General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo why aren't the Koch Bros. backing Trump?
The Koch Bros. are in the oil/gas business. The politicians they buy and own are those who back their various businesses.
Donald Trump doesn't give a rat's ass about the Koch Bros. or anyone else. If backing wind power, or any other new technology will help him, that's what he'll do. If oil and gas were still the only alternatives, Trump would be all for it. But even then, I don't think the Koch Bros. would back him.
And here's why: Trump will say and do anything, ANYTHING, that will get him elected. He doesn't care about the Koch Bros.'s interests, or anyone else's. He'll do, or say anything that pops into his head at the moment that he thinks will help him get votes. No one controls him and no one tells him what to say or do.
That makes him really unique among politicians. It also makes him dangerous. And if he were to become president, it would make him the most dangerous man in the world (nuclear codes, etc.).
So that's why the Koch Bros. aren't backing him. And neither is any other sane person, except for office-holding Republicans who only give a damn about holding power and getting reelected, even if they have to kiss the devil's ass.
Trump really doesn't care what anyone says or does, as long as there are enough imbeciles casting votes to put him in the White House.
Ohioblue22
(1,430 posts)spanone
(135,781 posts)they like bang for their buck....don would just take their buck.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Recently, billionaire Charles Koch gave a vague endorsement of Clinton, essentially expressing that she would be more favorable than any of the current Republican candidates. Koch told ABC News that, Its possible [Clinton could be better than another Republican next time around].
The Kochs are oil tycoons and one of the biggest GOP backers; they have consistently pulled the strings in elections using their hundreds of millions. As the face of Big Oil, they have lobbied Congress incessantly to block climate change and clean energy legislation, largely successfully. They also currently possess almost $900 million they hope to use during the 2016 election.
The Kochs epitomize the systemic corruption in Washington of wealthy donors controlling politicians. If they believe Clinton is their best bet in the White House, this is not a positive sign for the former secretary of state who has been constantly battling claims that she is bought by corporate interests and big money.
Clinton immediately took to Twitter to disavow this half-hearted support from Koch, writing, Not interested in endorsements from people who deny climate science and try to make it harder for people to vote.
--more--
Huffington Post
The article concludes with: All this underscores a very significant point: Clinton, no matter her rhetoric, is a pro-corporate Democrat who has significant ties to Koch Industries executives and lobbyists, and has allowed Koch Industries members to influence the policies of Democrats for decades.
Cyrano
(15,027 posts)spitting on Hillary every chance they get.
So as far as their quote, take it from whence it comes.
Skittles
(153,111 posts)strange behavior for the so-called "chosen" one
DustyJoe
(849 posts)This is the most obvious answer. Large donations and backing from the mega backers like kochs, soros, gates, zuck etc etc all expect something from what they are giving. From business perkies to govt positions or jobs, they are seeing it as a purchase of power with their money. Trump has shown he isn't there to be bought and if they back him, he'll gladly take their money and give nothing in return. Politics, the religion of the almighty dollar.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)He's a distraction.
Cyrano
(15,027 posts)Caligula, Hitler, Mussolini, and so many others were also "distractions."
If we underestimate Trump, and don't get out there and vote in overwhelming numbers, the "Trump phenomenon" will bite us in the ass.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)The Republicans know he is a disaster and they find a way to replace him. Five months to go. Anything can happen and it will.
When they do, everyone will breath a sigh of relief and accept Romney (or...?) as the sane choice.
cstanleytech
(26,224 posts)and as long as they keep it firmly under their thumb by arranging for financial support (aka bribing) for the Republicans to assist them in keeping their majority rule.
I mean why worry about who gets the office of president when you can just buy Congress and if you buy enough of it you get the power to override a presidential veto so how awesome is that?
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)The vast majority of his backers are not imbeciles. Some are racists, some are misogynists, but I feel that the majority are simply angry and confused. They know that the country is heading in the wrong direction but are incorrect as to why this is so.
Cyrano
(15,027 posts)you named under the name "imbeciles."
As far as the country "heading in the wrong direction," there have always been people who think so. I don't know what direction you want it headed, so I'll just leave it there.
Doctor Jack
(3,072 posts)They know it would be a waste of millions of dollars backing a candidate that has no shot at winning. Trump would spend all of their money on hair glue and trying to reanimate the corpse of George Wallace so he can be his running mate.
applegrove
(118,462 posts)captive to the right wing. They want to convert some democratic voters to better make the USA a more permanent right wing oligarchy. Why they are all over colleges and are going after Bernie's base with their bullshit.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)denying him that money may be the GOP's stealth plan to deny him the presidency under their party name.
Cyrano
(15,027 posts)claims to have should more than cover it.
Is it possible he's lying to us???
TwilightZone
(25,426 posts)This is nothing new. It's been their MO for years.
Dustlawyer
(10,494 posts)We need a 50 state strategy and voter registration drives. There are so many unregistered minority voters in Texas to turn it blue overnight, despite the severe gerrymandering.
Cyrano
(15,027 posts)The problem is that Texas, and all the other red states, have GOP leadership that pass laws to make it as hard as possible for Democratic voters to get to the polls.
Put another way, "Jim Crow" is alive and well in much of the country.
Republicans are a minority in America. They couldn't win a sack of shit fair and square. So they legislate "rules and regulations" that let them steal it.
At some point, this will end as the heritage of most Americans turns into the majority. Until then, we're stuck with having to put up with Republican theft.
Dustlawyer
(10,494 posts)hurdles to make sure each is registered. People who register voters must take a class through the county clerk's office (at least in my county, probably all), and follow the rules of registering all and being non-partisian in their registration efforts.
Warpy
(111,124 posts)He's a loose cannon and scares the hell out of them. He could put the hex on their sweet deal of sitting in their spider web and pulling strings all across the country.
Unfortunately for the Kochs, it looks like people are getting sick of them even in their home state of Kansas.
It is my most fervent hope that the Koch family becomes like other inherited aristocrats in this country, successive generations becoming more indolent and dissolute, spending the money on parties instead of buying the government. And I hope Chuck and Dave live to see the beginning of that.
qdouble
(891 posts)JCMach1
(27,553 posts)they have created for themselves.
Todays_Illusion
(1,209 posts)allow Trump to be in if they wanted him out? Have all of you forgotten how Donald Trump was Mr. Birther back in 2012 and I think there is plenty of evidence that Koch backed organizations heavily supported the Birther movement.
And how why? Trump's finances are not that stable nor is Trump worth $10 Billion. Financial support is not alwas about campaign contributions. It is also necessary to get news/media coverage and if they don't want you in the news you will not be covered it won't matter how much support you have as all of you
have seen from the Sanders Campaign.
Now remember the drive for the last 4 years, "both parties are the same" that is a push for one party. and that is what now exists, One party with an electable Presidential candidate.
Shandris
(3,447 posts)Is that seriously the takeaway you were going for? I have trouble believing that it was, hence my asking.
Cyrano
(15,027 posts)most of us by rules, regulations and laws.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Ms. Yertle
(466 posts)they are libertarians, and Trump isn't?
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)If Trump needs that proverbial "Last bt of fuel" to beat Hillary, they will give it to him.
Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)People don't give a shit about what toilet paper to buy in Mad Max's world.