Fitz, Feingold and FDL!

fitz

did you see what KBR/Halliburton did while hiring Nepalese people from the hinterlands and claiming no foul when they turned up dead after being lured there after being lied to and mistreated? our taxdollars at work… again.

ooh, I have so many stories stored in my head. Byron Dorgan has been all over it…

EPUd for the frist time in months:

I watched part of Pelosi’s speech on CNN just now. I was unimpressed. Her phrases were cliche-ridden She really, really needs a better writer! I haven’t had time to go through threads here for days, and won’t until the semester is over and my grades are in, but I have to say that from what I’ve seen here and elsewhere, very few get it yet:

Even though the price of available fuel is so high that low and middle income commuters are deeply impacted, the fault for this syndrome’s current state lies no more with the oil companies than with many other entities. And that includes the Clinton administration, which was stupid enough to bring debilitating issues to the table in ‘93 and ‘94 - issues which contributed to his party’s ‘94 eclipse - instead of a vital new energy policy including far stricter CAFE standards, which might have re-energized environmental politics at that important time.

When I see a Dem leader photoed stepping out of a Prius or a diesel Golf, I’ll start getting more optimistic about the party’s ability to turn this around.

Fucking George Bush spends more time on a bicycle than half the Dem leadership put together! That_is_disgusting_but_true.

ET and EPU– ET, I read your post about the Golf diesel and we got all excited and went out to test drive one in southern NH this past weekend. There were none at 3 dealerships. One said, we can’t get them, and if you live anywhere in the NE but NH we can’t sell it to you cause of emissions. The other 2 said, we can’t get them or sell them to you cause of emissions. Does anyone know what that is about??? Otherwise, I see a trip to Europe this summer to pick a car up after tooling about. :}

sweet! that is one big damn rubber stamp! go kendrick. . .

Matt has his work cut out for him researching all of the abuses of trust and financial malfeasance in the Iraq war. Should we be shipping him cases of Jolt cola and some of those eye-protective glasses for computer users?

A war profiteering commision is a terrific idea. The republicans will nix it and have to answer to the public for it. This is the sort of game the republicans have played so well against us and it’s high time we start giving them a taste of their own medicine.

Oh yay, Kendrick Meek waves the rubber stamp on CSPAN. A gentleman and a scholar.

Harry Truman came close to calling William Stamps Farish, the President of Standard Oil of New Jersey (Exxon) a ‘traitor’ — because of SO-NJ’s business dealings with Nazi Germany and I.G. Farben. (SO-NJ supplied German U-Boats with Venezualan oil throughtout the war, but that’s another story.)

W.S. Farish dropped dead of heart attack several months later, in November 1942.

When he bacame President, GHW Bush put his assets in a blind trust managed by William Stamps Farish III — who is now GW Bush’s Ambassador to Great Britain.

Cable News “Final Net” contingent cracks me up. Growing up in the beehive hairdo days I remember the smell of that stuff in the hallways in school. Huffing and didn’t even know it…

angie - and sorry, Jane, to muck up a new thread, Alaska certainly has different environmental standards from New England! Here, diesel vehicles don’t even have to im tested - you get an “exempt” sticker.

There is a waiting list for many environmentally sensitive vehicles - except bikes. You can make your own diesel from locally available oils and additives, which emits cleaner than diesel or any gasoline. I’m doing a test run in late May.

“The hair spray huffers present the specter of Democrats with subpoena power like they’re contemplating Mothra is on the horizon or something.”
No, for them it’s worse, and even more horrifying: — That’s _Murtha_ on the horizon!

I meant ET and EPU’d ET– I agree with your assessment wrt Ms. Pelosi– she was fired up and said some good things, but I am tapping my foot figuratively, waiting to trust her with a very dubious mindset. Not an impressive leader yet, to my mind.

angie #5,

I find what the dealers say rather dubious. I was recently at my VW dealer eyeballing a used New Beetle TDI (they call their diesel engine the TDI). Volkswagen has a engine minisite, look for the TDI info.

I’ve been lobbying for the Truman Commission on War Profiteering to be re-convened for a long time.

Abso-fuckin’-lutely! Jane, thank you, thank you, thank you!

I’ve been pulling on people’s coats for months about this idea — now maybe if we can just get the networks and cable to run Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” to reacquaint people with the problem . . .

The Bush Family knows all about war profiteering — read Toby Roger’s Heir to the Holocaust –

http://www.clamormagazine.org/.....ature3.php

Not to mention Samuel Prescott Bush — the original Bush family merchant of death. Sam Bush was in his era to Remington Arms what Dick Cheney is to Halliburton in ours.

EPU

Joementum is ‘on-the-air’ with what seemed like a 60 spot just after the local Hartford NBC news just now. First I’ve seen. Ned is biting, methinks. It had all the usual highlighting ‘accomplishments’ crap (near top was ’saving Sub Base Jobs’ as always) and lots of images that appeal to middlers and sweet family values. Took pains to label the Medicare as ‘Bush’s’ but listing it as ‘his’ accomplishment. Anyway, near the end was kind of a plea: “You may not always agree…” but impled was ‘But take a look at me, anyway.’ Almost like he were an unknown. Or he knows he’s got work to convince people who’ve aleady moved beyond him.
—
btw- Pachacutec’s metaphor ‘Lotus 1-2-3′ electioneering is apt. You don’t win wars, or elections, by fighting the LAST one again.
(The industry standard spreadsheet Excel was created for the Mac platform. And look how that battle has evolved.)
——
As for Pelosi: “It’s never too late to become what you might have been.” - George Eliot

fwiw, this commission idea is something al franken talks about constantly. seems there is a critical mass building here where this is more of a possibility: the blogs with the info/agitators; a wider acceptance by the american people to support such an undertaking (i’ve never bought the bs from the polls saying people don’t want endless investigations if dems retake congress); a scared shitless republican congress, where more than a couple members i bet would vote favorably for investigations.

I saw that online puppethead and saw nothing wrong or highlighted about emissions. Everything seemed a-ok or better. I should have known better than to trust the dealers… live and learn. They kept trying to foist other vehicles on me and would not endorse the Golf diesel TDI.

Some days you’re really on, Jane.

“the people sucking their opinions out of Ken Mehlman’s fax machine”

Evocative. Disgusting. Perfect.

Thanks for ratcheting up the quality of contemporary political rhetoric.

Michael Scott #16 -

We desperately need it.

Great, great post Jane; I am embarrassed to say that I had missed this and I read your original January post about it. It seems to me this is exactly the right time to be talking about a Truman Commission. The WH to me appears in full retreat. Tyler Drumheller, the ex-CIA officer who just appeared on 60 minutes, I don’t think he’s even been “swiftboated” yet. There are more generals coming out against Rummy and an Admiral, IIRC, this is the first from the Navy. IMO it’s important to have all the branches represented. This was as per usual, bullseye: “I think agitating for it now, even if there is no hope of getting it through the GOP stonewall, at the very least makes Bush force his Congressional sycophants go on the record and oppose it.”
A Truman Commission would be about money and that’s what the K Street Project and Republican welfare are all about too.

Jane — this is a terrific idea — it works at all levels. Right now, only the GAO is doing things when Congress requests, or the internal auditors at DoD, but their reports show up on page 12, and don’t get further coverage. We need hearings and witnesses and cameras and good staff work with good attorneys doing the questioning. And then they can tie it all in with Savafian (sp?), and Abramoff and the procurement guys in Iraq who came in with Bremmer. There was a long report in the NYT today on the KBR contract to repair the oil transport system but failed after blowing through a $$ billion or so.

angie re VW dealer

Remember car dealers want to sell what is on their lot. Period. VW brand is very popular now so they are less inclined to do the legwork to find exactly what you want and sell it to you. I would try other sources like the internet and other cities. I know a person who called a dealer in Houston after local dealers rebuffed her request for a specific vehicle (not vw). Houston dealer said no problem ma’am we have it and we can do the whole deal on the phone with no hassles and deliver it to you in a couple of days. That is service. Some car salesmen and other companies just don’t understand the new paradigm. Another person did the same for ceramic tile. Of course this was before Katrina…but I am just saying…they thought they could sell her somthing in their inventory instead of special ordering what she wanted.

My b/f just bought a used car on the internet through an Atlanta dealer. He got just what he wanted and paid what he wanted too. Carfax will go out and do an inspection for you so you can see if it is legit. Costs a little but probably worth it.

angie #20,

Just to follow up, I happen to work in the same building as a rally racing league. I was talking to one of the guys about the TDI (he’s a VW freak), and he says it’s a great engine. Apparently you can’t really tell it’s diesel, it works so well—starts easily in cold weather and has good acceleration. He also told me he has a friend who drives one on vegetable oil, says it smells like popcorn when you follow him.

I’ve been lobbying for the Truman Commission on War Profiteering to be re-convened for a long time.

Fantastic idea Jane!!!!!!!!

Go get ‘em Matt. Don’t forget about Foggogate.

edward,

as you probably know and hint at, the fault with our oil dilemma has many culprits, not least of which include the american people and their elected representatives. regardless of who and what lead us to our present predicament, two things loom very large and cannot be ignored:

1. the steady depletion of what oil remains. light sweet crude has become very scarce. the thicker “sour” oil is a lot more difficult to refine. when it becomes the main supply, refining it will raise the price even more.

2. our competitors for oil consumption: china and india. china has already moved up to become the #2 oil consumer in the world. it won’t be long before they surpass us. even codpiece referred to this competition while president hu was in washington last week.

riding your bike and prius are both important but this thing has collosal implications. we’ve only begun to feel the effects of it and i expect that there will be some dramatic, draconian consequences are to befall us much sooner than people imagine. we’ve waited far too long to deal with it painlessly, so better practice your duck and cover drill (metaphorically speaking).

Matt — thanks so much for doing this. It’s a subject that really deserve someone with your strengths as both a writer and researcher looking into it, I really appreciate it and hope to give it some prominence.

This has never been an issue of “incompetence” or ignorance — this has always been about enabling the military-industrial complex to rob the federal treasury.

This and tax cuts, during a war, are going to destroy the fiscal integrity of the U.S. government for generations to come. BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS are missing for — in fact, on September 10, 2001, rummy announced that there were actually TRILLIONS missing from the pentagon budget. Of course, that was quickly forgotten.

The destruction of Social Security and public education at all levels will be a certainty in the future, cuz chimpy has broken the bank. He has even proclaimed there is no S.S. Trust Fund. He spent it and has no intention of paying it back.

The fiscal irresponsibility is also going to derail any meaningful healthcare reform — a national healthcare policy is something that American’s overwhelmingly support.

Perhaps rather than talking down and insulting the “red states,” we need to talk about the economic issues that defined “liberalism”.

Is that what this post is saying? Economic issues should be the foundation of the opposition — chimpy’s policies represent NOTHING LESS THAN A WAR ON AMERICAN FAMILIES AND CHILDREN!

I am not sure that these ideas have been “popular” here in the past…

oh great Jane, now I’ll have nightmares of the ‘party’ scene in JFK w/ O’Reilly huffin’ the amyl and Mehlman clutching his Marie Antoinette pearls

I think the Truman Comission is a great idea. Using euphemisms like “privatization” when its really profitization is one reason they’ve been able to get away with making blood money legal. The USA used to frown on this for so many good reasons (ex: it puts greed over duty and winning profits over winning battles) especially keeping the corruption under obscene levels.

Great idea. Its a win/win for Democrats regardless of the traitors screaming that the Dems aren’t supporting the troops.

When I was in Europe, the people I talked to were amazed Americans would believe (without proof) that you can do a better and more efficient job (profitization) by using unaccountable companys charging the taxpayers more money.

the dems need to stop talking about the ‘culture of corruption’ and get to the goddamned specifics like the fucking emails that josh has posted between david safavian and jack abramoff. they are as explicit and easy to understand as ’show me the money’. i doubt even the dimmest of goober america wouldn’t be disgusted by the example below from super lobbyist to the white house procurement officer:

“I have a need to buy a stretch limo for the restaurant. Are there any coming up on any of the GSA drug property sales?”

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.c.....age=3&

At first, Ms. Hamsher lost me with reference to the “Truman Commission, etc”…but I got it figured out now. I think it’s a great idea for an investigation. And we know it all starts with that “H” company. From a political angle, the Dems ought to announce right now that, once they take back control of either house they will convene a war profiteering investigation. Yep, that WILL shut up the repub complaint that the dems will freeze congress with endless investigations. Just announce this one…a good move.
Oh, and I finally understand the Final Net reference….but I’m still working on Mothra. Mothra?
Ghostman

A fairly concise thingy, on the Bush Family Connections to the Nazis — Timeline of Treason:

http://rochester.indymedia.org.....isplay/845

On January 4, 1933, Hitler was invited to the Schroeder Bank by a group of industrialists. The industrialists gave Hitler the money to overcome his financial problems in turn for a pledge to break the trade unions. Present at this meeting were two Americans John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles. …

1945: Allen Dulles sought out a young Naval Officer that had been put in charge of some captured Nazi documents. If the documents surfaced it would have revealed Dulles as a traitor. In a deal to bury the documents, Dulles agreed to finance the young man’s first political race. This was the beginning of the political career of Richard Nixon.

Project Paperclip begins to import Nazis into the United States.

blank kludge: yeah, don’t fight this war like the last one. but don’t forget the screwups in the last one and repeat them either.

I hope everyone saw that Glenn Greenwald’s book has gone from #50,925 in Amazon sales to #2 in one day. This is nothing short of remarkable and could really shake up the whole publishing industry conditioned to feasting off wingnut welfare for poorly written books.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this. It is truly amazing.

A little EPU music if you please . . .

ok, how about a little dessert ?

is rwcole here ? I ask b/c I just witnessed something exactly as rw said it would happen when GWCF’s #’s went low, low 30’s -

O’Reilly to Juan Williams -

(somber tone) . . . “I’m afraid they are headed into (hesitates) Jimmy Carter territory, and if they don’t turn it around, and I mean turn it around pronto, they will be seen in history as a very poor, weak presidencyâ€

It’s beautiful how something so precious to the warmongers becomes the key to their undoing. Because they must profit from the enterprise of making war, they must keep records, even if the score is kept in “untraceable” cash. Wasn’t there a lot floating around in Iraq?

I am picturing Cheney & Co. racing down the highway ahead of the flashing lights and sirens, unable to bring themselves to throw the bills out the window before they are apprehended.

Follow the money, keeping in mind that the enterprise that generated it was nothing like baking bread or planting wheat. The whole business is based on other people’s blood. This is where accountants become my heroes.

Please, tell me who profited and how they did it. Then show me how to take that money away from the warmongers and use it to repair the damage they have done. They won’t need it in jail.

Jane,

You talk of “re-convening” the Truman Commission. Did it go into recess, or did it conclude its work?

Good post! I loved “There is much evidence that the so-called “reconstruction effort†in Iraq has amounted to little more than a depraved carnival of corporate greed. But just how bad is it? It’s bad. Really bad,” from your first link.

So true, so true, so very, very true.

After the unnecessary killing, torture, erosion of civil rights, outright lying and a few other things going on in Bushworld, this one hurts a lot. First book I read about war profiteering, which was quite good, was Pierre Van Paasan’s _Days of Our Years_, from the 1930s. It dealt with World War I, and was cited in the early 1940s as part of the impetus leading to the formation of Truman’s committee.

What the piggles will do is appoint a “commission” or a “committee” to look into war related contracting that won’t do jackfuck. It will even be announced at a typical dog and pony with a slogan covered backdrop (I’m thinking, “Supporting Our Troops, Saving Our Asses”). They’ll trot out McQueeg and Droopy to go on the stump in a travelling lovefest (Knock it off, you two, no tongue!)

On to the energy issue, it will be one of supreme irony, because the average consumer/driver/obedient slave will be seriously desirous of lubrication before too long.

Ghostman — Mothra is in the picture, with Godzilla. Ya had to see the movie.

The Bush Family knows all about war profiteering — read Toby Roger’s Heir to the Holocaust

Tricky Dick Was Bush-League Compared to Chimpy

I am sure it will offend some, just one interpretation of history. Let’s just look at the “creepiness factors†here.

The Bush family fortune did not come from oil — it came from financing the Nazis in WW I. There was an investigation (official record) and I believe some assets were frozen and even seized.

In fact, some say the Prescotts and other powerful elites were actually behind Hitler’s rise to power in Germany. Think about this – it is a fact that the propaganda techniques had their roots in America. Was Hitler an evil genius or a stupid puppet — anyone else see some scary possibilities here.

George Bush I namesake and maternal grandfather, George Herbert ‘Bert’ Walker, was a native of St. Louis, who founded the banking and investment firm of G. H. Walker and Company in 1900. Herbert “Bert” Walker controlled Smith and Wesson. The brownshirts in the streets of 1920s Germany were armed with Smith and Wesson revolvers, which they got for free from Fritz Thyssen (of Thyssen/Krupp), who got them wholesale from Walker.

George’s grandfather, Prescott is responsible for bringing Richard Nixon into politics, set him up, and provided direction and support.

George I was involved with the CIA many years before being its director under Gerald Ford. He was involved with the Bay of Pigs. Some believe he has connections, direct or indirect, with JFK assassination. If you do not accept the Warren Commission, and most Americans don’t, then the murder of an elected president was nothing less than a coup d’etat. It is a verified fact, that the rest of the world accepts though it was never given the press it deserved, that chimpy did not win in 2000 – another coup d’tat?

If you think the JFK case is convoluted and full of lies – check of the RFK murder! Most certainly this paved the way for tricky dick to get into the Whitehouse (remember, this is Prescott’s main man). Isn’t this, in many ways, a coup too? While we’re at it – Martin Luther King’s murder was the result of a conspiracy – at least that is what a judge and jury decided when they heard the evidence. How come the rest of America never heard the evidence?

Nixon could not have possibly resigned over the Watergate burglary — this is minor league stuff, especially by today’s standards. What possibly could have been on that 18-minute gap that cannot be recovered with today’s technology? You know that you cannot actually erase your hard-drive this clean. A secretary certainly did not erase these tapes in this matter by herself. No — this is not a direct Bush thing, unless there was direct, indirect involvement with JFK murder. Any other speculation as to what was on that tape?

The “Reagan Revolution†was enabled by treason – George Bush Sr. negotiated with the Iranian hostage takers to hold U.S. citizens captive until AFTER the election. This, coupled with the “mighty Wurlitzer†mainstream media undermined President Carter and threw the election to Ronald Reagan. This “October Surprise†was actually a coup detat against a sitting president. Reagan did not start his presidency as a wildly popular “uniterâ€, he was propelled into office via an act of treasonous.

The Reagan assassination attempt was done by the son of a close bush family friend — while Ronald ran as an aggressive, “reform” type in 1980, he became a passive “hands-off” delegate after the assassination attempt. Coincidence — Nancy Reagan could not stand the Bushes.

If you can accept that there was Bush involvement with the CIA and perhaps even the Reagan assassination attempt, then please look at this link:

http://www.mackwhite.com/lennon.html

Neil Bush was a major player in the Savings and Loan scandal — cost us billions. He told congress that he received million dollar loans that were “forgiven” and that this “happens all the time.” Does anyone else think this makes chimpy’s Social Security con more reprehensible?

Bush Sr. was a leading player in the Iran-Contra scandal. Drugs were used as a weapon against targeted communities INSIDE of America and the illegal funds that these sales generated were used to maintain illicit, “off-the-book†programs that have never been made public. The destruction of America’s inner city funded additional illegal, treasonous activities.

Bush Sr. pardoned all of the Iran/Contra co-conspirators. Many of these same folks have played active roles in enabling treasonous acts of George W Bush.

Bush Sr. was having breakfast with Bakr bin Laden, brother of Osama, the morning of 9/11, at a Carlyle Group shareholders meeting.

The Bush administration was specifically warned about planes being used as weapons and that “Bin Ladin Determined to Attack US†yet they claimed “who could have known?â€

The Bush administration was specifically warned about the need to rebuild NOLA levees and was specifically warned about Hurricane Katrina, yet they claimed “who could have known?â€

Iraq, a war that Bush I refused to continue fighting in after Desert Storm, was allowed to progress into what is now being more widely accepted as “the gates of hell†and a civil war. This after the American public was told “we would be greeted as liberators†and “mission accomplished. The oil industry, however, is making record profits that are astonishingly high and the military-industrial complex is making BILLIONS in profits – much of the federal money they receive (hundreds of billions) cannot be accounted for. Outrageous billings for services and supplies are the order of the day – but billions are just “disappearing†into the war machine’s deep pockets.

George W. Bush becomes the first President of the United States to proclaim that torture is official U.S. Policy. Of course, torture was part of the government’s attempt to destabilize sovereign governments under Iran/Contra. Those programs were illicit and kept “off the book†and out of the press. George W. proclaims this is now official U.S. Policy.

George W. Bush declares the constitution is just a “God Damn piece of paper†and declares that he is above the law. He signs bills with statements that he will not follow the laws he is signing. He also signs into law a budget bill that was not passed by both senate and house.

Is it possible that the Bush family has connections to some of the most disturbing events in the past 100 years?

Some more at:

Democrats.com Archive Prescott Bush
http://archive.democrats.com/p.....ott%20Bush

The Bushes: A Hereditary Trait For Treason? Surely Not!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....18728.html

The Four Riders of the 9-11 Apocalypse
http://www.cloakanddagger.de/m.....alypse.htm

“Bush - Nazi Dealings Continued Until 1951†- Federal Documents
http://www.nhgazette.com/cgi-b.....ush_Nazi_2
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/.....40,00.html

Jeb Bush - Head of Criminal Syndicate No. 1 in Florida
http://www.rinf.com/columnists.....in-florida

George H. W. Bush and Assassination of JFK
http://educationforum.ipbhost......wtopic=964

How Bush’s grandfather helped Hitler’s rise to power
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/.....40,00.html

from the Nation:
| Posted 02/14/2006 @ 11:16am
Why We Need an Independent War Profiteering Commission

On Sunday night, 60 Minutes aired an important story exposing Iraqi war profiteering that has stolen billions, crippled reconstruction and put the lives of troops at fatal risk.

As Steve Kroft reported, “The United States has spent over one-quarter trillion dollars in three years in Iraq, and more than 50 billion of it has gone to private contractors, hired to guard bases, drive trucks and shelter the troops and rebuild the country.” This money, more than the annual budget of the Department of Homeland Security, “has been handed out to companies in Iraq with little or no oversight. Millions of dollars are unaccounted for. And there are widespread allegations of waste, fraud and war profiteering.” The segment focused on a company called Custer Battles, which is the subject of a civil lawsuit that goes to trial today.

The $2 million given to Custer Battles was only the first installment–of $100 million–on a contract to provide security at Baghdad International Airport. What’s significant is that the company was started by two guys with absolutely no security experience. What one of them had was (a claim of) ties to the Republican Party and connections at the White House. In a memo obtained by 60 Minutes, the Baghdad airport’s director of security wrote to the Coalition Authority, “Custer Battles have shown themselves to be unresponsive, uncooperative, incompetent, deceitful, manipulative and war profiteers. Other than that, they’re swell fellows.”

The company continued to work in Iraq even after one of Custer Battles’s main subcontractors went to federal authorities with allegations of criminal misconduct–bilking the government out of $50 million. (The subcontractor and another whistleblower are suing the company on behalf of US taxpayers to recover some of the money.)

What’s happened since? Well, as Kroft reports, “To date, the only action that’s been taken against [the company] has been a one-year suspension from receiving government contracts. It has since expired.”

“I think what’s happening over there is an orgy of greed here with contractors,” says North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, whose committee has held hearings on the giants of war profiteering–Halliburton and its subsidiary, Kellogg, Brown and Root, which has collected half of all the money awarded to contractors in Iraq and, according to the Defense Department’s own auditors, has overbilled taxpayers by more than $1 billion.
>>>
there have been at least 2 hearings chaired by Dorgan and the dems with no rethugs present wrt to the abuses and the no bid, no accountability contracts awarded by this WH. These hearings include testimony from Bunnatine Greenhouse. Shameful.

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.....40316/1002

OfT, but good news: Senate Panel Considers Hearing on Rumsfeld
By Charles Babington Washington Post Staff Writer, April 26, 2006; Page A04
“The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, underscoring lawmakers’ concerns about the Iraq war’s progress, said yesterday that he may invite testimony from retired generals who have called for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign….”
I’ll bet Rove, Bush, and Cheney are pissed not pleased about this. Four months ago they were swiftboating Murtha, now they can’t even defend Rumsfeld.

“Bush’s Uncle Earned Millions in War Firm Sale
An SEC filing shows William H.T. Bush collected about $1.9 million in cash, plus stock valued at $800,000, from the deal.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/pr.....;cset=true

angie & others interested in VW Golf TDLs: get the manual transmission. Better mileage, less maintenance, lower purchase price. Supposedly, Bush’s new proposal for tax credits will include the VWTDL.

cbl: I’ve been catching O’Reilly on radio the past couple of days. He’s reading Mehlman talking points. “If the president doesn’t address the energy issue soon, he’s gonna be toast,” etc. Then, the next day - this morning - the president “addresses” the energy issue.

Watch the Tony Snow-O’Reilly-Hannity axis real close as the new WH press office evolves.

Wikipedia on Mothra

Didn’t some Dems try to rein in war-profiteering early on in this Iraq fiasco, only to be shouted down by the war-hungry Thuglicans?

OT, but funny, the FReepers and, to a lesser degree RedState, are in full orgiastic meltdown over Tony Snow replacing McClellan. Seems he’s their version of the second coming. lgf, as usual, is too wrapped up in Muslo-nazism to care.

Mark @ 32, “profitization” instead of privatizaiton — Good one! C’es le mot juste, je pense.

I’d love to see somebody turn over the rocks that are Custer Battles and Blackwater and see what wiggles and scurries for cover.

Haven’t heard anything about Dyncorp this go round. Have they gotten out of the merc biz?

And isn’t “Custer Battles” the stupidest company name ever? A propos, though.

42: Oh! The giant….locust, I guess? Anyways, got it now, thanks.
Ghostman

“I think what’s happening over there is an orgy of greed here with contractors,†says North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, whose committee has held hearings on the giants of war profiteering–Halliburton and its subsidiary, Kellogg, Brown and Root, which has collected half of all the money awarded to contractors in Iraq and, according to the Defense Department’s own auditors, has overbilled taxpayers by more than $1 billion.

LBJ was known as the the Senator from Kellogg, Brown and Root. They did lots of work in Vietnam.

KBR grew out of the Six Companies — the conglomerate that built Hoover Dam. Finished it ahead of schedule and under budget, too.

preview is my friend…

‘Jamming’ the Frequencies

‘How to checkmate a Neocon blog in three moves…

…by using (almost) 100% rightwing media sources.’

This is Dr. Zaius’ ancient and foolproof method, imported directly from the ‘Forbidden Zone.’

I’ll just give you some keywords:

Grover Norquist + Islamic Institute + Weekly Standard
Grover Norquist + Frank Gaffney + Front Page Magazine
Michael Ledeen + Mussolini + American Conservative Magazine
Michael Ledeen + Creative Destruction
Creative Destruction
Bush + CEO + Catastrophic Success
Michael Ledeen + Iran Contra
Michael Ledeen + Niger Documents
Rev.Moon + George HW Bush
Rev.Moon + Coronation in US Senate Office Bldg 2004
bonus:
Pat Robertson + Billy McCormick
Billy McCormick + David Duke
Leo Strauss + Machiavelli
Republican Heritage Groups Council
Nuremberg Trials + War of Aggression + Crimes Against Humanity
The Beast Reawakens
Stockholm Syndrome
Cassandra Complex
Culture Jamming

(Not necessarily in that order.)

Most ‘conservatives’(and Democrats, too) fail to make the distinction btwn the more populist rightwing and the neofascists (Neocons) who have hijacked the Republican party and are selling democracy down the river to make a buck. Neocons aren’t ‘conservatives’ folks, stop referring to them as such.

Case Studies:

pabstblueribbonlouisebrooksbox

scarecrow, always great to have you on a thread. Until the new Truman Commission gathers steam, any chance in your opinion that the Federal False Claims Act could be a helpful tool? It seems to me that trial lawyers might be very helpful in this regard?

Oooh we have special guests we are lining up for our Sunday afternoon book club chats. VERY exciting. Will give details as soon as I can.

It’s great to see Glenn Greenwald’s book soar, and I find it amusing comparing it to the fate of Kate O’Bierne’s self-loathing book. Doesn’t seem like Ramesh Ponnuru’s book of bile is doing very well either. It’s amusing as hell to think the right wing machinery has to earmark such a huge amount of money propping up their failing mouthpieces with institutional buys of Regnery crap.

46 Ed*ard Teller,

oh I know, I was really commenting on rw’s veracity - ’bout 2 weeks ago he said marquee names would begin testing the waters and walking back

saved a reference on the Van Passant book btw, thanks

“AGITATING FOR IT NOW” IS ESSENTIAL- before we have lost the last of the greatest generation, before we loose those that remember a war of real values, and before we loose anymore allies in the defence of our Constitution.

47: also, thanks. I clicked that wikepedia link. A massive entry on an overgrown moth….damn. I truly didn’t have a clue on all that. Learn something new every day!
Ghostman

thank you Ed*ard Teller! You are the bestest! This will make my partner more of a teeth grinder since he is going to have to teach me to drive the manual… ROFL!!! He’s asleep… it’ll wait. ;} Oh, my clutch, my clutch! LOL the good news is that i am a quick study… or used to be!

MsAnnaNOLA #25– thank you!

puppethead #26– thank you too!

Goin’ out to find our little Golf– no matter what it takes!

I love FDL’ers and sorry for going off topic, Jane.

It’s amusing as hell to think the right wing machinery has to earmark such a huge amount of money propping up their failing mouthpieces with institutional buys of Regnery crap.

The Law of Diminishing Returns at work.

The Right Wing has been pushing their crap for so long, nobody except the kool aid drinkers are still buying. Pour those wing nut bucks down those rat holes — we love it!!!

Yes puppethead it is rather amusing, isn’t it? Hugh Hewitt is all over the airwaves and his piece of shit is #4,761 with a release date of tomorrow. Wonder how much money some wingnut welfare think tank is going to have to kick in to save that crap?

John Casper — thanks and same to you, O Greater Finder of Many Interesting Links! Good question about the Claims Act. I’ve only seen one or two stories about citizens using the Claims Act. Although the encouragement comes from the right to keep some percentage of the penalties, it’s still an expense and a risk to undertake. The case I remember reading suggested that the Govt did not cooperate (wonder why?), which would make the case even more expensive and risky — but I’m not an expert on litigation, let alone this Act. Wouldn’t surprise me if someone who’s actually done these is lurking here??

Jane, the Truman Commission idea is pure genius, and exactly the kind of proposal that can bring angry independents to the voting booth with a vengeance.

It provides a rationale for a growing number of people who would like to punish this lousy bunch of liars and thieves without forcing the public to confront the idea of impeachment head on. If impeachment becomes inevitable because of what the commission discovers, then so be it.

OfT:
This catalogue has been on the WaPoo’s blog for five days. Jim Church Lady Brady doesn’t have anybody minding the store watching his blog.
Digital player - 10GB Hard Drive = USD$130 USD$140 iPod Mini 6GB = USD$145 iPod 60GB = USD$170 iPod Mini 4GB = USD$105 Apple iPod shuffle (512 MB - M9724LL/A) MP3 Player = USD$80 Apple iPod mini Green Second Gen. (4 GB - M9806LL/A) MP3 Player = USD$110
(ericsonlajastoreinc@yahoo.com)(+2348025623329)
Posted by: Ericson Laja | April 20, 2006 10:58 P
I abbreviated the product list for this comment, it’s actually much longer.

Thanks scarecrow.

nobody’s answering - did the Truman commission recess or disband?

Well OK, I went ahead and ordered it. But did you see the book that was at #1:

“Cesar’s Way : The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding
and Correcting Common Dog Problems
by Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier”

So, what’s Cesar got that Glen ain’t?

I’m just askin’… :)

-x-

The “Truman” image is “the buck stops here,” so using that as the image to go after not only those who passed the buck on oversight but also those who pocketed the bucks is poetic justice. (Isn’t it amazing how many controversial scenes from Moore’s movie have been validated? Reality has been radicalized by this crowd.) But the war profiteering leads straight back into the sleazy Congressional earmarks, the culture of corruption, the WH cronies, and the Cheney links to Halliburton. Everything works. And there isn’t a single argument the Rupubs can use not to do this, or to explain why they haven’t already done so!

WH Gas Price Probe: “Dead on Arrival” according to today’s MSNBC Question of the Day:
“Do you think it will result in lower prices?
Yes
15%
No
85%”
13453 responses

from a thread on high gas prices at AllPar.com

http://www.allpar.com/forums/i.....&st=20

I’m in Texas …….. ~ 120 miles S.W. of Fort Worth.

I went into the gas station today and asked for five dollars worth of gas …………

The clerk farted and gave me a receipt.

John Casper — that made me laugh out loud.

ck — priceless!

ET,
from Wikipedia entry on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations:

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations was created at the same time as the Committee on Government Operations in 1952.

According to Ruth Young Watt, chief clerk of the subcommittee for more than 30 years, the subcommittee calls itself “permanent” but it really is not; nor is it independent of the full Government Operations (now Governmental Affairs) Committee. The PSI has, however, been a useful and powerful tool for several of the chairmen of the committee because it has a broad mandate to investigate inefficiency, mismanagement, and corruption in government.

Truman Committee

The PSI is sometimes thought of as the successor to the U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, 1941-1948, also known as the “Truman Committee”. The Truman Committee under then Senator Harry S. Truman established a process and precedent whereby investigators could obtain copies of an individual or other entities tax return. When the Truman Committee was terminated in 1948, the Investigations Subcommittee of the Committee on Expenditures in Executive Departments continued that committee’s investigation of war contracts and procurement of the F-11, the so-called “flying boat”. The subcommittee also assumed responsibility for the records of the Truman Committee.

Robert Greenwald also wants everyone to know that they can send tips to him at tips@iraqforsale.org.

If it doesn’t blur the message too much, could we add Katrina profiteering? Same cast of characters, same tax dollars being swept away in a torrent of corruption, same political cronies in charge of awarding and administering no bid contacts. I understand not wanting to dilute the “war profiteer” meme, but I suspect for a lot of people, Iraq and Katrina are just two manifestations of the same miasma.

Still laughing, John Casper.

All this talk about wingnut welfare reminded me of the The Great Train Robbery, 2006
According to an uncharacteristically good WaPo editorial, Trent white supremacist Lott, Thad Cochran and Republican Governor Haley Barbour decided that:
“The stretch of track the project would replace does go somewhere, but, like last year’s Alaskan “Bridge to Nowhere,” the project reflects lawmakers’ arrogance and irresponsibility. The track was indeed damaged by the hurricane — and already repaired, at a cost of $300 million, which the report of the Senate Appropriations Committee (chaired by Mr. Cochran) somehow neglects to mention. Supporters argue that moving the rail line would protect it from future hurricanes, but, as Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s rebuilding commission reported, “For decades local elected officials, community leaders, businesses and residents have unsuccessfully engaged in efforts” to move the tracks. What better opportunity than to label this decades-old effort an emergency — and have the feds pick up the tab?….”

blushing

BarbaraB–

crime, crime, everywhere a crime.

so damned sad. it is a conflation of grief, despair and loss. same message, no blurring. dead and deserted and afraid knows no boundaries with these monsters in power.

thanks, knuckledragger,

so, is the “Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations” really permanent, or was that just part of their name? And if they are permanent, does that mean that a minority member can reconvene the group without assent of the majority?

ck @ 10:

Farish isn’t the UK ambassador anymore…That honor belongs to Robert Holmes Tuttle as of last year.

However, quite right…The Farish family has a very interesting history, especially during the period of Humble-Standard’s involvement with Nazi Germany in WW2.

The exact quote from Committee Chairman Truman regarding Farish’s activities was : “I think this approaches treason.”

Activities well worth researching, for those with an interest.

Speaking of Subpena power, apparently the GOP is a little scared of the Democrats winning back the house. Here is a sample of a letter the GOP sent me the other day from their mailing list:

The Democrats’ plan for 2006? Take the House and Senate, and impeach the President. With our nation at war, is this the kind of Congress you want? If your answer is a resounding “NO”, I need you to make an urgent contribution to help us win this fight.

http://www.GOP.com/WinThisFight/

Democrat leaders’ talk of censure and impeachment isn’t about the law or the President doing anything wrong. It’s about the fact that Democrat leaders don’t want America to fight the War on Terror with every tool in our arsenal. Your immediate action will send these reckless Democrats a message and help preserve our Republican majorities.

So, either they are scared, or they are using this as a scare tactic to get some donations flowing to their pockets. I just wish the Democrats would actually follow through on the fears of the Goopers.

You can check out the rest of the letter over at my site

Hey Christy, take a look at the bottom of the page under the title Young Redhead.

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/modigliani/

Best Regards

Harry

John Casper — something similar in California, where there have been near record rains of late, with much “controlled flooding” through weirs in the levees around Sacramento and the lower delta areas. (In flying into Sacto last week, I’ve never seen that much water.) The cental valley’s delta levees have been in need of repairs for years, but California politicos (Schwartzneger and Dem Legislature)used this year’s floods to claim it was an “emergency” entitled to federal funding. On his recent trip there last weekend, Bush said “no,” but agreed to expedite permits so California could do the work (but pay for it). The locals are really upset with Bush about that issue, which overshadowed Bush’s efforts to focus on alternative fuels while in California.

Officially, it is now the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

my understanding is that Permanent is only part of the name, it’s no more permanent than other subcommittees. Current Members:

Republicans

* Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota), chair
* Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
* Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma)
* Lincoln D. Chafee (R-Rhode Island)
* Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah)
* Pete V. Domenici (R-New Mexico)
* John W. Warner (R-Virginia)

Democrats

* Carl Levin (D-Michigan), ranking member
* Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii)
* Thomas R. Carper (D-Delaware)
* Mark Dayton (D-Minnesota)
* Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey)
* Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas)

So, with that idiot Coleman in the chair, I wouldn’t expect too much.

War profiteers are the equivalent of terrorists in my book. Throw them in jail, make them stand trial, execute them and pray for their souls.

However, we shouldn’t suspend habeas corpus for either the profiteers of the terrorists.

A war profiteering commission wd also help educate our fellow citizens about the difference between supporting our troops and supporting our defense contractors.

knuckledragger,

Huge thanks on following through. I’m framing my letter to Sen. Stevens right now. He owes my son lunch, so I may be able to get a response.

Fuggadabout Akaka- best bud of Teddy boy Stevens of the bridge to nowhere fame; Carper– not so much, though he tries, but hey Biden is the Sr. Senator– what would you do?; Dayton– not running for re-election, cannot stand the stench of the money; Lautenberg– tried hard for his comeback, but hellooooooooooo?; and Pryor– one of the gang of 14 with Lieberman. blergh. No hope. Do NOT get me started on the other side. Levin– love Cathy’s dad, but he is somewhat dumbed down– doh.

ET– good luck with the Hulk! My brother lives in AK and I know you all have a different perspective from there, but he roars when he does not get his way….. just sayin’…..he threatened to leave the Senate and had crocodilian tears in his eyes not too long ago when things did not go his way. But, he’s baaack.

#75: ‘F-11, the so-called “flying boat‒

Is that like the newly resurrected V-22 program… Boeing’s state-of-the-art $100 million drop vehicle for 24 marine commandos whose only predicable performance attribute is that it reliable kills its passengers.. and yet remains in production?

ET– my brother does not roar, I was talking about Ted Stevens. My brother is civilized and a good man, I obviously lost my grammar brain for too many moments