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Now It's Personal: Koch Brothers "Freeze Out" Donald Trump

Tyler Durden's picture




 

"He's not going away," warns one Republican committee member, adding "there are people who think his candidacy is a flash in the pan or a flash in the moment, but I think that underestimates his appeal." As Reuters reports, Trump has surged since suffering a slight downtick in the wake of the McCain furor, rocketing to 24.9% on Tuesday (compared to his closest rival, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who trails at 12%). With everyone asking 'what can derail this?', perhaps, there is something. As Politico reports, the massively influential Koch brothers are freezing out Donald Trump from their influential political operation - denying him access to their state-of-the-art data and refusing to let him speak to their gatherings of grass-roots activists or major donors.

 

As Reuters reports,

 Predictions of his demise were apparently premature. Instead, Trump is gaining momentum ahead of next week's first Republican debate, a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll shows.

 

The poll shows Trump with his greatest support yet nationally, as nearly a quarter of Republicans surveyed said he would be their choice as the party's presidential nominee in 2016. He has opened up a double-digit lead over his closest rival, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who trails at 12 percent.

 

"I’m proud to be in first place by such a wide margin in another national poll," Trump said in a statement to Reuters.

 

Trump has surged since suffering a slight downtick in the wake of the McCain furor. The five-day rolling online poll had the real-estate mogul and reality TV star at 15 percent among Republicans on Friday before rocketing to 24.9 percent on Tuesday.

 

...

 

But perhaps of greater concern to establishment Republicans, Reuters/Ipsos polling also shows that in a three-way race with Trump running as an independent in the general election, Trump would drain support from the Republican nominee and allow the Democrat, likely Hillary Clinton, to skate to victory.

 

Trump has refused to rule out a possible independent run. In a matchup with Clinton and Bush, he would essentially tie Bush at about 23 percent among likely voters, with Clinton winning the White House with 37 percent of the vote. (About 15 percent of those polled said they were undecided or would not vote.)

 

It is that scenario that should keep party strategists up at night.

Which prehaps explains, as Politico reports, The Koch brothers decision to freeze-out The Donald from their operations...

Despite a long and cordial relationship between the real estate showman and David Koch, as well as a raft of former Koch operatives who are now running Trump’s presidential campaign, the Koch political operation appears to have concluded that Trump is the wrong standard-bearer for the GOP. And the network of Koch-backed policy and political outfits is using behind-the-scenes influence to challenge Trump more forcefully than the Republican Party establishment — by limiting his access to the support and data that would help him translate his lead in the polls into a sustainable White House campaign.

 

The Koch operation has spurned entreaties from the Trump campaign to purchase state-of-the-art data and analytics services from a Koch-backed political tech firm called i360, and also turned down a request to allow Trump to speak at an annual grass-roots summit next month in Columbus, Ohio, sponsored by the Koch-backed group Americans for Prosperity, POLITICO has learned.

 

...

 

Continued stiff-arming by the powerful Koch network could limit Trump’s ability to build a professional campaign operation to mobilize supporters ahead of primaries and caucuses.

 

“The good news is that Donald Trump doesn’t need the Koch brothers, and he can do this perfectly without their assistance,” said Josh Youssef, who’s chairing Trump’s campaign in Belknap County, New Hampshire. Of the Kochs, Youssef said: “Their motivations are clearly not to break the mold of political insider-ship. Their goal is to keep the wheel spinning. Trump’s bad for business for them.”

 

Still, the Koch network’s rejections of Trump are telling because of the relationships between Trump and his aides, and the Kochs and their operation.

*  *  *

We conclude with the two opposing views from within the Republican party...

"The activists are doubly angry," Geer said. "He's capturing that anger. They're looking for a voice, and he happens to be here at the right time.”

and

"The curtain has not been pulled back yet," Feehery said. "In time, people will see Trump is not who they want to have as a nominee. But that’s going to take awhile."

 

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Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:09 | 6371815 newsoutlet
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putin regime changes it's mind when truth comes out:

https://twitter.com/noclador/status/626520358233972737

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:10 | 6371824 SuperVinci
SuperVinci's picture

No MORE BUSHS...No MORE CLINTONS.

Fuck Kochs

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:11 | 6371827 813kml
813kml's picture

Maybe Trump isn't so bad if he's the Antichrists' Antichrist.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:13 | 6371843 lordylord2
lordylord2's picture

Doesn't Trump know that you have to be selected for president?  Silly him.  He thinks these are free elections.

Hope he likes the Ron Paul treatment. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:14 | 6371852 nuubee
nuubee's picture

Don't the Koch brothers know that that kind of information is free to the highest bidder?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:24 | 6371896 Occident Mortal
Occident Mortal's picture

So now Trump is the "anti-Koch" candidate too?

 

Any they think this will hurt his chances???

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:33 | 6371946 whotookmyalias
whotookmyalias's picture

Our political system is so fucked up.

- signed, captain obvious

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:34 | 6371950 Silky Johnson
Silky Johnson's picture

The fact that they are using words like the Koch Network and The Koch Operation, tells you all you need to know. This fucking sham of a system is run by a handful of cunts that use their money to select the new 4-year puppet.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:38 | 6371966 whotookmyalias
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Big question in my mind is whether Trump's influence in this election will be Ross Perot like or Ron Paul like.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:46 | 6371999 eatthebanksters
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The Koch bros just fucked the dog (amd themselves).  They are the bain of liberal existence and now will be seen by conservatives for what they really are:  status quo rhinos.  I predict this move will backfire on the Koch bros and that the man in the street who Trump speaks for (as a multi-billionaire) will support Trum even more as this news gets out.  Previously I had enjoyed the way the Donald was shaking up the race...now I'd like to see him blow up the establishment Repugs.  Trump and Cruz is the ticket and Hitlery is about to self destruct (according to Camille Paglia).

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:49 | 6372010 OrangeJews
OrangeJews's picture

I have a bad feeling that Donald Trump is going to be a nail gun owner or at the least get one of those neat hole piercings through his head.  

 

GO DONALD!!!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:22 | 6372177 Panopticon 131
Panopticon 131's picture

Why?  Trump is a pro-NWO globalist.   

 

You are watching another circus routine.   The bankster mafia can afford to roll out some darn good theater and apparently most people never learn.  

 

If Trump was in any way against the endgame of a 1984-style Technocracy he would have been vilified and mocked nonstop in the mainstream media.

 

The Koch are Globalists (as was their father), funding Agenda 21 policy implementation through their foundations.  

 

KABUKI THEATER.  PERIOD.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:40 | 6372263 J S Bach
J S Bach's picture

After this fails, they can always call Luca Brasi and put a contract out on him.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:11 | 6372413 Bumpo
Bumpo's picture

This just give Trump more credibility. Eat Shit, Main Stream Fuckery

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:15 | 6372428 boogerbently
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p

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:27 | 6372473 undercover brother
undercover brother's picture

pretty obvious Trump is making the old boys network very nervous.  that my friends, is a great thing.

 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:50 | 6372595 new game
new game's picture

yup, Trump is just rich enuf to rock the billioaire boot. certainly, unpredictable. go get um trump.tell it like it is. moar ro come. good shit mon...

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:39 | 6372831 TruxtonSpangler
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Why is the establishment so afraid of this guy? Because they cant control him through standard methods?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:57 | 6372914 Amish FinEng
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Pennsylvanian, Ohio, Indiana, and Minnesota Amish are all going to vote for whoever I tell them to.

Yes it is Trump.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 20:34 | 6373413 Gent
Gent's picture

That's great!  He's gonna need all four of those votes.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:43 | 6372549 l8apex
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Panopticon - I'd say the MSM is trying its hardest to mock him.  He may be a globalist but it certainly looks like he's not in the Republican owner's plans.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:02 | 6372656 joeyman9
joeyman9's picture

He is the most entertaining character in the race and the establishment hates him.  Although I rather leave the Presidency Vacant, Trump is the next best thing.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 22:17 | 6373757 free shit plz
free shit plz's picture

Plz kill yourself.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:07 | 6372677 free shit plz
free shit plz's picture

You are watching another circus routine. The bankster mafia can afford to roll out some darn good theater and apparently most people never learn.
-

Don't try and talk sense to these trump fanboy republifag amnesiacs who now proliferate zh and develop their political leanings by guffawing at ramirez toons.

USA USA USA

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:27 | 6372778 Oldwood
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You're FIRED!!!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:06 | 6372087 Normalcy Bias
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I think the Koch Bros don't like Trump mainly because their businesses make big money utilizing cheap immigrant labor that also suppresses citizens' wages.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:21 | 6372175 juangrande
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I'd bet the Donald has had enough coke......ahmmm......Koch for a lifetime. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:23 | 6372185 dontgoforit
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The appeal of it is, Trump doesn't need them.  If Americans felt they could 'dislodge' the politburo-owned politicians that rule D.C., we would jump at the chance.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:39 | 6372255 Four chan
Four chan's picture

no more adelsons and no more kochs.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:57 | 6372345 dontgoforit
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By God, we'd have to declare a new Declaration of Independence!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:58 | 6372357 Four chan
Four chan's picture

it would be revolutionary.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 20:36 | 6373426 Gent
Gent's picture

Only if you can bust out of the FEMA camp first.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:46 | 6372000 New England Patriot
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My litmus test is, "What would Jefferson say about Trump?" 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:47 | 6372005 nuubee
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He'd tell him to wear a powdered wig.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:58 | 6372057 New England Patriot
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Tom dropped the wig for his Presidency.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:27 | 6372202 Panopticon 131
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He would say Trump is a puppet of the International Banksters.  

The Trump show ooks like a parody, an old Saturday Night Live skit.  Phil Hartman would've done a HILARIOUS routine playing Trump.  

 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:11 | 6372706 free shit plz
free shit plz's picture

+1 for reminding me of Phil Hartman.

-1 to the cokewhore who simultaneously killed him and The Simpsons.

Fri, 07/31/2015 - 06:38 | 6374572 BarkingCat
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Because bankers love a man who has fucked the multiple times.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 20:41 | 6373443 Gent
Gent's picture

That his bid to buy Sally Hemmings was insultingly low?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:49 | 6372003 OrangeJews
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Go Donald!

Go GOP!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:01 | 6372928 Amish FinEng
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If only Donald was not a joo in disguise he would have unwavering support.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:54 | 6372037 Dave Thomas
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LOL Trump is not a Cuckservative lol.

 

http://atavisticintelligentsia.com/cuckservatives/

 

Or maybe he's not a Kochservative lel.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:58 | 6372055 Occident Mortal
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So they are going to withold crucial data from Trump, and they believe this will prevent him from running a "professional campaign"?

 

Someone send the Kochs a memo RE: Trump earns $250 million a year, has a net worth of $4 billion.

 

Trump is earning a personal salary of $1 million a day. He could hire whoever the hell he wants if he so chooses.

 

He could arrange to have the Oprah, Mohammed Ali, Michael Jordan, George Lucas and Bob Dylan follow him around for a month telling everyone how fantastic he is.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:14 | 6372977 bracemaker
bracemaker's picture

exacty. like the koch's have been successful with campaign running.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:07 | 6372100 withglee
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Big question in my mind is whether Trump's influence in this election will be Ross Perot like or Ron Paul like.

Does Trump have a daughter whose wedding they would screw up? Maybe a niece?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:24 | 6372192 toady
toady's picture

I've been leaning towards Perot, but the real test will be if he runs as a third party candidate or not.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:19 | 6372164 daveO
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"Any they think this will hurt his chances???"

Sounds like another 'planned' event to me.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:50 | 6372312 garcam123
garcam123's picture

FUCK the KOCH punks DONALD!  YOU have America!  Let the rest of those KOCH suckers grovel at their feet.  It just shows what whores they all are and I promose you AMERICA IS WATCHING you lame republitillian deadbeats!

 

Fri, 07/31/2015 - 07:37 | 6374681 Sparkey
Sparkey's picture

Anti Koch? Ya think so!

"Despite a long and cordial relationship between the real estate showman and David Koch, as well as a raft of former Koch operatives who are now running Trump’s presidential campaign,"

Everything isn't as it seems, "Skim milk masquerades as Cream".

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:27 | 6371914 keremetski
keremetski's picture

Trump is just another puppet, carefully planted to defuse growing public anger.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:54 | 6372035 Mine Is Bigger
Mine Is Bigger's picture

I don't think "they" care about things like public anger when it comes to the presidential election. No matter who wins, it will be their puppet. Their focus is to make sure non-puppets won't survive the primaries.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:19 | 6372168 Cynicles
Cynicles's picture

July 14 is a holliday in France

Go uncover the reason and there you will find why it matters as the people only eat cake [take it up the asss so long]...

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:41 | 6372270 daveO
daveO's picture

If not, he'll be shot!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 23:03 | 6373888 bobdog54
bobdog54's picture

I truly hope you are wrong, we are out of time....

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:14 | 6371853 PrayingMantis
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... Trump is officially no longer a Kochsucker ... ;)

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:33 | 6371949 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

If Trump gets elected that’ll prove Ron was a ringer all along. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:47 | 6372290 daveO
daveO's picture

Around here, every night, Ron's on a TeeVee commercial talking about preparing for the coming economic collapse. ronpaulmessage66, or some such. Someone's funding him so, of course, he must be. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:54 | 6372038 Bush Baby
Bush Baby's picture

Koch brothers want hime out?

He's got my vote

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:07 | 6372098 duo
duo's picture

Is that where you win a bunch of primaries and have enough delegates to get on the ticket, but goons won't let any of your delegates into the convention?

That was when I decided never to give a dime to the Republican party again.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:20 | 6372741 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

Big difference. Trump can buy TV time and doesn't need to answer to puppet masters. Trump will be the next President unless Obama runs for a 3rd term (after granting full voting rights an amnesty to 30 million illegals....hell, they may just put voting machines in Central America at this point...the SCOTUS would say its all legal)

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:26 | 6373025 The Shape
The Shape's picture

He doesn't need to buy much time at all.

The guy is news.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 22:40 | 6373826 HardAssets
HardAssets's picture

Who . . . gives . . . a damn ?

The American people may have an infinite capacity to believe in b.s. and look outside themselves for some kind of political 'Savior'. Will they Ever learn that the game is rigged ? Quit acting like naive children.

Like in Greece, the 'saviors' are nothing but energy draining and time wasting diversions. If you really want Freedom . . . claim it for yourself.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:43 | 6372545 Bloppy
Bloppy's picture

Koch brothers were never the far-right puppetmasters they were made out to be. It was an election-year strawman technique utilized by Democrats.

 

Lion meat ‘trophy’ was served at Zimbabwe dictator’s recent birthday

http://tinyurl.com/paqpmxl


Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:55 | 6372624 11b40
11b40's picture

Wrong. They have been pulling strings behind the scenes for decades....on both the State and Federal level.  Hard to imagine you are so ignorant of the facts and spend much time paying attention to the real world.

You work for Koch Industries?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:21 | 6372747 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

The Koch brothers can't hold a candle to George Soros and the strings he pulls. Its like comparing Hersey to some local mom and pop chocolate factory

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:07 | 6372951 Amish FinEng
Amish FinEng's picture

"You work for Koch Industries?"

Blah blah blah fuckyou!

Koch Industries pay us cash on the barrel head for our well output in Pennsylvania and Ohio. What do you think, Muslim oil is better than American oil?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:59 | 6373117 Babaloo
Babaloo's picture

So you DO work for Koch!  And btw, oil is fungible.  Look it up...

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:13 | 6371846 PacOps
PacOps's picture

And another reason I will vote for Trump.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:21 | 6371882 pods
pods's picture

Yep, and you will still be a part of the problem.

pods

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:42 | 6371980 PacOps
PacOps's picture

Your point is well taken however, on voting ... it's sort of like when I buy a lottery ticket - knowing full well that the odds of me winning are about the same probability as if I did not buy the ticket in the first place. But some inner personal satisfaction that I took the shot, regardless of outcome.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:32 | 6372218 pods
pods's picture

The difference is that in a lottery, they only take money from the other people who play.

Government, not so much.

pods

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:31 | 6372216 Panopticon 131
Panopticon 131's picture

Ouch, look at the Congitive Dissonance Response.  

You're big boys and girls, face the fact that the political system is a sham.

Trump is great Boob Tube Entertainment.  Charlotte Iserbyt was right.

Enough said.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:46 | 6372564 l8apex
l8apex's picture

Pods: So please tell us the solution.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:02 | 6372657 pods
pods's picture

Avoid debt.  At any and all cost.

No debt expansion, kaboom.  Then we can talk about ways to move forward.

pods

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:40 | 6372834 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

Precisely.

Our true vote is how we spend, what we spend and why we spend.

The banks would have far less power in our economy if debt, public and private, was significantly reduced. If we spent our money (our labor) for domestically made products and services, our jobs and economy would be far better insulated from wide open markets. And if we spent our earnings on things we really needed or that truly improved our living standards, our spending, debt and servitude would be significantly less. We have been convinced that our salvation is through consumption, because that feeds banking who lends us the money we would otherwise not have, and feeds the multinational companies who will readily sell us the rope for our own hanging.

Until we have a conscience about OUR actions, we can expect no different result. I will still vote, but I truly do believe that my financial choices have far greater impact. But like in any democracy, it can still be futile if I find myself decidedly in the minority.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:35 | 6373053 Amish FinEng
Amish FinEng's picture

Oh Pods.
The Amish have a little trick. If someone in the community needs a loan. I give it to them not the jool banks.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:25 | 6371906 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

So Trump is the new and improved Hope and and Change. Let me know how that works out for you.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:28 | 6371921 atomicwasted
atomicwasted's picture

Probably the first thing Engali has said in weeks that I can wholeheartedly back 100%.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:42 | 6371948 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Well, as long as you approve, that's the only thing that matters. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:37 | 6371964 Zoomorph
Zoomorph's picture

Non sequitur.

Voting does not imply that one has any hope or faith in what one votes for.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:39 | 6371972 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Then why do you vote? Because you're dumb enough to legitimize an illegitimate system by voting for more of the same? 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:45 | 6371995 Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas's picture

None of this shit matters anyways, don't pretend you're some sort of superhero for staying home. Drop the moral high ground, enjoy the entropy!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:02 | 6372011 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I don't pretend I'm anybody othere than a big dumb guy from Indiana with three kids trying my best to scratch out a living. But I refuse to give the system legitamacy by playing along. It's that whole being true to myself and holding on to my principles thing I guess. Yeah I know, kind of silly.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:05 | 6372082 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Shoot, Indiana? Well there ya go! <g>

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:45 | 6372863 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

Do you recon they cry themselves to sleep at night because they fear they lack credibility?

They would would be just as happy if no one voted ever again. 90% of them believe they are superior of mind to us, and as such have no compunction about acting in defiance of our wishes. My god, look at Obama. Do you think he gives a rip about what you or I THINK? Until we can conjure up a way to vote "no confidence" on these fuckers and send them home, omission of our consent means nothing.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:34 | 6372199 Zoomorph
Zoomorph's picture

The system is only illegitimate in your mind, and you only legitimize it in your mind by voting if you believe that you do. Back in reality, it simply is what it is. Your judgement of it matters only insofar as it motivates you to do something to it, to change it.

There are many things that people do to try to change the system. Some vote, some don't vote. Some protest vocally, some run for office, some give up and dig themselves into holes in the ground, some teach their children to be rebels, and some make pipe bombs.

Nobody knows what will prove to be the best technique. Life is a gamble, and mostly luck.

I vote because I believe that:
1. There will be a slight difference in our future depending on who wins the election.
2. I can make at least a probabilistic assessment of who I consider the most likely best candidate for our future.
3. My vote counts towards determining the winning candidate (ie. it's probably not rigged).

And because the time and energy investment required in voting is insignificant and I have no more valuable or productive way to spend those few minutes.

All that said, I have quite low hopes in terms of voting alone changing the system and I have no illusions that voting alone is all that I am responsible for doing with my life. But I don't consider it utterly worthless. And I consider not voting for the sake of lowering the voter turnout statistic to be less productive than voting itself.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:41 | 6372266 Panopticon 131
Panopticon 131's picture

There's a more complicated reason Obama's handlers (International Banksters, BTW) floated the idea of mandatory voting than you apparently realize.  

It's the same reason the old Soviet Union had a consitently high voting turnout rate close to 100% - it was mandatory.  Why was it mandatory to vote in a totalitarinan system?

To maintain a veneer of legitimacy.  

RINOs and DINOs are working toward the same end.  No slight difference.  Why do you think that Bush II shoved through an unfunded expansion of Medicare (part D) and the Obama administration kowtows to Monsanto and the Military Industrial Complex?

The TEAM A and TEAM B lines are blurring.  Think about it.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:53 | 6372321 Zoomorph
Zoomorph's picture

I realize that some people may wrongly associate higher voter turnout with legitimacy or faith in the system. As a corollary, one may associate lower voter turnout with laziness, apathy, or satiety. These are absolutely not logical conclusions.

I consider this to be of minor importance these days as there are many other metrics available to better judge public sentiment. Nobody needs to rely on something ambiguous like voter turnout.

If you want to express your dislike of the system, not voting is not an effective way to do it. You're better off to vote AND to do something else to explicitly convey that sentiment. Voting for someone controversial may even be a better way to convey your dissatisfaction with America than not voting.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 18:17 | 6372989 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

If you are correct and they seek high voter turnout, do you think it is to create the illusion of credibility to their subjects, or to other international leaders. Given what we see in history, I really don't think they care at all about our illusions of them. People are not stupid and understand that compulsory activities are not representative of popularity. But leaders do thirst for respect and credibility from their peers.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 19:57 | 6373267 Zoomorph
Zoomorph's picture

It's kind of like drama: the contents don't matter nearly as much as the fact that something is happening to entertain and occupy the minds of the people.

Anything that promotes, excites, and entertains the popular liberal mindset, the government is happy to latch onto and make into an important issue. If they can impose some extra rules over the resistant citizenry in the process then they're laughing.

Being that it's nearly politically incorrect not to vote, to "waste your precision human right to democracy", it's not surprising that forced voting is thrown around as a consideration.

The government would probably cherish the thought of many of its slaves who refused to vote in the past based on principle now being forced to do it. And the ones that didn't kowtow could now be arrested for it. Perfect.

I highly doubt that other international leaders care about anything so trivial as voter turnout. What they might be jealous of is if they saw that the level of authoritarianism and illusion of "democracy" were strong in a country - that it's population was well brainwashed. Voter turnout isn't directly related to that, but forcing everyone to be a good citizen and vote could definitely be a plausible next step in that direction.

Sure, we'd begrudge them for a generation or two, but after that forced voting would be such the norm that few would even wonder how life was before it. Kind of like how none of us can fathom what owning slaves would be like these days, after that right was taken away from our ancestors a few generations ago.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:51 | 6372323 enforcer92677
enforcer92677's picture

Oh i do it because I like taking my kids with me to push the buttons on the voting machine!  :-P

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:04 | 6372079 PacOps
PacOps's picture

It will never work out for me personally - no matter who is elected. On that I am clear.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:22 | 6372755 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

We need a scortched earth President. When Obama is through the country will be in complete ruin. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:20 | 6372738 11b40
11b40's picture

You and a lot more, PacOps.  Trump is a downhill snowball gaining momentum.

What I want to see is a poll that includes voters of BOTH parties to see just how many Dems are swinging his way, too.  Just think, if he gets 10% of Dems, which I think is possible, and most of the Independents, and Republican votes, he wins.

The professional political establishment is going bonkers right now.  You must understand what a huge multi-billion $ "industry" this whole fucked up process has become.  There are countless operatives, consultants, ad agencies, field staff, and more, plus the media 24/7/365.  Trump is blowing up the whole system.  As a 1 man show, he doesn't need them.  They hate him and fear him, but don't have a clue what to do about it.  It's like he is made of rubber, and not only does everything bounce off him, it comes zinging back at warp speed and the attacker soon becomes the victim of Trumps wrath as the public takes up for Trump.  The louder they scream, the stronger Trump gets, which is why the Koch's may be screwing the pooch on this one.

The other thing the real pros know that most do not is that if Trump goes Independent, he has a good chance of winning (if he doesn't blow up).  The Pros know that Ross Perot came much closer to winning in 1992 than anyone in the political class wants to discuss.  Perot got 19% of the vote, and exit polls at the time indicated that he pulled EQUALLY from Republican and Democrat voters.  He ran a quirky campaign, even dropping out for a few months in the summer prior.  He was no where near as well known as Trump, or as popular.  But the country was in recession, NAFTA was very controversial, and neither Bill Clinton nor George Bush could come anywhere near a majority of the votes.  Sound kind of like today?

BUT, here is the kicker.........35% of voters said they would have voted for Perot IF they thought he could win!  35 + 19 = 54%, and easy win for Mr. Perot.

So, when you hear the chattering class in the media saying over and over "Trump can't win as an Independent",  just know they either don't have a clue what they are talking about, or they have an agenda.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:25 | 6372766 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

What would really F the GOP is if Cruz said "enough is enough", left the party, and Trump selected him as his VP running mate

The GOP base is itching to leave the party en masse. They only need a leader willing to take that step like Abe did 150 years ago

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 20:15 | 6373348 11b40
11b40's picture

I agree it would really blow up the Republican Party, but Cruz would chase away a lot of Democrats.  Trump needs to be careful who he gets in bed with. 

The GOP is stitched together by an unholy alliance forged by Reagan between the traditional wealthy Rockefeller Republicans and the angry white middle classes (now struggling to stay middle class).  It is fraying badly, which is why they have not had a majority of the national vote since he left office.....and demographics are working against them.  Even Shrub lost the popular vote in 2000, and only got in office because of FL "hanging chads" and screwed up ballot designs....and remember who the Governor of FL was?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:52 | 6372027 Tribulation Blues
Tribulation Blues's picture

Read the Obama prophecies, he is not leaving the White House! He did not purge the military of patriotic commanders and sign a stack of fascist executive orders just to go away... These prophecies from late 2008 nailed Obama's presidency and his hatred for America to a 'T' long before any one knew what he was going to be like... What is about to happen in America is very sobering! http://revelation12.ca

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:26 | 6372198 pods
pods's picture

lol, they said the same thing about Bush, and they will say the same thing about the next puppet too.

pods

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:34 | 6372235 dontgoforit
dontgoforit's picture

But, Jesus said, "I know not the day nor the hour.  Only the father knows.  Do not trouble yourselves over this." 

God is more than we know; more than we can ever know.  His thoughts are not our thoughts.  He is infinite.  He resides outside the physical universe, which itself is infinite and which is one of an infinite number of infinite universes. 

I love the banter on ZH.  Much of it is crude, even profane, but much of it displays the disparaging feeling most have for abused power and wealth and that is a good thing.  Whenever God chooses to make a move, everyone will know it, believer and non-believer.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:34 | 6372805 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

I agree 100%. The upcoming election is a ruse. Most likely, there will be a complete economic collapse with martial law declared allowing Obama to suspend elections. The GOP RINO Establishment would be more than happy to end elections and just keep everyone in power. 

Without that, its not as "clean", but for Obama to stay in power isn't all that hard. I don't care what people say about the 22nd amendment, Obama does not view the Constitution as binding law. He could line up people and shoot them and nothing would happen. 

All is needed is

1. Executive order granting full voting rights to anyone on American soil around May 2016. 

2. An emergency order shutting down any website that has "hate speech" (ie zerohedge, drudge, etc)

3. A 2nd executive order confiscating guns

Obama would win 70% of the vote and effectively be El presidente de por vida.

The GOP would huff and puff, but they would do nothing to stop him. John Roberts would declare "It's not up to the Court to interpret law or overturn the will of the people". The neutered military would stand down.

It may sound crazy, but only if you suffer from the Normalcy Bias. 

 

Hell 7 years ago people thought Quantitative Easings was crazy and that harvesting aborted babies for profit was unthinkable.

 

Think about it


Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:55 | 6372339 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

Word is Trump is an excellent debator.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:57 | 6372350 MrBoompi
MrBoompi's picture

Agreed.  Just a look back into what these people did to us is enough to make me vote for Trump or Sanders, and I would be pleased to see any candidate backed by the Koch Bros get drubbed.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:13 | 6371848 newsoutlet
newsoutlet's picture

putin regime: July 27, 2014

(10 days after MH17 was shot down)

"We believe a UN.-led investigation into what brought down MH17 must begin as quickly as possible"

 

putin regime: July 16, 2015

(364 days after MH17 was shot down)

"The establishment of a UN tribunal investigating the MH17 disaster ir premature and counterproductive"

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:22 | 6371868 pods
pods's picture

Can't you just fucking tweet your shit and be done with it?  

Why link your tweet, THEN have to post the text of it?  Doesn't the Dept of State know about inefficiency?

BTW, say "Hi" to banana girl. 

pods

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:30 | 6371929 thunderchief
thunderchief's picture

Trump/Kardashian 2016

The Donald needs her under the desk as he says...

You're Fired..

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:38 | 6372252 Rogue Trooper
Rogue Trooper's picture

=> Trump/Kardashian 2016

=> Clinton/Jenner 2016

"I'll buy that for a dollar!"

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:34 | 6371952 asfffasfff
asfffasfff's picture

if you like putin so much send him a love letter or do humanity a favour and hang yorself

 

how much do you earn a post?  1$?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:52 | 6372026 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

The State Dept. pays him in Hot Pockets and Capri Sun.

Marie Harf is making another run to Costco.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:00 | 6372065 doctor10
doctor10's picture

If you're part og th eoligarchy, freezing out Trump is the best thing to do.

 

the Koch Brothers just labeled themselves as part of thee problem; having done so they've frozen themselves out as part of the solution

 

Idjits

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:03 | 6372076 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

newsoutlet,

Why do you post off topic when you know that it pisses people off? Particularly as the first comment?

What do you have to say about The Donald and The Krotch Brothers?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:13 | 6372123 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

Pootin, Pootin

He's our man

If he can't do it no one can

 

GOOOO  POOTIN !

 

I usually don't like thread hijackers but in this case it's warrented because Tylerisky is a Russian name I think.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 23:10 | 6373908 opport.knocks
opport.knocks's picture

Are you a fool or do you just think we are?

What is the difference between a "UN led investigation" and a "UN tribunal"

Hint, for a tribunal you need to have an accused and enough evidence for a successful prosecution. Neither exists at the moment.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:10 | 6371823 Hype Alert
Hype Alert's picture

"and refusing to let him speak to their gatherings of grass-roots activists or major donors."  Must be astro-turf activists if they are so tightly controlled.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:26 | 6371909 r101958
r101958's picture

"grass-roots activists" - now there is a misuse of words. How is it 'grass-roots' if its paid for by them?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:19 | 6372166 seek
seek's picture

Yeah, "Koch-backed grassroots" is doublethink if I ever saw it, it's one or the other.

The only possible excuse is, having been witness to the TEA party movement at ground zero, the reality is today any real grassroots movement is taken over by clandestine political operatives to either take advantage of it (TEA party) or neutralize it (Occupy). I don't think it's possible to get a grassroots movement bigger than about 20 people in the USSA before it's infiltrated by agents of one form or another.

Any "grass" the pokes out of the ground today is coated with a strong dose of corporate/government plastic before it can start seeding, while it gets surrounded by people paid to say it's natural.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:17 | 6371825 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Koch's don't want one of their own being President.

Koch's want a flunky.

Only flunkies need apply for president of the oligarchy.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:11 | 6371831 Trick Shroadé
Trick Shroadé's picture

Do Trump supporters really think that he's going to walk away from his business empire and let someone else run it while he's Presidenting?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:14 | 6371850 813kml
813kml's picture

I'm sure he can find some unpaid interns to fill out bankruptcy paperwork.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:22 | 6371889 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I thought interns were only good to add a little flavor to your cigar. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:32 | 6371908 813kml
813kml's picture

Trump prefers unhideous humidors.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:24 | 6371901 red_pill_rash
red_pill_rash's picture

Come to think of it, this country could use a guy that knows about bankruptcy law.

 

 

..

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:11 | 6372119 Cruel Aid
Cruel Aid's picture

yea good one, lol

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:43 | 6371983 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

LOL!!  good one!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:14 | 6371854 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

His kids will eventually run it when he dies.

Yes, Trump will eventually die some day.

Incredible to believe, yes?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:18 | 6371857 813kml
813kml's picture

His kids will mount his hair on the wall next to their big game trophies.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:20 | 6371871 pods
pods's picture

He got his mane chopped. Didn't want to be killed by his dentist.

pods

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:11 | 6371900 813kml
813kml's picture

That's way more than $600 worth of luxurious mohair sweaters.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:03 | 6372075 Mine Is Bigger
Mine Is Bigger's picture

I wish I had your optimism.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:11 | 6371833 Id fight Gandhi
Id fight Gandhi's picture

Don't care.

Trump pledged support for Izrael and their PM. His kids married into the tribe.

 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:02 | 6372074 Bob
Bob's picture

And the major party candidate who doesn't suck up to the Zionists will be . . . who is that again?

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:11 | 6371834 ZippyBananaPants
ZippyBananaPants's picture

Long Trump

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:14 | 6371851 johnlocke445
johnlocke445's picture

Those Cock brothers never fooled me. They are as "New World Order" as Obama is. Hang them from a cherry tree in Washington.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:16 | 6371860 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture

Puzzling and unclear.

My supposition is that the Koch Brothers have a different favorte among the Republican contenders and are trying to maintain their viabilty.

But there is no indication of "bad blood".

At the end of the day, the Koch brothers will prefer -- and support -- Trump over Hillary/Sanders/O'Malley/Biden/Chafee/Warren/Larry/Moe/Curly.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:24 | 6371891 MASTER OF UNIVERSE
MASTER OF UNIVERSE's picture

The Three Stooges were actually four Stooges. You forgot Shemp, thebigunit.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:29 | 6371927 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Also, after Shemp was there Joe, but he really couldn't pull it off.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:52 | 6372025 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

 

 

Your post wasn't there when I went to post mine, I reckon I'll have to refresh more often---damn 20 min. lag, now I'll go get my helmet and wait on the short bus.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:49 | 6372012 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

Five stooges-- Joe.  Hell, I figured the MASTER OF UNIVERSE would know that.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:02 | 6372073 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Perhaps, but sadly, Joe kind of flies under the historical radar.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:17 | 6372156 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

Guess you gotta be an ol' stooge head to rememer Joe.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:25 | 6372190 bearwinkle
bearwinkle's picture

I think they called him Curly Joe.

Yuc, Yuc,Yuc

 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:44 | 6372282 MASTER OF UNIVERSE
MASTER OF UNIVERSE's picture

I forgot about Joe because I ate too many bowls of Lucky Charms in childhood whilst glued to the TV screen every Saturday morning at 7:00am until noon so I would not miss cartoon day which was guaranteed under the Charter of Rights & Freedoms in CANADA when I was a kid. I figure all that refined sugar impaired my long term memory to the point that I forgot Joe. Actually, as soon as I posted I knew Z/Hers would detail the entire history of the Three Stooges. This is what I love about Z/Hers.

 

cheers fellow Stooge historians.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:19 | 6372737 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Same here in the US on Saturday mornings, but in my house we didn't have lucky charms or a charter for anything, just BOWLS OF FREEDOM!

And lots of Three Stooges reruns!

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 15:46 | 6372286 monad
monad's picture

The Kooch Bros suck Statist dick. They love Hitlary, she gives them cheap labor that also buys their crap.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:16 | 6371861 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Koch boys still waiting for the US invasion of Venezuela.

All that oil belongs to them.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:19 | 6371870 Pumpkin
Pumpkin's picture

Oddly enough, what worries me is, all the media and political establishment is seeing, as are we, that their persistant opposition to Trump is making him surge in the polls.  Yet they keep it up. 

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:20 | 6371872 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Trump will go independent and split the conservative vote, right on schedule. Hillaroid will stroll into the white house under heavy sniper fire with no mandate from the popular vote. She will be more reviled than Obama. All of Bill Clinton's love trysts will come out of the woodwork, forcing him out of the public eye, keeping Hillarity center stage. Trump will land a plush no-show cabinet position in her administration.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:46 | 6372001 chunga
chunga's picture

Then the sheeple will blame Trump as opposed to the diebold programmers behind the curtain.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 14:51 | 6372016 silverer
silverer's picture

If elected, Hillary won't let Bill anywhere near the White House.  I'm not even sure if he'd want to be.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 16:00 | 6372364 dontgoforit
dontgoforit's picture

I'm gonna' have a nightmare tonight to beat all nightmares after considering this, LWB.

Thu, 07/30/2015 - 17:15 | 6372723 large_wooden_badger
large_wooden_badger's picture

Sorry, just the way I sees it! Ain't nobody left to vote for anymore.

Vote for yourself. Vote with your feet. Vote with your wallet.

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