Reader Posts

« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »

Iowa Progress Project is the new Iowa Future Fund!

After less than two weeks of <a href="http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/04/american-future-fund-iowa-futu.php">intense scrutiny</a> from the blogosphere, Iowa Republicans abandoned the Iowa Future Fund and created the Iowa Progress Project.

From the 4/10/08 Iowa Progress Project <a href="http://iowaprogressproject.com/">press release</a>:


Des Moines, IA -- Iowa Progress Project announced today its formal organization and outlined its goals and objectives in the near and long-term.


President David Kochel said, "Iowa Progress Project is the direct result of the response thousands of Iowans have had to ads and issues highlighted by the Iowa Future Fund. While the Iowa Future Fund has been very effective at highlighting important issues in our state, what was also abundantly clear is that a grassroots-centered conservative issues organization is also needed in this state. IPP will provide citizens from all corners of Iowa a voice in their community and state."

<...>


IPP announced the following Board of Directors for the organization:


President: David Kochel
Director: Kathy Pearson
Director: Gary Grant

Be sure to to check the comments here for more on the Iowa Progress Project!


Comments (92)

I really miss the edit function.

Link to my TPM Cafe post about American Future Fund and Iowa Future Fund

Link to Iowa Progress Project website

I wonder if Gary Grant is Gary Grant, Vice President of Public Affairs Co.?

"Vice President for Accounts Gary Grant delivers a wealth of policy acumen and grassroots know-how to the clients of PAC.

As the head of PAC's Des Moines office, Gary serves as the point-person for all client services leading up to the 2008 presidential caucuses in Iowa. He possesses extensive campaign experience and a robust public issue background.

Prior to joining PAC, Gary worked for 13 years in a number of capacities for U.S. Congressman Jim Leach. Over that span he served as District Director, Campaign Manager, and Legislative Assistant for veteran's affairs, defense, agriculture, steel, and trade issues.

Gary is an Army veteran and holds a B.S. S. in Philosophy and Politics from Cornell College."

Found a Google-cached .doc file from December '04 listing a "Gary Grant" as an aide for Rep. Jim Leach in DC - email was gary.grant@mail.house.gov (as listed in the Public Affairs Co. bio, Grant was a legislative aide for Leach prior to joining that company).

Seeing as Leach lost in 2006, and considering Grant's experience, you're probably dead on with your suspicion.

From the IPP website:

IPP announced the following Board of Directors for the organization:

President: David Kochel
Director: Kathy Pearson
Director: Gary Grant

Is Gary Grant the vice president of Public Affairs Co.?

I pasted a diary about Iowa Progress Project and Iowa Future Fund at Bleeding Heartland.

Why Iowa Progress Project? Because it is similar to Iowa Policy Project, a respectable undertaking. Iowa Future Fund was the name of a lapsed Iowa Democratic PAC. In 2006, Republican operative Roger Stone sent out pro-Rick Santorum campaign mailers to Pennsylvania voters using Progressive Policy Council which was very similar to the left-leaning Progressive Policy Institute.


avatar

Not surprising, the Iowa business registration address for this business is Kochel's firm, JDK Marketing:

JDK Marketing & Public Afrs
319 7th St # 404
Des Moines, IA
515-284-1441

avatar

And while we're digging around on David Kochel, here's another new business he registered:

MISSION CONTROL PARTNERS, INC.
Filing date: 2/29/2008

Registered Agent: Nicole Holschlinger (note: should actually be Schlinger), 700 E Pleasant St, Brooklyn, IA

Filing #: 359618

Officers, Directors: NICOLE HOLSCHLINGER (note: should actually be Schlinger)
DIRECTOR
700 E PLEASANT ST
BROOKLYN, IA 52211

MARK V HANSON
317 6TH AVE STE 1200
DES MOINES, IA 50309-4195
INCORPORATOR

DAVID KOCHEL
DIRECTOR
319 7TH ST STE 404
DES MOINES, IA 50309

There are two filings availble through the Iowa Secretary of State. The first, on 2/29/08 establishes the company. The second, on 03/25/08, corrects Nicole's name from Holschlinger to Schlinger.

That's kind of a big thing to get wrong.

The incorporator, Mark V Hanson, works for Whitfield & Eddy PLC.

I wonder what Mission Control Partners, Inc. will be doing?

The partners will be controlling the mission, of course, although they haven't been doing such a great job so far. Keep in mind these two were running Romney's Iowa campaign and look at what Romney's money got him.

Mission Control Partners will probably listed as the highest paid professional contractor on the Iowa Future Fund and American Future Fund 990s.

I cross-posted the info at Bleeding Heartland.

Wanderindiana made this comment in a TPM MR post about AFF:

"Should I mention that Kochel was a DCI VP? Remember, DCI ran their own candidate for Congress in Iowa in 2006. Brian Kennedy, DCI lobbyist, ran in IA-1 and came in third in the GOP primary after raising $400,000, a huge sum for a first-timer candidate in a primary election."

From a George Washingtom U. website:

Leadership and Supporters
as of Nov. 7, 2006

THE REPUBLICANS

Frist VOLPAC Iowa Chairman Brian Kennedy
(announced July 13, 2006)

Attorney affiliated with the Davenport law firm of Gallagher, Millage & Gallagher, P.L.C.; resident of Bettendorf. Most recently competed in the June 2006 primary to be the Republican nominee in Iowa's First Congressional District (announced April 2005). In 2003, founded Campaign of One, a Republican committee dedicated to creating a new generation of political entrepreneurs in Eastern Iowa. A co-founder of Progress for America, a national grassroots issue advocacy organization working to support President Bush's legislative agenda. National political director on Lamar Alexander's 2000 presidential campaign, then joined the McCain campaign as national political consultant. Has served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, a member of the Republican National Committee, a Co-Chairman of the Republican National Convention Platform Committee, and Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association as well as a political advisor or campaign manager to former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and several other Republican candidates. Graduated from Iowa State University and Drake University Law School. Grew up in Eastern Iowa.

I wonder what Brian Kennedy is up to these days?

Since he ran:

From The Hotline, 7/13/2006:

Caucus Cooler reports that ex-IA GOP chair Brian Kennedy will "play a major role" at VolPAC, Sen. Maj. Leader Bill Frist's PAC, in IA.

Before running for IA 01, Kennedy "lobbied for the influential" (and IA heavy) DCI Group. Kennedy "also played a major role" in the caucus campaign of TN's Lamar Alexander. It was "widely reported" that he was behind the attacks against George Bush in '99, "accusing then Governor Bush of past substance abuse." Clearly,"Kennedy has lots of experience in caucus politics and he is very experienced in the grassroots style campaign that is so critical to winning in Iowa" (7/13).

Targeted News Service (press release), 4/19/2007, announcing the members of Mitt Romney's Scott County (IA) campaign team:

Former 1st District Congressional Candidate Brian Kennedy: Kennedy is the former Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, managed Governor Branstad's 1994 campaign and assisted in Lamar Alexander's presidential campaign. In 2006, Kennedy ran for the 1st Congressional District Republican nomination. Most recently, he chaired Senator Bill Frist's VOLPAC.

The Daily Iowan, 11/15/2007:

"The alternative is to go out and spend tens of millions of dollars on a national advertising campaign," said Brian Kennedy, a Davenport-based Republican who advises FairTax.org [Americans for Fair Taxation].

Kennedy saw the Straw Poll and an early August Republican debate in Des Moines in which moderator George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates about a sales tax as indicators of success.

Still looking for more recent sightings.

Interesting.

"The treasurer of the Iowa PAC is David Kochel, a past executive director of the Iowa and Michigan Republican parties. An unpaid adviser to the embryonic Romney effort in the Midwest, Kochel was a direct-mail consultant to Romney's 2002 gubernatorial campaign and has a long association with Murphy, including work for Arnold Schwarzenegger in California."

Kathy Pearson is possibly the former president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women and the president and sole employee of Kaas Employment Services in Cedar Rapids.

IRFW President Pearson's Spring 2007 message here.

Dave Kochel has been busy promoting Iowa Progress Project. He was interviewed today by Mary Rae Bragg at the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. Via an online contact form for Ms. Bragg, I explained why Dave Kochel rushed to register IPP on Thursday.

Republicans make Progress in critical ads:
Iowa project targets Culver and the 'liberal segment of the Legislature'

Kochel said the Iowa Progress Project "will be financed by contributions from a broad base of Iowans."

And as for the Democrats' complaints about not knowing who the new conservative groups' contributors are, it was obvious Kochel was smiling broadly as he said it was time for Democrats "to get a little taste of their own medicine."

What an ass.

I posted a diary at the Daily Kos, "Iowa Future Fund Morphs Into Iowa Progress Project: More Republican 501(c)(4) Dirty Tricks".

Curse this site's lousy design! I had a nice, long, linked and blockquoted post about Brian Kennedy ready to go, I got a 500 Server Error when I tried to post it, and the thing was vaporized.

#$%&!!

What I remember:

After he lost his 2006 primary, he went to work for Bill Frist's VOLPAC.

In April 2007, he signed on as an Iowa county leader for Mitt Romney's campaign.

Also in 2007, found a mention that he was also advising fairtax.org.

Still looking for more recent sightings.

Yeesh, I don't like this site's posting/commenting software.

Apparently, both of my posts did go through.

Meantime, here's a Google-cached link to Kennedy's bio listing at a Davenport, Iowa law firm (captured 3/5/2008). The direct link - http://www.gmgattorneys.com/jsp3127317.jsp - is not loading the info for me tonight.

Brian Kennedy Associate Email: bkennedy@gmglawfirm.com

Practice Areas: Government Relations.

Admitted: 1991, Iowa

Law School: Drake University, J.D., 1991

College: Iowa State University, B.A., 1987

Member: Iowa State Bar Association.

Born: Boston, Massachusetts, February 14, 1964

ISLN: 901422345

He's in good standing (still licensed to practice) in the state of Iowa.

Wonder what "M.F." stands for... ;-)

Brian M. Kennedy's contribution to Willard's campaign, 6/12/07, lists him as practicing with Gallagher, Millage & Gallagher.

Better to check his FEC donations for self-reported employment info... in March 2007, he donated to Alexander for Senate and reported his employer as DCI Group and his occupation as Management.

For more fun, look at individual donations to his '06 run for Congress. You'll find names mentioned in prior research here, and then some, like DCI phone jammer Brian McCabe, Michael L. Connell of New Media Communications, Tom Synhorst and Ralph Brown, Tom Stock -- pretty much anyone associated, present and past, with DCI.

You'll also find donations from David Kochel and his business partner Jennifer Dean (who, though her employer is listed as JDK, has a home address listed as Avon, CO - hmm).

Oh, yeah, Jill Holtzman Vogel was a donor to Brian Kennedy, too.

Brian Kennedy is listed as a lobbyist for DCI Group on behalf of Iowa American Water Co. of Davenport, IA, in a 2/29/2008 lobbying disclosure filing.

Others listed in the filing as DCI Group lobbyists for IAWC are Gavin Clingham and Lindsay Lawrence.

avatar

Interesting observation about Jennifer Dean.

Her FEC filing indicates an address of:
2479-B Old Trail Rd, Avon, CO

Avon appears to be another name or a neiboring town of Vail, CO, so I'd guess it's a winter home?

Eagle County (CO) assessor online records show that this address is owned jointly by Jennifer and Martha Dean.

avatar

We now have a direct connection between Bruce Rastettler and Russ Stidolph. Before we could only connect them through Nick Ryan, who had an AltEnergy e-mail address.

Well, it looks like CT-based Stidolph was an employee of (or representative of) Hawkeye Renewables at the 11th National Ethanol Conference: Polcy and Marketing Meeting.

Hawkeye Renewables www.hawkrenew.com
Bruce Rastetter Iowa Falls, Iowa
J.D. Schieman Iowa Falls, Iowa
Russell Stidolph Iowa Falls, Iowa

Exhibit 10-15 attached to the 2006 canceled Hawkeye Holdings S-1 registration statement lists both Rastetter and Russ Stidolph as being representatives of Hawkeye Holdings:

SECTION 7.01. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or dispatched by a nationally recognized one night courier service to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

if to the Company:
21050 140th Street
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
Attention:
Bruce Rastetter
Facsimile:
(641) 648-8925

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Nyemaster, Goode, West, Hansell & O’Brien
700 Walnut, Suite 1600
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3899
Attention: Wade H. Schut, Esq.
Facsimile: (515) 283-3108

if to THL:

c/o Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.
100 Federal Street, 35th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Attention:
Scott Sperling
Thomas Hagerty
Soren Oberg
Facsimile:
617) 227-3514

z

18


with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:






Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP



100 Federal Street, 34th Floor



Boston, MA 02110



Attention:

James Westra, Esq.



Marilyn French, Esq.


Facsimile:

(617) 772-8333







if to Hawkeye Holdings:











Hawkeye Holdings, L.L.C.



177 Broad Street, 15th Floor



Stamford, Connecticut 06901



Attention: Russell Stidolph



Facsimile: (203) 973-1422






with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:






Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP



2029 Century Park East, Suite 4000



Los Angeles, CA 90067



Attention: Jonathan K. Layne, Esq.



Facsimile: (310) 552-7053

Darn. I accidentally hit the send button before I finished formatting my commnet.

Hawkeye Holdings was the corporate vehicle to take Hawkeye Renewables public. As I noted elsewhere, Midwest Renewables was listed as a member of Hawkeye Holdings in the S-1.

Note that Gibson Dunn was involved. I wonder which Republicans were supposed to get a piece of the action when Hawkeye went public.

Per 12/13/03 Waterloo (IA) Courier:

Midwest Renewables Considers Wind Farm Development in IA

Alden, IA-based Midwest Renewables recently announced it is exploring the development of a new $200-million wind farm near Iowa Falls with the assistance of Stamford, CT-based investment firm Whitney & Company.

According to Whitney & Company vice president Russ Stidolph, the project could potentially feature up to 135 turbines, helping generate 200 megawatts (MW) of power.

"It's a great thing for the community and a great thing for Iowa, and we are pretty happy about that," said Stidolph, noting that construction of the wind farm could commence as early as next year if a utility can be identified to purchase the project's output.

avatar

Wind farm developments are very contraversial at the state level. Many state governments have come out fully against them. Maryland just struck one down.

Interestingly, former President George HW Bush seems to be a supporter, having placed a wind turbine recently on his property in Kennebunkport.

I wonder where the Administration is on the wind farm issue. Wouldn't it be ironic if Jim Nussle, Bush''s OMB Director (OMB shapes so much of federal government policy and spending these days) was in support of wind farms?

Rastetter and co would HAVE IT MADE...

avatar

So it's pretty clear that Stidolph is the connection to Wall Street money. That would be consistent with his running a that venture capital pool/advisory services compamy called "AltEnergy LLC."

Federal lawsuit filed in Northern Texas by Bruce Rastetter:

Faber et al v. Oil & Gas Managing Partners Corp et al

Plaintiffs: John W Faber and Richard L Prey

Defendants: Oil & Gas Managing Partners Corp, Michael Dannelly, Steven D Darocy, George A Pearce, Golden Triangle Energy Corp, Stacey L Harrison, Renegade Operating Company LLC and Bishop & Sons Dirt Contractors Inc

Intervenor Plaintiffs: Bruce Rastetter, Pamela Schlieman and Michael Taylor

Case Number: 3:2007cv01368
Filed: August 8, 2007

Court: Texas Northern District Court
Office: Dallas Office [ Court Info ]
County: XX US, Outside State
Presiding Judge: Judge David C Godbey

Nature of Suit: Real Property - All Other Real Property
Cause: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Breach of Contract
Jurisdiction: Federal Question
Jury Demanded By: None

List of Iowans who donated $500 or more to Rudy Giuliani on 12/31/07:

Wayne C. Anderson
Pokey Feeders
$2300

Cynthia Ellingson
Summit Farms (Rastetter)
$500

William J. Horan
Farmer/Teacher
$500

Steve M. Howard
Dale & Howard Auto Dealer
$2300

Randy G. Ives
Hawkeye Renewables (Rastetter)
$500

Kent Alan Krause
Pinnacle Managment (Rastetter)
$2300

Lori J. Krause
Jennings Real Estate Inc.
$2300

Tom Lynner
Darwin T. Lynner Real Estate
$2300

Fred W. Maifeld
Iowa State Bank
$2300

Scott D. Mikkelsen
Davis Brown Law Firm
$500

David R. Olson
Holmes Murphy & Associates
$500

Michael Mark Pearson
Student
$2300

Eric L. Peterson
Summit Farms (Rastetter) (IFF president)
$2300

Gale M. Peterson Jr.
Peterson Contractors
$2300

Brent Rastetter
Quality A.G. Inc.
$2300

Julie S. Rastetter
Research Farms LLC
$2300

Tim Recker
$500

Ann T. Richards
Retired
$2300

Alan D. Rosendahl
Iowa State Bank
$2300

Kelly M. Ryan
State of Iowa Research Analyst
$2300

Nicholas T. Ryan
Investor (Rastetter employee)
$2300

Robin Sampson
Hawkeye Renewables
$2300

Robert H. Schager
Self-employed/Agribusiness
$2300

Christeven Neil Schwarck
Self-employed/Insurance/Ethanol
$2300

Walter Wendland
Golden Grain Energy
$2300

avatar

Of the $2300 contributors, I'll see whom else I can connect to Rastetter, and how many have a federal contribution history prior to this cycle.

avatar

Mark M. Pearson is listed as a 2003 Freshman in a University of Iowa directory. Mr. Pearson somehow managed to give $2300 to Rudy Giuliani while self identifying as a student.

Pearson gave his contrubution from Peru, IA. Only two candidates have received contributions from Peru in the '08 cycle, and Pearson's $2300 to Giuliani was the largest.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/finance/states/ia/cities/peru/

Rastetter's Summit Farms and Pokey Feeders are business partners, according to the Summit Farms website.

avatar

Brent Rastetter owns Research Farms LLC. In March 2008, he changed the incorporated address from 3013 Almond Rd in Ames, IA to 15481 Hwy D20 in Alden, IA

avatar

Here's a reason why the Ethanol industry may be pushing for a GOP "more of the same" candidate:

Investment consultant Pete Davis blogs: "It's not often that a U.S. domestic policy change causes worldwide food riots, but that's what our ethanol subsidies have done according to a World Bank analysis. On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed H.R.6 into law with a five-fold increase in the mandated use of ethanol in gasoline. That stood on top of another large ethanol mandate in another H.R.6, enacted on August 8, 2005. Corn prices have jumped from $2/bushel in 2005 to $4/bushel last year, and they've just crested $6/bushel. In 2005, 6% of U.S. corn production went to ethanol; now it's up to 23%. Only now are we beginning to realize that we're not achieving any overall energy efficiency with our heavy ethanol subsidies and mandates, we're just helping U.S. corn growers and starving the world's poor."

-Dan Froomkin White House Watch Column, 04/15/08

From the Hill:

"Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) didn’t appear to draw as much benefit from an early 501(c)(4) ad on his behalf.

The American Future Fund lauded him in an ad recently that talks about his bipartisan work with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on getting money for the collapsed Interstate-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

It scored around a 5 in all groups and didn’t rate highly in any individual category, including on credibility and appeal.

“This ad tries to paint Coleman more as an independent than a Republican in a year where being a GOP senator is an electoral burden; however, insiders just aren’t buying it,” Harber Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) didn’t appear to draw as much benefit from an early 501(c)(4) ad on his behalf.

The American Future Fund lauded him in an ad recently that talks about his bipartisan work with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on getting money for the collapsed Interstate-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

It scored around a 5 in all groups and didn’t rate highly in any individual category, including on credibility and appeal.

“This ad tries to paint Coleman more as an independent than a Republican in a year where being a GOP senator is an electoral burden; however, insiders just aren’t buying it,” Harber
said."

Companies registered by Daniel L. Stockdale to Bruce Rastetter's address at 620 Country Club Road in Iowa Falls that have word "wind" in them:

Atlantic Wind, LLC
11/3/05

Big Wind, LLC
10/31/05

Day Wind, LLC
11/04/05

Down Stream Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Franklin Ridge Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Franklin County Small Wind Association, LLC
11/3/05

Great Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Hawkeye Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Howling Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Iowa Winds, LLC
7/14/05
(Delaware corp)

Little Win, L.L.C.
10/31/05

Narrow Wind, LLC
10/31/05

North West Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Pacific Wind, LLC
11/3/05

Short Wind, LLC
10/31/05

Star Wind, LLC
11/4/05

Strong Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Tall Wind, LLC
10/31/05

Top Wind, LLC
11/4/05

Ultra Wind, LLC
7/6/05

Whispering Wind of Iowa, LLC
7/14/05

Yosemite Wind, LLC
11/3/05



Excerpt from an 8/7/05 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier storyabout Bruce Rastetter :

"J.H. Whitney and Co., a Connecticut-based investment bank who worked with Heartland, apparently liked Rastetter's management skills and didn't hold Heartland's sale against him.

Interested in renewable energy, the bank asked Rastetter if he would head a project to build ethanol plants and a wind farm in Iowa. Seeking a new challenge, Hawkeye Renewables was born. The private company is made of up of less than a dozen investors, including J.H. Whitney and Rastetter, who also serves as CEO.

The 45-million-gallon Iowa Falls facility has been selling ethanol for a little more than a year, and a current construction project more than doubling its capacity will be completed by February. The 100-million-gallon Fairbank plant will be in operation by May.

Together, both plants will produce 210 million gallons of ethanol a year, employ 110 people and consume 66 million bushels of corn a year.

The total investment in Northeast Iowa is $250 million, not counting a $200 million wind farm in the planning stages in southern Franklin County."

In a previous post, I listed everyone who donated $2300 to Norm Coleman on 10/24/07.

Yesterday, I took a look at everyone who donated $1000 to Coleman on 10/24/07. Very interesting.

When I have time in the next couple of days, I am going to compile a list of all donors to Coleman on 10/24/07.

What I am looking for is a pattern whereby the Republican Party through its operatives is organizing financial support from wealthy donors to fund 501(c)(4)s.

For example, Pepe Fanjul of US Sugar donated $1k to Coleman on 10/24/07. Was he also required to donate X number of dollars to American Future Fund?

While we have been focusing on the Iowa locals, we need to keep in mind that Nick Ryan is hotwired into the White House through Jim Nussle.

What we need now is for American Future Fund to run more ads or new 501(c)(4)s to pop up so we can see more of the game plan.

AFF issued a pro-Colombian TPA press release the other day. Pretty standard wingnut stuff but notice that it refers to Lindsey Graham's article in the "National Journal" and the article was actually published in the National Review. Sloppy. Whoever posted the link doesn't know how to do it.

1/17/07 Freepers post on Nussle and Giuliani's campaign.

"Giuliani tapped pro-life former Rep. Jim Nussle to be a leader on his presidential exploratory committee."

"Earlier this month, Giuliani hired Maria Comella, Nussle’s former campaign communications director, as regional communications director. Ironically, Nussle formed the Iowa consulting firm Navigating Strategies with his former chief of staff, Steve Greiner, just a week ago."

Karl Rove is organizing 501(c)(4)s.

avatar

Thinking back to the Triad Management GOP fundraising scandal of 1996, a notable and prosecuted misuse of nonprofits, I remember that current Rove scandal figure Alabama Governor Bob Riley's son Rob was involved.

Involved in that Rob knew (*somehow*) that if he gave illegal soft money to a campaign committee, Triad would then recycle it and make it useable for his dad's campaign.

I wonder how Riley as well as Sam Brownback and Don Nickles (two other beneficiaries of this scheme) knew about it?

avatar

I suspect Karl Rove has been organizing 501(c)(3)'s and 501(c)(4)'s for campaign purposes for quite some time, and he probably didn't stop during his time in the White House. I don't think he ever even sold his company... I think it was just left in "caretaker hands" to continue to rake in GOP and Bush-Cheney campaign money and hand the reigns back to Karl when he left the WH.

The guy who "bought" Karl's firm refuses to say for how much, as does Rove. But we now know Rove is back in business doing maps for John McCain under the trade name "Karl Rove & Co." Rove held this business registration throughout his time at the White House, claiming it was "inactive."

Yeah, right.

AFF and IFF were registered last August so the 2008 operation was already being rolled out.

Interesting that DCI was mentioned because three DCIers contributed $1k each to Coleman on 10/24/07:

Doug Goodyear
Angela Flood
Justin Peterson

More DCI links.

In an earlier comment, I qouted an article that said Nussle formed Navigating Strategies LLC with his former chief of staff, Steve Greiner. But according to Legistorm, Greiner never worked on Nussle's staff.

Greiner reportedly was an advisor to Nussle's gubernatorial campaign.

I checked FEC records and Steven P. "Steve" Greiner is a DCI Group executive.

Navigating Strategies, registered on 1/4/07, is defunct.

About a week after NS was registered, Nussle was hired by Giuliani.

It looks like Steve Greiner did work for Rep Nussle but probably quite awhile ago:

Nussle Announces New Iowa Business Venture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 8, 2007
Contact: Barbara Snitker, 515.299.0600

Cedar Rapids, IA – Former Congressman Jim Nussle of Manchester announced today that he has formed a new business. Navigating Strategies, L.L.C. is an Iowa-based consulting firm that combines his years of experience in the public and private sectors.

Together with long-time associate and former chief of staff, Steve Greiner, originally from Independence, Iowa, the team provides a partnership and expertise in the areas of business, government, politics, communications, and public policy.

“This is a really exciting time” Nussle said. “I have been so honored to have had the opportunity to serve Iowans in the public sector. This venture gives me an opportunity to continue helping Iowans from the private sector angle.”

“I am as committed as ever to the future of our State, and Steve and I believe we can continue making improvements through this new venture.”

Nussle served as the eastern Iowa Representative from 1991–2007 and was a candidate in the Iowa Gubernatorial race in 2006. He continues to make his home in Manchester where he has lived for more than 20 years.

Navigating Strategies website coming soon.

From the Radio Iowa website:

"Jim Nussle, the 2006 Republican nominee for governor, is joining with his former congressional chief of staff to open a firm in Iowa. Steve Greiner, Nussle's COS, left the Nussle congressional office and worked as legal counsel for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Greiner and his wife were on the Nussle campaign bus for the final weekend of the campaign. News release after the jump."


Duh. I just read about DCI Group at Sourcewatch and learned that DCI chair Thomas J. Synhorst is from Iowa and he worked for Grassley.

Didn't I mention Synhorst? Oops. He uses Ralph Brown, IIRC, as his attorney on most of his filings. Synhorst, you should know, helped launch Michael Connell with Technomania, New Media, Govtech Solutions, etc.

Tom Stock of TSE Enterprises (and thisclose to AT&T) has also worked with these guys.

OK, checked the thread -- did mention those guys, just didn't mention that Synhorst and Brown were Iowans.

Steve Greiner is not listed as a partner on the DCI Group website. Per the FEC, his last contribution dated June '06 was made as a DCI exec.

Brian Kennedy and Jim Nussle were running in the fall of 2006. Greiner and his wife were on Nussle's campaign bus in the last week of the campaign.

Greiner and Nussle were going to be partners in a consulting business but Nussle joins Rudy's campaign in mid-January. In September, Nussle becomes OMB director.

What has Steve Greiner been doing?

Steven P. Greiner was, in 2002 at least, serving as Treasurer/Director of Tech Central Science Foundation, sockpuppet of DCI Group.

Google Steven P. Greiner and you get tons of hits on a Ph.D. working with Allegiant Asset Management and as of a few weeks ago, National City Bank in Ohio -- which has some serious connections to the Ohio GOP, en Blackwell, etc. Allegiant rings a serious bell in my head, particularly in connection with National City, but I can't say for certain this is the same guy who would have worked with Nussle... maybe they are related, maybe they are the same person, maybe not. Nothing conclusive to report, but another lead to chase down.

That should have read Ken Blackwell, as in J. Kenneth, chief stooge in the Ohio disenfranchisement in the 2004 presidential election.

Check this 2005 blog page on the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation/Tom Noe scandal -- the guy who raped their retirement fund and most likely was illegally funneling money to Bush's re-election campaign?

This afternoon the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation announced that yet another investment fund has lost $71 million dollars.

BWC announced that they are terminating the investment with Allegiant Asset Management, a subsidiary of National City.

I knew they sounded familiar.

Two different guys, for sure, related or not, don't know. Really think it is just a huge coincidence, as DCI Steve is originally from Independence, Iowa.

Used a people finder to determine that the DCI Greiner is about 46 years old, and the Allegiant/National City Greiner is about 52 years old -- and, they don't share any common address history.

DCI Steve and his wife still own a house in Virginia, a 2500 sq. ft. place that they paid $450,000 for in 2002, probably worth two to three times that today.

From The Hill on 3/10/08:

RESOURCES: The DCI Group contracted with the Iowa American Water Co. to lobby on the budget resolution. Gavin Clingham — Rep. Alan Mollohan’s (D-W.Va.) former legislative director — Brian Kennedy and Lindsay Lawrence will represent the utility company.

Brian Kennedy made a contribution to Lamar Alexander in March 2007 as a DCI Group exec.

The Progress For America founder just happens to live in Iowa where the first Republican sham 501(c)(4)s show up.


I checked a couple of Brian Kennedy's campaign filings and he used Holtzman Vogel and Dave Kochel's firm.

I'm 99.9% certain that the DCI Group is running AFF/IFF. That would explain why all the big name Republican operatives are involved.

Boy, did we strike gold here or what?

Re DCI Group and Iowa American Water

Brock Earnhardt, Iowa American Water president, was Brian Kennedy's campaign treasurer.

What I couldn't figure out is why an Iowan water company would hire the DCI Group to lobby in DC.

Iowa American Water is a subsidiary of American Water which is owned by a German conglomerate, RWE AG.

Surprise! RGE is an energy company.

WaPo:

"The soft-money landscape has changed," said Philip A. Musser, a Republican consultant advising the American Future Fund, another group that could play a central role in the 2008 elections. "There are a lot of organizations interested in taking on various slivers of this election, but nothing has coalesced around the presidential contest in the way we saw in 2004."

Musser's 2002 NYT wedding announcement:

"Mr. Musser, 30, is the deputy chief of staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington. He graduated from Kenyon College. His father is the managing director of New Frontier Capital, a money management firm in New York."

He briefly was a consultant for Dutko.

Musser went on to become executive director of the Republican Governors Association.

Musser is president of New Frontier Strategy, a p.r. firm, and he advises Google on state and local issues.

Here's an earlier Musser bio:

"Former Vice president of The Dutko Group Companies. A deputy director in organizing the G8 Summit, in Sea Island, GA.

Deputy chief of staff to Secretaries Alphonso Jackson and Mel Martinez at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Senior staff member for the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Lead advance representative for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2000.

Assistant vice president to Dutko’s state and local lobbying firm, KNP, Jan. 1998-Aug. 2000. Worked on Dole for President.

B.A. in History from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio."


avatar

"Deputy Directors" are the most dangerous people. Generally unnamed and behind the scenes, they do the dirty work yet are still near the top of the organization.

And typical crony progression to see here with Musser - from "lead advance" (aka organizing photo ops and keeping out opponents) to a semi-professional job in government, back to the Party and then on to clandestine money.

And he's connected to Haley Barbour

Governor Haley Barbour announced today that George LeMieux, Ken Mehlman, Jeff Miller, Phil Musser, and Eric Tanenblatt have agreed to serve as Finance Committee Co-Chairs for the Republican Governors Association. Governor Haley Barbour is serving as the Finance Chairman. It is the first time that a Governor is chairing the Finance Committee.

http://www.rga.org/default.asp?pt=newsdescr&RI=392

avatar

Not surprisingly, moneyman Mitt Romney was Chair of the Repuiblican Governors' Association in 2006 during Musser's tenure.

A lot of time was spent "building the organization" it was said.

As chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2006, Mitt Romney crisscrossed the country to elect GOP governors and broke the group’s fundraising record by hauling in $20 million.

Yet just two of the 16 governors he worked to elect then are supporting his presidential bid.

In fact, just three of the nation’s 22 Republican governors have endorsed him.

There are plenty of reasons that might explain the former Massachusetts governor’s surprisingly weak support among his former colleagues. But one of them stands out: He appears to have inadvertently alienated a good many of his fellow governors as RGA chairman.

“Right or wrong, the general impression was that he spent way too much time on himself and building his presidential organization,” said a top Republican strategist who has worked closely with the RGA in recent years. “I don’t think anyone ever questioned Romney’s commitment to the organization or the work he put in. They questioned his goals or his motives. Was it to elect Republican governors, or to tee up his presidential campaign?”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8274.html


Ed Tobin of Wilmer Hale is also involved in AFF. Tobin was executive director of the RGA 2002-04. In the '90s, he worked for Mass governor, William Weld.


avatar

Is there any connection between Ed Tobin and GOP operative James Tobin, of phone-jamming fame?

I can't find one but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

I didn't know until today that James Tobin was a DCI Group employee.

I also didn't know about Northeast Strategies, LLC which is supposedly run by Tobin's wife, Ellen. Lincoln Chafee paid more than $500k to NS in 2006.

avatar

Philip A. Musser's FEC contributions were given from the following addresses:

9 Phoenix Mill Place, Alexandria, VA
315 Kentucky Ave, Alexandria, VA

His most recent was a $2300 contribution to John McCain 2008 In on 02/29/08. Musser lists his occupation as New Fronter Strategy/Consultant.

According to Virginia State Business records, New Frontier Strategy ceased to exist as of 12/31/06.

North Hill Partners, LLC was registered to the 315 Kentucky Ave Address on 09/07/2007. The industry is "general." No officers are listed.

Musser's wife, Heather, worked for White House and Dept of Homeland Security.

I think Musser's brother is William L. Musser Jr., a NYC-based investor. Philip, William L., Linda S. and Lila Ruth Musser are all trustees of the Willinphila Foundation.

William L. Musser and Warren V. Musser both contributed $2300 to Romney in June '07.

Warren V. "Pete" Musser was the founder and long time head of Safeguard Scientific in Wayne PA.

As an aside, Heinz Schimmelbusch, the very wealthy German investor that I thought was involved with Curt Weldon, is a long time Safeguard director.


From a 4/18/08 LinkedIn headline;

"Phil Musser is now connected to Jason McBride (Regional Manager at Freedom's Watch).."

I don't have a LinkedIn account so I don't have the rest of the story.

McBride worked for Romney campaign:

State Director Jason McBride

Most recently executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (in that position, he was the lead fundraiser). Prior to that McBride worked for Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, the 2002 Dick Posthumus for Governor Campaign and the 2000 Mike Rogers for Congress campaign. Graduate of Michigan State University. Originally from Shelby Township, Michigan.

avatar

McBride... Any relation to Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride?

I don't think they are related. Lea Ann McBride seems to be her name when she was a student at U. of Georgia.

avatar

Unrelated but worthy of archiving:

527 Group attack on Obama:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/22/1007/65831/695/500688

Time has an article on the video and who is behind it.

I added a comment at Kos about Christopher and Christine Carmouche being involved. I had never heard of the Carmouches before today.

Link to Time article.

I googled "american future fund" and the fourth entry was from TechRepublican.com which is run by David All.

When you click on the google link, "American Future Fund" is the post heading. But it is not the heading if you access the post from the blog's home page.

The AFF heading guarantees that it shows up in Google. I don't know how this is done technically. Do you generate different page versions?

I left a comment for the hell of it.

I was curious about David All and it turns out that he is occupying space in Grover Norquist's ATR office.

David All is the co-founder and executive director of Slatecard.com PAC. I reviewed the PAC's FEC filings and what it is doing is raising money for candidates via telemarketing and the giving the candidates the money. The telemarketer, Infocision, so far, is the big winner.

Keith Davis of Huckaby Davis Lister is the Slate.com PAC treasurer. Davis is also the recently appointed treasurer of the beleagured NRCC.

I'm starting to get a little nervous about Republican dirty tech tricks.


In addition to AFf, David All mentions several other groups that could be influential this year. TheVanguard.org is still in beta testing.

This is pretty funny:

"TheVanguard.Org is an effort by the conservative netroots to take back their country, their party, and the internet as well."

Same old same old ripoff artists. Guess who is on the board of advisors? Grover Norquist.

Rod D. Martin, co-founder and chairman, is also president of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), chairman of The Arlington Group's National Security Team, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Council for National Policy.

From what I can gather, the NFRA is undergoing some changes. The website has been down for maintenance.