If Whittington's wife is James Baker III's sister, what becomes of Darth?

[txindy]

There will undoubtedly be a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes to coordinate stories, that's a given, but where would that leave ol' Dick? How compromised would he be? How beholden to Baker and, by proxy, Junior and Poppy? How dependent on the 'official' story being continually corroborated? Is there anything he could deny them, like, say a sudden resignation? A ratcheting back of Halliburton's influence - followed closely by another, more Junior-related firm stepping into that no-bid contract? Darth may even be persuaded to help cover for KKKarl in Fitzgerald's investigation. The possibilities are many.

Darth looked a bit on the queasy side today in pictures. Could this be the real reason why? Junior claims Dickie is "profoundly affected" by recent events. That could be truer than we think. He would, indeed, be profoundly affected by the loss of his political clout.

Let's kick back a while and see how this plays out for Darth and his "acquaintance's" brother-in-law, Jim 'The Fixer' Baker. :popcorn:

[Rex]

1. Maybe he thought it was Baker sneaking up behind him.

The Wolf makes people nervous.

[txindy]

2. Every single one of them makes me nervous.

They had how many witnesses to a shooting and they still can't keep from changing stories? Yet that's okay with the authorities, for some reason.

[sandnsea]

3. And it goes on from there

Armstrong is a lobbyist for Baker Botts. Baker Botts is representing Michael Scanlon, Abramoff's partner.

But they don't know Jack.

Armstrong won't release who she lobbied for, but it was clients in S Korea. Abramoff has some S Korea clients too.

They were out on the ranch, conniving new ways to rob the country, drinking and shooting up farm animals, and one of them got shot. Boohoo

[txindy]

5. Whoa. Is there anything these people are NOT tied in to?

And, you're right, they don't know Jack. Yet Baker Botts is representing Scanlon.

I'm feeling a bit amazed right now.

[sandnsea]

6. Hey, I'M AMAZED

And I thought I was all done being amazed by these people!

[txindy]

11. Besides the interesting possibility of the 'social' connection,...

What else is there about Pamela Willeford that ties in to the private dealings? Was she not connected to businesses dealing with Iraq? Or do I have her confused with someone else? :shrug: Do we know anything about her, really? Other than she was a major donor to elections concerning Junior/Dick?

[sandnsea]

13. PIco Drilling, there's something about Pico Drilling

I can't remember now, but I know I hunted it down a couple years ago. She was President of Pico Drilling. Then Bush made her chair of the Higher Education Board. Her husband was finance chairman of Bush's reelection campaign. TPM has that, I gotta go dig around Pico Drilling again.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:w0Lv5cTEIWQJ:www.tpmcafe.com/blog%3Fpage%3D1+bush+willeford&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[txindy]

15. President and PARTNER, no less

This popped up in cache, but I can't get the LongestLinkEver to work. **sigh** Here's a quote, though:

Pamela Willeford is currently the Chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Partner and President of Pico Drilling Co., Ltd. in Breckenridge.

[txindy]

16. A bit more background. Oh, **gag**

The sorority stuff is rather sickening. The rest is interesting, though.

Her brother-in-law, Lewis Lucke, served as the head of U.S. development assistance in Iraq before becoming ambassador to Swaziland.

She is an alumnae of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, whose stated mission is "The objectives of our Fraternity are the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among our members. In all that we do, we try to obey God’s principles of justice and right. We have banded ourselves together to improve our minds and hearts, and we seek to aid each other through a constant watchcare always given in love. We believe ourselves to be sincere searchers for truth.

We seek the highest ideal of womanhood, and we try to gain this ideal by cultivating not only the power and passion for seeking intellectual development but, also, the spirit of love and charity. And we who are thus united are under a solemn pledge to lend a helping hand to one another."

There have been questions about her handling of her diplomatic post, with reports of delays getting visas because of the embassy in Switzerland closing for long periods of time.

http://edwardcopeland.blogspot.com/

Problems with her diplomatic post: http://whirledview.typepad.com/whirledview/2005/06/hello_is_the_us.html

More on Lewis Lucke: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/34328.htm

Adding: And, oh, cr@p, she's a Longhorn. Which I'm immediately wiping from my memory.... Where'd she go to college? :shrug: See, it worked!

[sandnsea]

18. It's like lifting a rock

and out they all scurry. If her brother-in-law's last name is Lucke, wouldn't that mean he's married to her sister, possibly another Baker connection??

I'm still thinking of a story in New Mexico, back in 2003 I think. They were trying to hurry up and close some land EPA situation, and a bunch of boxes of papers were found. It had something to do with Pico Drilling, they had bought out some other guy who had had the pipelines in the area or something. Seems like that's what I remember. But I haven't found anything resembling this at all.

[txindy]

19. Interesting connection for Pico Drilling - they operate at the South Pole

Or did operate there. Check out these pictures and captions: http://www.johnj.com/art/pole/vidpix/deploy.html

It makes me wonder if they're looking for drilling opportunities in the Arctic these days. Waiting for Junior to open the wildlife preserves. If not Pico, itself, perhaps 'friends' of the company.

[txindy]

20. More about Pamela and oil ties - even as Swiss Ambassador

You wouldn't think the US Ambassador to Switzerland would have connections to the Saudis, would you? Neither did I. Boy, was I wrong!

Press Release

U.S. Ambassador Pamela Willeford Hosts Iftaar Dinner

October 26, 2004

On Monday, October 25, U.S. Ambassador Pamela Willeford hosted an Iftaar dinner for select members of the Muslim diplomatic corps. This marks the second time that Ambassador Willeford celebrated the traditional breaking of the fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The celebration began at sunset with a call to prayer, and concluded with a formal dinner hosted by the Ambassador.

In her welcoming remarks, Ambassador Willeford spoke of the importance all Americans place on religious tolerance: "Over one billion people around the world practice Islam, including millions of Americans. The United States values its Muslim citizens, and the diversity that they bring to our society. In fact, it is this diversity that helps to create the American character."

http://bern.usembassy.gov/oct._2004_iftaar_dinner.html

[daleo]

7. There is always more beneath the surface

That's why it pays to keep on digging.

[txindy]

8. Oh, to be a fly on the wall these days.

In certain Darth-centric locations, anyway.

[lonestarnot]

4. mmmm this is delicious!

:popcorn:

[txindy]

9. After reading more about the tentacles the cabal carries, we'll need this

[lonestarnot]

10. hehehehehehehhe

:rofl:

[Erika]

12. Culture of corrupt cronyism - add a 4th "c"

with "comedy".

[goodboy]

14. I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate

What does that make us?


Absolutely nothing.

Which is wht you are about to become.

Thank you Mel Brooks

[txindy]

17. And thank you, Dark Helmet.

Now go get some Yogurt.

:rofl: