Koch Brothers now concerned about toxic populism their astroturfing helped create..

[JHan]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/01/31/populistauthoritarian_strains_worry_koch_network_132949.html

On the one hand, Trump’s brand of nationalist populism has raised serious policy concerns for the Koch group and others of their ilk on issues including trade and immigration reform. But the network is also beginning to sound an alarm on the broader socio-political environment, warning of a nation they see as careening toward “authoritarianism.”

“We have a tremendous danger,” Charles Koch said during one session this weekend, “because we can go the authoritarian route, or we can move toward a free and open society.”

Charles Murray, a political scientist who delivered remarks to donors during another session, echoed this concern: “Completely apart from the individual person of the president, I think we see an environment that is fertile for authoritarianism in the United States now.”

In the past, Murray said, Republicans and Democrats had together defended a shared idea of American values. “The American creed was the basis of individualism and freedom and opportunity,” he continued. “And what we discovered last year was that the proportion of the American electorate on the right that is still devoted to those American creedal principles is way smaller than I thought it was.”

They need to own this, cry me a river.

[uponit7771]

1. lol... this white supremacy is hung around their fuckin necks too... we're NEVER GOING TO FORGET!!

[Phoenix61]

2. Exactly what did they think was going to happen!

Guess their not as smart as they thought they were. So what are they going to do to stop this train wreck? How about buy Fox and stop the blatant propaganda it pumps out 24/7.

[MagickMuffin]

3. Well then they had better start talking to the congress critters they got elected

All the Koch brothers have to do is quit funding the republicans. If the republicans don't do as the Koch brothers instruct no mo money for you!

It's worked in the past.

[titaniumsalute]

6. They've been vocal against Trump

And they said they were not (and did not) support him during his primary or election. Who knows maybe they were fucked by Donald sometime in the past. I think they look at him as an idiot.

Maybe they are going to go to war with Trump via Congress? Who knows.

[meow2u3]

4. The Kochtopi are (radical) libertarians at heart

Not even they will stand for this authoritarianism. The repukes will impeach tRump and install Pence when the Kochtopi tell them to do so, i.e., when the thuggery threatens their bottom line.

[titaniumsalute]

9. That's the key

So many of these politicians are bought and paid for by Kochs, Big Banks, Big Pharma, etc. You start seeing a shit economy they will work 110% to get Trump the fuck out. It isn't for the right reasons but it might be our only hope.

[MountCleaners]

13. I don't think they agree on immigration

...because Cato doesn't. Not that I think they are anything but evil. Still, we should play up the divide between the libertarians and the Trumpies.

I also think the Kochs probably don't like the religious stuff, but they've had lots of opportunities to do something about it.

[Kingofalldems]

5. It's a trick--they back Trump all the way.

[Brother Buzz]

12. Could be, their dilemma is they lost control of the monster they helped create

When the Koch brothers buy politicians, they expect them to stay bought.

[octoberlib]

7. I just read a "learn from our mistakes" column in Commentary.

Noah Rothman said Tea Party activists took over the party and pressured GOP congressman to obstruct Obama which lead to a dysfunctional government which lead to popular distrust of government and reduced political participation which lead to the undermining of democracy and authoritarianism. The Koch brothers badmouthed democracy mostly because they hated all the regulations they had to put up with. This will be a big learning moment for a lot of people.

[JHan]

10. well said.

[moda253]

8. This is bullshit

They want us to believe that their brand of republicanism is the only way to fight Trump and they want to cement American Politics in Conservatism in opposition to Trump's authoritarian style and they themselves put him up to it. This is a fucked up head game right here.

[JHan]

11. i agree they'll try to sell that argument..it won't work.

They're partly responsible for Trump.

[haele]

14. Ah, Charles, are you worried about having your cover blown?

The nice thing about a free and open society is that it's easy to manipulate. People come and go, and you always can claim the benefit of doubt.

In an authoritarian society, you'll be front in center on the national org chart. No regulations, government agencies, or policies left to point fingers at or set up as strawmen as you cheat the system - you will end up owning the system.

That's what always happens when dealing with John Birchers. They talk a lot about "personal responsibility", "patriotism", and "moral strength" but when they actually have to own up to a flawed, short-sighted policy that ends up causing chaos and pain, you can't find them. They have to admit that for their policies to actually succeed, they have to be living in small, highly controlled enclaves, and severely restrict rights and liberties that they supposedly enshrine - those of association, speech, religion...

The American Conservative movement requires class slavery and restrictions to "succeed" and create a "safe" society for those who profit off it. That's what they hide behind faux patriotism and religious extremism.

Haele