Of swine, saboteurs, and sycophants - enemies of the state

[b.c.]

"Democratic lawmakers are seeking hard answers to some hard questions about a fund set up to defray legal costs for aides to Donald Trump who find themselves caught up in the Russia probe.In fact, little is known about the Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust established by the Washington-based law firm Wiley Rein other than the fact that it can accept unlimited contributions from either individual donors or “entities” ...

“The structure of the Fund appears to allow secret donations to these individuals, and it raises serious concerns about whether it complies with ethics, tax, and elections laws, as well as OGE guidance..."

Democrats seek info on secretive legal-defense fund set up for Trump associates on Russia probe

 

[deleted15807]

"Democratic lawmakers are seeking hard answers to some hard questions about a fund set up to defray legal costs for aides to Donald Trump who find themselves caught up in the Russia probe.In fact, little is known about the Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust established by the Washington-based law firm Wiley Rein other than the fact that it can accept unlimited contributions from either individual donors or “entities” ...

“The structure of the Fund appears to allow secret donations to these individuals, and it raises serious concerns about whether it complies with ethics, tax, and elections laws, as well as OGE guidance..."

Democrats seek info on secretive legal-defense fund set up for Trump associates on Russia probe

For all we know The Kremlin is funding it. And the Republicans will turn the other way. Fascinating it’s called “Patriot” fund. We know Republican always name something the exact opposite of what it is. So count on this being a fund for traitors.

 

[b.c.]

For all we know The Kremlin is funding it. And the Republicans will turn the other way. Fascinating it’s called “Patriot” fund. We know Republican always name something the exact opposite of what it is. So count on this being a fund for traitors.

They most certainly do.

In fact, they have a fkn GIFT for naming bills, agencies, laws, etc. for the exact opposite of what they ARE, and probably laugh about it.

Yet ANOTHER indication of the connivingly DUPLICITOUS nature of these lying b------------ds.

 

[Klingsor]

Democrats seek info on secretive legal-defense fund set up for Trump associates on Russia probe

This fund comes just in time! Maybe some of it can help van der Zwaan buy snacks at the prison commissary.

Dutch lawyer is first person to be sentenced in Mueller probe, gets 30 days in prison

 

[Freddie53]

This fund comes just in time! Maybe some of it can help van der Zwaan buy snacks at the prison commissary.

Dutch lawyer is first person to be sentenced in Mueller probe, gets 30 days in prison

Why am I surprised that the first person to actually go to prison because of this scandal is not an American citizen!

 

[deleted15807]

In fact, they have a fkn GIFT for naming bills, agencies, laws, etc. for the exact opposite of what they ARE, and probably laugh about it.

Their base loves sweet little lies and now the love big fat lies in their president. Fox lies to them 24/7 and it's their #1 "news" source. Make no mistake Fox News is the single biggest threat to democracy that this country has ever faced.

Today’s Fox prime-time lineup preaches paranoia, attacking processes and institutions vital to our republic and challenging the rule of law.

Four decades ago, as a U.S. Army second lieutenant, I took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” In moral and ethical terms, that oath never expires. As Fox’s assault on our constitutional order intensified, spearheaded by its after-dinner demagogues, I had no choice but to leave.

Why I left Fox News
​

 

[b.c.]

... from the thread "The Trump Presidency":

It’s not just Trump who is the problem. It’s the Republican Party and the oligarchs behind them. The Mercers, the Kochs, the Murdochs, the Wall Street financiers....

They are funding the destruction of our democratic institutions and undermining the rule of law. (Citizens United, and the Janus case. Killing the ACA. Pruitt at the EPA, and others like him)

... AND Fox News and News Corp, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Roger Ailes, Freedom Works, the Heritage Foundation, the American Freedom Party, the NRA, the American Conservative Union, etc. etc. etc.

In other words, the REAL "deep state."

To hear Republicans, conservatives, their propaganda machine (conservative "news" media), and Trump's defenders and sycophants tell of it, the "deep state" are all a bunch of liberals and liberal associates engaged in a plot to undermine Trump's administration. See:

Deep state in the United States - Wikipedia

from which comes the following:

"While definitions vary, the term gained popularity among various groups, primarily supporters of Donald Trump and conspiracy theorists, during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.... Since Trump's inauguration, the term has been used by commentators who argue that a 'deep state', involving the FBI, CIA, NSA, former President Barack Obama, and/or Hillary Clinton, is aiming to delegitimize the Trump presidency and thwart its policy goals."

"The term has been appropriated by Breitbart News and other conservative and right-wing news outlets, where supporters of the Trump Administration have used it to support a variety of conspiracy theories."

The REAL "Deep State"

But the FACT is the REAL "deep state" has been a long existing and often coordinated effort on the part of conservatives to not only maintain control in this country and entrench conservative ideology at all levels and branches of government, but ALSO to indoctrinate the minds of the citizenry in conservative thought and ideology - via a continued barrage of disinformation, propaganda, and dog whistle rhetoric with the specific purpose and intent of influencing the minds of their supporters, subscribers, and listeners, resulting in a corresponding deep state kind of mentality (which I'll go into later).

Suffice it to say they, the REAL deep state, nurture and nourish (via hate, demonization, and demagoguery) a kind of mentality that fills their supporters with enmity for some perceive "other" - to the degree that allows the REAL manipulators to do just about whatever they please, in plain sight: like benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, or enact policies that harm their own constituency, or even "shoot someone in the street" (as Trump bragged) and not lose a bit of support.

They are the ones who LITERALLY write the script for conservative THOUGHT and make it a part of national policy. Take for instance Mercer's Heritage Foundation:

"The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative public policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The foundation took a leading role in the conservative movement during the presidency of Ronald Reagan... and is considered to be one of the most influential conservative research organizations in the United States. After the 2016 election of Donald Trump as U.S. President, Heritage board member Rebekah Mercer played a major role in shaping his transition team."

"In January 1981 Heritage published the Mandate for Leadership... containing more than 2,000 specific suggestions to move the federal government in a conservative direction. ... several of its authors went on to take positions in the Reagan administration.... Approximately 60% of the 2,000 proposals were implemented or initiated by the end of Reagan's first year in office."

"During the Reagan and Bush administrations, The Heritage Foundation served as the President's brain trust on foreign policy."

"The Heritage Foundation remained an influential voice on domestic and foreign policy issues during President George H. W. Bush's administration. It was a leading proponent of Operation Desert Storm against Iraq... In domestic policy, the Bush administration agreed with six of the ten budget reforms contained in Mandate for Leadership III and included them in their 1990 budget proposal." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heritage_Foundation


This is just ONE example of an organization, outside of elected government, that LITERALLY wrote national policy.

(More to follow)

 

[b.c.]

[correction to above: broken link. Should read: Deep state in the United States - Wikipedia ]

 

[b.c.]

ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council)

Most people never even HEARD of ALEC. But they are in essence the conservative organization that on a state level, and through corroboration, collusion, and in cooperation with other conservative entities of the REAL dark state, formulates and establishes conservative ideology into LAW.

Here is Wikipedia's description of them:

"The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a nonprofit organization of conservative state legislators and private sector representatives who draft and share model state-level legislation for distribution among state governments in the United States."

"ALEC provides a forum for state legislators and private sector members to collaborate on model bills..."

"ALEC has produced model bills on a broad range of issues, such as reducing regulation and individual and corporate taxation, combating illegal immigration, loosening environmental regulations, tightening voter identification rules, weakening labor unions, and opposing gun control."

"Approximately 200 model bills become law each year."

"Many ALEC legislators say the organization converts campaign rhetoric and nascent policy ideas into legislative language."

"In July 2011, The Nation published a series of articles produced in collaboration with the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) that showcased some of the ALEC model bills and described ties to the Koch family..."

"CMD launched a website "ALEC Exposed" that documented more than 800 of ALEC model bills, the legislators and corporations that had helped to draft them, and the states that enacted them."
"The criticism among media outlets and political opponents was that ALEC was secretly subverting democratic institutions to further the aims of its corporate benefactors."

"As of December 2013, ALEC had more than 85 members of Congress and 14 sitting or former governors who were considered "alumni..."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council


(More to follow)

 

[b.c.]

The goals or agenda of ALEC reads like a "who's who" of Republican/conservative ideology. It includes:

• cutting corporate taxes
• illegal immigration
• relaxed environmental regulation and climate change denial
• voter suppression laws aimed at denying minorities, the elderly, and the poor the right to vote
• the destruction of labor unions
• anti-abortion
• undermining the ACA
• opposition to gun control
• so-called "tough on crime" legislation toward the goal of stiffer sentencing, greater incarceration, and prison overcrowding
• opposition to public broadband services
• privatizing public education, and
• undermining legal recourse for consumers

But they're not the only conservative organization doing so, and they do not work alone. In fact, the REAL deep state is a coordinated effort involving cooperation and COLLUSION (Don's favorite "C" word?) by which conservative national policy is written and implemented into law, and conservative ideology is INSTILLED into the minds and thinking of their constituency. Even a cursory examination of the connections between them reveal how some of the same NAMES keep popping up.

Here is just one source that examines SOME of these groups, how they work, and the connections they have:

The Enemies Within: The 20 Most Dangerous Conservatives And Their Organizations

 

[Freddie53]

It is tragic the direction the US has taken in the last 40 years. I am old enough to remember when the vast majority of white blue collar workers and most Southerners were staunch Roosevelt Democrats. The concept that the Americans are one big family has deteriorated exponentially. The concept of caring about everyone including those who are at the bottom has fallen out of favor.

The most tragic element is that much of this change has been led by people who claim to be Christians. While it is not my duty to name who is and who isn't a Christian, I can read and am a college graduate. Just a casual reading of the four gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible paints a theology that is the opposite of what the white right wing evangelical/political movement espouses as how Christians should believe and act.

Keep in mind that it wasn't the prostitutes and the sinners that Jesus had the harsh denunciations. Jesus' wrath was focused on the organized religion of his day, a religion that was focused on getting along with the Roman Empire.

Let's hope that this tyranny from the right gets checked soon. If not the US is primed to follow in the steps of Nazi Germany. There is some evidence that the US is not only going to take steps to follow Nazi Germany, but the US is in fact already going down that slippery slope which may be beyond any hope of being reversed in the near future.

I so hope I am wrong. My worst fear is that I may have underestimated the evil and the damage that this "conservative" movement is doing to the US and its people as well as the rest of the world.

There was a time when the main difference between the Republicans and Democrats was not in overall goals, but on how to implement them. The Republicans believed that social action should be done at the state level while Democrats believed that social action should be done at the federal level. There wasn't that much difference in what most members of both parties wanted to achieve.

Now the only social action that the Republicans want to engage is to wash their hands of any Christian duty to consider the needs of the poor and those on the fringe of society. Tragic! Very tragic for the American people. As the only superpower, this is tragic for the world as well.

 

[b.c.]

I so hope I am wrong. My worst fear is that I may have underestimated the evil and the damage that this "conservative" movement is doing to the US and its people as well as the rest of the world.

And we have good reason to be concerned, considering how revelations that the self professed "pussy grabber" paid (or his associates paid) models and porn stars to keep quiet about affairs (uhhh... no DUH)

have garnered MORE press and more public attention than the systematic undermining of democracy and the rule of law on the part of conservatives and Republicans.

 

[b.c.]

JUSTICES THOMAS AND SCALIA

I've posted in several other threads about Justices Clarence Thomas and Anthony Scalia, and their ties to numerous conservative groups... those power brokers and manipulators within the GOP and their conservative policy makers, writers, benefactors, and such... ties that many have held were conflicts of interest, rendering the two unable to make impartial decisions on matters that favor their (the Justices') common causes, SHARED interests, and IDEOLOGY with those conservative entities.

As noted in this 2013 article: Justices Thomas and Scalia Violate Judicial Ethics By Headlining Right Wing Fundraisers

"Of all the public officials in government, one would expect those serving in the justice system would be above partisanship to avoid the appearance of bias in their official roles as judges.

For three years, at least, there have been nagging questions about Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia’s close ties to right-wing organizations and their funding mechanism the Koch Brothers...

Clarence Thomas was at it again when he appeared at a Federalist Society “fundraiser” as a featured speaker that two other High Court justices, Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito also attended."

And there's this from a 2011 article: Scalia, Thomas and Citizens United - POLITICO

"Common Cause, a reform group, is asking the Department of Justice to investigate alleged conflicts of interest involving two Supreme Court justices – in hopes of forcing the court to vacate the 5-4 ruling [Citizens United]."

"Common Cause President Bob Edgar cites appearances by Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Antonin Scalia at retreats sponsored by Koch Industries, a corporation run by two major Republican donors who helped finance some of the new GOP groups founded after the ruling."

“It appears both justices have participated in political strategy sessions, perhaps while the case was pending, with corporate leaders whose political aims were advanced by the decision,” the Common Cause petition asserts."

"In addition, Common Cause argues that Thomas should have recused himself because his wife was the founder of Liberty Central, a conservative group funded with a small group of anonymous donors who endorsed candidates in about a dozen 2010 races."


The Citizens United decision which opened the floodgates for unlimited and undisclosed contributions to politicians and political organizations was, not TOO surprisingly applauded by REPUBLICANS.

Want just a RUDIMENTARY understanding of the makeup of the REAL "dark state"? Just follow the money (as best you CAN):

 

[b.c.]

This is what sourcewatch.org says about Americans for Prosperity:

"Americans for Prosperity is a right-wing political advocacy group founded by billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, the owners of Koch Industries.[1]

AFP spends millions on TV ads in election cycles…. AFP's budget, which comes from the Koch family foundations and other unknown sources, surged from $7 million in 2007 to $40 million in 2010 to $115 million in 2012.

AFP's messages are in sync with those of other groups funded by the Kochs and the Kochs' other special interest groups that work against progressive or Democratic initiatives and protections for workers and the environment. Accordingly, AFP opposes labor unions, health care reform, stimulus spending, and any effort to combat climate change."

Americans for Prosperity - SourceWatch

As usual, conservatives/Republicans have a penchant for misnomers and names that read the opposite of what they in essence DO. Hence, “Americans for prosperity.” Right. Prosperity for THEM and their wealthy CRONIES that is.

Apparently the rest of America can go fuck themselves.

Conservative/GOP trickle down economics in a nutshell: They’ll make a killing and maybe the chump change will trickle down to the peons….MAYBE.

That’s why they oppose a livable minimum wage, equal pay legislation, unions, health care reform, workers’ rights, and environmental protections, etc. etc. (Got that maga check yet?)

And what was yesterday’s report on CBO’s dire predictions on the deficit?

Federal Budget Deficit Projected to Soar to Over $1 Trillion in 2020 - The New York Times

Remember 9 of the last ten recessions occurred under a Republican administration.

Again, just follow the money:

​

Center for Shared Services - SourceWatch​

But, hey. not to worry. They’ll just do what they USUALLY do and get their bamboozled constituency focused of something else… like that “caravan” of immigrant “rapists and murderers” heading up from the border. They know that's all that's needed to rouse the rabble... making America “great” …………. again.

“Now don’t y’all go spending that MAGA check all in one place now, heah??”

 

[deleted15807]

This is what sourcewatch.org says about Americans for Prosperity:

"Americans for Prosperity is a right-wing political advocacy group founded by billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, the owners of Koch Industries.[1]

AFP spends millions on TV ads in election cycles…. AFP's budget, which comes from the Koch family foundations and other unknown sources, surged from $7 million in 2007 to $40 million in 2010 to $115 million in 2012.

AFP's messages are in sync with those of other groups funded by the Kochs and the Kochs' other special interest groups that work against progressive or Democratic initiatives and protections for workers and the environment. Accordingly, AFP opposes labor unions, health care reform, stimulus spending, and any effort to combat climate change."

Americans for Prosperity - SourceWatch

As usual, conservatives/Republicans have a penchant for misnomers and names that read the opposite of what they in essence DO. Hence, “Americans for prosperity.” Right. Prosperity for THEM and their wealthy CRONIES that is.

Apparently the rest of America can go fuck themselves.

Conservative/GOP trickle down economics in a nutshell: They’ll make a killing and maybe the chump change will trickle down to the peons….MAYBE.

That’s why they oppose a livable minimum wage, equal pay legislation, unions, health care reform, workers’ rights, and environmental protections, etc. etc. (Got that maga check yet?)

And what was yesterday’s report on CBO’s dire predictions on the deficit?

Federal Budget Deficit Projected to Soar to Over $1 Trillion in 2020 - The New York Times

Remember 9 of the last ten recessions occurred under a Republican administration.

Again, just follow the money:

View attachment 1054164 ​

View attachment 1054165

Center for Shared Services - SourceWatch​

But, hey. not to worry. They’ll just do what they USUALLY do and get their bamboozled constituency focused of something else… like that “caravan” of immigrant “rapists and murderers” heading up from the border. They know that's all that's needed to rouse the rabble... making America “great” …………. again.

“Now don’t y’all go spending that MAGA check all in one place now, heah??”

In other words they own the US government from top to bottom.

 

[b.c.]

In other words they own the US government from top to bottom.

These fkrs OWN it and RUN it, CONTRARY to what they'd have their idiot constituency believing.

Hell, they've even written a fucking MANUAL:

BlueprintforaNewAdministration.pdf

One of THREE fkn VOLUMES!

from pg. 11 of 86:

"Since the publication of Mandate for Leadership in 1981, The Heritage Foundation has sought to inform presidential Administrations with principled, conservative policy recommendations to address the issues facing the country."

In other words, since RONNIE REAGAN, they've been DICTATING national POLICY.

The liberal. dark state?? GTFOH!

 

[deleted15807]

These fkrs OWN it and RUN it, CONTRARY to what they'd have their idiot constituency believing.

Hell, they've even written a fucking MANUAL:

BlueprintforaNewAdministration.pdf

from pg. 11 of 86:

"Since the publication of Mandate for Leadership in 1981, The Heritage Foundation has sought to inform presidential Administrations with principled, conservative policy recommendations toaddress the issues facing the country."

In other words, since Reagan, they've been DICTATING national POLICY.

Oh absolutely you can trace it all back to Reagan. He was the demon seed. He set in motion the destruction of everything generations fought hard to win. He and Clinton did unspeakable damage to the free press which has lead the populace on a never ending descent into stupidity, know-nothingism, truthiness and vastly expanding plutocracy.

 

[b.c.]

Oh absolutely you can trace it all back to Reagan. He was the demon seed. He set in motion the destruction of everything generations fought hard to win. He and Clinton did unspeakable damage to the free press which has lead the populace on a never ending descent into stupidity, know-nothingism, truthiness and vastly expanding plutocracy.

And if one wants to find parallels to some of what Trump says and does one can START with much of the language contained in the dark state's "BLUEPRINT."

Take for instance this from pg. 19 of vol. 3:

"Make Armed Forces Personnel Policy on the Basis of Military Readiness, Not a Social Agenda."

"The President should reverse the transgender policy decision announced June 30, 2016, and restore the prior policy, which allowed persons with gender dysphoria to serve so long as their condition or treatments do not interfere with good order, discipline, or combat readiness."

"The Obama Administration advanced its liberal social agenda in the military through unilateral decisions to drop women’s combat exemption and to give subjective gender identity priority over biology in sex-specific settings and standards. The steps recommended above would roll back policies issued despite evidence and concern, including from senior military personnel, that they would negatively affect readiness."

What!

Y'all thought Trump was smart enough to think up this kind of s----- on his OWN?? PUHLEEEEZE!

 

[b.c.]

Dark state ARCHITECHS like the KOCHS and MERCER apparently have a THING for writing manuals, distributing propaganda, and dictating ideology:

“A nationwide network of rightwing thinktanks is launching a PR counteroffensive against the teachers’ strikes that are sweeping the country, circulating a “messaging guide” for anti-union activists that portrays the walkouts as harmful to low-income parents and their children.


The new rightwing strategy to discredit the strikes that have erupted in protest against cuts in education funding and poor teacher pay is contained in a three-page document obtained by the Guardian. Titled “How to talk about teacher strikes”, it provides a “dos and don’ts” manual for how to smear the strikers."

DeVos and Koch Funded Secret right-wing strategy to discredit teacher strikes revealed.

They've got plans for their GESTAPO as well:

Koch, Mercer private armies equipped with police badges from tiny town

 

[Max_Polo]

There was a time when the main difference between the Republicans and Democrats was not in overall goals, but on how to implement them. The Republicans believed that social action should be done at the state level while Democrats believed that social action should be done at the federal level. There wasn't that much difference in what most members of both parties wanted to achieve.

That time was yesterday and it will be again tomorrow.