Raw Story: This megadonor joined up with the GOP's ultra-right wing -- and he didn't like what he saw

[Dennis Donovan]

Raw Story - This megadonor joined up with the GOP’s ultra-right wing — and he didn’t like what he saw

Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune
May 12, 2025 5:57AM ET



AMARILLO — In mid-September, Alex Fairly accepted an invitation to spend the day with one of the state’s richest and most powerful political megadonors.

He jumped in his private plane and flew down to meet Tim Dunn, a West Texas oil billionaire, at his political headquarters located outside of Fort Worth.

For five hours, Dunn and his advisers walked Fairly through the network of consulting, fundraising and campaign operations they have long used to boost Texas’ most conservative candidates, target those who they deem too centrist and incrementally push the Legislature toward their hardline views.

The two men talked about political philosophy and strategy. They discussed the Bible at length. Fairly was impressed, he said, if not surprised by the sheer magnitude of Dunn’s “political machine.”

“I think most people underestimate how substantial and how many pieces there are that fit together and how coordinated they are,” Fairly said in an interview with The Texas Tribune.

/snip

[Scrivener7]

1. "He admits even now, he isn't well versed on legislative process or the latest political news."

So he knows nothing about it, but that doesn't stop him from thinking he's the guy to control it.

The ignorant hubris of America's rich is astonishing. It seems like most are very stupid people with a talent for one thing.

[Walleye]

2. Let's have a 90% tax bracket for billionaires. And a wealth tax, this is getting out of hand.

[hatrack]

3. Well lah-dee-fucking-dah - another rich asshole who never voted until he was nearly 40. . . .

. . . who couldn't be bothered to learn anything about the people he shoveled money to. And now he's wandering the TX panhandle, shocked, SHOCKED by the nature of Republicans in his state, bleating about "unity" among the wolves he nourished.

Whatever.

[Martin Eden]

5. He's just fine with the hard right agenda, but doesn't like the means to those ends

The agenda itself is rapacious greed with a false veneer of patriotism and religiosity.

[UpInArms]

4. Citizens United has destroyed this country

Get the freaking money out of our government

[tanyev]

6. But he's already donated to Ken Paxton for a Senate challenge to John Cornyn.

So his “awakening” is happening with very teeny tiny baby steps.