In his first year in office Bush talked up how he was going to earmark billions for malaria treatment. Turns out that 95% of that money went to contractors and only 5% ended up in the field buying nets and medicines. It's absolutely shameless.
Must every dollar the government spend be taxed overwhelming with payouts and bribes to cronies? And don't any of the people that get this money have even the slightest doubt or hesitation about taking money that would have saved the lives of countless children. It's just... disgusting is what it is. And to think these people call themselves morally superior Christians.
Posted by jherr at January 16, 2006 09:25 PMI'm not disagreeing with you. However, I am going to point out, as I often do, that this is not solely a Republican problem. If you google "Clinton cronyism" you get 461,000 results. It is in every administration. It has gone on for generations.
On a personal note, if you were hiring, and the pool of candidates included a friend of yours, would you consider hiring your friend? Especially if you knew they were qualified and you could work easily with them? Would you lean towards going with a known quantity? Would you disqualify them because you know them? What is fair?
I'd hire my friends if they had experience doing the job and were good at it. What qualifications did Brownie have for doing his job at FEMA exactly?
Besides, how do billions of dollars in aid get gobbled up with 95% administration fees exactly?
Is part of the reason that you continuously apologize for Bush that you want on the gravy train? Would you steal money from these kids so that you could buy your third yacht?
Posted by: jherr at January 17, 2006 09:20 AMYou know what. I'm not going to leave it there. Bringing Clinton into this, especially through some silly Google search, it ridiculous. You have no clue what you are talking about.
Clinton did more for AIDS research and prevention in office than Bush has ever thought of doing. And now that he is out of office his is doing tremendous work on AIDS and developing issues in Africa. And to besmirch him like this is just ignorance.
Posted by: jherr at January 17, 2006 09:57 AMI know that most of the google articles are debates or comments on cronyism in general. I'm just saying, again, that it's not a one-party problem.
"Besides, how do billions of dollars in aid get gobbled up with 95% administration fees exactly?"
Robbery.
Just one more question . . . who are the contractors that call themselves morally superior Christians?
Posted by: Jacqueline at January 17, 2006 10:07 AMCome on, give me a break. This adminstation has continuously talked about how Christian it is, and how much they have brought honor back to the White House. Which is completely ridiculous, of course. Since what they are complaining about is crap they made up anyway. The reference was to the administration. I know nothing about robbing cronie companies or their crooked executives and employees. If I found out that I worked for one I would immediately quit and whistle blow the shit out of it.
So "Robbery" is ok now? One would think that if Bush actually cared about kids dying from Malaria that he would ensure that money that he earmarked to save their lives actually got to them. And that he would prosecute the criminals that embezzled the money.
Posted by: jherr at January 17, 2006 10:35 AMCan we at least agree that cronies shouldn't be stealing this money? That's is gross and offensive to embezzle 95% of the money from relief funds.
Posted by: jherr at January 17, 2006 10:36 AMAbsolutely.
Posted by: Jacqueline at January 17, 2006 12:15 PMThanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
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