What's this "GSA Scandal"?

[Canuckistanian]

I'm hearing about it on the news, but nothing here on DU.

Is it real or overblown?

[Skittles]

1. it's something repukes get themselves in a tizzy over

because talking about wasteful spending caused by useless wars is a fucking no-no

[DJ13]

2. Heres a link

GSA Vegas parties raise more questions

Tuesday, April 17, 2012


http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=8624167

[Canuckistanian]

3. Hmm, bribes and kickbacks

Seems serious enough. But the radio reports I heard say that this has been going on since even before the Bush administration.

Thanks for the link.

[jsmirman]

6. These are career bureaucrats - a mess - but totally nonpartisan

It's a total mess, but people seeking to make party-based hay out of it are completely full of shit.

To do so is to count on the ignorance of the American public - it relies on the public not understanding that while the top spots in an agency change from administration to administration, the overwhelming percentage of employees in every government agency are career bureaucrats.

The outrage is appropriate. Claiming it has sweet fuck all to do with Obama is nonsense.

[bluedigger]

8. Well said.

It's just wasteful spending. All taxpayers should be outraged.

[freshwest]

4. Fighting with Paul Ryan, then some dumbassery served up to get the heat off his killer budget

[Celebration]

5. IMHO, not overblown

It may not be the major problem in our deficit, but it is friggin' ridiculous.

[FarCenter]

7. Check Out These Photos Of Federal Workers Vacationing On Taxpayer Dollars

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-gsa-jeff-neely-wife-waste-taxpayer-money-trips-to-hawaii-2012-4?op=1

[physioex]

9. Not in context....

I am not justifying what happened but the GSA and Secret Service are just an way the Republicans can push their "big government", austerity agenda. The real issues of course are to increase our revenues by taxing the rich and ending the military industrial complex.

[On the Road]

10. A Lot of the Details People are Gasping Over --

fancy hors d'oeuvres, creative management training, clowns, shows, etc -- sound like a lot of trips corporations routinely use for marketing kickoffs or awards, executive team-building, etc. Perhaps the federal government shouldn't be imitating private industry this way, but some top departmental managers have a budget and like to spend it this way if they can get away with it. It is the norm in certain circles.

About ten years ago, I took a three-day trip to Vegas with about 20 other Verizon product managers. We stayed at the Bellagio and the trip had a few of the same elements. It was due to one director who was known for pulling things off like this without getting her hand slapped.

The bottom line, however, is that in this case 52 people spent $823,000. That is $16,000 per person for a five-day trip. That is obscene. I don't know how you can even spend that much money without simply flushing it down the toilet. The scandal is completely justified.