forests and start conserving. Especially when it comes to toilet paper! No need to use virgin wood to make something to wipe our butts with. right?
February 26, 2011 at 3:58 pm, Anonymous said:
Legalizing Hemp would make it much easier to boycott Koch Industries.
“How can hemp be used to make toilet paper?
Both the fiber (bast) and pulp (hurd) of the hemp plant can be used to make toilet paper. Fiber paper was the first kind of paper, and the first batch was made out of hemp in ancient China. Fiber paper is thin, tough, brittle, and a bit rough. Pulp paper is not as strong as fiber paper, but it is easier to make, softer, thicker, and preferable for most everyday purposes.
The toilet paper we use most today is a `chemical pulp’ paper made from trees. Hemp pulp toilet paper can be made without chemicals from the hemp hurd. Most hemp paper made today uses the entire hemp stalk, bast and hurd. High-strength fiber paper can be made from the hemp baste, also without chemicals. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, one acre of hemp can produce 4 times more paper than one acre of trees!”
http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com/toilet-paper-history/toilet-paper-and-the-environment
March 01, 2011 at 12:16 pm, Anonymous said:
Try using Plastic or a Sick!
February 26, 2011 at 3:53 pm, Anonymous said:
Boycott for your Karma
Koch Industry Gasoline: Conoco, Union and Union 76
Koch Industry/GeorgiaPacific products: Angel Soft Toilet Paper, Brawny Paper Towels, Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups, Mardi Gras Napkins & Towels, Quilted Northern Toilet Paper, SoftnGentle Toilet Paper, Sparkle Napkins, Vanity Fair Napkins, Zee Napkins
Then there is Koch Industry/Invista Products
and more Georgia Pacific building products
Link to Koch Boycott Products List: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=145150418861519&set=o.155879361093898&theater
February 26, 2011 at 6:33 pm, D. J. Pangburn said:
Thanks, BadgerDad.
I will look into this and maybe write something up.
February 26, 2011 at 6:33 pm, D. J. Pangburn said:
Thanks, BadgerDad.
I will look into this and maybe write something up.
February 26, 2011 at 2:53 pm, Anonymous said:
How is this any different when George Soros funds Moveon.org and all the other globalist/New World Order fascist orgs he runs?
February 26, 2011 at 2:59 pm, Anonymous said:
The difference is their motives. The Koch brothers want to control utilities, oil and anything else they can make a big fat profit from. It’s obvious who has their own interest in mind and who has the interest of the country and the American people in mind. Wake up, AdamTro, or are you a billionaire too?
February 26, 2011 at 6:31 pm, D. J. Pangburn said:
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
February 26, 2011 at 4:26 pm, Anonymous said:
“Stand with Wa(l)Nker”
Stalinist Propaganda
Deutsche ArbeitsFront
May 2, 1933
Color it anyway you like but Tyranny is still Tyranny.
February 26, 2011 at 7:03 pm, Anonymous said:
The Koch brothers probably would serve America best to jump out the window of a 100 story skyscraper.
February 27, 2011 at 5:47 pm, Politicolnews said:
Koch Bros are already advertising for plant jobs in Wisconsin plants they don’t own yet, they will buy up Wisconsin assets at cheap prices and own the state. That’s the goal of Walker’s agenda, cheap assets, cheap labor equals more profits for Koch.
February 28, 2011 at 5:07 pm, Nanaberry1110 said:
I am flying to Wisconsin tomorrow. I plan to file a criminal complaint against the 14 runaway senators.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 1
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
Case Number:________________________
Defendants: Tim Carpenter, 2957 South 38th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Spencer Coggs, SC 2957 South 38th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Tim Cullen, 2957 South 38th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Jon Erpenbach, 7194 Belle Fontaine Blvd., Middleton, WI 53562
Dave Hansen, 3489 Blackwolf Run, Green Bay, WI 54311
Jim Holperin, 3575 Monheim Road, Conover, WI 54519
Robert Jauch, 5271 South Maple Drive, Poplar, WI 54864
Chris Larson, 3261 S. Herman Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Julie Lassa, 4901 Beaver Dam Road, Stevens Point, WI 54482
Mark Miller, 4903 Roigan Terrace, Monona, WI 53716
Fred Risser, 100 Wisconsin Avenue, Unit 501, Madison, WI 53703
Lena Taylor 1518 West Capitol, Milwaukee, 53206
Kathleen Vinehout, W1490 Cesler Valley Road, Alma, WI 54610
Robert Wirch, 3007 Springbrook Road, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
I, William Thomas, the undersigned complainant, state that the following is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. In Dane County, Wisconsin on or about 11 February, 2011 in the United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin the defendants, did: Willfully flee the state of Wisconsin to avoid a quorum being achieved by the State Senate of Wisconsin. Wisconsin State Senators Timothy Carpenter, Lena Taylor, G. Spencer Coggs, Christopher Larson, Jim Holperin, Tim Cullen, Mark Miller, Robert Wirch, Julie Lassa, Robert Jauch, Fred Risser, Jon Erpenbach, Dave Hansen and Kathleen Vinehout in violation of Title United States Code 18, Section 241. The actions of these defendants were clearly to conspire to oppress the citizens of Wisconsin by intentionally denying them their Constitutional right of self government. The clear and expressed intent of the defendants was to deny the citizens of Wisconsin due process of the prescribed method of representative government. I further state that I am a United States citizen and that this complaint is based on the following facts: The above defendants knowing that the people of Wisconsin had no administrative remedy intentionally halted the prescribed function of the people’s state legislative body thereby effectively denying the people’s right to be represented by their government. The people’s Constitutional right to be guaranteed a Republican form of government (Art IV Section 4: “the United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of
2
Government…”) has been intentionally denied by the conspiracy of the defendants to halt the representative due process of the people’s Republican form of government. The Constitutional guarantee of all States to have a Republican form of government clearly implies that all citizens living within those states have the individual Constitutional guarantee to have a Republican form of government. To intentionally disrupt the due process of the people’s representative Republican form of government is to effectively deny that individual guarantee. The writers of this Constitution’s guarantee that all the people would have a Republican form of government is clear evidence of those writers’ compliance with core premise of American value upon which our Constitution was based. As declared by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence, government’s just powers are derived from the “consent of the governed”. The consent of the governed in America is protected by the Constitutional guarantee of a Republican form of government. The Constitutional guarantee that all Americans be represented by a Republican form of government insures that the people control their government based on the functioning of their representative (or Republican) type of government. A Republican form of government is defined by Blacks Law Dictionary as: “A government in the republican form; a government of the people; a government by representatives chosen by the people.” When the right of the people’s representative system is intentionally denied those people’s Constitution right has been usurped. The defendants have conspired to intentionally make the people’s Republican representative government cease to function thereby conspiring to oppress the people’s Constitutional right and privilege to be represented by their chosen form of Republican government. The basis of the Supreme law of the land in the United States was clearly stated in the Preamble of the Constitution when the founders wrote the final declared purpose of the document was to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. The word “liberty” as defined by the Encarta Dictionary: English (North America) as it relates to citizens as: “A political, social, and economic right that belongs to the citizens of a state or to all people”. The word “right” is defined as: “that which is morally good or in accordance with accepted principles of justice, fairness, and honesty.” Arguably the most fundamental civil right in the United States is the right to self-government. To deny the people’s right to a representative government is to deny their right to self government. It matters not whether the people are correct or incorrect regarding their use of their basic right to have a functional representative government. The only authority for government at any level in the United States is the people. While it may be fairly argued that the motives of the defendants were in their minds perceived to be righteous and for the best interest of the people. Motives are indeed something to be fairly considered in the punishment phase of our judicial system. However, motive for intentionally violating federal statue has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of the perpetrator of the crime. The fact stands alone that the defendants blatantly and intentionally denied the people’s right to be the authority in their government. Regardless of the defendants’ motives their intentional actions is an open attack
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on the Constitution I once raised my hand and swore to defend, “So help me God”. Like many of my fellow Americans I shed my blood on foreign soil as a testament to that oath. The release form active military duty did not relieve me of my sacred oath to defend my Constitution. This was an oath this old soldier will honor to his grave. I have no recourse but to file a formal complaint against anyone who attacks the basic core of the Constitution. To intentionally deny the people’s right to a representative vote in a legislature that governs only with the consent of those people is to clearly violate the provisions of the federal statue and conspire to oppress the people.
___________________
William Thomas NOTARY
Copperas Cove, Texas
254-371-3815
March 02, 2011 at 10:39 pm, Paul said:
That being the case,
when the Federal government shuts down, we can extend the lawsuit to the federal government.
March 01, 2011 at 12:18 pm, Anonymous said:
This is an Assault on ALL working people in America! Stand Up And Be Heard!
The Great Recesssion is Really a Depression and it was caused by Deregulation Not by a Handful of Teachers!
March 05, 2011 at 2:50 pm, Rick said:
Join the boycott of the koch Bors. and georgia pacific at http://www.buyingfreeze.org It won’t matter how many millions they spend on advertisements if we won’t buy their paper products.
March 07, 2011 at 2:26 pm, Eddie Ciletti said:
Billionaires spending money to become what? Trillionaires? Why not use the money for good rather than evil.
February 09, 2012 at 5:31 am, Fabiola Bredeson said:
I admit… I’ve been won-over to the global financial tin-foil-hat-wearers in regards to the market. Has someone found a glimmer of hope in this “slow-down”?
February 12, 2012 at 2:32 am, Adelia Chappell said:
I do know exactly what you suggest in regards to the marketplace. The rising cost of living isn’t good and we figure it’s going to exacerbate. oof.
February 12, 2012 at 6:22 am, Jonathon Alcantar said:
When you listen to half these call-in drivel, they are all constantly pushing gold and silver as being a fail-safe solution to the crisis. Although, my past experience is that the salesmen never cease phoning ‘n’ annoying you, and the marginis rather bad unless you visit a local coin store.