On so many levels I feel like I’m living in Wacky World. Through the looking glass. You know this feeling—suddenly you’re starring in a Hollywood drama/thriller and you don’t remember auditioning for the part.
On the personal, we’ve got the whole house thing. I’m probably making myself insane over this—the selling, the finding a new place, figuring out what we’re going to do and where we’re going to live in the meantime.
On the beyond personal…I found myself driving down the street today, taking Sophia to dance class, and finding myself fervently praying that she and Simon can grow up in a world where the biggest problem on their plate is figuring out the arrangements for a move. But I don’t think they’re going to. I’ve actually begun to believe that it’s all downhill from here.
No one except Paul Krugman in the NY Times appears to be covering the monumental shithole this administration is digging us into. Another couple hundred million of tax cuts when there’s a goddamn war on? A war that’s going to cost untold billions? Our children are going to be paying for this mess for decades, but Jesus, it’s okay, at least the top 1% got theirs.
Why does Bush have any approval rating whatsoever? Jesus, when they’re tossing off things like this verdammt Halliburton contract? We had seven fucking years of investigations into Whitewater and this shit gets a pass?
Fuckers.
Darin wonders why I’ve started reading books on self-hypnosis. Because I’m a little goddamn tense, dammit.
Someone hose Sean Paul down. He’s insane. (Actually, I think it’s great—it’s where I’m getting most of my news these days. But I’m afraid for his health. How long can he keep this up for? Are London betting shops taking wagers?)
Bob Herbert’s column in today’s NY Times addresses this too, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/27/opinion/27HERB.html.
The “New York Times” has been as oasis of moderation during this dictatorship. All of their columnists, except Safire, have a clue these days. Even so, I’ve noticed two very annoying things.
For one, where’s the excitement of locking onto the scandal? I had to stop reading the Times for a while back in 94-95 because all they wanted to write about was Whitewater. There was no real story behind Whitewater but it sure got worked up by everyone.
Secondly, there are all sorts of savage attacks being made against the Times. Once upon a time, I respected Mickey Kaus but he’s turned into a Republican wanna be. After reporting that Gore really won, he decided to join the enemy camp. Every day, people bash Paul Krugman in particular and the Times in general.
Where is all this ferocity on our side? I write about our Shrubbery-in-Chief and people actually send me email complaints. Bah!
Check out Steve Perry’s article “and the war came” in the Minneapolis/St. Paul City Pages this week (www.citypages.com). He’s someone besides Paul Krugman who is writing about the Bush administration’s extremism.
And yet no one seems to want to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime police detail the anti-war/peace rallies cost. Where does the left think that money is going to come from?
Did I mention protests? Did I highlight my position on police funding? Are you seriously suggesting the cost of law enforcement for peace rallies is somehow comprable with the cost of the war?
But gee, let’s think about this for a moment — the same place that all the dollars go to pay the police: their TAXES?
If you want to get upset about fuding for the police, just do a little investigation into who’s paying the bill for our increased “homeland security.” I’ll give you a headstart: the Feds haven’t coughed up one nickel that they promised to pay for it.
Think up policy globally, pay locally.
RE: “Why does Bush have any approval rating whatsoever? Jesus, when they’re tossing off things like this verdammt Halliburton contract? We had seven fucking years of investigations into Whitewater and this shit gets a pass?”
Umm, Brown and Root has had major military logistics contracts since 1942. Their involvement with both US and UK military operations predates their acquisition by Halliburton in 1962 so it’s not terribly surprising that they would be considered for military contracts. Also, Brown and Root got the contracts for Bosnia and Kosovo during the Clinton administration. So, while the war sucks and it sucks even more that Chaney stands to profit from it, I’m not sure a special prosecutor type investigation is in order here.
However, it be mega-ironic if Chaney were to profit from the death or injury of Halliburton employees currently supporting the troops.
For the record I prostested against this war before it started and continue to protest against it. I don’t believe in it. I didn’t vote for Bush.
Maybe Chaney should go to Kuwait and load the verdammt trucks himself so the troops can get their MREs and their mail and stuff to earn his money.
Um, the whole Halliburton thing should have been avoided BECAUSE IT FUCKING LOOKS BAD. Because the Vice President used to be its CEO and is still making millions from them. Because not too long ago Halliburton paid a multimillion dollar fine for–wait for it–OVERBILLING THE GOVERNMENT, and evidently their punishment is to be given a “cost plus” no-bid contract, which means a contract that Halliburton simply submits the pricetag and the government pays up.
I say again: we endured a 6-year, $70m. investigation over a lot less than this. We have WEASELS in the White House who are taking everything they can get their little hands on.
Christ, my blood pressure’s rising again.
Sorry to elevate your blood pressure. Mine is way up too because there is nothing I can do to stop the fucking war and I think a fucking investigation is beside the point.
Bring the fucking troops and their fucking logistics support team home. That will save a whole lot more money.
Obviously you aren’t smart enough to know that Halliburton was hired in 1991 by the “Bush 41” administration to extinguish the oil fires in Kuwaitt. Cheney had nothing to do with that contract being awarded back in 1991, as he had nothing to do with this recent contract.
Also, if you were to do your research on this most recent contract you would find that Halliburton is charging the US government 4% over the actual expenses incurred. Yes, 4% profit on this contract. Obviously, Halliburton is not gouging our government for these services.
Additionally, if you were to do your research, you would find that there are less than 5 contractors in the world who have the capibilities to do this type of work.
So the fact that Halliburton has worked with the Department of Defense previously, and the cost is fairly priced, and they are only one of a handful of contractors who are able to perform this type of work, one should clearly question your mental capibilities to post anthing on this web page.
Sincerely.
I don’t envy you being in the position of having to defend graft and corruption, so I can understand your inability to speak civilly. Did you get this response at RNC headquarters or something?
Since Halliburton is one of a handful of contractors who are able to perform this service, how come they didn’t have to bid against any of them? How come this contract — in the words of Anger Management Course, “an open-ended, cost plus contract, awarded without any competitive bidding or open review of the terms” — was just awarded to Halliburton? Couldn’t the Kuwaiti firefighters who’ve already done half the job have gotten a bid in?
And a company that’s still paying money to the VP…are you incapable of knowing when something smells awful?
Of course, you’re incapable of a civil disagreement, so that’s not particularly surprising.
Folks, here is the timeline, draw whatever conclusions you want, but know the facts:
Halliburton worked in Iraq for several decades prior to the imposition of sanctions. Once sanctions were imposed, they ceased this work, not even participating in the oil for food program. The only exception is when Halliburton merged with Dresser Industries, which had two joint venture companies participating in that program. These businesses were divested as soon as legally permissible. Since sanctions were put in place no wholly owned subsidiary of Halliburton has done business in Iraq other than the very recent support of coalition forces.
The contract for this work is the continuation of a program established by the U.S. Army in 1992 to support the Department of Defense’s global mission during contingency events.
Halliburton bid on and competitively won the first Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, or LOGCAP, contract, well before Dick Cheney served as the company’s chairman. In December 2001, the LOGCAP III contract was awarded to the company, again following the U.S. government competitive bidding process.
When Operation Iraqi Freedom began, Halliburton, as part of their previously competed LOGCAP III obligations, developed a plan to extinguish oil well fires in Iraq and repair damages.
FROM: PRINCE MOHAMED AKA
ABIDJAN COST D’IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA
ATTN/PLEASE
DEAR ONE,
WITHOUT ANY DOUBT I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT IT IS BORNE OUT OF GENUIE NEED FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE.
I AM MOHAMED AKA THE FIRST SON OF FORMER FINACE DIRECTOR OF SIERRA LEONE GOLD AND DIAMOND CORPORATION MR MARCUS AKA WHO WAS ASSASINATED BY THE REBEL FORCES LOYAL TO MR FORDAY SANKOH DURING THE PEAK OF THE CIVIL WAR IN OUR COUNTRY SIERRA LEONE.
BEFORE MY FATHER DIED,HE GAVE TO OUR MOTHER A DEPOSIT SLIP AND CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT MEANT FOR A SECRET DEPOSIT FOR THE SUM OF SD11.5MILLION(ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS) HE MADE WITH A BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN,COTE D’IVOIRE IN A TRUST ACCOUNT.
MY MOTHER WHO LATER DIED OF HYPERTENSION SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FATHER,ON HER SICK BED TOLD ME TO COLLECT THE DOCUMENTS AND PRESENT THEM TO THE BANK IF SHE EVENTUALLY DIES AND ENSURE THAT I SOURCE FOR A TRUSTED AND RELIABLE FOREIGNER TO TRANSFER THE MONEY TO HIS OR HER BANK ACCOUNT ABROAD AFTER WHICH I WILL JOIN THE PERSON FOR THE INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY IN GOOD BUSINESS AND FOR MY YOUNGER SISTER (AMINA 18 YEARS OLD GIRL) TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION.
THIS WAS THE INTENTION OF MY MOTHER BEFORE SHE DIED.
I HAVE PRESENTED THE DOCUMENTS TO THE BANK AND INFORM THEM THAT I WILL CONTACT OUR LATE FATHER FOREIGN PARTNER WHOM IS TO RECEIVE THE MONEY ABROAD.SO THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE FOREIGN BANKING DETAILS WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO.THIS IS ALSO IN LINE WITH THE AGREEMENT MY LATE FATHER ENTERED INTO WITH THE BANK AT THE TIME HE MADE THE DEPOSIT. THAT THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE ACCOUNT OF THE BENEFICIARY WHOSE NAME HE DID NOT DISCLOSED TO THE BANK.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUNT WHERE THIS FUND WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO IMMEDIATELY,ALONGE WITH ALL YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATIONS,SUCH AS YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS,YOUR OFFICE ADDRESS,AND A COPY OF YOUR NATIONALITY IDENTITY CARD.AS TO ENABLE THE BANK PROCCED ON HOW TO TRANSFER THIS FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT,ALSO FOR WE TO KNOW WHOM WE ARE INTRUSTING THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO HIS OR HER CARE.AFTER ME AND MY SISTER (AMINA) WILL BE COMING TO MEET WITH THE PERSON FACE TO FACE IN HIS OR HER COUNTRY FOR THE NORMAL INVESTMENT OF THIS FUND AND FOR MY YOUNGER SISTER (AMINA) TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION, WHILE I WILL JOIN YOU IN ANY UPFRONT INVESTMENT OF THIS MONEY FOR BETTER FUTURE FOR BOTH OF US.
AS SOON AS YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE CONTACTED YOU AND GET BACK TO US WITH ALL THIS INFORMATIONS REQUIRED, SO THAT THE BANK CAN OPEN UP COMMUNICATION WITH YOU ON HOW TO EFFECT THIS FUND IMMEDIATELY AS I WILL QUICKLY PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATIONS TO THEM AND INTRODUCE YOU AS MY LATE FATHER FOREIGN PARTNER WHOM IS TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY ABROAD ON OUR BEHALF.
WE PROMISE YOU EVER SINCERE AND HONESTLY ASSURE YOU 100% CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL NEVER REGREAT NOING US FOR ONE DAY TILL WE MEET TOGETHER IN YOUR COUNTRY.AND CELEBRATE THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THIS TRANSFER.
YOU WILL ALSO BE IN CUSTODY OF THE MONEY PENDING WHEN I WILL JOIN FOR THE INVESTMENT IN GOOD BUSINESS AND FOR MY YOUNGER SISTER TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION.YOU WILL HAVE 10% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT AND ALSO 10% SHARE OF THE BUSINESS WILL BE YOUR OWN.
PLEASE DO NOT EXPOSE THIS TRANSACTION AS THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD THINGS HAPPENNING IN THE WORLD NOW.
WE TRUST AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT SEIZE THE MONEY WHEN IT IS TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WHILE BECAUSE THIS MONEY IS OUR ONLY HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE LIVING IN LIFE.
AWAITING YOUR BEST COMPLIANCE TO THIS PAINFUL PROPPSAL OF ME AND MY SISTER.
ALMIGHTY ALLAH WILL BLESS YOU FOR ASSISTING US.
BEST REGARDS.
MOHAMED AND SISTER
FROM: PRINCE MOHAMED AKA
ABIDJAN COST D’IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA
ATTN/PLEASE
DEAR ONE,
WITHOUT ANY DOUBT I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE BUT IT IS BORNE OUT OF GENUIE NEED FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE.
I AM MOHAMED AKA THE FIRST SON OF FORMER FINACE DIRECTOR OF SIERRA LEONE GOLD AND DIAMOND CORPORATION MR MARCUS AKA WHO WAS ASSASINATED BY THE REBEL FORCES LOYAL TO MR FORDAY SANKOH DURING THE PEAK OF THE CIVIL WAR IN OUR COUNTRY SIERRA LEONE.
BEFORE MY FATHER DIED,HE GAVE TO OUR MOTHER A DEPOSIT SLIP AND CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT MEANT FOR A SECRET DEPOSIT FOR THE SUM OF SD11.5MILLION(ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS) HE MADE WITH A BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN,COTE D’IVOIRE IN A TRUST ACCOUNT.
MY MOTHER WHO LATER DIED OF HYPERTENSION SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FATHER,ON HER SICK BED TOLD ME TO COLLECT THE DOCUMENTS AND PRESENT THEM TO THE BANK IF SHE EVENTUALLY DIES AND ENSURE THAT I SOURCE FOR A TRUSTED AND RELIABLE FOREIGNER TO TRANSFER THE MONEY TO HIS OR HER BANK ACCOUNT ABROAD AFTER WHICH I WILL JOIN THE PERSON FOR THE INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY IN GOOD BUSINESS AND FOR MY YOUNGER SISTER (AMINA 18 YEARS OLD GIRL) TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION.
THIS WAS THE INTENTION OF MY MOTHER BEFORE SHE DIED.
I HAVE PRESENTED THE DOCUMENTS TO THE BANK AND INFORM THEM THAT I WILL CONTACT OUR LATE FATHER FOREIGN PARTNER WHOM IS TO RECEIVE THE MONEY ABROAD.SO THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE FOREIGN BANKING DETAILS WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO.THIS IS ALSO IN LINE WITH THE AGREEMENT MY LATE FATHER ENTERED INTO WITH THE BANK AT THE TIME HE MADE THE DEPOSIT. THAT THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE ACCOUNT OF THE BENEFICIARY WHOSE NAME HE DID NOT DISCLOSED TO THE BANK.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUNT WHERE THIS FUND WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO IMMEDIATELY,ALONGE WITH ALL YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATIONS,SUCH AS YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS,YOUR OFFICE ADDRESS,AND A COPY OF YOUR NATIONALITY IDENTITY CARD.AS TO ENABLE THE BANK PROCCED ON HOW TO TRANSFER THIS FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT,ALSO FOR WE TO KNOW WHOM WE ARE INTRUSTING THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO HIS OR HER CARE.AFTER ME AND MY SISTER (AMINA) WILL BE COMING TO MEET WITH THE PERSON FACE TO FACE IN HIS OR HER COUNTRY FOR THE NORMAL INVESTMENT OF THIS FUND AND FOR MY YOUNGER SISTER (AMINA) TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION, WHILE I WILL JOIN YOU IN ANY UPFRONT INVESTMENT OF THIS MONEY FOR BETTER FUTURE FOR BOTH OF US.
AS SOON AS YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE CONTACTED YOU AND GET BACK TO US WITH ALL THIS INFORMATIONS REQUIRED, SO THAT THE BANK CAN OPEN UP COMMUNICATION WITH YOU ON HOW TO EFFECT THIS FUND IMMEDIATELY AS I WILL QUICKLY PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATIONS TO THEM AND INTRODUCE YOU AS MY LATE FATHER FOREIGN PARTNER WHOM IS TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY ABROAD ON OUR BEHALF.
WE PROMISE YOU EVER SINCERE AND HONESTLY ASSURE YOU 100% CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL NEVER REGREAT NOING US FOR ONE DAY TILL WE MEET TOGETHER IN YOUR COUNTRY.AND CELEBRATE THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THIS TRANSFER.
YOU WILL ALSO BE IN CUSTODY OF THE MONEY PENDING WHEN I WILL JOIN FOR THE INVESTMENT IN GOOD BUSINESS AND FOR MY YOUNGER SISTER TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION.YOU WILL HAVE 10% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT AND ALSO 10% SHARE OF THE BUSINESS WILL BE YOUR OWN.
PLEASE DO NOT EXPOSE THIS TRANSACTION AS THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD THINGS HAPPENNING IN THE WORLD NOW.
WE TRUST AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT SEIZE THE MONEY WHEN IT IS TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WHILE BECAUSE THIS MONEY IS OUR ONLY HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE LIVING IN LIFE.
AWAITING YOUR BEST COMPLIANCE TO THIS PAINFUL PROPPSAL OF ME AND MY SISTER.
ALMIGHTY ALLAH WILL BLESS YOU FOR ASSISTING US.
BEST REGARDS.
MOHAMED AND SISTER