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I. Lewis Libby has a new cellmate, so to speak. His name is D. Kyle Sampson, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's newly sacked former chief of staff. Like Scooter over in the VP's office, Kyle at the Justice Department has been asked to take one for the team.
It was Kyle who lined up the eight US District Attorneys and fired them because of their failure to indict enough Democrats fast enough for last fall's election. He apparently did the job without telling his boss who was polishing his thumb screws and working on a new device for pulling out the toenails of terror suspects. Some matters must be left to underlings.
Gonzales explained at a press conference today that you just cannot be everywhere all the time "when you have 110,000 people working in the department, obviously there are going to be decisions made that I'm not aware of in real time." You have to delegate to free yourself up to work on the big things such as making habeas corpus go away.
Hence it fell to Kyle Sampson to get rid of the federal prosecutors without bothering the boss. Kyle was the right person to do it. He's a Mormon, a Brigham Young University graduate. You can depend on them.
Howard Hughes had a bunch of bright guys like Kyle working for him. They made sure the late billionaire had fresh Kleenex boxes for his feet so he could walk around in his Las Vegas penthouse and be OK.
Kyle is like that. In effect he was seeing to it that his boss, Alberto, had fresh Kleenex boxes to cover his tootsies.
When the media and the Democrats (Is there a difference?) learned about the firings Alberto had no choice. He had to sack his guy. There were tears in his glinty eyes when he did it, but he made sure it was not the kind of firing where the security guards escort you out of the building and take away your parking permit in front of the staff.
Kyle Sampson gets to stay in his office with pay until he can find another job. Which shows you that Alberto is not just all about torture. There is another side to him.
Like Scooter, Kyle is going to find out that he has friends. They are going to take care of him, too, and it is going to work out. It will work out just fine.
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He'll like it in Dubai in 2009....couple mill a year, beach front condo over looking the Gulf, private Montesorri school for the kids...
all for "taking one for the team" now.
Posted by Mask at 03/13/2007 @ 5:18pm
Poor Gonzy, can't keep up with all those 110,000 employees! It's hard work!
What ever happened to the buck stops here? When is a top level executive branch person going to take the responsibility for something and resign? Why do the underlings have to fall on the sword all the time. If you think you are macho enough to pull these types of stunts, show the balls to resign too.
Posted by BlueTexan at 03/13/2007 @ 5:21pm
//"can't keep up with all those 110,000 employees.."
Good point, lets cut the employment by govt in half and start small business for them to work doing the same job as in govt...we can save 10s of billions and increase service, create some wealth and improve life all around...lets start with the dept of Energy and Education..since they product nothing.
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 5:29pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 5:29pm
Sure MAASCH, instead of letting gov't employees do the work, lets outsource all of it and pay more for the same service. That sounds like a good idea. Kind of like when we pay KBR millions to serve food in a cafeteria or wash clothes, etc...you know, stuff that privates used to do.
Another example...Texas if firing Accenture because they couldn't determine eligibility for social services and oversee enrollment any better than actual state employees.
You privatization worshipers would dread the results if you really had your way. But that's probably your goal, make government so dysfunctional that total anarchy would ensue, or a theological dictatorship. Either way ya'll would be happy.
Posted by BlueTexan at 03/13/2007 @ 5:36pm
Shades of the white house travel office scandal...except that the IRS isn't looking into any of the fired AG's tax returns...at least, not yet......(heh, heh)
Posted by davebarlett at 03/13/2007 @ 6:28pm
"make government so dysfunctional "
It already is and is worse than any private screw up, at least they die off and close......and as far as hiring KVR..why would you think big company..I am thinking small business, the back bone of the economy...out source to your fellow Americans..whats the matter? Hate employed people?
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 6:34pm
I'm surprised we aren't talking about this [talkingpointsmemo.com].
Posted by fromredbird at 03/13/2007 @ 6:39pm
Tex,
Private ALWAYS cost less than govt, since there is pressure to make a profit and keep away the compettion...if govt does it you get...no competition , no improvement, permanent unionised fossilized work force...robots(check out your DMV)..doesn't matter how many titles they process, ity is a tax and no reward for doing more or less, ergo, more expensive...(you pay more) for the service.
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 6:40pm
Posted by FROMREDBIRD 03/13/2007 @ 6:39pm
I read it...so what, they want their people in the positions,.. as will Hillary if she wins...and she will be more brutal, but thats the real world of politics.
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 6:43pm
Gosh, it's getting hard to keep up with the scandal du jour. Still, I suspect we have heard about only a tiny fraction of what's out there waiting to be discovered (and, in a properly run Democratic administration, prosecuted).
Posted by sgoodman at 03/13/2007 @ 6:54pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 6:40pm
"Private ALWAYS cost less than govt"
Really? Can you cite a non-partisan source for that? That's quite a statement...you are essentially saying that in NO instance, EVER, that a gov't entity has performed a service cheaper than a private enterprise. That's nonsense and you know it.
But I guess this is how the frantic right tries to change the topic (turning a discussion about Alberto Gonzolez into a one about privatization of public service) when it comes to an administration that is proving time and again that its goal is to derail this country at every opportunity.
Posted by BlueTexan at 03/13/2007 @ 7:01pm
" Can you cite a non-partisan source for that?"
Ambulance service in my community for a small one, Hwy construction crews verses private, snow removal in city limits,airlines verses govt owned in Europe,animal shelters..mission food banks,even church groups give better aid per person than does huge welfare programs....just by govt nature they consume too much for administration...they have no forces to balance or pressure expenses...
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 7:20pm
I am not saying govt doesn't have a place to do things better, but anywhere a private comapny can do something it will be more efficient.
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 7:22pm
"when you have 110,000 people working in the department, obviously there are going to be decisions made that I'm not aware of in real time."
but you can be with your chief of staff, every morning, of every day, and go over things like hiring and firing.
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 7:41pm
when the senate questions these retards they should roll big numbers by them and see if their head explodes, or if they suffer from hysterical paralysis or if they realize that their chief of staff is their number two man and not just some nameless suit lost out somewhere in a sea of 110,000
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 7:44pm
Posted by WILL C. 03/13/2007 @ 7:44pm
Yeah, they should take the well seasoned and respected advice of a framer/economic expert who is a certifiable kook wearing a hat with a propellar on top(a red one) who lectures on a web site read by over 200 people..
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 7:58pm
And yes, bosses do have meetings over hiring and firing, unless of course, it is a union job.
Posted by john maasch at 03/13/2007 @ 7:59pm
Yeah, they should take the well seasoned and respected advice of a framer/economic expert who is a certifiable kook wearing a hat with a propellar on top(a red one) who lectures on a web site read by over 200 people..
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 7:58pm
I didn't know you framed maasch. and yes... they should take your advice.
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 8:07pm
And yes, bosses do have meetings over hiring and firing, unless of course, it is a union job.
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 7:59pm
My point exactly john boy. And this is why the pitiful excuse laid out by Alberto is especially lame and undeniably hamster.
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 8:10pm
"when you have 110,000 people working in the department, obviously there are going to be decisions made that I'm not aware of in real time."
but you can be with your chief of staff, every morning, of every day, and go over things like hiring and firing.
Posted by WILL C. 03/13/2007 @ 7:41pm
Cripes! You expect the Bush gang to be aware of a purge in their own Justice Department when they were incapable of understanding what "Bin Laden determined to attack in US" means?
Posted by fromredbird at 03/13/2007 @ 9:07pm
See how they run
Posted by leftofcenter at 03/13/2007 @ 9:49pm
NAME THE LAW THAT WAS BROKEN?
Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/13/2007 @ 10:38pm
thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 10:46pm
ring a bell luvvy?
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 10:47pm
Not saying that Bush didn't fire them for the wrong reasons, but he didn't need a reason, did he?
Posted by DAVEBARLETT 03/13/2007 @ 6:24pm
DB, I'll assume then that living in a one party dictatorship is ok with you? Right, as long as it's your party-- very hsuB-like. The wrong reasons are the impartial judiciary we all call a free state. Obviously hsuB/heney admin belived that a rubber-stamp non-oversighted repub new con congress would still be at their dispossal at the time of their scheming otherwise we'd all be one step closer to their uni-exec/dic and none the wiser. Sick bunch of traitors. They're getting their comuptance very very soon. One step at a time.
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/13/2007 @ 6:54pm | ignore this person
I heard numbers of AG investigations of dem's were up since 2001 by a lot-- getting rid of attorneys that ignore repub crime for the most part and only go after dems-- is not impartial justice.
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/13/2007 @ 6:59pm | ignore this person
I just heard the ratio was 5:1 dems more investigated by AG than repubs. Yet, more repubs indicted!?!? Now what does that say. Well, that the WH needs to get rid of a few US Attorneys why of course...
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/13/2007 @ 10:51pm
-----Original Message-----
From: Kyle.Sampson@usdoj.gov [mailed to:Kyle.Sampson@usdoj.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 5:46 PM
To: Miers, Harriet
Subject: RE: U.S. Attorneys
To be clear, putting aside the question of expiring terms, the analysis
on the chart I gave you is as follows:
bold = Recommend retaining; strong U.S. Atorneys who have produced,
managed well, and exhibited loyalty to the President and Attorney
General.
strikeout = Recommend removing; weak U.S. Attorneys who have been
ineffectual managers and prosecutors, chafed against Administration
initiatives, etc.
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/13/2007 @ 5:59pm
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/13/2007 @ 11:01pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/13/2007 @ 10:51pm
So you say five to one dems to hamster repubes investigated by the chimp's justice department and still more hamsters indicted?
And the democrats in congress are just starting to flex their subpoena powers?
These next few years are going to be fun fun fun.
:)
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 11:09pm
And I don't own a T-Bird. So there'll be nothing to stop the fun.
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 11:09pm
A good question to ask-- If Gonzales is standing by his Chief of Staff's decision to fire the US Attorney's -- WHY DID HE FIRE SAMPSON ?
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/13/2007 @ 11:26pm
WHY DID HE FIRE SAMPSON ?
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/13/2007 @ 11:26pm
I heard karl roves niece in high school needed a little something to spice up the college applications
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 11:34pm
These next few years are going to be fun fun fun.
:)
Posted by WILL C. 03/13/2007 @ 11:09pm
And I don't own a T-Bird. So there'll be nothing to stop the fun.
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Posted by WILL C. 03/13/2007 @ 11:09pm
Yeah and I said-- WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN! Pretty funny.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/13/2007 @ 11:35pm
Chief of staff to the AG while earning a 1.8 GPA and that varstity letter in badmitten...
that's not something your average college admissions office sees everyday
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 11:37pm
Yeah and I said-- WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN! Pretty funny.
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/13/2007 @ 11:35pm
echo's of another carpenter
:)
Posted by Will C. at 03/13/2007 @ 11:38pm
Hah-- when in this hsuB/henus WH hasn't there been incompetence, a scandal, error in judgement, lies, BS, criminality, stated contradictions, an air of non-reality,... When other presidencies are known to have a scandal-- will the hsuB/heney presidency simply be known as CORRUPT.
Are you saying it's a 'Come to Jesus Moment'!
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/13/2007 @ 11:57pm
but anywhere a private comapny can do something it will be more efficient.
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 7:22pm | ignore this person
You must be talking about those "efficient" companies like ENRON, WorldCom, Arthur Andersen, Qwest, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Criminal Fine: $500 million, Daiwa Bank Ltd. Criminal Fine: $340 million, Exxon Corporation and Exxon Shipping Criminal Fine: $125 million, Archer Daniels Midland Criminal Fine: $100 million, etc.
Oh, let's see... did I forget anyone? Oh yeah!
Halliburton!
when Cheney was its chief : SEC fines Halliburton $7.5 million.
In 1995, when Cheney was its chief Halliburton paid a $1.2 million fine to the U.S. government and $2.61 million in civil penalties for violating a U.S. trade embargo by shipping oilfield equipment to Libya.
A Halliburton subsidiary agreed to pay the government $8 million to resolve accusations of overbilling related to the firm's work for the Army in the Balkans. The accusations against KBR included double-billing, inflating prices and providing products that didn't fit the Army's needs during the construction of Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.
The Pentagon audit has raised questions about whether a subsidiary of Halliburton overcharged the U.S. government $61 million for gasoline imported from Kuwait to Iraq.
(AP) Halliburton will pay the Pentagon $6.3 million for possible overcharges by a subcontractor that is accused of giving kickbacks to supply U.S. soldiers in Iraq, a spokeswoman said Friday in new trouble for Vice President Dick Cheney's former company.
Are you getting the picture here, John. These great "efficient" companies seem to pay a lot of fines. No wonder Cheney's Halliburton is stealing so much of our tax money and now moving to UAE so they won't have to pay US taxes and be subject to US rules and Subpoenas!
"The highest patriotism is not the blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher standard" George McGovern
Posted by COProgressive at 03/14/2007 @ 12:53am
Chief of staff to the AG while earning a 1.8 GPA and that varstity letter in badmitten...
that's not something your average college admissions office sees everyday
Posted by WILL C. 03/13/2007 @ 11:37pm
I hope you're not implying anything derogatory about badminton. It's a very athletic sport. Check out some videos on You Tube or Google Video.
Posted by fromredbird at 03/14/2007 @ 12:58am
Yeah, right, MAASCH . . like the internet which provides you an outlet to spew your endless drivel . . created by government or private enterprise? Do you even know?
Posted by fromredbird at 03/14/2007 @ 01:01am
And Gore says-- "Ah helped!"
Wouldn't it be ironic if the internet is found to be contributing to the climate changing!!!
Naw. Too ironic.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 01:24am
"We fired them because they were bad at their jobs".
er, no, they had excellent performance reviews.
"The White House had nothing to do with this matter."
Er, no. They were intimately involved.
"Karl Rove had nothing to do with this matter, he knew nothing about it."
Er, no, he knew all bout it, his buddy has been promised one of the jobs.
Mr. MAASCH, do you care to tell us again how chimpy NEVER lies? Just like the private sector is ALWAYS better than a guvt? BLDG 18 was privatized.
Now I am not saying that guvt is always better, or even most of the time. But this philosophy that if we took a group of people doing a job that does not have to pay profits, then we took a group of people doing the same job and they have to come up with extra cash to pay shareholders, then somehow, magically the people that have to come up with 9-12% extra a year are going to do it cheaper? It flies in the face of common sense. It is idealism.
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 08:33am
BTW, local guvt garbage collection in a nearby small town is done at a lower rate per household than what I pay for rural garbage collection from a private company. They have two competitors.
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 08:36am
?????
Gonzales accepting responsibility, then not, then this then that. Flip. Flop.
"Mistakes were made," he said in fluent scandalese, but "I think it was the right decision."
"I am responsible for what happens at the Department of Justice," he posited, but "I . . . was not involved in any discussions about what was going on."
"Kyle Sampson" -- Gonzales's chief of staff -- "has resigned," he said, but "he is still at the department."
And, finally, "I believe in the independence of our U.S. attorneys," Gonzales maintained, but "all political appointees can be removed . . . for any reason."
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 08:44am
NAME THE LAW THAT WAS BROKEN?-LUVIMCOPETENCE 03/13/2007 @ 10:38pm
the Law of common sense?
this one: "Thou shalt not lie"?
Do you teach your flock to evade, dodge and weave as long as they don't break any laws? Have you ever heard of ethics?
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 08:49am
incopetent speling.
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 08:50am
ethics |?e?iks| plural noun 1 [usu. treated as pl. ] moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior : Judeo-Christian ethics.
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 09:03am
if we took a group of people doing a job that does not have to pay profits, then we took a group of people doing the same job and they have to come up with extra cash to pay shareholders, then somehow, magically the people that have to come up with 9-12% extra a year are going to do it cheaper? It flies in the face of common sense. It is idealism.
Posted by CRABWALK 03/14/2007 @ 08:33am | ignore this person
this policy is also known as a scam, as the work privatized gets shoveled to political supporters and cronies, which is notably less efficient than a depoliticized civil service. to politicize very single social interaction turns us into a kleptocracy.
the policy of inserting political operatives in each and every sphere, judicial included, is what Hitler and the nazis did in germany, where the law was known as Gleichschaltung, a uniform shifting of gears, so to speak, and literally translated. they set up parallel structures to professional groups, unions,etc, and then disallowed the previous ones, leaving nazis in control of courts, labor, the universities, etc. the democratic congress must dismantle this shadow gov't Bush has installed, and the voters must purge the repubs who went along.
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/14/2007 @ 09:05am
Yeah, right, MAASCH . . like the internet which provides you an outlet to spew your endless drivel . . created by government or private enterprise? Do you even know?
Posted by FROMREDBIRD 03/14/2007 @ 01:01am
Your favorite group...the military researchers in oirder to communicate with the research groups at major universitys..or was it ALGORE?
And who wants to take it over? The UN...Jesus..and who wants to tax it? the libs....
I will remain in private enterprise...the fact that the clowns here actually belive the model for efficiency and cost is govt and not private entities is an absolute proof that you are economically hopeless and hapeless, your hate of profit and your desire to determine what is enolugh profit is classic loser doubl speak from those incapable of making any profit if you found a dollar in the street...you are thieves...there are 2 classes of people in our society, those who focus on producing products, services and profits verses those who can't and their focus is on getting what others make..pretty simple, especially with "for the better good, for the people, the govt "lets you earn profit", and other slogans..all horse shit".....and YOUR example of govt proof of cheapers cost for services provided by governement? The Soviets had all govt services and they starved in their own wheat belt, Cuba? wonderful standard of living, doing a great job of producing electricity 3 hours a day...90 miles from the US in the 21st century.....the examples of you being wrong when posted will make RESE and Plunger look like illiterates...every govt system of delivery of services and goods are more expensive..
You, who complain about big corporations continuiously want to turn everything oiver to the most inefficient large organization on earth...govt....the Founding Fathers would be so proud of what you have done to their deal...killing off the individual drive for collectivism...patheic...loons and socialists ...failures in real time.
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 09:06am
BTW, local guvt garbage collection in a nearby small town is done at a lower rate per household than what I pay for rural garbage collection from a private company. They have two competitors.
Posted by CRABWALK 03/14/2007 @ 08:36am | ignore this person
here in Nyc we have two systems for garbage collection. the municipal one for private household garbage, and one for commercial garbage which is private. that one is also mob controlled, with rubouts, skimming, intimidation and the rest. there have been no corruption scandals in the municipal garbage business.
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/14/2007 @ 09:09am
Your favorite group...the military researchers in oirder to communicate with the research groups at major universitys..or was it ALGORE?
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 09:06am
Always DO find that a bit ironic. If the parents of the Blogger Left (or even some of the older ones) had gotten their wishes back in the 1960s and gutted the defense budget and "cut out useless military programs"....ARPANET and packet switching could have probably been delayed for years. It had to be proven and ARPANET proved it...before the British Post office and Western Union took the ball and ran with it, as well as the National Science Foundation.
In fact it was one of the researchers at ARPANET, whose paper influenced Gore to create his "High Performance Computing and Communication Act of 1991".
So...no ARPANET, no Internet (atleast not by the early 90s, maybe just NOW see the creation of CompuServe, etc.)
And where did the funding for ARPANET come from?....the eevillllllllll "Military-Industrial Complex"!
Posted by Mask at 03/14/2007 @ 09:18am
JR,
Is the govt garbage service subsidized...I'll bet they are..as far as mob gargae...I 'll bet they are cheaper and offer a "range" of dsiposal..:)
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 09:32am
Mask,
You are of course correct, the evil military industrial complex..same group wanted to kill off the space programs and "give the money to the "people",ignoring the amount of life saving technologys and jobs that are to numerous to mention that "spun" out of NASAs womb......but lefty loons here, for some reason seem to want to canabalize the very hands that feed their schemes...amazing.
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 09:37am
"...lets start with the dept of Energy and Education..since they product nothing."
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 5:29pm
Kinda hard to argue with this statement...
Posted by drhammer at 03/14/2007 @ 09:55am
"I am not saying govt doesn't have a place to do things better, but anywhere a private comapny can do something it will be more efficient."
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 7:22pm
Indeed! I myself have initiated a vigorous campaign to outsource our local waterworks to Halliburton/KBR.
Posted by drhammer at 03/14/2007 @ 10:00am
Kinda hard to argue with this statement...
Posted by DRHAMMER 03/14/2007 @ 09:55am | ignore this person
with Maasch you have to set the bar very low.
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/14/2007 @ 10:08am
BTW, given the topic of "radical privatization"....where's the fair and balanced arguments against....
"radical nationalization"?
Posted by Mask at 03/14/2007 @ 10:19am
So isn't lying to Congress a felony? And isn't using political means to obstruct justice-- still obstructing justice and a federal crime? I do not see any ambiguity here. It's always rather refreshing to validate the extent that the vast right wing comspiracy will go by shining the light of day on it. Soon Lie berman will start spewing more nonsense like, "turn away from the light -- you'll go blind". Too late for some.
New York Times
‘Mistakes' Made on Prosecutors, Gonzales Says
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and JEFF ZELENY Published: March 14, 2007
Mr. Ensign, ordinarily a strong supporter of the White House, said he was "very angry" at how the administration had handled the dismissal of the prosecutors, particularly Dan Bogden, the United States attorney in Nevada. Mr. Ensign said he had been misled or lied to last year when he asked the Justice Department about the dismissal of Mr. Bogden and was told that it had been connected to his job performance.
"I'm not a person who raises his voice very often," said Mr. Ensign, who is also the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the Senate.
Of his decision to speak out, he said, "I think there are times where you just have to do what you feel is right, and this is one of those times."
Mr. Coburn called the dismissals "idiocy on the part of the administration."
Mr. Specter, in a speech on the Senate floor, referred to another of the dismissed prosecutors, Carol C. Lam, who prosecuted Randy Cunningham, the former Republican congressman now serving an eight-year sentence in a corruption case.
Mr. Specter raised the question of whether Ms. Lam had been dismissed because she was "about to investigate other people who were politically powerful," and he questioned the Justice Department's initial explanation that those who had lost their jobs had received poor performance evaluations.
"Well," he said, "I think we may need to do more by way of inquiry to examine what her performance ratings were to see if there was a basis for her being asked to resign."
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 10:24am
Mr. MAASCH . . . Now I am not saying that guvt is always better, or even most of the time. But this philosophy that if we took a group of people doing a job that does not have to pay profits, then we took a group of people doing the same job and they have to come up with extra cash to pay shareholders, then somehow, magically the people that have to come up with 9-12% extra a year are going to do it cheaper? It flies in the face of common sense. It is idealism.
Posted by CRABWALK 03/14/2007 @ 08:33am
Don't mistake plain, everyday doltishness for idealism.
Posted by fromredbird at 03/14/2007 @ 10:27am
"I'll keep posting the challenge to Nation writers and the leftist bloggers.
NAME THE LAW THAT WAS BROKEN?"
Posted by LVLIBERTY1 03/13/2007 @ 10:38pm
That is not a challenge.
That is a dodge.
That is a fallback position employed by those who fully recognize the ethical implications of what has transpired, but have no rational (or truthful) justification for the act(s).
If your sole standard for your "representatives" is that they have not violated any statute, then you are setting the bar very low, indeed.
Posted by drhammer at 03/14/2007 @ 10:39am
So does this mean they're actually admitting that hsuB was complicit in obstruction of justice?
"With Mr. Bush traveling in Mexico, the White House insisted that the president's role had been minimal and laid the blame primarily on Harriet E. Miers, who was White House counsel when the prosecutors lost their jobs and who stepped down in January."
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 10:52am
It's all adds up. The dots are being connected. The web is exposed.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 10:55am
NAME THE LAW THAT WAS BROKEN?
This says it all.
Posted by Hman23 at 03/14/2007 @ 10:57am
MAASCH, what did you produce today? I added value of about $200 to raw product, creating a part that will last 150 years+, just this morning. I think DRHAMMER may have taken a broken piece of equipment and made it work again. Johannes is probably creating something from nothing. FROMREDBIRD has changed Arafats bedpan.
what have you produced?
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 10:59am
(its a joke RED)
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 11:00am
Liberty -
There is little hope for you if you cannot see the dangers in politicizing the U.S. Attorney's Office. While it is common for a new administration to replace USAs wholesale when it comes into office, what happened here is much different -- USAs were targeted midterm for political reasons only. It is a dangerous precedent and one I am sure you will object to when a Democrat is in the White House.
Posted by Hman23 at 03/14/2007 @ 11:02am
Have you all read/heard about Chimpy removing the US attorney, Frederick Black, while Black was investigating Abramoff?
Zero shame.
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 11:04am
So, ultimately, say Gonzales resigns....
then what happens?
Posted by Mask at 03/14/2007 @ 11:34am
Crab, thanks for the nod. I have been surprisingly fecund these days, perhaps inspired by my selection in that group show, now closed. I made three pictures last sunday morning, and edited one complete dance video.I am working on collages based on photographs I took, in a sort of wide screen format.
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/14/2007 @ 11:50am
JR,
Good for you. I have a hard time not being creative at work (admin) and producing mainly examples of what art should look like in my classes... In my studio anything goes, but completing just 'one' seems to take years. Photo is becoming a 'go to' art for me when I'm stuck in my drawing and painting.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 12:23pm
So, ultimately, say Gonzales resigns....
then what happens?
Posted by MASK 03/14/2007 @ 11:34am
Drip, drip, drip,...
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 12:24pm
Crab,
MAASCH, what did you produce today? I added value of about $200 to raw product, creating a part that will last 150 years+, just this morning. I think DRHAMMER may have taken a broken piece of equipment and made it work again. Johannes is probably creating something from nothing. FROMREDBIRD has changed Arafats bedpan.
what have you produced?
Posted by CRABWALK 03/14/2007 @ 10:59am
I sold $ 120.000 worth of jewelery today and spent $ 1,600 of expenses on the road doing so...therefore, I helped keep the airlines in the air, hotels full, restaurants cooking, gas stations pumping, car rental open,factory workers working to produce more jewelery, UPS workers shipping,..add up all the service workers from hotel maids to ring buffers...a small profit for me, phone workers working..and that was just yesterday..I also paid bills online and send in my tax return info to my accountant..
I have also set up an appointment with Target for an unrelated product, set up a meeting for next week in LA, where the Chinese will import an American designed, built, owned, manufactured, maintained with training, a new product for various industrys....China will hire AMERICAN techs to run the equipment, and run the service in China..China will pay all expenses, in advance and will buy many more machines..the deal counld be worth 10s of millions...and what is it? A special scanner that allows us to see inside an oil pipe in a refinery or pipe line to measure minute changes in internal circumfrances, in order to determine if a potentil break could occur...we also use this to check fire suppression systems...the technology is new and some American companys are testing it now.....Cheveron bought a few last week...had to get unions to look at it for work rules...for Christ sake,...but it could be considered a green technology...it is hand held and light weight and spits out the results on the spot...works in water plants, warehouse fire suppression systems and even in Navy ships...pretty cool, really and we will hopefully get enough orders to open a manufacturing plant here in California or Washington..I prefer Honolulu where I would love to have an office for 6 months a year..any I am trying to keep it American and help my fellow American people...if it works I could retire. if not, I got back to work anyway..and the best part? No govt involved other than I gotta send them the biggest single check at the end of the year.
Is that enough for today CRAB? I also have more items I am trying to sell ...
How was your day?
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 12:39pm
So, ultimately, say Gonzales resigns....
then what happens?
Posted by MASK 03/14/2007 @ 11:34am
Drip, drip, drip,...
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 12:24pm
MASK's scented candle burning down. :)
Posted by fromredbird at 03/14/2007 @ 12:47pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 12:23pm
BUSHFOOLS,
My middle son, 15 years old, is an a talented artist..the school district assigned him a mentor from the university when he was in elementry and middle school, and he wishes to continue after high school in the arts...where can he go to schools and what types of "university" level art schools are there and where do I start to look in order to help him...
Can you suggest anything or point me in the right(no pun) direction? Thank you.
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 12:54pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 12:24pm
drip, drip, drip.....until January 20th, 2009, HSUB. Gonzales gets replaced by some "nice guy" Republican and that's that.
Posted by Mask at 03/14/2007 @ 2:17pm
Posted by FROMREDBIRD 03/14/2007 @ 12:47pm
Good thing he's "got me on Ignore"...huh?
hehe
Posted by Mask at 03/14/2007 @ 2:18pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 12:54pm
Does your son want an academic art degree or a conservatory art type degree? Big difference.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 2:33pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 12:24pm
drip, drip, drip.....until January 20th, 2009, HSUB. Gonzales gets replaced by some "nice guy" Republican and that's that.
Posted by MASK 03/14/2007 @ 2:17pm
You wish.
The drip, drip, drip, is water torture for repubs seeing their repub new cons fall from grace. Funny the sound of when they actually hit bottom though isn't a thud or blop but more of a poof.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 3:04pm
Funny the sound of when they actually hit bottom though isn't a thud or blop but more of a poof.
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 3:04pm | ignore this person
:-)
Posted by Lillian at 03/14/2007 @ 3:10pm
All hot air. Probably adding to the climate change-- perhaps there's hope though-- in that it may even correct global climate change when enough repub new con windbags go poof!
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 3:11pm
Ya know, for a bunch of self-righteous homophobes they seem really big on bending one of their own over to "take one for the team"!
Posted by leftofcenter at 03/14/2007 @ 3:12pm
Oh doesn't that sound go poof, poof, poof,...
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 3:15pm
Bush,
Does your son want an academic art degree or a conservatory art type degree? Big difference.
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 2:33pm
I am not sure of the difference..I know he would like to make a living off his art and I don't know if that means teaching or designing something for industry, advertising or gallerys...he brought home some art school literature from around the country and they seem to involve some sort of work opportunitys after graduation..IE., the art institute in Minneapolis, the Art school in Denver.and many other citys...I want to encourage what ever he wants to do and I want to be able to support the direction, but I also want to give him direction...
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 3:21pm
Wow, what an improvement in just a month and a half-- what happens when these approval numbers for congressional dems double in a couple of months? And then with hsuB's approval sinking into the teens! Supeanas, proof of wrong doing, articles of impeachment, the cure for war and global warming all in one !
CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. March 9-11, 2007. N=1,027 adults nationwide.
"Do you think it is good for the country or bad for the country that the Democratic party is in control of Congress?" Half sample, MoE ± 4.5
Date________Good____Bad____Neither___Unsure
3/9-11/07_____59______29_______6________6
"Do you approve or disapprove of what the Democratic leaders in the U.S. House and Senate have done so far this year?" Half sample, MoE ± 4.5
Date_______Approve__Disapprove__Unsure
3/9-11/07_____47________40________13
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 3:33pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 3:04pm
Okay HSUB...we need you over at Mr Nichols latest "Lawless Attorney General"....
for a quick prediction on when the bills of impeachment will be coming out of the US House against Gonzales.
"late October" is already spoken for, by the way!
Posted by Mask at 03/14/2007 @ 3:41pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 3:21pm
The ones you mentioned are conservatory type art schools; meaning they specialize mainly in just that area. An academic type art degree, found at most large universities, requires a lot more social and natural science coursework. I like the academic type degree for that reason. Have to know a lot more than art for art sake but rather art as it relates to the human condition cross sciences. Liked when it all comes together around the junior year. A good base for going on to graduate school but flexable enough to adapt to related career areas too. Unfortunately only your son can make those decisions as he experiences them. I'd allow him to explore as much as possible on the web, narrow them down to 'his' best and then go visit both 3-4 universities as well as 3-4 art schools. He'll know the right one when he gets there.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 3:45pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 3:45pm
A sincere thanks for your help.
John
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 4:06pm
No prob-- family is/should be neutral ground, for everyone's benefit.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 4:15pm
Maasch, School of Visual Arts, NYC, Cooper Union, NYC. the latter is an unusual school in that every student admitted gets a full scholarship. Rhode Island School of Design.R.I.
My art studies have consisted of going to the Museum of Modern Art nearly every day for a few years, and, you guessed it, books.
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/14/2007 @ 4:18pm
Thanks, Jr...
and Bush, I agree with your last post.
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 4:24pm
Been to four different universities, (two public/two private), two junior colleges, even enrolled in the San Francisco Art Inst. and taught at the San Antonio Art Inst. (when it existed) and taught at four other art programs, liked being at the Kansas City Art Inst., and like JR, been to a lot of art museums up to Boston and back, but not every day. Changed my major five times when I started. And the only thing that stood out consistently was that nothing I learned was ever wasted. Just never knew when it was going to get utilized...Just like a box of cholates.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 4:55pm
Posted by HSUBFOOLS 03/14/2007 @ 4:55pm | ignore this person
a colorful, checkered background.
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/14/2007 @ 5:14pm
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 12:39pm
so, you worked a lot. But produced nothing.
You will buy from A, sell to B, probably facilitated by C and D. Good work if one can get it, actually one of the ways I prefer to do business. Less work for the buck, usually. Kudos for working to keep employing your neighbors.
But you said the people that produce are the engine of capitalism and create the wealth and well being of this country (or something to that effect). I just want you to keep in mind that those of us that breathe the dust and break our bones to actually make things for you to sell deserve our fair share of the credit and pay . It seems like many of your compatriots in the pure Laisse-fair dogma wagon forget that, as do you.
Marx was wrong about many things, but dead on in a few. Opiates and the value of the working class are two.
I think he also wrote "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. " ba-dum!
I think I may call you "The Middle Man".
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 7:52pm
oh, I think you may have used the guvt along the way. Airports, roads, regulation of weights/measures, food inspection of the filet and grape, inspection of the restaurants etc.
Posted by crabwalk at 03/14/2007 @ 7:58pm
Crab,
Not on the scanners...we will make them ourselves, until we can't do it alone and then produce them in a factory that we set up...
as far as producing nothing, I(we) produce jobs, a product and capital,as well as profits.. which is the entire point..we add value to something when there was none...so we can fund your beloved govt..as well as make a profit so we can grow larger and hopefully sell more..in the short and long run we will prevent a spill in a refinery or a failure in a fire system..
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 8:25pm
oh, I think you may have used the guvt along the way. Airports, roads, regulation of weights/measures, food inspection of the filet and grape, inspection of the restaurants etc.
Posted by CRABWALK 03/14/2007 @ 7:58pm
Yup, and paid for the sevice, too. Your point is?
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 8:26pm
Crab,
We produce A from nothing and sell to D...we are b and c. No middlemen at all. That is inefficient...if we sell to a third party in order to better cover the market or sell to another to form a service company that will sell the service our product produces to a 4th party, then they are b and c, but we do not benefit other than the intial sale to b, as we would to d.
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 8:31pm
We produce A from nothing and sell to D...we are b and c.
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 8:31pm
but you can't produce something from nothing.
It's that whole physical laws of the universe thing that the guys you work with over at the office don't agree with
Posted by Will C. at 03/14/2007 @ 11:02pm
I think therefore I am...
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/14/2007 @ 11:49pm
Willard,
I'll type real slow so you can keep up...
we take an idea, that consists of electrons in our minds and transform it into a physical form(something) and increase the value of the idea giving it the forementioned physical form, and from there...its here you lose it completely..its above your pay and education level...you have a low threshold,...a case can be made, tho, that a tree is valueable in one form and has a different value in another, say a framed out house...in that case you, the framer ,it could be argued, had no effect on the value...you contributed nothing to the wood or the finished product....except saw dust of course...your main contribution to our nation.
Now go play, adults are talking here.
Posted by john maasch at 03/14/2007 @ 11:53pm
Nope, I think therefore I am generous.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/15/2007 @ 12:00am
a case can be made, tho, that a tree is valueable in one form and has a different value in another,
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 11:53pm
but you implied the tree has no value. Here let's take a look...
we add value to something when there was none
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 8:25pm
Of course what actually happens is the tree has the same value as it transitions from raw material to finished product. Any additional costs accrued in the milling process (and this is probably the slight of hand that is confusing you) are do to necessary investments in labor for harvesting, transportation, milling, stocking, shipping, receiving, building, bookkeeping and that ever present skim off of profits at each transaction point.
In the end the value of the actual wood remains the same. It's a physical laws of the universe thing
Posted by Will C. at 03/15/2007 @ 12:11am
I think therefore I am not john maasch
Posted by Will C. at 03/15/2007 @ 12:12am
Are you sure? There's that reincarnation thing plus the whole infinity thing... eventual you may actually be john maasck, er, maasch too.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/15/2007 @ 12:22am
eventually with even the same molecules
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/15/2007 @ 12:24am
That God, funny all the time.
Posted by hsuBfools at 03/15/2007 @ 12:30am
In an infinite universe with infinite probability and infinite recurrence it is certain that one day I will be john massch and he will be will c.
And with the same certainty will c then, will be as infinitely stupid as john maasch now
and you'll see
:)
Posted by Will C. at 03/15/2007 @ 12:48am
"...lets start with the dept of Energy and Education..since they product nothing."
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/13/2007 @ 5:29pm
and we all know how important edjukatshun is to Dubya...by all means.
Moron...
Posted by leftofcenter at 03/15/2007 @ 10:51am
Posted by WILL C. 03/15/2007 @ 12:11am
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/14/2007 @ 8:25pm
"we add value to something when there was none"
The real issue I see here is the very typical blindered conservationist attitude that the tree has no value unless used. Ignorance of the intrinsic value of the many aspects of the natural world is the very reason the environment is as screwed up as it is. It is no wonder that we are in an "ultra-consumer" mentality in our society that is driving us like lemmings to the cliff.
JM...I can come back and define the big words for you if you need.
Posted by leftofcenter at 03/15/2007 @ 10:57am
Maasch,
That's complete crap! The GAO and several other policy groups put social security administration costs by the gov't at/around 3-5% and private firm costs at/around 10-15%. The gov't isn't out to make a buck on the backs of its citizens but corporations and private firms revel in it. Wall Street demands this!
Posted by Chris C at 03/15/2007 @ 11:18am
If, as the Tories here claim, there was nothing wrong with firing the AGs, why pray tell did Gonzos second get canned? and why iare memebers of congress of both parties clamoring for Gonzo's head?
Posted by johannesrolf at 03/15/2007 @ 11:35am
"...we take an idea, that consists of electrons in our minds and transform it into a physical form(something) and increase the value of the idea giving it the forementioned physical form." You don't have free electrons floating around in your head, John, unless your biochemistry is different from every other person on the planet (that would explain a LOT), nor do you transform those electrons into a physical form, either (if you could, this would explain the god-like arrogance). If you want to snub someone with "this is adults talking", start speaking like an adult.
Posted by brantl at 03/15/2007 @ 1:42pm
Brantl,
Good rebuttal,,
I will take our ideas, that originate in our thought process, turn them into a product, which a number of companys and countrys are looking at with interest...and with hard work, determination, failures, long hours, losing money and sleep, maybe make numerous sales requiring help to build and use the machines, and in the process make a fine profit.
I don't give a shit what you want to call what we are doing and you can call all of us who do this idiots, stupid, greedy, selfish...but we will continue to try to make things and generate wealth...somebody has to since from what I have read on this site 90% copuld make a profit at a lemonade stand and would starve in the middle of a wheayt field. You need people like us types ..you needs us fund all of your needed programs...as these programs were left to you they would all go broke and un funded.
I will tell you this...if we get bought out or expand and make millions...I am sure I can come back here and find the usual suspects still here whinning..Will C yabbering economic jibberish to whom, I don't know...someone else who can't get it together, still be giving advise on how the economy works, Zero ranting about evils of Democrats and Republicans, Fromhellsboola will still be blaming the jews,MT..who knows...who cares..maybe he will find his anachro-commune..
Me ? I will be sitting on the beach somewhere...and if our product fails, we will start over with something else...it is only a matter of time...
Posted by john maasch at 03/16/2007 @ 04:26am
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/16/2007 @ 04:26am | ignore this person
John,
Don't confuse thougthful consideration of one's life work with the external consequences as failure, while blind obssession with raking in as much dough by whatever means as the only measure of success. The current system in America is based on exploitation and the basic business model is: invest capital in business venture, pay employees the least amount possible, take surplus from their labor and invest in whatever brings quickest return. Let the government pick up the pieces(pollution, mass layoffs, record bankruptcies, accounting scandals frauding investors, and so on...) Your primitive analysis of anyone rejecting your mythological utopian free-market model assigns them to loser status; just as you perceive all those living in poverty as inferior and due to personal defects of character and life choices. Sure, you work hard. Big deal. Most people do. Were your parents college educated? I would guess they were. Already you were born ahead of the curve as I'm sure they were interested in seeing that you received a decent education and were not treading water barely able to survive, so they probably had the means to assist.
Personally, I am very poor in economic terms (though not at all unhappy). I am studying to receive my degree in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis, with a strong emphasis in fisheries science. This is a field where many focus on high paying jobs in say, the defense industry. I am making the choice to utilize this training for work in environmental affairs. Will I be a sulking loser if I'm earning 30-50 thousand dollars as opposed to the big bucks you perceive to be everyone's Holy Grail? You have your personal motivations and means to achieve them, we have our own. Most of the people here communicate intelligently, and despite your insistent mocking of Will C's trade he consistently displays witty and sophisticated commentary that I suspect you secretly admire and even envy. John K. Galbraith throughout his career critiqued the systemic weakensses of reckless, unregulated capitalism where the predictable "bad apples" or cyclical "bumps in the road" caused mass suffering; The Great Depression, S&L scandals, various monetary crises, the recent accoutning scandals, etc. Was Galbraith a loser who just couldn't cut it in "your" world?
Posted by Oustbush at 03/16/2007 @ 11:19am
Posted by OUSTBUSH 03/16/2007 @ 11:19am
Here, here!
Small world OB...I am finishing my degree in Analytical Organic Geochemistry with an emphasis in Environmental Modeling/BiogeoChem Cycling. And it'll be us that teach the spawn of JM, LL and others in colleges and universities across the nation.
Posted by leftofcenter at 03/16/2007 @ 11:24am
Your blog blasting Kyle Sampson as the perfect lap dog because he's Mormon is very offensive. Lap dogs come in all shapes, size, colors, creeds and religions. Just because this one happens to be Mormon is beside the point.
Posted by DragonRam at 03/16/2007 @ 12:08pm
It's also time to finally peel the "ignorance" label off George Bush. It seem unlikely that he was completely ignorant of all the underhanded dealings of his staff.
He shouldn't only be "held accountable' for what happened under his watch, he should also be exposed for full knowledge and culpability of these "impeachable/traitorous" acts.
Let's stop treating George Bush as a complete idiot and realize that he may only be half idiot and the other half ..... perhaps a devious, immoral, nasty, bully who is easily led to seek revenge against anyone who searches for the truth.
It's not just Cheney and Rove. The true villans are the troika of Bush, Cheney, and Rove.
Posted by bohdan yuri at 03/16/2007 @ 3:36pm