When current FEMA chief Mike Brown is eventually forced to resign from this job too, chances are his old college buddy Joe Allbaugh will once again help him land on his feet, this time with a cushy job at Halliburton. That’s where former FEMA chief Allbaugh landed, and surprise… now Halliburton subsidiary KBR has started landing big contracts to participate in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
As reported last week by Halliburton Watch, the US Navy has asked Halliburton to repair naval facilities damaged by Katrina under an existing $500 million contract. Earlier this year the Navy awarded KBR and three other companies $350 million in contracts to repair facilities damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan. And according to the New York Times, Halliburton is planning to profit further from Katrina:
Although Halliburton has not yet been asked to work on installations around New Orleans, it said on Friday that it would begin performing damage assessments there “as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.”
No doubt helping out with both the assessments and the bids will be Allbaugh, who Halliburton hired in March as a consultant and lobbyist. Allbaugh’s lobbying disclosure form states that he will “educate the congressional and executive branch on defense, disaster relief and homeland security issues.” And who better to educate Brown, the current head of FEMA, than Allbaugh, his predecessor, benefactor and college roommate?
[Cross-posted to Daily Kos]
There is no shame, no accountability.
Most.Corrupt.President.Ever
Hey Mark LeRedneck — how come you aren’t posting here and raising Hell about Bush’s “gubmint” dipping its hand into your pocket to feed Halliburton yet again?
As reported last week by Halliburton Watch, the US Navy has asked Halliburton to repair naval facilities damaged by Katrina under an existing $500 million contract.
Earlier this year the Navy awarded KBR and three other companies $350 million in contracts to repair facilities damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan.
Don’t let a few key words… existing contract, awarded (which means they gave the best BID compared to whomever else was bidding) and three other companies… get in the way of your HateBush/Cheney/Halliburton fest, because you certainly have no facts… little clues like the opening to paragraph 4, the cute little “No doubt…blah, blah, blah” gambit.
There is no shame, no accountability.
THREE, they have exactly THREE competitors and nearly double the employees of their closest competitor and still 52 BILLION LESS in net income, smaller gross margins and smaller operating margins.
Yep, big bad evil Halliburton.
Who are you kidding?
You wouldn’t even had known the name if Dick Cheney hadn’t come from there.
WhyAreYouSuchAnAss @5
“52 BILLION LESS in net income”
If they can’t make a profit selling Coca Cola to U.S. taxpayers for $100 a case, they need new management.
http://www.fotosearch.com/bigc.....br0020.jpg
Oh I see.
When they make a profit, they are big bad evil Halliburton.
When they don’t, they are stupid and need new management.
Such is the way of the liberal mind – want to have it both ways, decry it have it either way.
Bunny Butt, it’s time to start calling you Harvey… you are every bit as transparent as Elwood P Dowd’s 6′ invisible rabbit.
Hey, ASS couldn’t even remember who was president in 1992. He’d make the perfect Halliburton management type. “I’m sorry, Senator, I don’t recall ever knowing where that extra ten billion in taxpayer dollars ended up. It’s a real mystery.”
Why don’t you shit heads start your own company and bid for these project yourself? I know Daley in Chicago awarded contracts without any other competition, so what your problem? What about this state shady deals that goes on behind the back doors. I found from experence that nobody with their right mind would bid for any goverment contracts due to the pains of doing business with a bunch of haft wits. Some of you folk should get a life, start smoking something that will improve your ability to improve your thought process.
8, 11
Soooo … may we assume you two half-wits have no objection to paying for the Bush regime’s corruption? Oh, I see … you expect someone else to pay $100 a case for Coca Cola. To quote Leona Helmsley, you “don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.” You belong in jail with her. LOL! I can already picture you two getting gang-raped by a horny 85-year-old Leona! Just desserts for a pair of Republican
F R E E L O A D E R S
klake, the shadiest deal done in back rooms in this past century must have been your conception…. and you should change your wordings…”I found from experence that nobody with their right mind would bid for any goverment contracts due to the pains of doing business with a bunch of haft wits” to ‘a bunch of imbeciles’ as no one in the current administration even rates a ‘half wit’
klake, if “nobody with their right mind would bid for any government contracts,” why are corporations lining up to bid on government contracts? Because government contracting is lucrative, that’s why!
By the way, although Dubya’s cabinet is filled with ex-CEOs, none know anything about running a company in a competitive private market! They were ALL feeders at the public trough — living off government contracts, subsidies, and tax breaks!
NEWS FLASH — BUSH RE-NOMINATES ROBERTS FOR CHIEF JUSTICE
I don’t know whether to be glad or sad — it could be worse (i.e., Scalia or Thomas). Buuuut … we know so little about this guy, and some of his background is disturbing … he is hard right, not moderately conservative.
Another news item this morning involves a South Dakota man commuting to work on a horse because of high gas prices. Is this what the future looks like when the oil runs out? Civilization is going backward!
The world’s oil supply is finite. Reasonable conservation efforts would stretch the supply until we can invent our way out of the problem that our most important energy source will run out. But there are always some selfish assholes (Mark the Redneck comes to mind) who think they have the right to burn all the gas they want to if they have the money to pay for it.
What is needed to reduce demand and keep prices reasonable for the rest of us is a multi-tier pricing policy like Seattle City Light uses. For instance a surcharge on all gasoline consumption over 50 gallons a month. This represents 12,000 miles a year of driving in a car getting 20 mpg. Use more than that, you pay a “gas hog tax” of $10 a gallon over and above the pump price. The truly rich will still be able to drive all they want (they can afford it) but the wanna-bes and pretenders like Mark the Redneck will either have to bite the conservation bullet or empty their wallets at the pump!
Mark, in response to what I know you’re going to say — fuck you!
Did I say that loud enough, Mark? Here, try this on for size — FUCK YOU!!!
Goldy and the crew have way too much spare time. All the newest scandal is missing is complicity by Karl Rove. Where is Rove anyways?
Continuing my perusal of this morning’s news, I see reports that bodies are “everywhere, floating in canals, slumped in wheelchairs, abandoned on highways and medians and hidden in attics; and HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt told CNN the death toll is “in the thousands.”
Louisiana’s largest newspaper (Times-Picayune), in an open letter to Bush, is calling for the firing of “every official” at FEMA including “Director Michael Brown especially.”
“We’re angry, Mr. President, and we’ll be angry long after our beloved city and surrounding parishes have been pumped dry,” the editorial said. “Our people deserved rescuing. Many who could have been were not. That’s to the government’s shame.”
Don’t hold your breath, guys. For this administration, “personal responsibility” and “accountability” are merely talking points. Bush doesn’t actually hold anyone responsible or accountable for anything, no matter how badly his lackeys and bootlickers fuck things up. Bush talks a good game, but when it comes to taking action he’s all hat, no cattle.
@17
Dead or in jail, I hope. But probably no such luck.
Reply to 17
I can think of several people who need to get a job because they have too much time on their hands, and you’re one of them.
Goldy and the crew have way too much spare time. All the newest scandal is missing is complicity by Karl Rove. Where is Rove anyways?
Coordinating the White House attacks on the governments of New Orleans and Louisiana.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09.....s+5t86CzTQ
One Republican with knowledge of the effort said that Mr. Rove had told administration officials not to respond to Democratic attacks on Mr. Bush’s handling of the hurricane in the belief that the president was in a weak moment and that the administration should not appear to be seen now as being blatantly political. As with others in the party, this Republican would discuss the deliberations only on condition of anonymity because of keen White House sensitivity about how the administration and its strategy would be perceived.
In a reflection of what has long been a hallmark of Mr. Rove’s tough political style, the administration is also working to shift the blame away from the White House and toward officials of New Orleans and Louisiana who, as it happens, are Democrats.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco Refused Bush Aid
Though her state has been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and thousands are believed dead in New Orleans, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco has refused to allow the federal government to take control of evacuation efforts.
“Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans,” the Washington Post reported in Sunday editions.
Gov. Blanco’s office rejected the request, the paper said – concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law.
The Louisiana Democrat had also failed to use more than a hundred school buses parked near to Superdome to transport stranded citizens who didn’t have to means to obey earlier evacuation orders.
After the 17th Street Levee broke on Tuesday, the buses were rendered usless by rising flood waters.
State and federal officials also told the Post that Gov. Blanco did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday – more than 24 hours after New Orleans descended into chaos.
Hey Wabbit how much money does it take to buy a school buse, you know we could have lots of cash if city hall had tore down the AWV after the big earthquake. Did our leaders ask for aid afters, no lets put the burden on the state tax payers.
Hmmm… Goldy must have been in a hurry when he posted this. He forgot to include the part about Halliburton winning the contract in a COMPETITIVE BID. Looks like they were best qualified to do the work. Just a minor omission I guess huh?
Hey Rabbit – I thought you said rationing was the best way. Now you want consumption tax? Which is it?
We’d all be fascinated to know how you’d do the rationing. What would the total national ration be? How would you allocate them? What would you do about black market rations.
As far as the supply being “finite”, that may be true, but we’re no where near running out. You guys have been saying that for 35 years, and have predicted many times that we’d be dry by now. But production keeps going up. It’s the invisible hand again Wabbit… you can’t see it, but it’s there taking care of us. It’s a fucking miracle.
So as much as you’d like to punish those of us who are the producers and pay the vast majority of taxes, there’s no need for you to get your bunny fur all raised up. Market forces will take care of this, as they always do.
The governor you guys are so proud of is bringing 2000 refugees here. How many of you have signed up to take them in?
Or are all of you really just assfuckinghole hypocrites who like to tell others what to do, but don’t do shit yourselves? Remember, this is 2000 voters for Ron Sims, and lawd knows he needs all the hep he kin git.
Just Imagine the corrupt contracts Lousiiana has awarded. They wrote the book on graft, gov’t contracts, and that’s where the action will be. Halliburton, even if shady, won’t ever match what slips by in the next year or 2 in Lousiana, the Big Easy
Redneck you would get better luck by blowing smoke in their ears. Wright Wabbit
Mark the Redneck@24–
Something tells me that these 2000 refugees will pan out the same way eliminating 1000 State Government Managers has panned out. Just another publicity “smoke-and-mirrors” farcical mini-drama by Gregoire. What will really impress me is if she opens the Governor’s Mansion or convinces other LEFTIST PINHEADS (aka LENIN’S USEFUL IDIOTS) to actually take these families into there homes.
We have some friends who are actually doing this…taking in a family. I admire them. Ohhh, they are devout Christians. This is happening thru many churches without GREGOIRE’S involvement. It’s amazing that people will quietly do the right thing and help others in need. Yet our Governor makes a big political deal out of this tragedy….instead of quietly doing the right thing. PREDICTABLE AS HELL!
Let me repeat myself about Louisiana…..
It is a very corrupt state.
The “good-old-boys & girls” are in charge.
Everything was beautiful for “the good-old-boys & girls” when the blacks all lived in ghettos & ignorance between the airport and the French Quarter. It was the way things were supposed to be.
In this case, the “good old boys & girls” hijacked the DEMOCRATIC PARTY to use as the vehicle for their corruption. The DEMS have been willing participants for decades. Long ago, the “good old boys & girls” made the decision they needed a Political Party to maintain there power and said “Hell, let’s jes call ourselves Democrats”. You LEFTIST PINHEADS (aka LENIN’S USEFUL IDIOTS) can spin this anyway you want…..but the untenable environment in New Orleans was created by the good-old-boys and girls that call themselves Democrats.
That said….I have long ago developed a contempt for BOTH Political Parties. Things have broken down. Lines are very blurred. I am a Libertarian. However, I tend to line up with Republicans ONLY BECAUSE I view the Dems as the Party of Socialism, Marxism and LUNATIC LEFTISTS. Both Party’s have there footholds on corruption in different areas of the country. We are talking about Louisiana here. It’s the Dems that have been co-opted and are responsible for created the hostile environment for blacks.
Cynical – Now that they’ve been brought here and put on a “silver platter” for adoption, I’m sure most HAs here will jump at the opportunity. No wait… she wouldn’t put them in the football stadium would she? Dang, too bad we took down the Kingdome. That woulda been perfect.
Another TJ @ 20
‘Mr. Rove had told administration officials not to respond to Democratic attacks…’
Perfect. Although I would cast doubt on the source. Sounds a bit mellow for Rove. Now how about Dick Cheney, and of course the WMDs? The icing on this cake must be somewhere in a memo that is either forged or transcribed from the original.
THIS JUST IN: Nawlins Mayor Nagin is pulling all cops, firemen and EMTs off the streets. Seattle Times story says they’re going to Baton Rouge for R & R. What ST failed to include in the story is that Nawlins is also paying for 5 day vacations in Vegas for anyone who wants it. Nagin tried to get FEMA to pay for the trips, but FEMA told him no. So Nagin has city paying instead.
So while people are hurting and dying, Nagin is sponsoring a party. Good finking Ray…
I really think the negligence and cronyism of this administration has shown is criminal and should really be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I hope some parish prosecutor has the balls because none of the federal ones will.
LC@31–
Typical LEFTIST PINHEAD (aka LENIN’S USEFUL IDIOT) response to and everything that happens…..prosecute Bush. You are a broken record dude. You are like the little kid with a trumpet that only can play one fucking note. After a short while, people not only stop listening, they start screaming SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!
@32
If we don’t prosecute them at least give of medals,
#29,
Now how about Dick Cheney, and of course the WMDs?
Cheney was on vacation. He returned late last week, long after the crisis was apparent.
WMDs? When you find them, let the administration know.
I think if you look at the criminal negligence statutes in LA it may be a crime to stop water and other supplies.
The governor you guys are so proud of is bringing 2000 refugees here. How many of you have signed up to take them in?
Or are all of you really just assfuckinghole hypocrites who like to tell others what to do, but don’t do shit yourselves? Remember, this is 2000 voters for Ron Sims, and lawd knows he needs all the hep he kin git.
I will be meeting one of the NO refugees this afternoon. He’ll be staying with others, but I’ll be helping with his transition.
If you’re going to claim moral superiority, you should, you know, have some.
TJ – Great. Perhaps you’ll inspire other HAs here to take some in. Wabbit, Donna, Lucy, Rujax, thehim? Are you signing up? Or do you just tell others what they should do.
Well, WELL — There seems to be a lot going on in Mr. Broussadr’s life besides emeblishing stories for media consumption. He falls right into the liberal politician profile…
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/f.....247860.xml
Looks like the freepers and trolls are on a holiday in here. Smells like old dollar bills and mold. funny how they leave a slimy track. Get along now over to Free Republic where you belong. I know people have to talk slowly for you, but perhaps you forgot: FR is where the idiots hang out.
As for sending 2000 people from NO to this state: Yes! I will help. Maybe we will get some color in this joint. The lily white Rethugs in this state need some ACTION. I am ready for some fresh anger at the way this administration wants to rebuild bridges to nowhere while lining their crony’s pockets. I would love to see the fury at the fact that Bush himself said he would “like to sit on the porche” after he uses the poor south’s tax money to rebuild Trent Lott’s house. They say there is fear that an uprising is going to happen in the south. Oh yeah! It would be wonderful if this outrage spread to the north. Like Eldridge Cleaver said, sometimes it is useless to talk to these fools anymore, that is time to burn, Baby burn! Sad to say for a christian, but I would love just once to see the horrified look of surprise on some elitist rich welfare queen when they reap the karma for all their burdens they have heaped on the poor. Just once!
Bush’s most recent little photo op down there makes him look like a scared little girl. He is bringing a black megachurch preacher for cover and ten shiny black SUVs, so much for saving gas ~ for everyone but himself of course, since he is so SPECIAL…not to mention his “visit” is forcing rescue helicopters and planes down to create clear space for his pink ass, just so he can go out there and try to look good. He has done nothing except hire incompetents for about everything, including FEMA. This after his crony, ‘Brownie’ was driven out of his old horse trading job (at least it is apt, since that is all Repigs do is look up each other’s horse asses), bailed out by his college roommate. His only credentials was ‘being a roommate…’ (Krugman). Condi is the world’s laughing stock, (it is the Bush profile: hire a black oreo and use them for a prop). She cannot do anything but lie, (blinking rapidly) “Why we could not imagine planes running into buiildings (even though I got over 50 warnings, even naming the buildings…) and she is not trusted anywhere because everyone in the world but ignorant American freeps know she is just a whore for the Bush clan (after all she calls Bush her ‘husband’, lol). Cheney is considered one of the most evil men in the world according to the Asian Times ~ and the London Times, he cannot stop from using americans to continue robbing, raping and killing for greed, and Bush is considered a fratboy chimp whom no one believes, even half of his own country. Now they want to elect a racist wannabe for the supreme court. As Rehnquist’s water boy, that Roberts really did himself proud, didn’t he? Read this you freeping horse’s asses: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/....._6844.html
Yep-ahhhh…you freepers love your cronyism. I guess you think this is the way you do it, demonize the weak so you can go in there and rob Grandma blind. Real christians, you are! Like Pat Robertson, huh? Go put food money into your diamond mines and talk about assasinating democratically elected presidents like he does. Go eat your little crumpets and swim in your country club pools, will you? Leave us alone.
Yoohoo! Come on down NO! Can’t wait to see that facial expression when the freepers and trolls get what they have coming Thanks to Katrina, that look of horror IS coming….. YEEEEEE HAAAAAAAW!
Cat In Seattle
Well, WELL — There seems to be a lot going on in Mr. Broussadr’s life besides emeblishing stories for media consumption. He falls right into the liberal politician profile…
He’s been subpoenaed. So, you’re going to stipulate to Rove’s guilt, for the sake of consistency?
As an FYI, talkingpointsmemo.com is documenting the Bush administration’s frantic efforts to deflect blame for its disastrous response to hurricane Katrina. As is typical for Karl Rove, administration operations have shown no shame in spewing complete falsehoods.
A case in point is Klake @ 21’s charge that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco refused Bush aid. This is simply not true, and the Washington Post – from which Klake quotes — has already issued a correction.
If you need ammo to refute a charge, TPM is a good place to go. By the same token, when you see a new lie, distortion or lame excuse, please report it to http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/4/124241/5233 .
Republican insiders have expressed widespread concern that political fallout from Katrina could torpedo Bush’s entire second-term legislative agenda. This is why we should expect the smear campaign against Democratic state and local officials to escalate. It’s critically important that administration lies are quickly challenged before they get out of control.
Baynative @ 38
Looks like “Operation Wrinkled Robe” — the judicial corruption investigation by the federal authorities in Louisiana (in which Democrat Jefferson Parish President has been subpeonaed), is going after both Democrats and Republicans.
The state judge from Jefferson Parish who is being investigated for apparently accepting bribes in the 08/18/2005 Times Picayune article that you linked from NOLA dot com, Kernan A. “Skip” Hand, just happens to be a REPUBLICAN:
http://www.sec.state.la.us/cgi.....D=21016826
Baynative @ 38
Also, former Jefferson Parish judge Ronald D. Bodenheimer, who was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison in the Operation Wrinkled Robe investigation, and mentioned prominently in the 08/18/2005 Nola dot com article, is also a REPUBLICAN:
http://www.sec.state.la.us/cgi.....D=21016821
Maybe Aaron Broussard should switch parties?
Another TJ—@36–
Is the New Orleans refugee you are referring to a black, impoverished, complete stranger???? I didn’t think so.
Is the New Orleans refugee you are referring to a black, impoverished, complete stranger???? I didn’t think so.
Complete stranger. I know almost nothing about him.
The best efforts can not spin reality. As Molly Ivins stated, these people in charge make real decisions that effect real citizens. The overriding philosophy of President Bush and fellow conservatives was that government was bad. The consequences have been visible for the last week. Gut the services that are designed to help people in an emergency, and when it occurs, it is up creek, no paddle time.
For my fellow Republican opponents, I can only ask, is this what you want?
The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) is best known for his political thought, and deservedly so. His vision of the world is strikingly original and still relevant to contemporary politics. His main concern is the problem of social and political order: how human beings can live together in peace and avoid the danger and fear of civil conflict. He poses stark alternatives: we should give our obedience to an unaccountable sovereign (a person or group empowered to decide every social and political issue). Otherwise what awaits us is a ‘state of nature’ that closely resembles civil war – a situation of universal insecurity, where all have reason to fear violent death and where rewarding human cooperation is all but impossible.
(http://www.iep.utm.edu/h/hobmoral.htm#SH5a)
I am not suggesting an “unaccountable sovereign”. But without government the Hobbesian state will happen. We are seeing its effects daily in NOLA.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Saturday that many FEMA uniforms, badges and letterheads have been stolen in the New Orleans area are being used as fake identification by robbers.
FEMA leaders said the crooks are referring to themselves as “FEMA Procurement Officers,” even though no such officers exist. The agency said that the robbers are using the phony status to steal vehicles, fuel and valuables.
In some cases, the robbers are armed. FEMA said its agents are never armed. FEMA officials said that if an armed person claiming to be from the agency approaches you, ask for photo identification, but also cooperate with their demands to avoid being hurt.
[Democrats doing what Democrats do best! Shake downs!!]
Ogg, you lost us when you used Molly Ivans as a source.
MArk The Village Idiot Redneck @ 37 “TJ – Great. Perhaps you’ll inspire other HAs here to take some in. Wabbit, Donna, Lucy, Rujax, thehim? Are you signing up? Or do you just tell others what they should do.”
MTVIR, I don’t tout my donations and public service on forums. The whole “I am giving money and giving “refuges” a home, while Republicans/Democrats don’t do anything” diatribe is obscene and complete bulshit. I doubt very much anyone on this blog has not given what they can to help their fellow citizens in need. And anyone who thinks they can prove who is and who is not giving is not a psychic, just an asshole.
As for taking in people whose lives have been destroyed by this event and the inept actions by the Bush administration, well it who be a little crowded in my one bedroom apartment. So I do other things to help.
I hope you do to. You asshole.
Their philosophy is that govt is bad , but stealing our money is good.
Donna – I’m sure your little one bedroom apartment is less crowded than the floor of the astrodome. I’m sure they’d appreciate your living room floor.
I’ll bet you wonder why you have no money don’t you? I know the answer…
And how many homeless people from New Orleans are you housing, Redneck?
MTRVI @ 54 “I’ll bet you wonder why you have no money don’t you? I know the answer…”
You see, that is what makes you an idiot, like all other Neo-Con Symps. You assume I don’t have any money. Bad assumption. I just have other priorities with my money than an $800,000 house. And no use for one.
You also assume that putting displaced US citizens in my living room would be the best thing I could do. Stupidd assumption.
But then you are a village idiot who barks like a moron for the Neo-Con Fascist Anti American machine.
You are worse than just a sad little fool. You are a tool of those who will kill you when they are done using you.
DonnaG@56–
You have spun out of control. Get a grip!!
Are you trying to topple Roger Rabbit in the labeling race??
All I ever call you clowns is pretty much LEFTIST PINHEADS (aka LENIN’S USEFUL IDIOTS) with an occassional moron, doofus, shitferbrains and a few other succindt adjectives.
I do find it cute that you spell stupidd with 2 d’s!
It reminds me of the time years ago when my daughter was about 5 and ticked because I wouldn’t buy her yet another toy. She left me a priceless note that I covet to this day. It said,
“Dad is DUM!!!”
5 yr old spelling aside, I’d say that Mr. C’s daughter is pretty astute.
Liberaldave: http://www.openyourhome.com – signup!!