Warren Buffet is cool--The Koch brothers are not.

Warren Buffet is cool.  The Koch brothers are not.  In a post written by Christina Braden December 14, 2009  at the democratic leaning blog http://forwardkansas.com/, she writes:

"This extremist group [Americans for Prosperity for Koch Industries] attacks anything that may be perceived as threatening Koch industries profits. David and Charles Koch are known for their generous contributions to the arts and cancer research, but the Koch brothers are also known to fund vicious attack campaigns. Such as the “No Stimulus” television and radio ads launched to stop President Obama’s stimulus package.

We are coming up on an election year, and understandably members of congress want to be reelected. Our legislators are led to believe that repealing tax cuts from previous fiscal years will prevent them from being reelected, and this is simply not the case."

Based on my experiences with Warren Buffet, the Koch brothers, Americans for Prosperty including their past and current Kansas executive directors, Alan Cobb and Eric Sonatog; as well as with the Kansas Policy Institute (formerly Flint Hills Policy Institute) including their executive Director, Dave Trabert are very different in their goals, objectives and methods of communication. 

Warren Buffet is cool.  The rest like Christina writes, are not cool.  Other than Mr. Buffet, the rest of these entities and people are pro-business, pro-corporate.  Mr. Buffet I can communicate with.  Warren is indeed a well known capitalist.  But Mr. Buffet, with due respect to him, believes in communication that is frank, honest and open.  The others have a hidden agenda that is contrary to your best interests as an individual.

For example, I asked Dave Trabert to help me find a tax policy expert for my docketed case challenging the  Kansas real estate comparables nonsense.  Mr. Trabert refuses to communicate regarding that; or volunteer. Staff at Kansas Policy Institute stated me that my constitutional challenge to the current real estate tax process is only an individual case (which does not benefit Koch Industries)--which I tried to remind them this case will probably be my 10th case docketed or attempted to docket with SCOTUS. 

Further, that this case will impact every homeowner in the state of Kansas.  Kansas Policy Institute folks do not care about Kansas homeowers all over the state of Kansas.  All they care about is the impact on Koch Industries.

Now, back to Warren Buffet.  Here is part of the email conservation sent to Warren, Senator Brownback and former Kansas Senator Bob Dole below:

      ***************************************************

Thanks for your kindness. I merely wish Mr. Buffet was running for United States Congress. If he wants, he can stay at my house to establish residency and I would withdraw. Naturally, he is infinitely far superior in intellect than I ever could be.

I did go to the Eisenhower Building, the home of the Kansas Dept. of Transportation. One of their top officials discussed heavy speed heavy rail systems. KDOT does not have the vision we do. I also went to the old Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe building, which is right by the state Capitol of Kansas, on Jackson St. I will try to keep a very narrow vision and focus on my congressional campaign and think about why I like Ike. (Eisenhower). His vision of how important transportation is to our nation's economic development, jobs, and transportation led to the federal interstate highway system.

While I like Eisenhower and what he did for our nation, he is no Warren Buffet. Take care. I will do what I can as a measly solitary Kansan that likes Ike. And merely wants to build a transportation system in America for the 21st Century.

----- Original Message -----

From: Debbie Bosanek, Assistant to Warren Buffett
To: tscherer4@kc.rr.com
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 2:22 PM
Subject: FW: Your input on our national infrastructure

Mr. Scherer, We did show your note to Mr. Buffett and he appreciates hearing from you. As you might imagine, he has been hearing from other candidates as well who want to talk to him or meet with him. However, he is turning down these requests. He has such a full plate these days and just cannot sign on for anything more.

Debbie Bosanek, Assistant to Mr. Buffett

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From: Deb Ray
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 1:31 PM

To: Debbie Bosanek, Assistant to Warren Buffett

Subject: FW: Your input on our national infrastructure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: tom scherer [mailto:tscherer4@kc.rr.com]

Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:17 AM
To: Deb Ray
Subject: Fw: Your input on our national infrastructure

Nov. 23, 2009
Dear Mr. Buffet,

Congratulations on your visionary purchase of BNI. BNI also owns the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail. I know because I was born in Atchison, KS. I am running for US Congress, 3rd District. One of my main goals is building American infrastructure for the 21st Century. Which must include a high speed heavy rail system. China is scheduled to complete their high speed rail system in 2013. And we here in the US have not even started yet.  We have talked in the past. Which is one reason you earned my respect.

I would appreciate your wisdom and vision in a meeting with you up in Omaha or wherever you can afford to give me a few minutes of your time. Humbly yours, Thomas E. Scherer

COPY BELOW PROVIDED TODAY IN SUPPORT
Dear Senator Sam Brownback,

Could you also give me your input and support of one of my ideas of developing a high speed heavy rail system across America as a way to spur economic growth, just like Ike did. I believe this is important to our national security and a positive idea that will unite our country, regardless of party affiliation.

ts, Candidate, US Congress, 3rd District

----- Original Message -----

From: tom scherer
To: bob.dole@alston.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:34 AM

Subject: Re: Your input on our national infrastructure

Dear Senator Dole,

First, I was surprised the Honorable Dennis Moore, the person I am campaigning against announced his retirement yesterday. Mr. Moore had a difficult time representing the 3rd Congressional District over the last 10 years.

 Second, tonight all of us filed 3rd District GOP candidates will be speaking in our first major 3rd District candidate forum at the Bob Dole Center on the KU campus.

Third, I would appreciate it if I could have a few minutes of your time to discuss why I am currently thinking like Ike. Dwight Eisenhower, another famous Kansan like yourself brought about economic development by building the interstate highway system. Like Ike, I would like to be one of the leading advocates for building a heavy rail transit system across America. The bullet train for moving people and services by the private railroad industry.

Recently, Warren Buffet, who I have talked to in the past and fax on occasion just bought the Burlington Northern Railroad. That includes the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad lines. I was born in Atchison, KS, home of Amelia Earhart, another famous Kansan and early supporter of the equal rights amendment.

In closing, I too like these other famous Kansans believe building our infrastructure in the 21st Century with a high speed bullet train system is the key to uniting our nation again; regardless of party affiliation. I am going to contact Mr. Buffet soon regarding his vision and support of rebuilding our national infrastructure with a nation-wide network of high speed heavy rail network. Then, urban and suburban locations would want to develop light rail systems to this heavy rail system.

As my Senator, thanks for everything you did for our country. I too am a honorably discharged Navy veteran, service decorated and have service connected disabilities incurred in serving my nation. Finally, my former wife's mother in law (Mrs. Bentley tells me she is a good friend of Elizabeth and their joint efforts regarding the Red Cross).

My contact information is available below:

Thomas E. Scherer, GOP Candidate, US Congress, Kansas 3rd District

****************************************************************

End of communication with Warren Buffet, Senator Sam Brownback and former KS Senator Bob Dole.

To which I only received a response from Warren Buffet.  Which proves the point I started with.  Warren Buffet is cool and believes and understands how important communication is.  This explains why he is the richest man in America because he understands how important that communication is. 

This also explains why the rest of these yahoo(s) are not like Warren Buffet at all.  And to me, I do not understand why they hate to communicate. Which gives me the impression the grade I should give the rest of these yahoos is an F.  Warren, once again, you get an A+.    

For more perspective from another rich dude in Dallas, see this post: http://blogmaverick.com/2007/12/11/warren-buffett-taxes-and-the-presidency/