Bushitler rules.

'Tis 1606, and 'tis the monarch who graciously grants Monopolies. To say otherwise is treason.

Where is Cheney to talk about which party is more tolerant, eh?

How many Democrats have been fired or forced from the party for voicing their pro-life views?

Name two.

Because the head of the business told HUD secretary Alphonso Jackson he didn't like George Bush much.

And Bill and Hilary Clinton fired people who disagreed with them in TravelGate. Same thing here.

If this doesn't give the guy who lost the contract grounds to sue, what does?

- Bob R.

Is this not an implicit acknowlegement that the Bush administration and the GOP are pay to play outfits?

Support and fund the GOP (and especially der Führer) or you do not get government contracts.

"Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the president?" Jackson said.

Um, maybe because, if it's the best proposal, it would reward the taxpayers?

Quick, tbrosz, tell us about some Democrats who ran a red light or something.

Al: And Bill and Hilary Clinton fired people who disagreed with them in TravelGate.

Not even a particularly believable lie, Al.

You're falling down on the job!

At least make it look like a bona fide claim!

Today's G.O.P.: small penises and thin skins.

was duly selected for a contract. Later they lost the contract.

See, it's not our money they're awarding, it's Dubya's money. You should just be happy he doesn't eminent domain you outta your house...

Charming Call for the resignation of Alphonso Jackson

At first blush I think Carpetbagger.com is probably right. Alphonso Jackson's resignation should be called for immediately.

We should not tolerate political favortism in the handling of our Federal Contracts. Purhaps some people might feel sorry for Mr. Jackson's being punished for being honest, but there is no room for that type of behavior in Federal Service.

There is no defence for this kind of actions. The fact that he is willing to admit it suggests how far politicalization has gotten in the Bush administration.

Al:

"And Bill and Hilary Clinton fired people who disagreed with them in TravelGate. Same thing here."

Assuming your dubious premise, how is it even remotely the same?

Should federal funding and federal assistance to private individuals and companies turn on whether or not they "like" the President?

Perhaps we can also give lower tax rates to Bush supporters as well, too.

I've never in my life seen such a profound hatred (or, at best, misunderstanding) of how America is supposed to be.

And Bill and Hilary Clinton fired people who disagreed with them in TravelGate. Same thing here.

Yes, Al, apart from the fact that the people that serve in the White House travel office serve entirely at the pleasure of the president, whereas distribution and bidding of contracts at HUD are heavily regulated with respect to the way in which process is conducted, they're practically the same thing.

Perhaps we can also give lower tax rates to Bush supporters as well, too.

What do you think the focus on minimizing estate and investment taxes is for? Sure, sure, its hardly a precise instrument, but...

Yes, Al, apart from the fact that the people that serve in the White House travel office serve entirely at the pleasure of the president, whereas distribution and bidding of contracts at HUD are heavily regulated with respect to the way in which process is conducted, they're practically the same thing.

I was going to post this very thing, only less eloquently. Thanks, phleabo!

What do you think the focus on minimizing estate and investment taxes is for? Sure, sure, its hardly a precise instrument, but...

"Some people call you the elites. I call you my base. Pay no attention to those poorly dressed bible-thumpers out in the hall who're complaining about man-on-man luv and shrieking for Roe's overturn. They haven't figured out yet that we don't give a damn about them."

Does executive privelage trump the federal procurement code?

I'm pretty sure it's time to recompete for the Al-Bot contract. Our current Al is quite slow, unimaginative, and boring.

We need some fresh Al-Bot blood in here. Someone who can really hammer home The Way and The Truth that Bush and Co. hold and graciously endow on their chosen disciples.

Why not write a complaint and call for resignation?

I did here

Those that don't like the president are more likely to do a substandard job or cheat the taxpayers, because they lack American values. By limiting the contracts to those that have values, the taxpayers ultimately save money by cutting back on waste and fraud.

American Hawk and Al are the same thing.

All this is a storm in a tea cup. This reminds me that the great people of Mesopotamia like to congregate and commisserate over a cup of tea. Speaking of Mesopotamia....

American Hawk and Al are the same thing.

Wrong. Al is a liberal plant to make patriots look foolish. It is true that Travelgate was a travesty. However, HUD's acions here aren't comparable; the interest being protected is compelling. You wouldn't trust Al Qeada to do your airline security, would you?

Is American Hawk serious? It gets so confusing when the right's advocacy becomes indistiguishable from self-parody.

Is it really so hard to believe that there are some standards for getting public funds, including having American values? Are you upset that NAMBLA doesn't get to run daycares?

American Hawk: You wouldn't trust Al Qeada to do your airline security, would you?

I don't know. They're a lot better at finding terrorists than anybody in the Bush administration.

Al nails it!

They are lucky not to be in jail. A Republican President in Time of War!

Purely anecdotal, from memory, so be forewarned:

I recall hearing (on a C-SPAN airing of LBJ's taped phone conversations) Lyndon Johnson telling an aide to nix funding for a post office in Shreveport or some such, because he was miffed at the editorial line of the local paper. Those old enough to remember the days of Reagan might recall his move to disperse the navy among smaller "homeports". ostensibly to protect them from Soviet surprise attack -- though it was odd how many of these "secure" facilities ended up in Republican districts.

So it's not as if the Bush crowd invented the art of distributing patronage from the federal trough. But most recent administrations either tried to be discreet (LBJ), or go to the trouble of constructing a rationale that's at least semi-plausible (Reagan). I read Jackson's candid statement as yet another example of how the Bush-Rove crowd is a helluva lot less politically adept than they get credit for: This is gonna be one more story that will blow up in their faces.

American Hawk: dissent IS an American value. Period. If you don't agree, please move to Iran or China.

Bush at 31% approval (USAToday).

Yes, he's approaching his Poppy's territory and, gasp, well within striking distance of Carter territory.

American Hawk: You wouldn't trust Al Qeada to do your airline security, would you?

Apparently Bush trusted Al Queda's allies to do port security, so why not airline security too?

That's one fine sense of the word corruption.

American Hawk: Al is a liberal plant to make patriots look foolish.

Not likely, since such "patriots" need no help at all to look foolish.

You and Bush are living proof!

Quoting Mr. Jackson:

"And I always like to stress, it's not a quota, not a set-aside, it's not about race, it's about giving opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to do work with the Federal Government." - Alphonso Jackson [Its not about partisanship either Mr. Jackson]

"After leaving law school, I intentionally said that I never wanted to hold a job more than six years." - Alphonso Jackson [Time for him to find a new job even if it has only been a couple of years]

"The Bush administration is the most diverse in history because the president fills jobs on the basis of a person's capabilities and qualifications, not on the color of his or her skin."

"And even though the initiative is zeroing in on minority homeowners, we at HUD are looking for low and moderate income homeowners to help finance their home, no matter what color they are, or what race they are."

"America is a place where you can be born into a low-income household but still lift yourself up, and it doesn't matter what color you are."
- Alphonso Jackson [Apparently he does think its ok to require they cow tow to the political administration]

"And for far too long, the Democrats have had a monopoly on black votes in this country."
- Alphonso Jackson [Does he think the GOP can buy these votes back with HUD dollars only going to Bush supporters?]

"HUD's mission is to provide decency and sanitary housing for low and moderate income people in this country." - Alphonso Jackson [Mission not to deliver federal dollars into Bush supporters hands only.]

"The dream doesn't lie in victimization or blame; it lies in hard work, determination and a good education." - Alphonso Jackson [and supporting my political boss]

The largest challenge that we face, from my perspective, is the ability to continue moving forward so the agency will have a single mission: that is, to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing.
Alphonso Jackson

The other part of outsourcing is this: it simply says where the work can be done outside better than it can be done inside, we should do it.
Alphonso Jackson [So long as their politics are to my liking]

The Republican Party is committed to the basic principle that everyone deserves a chance to achieve the American Dream.
Alphonso Jackson [So long as they pass my political litmus test]

We believe that, by the time that we leave office, it will be institutionalized, and these programs will be addressing the needs and curing the problem that we set out to do.
Alphonso Jackson

American Hawk and Al are the same thing.

i've been thinking that, too.

What is most revealing about Sec'y Jackson's comment is the view it holds of federal government. The point of government is to give contracts/money to people favorable to those in power so that they can give it back to those in power who can use it to stay in power. Jackson just assumed that if he gave the contract to this Bush-opposing business, part of any profit would be recycled back to the Democratic Party (rather than the Republican where, in his view, those federal taxpayer dollars belonged). The solution? Ban all corporations seeking government work from donating to any political party or federal (or state, as the case may be) campaign or candidate.

Keep in mind Murdoch is going left this time.Bye Hannity,Cavuto,good Riddence Ann Coulter the Voice of the rightwing.Hello Randi Rhodes live on Fox.

There is a theory in the field of Psychology called the "false consensus effect". Basically, it occurs when a group of like minded individuals isolate themselves such that they reinforce the false perceptions they each hold.

In the model, they tend to operate in a vacuum whereby outside views and opinions rarely penetrate the dialogue in order to broaden the view and the conclusions of the group.

Seemingly, this administration and its appointees are operating as a textbook example of this phenomenon. I can't think of a better way to explain the otherwise absurd statements and actions of so many of these individuals. Mr. Jackson is simply a classic case. He must be completely oblivious to the reaction such remarks will elicit. Amazing!

more observations here:

www.thoughttheater.com

American babies are three times more likely to die in their first month as children born in Japan, and newborn mortality is 2.5 times higher in the United States than in Finland, Iceland or Norway, Save the Children researchers found.

Only Latvia, with six deaths per 1,000 live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than the United States, which is tied near the bottom of industrialized nations with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births.

Another Bush administration legacy.

Bush will turn us into a "third-world" dictatorship yet!

With a little help from his lemming friends like rdw, of course.

Well, as long as they keep bragging about blatantly illegal acts, it should be easier to catch them (imagine if they *weren't* proud of breaking the law - would they not do it, or just not brag? Or is that an academic question?). In theory, anyway; I'm still surprised Bush's "Yer goddamn right Ah ordered a Code Red!" defense to the warrantless wiretapping scandal hasn't been destroyed by law or logic yet.

Those that don't like the president are more likely to do a substandard job or cheat the taxpayers, because they lack American values

Yes. Why does Halliburton hate the president so much?

31% rating wow keep up the good work Al,Freedom dude.Your amusing posts should have G.W. in the upper 20's in about a month.Big hand for the voices from the right.

American Hawk. Hmmm, today at lunch I saw a hawk being chased by a little black bird with red on its wings and about 1/5 th the size. Hmmmm.

come on, american hawk is a parody.

one would hope.

Just like Papa Bush out of touch with the American people.Hey Al how does it feel cheering for a loser.

This General taking over the CIA didn't he get a star from Clinton? And What did the Right say about Stars given out by Clinton.

My letter of complaint to the Office of the Inspector General is at: http://eclecticfloridian.blogspot.com/2006/05/complaint-to-office-of-inspector.html

craigie:

Quick, tbrosz, tell us about some Democrats who ran a red light or something.

What, Kevin discovers to his shock that government contracts are tied to politics, and I'm supposed to sit here in awe?

Usually it is a lot more subtle than this (I wouldn't mind checking this story from a second source) and usually it's about political connections and issues a lot closer to the local realm than the President is, i.e Senators and Congressmen. But this is nothing new.

We could get into the history of HUD, and its reputation for fraud, abuse, and political connections, but that's another subject.

Sure, fire the guy. He'll be replaced by a bureaucrat who does the same thing, only shuts up about it.

shorter tbrosz: government is always corrupt, so prosecuting corruption is a waste of time.

corollary: it doesn't matter who's in office.

In other news: the Cato Institute has announced a major study showing that crimes such as theft and murder have occured in all societies. It therefore recommends that we stop wasting the taxpayer's money on law enforcement.

The rise of the Bushes to power goes back several generations.

I seem to recall that a dictator is not necessarily what our founding fathers had in mind when they crafted the same document which our current president swore to defend!

Theocrazies are destroying our democracy.

Oh yeah, I forgot, we now have a government for the rich and nothing but the rich so help us god.

I remember a study from a few years back, perhaps around 2002. They looked at federal funding for counties based on voting patterns. For N years under Democrats the funding for Republican and Democratic counties was the same. However,when Republicans took control of everything, the counties that voted Republican started receiving significantly more funding than the Democratic ones. The biggest increases went to formerly Democratic counties that had switched to Republican.

In the every dark cloud has a silver lining category, I hoped this might result in some showers of federal largesse for MN after Republican Norm Coleman, Eww, took over Democratic Paul Wellstone's Senate seat. But no.

Republicans. They're not just incompetent...they're evil.

It's simple.

With Bush's approval ratings declining, and a Bush Support Litmus test for government contracts, this is their plan to reduce government spending!

What, Kevin discovers to his shock that government contracts are tied to politics, and I'm supposed to sit here in awe?

I don't recall the "awe" requirement, but now that you mention it, yes. Get sitting.

Clearly a graduate of the Abramoff school of government.

Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the president, so they can use funds to try to campaign against the president? Logic says they don't get the contract. That's the way I believe.

Maybe they should just put a little political donation score card on the application:

1) Veteran: 3Pts
2) Minority: 3Pts
3) Disabled: 1 Pt/missing limb or eye
4) Political Donations to Democrats: -2Pts/thousand dollars
5) Political Donations to Republicans: +2Pts/thousand dollars (more than 100 Pts and you will receive special consideration for a no bid contract)

Tbrosz, what percentage of the GDP are you willing to have distributed by corrupt politicians?

Osama_Been_Forgotten: "their plan to reduce government spending"

You provide another effing brilliant insight. Thanks!

shorter tbrosz: government is always corrupt, so prosecuting corruption is a waste of time.

Well, personally I enjoy it when tbrosz adopts his pose of cynicism; it means the Republicans' mendacity, incompetence and corruption has exceeded even his own remarkable ability to apologize for them.

craigie: I don't recall the "awe" requirement, but now that you mention it, yes. Get sitting.

I feel another episode of "Tom and Craigie in the Garage" coming on!

Screw resignation.

Jackson violated federal law.

I think he should go to prison. With Abramoff, and Cunningham, soon to be joined by DeLay.

"Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the president?" Jackson said.

That's why we call'em REPUGS.

They've earned the slur.

Again and again and again.

The government has an implied duty to fairly consider a bid made in good faith; any failure to do so is remediable in the courts. If this was a bid contract (the article is not entirely clear on this point), Jackson's acts certainly appear to meet at least most, if not all, of the Keco factors (Keco Indus. v. U.S., 492 F.2d 1200, 1203 (Ct. Cl. 1974)), and seem to be "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law" (5 USC §706).

Keco suits are difficult to win, because there is a presumption of fairness on the part of the agency. In this case, however, Jackson's comments could prompt a judge to go beyond the administrative record (though allowing discovery would be most unusual). Certainly, Jackson's idiotic acts and his even more idiotic comments have opened the door to legal proceedings.

Sure sounds like lawsuit material to me. I wonder if similar action can be taken as result of K Street Project shut-downs. there must be similar instances of participants bragging about their chicanery.

1) Veteran: 3Pts
2) Minority: 3Pts
3) Disabled: 1 Pt/missing limb or eye
4) Political Donations to Democrats: -2Pts/thousand dollars
5) Political Donations to Republicans: +2Pts/thousand dollars (more than 100 Pts and you will receive special consideration for a no bid contract)
Posted by: toast on May 9, 2006 at 4:33 PM | PERMALINK

6) Trip to Scotland +5pts.
7) Poker/hooker party +5pts.
8) Pick up tab at Signatures +5pts.
9) Related to Tom DeLay, Dick Cheney, or any Bush +10pts.
10) Wrote for Heritage or Cato +2pts.
11) Paid access to Guckert website +2pts.
12) Bought a house for $1.5mil over market value +10pts.

I just lodged my complaint with HUD regarding this case of waste and abuse, we'll see if anything comes of it. Maybe if enough people follow suit it will force him into public apology/spin mode. That might be good for a chuckle.

I feel another episode of "Tom and Craigie in the Garage" coming on!

I think I know someone I can pitch this to. They'll probably want Tom to play himself though - he's a one-of-a-kind (plus, he already has the helmet).

From further review, looks like it was a GSA schedule 541 contract conducted under FAR part 8.

"Sure, fire the guy. He'll be replaced by a bureaucrat who does the same thing, only shuts up about it."

I have to agree with that. The guy was honest, and there's no reason to fire him for that. Do liberals understand what it's like to work for someone? You don't go in to get a job from GE and tell them your going to use their money to damage the CEO of GE. Welcome to the real world. Where do you people work?

You don't go in to get a job from GE and tell them your going to use their money to damage the CEO of GE. Welcome to the real world.

Um, hello? He never said he would use the money to damage Bush - that was the assumption made by Jackson, because, of course, that's how Republicans think.

bartleby: "You don't go in to get a job from GE and tell them your going to use their money to damage the CEO of GE. Welcome to the real world. Where do you people work?"

Yep, the US government--as run by Bushco--is just like GE: A for-profit business whose sole purpose is to increase the wealth of its shareholders. No differences.

Shareholders = Republicans.

And in which fascist government do you live?

Hmmm., who do government employees work for? I know I read something about that somewhere.

You don't go in to get a job from GE and tell them your going to use their money to damage the CEO of GE.

The distinction between public and private entities is really just lost on you, isn't it? In any case, when I'm putting out a contract for bid, I really don't give a damn how vendor X feels about the CEO of my company -- I just want to know which contract provides a better deal for my division. But "price/performance" is also something that seems lost on you.

Incredible. A loyalty to royalty test? WTF??
This country has fallen far from its ideals. Lets make 2006 about prison sentences for corrupt Republicans. Cunningham is lonely.

Hey Toast-ass. Government employees work for the
PEOPLE. They support the First Amendment and the Constitution. Stuff like that. That Chief executive seems to really relish fishing though.

And the chief executive likes to fillet the fish he catches alive, heh-heh. Shows 'em who's boss.

Lets make 2006 about prison sentences for corrupt Republicans. Cunningham is lonely.
Posted by: Sparko on May 9, 2006 at 5:50 PM | PERMALINK

No doubt.

While they're having their reunion party in prison, we could give them a couple decks of cards, and they can whore out eachother, it would be like old times.

I guess this would be a bad time to make the predictable comparison to the Nixon administration?

I hope there is some regulation or ethics convention that can be used against that pathetic Shrubblehead jerk Alphonso Jackson - of course that's exactly what we expect out of those appointed by that "basically decent" conniver and cobungler in chief.

"pathetic Shrubblehead jerk"

We have a winner!

tbrosz: as someone who has competed successfully for government contracts, I can tell you that this is hardly par for the course. It’s also illegal.

It is absolututely true that politics plays a much greater role under Bush that it did under Clinton. The Carter administration was straightforward, predictable, and even small “unconnected” companies could win contracts back then. The Reagan bunch was much much more political.

Do you see a pattern here?

Heh, tbrosz is still a hard-trolling pro-misadministrationist. What I don't get is, why is a "libertarian" type shilling for a theocratic, war-bunglering, debt-increasing, unConstitutional interferer with States' rights (the federal laws that void State laws, corrupt-cultured, imperial Preznit, etc. etc....

In case you are tempted to take tBushz's diffidence seriously, there is good commentary at http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/movable_type/ about the legal problems of the Shrubblehead's actions.

Brosz has always been a red herring right winger posing as libertarian to my mind. He was a smoke screen to legitize the administration in the minds of small government people, fiscal conservativces, and intellectual wannabes. "Look a rocket-scientist Libertarian is for Bush. Golly Gee!!"

The reality is he is Norman without the creepy costume. There is no true conservative or libertarian who could support this administration. In fact, social conservatives have always been anathema to true conservatives--they want the government to interfere with individual rights and to fully fund whatever whacko religious fad of the day theyt happen to advocate. Trus conservatives would like a return to smaller government, more individual freedom, and definitely want curbs on government power. I used to be of that persuasion. News flash: the Republican Big Tent is designed to keep people out and watch over potential undesirables from acrobat's perch.

So Brosz is a fraud-bot. Like Al and American Gawk. They come here to read the will of the people so they can better thwart it. Pretty sad life. I hope we survive the tumult of amoral incompetence in the GOP.

Questions:
1. Was any law broken?
2. Was the Secretary instructed in this matter by superiors?
3. Did superiors know about his action?
4. Other cases?
5. Can the rejected applicant be located?
6. Will any offical entity investigate?
7. Will the press deign to report?

Liberals are confronted by so much that (rightly, I think) appalls them that their ability to discriminate the most egregious cases is in danger of being overwhelmed. This really is one of those worst cases. It isn't an occasion for sarcasm or casual invective; it calls for sober, sustained insistence that answers be given and officials held accountable. Jackson has shown himself to be unfit to exercise responsibility in a democratic government.

They come here to read the will of the people so they can better thwart it.

They also come here--I have observed this repeatedly--to steal our fab put-downs and nifty turns of phrase.

Lower-percentilers.

KH: Yes the law was broken. I hope somebody follows up.

alex:

shorter tbrosz: government is always corrupt, so prosecuting corruption is a waste of time.

Not at all. I think they should nail the guy to the wall. I'm just getting a little tired of idiots who think this kind of thing all started in January of 2001.

And frankly, most of you wouldn't know "libertarian" if it bit you. Want to go back to the other thread and check out the leftist "wish list" again? I'm not seeing much in the way of "smaller government" from the only alternative to the Republicans, either.

A reader at Talking Points Memo brought up an interesting point:

Just read the thinkprogress on the HUD thing. First comment set me thinking.

Why on earth would a contractor bidding for a contract come out and say 'I do not support your President'.

There is only one circumstance I can think of where that reply would come up in a sales call - IF THE CEO WAS ASKED FOR A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.

I certainly would never bring up politics with any customer unless I knew what their politics were in advance and that they were compatible.

The politics issue has to have come from Jackson.

That is why he is making this peculiar statement, what he is really doing here is repeating his internalized self-justification for demanding a bribe and being rebuffed.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2006_05_07.php#008407

I'm just getting a little tired of idiots who think this kind of thing all started in January of 2001.

Good, Be sure to point any that you've actually seen.

It looks like one of Josh's readers has figured this Jackson thing out

Now it all makes perfect sense.

Still say this is normal Democratic behavior, tbrosz? Demanding bribes in order to get Federal contracts?

I'm just getting a little tired of idiots who think this kind of thing all started in January of 2001.

I'm getting a little tired of tbrosz trotting out this particular straw man. Shame on you, tbrosz.

Tbrosz never gets the point. First, we don't think this sort of thing started from scratch in 2001. That is a typically idiotic libertopian perfectionism straw man canard that is intended to interfere with the very important real question, how about who is clearly worse? Also, of course we aren't libertarians, silly, and our points wouldn't be! We are attacking your *inconsistency* not pretending to be one of you. I don't ever want to take a ride in a rocket you were in charge of designing, dork helmet.

I thought tbrosz used to be sort of rational. You know, a little less poop and hyperbole.

Are the fake tbrosz's using his email address now?