Noah Shachtman at Wired looks at the Pentagon's "America Supports You!" program and how the former director funneled millions of dollars budgeted for the program to a Republican PR firm run by one of her close friends.
Also, the Wall Street Journal editorial board drools all over Mitch McConnell and his incredible leadership. Bleh...
And, reaction to Shaun Donovan as Obama's choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Noah Shachtman has a great article at Wired, looking at how a Pentagon program designed to help "support the troops" mismanaged millions of dollars:
A Defense Department project, supposedly designed to support U.S. troops, was used instead to channel millions of dollars to personal friends and allies of its chief. The "America Supports You," or ASY, program was led in a "questionable and unregulated manner," according to a Department of Defense Inspector General report, obtained by Danger Room. At least $9.2 million was "inappropriately transferred" by the project's managers. Much of that money served only to further promote ASY, instead of assisting servicemembers.
So where was this money going, if it was not used to support the troops? Why, to the director's friends, of course!
By mid-2007, allegations began to surface that the Pentagon official in charge of the program, Armed Forces Information Service chief Alison Barber (pictured, left), was improperly redirecting millions of dollars in public funds.
From fiscal years 2004 to 2007, the Inspector General's report notes, Barber funneled $8.8 million in contracts to the public relations firm Susan Davis International — to set up the myriad events, and to promote the ASY "brand." The work was incredibly lucrative; Davis' executives made as much as $312,821 to $662,691 per year. "Paying a public relations contractor annual salaries approaching three-quarters of a million dollars does not appear to be a cost-effective means to support the ASY program and the war fighter," the report observes.
But what made it even harder to stomach was that Davis was a friend of Barber's, and a well-known Republican operative, according to former Defense Department lawyer Diane Beaver. Another half-million went to media consultant Mitch Semel, for web work.
Oh, why am I not surprised. The article also mentions that Barber resigned two months ago. You see "America Supports You!" commercials all the time on the Armed Forces Television Network. I'm sure the troops would much rather have those millions spent on adequate body armor or other essentials rather than cheesy commercials or Republican PR firms.
Here is a link to the full report. I can't get the link to open, but it may just be my crappy computer.
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Wouldn't you like to know who received $2 trillion in emergency loans from the Federal Reserve? I sure would:
The Federal Reserve refused a request by Bloomberg News to disclose the recipients of more than $2 trillion of emergency loans from U.S. taxpayers and the assets the central bank is accepting as collateral.
For it's part, the Fed says it refuses to disclose the loan recipients for fear that it will result in a loss of confidence in those particular banks.
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Will the fight over the auto bill in the Senate be a preview of future Republican opposition over Obama's economic plans? Alex Koppelman and Mike Madden seem to think so:
As the Republican Party consolidates in the South, the fight this week could turn out to be a preview of many battles to come over Barack Obama's economic plans. If those plans involve the domestic auto industry, the GOP pushback will come from somewhere down I-65, the new auto corridor that runs from Kentucky south to Alabama. Expect to hear more not just from the very vocal Bob Corker, but from the rest of a core group of Southern senators whose bread is buttered by the Japanese, Germans and Koreans.
I'm sure they will be very vocal, but next year's Congress will look very different from what we are dealing with now. Corker and the rest of the "wrecking crew" can yell and obstruct all they want, but the simple fact is that they will be even more of a minority than they are now.
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Bill McGraw, a columnist for the Detroit Free Press, details what happens in Michigan when car companies go under by describing the closure of Packard Motor Car Company in the 50's. It's headquarters complex is still standing vacant - although it is occasionally occupied by feral cats and Detroit's homeless. His bottom line?
Walk through the Packard plant on a December day and you will know that once a car company disappears, in southeast Michigan at least, nothing comes along to take its place.
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The Wall Street Journal editorial board describes the events yesterday in the Senate as Mitch McConnell's Finest Hour:
Thursday's showdown marked an important political moment for the Republican Party. By refusing to write a blank check to Detroit, Senate Republicans have started to reclaim some credibility on fiscal policy and the role of government in the economy.
Oh, please. What about the (considerably larger) blank check they wrote to Wall Street? I don't buy the "credibility" line one bit. And man, it would have been so nice if we could have gotten rid of McConnell this time around.
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The New York Times is reporting that Shaun Donovan, New York City's housing commissioner, is Obama's choice for heading the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Times describes Donovan as "widely respected":
“Shaun Donovan has been one of the most effective housing commissioners in New York City’s history,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, who had championed Mr. Donovan. “At this time, with the housing crisis raging, he is exactly the kind of person we need as HUD secretary.”
As chief of New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Mr. Donovan is in charge of the Bloomberg administration’s $7.5 billion New Housing Marketplace Plan to build or preserve 165,000 units for to low- and moderate-income families, housing up to 500,000 residents, by 2013.
Donovan also worked under Clinton, when he served as federal housing commissioner. Obama is excepted to announce this pick in his weekly radio address today.
Many others were rumored to be in contention for this position, including Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr., Renee Glover of the Atlanta Housing Authority and the Mayor of Miami, Manny Diaz. A source also told Newsweek that Donovan is a "done deal." Will this create embarrassment for Carrion, Jr.?
This would contradict Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr., who told an audience last week that he would be tapped.
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Spencer Ackerman at the Washington Independent looks at Obama's choices for director of the CIA:
With Brennan out of the picture, several names have emerged to lead the intelligence community, which has been under near-constant political fire since the 9/11 attacks. Obama is said to be considering retired Adm. Dennis Blair, a former commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific; former Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.), a 9/11 commissioner; Rep. Jane Harman, former chairwoman of the House intelligence committee; and Jack Devine, a longtime CIA official and former acting CIA director. The Obama transition declined to comment on any of these individuals. Nor would it give a timeline for any announcement.
A few days ago, I mentioned that Rep. Reyes had suggested he would support Michael Hayden staying on as head of the CIA for a short period of time to ensure continuity. Well, the Washington Times is reporting this morning that both Hayden and Mike McConnell flew to Chicago this past week to brief Obama. Does this provide an indication that Obama will follow Reyes' advice? The Washington Times seems to think so, but the pushback that the Obama team received over Brennan would probably be nothing compared to what they would encounter with Hayden.
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Haven't had your fill of the Blagojevich scandal? Well, never fear! The Chicago Sun-Times has established www.BlagoBusted.com so you can stay updated on every [bleeping] detail.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting this morning that conversations between Rahm Emanuel and the Blagojevich administration are included on the the wiretap recordings. They also stress:
The revelation does not suggest Obama's new gatekeeper was involved in any talk of dealmaking involving the seat.
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So what's on your mind this morning?
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