Judd Gregg had stake in, won aid for base

[Are_grits_groceries]

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's former nominee to become commerce secretary, Sen. Judd Gregg, steered taxpayer money to his home state's redevelopment of a former Air Force base even as he and his brother engaged in real estate deals there, an Associated Press investigation found.

Gregg, R-N.H., personally has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Cyrus Gregg's office projects at the Pease International Tradeport, a Portsmouth business park built at the defunct Pease Air Force Base, once home to nuclear bombers. Judd Gregg has collected at least $240,017 to $651,801 from his investments there, Senate records show, while helping arrange at least $66 million in federal aid for the former base.

Gregg said he violated no laws or Senate rules.
<snip>
Under new Senate ethics rules, Gregg had to certify that federal aid he directed to specific projects was not intended solely to enrich him or immediate family, including siblings. Senators are also supposed to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, though the Senate Ethics Committee seldom investigates or disciplines senators when questions are raised about their activities.

http://www.thestate.com/nationalpolitics/story/698392.html

And suddenly everything becomes a lot clearer......

[malaise]

1. Looks like Judd was fiscally responsible to himself and his family

Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I hope we hear from the hacks who had already canonized St. Judd as the patron saint of ethics and fiscal responsibility.

No doubt this was discovered by Team Obama. :rofl:

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. He got some "bling bling"

to use the immortal words of Michael "Da man" Steele. :rofl:

Question: Does Michelle Bachmann have even a tiny clue what "Da Man" is?? I wish she had said "the man."
Heh!

[malaise]

3. I believe that men and women who wear concepts like

fiscally responsible and 'Christian' on their sleeves should be the first to be thoroughly vetted.

Life has taught me that they usually have something to hide. :D

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. "The louder he talked of his honor,

the faster we counted our spoons." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Shoulda listened to Ralph!! B-)

[malaise]

8. One of the great lines of all times

:D

[malaise]

4. Looks like lots of bling

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNbrnUBpDY517FaoDzHF5oEBCRnwD96JQDR80
<snip>
The senator has said his withdrawal had nothing to do with anything the White House uncovered in his background. A White House spokesman, Ben LaBolt, declined to discuss the matter with the AP. AP began looking into the Greggs' activities at Pease before then but had not yet contacted them or the White House before Judd Gregg withdrew.

Gregg told the AP the White House expressed no concerns about his involvement at Pease. He said he does not believe his investments there or his role in obtaining federal aid would have affected his consideration for the job.

Gregg was governor in the early 1990s when Pease became the first base shut down in closings under then-President George H.W. Bush. Gregg created a state development authority to approve development projects at the former base, and he supported millions of dollars in state-backed bonds and at least $10 million in state roadwork to help transform Pease from a military installation to a business center.

Such efforts to convert defunct bases were encouraged by the federal government. But the personal financial involvement of Gregg and his brother, Cyrus, at Pease sets it apart from other bases' redevelopment.

Judd Gregg has invested in several of Cyrus Gregg's projects through limited partnerships and limited liability companies: 222 International LP, Say Pease LLC and other LLCs using variations on the "Say Pease" name, according to New Hampshire corporate records and the senator's financial disclosure reports.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. I think a LOT of metaphorical

"spoon counting" should be used a matter of course.

[ima_sinnic]

6. just why exactly was this a-hole appointed to the cabinet in the 1st place?

that really turned me off to obama as he appeared to be simply a fool for such an inappropriate choice. it has never been satisfactorily explained how choosing a greed-head, lying, reactionary neocon repuke asshat to be in your cabinet is supposed to be a good thing.

[malaise]

9. If team Obama knew about the 'reaping of Pease'

(and I suspect they did), it was a great idea to accept Gregg's offer to be the Commerce Secretary. Remember he is retiring from the seat in a blue state and the long term benefits of this going public hurt the 'Republicanistas' far outweigh the short term delay over an inconsequential position.

[havocmom]

13. Think Obama also outted the GOP plans to tilt the census to their favor

When THAT duty got pulled from Commerce, Judd seemed to lose interest fast.

Busted!

[madokie]

10. I think maybe it was because President Obama looks for the good in people first

and its paid off well for him in the past. Sure there will be those times when doing that will come back to bite him, mind you, but not in the ass as this is a clear indicator of that. No fallout from this to harm the President at all, is there?

[malaise]

11. None in the least

Kick

[SpiralHawk]

12. The Juddhead - a typical arrogant, greedy, amoral Republicon Homelander

"Republicon Homelanderism: It's a Granite State of Mind."