George Soros: Billionaire “I fancied myself as some kind of god or an economic reformer like Keynes”

 

The following are excerpts from a backgrounder paper on George Soros written in 2004.  Read the entire file at: http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/SOROS,%20GEORGE%20BACKGROUNDER1.htm

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GEORGE SOROS BACKGROUNDER

 

 October 2004

Strange Quotes

 

Soros: “I Fancied Myself As Some Kind Of God.”  “A passage in his book The Alchemy of Finance, published in 1987, distinguishes Soros from all other financiers, ever.  ‘I have always harboured an exaggerated view of my self-importance,’ he wrote.  ‘To put it bluntly, I fancied myself as some kind of god or an economic reformer like Keynes, or, even better, like Einstein.  My sense of reality was strong enough to make me realise that these expectations were excessive, and I kept them hidden as a guilty secret.  This was a source of considerable unhappiness through much of my adult life.  As I made my way in the world, reality came close enough to my fantasy to allow me to admit my secret, at least to myself.  Needless to say, I feel much happier as a result.’”  (Stephen Fay, “Profile: George Soros: God Of All He Surveys,” The Independent [London], 5/17/98)

Soros Admits To Delusions “Of Grandeur” And Said That His “Goal Is To Become The Conscience Of The World.”  “He [Soros] admits to what Kaufman calls ‘messianic’ ideals: ‘I have had these illusions, or perhaps delusions, of grandeur and they have driven me.’  He has also said that his ‘goal is to become the conscience of the world.’”  (Anthony Gottlieb, “Who Wants To Be A Billionaire?” The New York Times, 3/3/02)

Soros: “So That’s What I’m All About.  I Am A Kind Of Nut Who Wants To Have An Impact.”  (Michael T. Kaufman, Soros: The Life And Times Of A Messianic Billionaire, 2002, p. 293)

Soros Wrote That September 11^th Terrorist Attacks “Could Not Have Been More Spectacular.”  “Hijacking fully fueled airliners and using them as suicide bombs was an audacious idea, and its execution could not have been more spectacular.”  (George Soros, “The Bubble Of American Supremacy,” The Atlantic Monthly, 12/03) 

From Soros’  Book, “The Bubble Of American Supremacy”

Proposes Cutting Defense In Favor Of Increased Foreign Aid, Domestic Spending.  “An alternative U.S. foreign policy would differ from the present one in much more than being multilateral rather than unilateral.  It would involve a radical reordering of our priorities.  Instead of devoting the bulk of the budget to military expenditures to implement the Bush doctrine, we would engage in preventive actions of a constructive nature.  This would require incomparably smaller budgetary expenditures, leaving room for greater domestic spending within a balanced budget.  After all, it would be unacceptable to increase foreign aid without a comparable improvement in social benefits at home.”  (George Soros, The Bubble Of American Supremacy, 2004, pp. 123-124)     

Supports New Arms Control Agreement.  “At present we spend almost as much on defense as do all the other countries in the world combined.  We are way ahead of them in technology.  Naturally they try to catch up with us the best they can, so we keep on pushing ahead on technology in order to maintain our superiority.  This is an arms race between unequals that could be slowed down by international agreement. … We are in a position to dictate the terms that would satisfy us.  We are prevented from doing so only by our own attitude: Nothing would satisfy us, because under the influence of extremists, we are opposed to the process.”  (George Soros, The Bubble Of American Supremacy, 2004, pp. 174-175)

Soros Supports Assisted Suicide Laws

 

“Mr. Soros Provided $15 Million For The Death In America Project, Which Supports Euthanasia.”  (Toni Marshall, “Enigmatic Billionaire,” The Washington Times, 11/9/97)

“Billionaire George Soros Has Contributed $250,000 To Retain Oregon’s Assisted Suicide Law …”  (Corky Siemaszko, “Dave’s Top Cop Leads Houston Ballot,” [New York] Daily News, 11/4/97)

ü      In 1995, “Soros Voiced Disapproval Of His Father’s Reluctance To Die.”  “In an interview with the New Yorker in 1995, Mr. Soros voiced disapproval of his father’s reluctance to die, even though he was gravely ill.  ‘My father unfortunately wanted to live … and I was kind of disappointed in him. … I wrote him off,’ he said.”  (Toni Marshall, “Enigmatic Billionaire,” The Washington Times, 11/9/97)

Soros Supports Reducing Us Sovereignty

 

Soros Has Argued “The Sovereignty Of States Must Be Subordinated To International Law And International Institutions.”  “Soros identifies a problem: ‘Our global open society lacks the institutions and mechanisms necessary for its preservation.’  The solution?  ‘Some global system of political decision-making’ in which ‘the sovereignty of states must be subordinated to international law and international institutions’ when ‘collective interests’ are at stake.”  (Matthew Rees, “Saving Capitalism From Soros,” The Ottawa Citizen, 12/9/98)

“In The Crisis Of Global Capitalism (1998) And Open Society (2000), [Soros] Argued That A Vision Of ‘Open Society Idealism’ Must Supersede Traditional State Sovereignty If Globalization Is To Benefit All.”  (Carlin Romano, “George Soros Offers A Plan To Help Poor Via Globalization,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/24/02)

Soros’ Business Dealings

 

In December 2002, Soros Was Convicted Of Insider Trading In France And Fined $2.3 Million.  “After a 14-year investigation, a French court today convicted the American financier George Soros of insider trading and fined him 2.2 million euros ($2.3 million), the amount prosecutors said he had profited from the trading.  Mr. Soros, who was not present in the courtroom, called the verdict unfounded and said he would appeal.”  (John Tagliabue, “Soros Is Found Guilty In France On Charges Of Insider Trading,” The New York Times, 12/21/02)

Soros Has Been Accused Of “Destabilizing World Currencies And Wrecking The Economies Of Nations.”  “George Soros is one of the most successful investors of all time. Even now, though he manages little or no money besides his own, he can move markets with a ten-minute appearance on cable television.  Detractors have accused him of destabilizing world currencies and wrecking the economies of entire nations.  He is appealing a French conviction for insider trading.”  (Mark Gimein, “George Soros Is Mad As Hell,” Fortune, 10/27/03)

Soros Has Been Known As the “Man Who Broke The Bank Of England.”  “George Soros got the first part right.  As a detached and mysterious currency speculator, he made billions by moving markets in a manner that made him a whipping boy for besieged bankers and ministers.  In one famous week in 1992, he made $1 billion betting against the British pound, earning him the grudging title of the Man Who Broke the Bank of England.”  (William Shawcross, “Turning Dollars Into Change,” Time, 9/1/97)

Soros Is “Widely Blamed In Thailand For Triggering The Collapse Of The Economy In 1997.”  “Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, meanwhile, reiterated his ban on foreign NGOs travelling to Thailand for the duration of the meeting.  The Prime Minister stressed that he had clearly announced that Thailand had the names of all NGOs known to organize protests during international meetings, stating that they would not be welcome in Thailand during the Summit period.  The Prime Minister also personally picked out US financier George Soros – widely blamed in Thailand for triggering the collapse of the economy in 1997 – as an alleged backer of NGOs.”  (“All Involved Stand Ready To Host APEC Meeting,” Thai Press Reports, 10/14/03)

Soros Contributions To Liberal Soft Money Groups

Soros Is Largest Donor To Democrat 527 Groups, Contributing A Total Of $18.5 Million.  “By mid-August, Mr. Soros had given more than $15 million to advocacy groups like America Coming Together.  At that time, he said in an interview on Monday, he fully expected Mr. Kerry to win the election.  But recently, Mr. Soros saw what he called the outrageous and slanderous Swift boat commercials against Mr. Kerry and how they had damaged his standing in the polls.  Since then, the Hungarian-born Mr. Soros said, he has become so worried that Mr. Bush will win the election that he increased his giving, to $18.2 million, and has scrapped a trip in October to Russia to work against the president’s re-election. … Mr. Soros, whose $7.2 billion fortune makes him the 24th richest person in the United States, has become the biggest donor to the 527 advocacy groups, a category named for the section of the tax code that covers them.  He pledged $10 million to America Coming Together for a registration and get-out-the-vote drive, but gave a total of $14.5 million.  His other contributions to Democratic 527’s are $2.5 million to MoveOn.org Voter Fund; $325,000 to Young Voter Alliance; $325,000 to 21st Century Democrats; $300,000 to the Real Economy Group; and $250,000 to Democracy for America.”  (Katharine Q. Seelye, “Anti-Bush Billionaire Plans To Give More,” The New York Times, 9/29/04)

Since 1999, Soros has contributed $205,750 To National Democrat Party Committees, Including $7,750 To DNC, $83,000 To DSCC And $115,000 To DCCC.  (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 12/10/03)

Soros: “I’ve Come To The Conclusion … That One Can Do A Lot More About The Issues I Care About By Changing The Government Than By Pushing The Issues.”  “‘I’ve come to the conclusion,’ Soros told Fortune, ‘that one can do a lot more about the issues I care about by changing the government than by pushing the issues.’  In short, he has become the world’s angriest billionaire.”  (Mark Gimein, “George Soros Is Mad As Hell,” Fortune, 10/27/03)

 

Soros Initially Pledged $15.5 Million In Soft Money To Liberal Activist Groups, Including $10 Million To America Coming Together, $3 Million To The Center For American Progress And $2.5 Million To MoveOn.org.  “Soros, who has financed efforts to promote open societies in more than 50 countries around the world, is bringing the fight home, he said.  On Monday, he and a partner committed up to $5 million to MoveOn.org, a liberal activist group, bringing to $15.5 million the total of his personal contributions to oust Bush. … Standing on the back deck, the evening sun angling into their eyes, Soros took aside Steve Rosenthal, CEO of the liberal activist group America Coming Together (ACT), and Ellen Malcolm, its president.  They were proposing to mobilize voters in 17 battleground states.  Soros told them he would give ACT $10 million. … Soros also promised up to $3 million to Podesta’s new think tank, the Center for American Progress.”  (Laura Blumenfeld, “Soros’s Deep Pockets Vs. Bush,” The Washington Post, 11/11/03)

SOROS & THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS

 

Soros Contributed $3 Million To John Podesta’s New Think Tank, The Center For American Progress.  “Soros also promised up to $3 million to Podesta’s new think tank, the Center for American Progress.  Soros will continue to recruit wealthy donors for his campaign.  Having put a lot of money into the war of ideas around the world, he has learned that ‘money buys talent; you can advocate more effectively.’”  (Laura Blumenfeld, “Soros’s Deep Pockets Vs. Bush,” The Washington Post, 11/11/03)

The Center For American Progress Has A 501(c) 3 Think Tank Component And A 501(c) 4 “Rapid Response And Communications Operation That Will Dabble More Heavily In Campaign Politics” – Both Of Which Can Collect Unlimited Contributions With No Disclosure.  “The organizational structure is split into two components: a 501(c)3 think tank and a 501(c)4 rapid response and communications operation that will dabble more heavily in campaign politics.  Both divisions are referred to by their designation within Internal Revenue Service tax code.  Fundraising for the 501(c)3 is already in full swing while the 501(c)4 money-gathering has just begun, according to Laura Nichols, former communications director for Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and now senior vice president of CAP.  Both entities can accept unlimited donations and do not have to reveal their donors.”  (Chris Cillizza, “Clark To Keynote Forum For Podesta Group,” Roll Call, 9/30/03)

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George Soros and the Shadow Party:

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=589

 

In December of 2006, Soros met with Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama in his (Soros’) New York office. Soros had previously hosted a fund-raiser for Obama during the latter’s 2004 campaign for the Senate.

On January 16, 2007, Obama announced the creation of a presidential exploratory committee, and within hours Soros sent the senator a contribution of $2,100, the maximum amount allowable under campaign finance laws. Later that week the New York Daily News reported that Soros would back Obama over Senator Hillary Clinton, whom he had supported in the past. Soros’ announcement was seen as a repudiation of Clinton’s presidential aspirations, though Soros said he would support the New York senator were she to win the Democratic nomination.

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Soros and the Open Society:

 

How many people, for instance, know that James Hansen, a man billed as a lonely “NASA whistleblower” standing up to the mighty U.S. government, was really funded by Soros’ Open Society Institute , which gave him “legal and media advice”?

That’s right, Hansen was packaged for the media by Soros’ flagship “philanthropy,” by as much as $720,000, most likely under the OSI’s “politicization of science” program.

That may have meant that Hansen had media flacks help him get on the evening news to push his agenda and lawyers pressuring officials to let him spout his supposedly “censored” spiel for weeks in the name of advancing the global warming agenda.

Hansen even succeeded, with public pressure from his nightly news performances, in forcing NASA to change its media policies to his advantage. Had Hansen’s OSI-funding been known, the public might have viewed the whole production differently. The outcome could have been different.

That’s not the only case. Didn’t the mainstream media report that 2006’s vast immigration rallies across the country began as a spontaneous uprising of 2 million angry Mexican-flag waving illegal immigrants demanding U.S. citizenship in Los Angeles, egged on only by a local Spanish-language radio announcer?

Turns out that wasn’t what happened, either. Soros’ OSI had money-muscle there, too, through its $17 million Justice Fund. The fund lists 19 projects in 2006. One was vaguely described involvement in the immigration rallies. Another project funded illegal immigrant activist groups for subsequent court cases.

So what looked like a wildfire grassroots movement really was a manipulation from OSI’s glassy Manhattan offices. The public had no way of knowing until the release of OSI’s 2006 annual report.

Meanwhile, OSI cash backed terrorist-friendly court rulings, too.

Do people know last year’s Supreme Court ruling abolishing special military commissions for terrorists at Guantanamo was a Soros project? OSI gave support to Georgetown lawyers in 2006 to win Hamdan v. Rumsfeld — for the terrorists.

OSI also gave cash to other radicals who pressured the Transportation Security Administration to scrap a program called “Secure Flight,” which matched flight passenger lists with terrorist names. It gave more cash to other left-wing lawyers who persuaded a Texas judge to block cell phone tracking of terrorists.

They trumpeted this as a victory for civil liberties. Feel safer?

It’s all part of the $74 million OSI spent on “U.S. Programs” in 2006 to “shape policy.” Who knows what revelations 2007’s report will bring around events now in the news?

OSI isn’t the only secretive organization that Soros funds. OSI partners with the Tides Foundation, which funnels cash from wealthy donors who may not want it known that their cash goes to fringe groups engaged in “direct action” — also known as eco-terrorism.

On the political front, Soros has a great influence in a secretive organization called “Democracy Alliance” whose idea of democracy seems to be government controlled solely of Democrats.

“As with everything about the Democracy Alliance, the strangest aspect of this entire process was the incessant secrecy. Among the alliance’s stated values was a commitment to political transparency — as long as it didn’t apply to the alliance,” wrote Matt Bai, describing how the alliance was formed in 2005, in his book “The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics.”

Soros’ “shaping public policies,” as OSI calls it, is not illegal. But it’s a problem for democracy because it drives issues with cash and then only lets the public know about it after it’s old news.

Excerpted; Continue reading HERE.

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Money Chooses Sides

In a barn-burning, record-smashing fund-raising campaign season, Barack Obama tapped a new breed of Manhattan donors and won the expectations game

 

 

 

 

Obama at fund-raiser at Steven and Judy Gluckstern’s home, April 9, 2007.

George Soros is seated to the right of the stairs.  

(Photo: Michael Edwards)

 

The investment banker Robert Wolf first met Barack Obama one afternoon in December in a midtown conference room. Obama was in town to deliver a speech at a charity dinner for children in poverty at the Mandarin Oriental—but also to pursue another, less high-minded, but more momentous, objective: to begin the process of attempting to pick Hillary Clinton’s pocket.

The conference room belonged to George Soros, the billionaire bête noire of the right. After talking to Soros for an hour about his prospective bid for the White House, Obama walked down the hall and found assembled a dozen of the city’s heaviest-hitting Democratic fund-raisers: investment banker Hassan Nemazee, Wall Street power Blair Effron, private-equity hotshot Mark Gallogly, hedge-fund manager Orin Kramer. Most had been big-time John Kerry backers in 2004. Most had a connection to the Clintons. All were officially uncommitted for 2008.

Comparatively speaking, Wolf, now the CEO of UBS Americas, was a buck-raking neophyte. But his prodigious recent efforts (first for Kerry, then for House and Senate Democrats in 2006) had established him as a rising star in the fund-raising firmament. Until a few weeks earlier, the presidential horse he’d planned to ride in 2008 was former Virginia governor Mark Warner. But with Warner’s decision to forgo the race, Wolf was up for grabs—and in the sights of every Democrat in the field.

What Wolf, 45, was looking for was a candidate who could change the tenor of our politics.

A story in the Times reported that Obama had nailed two A-list New York donors: Soros and Wolf. But though Soros’s backing was a symbolic coup, it’s Wolf who has emerged as Obama’s most copious cash collector in the city so far—hosting two high-dollar cocktail parties, making countless calls, harvesting more than $500,000.

Excerpted; Continue reading HERE.

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