Big-money right-wing roundup

Whether you support the DSCC or not, their opposition research is very enlightening. Via e-mail:

We've compiled an insider's guide that traces the GOP's plans to regain power. It shows where the money is coming from - when it's not hidden - and who's pulling the strings behind the political curtain. Their names read like a who's who list of right-wing puppet masters, and they've been working together on behalf of corporate special interests and the right wing for decades.

There you go, James. It looks like your "Puppet Master" phrase is gaining some legs. If you don't mind, could you work on bringing paisley back in style again? I've got several shirts hanging in my closet waiting for the next resurgence, so...

You can see the entire list here, but this should give you a taste:

American Action Network
What: A self-described think tank whose goal is to “create, encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom,
limited government, American exceptionalism and strong national security.” So far, this shadowy group has run ads attacking Senate candidate Paul Hodes in New Hampshire and Patty Murray in Washington.
Who: Karl Rove, former RNC head Ed Gillespie, former
Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour,
former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and GOP donor Fred Malek.
2010 Commitment: $25 million.
2008 Spending: Not applicable.

Hopefully they won't spend much of that $25 million in North Carolina, but I'm pretty sure these guys will:

American Crossroads
What: American Crossroads says its goal is to renew “America’s commitment to individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and a strong national defense.” However, its real goal is to simply elect Republicans, and it’s doing it with cold, hard cash from oil and gas billionaires. It is focusing on 11 key Senate races, including
Nevada, where it has run ads boosting Tea Party Republican Sharron Angle.
Who: Karl Rove, former RNC heads Ed Gillespie and Mike
Duncan, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth major donor Harold
Simmons and two oil and gas billionaires.
2010 Commitment: $52 million.
2008 Spending: Not applicable.

And this group has been spending here almost non-stop already (major Tea Party engine), and are bound to ramp things up pretty soon:

FreedomWorks
What: Six of the Republican Senate candidates endorsed by FreedomWorks – including Ken Buck, Rand Paul and Sharron Angle – won their primaries. FreedomWorks is one of the main groups behind the Tea Party movement and is a vocal opponent of health care reform and climate legislation. It also has spawned a
number of “astroturf” front groups fighting President Obama and Democratic policies.
Who: Former GOP majority leader Dick Armey serves as chairman, and former Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes is a member of the board of directors. A current FreedomWorks membership drive features Fox News’s Glenn Beck and offers new
members a “Take America Back” action kit.
2010 Commitment: $5 million.
2008 Spending: Unknown.