Inspectors general need congressional backing
I don’t know what to make of criticism of the Obama administration for its firing of Gerald Walpin, an inspector general at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Here are the crucial paragraphs in a story published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
“The controversy surrounding Walpin’s dismissal stems from White House claims that Walpin was “confused” and “disoriented” at an agency meeting as well as from a 2008 investigation into the potential misuse of AmeriCorps grants to the St. HOPE Academy of Sacramento, Calif. The group was founded by former NBA star Kevin Johnson, who is now mayor of Sacramento and also is an Obama supporter.
Walpin’s investigation concluded that Johnson and a colleague had misused about $850,000 in grant funding. Prosecutor Lawrence Brown, also appointed by Bush, settled the matter with Johnson and later filed a complaint with an inspector general ethics panel, alleging Walpin withheld key information and interfered in his investigation by speaking with the news media.
On Wednesday, Walpin disputed the claims about his behavior at the agency meeting.
In a letter sent to lawmakers Tuesday night, Obama’s special counsel Norman Eisen described Walpin as “confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions” during a May 20 meeting of the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Eisen said the behavior led board members to question Walpin’s capacity to serve as the internal watchdog of the government-run corporation, which oversees programs like AmeriCorps.”
There’s enough there to either justify Walpin’s firing or raise serious questions about it. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, Republican from Iowa, says he isn’t satisfied with the answers he’s getting from the administration, and I think that’s great.
Congress should force the administration to explain itself. That’s a key part of its oversight function. That’s particularly true regarding offices such as inspectors general, which require independence to do their job right.
Walpin may indeed deserved to have been fired. But the Obama administration should be willing to make that case to Congress and the public, so they can judge for themselves. By forcing the administration to justify itself, Congress does the executive branch a favor, reminding it that it is being watched and to stay within the law.
So Senator Grassley — you go, dude.
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181 comments Add your comment
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
5:18 pm
eewww, two barking hack blogs, what, are you reading some of Reagan’s early writings?
“confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions”
If that were grounds for firing, why is Obozo still the president, hmmmm?
And isn’t it funny, Johnson settled but yet there is nothing to see here, move along.
FinnMcCool
June 18th, 2009
5:19 pm
Turncoat!
joking. thanks for revealing this as it’s news to me.
FinnMcCool
June 18th, 2009
5:22 pm
“confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions”
That’s why you don’t take acid the night before a meeting with administration officials.
Especially on a school night!
Scooter
June 18th, 2009
5:23 pm
I think he was fired for investigating one of Obama’s buddies. Politics as usual.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
5:25 pm
Even the libs are angry with our little spineless Obozo-
Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “People are risking their lives and being slaughtered in the streets because they want fundamental change in the way Iran is governed. Our message to them shouldn’t be that it doesn’t make much difference to the United States.”
The peace mongers want war, dogs sleep with cats, Obozo really has brought change.
eewwww
getalife
June 18th, 2009
5:31 pm
Drunk and corrupt is a skill needed to work in government.
Spock Logic
June 18th, 2009
5:32 pm
The things a president has to do to re-establish those checks and balances that were abused for eight long years.
FinnMcCool
June 18th, 2009
5:37 pm
I Report,
Obama is right. It is not our business – we have no business interfering in Iran’s internal doings. They are big boys, let them sort it out.
The Berlin Wall came down without us lifting an obvious, on-the-spot finger to help. We stood back and watched it take place (and the US Conservatives took all the credit!)
Besides, if the people in the street win, they need to take credit for doing it. How “great” would their gain and their win be if the US stepped in, took their thunder, and acted like a dumbazz police force.
Either way, we get to still deal with Iran.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
5:37 pm
Checks and balances. Oversight. Those should be constants, regardless of the party in power.
I heard Mr. Walpin on one interview state that while the IG recommended Mayor Johnson repay the misappropriated funds, the prosecutor let it ride. That would explain a bit.
But enough about he said he said. An essential point is Congress is supposed to be notified 30 days in advance, with reasons. This wasn’t done. Congress needs to do its job.
Remember what I said about the Pres in power wanting to exert the powers of the Executive. Well, I thought it went without saying it should be done within the confines of the law.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
5:38 pm
Spock Logic
I believe the point is, this president is ignoring the checks and balances in this case.
Zip
June 18th, 2009
5:43 pm
This will go nowhere. Republicans get crucified on these things but Democrats slide. With the most honest and ethical congress in history….
Paul
June 18th, 2009
5:45 pm
Correction: it now appears (ABC News) Pres Obama signed off on this and said it would be effective in 30 days. There’s that requirement met. But reasons other than “he doesn’t have my full confidence” were not provided. One requirement not met, unless one wants to argue ‘no confidence’ is reason enough. Somehow, I don’t think that’s the intent of the law.
Oh, and Jay, thanks for stating “Inspectors General,” not “Inspector Generals.” Rather like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Normal
June 18th, 2009
5:45 pm
Whiner answer my question!
AmVet
June 18th, 2009
5:48 pm
“By forcing the administration to justify itself, Congress does the executive branch a favor, reminding it that it is being watched and to stay within the law.”
Congressional oversight???
That is merely a quaint notion left over from the 1800s.
Seriously, there was once upon a time true when that was true. Up until the imperial presidency under King George II came to be.
He vetoed exactly 12 bills in 8 years. The previous three presidents? 104 in 20 years
And an increasing spineless US Congress – generally Republican controlled – became nothing more than lapdogs.
Bush went more than five years without exercising his veto power simply because he did not have to, the Republicans who controlled Congress gave him everything he wanted. (And his first one? Stem cell funding!!!)
To the tune that 94% of the GOP poosies in Congress voted to give the all-time bungler the power to botch an invasion and occupation.
No, the Legislative Branch of our federal government is as feckless and gutless as it has ever been in the nation’s long history. That means virtually all of the Republican members and most of the Democratic leadership.
BHO is just hoping the rubber stampers don’t change…
Scooter
June 18th, 2009
5:48 pm
I still have hope but I don’t know about the change.
Brad Steel
June 18th, 2009
5:53 pm
Walpin should have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express.
WhoCares
June 18th, 2009
5:53 pm
I wonder if we’ll make it outta here without a “Bush Lied”?
TnGelding
June 18th, 2009
5:54 pm
If the prosecutor did file a complaint and the board had lost confidence in him it was probably warranted. A quick investigation should clear it up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0-TH5zMmug
Sounds like the WH didn’t follow prorocol.
Jack
June 18th, 2009
5:57 pm
Every American should be thanking President Obama for cleaning up all remnants of the failed and incompetent Bush administration…whatever his reasons. Bravo. It will take years…but America now continues to dig itself out of the Republican Disaster and return to its former greatness.
getalife
June 18th, 2009
5:59 pm
Actually , he has fired two:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-tc-nw-inspectors-0617-0618jun18,0,5718990.story
Got his bailout for the IMF too.
Looks like the establishment has a new puppet with better favorbility ratings.
Uh oh.
@@
June 18th, 2009
5:59 pm
Oh it gets much better, jay. It’s become a pattern with this administration.
What did you expect? It’s The Chicago Way.
@@
June 18th, 2009
6:00 pm
Well at least we know I’m not Getalife.
Great minds and all that… (ISH)
Curious Observerf
June 18th, 2009
6:00 pm
What’s so hard to understand about the firing? For the third time, I’ll say it. Walpin and Sen. Charles Grassley were on a witch hunt with the aim of making the Obama administration look bad. A hard conservative, he shared information he uncovered with Finance Committee ranking member Grassley, but not with the Democratic chairman of the committee. He had burrowed himself in to the administration, but he had no interest in serving as an impartial inspector general nor in cooperating with others involved in the investigation. I would have fired the disloyal rat too, but I might have also given the CIA the nod to arrange a blown tire during one of Walpin’s high-speed drives. And now his collaborator, Grassley, is crying foul and attempting to intercede for his buddy. Fortunately for Walpin, Obama is no godfather. Otherwise, Walpin might not be alive now to cry crocodile tears and pretend to be wronged.
Bud Wiser
June 18th, 2009
6:00 pm
“I don’t know what to make of criticism of the Obama administration for its firing of Gerald Walpin…...
Duh.
Just like you didn’t know what to make when Bush let go all of those attorneys that caused a left wing coronary? Just like the deafening silence when his predecessor did exactly the same thing?
God, I’d really expect such an ignorant statement from one of the real loony hacks here, but I suppose you are saying that just to stimulate some conversation?
The blatant hypocrisy continues – like Obowo, like cracker chasers.
TnGelding
June 18th, 2009
6:01 pm
Protocol.
Another summary:
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/election/1233
RealityKing
June 18th, 2009
6:02 pm
“confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions”
That perfectly discribes Obama.., when he’s without his teleprompter.
YOUR FIRED!!
Jack
June 18th, 2009
6:04 pm
“confused, disoriented, unable to answer questions”
That perfectly discribes any Republican.., even when speaking WITH a teleprompter.
And that’s exactly why America said…and will continue to say…YOU’RE FIRED!!
getalife
June 18th, 2009
6:05 pm
Showdown in Iran tomorrow.
Supreme leader wants Mousavi to unite with him or be outcast.
Scooter
June 18th, 2009
6:05 pm
Jack @ 5:57 pm I should have known it was Bush’s fault. Thanks
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:06 pm
Curious Observer
How could an IG make the administation look bad, unless there was something bad to look at? You aren’t advocating secrecy and suppressing evidence of wrongdoing, are you?
Sounds like an investigation’s already been done, given all the fact presented.
AmVet
I was asked the other day if I’d changed my name to Pollyanna. Well, hey, guy, watch the movie. Learn about “The Glad Game.” Cheer up, for pete’s sake!
@@
“The Chicago Way”? Wow. Now there’s a topic for discussion!
And he’s not even Irish or Italian!
@@
June 18th, 2009
6:11 pm
Would it be racist for me to start calling this administration “Shades of Obama” or Obama as “Shady”.
Shut the lights
Shut the shades
You don’t have
to be afraid
I’ll be your
baby tonight.
If Walpin was acting disoriented, why wasn’t that listed as cause?
I can just see it now that Obama’s been caught. He’ll convince everyone of his heartfelt compassion in sparing Walpin the shame and embarrassment of…
that’ll sell! He’s such a kind and benevolent dicktater.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:14 pm
Curious Observer
What’s curious is that the Finance Committee (upon which Sen Grassley serves) has no jurisdiction over these matters.
Inspectors general as a whole are watched over by the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.
Curious, indeed.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee oversees AmeriCorps.
Spock Logic
June 18th, 2009
6:18 pm
Is this president really ignoring the checks and balances. Is this the sort of person that you would expect to ignore the rules, the law, the harvard law reviewer of law. Or, is this the president that might be working in a round about way to re-establish some order to the law, not some Fred Thompson brand of Lawless Disorder.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
June 18th, 2009
6:18 pm
Let me be the first to address this stunning incident in a clear pattern of the abuse of executive power by saying:
IMPEACH OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FinnMcCool
June 18th, 2009
6:19 pm
Bud writes: Just like you didn’t know what to make when Bush let go all of those attorneys that caused a left wing coronary
Ummm, you still don’t know what to call this, Bud?
Try this: politicizing the Justice Department. It wasn’t a Left Wing Coronary, it wasn’t a liberal problem, it was a Republican modus operandi.
Your party’s subterfuge of American Government should not be taken so lightly.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:20 pm
@@
Evidently, this White House learned from their predecessor’s predicaments and have come up with much better-sounding explanations!
“Norman Eisen, who is the White House Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, met with staffers for Rep. Darrell Issa, the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday…
“Eisen said he knew that removing Walpin might be seen as an action that would raise questions. “But [Eisen] said that what they did in trying to fix the situation was an act of political courage — and ‘political courage’ is the phrase they used,” says the aide.”
We did it because we’re politically courageous. Wow.
Didn’t take them long to get lost in Neverland, did it?
Normal
June 18th, 2009
6:23 pm
I do believe that President Obama will have to come clean about this and take the heat, if any… If he doesn’t, I will be sorely disappointed and may be forced to start calling him President Obush…Just sayin’
RW-(the original)
June 18th, 2009
6:23 pm
This happened a week ago and the New York Times finally wrote something about it today and now we have Jay B scratching his head over it like he’s really trying to figure things out here. We could probably go over some of the pertinent facts this evening, but first I’d like to look into what caused the liberal embargo to be lifted today.
Could be they decided there’s been enough time to paint the man as deranged, although generally speaking liberals tend to frown on giving someone with mental issues an hour to hit the streets. More likely they bought Obama enough time to back date the paperwork to appear in compliance with the law. This isn’t some obscure law either since it passed in 2008 and had a cosponsor named Senator Barack Obama.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:23 pm
Spock Logic
[[Is this the sort of person that you would expect to ignore the rules, the law, the harvard law reviewer of law.]]
Nope. Wouldn’t expect it at all. Especially since Senator Obama was a cosponsor of the law providing more protections for inspectors general from political retribution.
[[Or, is this the president that might be working in a round about way]]
See, working “in a roundabout way” when going around the law is what has some of us concerned.
Jack
June 18th, 2009
6:24 pm
Hilarious seeing all of the impotent ranting about the “law” and “truth” coming from the 21%’ers out there who enthusiastically supported the Worst Administration in History and the eight long years of corruption, incompetence, lies, and total destruction they wrought on America.
Laughable buffoons. Very entertaining!
Normal
June 18th, 2009
6:25 pm
Wild Bill…spoken like a true partisan…please notice the mistletoe attached to my coat tail, please…just sayin’
ThinkFirst
June 18th, 2009
6:26 pm
The truth and facts are Michelle Obama has a friend she wanted to put in the IG office This was discussed at the WH about 2 weeks ago. Check it out!
Google: michelle obama firing of IG
“The concern, one of several surrounding Walpin’s sudden dismissal, stems from the timing of a staff switch in the first lady’s office. Just days before Walpin got the boot, the White House announced Michelle Obama’s chief of staff would be appointed senior adviser to the agency Walpin was responsible for monitoring. Michelle Obama said at the time she and her outgoing staffer, Jackie Norris, would work closely going forward.
With accusations now flying that the Walpin firing was politically motivated, the personnel change only adds to the list of questions Republicans have for the president. ”
This is the reason for the firing of the very competent IG Gerald Walpin
Just more sneaky underhanded Chicago tricks by the Obama’s
getalife
June 18th, 2009
6:29 pm
Today, the US Senate formally apologized for slavery and segregation.
I guess Iraq will get their apology in a thousand years.
RW-(the original)
June 18th, 2009
6:31 pm
DB,
I saw your note way downstairs. You started frothing at the mouth over the story being in the Sikh newspaper and started babbling about them being right wing trash or some such. I can’t imagine how I didn’t see that as you expressing your respect.
@@
June 18th, 2009
6:31 pm
I mentioned this firing days ago (maybe columns ago) it’s hard to keep up with jay, The Galloping Grommet. Anyhoo….
little to no response.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:31 pm
Jack
Didn’t stop Democrats from criticizing the Bush Administration after all the… problems of the Clinton Administration, did it?
T.B. Expected
June 18th, 2009
6:33 pm
Well, it’s about time that some right winger went for the throat with the Declaration of Impeachment routine. When can we expect another round of tea bag tossing parties, and rants of “We’re mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more!”, and live music by some well known country&western singer, and chants of civil disobedience by the likes of Bachmann, and folks like Angelina Jolie disowning her own obsessed daddy for his childish remarks…and….
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:34 pm
@@
Mrs. Godzilla counseled patience. Trust.
Good advice.
Hey, it’s kinda the flip side of Jack’s 6:24, isn’t it? Those who were months ago pressing for swift action, hearings, etc etc, now counsel for calm, quiet, let the process take its normal course.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:37 pm
TB Expected
[[When can we expect another round of tea bag tossing parties, and rants of “We’re mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more!”]]
Uh, just had it. It was called the voters of California, with lots and lots and lots of liberal Democrats, vetoing any further tax increases proposed by the legislature. Five separate measures. By at least 2 to 1 margins.
Sean Vanity
June 18th, 2009
6:39 pm
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RW-(the original)
June 18th, 2009
6:41 pm
A couple of points the Times left out of it’s article
The law governing the IGs require the White House to not just provide reasonable cause, but also a 30-day notice to Congress before taking any action.
Lewis neglects to mention anywhere in this article that the White House called Walpin first in an attempt to intimidate him into resigning.
Time for libs to whine about the source and ignore the substance.
Both of these points are key to understanding the abuse of power attempted by the White House with Walpin. The White House wanted Walpin out, as well as discredited, as quickly as possible so that he could not interfere with a sweetheart deal to let a political ally off the hook for fraud. This became especially important when Walpin began communicating to Congress about his opposition to the deal with Kevin Johnson in Sacramento. They needed him out, and fast.
Instead of using the process that Barack Obama sponsored himself in the Senate, the White House tried to bully Walpin into quitting. When that didn’t work, they publicly painted him as senile, a problem that would have been more appropriate to air in close consultation with Congress rather than in publicly-released letters after the attempt to bully Walpin. After all, if Walpin is cognitively impaired, why go to him first?
getalife
June 18th, 2009
6:44 pm
So?
He broke the law.
Presidents are above the law but does he have the guts to go all in and fire Barofsky?
Spock Logic
June 18th, 2009
6:46 pm
Nope. Wouldn’t expect it at all. Especially since Senator Obama was a cosponsor of the law providing more protections for inspectors general from political retribution.
So, apply some logic and ask yourself what the more likely motivation would be.
AmVet
June 18th, 2009
6:47 pm
Hiya Paul,
You may forgive and forget.
Not me.
In my non-virtual life I’m about as happy as a man can be. Abe Lincoln and all that.
But after watching closely what these deadly and incompetent chickenhawks and reactionary enviro-rapers have done for eight years (and longer), i.e. Republican politics, I am outraged.
In fact furious.
– 4300 Americans KIA’d needlessly in Bush/Cheney’s payback for Haliburton, KBR and BlackWater. And to save his daddy’s name. Thousands more maimed, many horrifically. Untold zillions of dollars throw down an Iraqi sh^thole.
– Trillions pillaged and plundered by Wall Street criminals with his blessings. And not only us but future generations of Americans are going to get the bill shoved up their….
Over the past 30 years, thanks to non-Republicans the nation’s air and water became dramatically cleaner. But that steady improvement went smack-dab into reverse under BushCo. On his watch, America’s environment deteriorated – including the quality of air in cities and the quality of water that people drink.
Cozying up to religious charlatans, frauds and christo-fascists. And worse, allowing them into the inner sanctums of government as “advisers”.
A near total disregard for the US Constitution and the rule of law vis a vis signing statments and backdoor illegal wiretapping, suspension of habeus corpus.
A virtual shadow government where NO ONE but back room, closed door insiders could see.
Spending the nation’s money like drunken sailors at a cheap, sleazy brothel.
But all is conveniently forgotten now, isn’t it?
The criminals will all skate.
We have a half-breed to excoriate now.
So understand clearly why I am so repulsed by those that are clamoring for the Uppity One’s head. They have one enormous thing in common. Almost without exception I can guarantee you,
They voted for the most incompetent criminal to ever occupy the West Wing. Twice.
When it comes to misjudging character and competence the credentials of these witless clowns and pathetic enablers are certainly impeccable, aren’t they?
And accordingly, their opinions on the current state of affairs are damn near useless.
How else to explain the back to back neo-con slaughterfests? Of epic and record-setting proportions.
But I guess the neo-conned get the last laugh, as the most serially impeachable President and most culpable leader in American history, along with his despicable minions, will never see the inside of an 8 X 12 cell…
Normal
June 18th, 2009
6:47 pm
See, it’s this type line drawing in the sand that will make President Obama have to talk about this or any work he hopes to get done will stop. The longer he waits, the worse it will be. And in my personal case, the longer he waits, the more likely I’ll believe he’s hiding something. I hope that’s not the case, but I will wait and see.
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
6:50 pm
Oops, his Chicago sheets are showing! Folks, we ain’t seen nuthin’ yet…
@@
June 18th, 2009
6:51 pm
Paul:
All I get from Mrs. G is some kinda catawallin’ Oooooo.
Patience? Obama doesn’t even take the time for foreplay. It’s right down to dirty business with this guy.
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
6:54 pm
Am Vet–
“Cozying up to religious charlatans, frauds and christo-fascists. And worse, allowing them into the inner sanctums of government as “advisers”.”
Who you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?
Obama is a nerd/Tom Petty is the coolest
June 18th, 2009
6:55 pm
We need to give these people much more money and quickly give them MORE control of our personal medical decisions.
QUICKLY!
T.B. Expected
June 18th, 2009
6:55 pm
California did what! They tossed tea bags and yelled chants! Really! So, did they decide to let property taxes increase in order to help pay for services or will every property owner just start taking care of their own needs in the near future.
getalife
June 18th, 2009
6:55 pm
A judge will look at the FBI interview with cheney on the Plame leak.
Here is their argument against it:
“If we become a fact-finder for political enemies, they aren’t going to cooperate,” Justice Department attorney Jeffrey Smith said during a 90-minute hearing. “I don’t want a future vice president to say, `I’m not going to cooperate with you because I don’t want to be fodder for ‘The Daily Show.’”
OMG, that is weak.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
6:57 pm
RW-(the original)
So it appears the ABC cite regarding the 30 days was not notice to Congress, as the law requires.
And it’s pretty clear Walpin was encouraged to resign. In an hour.
Getting mighty interesting.
Moreso if the Congress calls for hearings
Stop laughing.
Spock Logic
Well, it seems the new administration is like so many others – they want to do what they want to do and don’t like Congress second guessing, especially when there’s a contribution chain to protect.
Hey AmVet
Yeah, I guess I am more that way. Forgive and forget.
Maybe it’s practical. It’s over. Dems had their chance and didn’t take it. They aren’t going back. So all that happens now is your blood pressure and stress go waaay up. And the mental angst. That ain’t healthy.
But I can see how it continues. New contracts going in with the same old scofflaws. New controls for Wall Street, but I’m not sure even they would lead to jail time if the situation were to repeat itself.
That thought alone causes me angst. Nuts.
We’re still continuing secret meetings.
And spending spending spending.
Do I have to read the rest of your post?
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:02 pm
TB Expected
[[California did what! They tossed tea bags and yelled chants! ]]
Ummm, no, they had something called a vote. For a half dozen measures. Five tax increases proposed by the Legislature. Landslide opposition. Pretty much told the Legislature to stop thinking about getting more money and start cutting the government bureaucracy, not the services.
You can read the Calif papers online.
getalife
Welcome to life in the Executive branch.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
7:02 pm
Believe me, this is the most petty, immature and corrupt administration in the history of the United States-
The FDA announced on June 16, 2009 that all intranasal products produced by Zicam containing zinc should be discarded immediately and no longer used or marketed. After receiving over 130 complaints from people who have lost their sense of smell after using these products, they have issued a warning for everyone to discontinue use of these products.
Zicam of course being a major sponsor of the Rush Limbaugh show-
Several studies were conducted and have been submitted for publication in various medical journals. They all came to the conclusion that Zicam cannot cause a person to lose their sense of smell.
It is chemically and physically impossible.
But who cares, the Obozo administration has achieved it’s goal, the total destruction of an American company that it disagreed with politically.
Hooray for you liberals, hooray.
I can’t say anything else on this subject for I know I would be permanently banned.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
7:04 pm
bookman can huff and he can puff and he can even blow, he already knows it will never amount to anything.
Zimbabwe, baby.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:05 pm
TB Expected
I’d just assumed you were aware California has a 2 billion dollar deficit and they’re running out of cash next month.
And the Democratic Legislature’s solution was largely based upon tax increases.
Which the mostly-Democratic voters rejected, overwhelmingly.
AmVet
June 18th, 2009
7:05 pm
jonix, the Religious Wrong, I mean Right.
It’s truly hard to believe you missed all that.
One of many, howzbout, the Reverend Ted “Lying through his Teeth about Soliciting Prostitutes, Meth Using” Haggard who not only had access to the previous POTUS, he discussed social policy with him. And he reportedly talked to the aforementioned George W. Bush or his advisers every Monday.
Great comedy, but really bad governance…
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:06 pm
Report/Whine
Are you saying the Obama Administration is manipulating scientific findings for political purposes?
AmVet
June 18th, 2009
7:07 pm
Paul, LOL! Only if you can keep YOUR blood pressure under control!
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
7:09 pm
AmVet–Oh, I thought you were talking about Rick Warren and Jerimiah Wright…
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
7:10 pm
Paul–
“Are you saying the Obama Administration is manipulating scientific findings for political purposes?”
Now why would they want to do that?
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:11 pm
AmVet
That’s why God invented drugs!
Actually, I’m having a ball!
and having more than one of those deja vu moments…
whenever I read your posts about back then and look at now…
RW-(the original)
June 18th, 2009
7:11 pm
Paul,
I was laughing too hard to get to the “stop laughing” in your comment. Either it’s gone to Obama’s head that he can do anything he wants or he was doing business in the US Senate the same way he did in Illinois. That is to say he made sure his name was on the legislation in case he needed to cite it in a speech down the road, but couldn’t be bothered to know what was in the bill, much less do the heavy lifting to get it passed.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:12 pm
AmVet
That’s [[Blood Pressure]] Drugs…
Had to clarify that… was facing an avalanche of “be fair and share.”
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
7:13 pm
Imagine that Paul, every thing the libs whined for 8 solid years about Bush doing that he didn’t do, Obozo does them all within 120 days, they still whine about………..Bush.
I saw Bush’s picture on the Drudge Report this morning and it was the first time I associated the presidency with an adult in over four months.
Curious Observer
June 18th, 2009
7:14 pm
Paul, you are right to observe that the Senate Finance Committee has no jurisdiction over the matter. So why is Walpin sharing the information with Sen. Charles Grassley of that committee?
Were you born stupid, or did you become that way? I know that Texas raises some pretty dim bulbs, but you apparently are the dimmest of the dim.
T.B. Expected
June 18th, 2009
7:16 pm
Paul,
You are the one that tried to tie in my original post with California. Now, you want moi to link to California papers to learn about what you are not talking about! What! That is just not proper blog etiquette. And, where did you come up with a 2 billion dollar deficit. That’s more on the scale of a Georgia GOP budget screw up — not a Californication!
AmVet
June 18th, 2009
7:17 pm
jonix, that was one of the many things that turned me off greatly about BHO.
Those he had historically surrounded himself with.
As a LONG backslidden Christian, born a Jew, Hindu-Buddhist, new age philosopher and born again heathen I had and have NO use whatsoever for Obama’s “Christianity”.
As palpably transparent in an attempt to fill out his resume and woo voters as any Republican’s.
I won’t live long enough to see it, but one day, mark my words, some man of impeccable credentials, immense integrity and courage, will stand up before this nation and run for President and say I am an atheist and I make no apologies for it.
Normal
June 18th, 2009
7:18 pm
Whiner, answer my question, or just admit you don’t have an answer because you painted yourself in a corner…just sayin’
————–
Until you answer me you have no right to call Prtesident out. That my friend is the defination of hypocracy. Just tellin’ it like it is…
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:18 pm
RW-(the original)
Aw, c’mon, it wasn’t that big of a bill. And it wasn’t just a vote – he cosponsored it, for pete’s sake.
Heard an interesting theory the other night regarding the CNBC interview. It went, Pres Obama’s a sensitive guy. Not used to criticism. So when he gets it, or gets questioned, it really stands out and it seem like a bigger thing than it is.
Personally, I think he didn’t want to answer the question about if the media’s giving him a pass and it’s dangerous for the country. Or maybe he doesn’t think he’d ever do anything that was dangerous for the country.
Hmmm. Always starts that way, doesn’t it?
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
7:19 pm
PAUL–Are you a Texan?
Normal
June 18th, 2009
7:19 pm
AmVet, what church do you go to? I want to join…
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
7:21 pm
Am Vet–good response! Thanks. One thing, though, I don’t want an atheist. I want an agnostic.
T.B. Expected
June 18th, 2009
7:21 pm
I can’t say anything else on this subject for I know I would be permanently banned.
Awwwww. Tell us you really feeeeeeel. Don’t let fear get the best of you…again. Take a chance. I’ll bet that if you tell the truth, Jay might even let a little ole display of raw emotion slide just this one time. Course, if you lie…that might be a different story.
AmVet
June 18th, 2009
7:22 pm
Normal, The Church of AmVet!
Right now we are very busy collecting money for the AmVet Relief Fund.
It’s all tax deductible of course…
Bud Wiser
June 18th, 2009
7:22 pm
”
FinnMcCool
June 18th, 2009
6:19 pm
Bud writes: Just like you didn’t know what to make when Bush let go all of those attorneys that caused a left wing coronary
Ummm, you still don’t know what to call this, Bud?
I know exactly what to call it, and I did. You obviously failed comprehension in English class.
I also know exactly what to call you and your ilk – cracker chasers.
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
7:23 pm
NORMAL–Get him, Phailledeaux!
Bud Wiser
June 18th, 2009
7:27 pm
Funny that some toad refers to the 21%ers….probably missed the latest Gallup poll showing that:
Americans that consider themselves conservative – 40%
Americans that consider themselves moderate – 35%
Americans that consider themselves liberal – 20%
I’ll give you the allowance on the 1% figure because you apparently don’t read and comprehend that well.
The leftists idiots till ramble on and on about figures of which they know not the meaning; kind of explains what is going on in the White House, doesn’t it?
Spend your way out of bankruptcy.
Duh.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:27 pm
TB
Sure I did! ‘Cause you asked when the next tea party was, so I pointed to the one we just had. California.
Even though tea party critics and scoffers don’t like to call an election roundly rejecting tax increases in a near-bankrupt state with an economy larger than most nations, a ‘tea party.’
The 2 bill came from California’s comptroller. 2.1, actually. End of May. Probably worse now.
———————
[[every thing the libs whined for 8 solid years about Bush doing that he didn’t do, Obozo does them all within 120 days, they still whine about………..Bush]]
Dang, that cracked me up!
See, AmVet, if you take a step back, it is kinda funny!
Curious Observer
I’d guess it’s cause it involved misappropriation of Federal Funds and the prosecutor was (if I understand correctly) going to let the guy off of the payback requirement,. So he went to the guy on the money committee. Probably didn’t think he’d get a Democrat to want to go into that hornet’s nest. Also, the head of the committee with Americorp oversight is Sen Kennedy – and Americorp’s his baby. Personally, I’d hope it would have ticked off Kennedy and he’d go after the guy with a vengeance, but politics doesn’t work that way.
I read a sentence or two of a post, then type a response, then continue reading. Just got to your last paragraph.
Sorry, I thought you wanted to have a decent discussion. Wrong again.
Paul
June 18th, 2009
7:29 pm
josef nix 7:19
I’ve lived in Texas for a few years. Some family had moved here and the wife got tired of flying.
Bud Wiser
June 18th, 2009
7:30 pm
President Barack Obama’s plan to increase oversight of banks and other financial institutions ran into skepticism Thursday on Capitol Hill where senators sharply questioned whether it was enough to prevent another economic meltdown.
With global warming out of control, you’d think that many of the Dems wouldn’t be having such cold feet, would you?
Spending yourself out of bankruptcy.
Duh.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
7:31 pm
Until you answer me you have no right to call Prtesident out.
Would one of you other pinkos point out to your fellow mental cripple that I answered his retarded question some time ago?
Thanks.
~~~~~
Turd. Blossom. Expected- Let me put this as succinctly as possible-
Martin Luther King was a better man than Barak Obama, by far.
And I hope people remember this.
Obama is a nerd/Tom Petty is the coolest
June 18th, 2009
7:32 pm
More money. That is all our congress needs to solve ALL of our problems. Just ask your respective representative of the R & D party.
Normal
June 18th, 2009
7:34 pm
Josef, I give up, He’s the whiner and I’m pointing out he can dish it out but not take it. No substance to his stance, I suppose and certainly no backbone…just sayin’
——————-
No a lighter note I’m fixin’ to go Barefootin’…Yep, got me a brand new bottle, a BIG one too. Tuna salad, and merlot, a meal made in Paradise. See y’all in the AM. Just warnin’
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
7:34 pm
Ooops, I jumped ahead of myself, Martin Luther King was a man, that we got, Barak Obama isn’t.
My bad.
@@
June 18th, 2009
7:35 pm
‘Ya never know if anything coming out of Iran is true but if this is…
Several commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have been arrested because of their opposition to plans scheduled for tomorrow, Iranian Web site Tehran Bureau reported June 18. Tehran Bureau added that “the plan is to create chaos and bloody confrontations” to justify a crackdown. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to make an announcement on June 19 during Friday prayers.
it’s a good thing.
Normal
June 18th, 2009
7:36 pm
Where winer, where, did you speak up your sleeve, or hide it in one of your long winded tirades…Normal wonders?
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 18th, 2009
7:39 pm
Abnormal- Did you try reading my comments?
Obama is a nerd/Tom Petty is the coolest
June 18th, 2009
7:40 pm
I don’t know exactly why this is troubling to me, but it is. I just saw this item advertised on CNBC.
http://www.chiaobama.com/
How is this for gravitas.
josef nix
June 18th, 2009
7:41 pm
PAUL–Just wondering. You sound like a Texan. Last people in the country who still aren’t afraid to think for themselves, still speak the English language with art, zest and clarity, Got family there, Galveston and Waco mostly on Mom’s side. One branch of Dad’s family goes back there to the 1790s, San Antonio area. Spent part of summer vacation there every year as a child.