Froomkin writes: "So, while the Kochs and the liberal groups used similar language in their critique of the criminal justice system, when it came down to actual legislation, the Kochs were focused on reducing criminal prosecutions of corporations, not people."
Charles G. Koch. (photo: Mike Burley/AP)
Koch "Alliance" on Criminal Justice Reform Exposed as Trojan Horse
29 November 15
he New York Times on Wednesday reported the shocking news that the �rare coalition� on criminal justice reform that included liberal groups and the right-wing billionaire Koch brothers is falling apart.
But as The Intercept�s Lee Fang wrote earlier this month, the ostensible alliance over liberalization of America�s criminal justice laws was based on a misunderstanding of the Koch brothers� fundamental political goal.
That goal is, quite consistently, to advance their own corporate interests.
So, while the Kochs and the liberal groups used similar language in their critique of the criminal justice system, when it came down to actual legislation, the Kochs were focused on reducing criminal prosecutions of corporations, not people.
Koch and the House Republicans turned out to be pushing a bill that critics describe as a �Get Out of Jail Free� card for white-collar criminals.
Members of Washington�s elite media crave stories about bipartisanship, so groups like the pro-Clinton Center for American Progress garnered positive media attention for finding common ground with the Kochs earlier this year.
Now, CAP president Neera Tanden is issuing statements that �the bill is not aimed at addressing the aspects of the criminal justice system that are the drivers of mass incarceration and inequality and should not be part of any genuine discussion of criminal justice reform.� To the contrary, she says: �The bill would make it much more difficult to enforce bedrock regulatory safeguards � such as environmental, health, and consumer safety protections � and leave communities of color disproportionately vulnerable to unscrupulous, fraudulent, and predatory business practices that exacerbate existing inequality in our communities.�
There are some conservatives truly devoted to criminal justice reform � and there�s even a truly united left-right coalition on some specific criminal justice issues, like prison rape.
But, as Fang wrote, even while the Kochs were talking criminal justice reform, their money was notably continuing to finance election-year efforts that promote tough-on-crime politics.
Of the 38 federal lobbyists employed by Koch, one is registered to work on criminal justice issues; the rest work on projects more important to Koch Industries.
And if that wasn�t clear enough, Fang described how Koch�s interest in criminal justice reform was sparked not by the plight of overcrowded prisons or racial disparities in law enforcement, but by federal and state probes of the company�s own environmental crimes.
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If Moore goes to Congress do the Republicans or Trump think Moore is going to go along with their agenda? He's like the Freedom Caucus. He's a self-righteous, deluded prick with delusions of grandeur who feels no sense of loyalty to anyone.
He'll be a thorn under McConnell's saddle and he'll resent Trump's support of his opponent. He is a narcissistic contrarian who will be unmanageable even while he's groping their granddaughters.
Moore should not be a senator, but MOST of them aren't worthy of their position. He'll fit right in.
In related news, those who self-identify as Republican has declined across all demographics: -5% overall, with white women, who favored the GOP by 5 points in Nov. 2016 now favoring Democrats by 5 points.
More importantly millennials, the largest and most diverse voting bloc, while rejecting both parties DO 'lean' Democratic two-to-one -- and they are watching the GOP defend paedophilia, sexual harassment, climate change denial, theft from (and abuse of) the poor and working class, etc. They are losing a generation of voters.
Will the Democrats be smart enough to pick them up? So far they seem to be trying to do so -- with the minimum amount of reform. Thing is, these young people are pretty smart. I don't believe insincere half-measures will do it.
If Jones was anti-abortion Alabamans would see him as an alternative to a paedophile but many are one-issue voters.
It is just pointless to hope or wish that the republican party might do the right thing or have any shred of decency. They don't. I learned this watching Reagan. He was scum just like Trump, Moore, McConnell, Ryan and the rest. There is no hope for them.
There is some small potential that the democratic party might reform. There are good people there like Sanders. If the demo party does not reform, we'll have to Roy Moore parties.
So, tell me again, why the DNC feels it's wise to court conservative voters, while turning away its own base?
Right --- especially the progressive FDR/JFK base and the younger voters !