HRC's Blackwater Connection

UPDATE: Mark Penn emailed the Politico's Ben Smith to say that the Associated Press story, on which I wrote this blog post, is inaccurate. "It was a temporary assignment based on a relationship that has concluded," Penn says. "Burson is correcting this." The question, of course, is what was the "temporary assignment," when did it begin and when did it conclude? To be continued...

UPDATE II: Burson says its subsidiary, BKSH & Associates, run by GOP operative Charlie Black, "helped Blackwater prepare for their recent hearing before Congress. With the hearing over, BKSH's temporary engagement has ended."

The PR firm run by Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton's top strategist, has a new client: Blackwater.

Burson and its subsidiaries, as I reported in a profile of Hillary's corporate advisors in May, has represented everyone from union-busters to big tobacco to Ahmad Chalabi. Blackwater represents a new low.

The firm will be tasked with salvaging Blackwater's tattered image and allegedly murderous conduct. But hey, if Burson could set up the National Smokers Alliance on behalf of Philip Morris, which covertly fought anti-smoking initiatives, who knows what they could do for private mercenaries.

The account is being handled by Robert Tappan, a former State Department official who directed communications for the Coalition Provisional Authority in 2004. Tappan was presumably one of the people tasked to defend Blackwater when State was giving it hundreds of millions of dollars in military contracts.

Hillary Clinton, like so many Democratic politicians, has sharply criticized the conduct of Blackwater in Iraq. "Let's end outsourcing our government to companies like Blackwater and hold the contractor accountable," she said at a rally in California this week.

But her chief strategist remains the head honcho at the company defending them. Penn has never clarified his financial stake at Burson since he joined the Clinton campaign, nor exactly how much business he's still doing. Now might be a good time for a thorough explanation.

UPDATE III In Iowa today, Edwards attacked Hillary on her strategist's Blackwater ties. "I also saw this morning that Senator Clinton's primary advisor, Mark Penn who is like her Karl Rove–-his firm is representing Blackwater," Edwards said. "I think it is important for Iowa caucus goers to understand the choices they have in this election. And it is the reason I continue to say we don't want to replace a group of corporate Republicans with a group of corporate Democrats."

Comments (65)

1. why does obama NOT have to go on the offensive with 50 foot queenie?

   why indeed...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 12:08pm

2. Well, I'm sure we'll get FRANKGRITS explaining that Hillary "has to do that to win" or something (or go off on another Limbaugh tear)....

   and HAPPY will explain how this article is part of "The Nation's" cheerleading for HRC.

   heheh

   Posted by Mask at 10/05/2007 @ 12:47pm

3. lol - i actually think the nation has been subtlely anti-hillary...

   look at the last few blog postings...the most positive thing i can remember is giving her credit for the eaningless little backtrack on the iran war thing...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 12:55pm

4. oooooohhhh jaylo is pregnant! ooooohhhh!

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 12:56pm

5. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 10/05/2007 @ 12:55pm

   No, no, as HAPPY will HAPPILY explain...it's all part of "The Nation's" devious plan to prop up Her Nibs and support her at every turn, since as everybody knows, the liberal base just LOVE Hillary!

   Posted by Mask at 10/05/2007 @ 1:49pm

6. Posted by MASK 10/05/2007 @ 1:49pm

   who knows? lol

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 1:53pm

7. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 10/05/2007 @ 12:56pm

   post me a link.

   now!

   Posted by frosty zoom at 10/05/2007 @ 2:38pm

8. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 10/05/2007 @ 12:55pm

   fix that blasted m key.

   are you going to address "MASK" as "ASK"?

   think of the ramifications of that.

   do you really want people to vote for the "Deocrats"? -- i think that's what they already do.

   are you working on the campaign of mr. "Obaa"? -- i would look sheepishly upon such an endorsement.

   thanks,

   frosty zoo

   Posted by frosty zoom at 10/05/2007 @ 2:48pm

9. Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/05/2007 @ 2:53pm

   yeah...i'd say "anti" is more accurate. some more than others here.

   BUSHCLINTONBUSHCLINTON

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 3:12pm

10. ok...lets see...chelsea clinton is now 27...so by 2016, 36...so if she is to succeed jeb bush...after hillary clinton...

    needs to start running for office within the next few years...or marry someone who will...

    bushclintonbushclintonbushclinton.....

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 3:21pm

11. Clinton turned down Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Brown to attend Stanford University. She majored in chemistry with an interest in medicine before switching to history after 2 years.[10] In 2001, she graduated with distinction from Stanford; her undergraduate thesis topic was her father's mediation of the 1998 Northern Ireland peace agreement. She went on to earn a Master's degree at University College, Oxford in international relations.[10]

    In 2003, Clinton joined the consulting firm McKinsey & Company in New York City, reportedly earning a low six-figure salary; she was the youngest person hired in her class, hired alongside those holding MBAs.[11][10]

    In the fall of 2006, she left McKinsey and went to work for Avenue Capital, a hedge fund run by Marc Lasry, a loyal donor to Democratic causes generally, and heavy supporter of the Clintons.[10]

    She dated Ian Klaus and they broke up in 2005.[12] She is currently dating Marc Mezvinsky, a Goldman Sachs employee and a graduate of Stanford University. He is the son of disgraced former Congressman Edward Mezvinsky (D-Iowa) and Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, also a former member of Congress from Pennsylvania.[10][13]

    The 2004 film Chasing Liberty was said to be inspired by a photograph of Clinton at a Stanford basketball game, trying to blend in with other students.[4] As was the movie First Daughter

    Clinton has never publicly commented about any of her parents' policies or public statements. On May 15, 2006, Hillary Clinton apologized to Chelsea for critical remarks she made about young people's work ethic, after the younger Clinton privately took exception to her mother's comments.[14]

    Since 2005, Clinton had lived in the mid-Manhattan west side neighborhood of Chelsea. The neighborhood north of it, Hell's Kitchen, has been referred to as Clinton by real estate agents attempting to avoid the neighborhood's traditionally poor image.[citation needed] The two Midtown West neighborhoods are sometimes lumped together by real estate agents as "Chelsea Clinton" and there was a local weekly newspaper "Chelsea Clinton News" before she became the famous first daughter. As of 2006, Chelsea had moved to a building in the Gramercy area of Manhattan (just east of Chelsea). During the November 2006 mid-term election, in which her mother was running for re-election to the Senate, attention was drawn to her residence when it was discovered that an error at her 20th Street polling station had resulted in her name not being on the voting books. Clinton was allowed to vote via a paper ballot.[15]

    She serves on the board of the School of American Ballet.[10] She has also served as co-chairwoman of a fund-raising weekend for her father's Clinton Foundation.[10]

    hmmm...low 6 figure salary for ba in history and masters in international relations...right out of college!

    hey kids - get a ba in history and a masters in international studies! THATS where the money is! low 6 figgers! damn!

    wonder when the bushclintons stop pretending and just intermarry?

    constitutionaly monarchy anyone? why not? cant elect a non-bushclinton...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 3:28pm

12. oops...italics should have ended with "[15]"

    from wiki...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 3:29pm

13. gaaah...make that [10]

    distractions...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 3:33pm

14. She is America's favorite daughter, 'Destiny's Child'. She can't be stopped.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/05/2007 @ 3:32pm

    destiny's child? who or what is "destiny" and what is this entity known as "destiny"'s goals? where does "destiny" get its money and influence and how does "destiny" then dole it out?

    ABANDON HOPE ALL WHO OPPOSE DESTINY AND ITS CHOSEN BUSHCLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON!

    what is this "destiny"? is it like "divine right"? or is it a euphemism for rupert murdoch?

    destiny....

    BUSHCLINTONVUSHCLINTONBUSHCLINTON UBER ALLES

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 3:41pm

15. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 10/05/2007 @ 3:41pm

    googleimages bush clinton

    and look at the smilin' faces.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/05/2007 @ 3:44pm

16. I said she can't be stopped. Let me correct that. Democrats can stop her and give the election to Rudy. Just keep attacking her and then listen to hoew the rightwing hate talk shows through your words right back at you. Some people just don't get it.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/05/2007 @ 3:38pm

    uh oh...looks hopeless...

    its either the senator from new york who votes for wars and endorses likud's middle eastern policies or some rebublican who does the same...

    so america, either vote for the dem who pretends to be different and promises a few bones or vote for the pub or...

    ABANDON HOPE AND WATCH DESPERATE HOUSE WIVES. PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND CARP ENDLESSLY ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING SUX...

    OR VOTE HRC! MORE OF THE SAME - ITS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO THE SAME.

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 4:01pm

17. Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/05/2007 @ 4:19pm

    destiny, eh? back to oppose "destiny" in a little bit...lol...

    my destiny draws me away for a while...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 4:23pm

18. DESTINY OR DOOM

    DOOM 1. fate or destiny, esp. adverse fate; unavoidable ill fortune: In exile and poverty, he met his doom. 2. ruin; death: to fall to one's doom. 3. a judgment, decision, or sentence, esp. an unfavorable one: The judge pronounced the defendant's doom. 4. the Last Judgment, at the end of the world. 5. Obsolete. a statute, enactment, or legal judgment. –verb (used with object) 6. to destine, esp. to an adverse fate. 7. to pronounce judgment against; condemn. 8. to ordain or fix as a sentence or fate.

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 4:29pm

19. Barack Obama isn't the second coming. He's not going to stop her.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/05/2007 @ 4:25pm

    GUESS I SHOULD JUST GIVE UP OR SUBMIT, EH?

    NOT YET...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 4:32pm

20. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 10/05/2007 @ 4:32pm

    it would take the second coming to stop her?

    what does that make her? lol...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/05/2007 @ 4:34pm

21. I'm not voting for her, Frank.

    I don't care how much you try to shame me into it, or how much you keep telling me that she's destined for the office or that a vote for someone other than her will cause the republic to fall further down than it is, I'm not gonna do it.

    And it's because of shit like what Mr. Berman has found out for us. I think that she's sold her soul to big business. I think we've already had a couple of folks who have done that in a row.

    Like I've said before, I helped get Bill into office and got a serious case of buyers remorse the minute that he signed two of the worse pieces of pre-USA PATRIOT act legislation known to man: the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the Welform Reform Act of 1996.

    I've already seen that she'll do the same thing because she voted for the PATRIOT Act (without reading it, I might add) and continues to vote to give the Dumbass In Chief the power he needs to be the biggest of all possible dumbasses. Add this to the fact that she doesn't fight at all for women's rights or civil rights and you'll get the basis for my just sayin' NO to Hillary.

    I'm not going to experience another bit of buyers remorse here. Whom I support, when I make that decision, may not win. But my conscience will be clear as a bell knowing that I didn't vote for someone whose interests are so diametrically opposed to mine that I can't even look at myself in the mirror.

    You can try all the scare tactics and "Destiny's Child" crap that you want Frank. Although I respect you a great deal, Hillary's not getting my vote. I don't like what she stands for and I don't think we need what she stands for in our next president.

    Posted by edwriter at 10/05/2007 @ 5:04pm

22. Come on, RESE....tell FRANK how Hillary is secretly a Jesuit stooge!

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 10/05/2007 @ 5:30pm

23. ....HAPPY will explain how this article is part of "The Nation's" cheerleading for HRC.

    Posted by MASK 10/05/2007 @ 12:47pm

    You flatter me...hehehehhe......guess now you've been conditioned to be always HAPPY-minded, hehehehehe!!!

    As a free-market guy, I will stay consistent and DEFEND Mark Penn's firm. In big time business, including PR firms, the appearance of conflict-of-interest is endless. The `solution' is of course, different staff, often from a different locale, serve the opposing clients. No Big Deal.....that's our system and the loophole, if you prefer to call it, exist in every type of professional services organization of any size.....NOBODY wants to lose business just to uphold `appearance'......they all want $$$$ to appear as often as possible! That's just the way the systems was built, by lawyers/legislators, aka sharks!!!

    Posted by Happy at 10/05/2007 @ 8:01pm

24. Oh, forgot to add.....

    IF some people WISH to look at this commentary as being CRITICAL of HRC, you are definitely in HER BAG! Less than a slap-on-wrist, more like a quick ball blowing!

    Posted by Happy at 10/05/2007 @ 8:03pm

25. Posted by HAPPY 10/05/2007 @ 8:03pm

    HAPP, what do you call a person who sees reams of evidence in DIRECT OPPOSITION to his belief about reality and refuses to accept it?

    Besides "Mr. President" of course....heheh

    "The Nation" can post article after article critical of HRC...and you won't believe it POSSIBLE that they don't like her and want another candidate. And of course if she gets the nomination and they post a "Oh, okay, we got no choice now...we can't let Romney win it", you go "Ah-HA! See, told ya!"

    Posted by Mask at 10/05/2007 @ 8:46pm

26. what do you call a person who sees reams of evidence in DIRECT OPPOSITION to his belief about reality and refuses to accept it?

    by mask.

    he is called pontificus.

    sorry, ponti. but can't you see bush/hillary are the same side of the same coin?

    heads they win/tails we lose.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/05/2007 @ 8:51pm

27. Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 10/05/2007 @ 8:51pm

    The trick is use his OWN GUYS against him...then he's trapped into saying they're full of s**t or his side is blowing it or he's in the minority.

    a la Gingrich saying there's a 80% chance the Dems will win the WH. Does Ponti call Newt an idiot...or admit that the voting public truly DOESN'T share his views.

    or does he go HAPPY and tries to obfuscate or deny the fact?

    Posted by Mask at 10/05/2007 @ 10:05pm

28. "The Nation" can post article after article critical of HRC...and you won't believe it POSSIBLE that they don't like her and want another candidate....

    Posted by MASK 10/05/2007 @ 8:46pm

    I have absolutely NO DOUBT The Nation will go with Hillary OPENLY after she's the Nominee.....it just don't want to be overtly in HER BAG before then!

    There has been a few more commentaries bearing some hints of displeasure w/HRC (thanks to me, me thinks) but on a Taco Bell scale of Mild-Hot-Fire, I'd rank it (Gringa) Mild. TN is hardly going out of its way to actually promote non-HRCs', which is within its power and would align it better with its readership......but it has a longstanding business to run.....it can't afford idealism nor truly want serious change!

    Talk is cheap and still, TN can't afford it or as I surmise, flatly won't walk the walk of true progressive/libs! I could be wrong IF the bloggers here are NOT representative of its overall readership. Judging from the articles, other than the presidential contest, TN is pretty far left & definitely socialistic.....Orwellian!

    Posted by Happy at 10/05/2007 @ 10:16pm

29. Posted by MASK 10/05/2007 @ 10:05pm

    if you find a moment:

    http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/allcomments?pid=239880&rpg=2

    starting here:

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 10/04/2007 @ 11:16pm

    however, i will venture to say your assessment is correct.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/05/2007 @ 11:58pm

30. Hillary is bad news.

    John Edwards is leading in the national head to head match ups. Hillary won't be able to carry the swing states or any state in the South, unlike John Edwards.

    Posted by neaguy at 10/06/2007 @ 12:49am

31. I weep for my country. Beyonce Welch - Mother & Grandmother for Peace.

    Posted by proudleftists at 10/06/2007 @ 04:41am

32. "Judging from the articles, other than the presidential contest, TN is pretty far left & definitely socialistic.....Orwellian!---"Posted by HAPPY 10/05/2007 @ 10:16pm

    Amazing that a guy who has NO problem with "Big Bush" warrentlessly wire-tapping him or anybody else....calls "TN" "Orwellian"!

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 10/06/2007 @ 08:05am

33. ...."Big Bush" warrentlessly wire-tapping him or anybody else....calls "TN" "Orwellian"!

    Posted by MASK 10/06/2007 @ 08:05am

    Hey, Bud, got any evidence I am being wire-tapped? I'll give you 25 days to show proof! IF I'm plotting to 1) set off a nuke, 2) get my hands on some bio goodies, or 3) some easily disguised gas cylinders with some foreigners, you better hope I am being wire-tapped or at the very least, whichever shadowy unknown characters I am in contact with.....probably via the internet in some code speak!

    BTW, doesn't requiring healthcare coverage to get a job sound mighty similar to requiring party membership to get a job? Neither is a reality today but guess which one is more likely! Checkmate!!!

    Posted by Happy at 10/06/2007 @ 11:00am

34. Before I MoveOn to the best part of fall weekends, college football, let me `work' for the common laugh....a great & spot-on cartoon from today that pictures Hillary mouthing the following:

    I am FOR the war and AGAINST it.

    I'm against a timetable for withdrawal. But I voted to cut off funding after June 2008.

    I fully support the troops, I'm just against funding them.

    I believe Gen. Petraeus is a man of great honor and distinction who has served admirably, which is why I voted against the MoveOn.org ad.

    I'm against torture even in a ticking bomb scenario, with the narrow exception when I said I was for it in an interview with the Daily News last October.

    If I was the president of a university, I would never have invited AhmadDineInYourJeans to speak, this is NOT a criticism of Columbia University.

    ANYONE who says they would meet with the worst tyrannical leaders is too inexperienced to be POTUS....unless it was during an interview I gave last year.

    If the Cubs and the Yankees meet in the World Series, I will back the Cubs AND the Yankees.

    I represent the politics of change. I changed from (Charlie) Trie to (Norman) Hsu.

    (I) Dodge....cackle.

    Posted by Happy at 10/06/2007 @ 1:51pm

35. Correction:

    I believe Gen. Petraeus is a man of great honor and distinction who has served admirably, which is why I voted against condemning the MoveOn.org ad.

    Posted by Happy at 10/06/2007 @ 1:53pm

36. Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/05/2007 @ 3:32pm

    Puke. ---

    HAPPY has zero problem with Big Brother dropping interest rates to keep those stocks floating. Socialism is GOOD for the incestor class.

    Trust me HAPPYCOWARD, you would be just as HAPPYARROGANT with Hillary as you are with Chimpy. The only difference would be the total anti-hillary coverage you would be feeding on from your favorite drug addict blow hard. If her last name were not Clinton, you would be on her like corruption in ChimpCo, that is, like stink on shit.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/06/2007 @ 2:29pm

37. It just cracks me up when the pro-corporate, pro-war crowd goes after a pro-corporate, pro-war politician. Especially when those same pro-corporate types defend corruption in their ranks till their last breaths, but think lost travel papers are equal to billions missing in Iraq.

    Keep amusing me neo-cons. Just keep being your asinine, myopic, self centered selves.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/06/2007 @ 2:35pm

38. Posted by HAPPY 10/06/2007 @ 11:00am

    HAPP, I'd tell you if you were being wire-tapped, but...

    the program is classified so only the Administration knows for sure, and like Winston Smith at the end of the novel, I'm sure you trust them....right?

    Or do we need to put the rat cage on you? Remember, you can be declared an enemy combatant at any time too!

    Posted by Mask at 10/06/2007 @ 8:16pm

39. not much big news last couple days...

    ahhh....

    went to msnbc website...most interesting thing i saw was danny bonaduce body slamming that idiot who dry humped his stomach...

    huh huh huh...that was cool...huh huh huh

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/06/2007 @ 11:05pm

40. "I have my candidate and I believe she will be our next President and make history just as Nancy Pelosi did."

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/06/2007 @ 10:55pm

    Whew! What a relief. I like you Frank, and I thought you were in for a big disappointment, when clinton becomes president.

    Now that I know that pelosi impressed you, I think you'll be thrilled with hillary.

    I always thought it might actually be better to have a woman president (less warmonger-y). But the dynasty must end.

    Ironically, there a republicans (Ron Paul) who would sooner get my vote than hillary.

    I know it's all theatre, but only Edwards seems the least bit sincere...and maybe Obama.

    Then again, with an electorate that deems one "yee-haw" to preclude electability....

    Posted by Malcontent at 10/06/2007 @ 11:57pm

41. HAPPY has zero problem with Big Brother dropping interest rates to keep those stocks floating. Socialism is GOOD for the incestor class.

    Trust me HAPPYCOWARD, you would be just as HAPPYARROGANT with Hillary as you are with Chimpy. The only difference would be the total anti-hillary coverage you would be feeding on from your favorite drug addict blow hard. If her last name were not Clinton, you would be on her like corruption in ChimpCo, that is, like stink on shit.

    Posted by CRABWALK 10/06/2007 @ 2:29pm

    ATTENTION CRABB:

    I have actually read about a dozen of your posts these past few days and say HAPPY mentioned a couple of times....none of them elicitated any interest on my part to `talk' to you. IF comments like the above shows up again, you will be gone, again, no further parole!

    Damn it, CRABB, I don't always even have the time to read people I WANT to read, like LRJONES, so I don't take kindly to read CRAPP! You want to call me childish names, you'll just have to do it behind my back....

    You're special, CRABB, the only one I've ever paroled but it sure seems like you're becoming my Willy Horton!

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 12:43am

42. Can't deal with the truth HAPPYCOWARD? Too much to handle? No response to it? It makes you want to hide behind the ignore feature?

    thats why you are a HAPPYCOWARD. What kind of person comes to a lefty site and then blocks opposing views? A HAPPYCOWARD. If all you want to read is the LEERoyJones types, go to REDSTATE.COM where they do not tolerate dissent.

    Yes, the guvt is propping up your stock market. Show me where I am wrong.

    Yes, Hillary is pro-big business and you would benefit from her policies. Show me where I am wrong.

    Or go hide from the boogeyman. Not only will you not fight for what you say you believe in, you are not even capable of defending your beliefs online. It sure appears to me that you just want a place to come to and brag about how much money you (allegedly) make from the highly regulated stock market. I got some news, no one cares!

    Except....How is that Chevron stock doing now that the Burmese junta has cracked down on the dissenting monks? I bet that makes you..... HAPPY. (See how clever I am with the use of a screen name?)

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 09:15am

43. Willy Horton. What lame dung.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 09:17am

44. "We will be greeted as liberators"

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/middleeast/07disguise.html?_r=1& ex=1349496000&en=bec129613505b85c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=sl ogin

    Maybe we should be paying Blackwater to protect.... Iraqis.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 09:25am

45. Published: October 7, 2007 WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- Tens of thousands of Medicare recipients have been victims of deceptive sales tactics and had claims improperly denied by private insurers that run the system's huge new drug benefit program and offer other private insurance options encouraged by the Bush administration, a review of scores of federal audits has found.

    Medicare officials have required insurance companies of all sizes to fix the violations by adopting "corrective action plans." Since March, Medicare has imposed fines of more than $770,000 on 11 companies for marketing violations and failure to provide timely notice to beneficiaries about changes in costs and benefits.

    The companies include three of the largest participants in the Medicare market, UnitedHealth, Humana and WellPoint.

    The audits document widespread violations of patients' rights and consumer protection standards. Some violations could directly affect the health of patients -- for example, by delaying access to urgently needed medications.

    In July, Medicare terminated its contract with a private plan in Florida after finding that it posed an "imminent and serious threat" to its 11,000 members

    ....UnitedHealth, which serves more than six million Medicare beneficiaries, did not have an "effective program" to supervise its marketing representatives, agents and brokers. In some cases, United improperly denied claims without giving any explanation to beneficiaries. Peter L. Ashkenaz, a company spokesman, said, "We terminated a few agents and brokers for misrepresenting our products."

    ¶WellPoint, one of the nation's largest insurers, had "a backlog of approximately 354,000 claims" at certain Medicare plans offered through its UniCare subsidiary. The company's call center took an average of 27 minutes to answer phone calls from its members and 16 minutes to answer calls from health care providers. More than half the callers hung up before speaking to a company representative. Karen Brown, a spokeswoman for WellPoint, had no immediate comment.

    ¶In March, Sierra Health Services ended drug coverage for more than 2,300 Medicare beneficiaries with H.I.V./AIDS, saying they had not paid their premiums. In many cases, the premiums had been paid, and beneficiaries had canceled checks to prove it. Sierra initially refused to reinstate them, but eventually agreed to do so after repeated requests from federal officials. Peter O'Neill, a vice president of Sierra, said this particular drug plan, which attracted people with very high drug costs, would not be offered in 2008.

    Nahh, can't be. the private sector is pure of heart.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 09:31am

46. HAPPY, how many of these companies do you invest in:

    http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_details.html

    does that make you..... happy?

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 09:55am

47. By Jim Kouri The Conservative Voice

    Wednesday 03 October 2007

    Washington, DC - A poll of 1,015 conservative activists and donors shows that 77 percent are either seriously disappointed with Republican Congressional leaders or want them replaced.

    The survey also found that 54 percent of conservatives feel so abandoned by current Congressional leaders and President Bush that they plan to reduce their contributions and/or grassroots work for GOP candidates in the next election. And 70 percent would support a principled conservative challenger running against an established incumbent Republican in a GOP primary.

    "Conservatives feel betrayed by the Republican leaders, and they want them replaced," said Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, which sponsored the survey.

    "Conservatives, which form the GOP's base, provided most of the volunteers and money to elect a Republican-controlled House and Senate - and wound up with bigger government as a result. Now more than half of these committed activists say they'll reduce or end their involvement in the upcoming elections - which could prove devastating for the GOP."

    Asked how they feel about the Republican members of Congress, 48 percent of conservatives report being "disappointed" and an additional 32 percent think they "should be replaced."

    See, we can agree.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 10:13am

48. Posted by FRANKGRITS 10/07/2007 @ 12:23pm

    Happy can spell.

    Posted by Malcontent at 10/07/2007 @ 4:17pm

49. does that make you..... happy?

    Posted by CRABWALK 10/07/2007 @ 09:55am

    CRABB:

    I don't give a CRAB to socially-conscious investing and if every one of the stocks I directly own (several dozens or are monitoring to buy on any given day, are invested in Burma, it won't make me HAPPY but I sure won't lose any sleep over it!

    American companies overall, are better `exploiters' than most when it comes to treating the `exploited'......and for that, you Libs actually deserve some of the credit....hope this makes you feel better, my parting `gift' as I sign off from seeing your future posts.

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 5:30pm

50. Happy can spell.

    Posted by MALCONTENT 10/07/2007 @ 4:17pm

    I take my wrrittings CEREALOUSLIE mostt of the tymee :-))))

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 5:33pm

51. "I need to cut down how many Lefties I see here!"

    Posted by HAPPY 09/21/2007 @ 5:18pm

    Posted by Malcontent at 10/07/2007 @ 5:39pm

52. Posted by MALCONTENT 10/07/2007 @ 5:39pm

    I have....it's called "Portfolio Turnover"...healthy thing to do! From what I can `see', it's not far from a Fair & Balanced blog with just a few more Lefties than Righties...I do confess all those jailed are Lefties that all sound the same...the name-calling-heads and/or the foul-mouth-heads! In financial speak...Junk Bloggers, SubPrime Bloggers, or Penny bloggers!

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 5:58pm

53. HAPPYCOWARD ran away again.

    What a chickenhawk..

    cluck, cluck cluck

    run home to mommy HAPPY to support dictatorships. You fucking parasite coward.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 6:06pm

54. Anyone care to guess which ambitious and energy-hungry country is licking its chops to see us abandon Iraq?

    China oil imports soar; refinery pact with Chad

    By William Spain, MarketWatch

    Last Update: 12:10 PM ET Oct 7, 2007

    CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- China's net imports of crude oil in the first eight months of 2007 soared more than 18% as demand for petroleum products to fuel the country's fast-growing economy continued to increase....

    China is now the world's second largest consumer of oil, after the U.S....

    William Spain is a MarketWatch staff writer in Chicago.

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 6:39pm

55. Anyone care to guess which ambitious and energy-hungry country is licking its chops to see us abandon Iraq? (let's see if this one land in the right time slot!)

    China oil imports soar; refinery pact with Chad

    By William Spain, MarketWatch

    Last Update: 12:10 PM ET Oct 7, 2007

    CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- China's net imports of crude oil in the first eight months of 2007 soared more than 18% as demand for petroleum products to fuel the country's fast-growing economy continued to increase....

    China is now the world's second largest consumer of oil, after the U.S....

    William Spain is a MarketWatch staff writer in Chicago.

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 6:41pm

56. "I do confess all those jailed are Lefties that all sound the same...the name-calling-heads and/or the foul-mouth-heads! In financial speak...Junk Bloggers, SubPrime Bloggers, or Penny bloggers!"----Posted by HAPPY 10/07/2007 @ 5:58pm

    Gee, HAPPY....that SURE sounds like "labelling of bloggers to me"!?!?!?

    "Man, you can't help yourself, right? Slapping labels on bloggers must be part of your assigned role!"---Posted by HAPPY 10/07/2007 @ 5:21pm ---"What Democracy Looks Like In Costa Rica" by John Nichols

    Posted by Mask at 10/07/2007 @ 8:07pm

57. Posted by HAPPY 10/07/2007 @ 6:41pm

    Astounding news, for a delusional moron. Any one with a brain already knows this.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/07/2007 @ 8:20pm

58. Posted by MASK 10/07/2007 @ 8:07pm

    Hahaha....Just remember, I invented such labels: "name-calling-heads and/or the foul-mouth-heads"....and I hereby label you: twist-others'-words-head, don't-trust-her-but-will-vote-her-head, badger-until-I-win-head, argue-until-they-quit-head, have-nothing-better-to-do-head,....give me time, MASKed-head, I am sure I can create more along the way....

    Posted by Happy at 10/07/2007 @ 10:04pm

59. hmmm...update part III...not just going away...

    you know, many kids voting today can't remember a tie when the country was not run by a BUSHCLINTON...

    wow...

    this is what our forefathers wanted...two families constantly occupying the presidency...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/07/2007 @ 10:36pm

60. when is chelsea running for a congressional seat? who's gonna be pres after jeb, who comes after hill?

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/07/2007 @ 10:38pm

61. BUSHCLINTONBUSHCLINTONBUSHCLINTON...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 10/07/2007 @ 10:38pm

62. Posted by HAPPY 10/07/2007 @ 10:04pm

    What a coward!

    Wants to be all proud of his name calling ability, but also wants to hide behind the ignore feature. All the while hiding behind the guvt supported stock mkt. Unconcerned that his investments in Burmeses teak require slave labor.

    This guy, Happytobeanignorantasshole, is everything that is wrong with America. Myopic, self centered, ignorant, concerned only with making a buck that he doesn't need, willing to send America youth to do a job he is too chickenshit to do himself.

    and a fucking coward yellow bellied scum bag.

    the rest of the neo-cons should be ashamed to have him as one of theirs. If they had shame.

    Feel free to pass along Frosty. Why let the little pile of feces escape so easy?

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/08/2007 @ 08:54am

63. Burson-Marsteller's name shows up several times in Naomi Klein's book "The Shock Doctrine".

    It would seem they've been putting fascist South American pigs in prom dresses for a few decades.

    They do not seem to care who they represent, and neither does Hillary.

    She's giving my spidey sense a real workout.

    Posted by drhammer at 10/08/2007 @ 09:55am

64. 2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll

    www.votenic.com [votenic.com]

    Results Posted Tuesday Evening At Midnight.

    Posted by votenic at 10/10/2007 @ 5:39pm

65. 2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll

    www.votenic.com [votenic.com]

    Results Posted Tuesday Evening At Midnight.

    Posted by votenic at 10/10/2007 @ 5:47pm