AM Feed - July 27: New Report Finds Widespread Abuse of Federal Contracts
Hot Topics
- A new bipartisan congressional report has found that, since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, government contracts have been widely abused. One of the main reasons has been the proliferation of no-bid contracts – by 2005, over half of the $10 billion in contracts awarded by the department were given without full competition. The comprehensive survey also found that 32 contracts awarded by the department (valued at a total of $34 billion) “experienced significant overcharges, wasteful spending, or mismanagement.” [link]
- As gas prices creep ever higher and Americans are feeling the squeeze at the pump, Exxon Mobil reported a $10.36 billion profit for the second quarter, a 36 percent jump over their profits a year ago. The amount is just short of the record profit of $10.71 billion turned by Exxon in the last quarter of 2005. Meanwhile, Shell’s second quarter profits jumped by 40 percent, rising to $7.32 billion. [link] and [link]
- Two new major polls have revealed a creeping sense of pessimism among the American public. The latest numbers from a NBC/Wall Street Journal survey indicate that only 27 percent feel that the country is headed in the right direction, while almost two-thirds do not think life for the next generation will be better than it has for them. Meanwhile, a New York Times/CBS poll found increased pessimism in global affairs. Nearly two-thirds do not believe there will ever be peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and just 35 percent approve of President Bush’s handling of foreign policy. [link] and [link]
Quote of the Day
“This is a new normal for our administration in the last couple years.” – A senior Bush administration official, speaking about the constant series of crises in recent years.
Comment
- Most of those crises were CREATED (or their response bungled) by this administration – don’t they get it?????? The biggest crisis, the MIDDLE EAST, is a direct result of 6 years of inept, ill-conceived, misdirected, ignorant missteps. I COULD SCREAMMMMMMM! Now, one of the few populations of a Middle Eastern country whom until now mostly liked, admired the US – Lebanon – now hates us. Good job, Bush. JEEEZ!
— jen Jul 27, 12:03 # - Oh, so the busheviks aren’t content to flush money down a rat-hole in Iraq, they are equally inept right here in the “fatherland”—waste, fraud, incompetence, cronyism runs throughout bush’s failed foreign and domestic policies/programs.
— micki Jul 27, 12:11 # - Yes, and that waste comes because the repub party belittled, castigated and trashed the venerable govt bureaucrats that were so awful and inefficient but who actually cared about what happened to our country and who felt an obligation to the taxpayer. Give me back the days of government bureaucrats and let’s get rid of these crooked government contractors who are taking all of us for a ride.
— jen Jul 27, 12:20 # - Jen, why? If you can’t beat them, join them…
— brian Jul 27, 12:50 # - Because I love my country and could never stoop so low as to swindle my country.
— jen Jul 27, 12:54 # - Brian, are you serious?
— jen Jul 27, 12:56 # - WHY DO YOU THINK CHAINGANG CHENEY’S NET WORTH HAS TRIPLED SINCE HE BECAME “VICE PRESIDENT?” CAN YOU SAY ENRON, HALLIBURTON, ETC. ETC. DO WE PAY THE VICE PRES THAT MUCH TO BE VICE PRES? DON’T THINK SO. YOGI
— YOGI Jul 27, 13:33 # - Why are we accepting Bush’s assertion that “Israel has every right to defend themselves”? Let’s say I have been a whore to a rich and powerful benefactor, one who has given me gifts of weapons, technology, cash and protection, and that benefactor has given me the penthouse in a Madison Ave building that may or may not have been theirs to give. I of course act “entitled” as I am the whore of a VERY rich and powerful benefactor. Lets go further to say that I have kidnapped several of the condo’s janitor’s and several of their security guards that did not kiss my ass when they spoke to me, did not give me my due respect for being this great whore. Finally, let’s say that my own body guard is kidnapped in an attempt to show me how obscene I am, and how offensive my actions and attitudes are. So it is now my right to take these gifts of weapons, and go door to door in my building and kill my neighbors?
I apologize if I offend anybody with this view, but I do not believe that Israel should be encouraged to act like us. We all need to be more cognizant of our neighbor’s beliefs, rights, and feelings. Even if we do have a “right” to exist where ever we want, we are NOT entitled to force our hosts and neighbors to adapt to our beliefs, practices, politics, or desires.
I truly believe we need to get over ourselves and start taking care of our own citizens.
— ronda Jul 27, 13:45 # - Ronda, your attitude about Israel shows your ignorance. Israel is not the antagonist… they are trying to simply keep their collective head above water.
Right to exist? How would you feel if Canada came to your home and told you you had no right to be there, and they’d kill you if you tried to stay?
I don’t think I’d find it worth risking my life to keep my home, but I do understand why someone would feel the risk was worth it. The Middle East is host to a conflict that has no resolution, but that is because Israel’s neighbors are warmongers who only want to see all Jews dead. If you read anything about Moslem history, you’ll see that they will not be happy until they take over the world.
— robin Jul 28, 11:03 # - Well, I just do not believe war resolves anything. It only makes large populations feel endangered, enraged and resentful on both sides of the dispute.
I guess President Bush and Mr. Cheeney believe that the only road to peace and conflict resolution is to point the biggest gun you have at the the other side and fire until everyone is either dead or just gives-up.
What wonderful, insightful, thought provoking, conciliatory leadership we have in this country. YUCH!
— Joseph Klene Jul 28, 11:34 # - Robin,
My “ignorance” about the situation is based on the fact that Israel is in the practice of randomly killing both Lebanese and Palestinian civilians regularly with their superior fire power supplied by the USA. Their lack of aggression, and attempt to keep their collective head above water by ramming their tanks and guns down their neighbors throats does nothing to convince me otherwise, nor to help make me less ignorant.
I choose not to believe the US propoganda and one sided reporting on the conflict. That does not make me any more ignorant than your choice to believe it makes you.
I also do not believe that Israel should be encouraged to continue this over-reaction to the kidnapping of 2 Israeli soldiers.
As for “moslem history” and not being happy till they take over the world? And that makes them worse than any other organized religion how?
Thanks to our little cowboy, the entire world now thinks it’s okay to shoot first, whine later. We are in the throes of impending disaster, yet we continue to support wars and killing, while discouraging tolerance and true freedom of religion.
It’s a shame that the entire Mid East can’t live and worship and co-exist peacefully. It’s a shame that you think I’m less informed or less intelligent for not seeing this your way. I guess the latter explains why the former can never be true.
— ronda Jul 28, 12:22 # - Here’s my analogy:
One of my neighbors uncontollable kids stole two of my watchdogs. That means I should go to their house and kill their entire family and start killing all of their cousins and uncles and grandparents and grandkids including all of the babies and anyone else that happens to live nearby.
— MO Jul 28, 14:50 # - Mo,
If you’re part of Bush’s circle of friends, he’ll even supply you with the nukes to do it.
— ronda Jul 28, 19:19 #
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