Clinton gets N. Korean deal to free captured journalists
It looks like Bill Clinton has pulled off at least the first part of his mission.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Il issued a “special pardon” for two jailed American journalists and ordered their release at former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s request, North Korean media reported Wednesday.
The move to free reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee reflected North Korea’s “humanitarian and peaceloving policy,” the Korean Central News Agency said in a dispatch from Pyongyang early Wednesday.
It was unclear when Clinton and the women would leave the country. The report said the Clinton visit was taking place Tuesday and Wednesday.
The question now is what else might come of the Clinton mission. At this point, I doubt that discussions between the former president and North Korean leaders are focusing solely on the fate of the two captured journalists.
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166 comments Add your comment
Mrs. Godzilla
August 4th, 2009
4:45 pm
I know y’all want to chat about the Clinton success….
but I think this is a lot more interesting:
“Industry-Backed Anti-Health Care Reform Group: Yeah, We’re Packing And Disrupting The Health Care Town Halls”
here:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/anti-health-care-reform-group-yeah-were-packing-and-disrupting-the-health-care-town-halls.php?ref=fpb
Paul
August 4th, 2009
4:46 pm
That is great news. Congrats to Pres Clinton.
Lessee, if the fundamentalists really believe in atonement and penance and all that, then I think this more than makes up for those ‘other’ things that got them so riled.
He saved two lives. Cut him some slack.
TW
August 4th, 2009
4:46 pm
Good thing for those reporters we sent TX back its village idiot last January
Paul
August 4th, 2009
4:47 pm
Mrs. Godzilla
It’s always the fringes at both ends of the political spectrum that want to shut down free speech.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 4th, 2009
4:48 pm
Paul
You said a mouthful.
Dusty
August 4th, 2009
4:54 pm
Paul,
The last blog seemed to have some fairly good things to say about Bill Clinton. I think everybody was pleased at his success.
But even Bookman wondered what other subjects they may have discussed, besides the prisoners that is. What do you think? Missiles, nuclear plants, enbargoes, kimchee??
Paul
August 4th, 2009
4:55 pm
Mrs. Godzilla
It gets me. The farright ridicules Dems for not reading the bill. Say they’re the Congress and they don’t know what’s in it?
Then they attack the Congressmen because they know what’s in it.
Those Congressmen need to ask the shouters if they’ve read it.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
4:59 pm
Dusty
Just got back, haven’t skimmed through it. It is nice, though, that people can celebrate his success.
I’d guess general terms about reducing tensions, American interpretation of N Korean actions, gentle hints of how to get respect with the new situation.
That, and the idea his wife is really a nice person who was just addressing a pinhead government official, not the government of N Korea. (And if the guy keeps it up, I’m sure Bill warned him he wouldn’t know what hit him).
AmVet
August 4th, 2009
4:59 pm
More bad news for the conned.
I imagine soon Hannity will be asking to see the long birth certificate for these two women. (He’s likely already seen Slick Willy’s…)
ByteMe
August 4th, 2009
5:03 pm
I doubt two minutes were spent on the journalists. Seriously.
This was never really about them, they were being kept in a guest house for dignitaries and allowed to call home periodically to tell people they were being treated well.
It’s what you’re not seeing that counts here. Everybody is coming out a winner here, especially Hillary (who do you think thought this up?).
@@
August 4th, 2009
5:04 pm
Excellent! My vote for Bill was not wasted. They don’t call him the “Silver Tongued Devil” for nuthin’.
Angry Black Man
August 4th, 2009
5:07 pm
Mrs. G
I saw a story about that earlier. CNN had one of the senators on earlier today talking about that. I wish the centrists and moderates would just ban together to completely banish the fringe elements out of government positions. I’m all for free speech, but sometimes people just need to STFU.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
5:09 pm
AmVet
“”Two vibrant political parties are necessary for a strong America; competition always leads to good ideas. When one party dominates, you tend to see arrogance and foolish policies creep in, and that may be happening to the Obama administration. Since his inauguration, the president’s approval rating has dropped by sixteen points. That should bolster Republicans, but many conservatives are acting foolishly. Instead of concentrating on ideas, they are frenzied over the president’s birth certificate and that kind of dumb stuff. Mr. Obama loves this because it makes his opposition look irrational. Some conservatives also personally attacked Judge Sotomayor, and then there is talk radio, which has angered centrist Republicans like John McCain and Colin Powell. If the Republican Party wants to regain power, it must come up with better programs than the Democrats. Ideological rhetoric doesn’t persuade voters, and every crazy theory like the birth certificate deal actually helps the president by marginalizing his most bitter opponents.”
That was the condensed version. He also made the point: why should Pres Obama release the original – not the certificate of live birth? As long as he withholds it, Democrats are able to paint all Republicans as marginal issue crazies.
Sounds rather like what Jay has written. Pretty incredible it hasn’t occurred to the Party Leadership.
Dems blow the chance for legislative success. Reps blow the chance for electoral success. If ever a party came along that would blend the best from both and cast off the irrational….
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
5:11 pm
Heh, I beat the blog topic by one minute, again-
I Report
You Whine 
August 4th, 2009
4:44 pm
If Obozo is so great and beloved, why did it take Bubba to get those two journalists out of NoKo?
Hmmmm?
Brad Steel
August 4th, 2009
5:17 pm
You mean listing them on the axis of evil was not effective in intimidating Illie?
Brad Steel
August 4th, 2009
5:20 pm
Whiner complains: If Obozo is so great and beloved, why did it take Bubba to get those two journalists out of NoKo?
It’s called executive delegation and being the man in charge. It’s smart foreign policy work for a nice change, dummy.
RW-(the original)
August 4th, 2009
5:22 pm
but I think this is a lot more interesting:
TPM has a comment section, Mrs. G. If you think that’s a more interesting topic why not discuss it over there?
That being said I kind of agree with you. We talked this subject of Clinton out downstairs.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
5:35 pm
It’s called executive delegation and being the man in charge. It’s smart foreign policy work for a nice change, dummy.
B Weal- Negotiating with terrorists, eh?
And in case you didn’t notice, they were abducted while Obozo was prez.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
5:39 pm
Brad
????Smart foreign policy work for a nice change???
Do you mean smart for a change with the Obama Administration re: N Korea?
April 2009 – Pres Obama fails to get a binding UN resolution against N Korea
May 2009 – N Korea assails US for provocative warship maneuvers
June 2009 – 100,000 N Koreans stage massive protest against US
Pres Obama’s had no more success than Pres Bush in getting N Korea to change its ways.
If Pres Obama had any ‘relationship’ or credibility with them, a former US Pres wouldn’t have been necessary.
The nod goes to Clinton.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
5:42 pm
RW- I like that particular subject, the majority of American people are against government run health care and the dimwitocrats only answer is to demonize them as “industry plants.”
Which all translates into Ding dong, the health care witch is dead.
Works for me.
RW-(the original)
August 4th, 2009
5:44 pm
Our energy problems are solved!
RW-(the original)
August 4th, 2009
5:46 pm
Andy,
The subject is also highly hypocritical
The problem is that if the Democratics convince themselves that these are all plants they’ll pass the bill anyway, but it sure will be an eye opener for them in 2010.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
5:47 pm
RW-(the original)
I check that site nearly every day. Ramirez is a genius. A superb artist, too.
July 10 ties right in to what you wrote this morning about lack of media coverage of the record number of caskets returning from Afghanistan.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
5:49 pm
RW-(the original)
I’ve no problem with people objecting to the plan.
But shouting down Congressmen is not the way to do it. A point-counterpoint discussion is, with questions intended to make the Congressmen accountable.
This way – it’s no different than those anti-Iraq zealots.
eagle scout
August 4th, 2009
5:49 pm
Whiner….North Korea is not considered a terrorist state…enemy yes, terrorist no! Unless of course you go by the Bush/Cheney axis of evil theory?
Moron…Get it through your thick skull that Obama is a smooth operator, and knows who to send when a crisis occurs. Unlike Bush the bumbler we now have someone who actually can deftly handle a situation that requires leadership, knowledge and forethought!
Dusty
August 4th, 2009
5:52 pm
Paul,
I think it is a bit early to say Republicans have blown their chance for electoral success. If they haven’t learned how to be Goody-two-shoes yet, it is no wonder after years of Democratic blame, sqawks, rejection and even lies. So it may not be a smart move for Republicans to be somewhat surly but it is understandable.
Another thing, seems like the American public is also getting somewhat surly with the Obama free fall giving of nonexistant funds. I don’t think Americans have any trust whatsoever in THE health plan no matter who has read it.
Those who promote the “birth certificate” are no more effective than the people who fabricated Bush’s National Guard record. Many Republicans in Congress are saying what they hear from their constitutents. No Republicans I know are “fringe” but they are not happy over many things presented to them. I could give you a list but you already know them. Debt and healthcare are foremost.
Finn McCool
August 4th, 2009
5:52 pm
Bill Clinton says:
-Two jailed women — Free
-12 hour flight — Free
-Me with nothing to do, a 12 hour flight, and 2 hapless cheekas who I have just released from jail— Priceless
RW-(the original)
August 4th, 2009
5:52 pm
Paul,
Most of the videos I’ve seen aren’t people shouting down the Congress critters except when they’re trying to only take screened questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isn’t this the cartoon Midori loves?
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 4th, 2009
5:53 pm
President Clinton was able to get those two out, good for him. I think we can all agree that Kim Jong is still looney though.
As for shouting people down, wouldn’t it be more effective to let the Senator/Congressman have their say and then tell them why you think they’re wrong in a rational manner?
Finn McCool
August 4th, 2009
5:54 pm
oh, I forget, how silly
An endless open barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…ladies, this way…
Bud Wiser
August 4th, 2009
5:58 pm
Billy ought to feel right at home in Commie land, friends and all. CooCoo Kim is still beyond nut case level, having graduated that class (probably at Columbia sitting next to Obowo – you know, those Koreans sure put on a really good bow themselves when they want, maybe he gave Obowo tips…but I digress)
Maybe Billy wants the Hills job as Sec State.
And IR/YW, BS is too ignorant to know stuff like that, being with the attention span of a flash bulb and all. AADD is a terrible thing.
AmVet
August 4th, 2009
5:59 pm
Paul, you did not cite who that quote was from.
Lemme guess. O’Reilly?
It matters not, I couldn’t disagree less.
We need MORE than two political parties – necessary for a strong America; competition always leads to good ideas.
Whoever wrote that is just a duopoly dupe. In other words, pick your poison – the Republicans or the Republican-lites.
No thanks…
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
6:01 pm
In the news today, something happened in the world while Obama was president.
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
6:04 pm
Maybe Clinton said “Take me as hostage but let the girls go”.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
6:08 pm
Dusty
Not blown. But they will if they don’t start offering some leadership on issues critical to most Americans.
As we see here – many complain, many bring you their problems. Few offer solutions.
They need to see how government – of which they are a part – can work for them. They are the people’s representatives. If people want to hear criticism with no solutions they can turn on the tv, radio or Internet. If people are getting surly and frustrated, Reps have an opportunity. You’ve identified a couple of striking opportunities – Reps need to come up with some options and address the frustrations. Not the peripheral issues.
RW
I haven’t made it a point to seek out the videos but I do recall a couple of Congressmen getting shouted down. If it’s in the minority – it’s still getting the airtime.
As far as the cartoon – Midori hasn’t been here much, but we had a blogger a couple days back – I pointed out some of those nat’l security items and haven’t heard from her since. It’s gotta be difficult to process -
somesene
August 4th, 2009
6:13 pm
By looking at how the government is running nowadays, I don’t agree that the two party system is really working that well in recent years. People are too polarized and only care about their party ideologies. We should allow people a real chance to run for presidency without forcing to join either one dominant party on limited election funding. Right now, one side is always lookinj at the other side with tinted lasses and we the common people just cannot believe what they are saying is true or not. Too much attacking and spinning going. We the people are the ones that continue to suffer. Just look at the health care reform. We are being pulled and bombarded with all kinds of lobbying ads. We will never get any thing meaningful done.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
6:15 pm
AmVet
LOL! The first thing I thought when I was listening was “two party?!!?” LOL!
But the audience is mainstream America. No excuse, just the reality.
I was more focused on how so many journalists, from all across the spectrum, are saying the same thing about Republican leadership. I probably should have cut the quote to emphasize that.
He followed with interviewing a real conservative radio guy and the editor of Newsmax. The conservative radio guy agreed the birth certificate and such are loser issues. The Newsmax kept pushing it – said it was a double standard on records disclosure – host said ‘no duh, you’re just figuring that out? Most people don’t care.”
I think he got the message.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 4th, 2009
6:18 pm
Well, I’m with @@ and RW and that bunch. Long as the guvmint runs a good Conservative shop and I get things the way I want them, I’m a loyal American. But if libruls are running it I look for every way I can to screw the guvmint.
Anyhow, it took Clinton two days of bowing and scraping to get the N. Koreans to turn those journalists loose. I bet if My President was still in office it would of took two hours–right after the second A-bomb landed. Or maybe he would of chose to bomb China and let them tell the N. Koreans to turn those women loose.
Anyhow, I’m trying to find a bootleg tobacco salesman so I can stock up on Skoal and Redman and screw the guvmint out of the taxes. Wish me luck everybody and have a good night.
Normal
August 4th, 2009
6:23 pm
Eagle Scout your 5:49 Obama is a smooth operastor, but so is Bill
this is for both of them…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl0_9wvVH4k -
getalife
August 4th, 2009
6:24 pm
He is still the big dawg and gets things done.
Nice work Hillary.
RW-(the original)
August 4th, 2009
6:39 pm
There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov
They’re gonna need a bigger mailbox…..
mike
August 4th, 2009
6:42 pm
The NY Times reports:
“It was widely assumed that Mr. Clinton would not have undertaken the mission without specific assurances that Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee would be released.”
So basically we just gave in to blackmail.
Now Kim Jong Il knows how to get the Presidential meetings that he craves. Just arrest Americans who stray near the border and we will send someone to appease him.
This is not good policy.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
6:45 pm
mike
Do you see any other way to have gotten the two Americans released?
Sometimes bad policy gets good results.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
6:48 pm
I just sent them your snarky comment, RW.
Expect the IRS to be kicking your door down later this evening.
Or was that al-Gitmo’s crowing nonsense about the Klintoons that I sent?
I forgot.
Oh well, one of y’all will be getting a visit.
j$
August 4th, 2009
6:49 pm
Clinton should rip jong’s windpipe out while he has the chance.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
6:51 pm
Paul- I tend agree with Mike, any time ill kook needs another case of Hennesy VXO and some Cubans brought over by Bubba, he just snatches the nearest US citizen and waits patiently for his lapdog deliveryman.
mike
August 4th, 2009
6:52 pm
Paul:
We could have made any number of offers that would have undermined our interests to secure their release. That doesn’t mean that we should have made those offers or the offer to send a former President to provide a propaganda victory to KJI., just the kind of propaganda victory he needed to prop up his regime internally.
With the success that NK had with this abduction, you had better believe that they will be looking for any opportunity to repeat that success. We can all be happy that the two journalists are home, but the precedent it sets will place others in danger.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
6:56 pm
Report/Whine
Which is why I said earlier: ban all US citizens from even getting close, shut down the aid, isolate them and tell the Chinese if they don’t get them in line we’ll let Japan develop nukes.
Go for the Chinese throat, they turn on the Koreans.
mike
I’m not aware of any offers or promises that went with this release.
We don’t need to continue the charade – although there are a lot (not just in State, but on the Left) who seem enamored of ‘dialogue’ and confuse process with results.
@@
August 4th, 2009
7:02 pm
Sorry! ^^^ Stratfor’s take on the issue.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
7:04 pm
“The White House’s senior aide on cybersecurity has decided to resign following delays in the appointment of a coordinator to spearhead the government’s efforts to protect the nation’s computer networks…”I wasn’t willing to continue to wait any longer, because I’m not empowered right now to continue to drive the change,” she said…Hathaway noted that it has been two months since President Obama made a highly acclaimed speech on the importance of cybersecurity and pledged to “personally” select a cybersecurity coordinator”
Another great idea. And Dems blow it.
Pres Obama told that AF LtColonel ‘we’re going to get this done.”
He didn’t say when…. Like Hathaway, he’s gonna be disappointed.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
7:08 pm
Brad Steel
See @@’s 7:02
So much for “…smart foreign policy work for a nice change…”
AmVet
August 4th, 2009
7:14 pm
I knew it!
Slick Willy getting those two women freed was a colossal failure!
He gave away military secrets, a $1,000,000,000 in cash and the winning Powerball numbers. In exchange for two supposed Americans.
Now you may ask how do I know this?
I don’t. I’m just spitballing it like the other conspiracy loons around here…
Paul
August 4th, 2009
7:15 pm
[[It’s called executive delegation and being the man in charge.]]
“Obama administration officials are holding discussions that could result in White House counsel Gregory Craig leaving his post…Mr. Craig, the top lawyer at the White House and a close aide to President Barack Obama, has helped lead the administration’s efforts on several national-security issues that once enjoyed popularity but have since become become political liabilities for Mr. Obama…”
See, this is reality. Executive delegation means you make decisions and turn it over to someone else and when hasty decisions collide with changing polls The Delegator invokes Man in Charge and fires you.
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
7:22 pm
You really paid for that from stratfor, huh.
@@
August 4th, 2009
7:29 pm
Who You Gonna Callgirl:
You would prefer I buy diamonds? Pawn shops love women who do that.
@@
August 4th, 2009
7:31 pm
I was gonna say that pawn shops love women who blow it but then I thought…
?
?
Why not? This is a thread about Clinton.
Paul
August 4th, 2009
7:33 pm
@@
I’ve searched high and low at MoveOn, HuffoPo, Salon and other sites… and I just don’t find much about associations between Iran and Lebanon or strategies to combat an Iranian reaction thru proxies or any analysis of why those nutty North Koreans don’t like our President.
But one out of ten of their staff can identify Lebanon on a map, one in four can spell Hezbollah and 88 percent of their bloggers wonder why Israel wants to be so mean to Iran!
Paul
August 4th, 2009
7:39 pm
@@
“Hezbollah stockpiles 40,000 rockets near Israel border”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6739175.ece
And the Saudi and Kuwaiti leadership say it’s up to Israel to demonstrate they’re serious about peace.
Right…..
thomas
August 4th, 2009
7:44 pm
Just saying, If my team starts to lose too many in a row I cannot call my wife in to coach the team for a few games and get some wins…
Must be nice to have that sec. of state job…..
My school’s president would fire me for outsourcing my job to my wife, but I assume government employees play by different rules than us common folk.
@@
August 4th, 2009
7:45 pm
Paul:
I was reading an article somewhere that said the recent commercial flight in Iran — the one that killed 168 passengers? There’s an investigation going on. Seems like they suspect munitions were being flown from Iran to Hezbollah by way of Armenia.
One never knows, does one?
eagle scout
August 4th, 2009
7:47 pm
The “Big dog speaks” WOOF………..
And Kim Jong fetches! And two American journalists are released.
The adults are back in charge….
Paul
August 4th, 2009
7:49 pm
And people wonder how Iranian munitions get to Lebanon. Or got to Iraq, for that matter.
They don’t send’em UPS!
Time for some dinner.
Pleasant evening – all
all? maybe one… or a few…
@@
August 4th, 2009
7:52 pm
The U.S. Air Force may accelerate its attempt to field a next-generation bunker buster, a spokesman said Aug. 2. The Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a nearly 30,000-pound non-nuclear guided bomb just over 20 feet long, and is touted as being 10 times as powerful as the existing Guided Bomb Unit-28, which weighs in at just under 5,000 pounds (the MOP carries 5,300 pounds of conventional explosive). The MOP promises significant improvements in the U.S. ability to penetrate hardened and deeply buried targets, but remains beholden to the most important criterion for an air campaign: intelligence.
Still in development, the MOP is intended to be guided to its target by the Global Positioning System and to penetrate as much as 200 feet of 5,000 pounds per-square-inch reinforced concrete. The bomb’s hardened casing and the speed of the impact are meant to drive the entire 30,000-pound hulk as deeply as possible before it detonates. The program, which dates back to 2004, has already seen a MOP fitted into the bay of a B-2A stealth bomber (which would be able to carry two — one in each bomb bay) and released.
Even if the MOP only comes close to achieving its design objectives, it will represent a significant leap in the U.S. ability to threaten hardened and deeply buried targets, and destroy them if necessary. The centrifuge halls at the Natanz enrichment site in Iran, for example, are unlikely to be able to withstand a direct hit (though admittedly just how hardened the facility is has been a matter of speculation). Fitting the MOP to the B-2 also makes delivery in a high-threat air defense environment more credible.
If the MOP has the effect the Pentagon is hoping for, it will act as a deterrent to burying illicit weapons program facilities in the first place while significantly increasing the U.S. ability to destroy those that already exist. In either case, it certainly ups the ante in terms of the resources, planning and time necessary to harden such a facility — something that in and of itself may be significant, given the already immense investment of resources required to carry out such programs.
I YIKE IT!
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
7:55 pm
I got this for free at HuffnPuff:
…The note from the private National Health Council, sent to House leaders drafting health overhaul legislation, said the plea was on behalf of “the more than 133 million Americans living with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers.” It urged lawmakers to protect the makers of high-technology biological medicines against early competition from lower-cost generic copycats.
The letter did not mention that nearly $1.2 million of the council’s $2.3 million budget in 2007 came from the pharmaceutical industry’s chief trade group and 16 companies that sell or are developing the brand-name biotech drugs…
eagle scout
August 4th, 2009
7:56 pm
Thomas my only hope is you are not a teacher! I have no clue what you are saying in your 7:44 or to what you are referring.
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
7:57 pm
Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder
ewwww. That’s not good.
@@
August 4th, 2009
8:04 pm
Who You Gonna Callgirl:
Your “stuffs” FREE!!?!! Doesn’t that make you a………
never mind.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
8:06 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense officials say two nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines have been patrolling in international waters off the East Coast for several days.
Yeah, them there Klintons are soooooo impressive.
They got the Rooskies shaking in their boots, sure do.
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
8:17 pm
Call 1-800-@@ for a… ewwww.
Kamchak
August 4th, 2009
8:23 pm
Melissa E. Hathaway, who also served as a cybersecurity aide during the Bush administration, had been a contender for the position of cybersecurity coordinator. But in an interview Monday, she said she had to withdraw her application.
A colleague close to Hathaway said she had become dismayed by the delay in the appointment. The colleague, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that Hathaway had “the sense that this was very political, that she had been too closely tied to the Bush administration.”
Industry officials have voice frustration at the White House’s inability to fill the job. One former government official said 30 people have been interviewed for the position.
Under Obama, the cybersecurity coordinator will be responsible for working with Congress to help fund a new national cybersecurity strategy and to align policies among civilian, military and intelligence services.
I think the position will be filled, just not with Ms. Hathaway. Obviously someone with close ties with the Bush administration would be a liability working with this Congress.
Kamchak
August 4th, 2009
8:33 pm
That was weird. The story can be found at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/03/AR2009080302697.html
Peter
August 4th, 2009
8:37 pm
Perhaps the Right wing should actually get to work in Georgia for a change and stop busting balls…..seems they are running the state and really dropping the ball !
Feds freeze GDOT’s transit grants
Report finds programs riddled with financial management problems
By Ariel Hart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At a moment when mass transit is taking center stage as a solution to transportation problems nationwide, a federal report has concluded that the Georgia Department of Transportation’s transit program is riddled with financial management problems, according to a report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The problems were so severe that the federal government has frozen DOT’s transit grants, which average about $28 million a year, including some from the federal stimulus program. The report cast doubt on whether DOT could manage grants for the commuter rail line proposed to go south through Lovejoy.
The Federal Transit Administration reviewed DOT’s handling of federal grants to smaller and rural transit operators throughout the state — not big systems like MARTA. It found pervasive problems, including:
● A Georgia grant that funded a bus route with no stops in Georgia.
● A financial reporting system that misstated the time period for reports and used the wrong kind of accounting to calculate them.
● Reimbursement requests in which the documentation did not receive even a cursory review.
● Life insurance premiums that one transit operator charged to “office supplies.”
“In recent years we have not done a good job of managing this program,” DOT spokesman David Spear said in an e-mail Tuesday. “We acknowledge that; we regret it; and we are fixing it.”
A spokesman for the federal agency, Paul Griffo, said the grants had been frozen and the release of the money was conditioned on getting a satisfactory action plan from DOT. Griffo said such a plan has been filed, and Spear said DOT is confident the freeze would be lifted after a meeting Friday.
News of the federal review comes just a week after the state auditor and the state inspector general issued scathing reports on the DOT’s financial practices. Those reports said the former DOT treasurer abused his authority in making the agency’s accounts look better off than they were. The state attorney general is reviewing the matter.
The state reports covered large areas of DOT finance — not specifically mass transit — said John Thornton, director of the Georgia auditor’s state government division, and the problems take time to fix.
Thornton said he had not fully read the federal report, but if DOT wasn’t meeting federal requirements “it’s probably consistent with the same type of general mismanagement issues we found.” The year-and-a-half period for the mass transit review ended Dec. 31, 2008. DOT officials disputed some of the findings in the federal mass transit review, saying, for example, that DOT believed its bus routes were appropriate for the grants.
Mike Meyer, a professor at Georgia Tech and a former top transportation official in Massachusetts, said he saw the report partly as a shot across the bow on Georgia’s undertaking the commuter rail line to Lovejoy and Griffin.
“This is more of a warning that if you really are going to do this project you’re going to have to do some things different than what you’ve done before,” said Meyer, who had not read the federal review.
The review said that DOT lacked adequate technical resources, policies and procedures to properly manage such a large project.
There is far more than that at stake. The Obama administration seems to be making high-speed rail its signature transportation initiative, and the federal stimulus bill included $8 billion to jump-start a national network that could have lines in Georgia.
Meyer said he didn’t know whether the problems were only due to sparse resources — DOT’s Intermodal Division has 23 employees handling rail, transit, aviation and waterways, in an agency of 5,400 — or if there was a culture of sloppiness.
“But clearly, both on highway side and [transit] side, they both are saying financial management is not at the level it needs to be,” he said.
How we got the story
The Federal Transit Administration commissioned a regular review of the state Department of Transportation’s financial management of FTA grants. The preliminary report was issued to DOT in March and is the subject of continuing negotiations between the state and the federal governments. The AJC obtained a copy this week and interviewed current and former transportation and audit officials.
Kayaker 71
August 4th, 2009
8:48 pm
Slick Willy goes to North Korea. Brings his checkbook, as he always does on his previous foreign visits to our “allies”. Never went on a trip that he didn’t give away millions of our tax dollars, mostly to those who loath us. Meets with the midget. Has a state dinner that is quickly over. Climbs on a plane and jets home.
Private visit. Yeah, right. This was quietly orchestrated to be just what it was. No one knows about the conditions of release and what the midget got for releasing those two journalists. Let’s say he got a few million. That makes Clinton look like Je$$ie, makes Bozo look good and gives the midget a few more million to spend on nuclear reactors for sale to the highest bidder. Ah, diplomacy. It does give you sort of a funny feeling up your leg, doesn’t it?
getalife
August 4th, 2009
8:57 pm
Actually, the deal was set by Hillary before he left. He was just the messenger bearing gifts. They will probably stop warmongering and building nukes.
Adults are in charge and when it comes to the Clintons, they just get things done.
It’s called leadership folks.
Angry Black Man
August 4th, 2009
9:07 pm
I can’t get over these people yelling and stuff at these town hall meetings. If it’s an orchestrated plan, they’d better watch out. What you give, you also can receive. I wonder if what would happen if my representative Lynn Westmoreland had town hall meeting and I showed up yelling like that. Would I be able to freely express my freedom of speech, or would I get arrested and charged with disturbing the peace?
j$
August 4th, 2009
9:28 pm
“They will probably stop warmongering and building nukes.”
Everyone knows you’re joking getalife.
what did they yell ABM?
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 4th, 2009
9:31 pm
ABM- Just think, a few short days ago your side said the health care industry was in favor of the government run plan and now, all of a sudden, they are the menace behind the “Town Hells.”
No fresh propaganda for us?
Larry Linn
August 4th, 2009
9:33 pm
Thank you Mr. Clinton. Is it just a coincidence that Brillo O’Really and Hamittome, never make an appearance on the Fox Commentary , masquerading as News Channel, when there is news that proves that their dogma is a farce? They are never on the screen. They are not news reporters. They are a pair of Chicken Hawks. They do not seek to report the news, they seek to regurgitate their dogma when they can find a press release or some little needle to find justification of their Socio-Political pimp philosophies. They want to go to war with any country that is not conforming to there esoteric philosophies, that have no relevance to reality. They never served the United States at war. They never went out to report on combat missions. Though I often disagree with Walter Conkite, Jimmy Carter, Jesse Jackson, and Bill Clinton, they have accomplished more in the real world than O’Reilly and Hamittome have in their fantasy world. When these two vacated the TV screen, Rush Limpball, declared that he “Most trusted man in America”.
thomas
August 4th, 2009
9:38 pm
eagle, sorry that I was unclear. I simply think that it is unprofessional and dodging of ones responsibility to have their spouse do their job.
See I will break it down for you… Mrs. Clinton was unable to get the job done, or did not care to get it done, then either told or allowed her husband, Mr. Clinton, to do HER assigned job.
My bad for using my simple life as an analogy.
But I hope you see my point now, that we are paying Mrs. Clinton to pass off her responsibilities to her husband. An act that would be questionable at best if done by many others in many other fields.
And to answer your question about my teaching….. No I am no longer a teacher in the sense that you are speaking of. I teach basketball and life to 12-16 young men every year. I did teach history and political science/gov’t for 3 years on the HS level. But I was not comfortable or happy with being told what opinions and political views to teach to my classes.
I am sorry that from my previous 4 or 5 sentances that you have been able to determine what my wisdom and teaching ability. Very judgemental of you, I must say.
electrician
August 4th, 2009
9:48 pm
larry linn…whats with the childish mispronouncing of names?
thomas
August 4th, 2009
9:58 pm
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Larry.
Is that better?
You do know that neither of the 2 men you were attacking has a job title as an unbiased reporter, right?
They have opinion shows, just like Jay is an opinion writer, and has an opinion piece.
But I am sure that both of them have taken the US to where it is today all by themselves.
I would like to thank you for your service to our country though, as I assume you are/were in the military since you bombed them for being chickenhawks.
Angry Black Man
August 4th, 2009
9:58 pm
IR/YW
Not really my side, as I choose not to take sides. You didn’t answer my question though, would I be able to express my first amendment rights or would I be arrested?
j$
I couldn’t really tell what they were yelling other than no. Anytime the congressman would try to answer questions they were shouting out, they’d just shout some more without giving him a chance to answer. Pretty counter-productive if you ask me, but for a political movement, it provides footage and a rallying moment.
godless heathen
August 4th, 2009
9:59 pm
Democrats like Commies, Commies like Democrats. The NK Commies wanted to make American Democrats look good so they turned these two pawns over to Bad Bill. Let’s hope that 4 or 5 moves later in the game, our King isn’t left exposed to attack.
electrician
August 4th, 2009
10:01 pm
kayaker71@8:48 the midget got an ex president to come and get ‘em..recognition and validation..hopefully thats all he got.
thomas
August 4th, 2009
10:06 pm
Angry Black Man,
Why would you be arrested?
Since I have already butted in on your other conversation, may I also ask why you are angry?
godless heathen
August 4th, 2009
10:09 pm
Peter: Nice discussion of the GDOT fiasco. Blame it on the GOP, because the “GOP” is technically in charge, but most of the state government (esp. GDOT) is still run by Democrats although some of them now call themselves Republicans (ala Sonny Perdue). Whichever, GDOT is notoriously corrupt and throws away money with both hands – mostly to the politically connected.
j$
August 4th, 2009
10:10 pm
I didn’t see it ABM, but it was a townhall meeting right?
who had the microphone?
jt
August 4th, 2009
10:11 pm
“At a moment when mass transit is taking center stage as a solution to transportation problems nationwide, a federal report has concluded that the Georgia Department of Transportation’s transit program is riddled with financial management problems, according to a report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”
Just how much credence can anyone possible have in a report from our federal goverment on a report of someone else’s “financial management problem”?????
Our Georgian DOT should turn around and audit the FTA. THAT agency probably wastes the frozen 28 million in ONE DAY.
Angry Black Man
August 4th, 2009
10:12 pm
it’s just a name, not angry at all. If I were yelling like those people in the videos, I’d appear angry then. I don’t think my rep. would have allowed his meeting to be taken over like that. I’m just curious about other people’s opinions.
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
10:13 pm
Georgia is majority Republican so how can most of it be run by Democrats.
Angry Black Man
August 4th, 2009
10:17 pm
j$
I think there was a mic for the congressman, and there may have been one floating in the crowds. There were 3 separate meetings that I saw clips from. I haven’t looked on youtube yet. That’s where they’re posted. Some on the right are bragging about how they put the protests together, but others claim it’s a grassroots movement. I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot, would republican congressmen let their constituents express their first amendment rights, or would there be mass arrests for disorderly conduct.
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
10:18 pm
Even Perdue has come down hard on the GDOT recently. Of course, he did have prior knowledge of the results of that Fed audit, didn’t he.
godless heathen
August 4th, 2009
10:19 pm
getalife really typed,” Actually, the deal was set by Hillary before he left. He was just the messenger bearing gifts. They will probably stop warmongering and building nukes.”
Peace on Earth!
Are you serious, getalife? A phone call from Hillary will change a whole nation’s ideology???
All she has to now it get Osama Bin Laden, “Imanutjob”, and a few others on the horn and all will be right with the world.
getalife: Reality is calling, are you going to answer?
Who You Gonna Call
August 4th, 2009
10:20 pm
Re-iterating on behalf of our aging conservatives, just make sure the government keeps its hands off our Medicare.
jt
August 4th, 2009
10:22 pm
ABM-
As an angry black man, you would be tasered multiple times and then you would wake up on Rice Street.
You would join the largest incarcerated population IN THE WORLD. Disproportionally and Predominantly black.
That is the United States, land of the free.
godless heathen
August 4th, 2009
10:24 pm
Who: Because today’s Georgia Republican is yesterday’s Georgia Democrat. As I said, ala Sonny Perdue. If the Demos rack up in the 2010 elections, lots of politicians will be switching hats again.
thomas
August 4th, 2009
10:27 pm
Angry Black Man,
Don’t you think some of the blame does fall on those leading the town hall discussions?
They are the ones standing in front of the crowd, and the ones with direct access to the sound system. What type of leadership skills are they displaying? Please don’t tell me its because the special interest groups are doing it all. Go look at the grades that Obama’s health care reform is getting. The reform package is grading lower than a c+ in almost every state, and the poll numbers are not so good either.
You never answered why you would be arrested though, what would cause you to feel that you would be arrested for invoking your 1st amendment right?
electrician
August 4th, 2009
10:28 pm
angry black man@ 10:17..CNN reported on lou dobbs show tonight that there isnt a central organizing point for what is happening in these meetings, why cant we accept it as being a lot of different people with the same idea?
j$
August 4th, 2009
10:33 pm
ABM,
“I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot, would republican congressmen let their constituents express their first amendment rights, or would there be mass arrests for disorderly conduct.”
I don’t know of any congressmen that wouldn’t let their constituents express their first amendment rights. But one’s definition may vary on what “First Amendment Rights” actually entail.
I don’t know, let’s google it.
Angry Black Man
August 4th, 2009
10:41 pm
jt
I didn’t want to approach it from that angle, but in Henry County, I belive you’re spot on.
thomas
I actually applaud the congressmen leading the forums. I’m a firm beliver in the constitution. That is a sign of respect for the law. The congressmen could have thrown a hissy and had people ejected, but they took as much as they could from the crowds. They even tried to answer questions to no avail. One congressman was even followed when he left to go outside to try to discuss issues with someone. I would love to see conservative congressmen do the same thing. I just don’t have the faith in them that they could take the same situation as well. I think I’d be arrested because after 30-plus years living in the south, I know an angry black man is still a threat, regardless of whether I’m within my first amendment rights or not.
electrician
lou dobbs says he believes that obama is a citizen and still harps on the birth certificate issue. I’ll believe him when I see him working beside me to curtail illegal immigration.