Next Waxman Surprise: Hearings On War Profiteers

[sabra]

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_070503.htm

<snip>

Next Waxman Surprise: Hearings On War Profiteers

The US News Political Bulletin has learned Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is planning a broader and deeper series of investigations of the Bush administration than many expect. Waxman, a veteran Democratic representative from California, is already making news by looking into political activities in the Executive Branch that may run afoul of the law, and the administration's erroneous claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the Iraq invasion.

But Capitol Hill insiders tell the Political Bulletin this is only the beginning. "Waxman is doing a great job of holding his powder and picking his shots," says a strategist with close ties to House Democrats. One of Waxman's next objectives will be not only to examine false claims by administration officials to justify invading Iraq but also to expose people and companies that have profited disproportionately from the war, congressional sources say. Hill Democrats think this line of inquiry will be explosive and will tarnish both the Bush administration and Republicans in general.

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. This SO needs to happen! nt

[whistle]

2. Henry Waxman and his staff are the busiest people on Capital Hill

:bounce: :toast: :yourock:
Waxman is like the Ghost Busters only he is going after the rats in the White House and inside the beltway.

How about this: Waxman's RAT BUSTERS!

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Gawd, I love it--Ratbusters!

Who can 'shop up a Bush-faced rat behind one of those barred circles like on the original Ghost Busters logo.

[hankthecrank]

3. Very much needs to happen n/t

[midnight]

4. Better to have explosive investigations into what type of

law that our leaders are using verses the explosions our soldiers are being expected to endure. Bring the troops home.

[rosesaylavee]

5. Waxman's being

careful flying back and forth to California, right?

[loudsue]

13. God I hope so! The bush crime family killed Wellstone in front of the whole country

They don't have any qualms about killing ANYONE who goes against them...that goes for all Americans, and/or Iraq's former leader. They're murderers, and they're mafia....and that includes the entire corrupt, perverted republican party.

Waxman needs to keep investigating, and keep a magic bullet-proof bubble around him at all times.

:kick::kick::kick:

[aquart]

Agreed.

Although perhaps you insult the Mafia.

[rosesaylavee]

18. I'd like to think they're not so bold now

that we are on to them on so many other scandals and crimes.

But just the same, that thought is never too far when I see some of our DEMs on Capital Hill take legal actions against this regime.

[AndyA]

6. Long, long overdue, and no doubt another big nail in the GOP's coffin.

The kind of crap that's been going on since 2001 needs to be exposed. If it is, I don't think the GOP stands a chance in 2008, or for about a decade after. Time enough to fix a lot of things.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Waxman is a true patriot

weeding out ALL the nastiness of the Bush Adminstration.

[hughee99]

9. I wonder if Dianne Feinstein will be hearing from him? n/t

[loudsue]

14. Glad you mentioned that. She did sleezy dealings, and she needs to be dealt with.

I don't care which team the people are on that are making a mockery of our Democracy...they need to be shown for the slime they are. Getting your husband's company a bunch of contracts on the taxes of the working peole is WRONG FUCKING WRONG!!

The only problem is, for every

ONE

Democrat that is sleezy, there are about 40 or 50 republicans that are 20 times sleezier.

[hughee99]

21. I completely agree...

But I don't think anyone in congress (or possibly even in the the administration) has DIRECTLY profited more from this war, and I think it would be shameful not to at least look into it as part of this investigation.

[myrna minx]

10. The Waxman never sleeps. n/t

[mod mom]

11. Don't forget David Brooks (bulletproof vests) and his $10 million Bat Mitzvah

UPDATED: 50 Cent, the War Profiteer and the $10 million Bat Mitzvah
Asset A01915 Posted By anthony
On the day the President told the American people to prepare for the long haul in Iraq, here’s a story that seems to perfectly sum up our priorities as a nation. They’re calling it Mitzvahpalooza. It may go down in history as the world’s most obscene coming of age party. David H. Brooks, CEO of bulletproof vest maker DHB Industries, spared no expense for his 13-year old daughter’s entry into adulthood. The girl and 300 of her closest BFFs were entertained recently in New York’s Rainbow Room by Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Kenny G, Aerosmith and, believe it or not, 50 Cent (I guess 500 large can make you forget all about street cred). It was hosted by Tom Petty. The reported cost: $10 million.

First off, what 12-year old is a fan of Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac and, for God’s sake, Kenny G? Who was this party really for? Second, and more importantly, where does a guy get $10 million to blow on a Bat Mitzvah? Well, it appears, from you, the American taxpayer. According to United for a Fair Economy, Brooks and Co. have made a tidy profit outfitting our nation’s fighting men and women in body armor that allegedly couldn’t take a hit from a 9mm round:

David H. Brooks, CEO of bulletproof vest maker DHB Industries, earned $70 million in 2004, 13,349% more than his 2001 compensation of $525,000. Brooks also sold company stock worth about $186 million last year, spooking investors who drove DHB’s share price from more than $22 to as low as $6.50 . In May 2005, the U.S. Marines recalled more than 5,000 DHB armored vests after questions were raised about their effectiveness. By that time, Brooks had pocketed over $250 million in war windfalls.

-snip
http://www.gnn.tv/threads/10413/UPDATED_50_Cent_the_War_Profiteer_and_the_10_million_Bat_Mitzvah

[loudsue]

15. That little piece of information should NEVER be forgotten!!

Thanks so much for the post!

:kick::kick::kick:

[mod mom]

20. Hoping that Waxman recalls as well. nt

[Laurab]

12. K&R - my favorite line is the last one

"Hill Democrats think this line of inquiry will be explosive and will tarnish both the Bush administration and Republicans in general."

Waxman is a busy, busy man, but somehow I think he's enjoying his work a lot more these days.

[LSK]

16. Waxman for President!!!

:bounce:

[The Doctor.]

17. YES!

K+R

[maddezmom]

19. long overdue

Glad Waxman is on the case :kick:

[KharmaTrain]

22. So Much To Do...But It'd Being Done

I've had great faith in Congressman Waxman and he has met those high expectation and then some with the way he's peeling away the layers of this onion of corruption. The extent is so wide and has gone on for so long that expecting him to even start chipping away in the 3 months he's been back in charge was asking a lot and he's already starting to deliver.

Damn right, the exposure of contractors and contract fraud will explode all over the GOOP cause there is absolutely no defense for it. There was no need to give billions in no-bid contracts to pet GOOP contributors and outsource the invasion. When the dollar numbers squandered and the amount of abuse and waste is exposed, it'll make the $50 toilets the GOOP used to try to tar on Democrats as "tax & spend" in the 70's like chump change.

I hope the Congressman's net is far and wide...and he's able to scoop up as many of these opportunists and vultures...these are the people who would slip under the radar if all Democrats were consumed with was "impeachment". This is FAR more important as not only did these goons take advantage of this invasion, but have profited on the misery of our dead...and they need to be held accountable...and through them comes more evidence condemning this regime.

Good at ya, Henry!!!


:toast:

Also...combine this with Hillary Clinton & Robert Byrd's brilliant move to end the IWR and the ongoing investigations into Gonzo and Rove and the vise is tightening around this regime...defanging it slowly.