HOMELAND SECURITY -- SHOWER CURTAINS, SHOWER DOORS, OR BULLET-PROOF VESTS?

[rodeodance]

------- Original Message --------
Subject: Progress Report: Funeral Fit For A King
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:14:46 -0500 (EST)
From: American Progress Action Fund <[e-mail]>
To: xxxx


HOMELAND SECURITY -- SHOWER CURTAINS, SHOWER DOORS, OR BULLET-PROOF VESTS?

The new headquarters of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is at least $19 million over budget, in part because "ATF Director Carl J. Truscott put through or proposed unnecessary plan changes and upgrades to the 438,000-square-foot building in the past two years." The Washington Post reports that Truscott "has devoted much of his time" recently to critical decisions like "the relative merits of shower curtains vs. shower doors, and soap dispensers vs. soap dishes for the building's gymnasium area." He also requested "nearly $300,000 in extras for the new director's suite, including a $65,000 conference table and more than $100,000 for hardwood floors, custom trim and other items." Meanwhile, the Post reports, "the agency is considering sharp cuts in the number of new cars, bulletproof vests and other basics it provides agents."

[havocmom]

1. Well, it's important! Water on the floor could result in serious injury!

The heads of government departments have critical decisions to make! And we don't want them worrying about really big issues... bush appointees fuck enough up just worrying about dinner reservations and how to look on TV.

(yes, it's :sarcasm: and it's what keeps me from doing a one woman march on D.C. which would leave my husband a widower)

[Dr.Phool]

2. Quit crying! They'll find a way to pay for it.

Cut out those teen-age punks survivor benefits, and that $255 death benefit. Why should somebody benefit from dying?:sarcasm: :banghead:

[sui generis]

3. erm, shower curtains are definitely cheaper

but, I'd have to go with neither. That's the cheapest solution and would protect the real gays from the closet gays off nervously rubbing their meat in privacy behind their screamingly tasteful shower curtains and the plus side is you wouldn't have to agonize over shower curtains vs. bulletproof vests. I have never understood modesty - we all have the same stuff, more or less.

Glad to see the idiots are still in charge -

[Up2Late]

4. Well, at least they aren't paying $20.00 ea. for 85¢ plastic Icecube trays

Reminds me of the old insult/joke, "you want to know how you can lose 10 pounds of fat today...?"

Posted on Wed, Nov. 09, 2005

Pentagon's spending practices come under fire at hearing

By Seth Borenstein and Lauren Markoe
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Members of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday called Pentagon purchasing agents "incompetent" for paying $20 apiece for plastic ice cube trays as top military buyers conceded that they didn't require vendors to keep their prices down.

A Knight Ridder investigation found that the ice trays - among 122 separate food service items - were bought by the Department of Defense under a special contracting program that has cost the Pentagon 20 percent more than past purchases.

Instead of obtaining competitive bids for individual purchases or buying directly from the manufacturers, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) created what it calls a prime vendor program, which encourages military bases to make purchases through a handful of favored firms. These middlemen tack on additional fees to complete the transactions.

Knight Ridder's investigation spurred Wednesday's hearing and sparked bipartisan criticism of the spending practices. A second hearing is planned later this month.

(more at link below)

<http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13125779.htm>