@SenRonJohnson, in writing, conspires with Illinois billionaire Joe Rickets to convene a small group

[riversedge]

I am still stunned that this idiot won over Russ Feingold. damn

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In which @SenRonJohnson, in writing, conspires with Illinois billionaire Joe Rickets to convene a small group of fellow billionaires to "influence" the political process:

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On Influencing Electoral Politics

From: [Wisconsin Senator] Ron Johnson

To: Joe Ricketts, [conservative businessman and activist] Foster Friess

Date: March 17, 2013

Subject: Strategic Planning Process

Foster and Joe,

I enjoyed our lunch conversation at AEI’s World Forum. As promised, I have written and attached a summary description and outline of what I believe is required to develop strategies for the conservative movement overall, and for Congressional Republicans specifically.

I truly appreciate your involvement in the conservative cause, and would enjoy working with you to create sorely needed winning strategies.

Feel free to contact me anytime using this email address or my personal cell phone: [redacted]

Regards,

Ron

From: Joe Ricketts



The Billionaire's Inbox: The Ricketts On Capitalism and Electoral Politics
Illustration: Jim Cooke
Molly Osberg
12/17/18 4:20pmFiled to: The Billionaire's Inbox

The Billionaire's InboxAmerica's titans of industry and political influence, in their own words.


Welcome back to The Billionaire’s Inbox, where we hear from the other half, in its own words. Today we’re looking at the Ricketts family’s political attitudes and influences. You can read the previous installments of the series, and some of Joe Ricketts’ thoughts on unions, here:

The Billionaire's Inbox: Joe Ricketts on Unions and The Media Biz

Joe Ricketts, personal net worth $2.2 billion, is a private man. With less name recognition than…
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Family patriarch Joe Ricketts, who has described himself at various times as a libertarian and a conservative, launched Ending Spending, his first Super PAC, in 2010 to challenge both Republican and Democratic incumbents. Joe’s 49-year-old son Todd Ricketts was at one time the PAC’s CEO and now serves as the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee. Another son, current Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, has been tangentially involved when not otherwise distracted by his own state-level aspirations.

During the 2012 elections, Ending Spending was the subject of scandal when a 54-page proposal titled, “The Defeat of Barack Hussein Obama: the Ricketts Plan to End His spending for Good,” leaked to the New York Times: The plan, which sought to link Obama to comments made by his former spiritual advisor, Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, was considered at the time “one of the most provocative campaigns of the ‘super PAC’ era,” and referred to Obama as a “black metrosexual Abe Lincoln.” (The Ricketts family subsequently distanced themselves from the plan.)

In 2016, Joe Ricketts and his wife Marlene donated millions of dollars to Our Principles PAC, a group intending to “prevent Donald Trump from hijacking our great [Republican] party.” When Trump secured the Republican ticket, Ricketts made a “stunning” about-face, publicly endorsing the candidate and pledging at least $1 million to the future president’s efforts.....................................