Wednesday, June 17, 2009

This is a load of crap

I've heard Mr. Walpin in several interviews and BO's description of his state is way off base. Are we also to accept that this happened overnight and that he was unable to comply with the law (inspector general reform act) that he, himself CO-SPONSORED?

(for those of you who watch and read only the dinasaur media, this is probably all new to you. You can catch up by reading on FOX, HotAir.com, Washington Examiner).

BO has broken the law, broken his own pledges for ethical and open government and broken his own promises to protect whistleblowers instead of bury them. What a great president!



WASHINGTON -- Responding to criticism from a Senate Democratic ally, President Obama explained why he fired the Inspector General of the AmeriCorps without the 30-day notification required by law, calling Gerald Walpin so "confused" and "disoriented" that there was reason to question "his capacity to serve."

In a letter to the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Committee that oversees AmeriCorps, Obama listed these alleged defects in Walpin's leadership as an Inspector General.

Removed after unanimous request from the AmeriCorps board of directors
At May, 20, 2009, board meeting Walpin "was confused, disoriented and unable to answer questions and exhibited behavior that led the board to question his capacity to serve."
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California complained about Walpin's conduct to the IG oversight board and alleged he withheld exculpatory evidence.
Walpin had "been absent from the Corporation's headquarters, insisting upon working from his home in New York over the objection" of the board.
He "exhibited a lack of candor in providing material information to decision makers."
He "engaged in other troubling and inappropriate conduct."
He "had become unduly disruptive to agency operations, impairing his effectiveness."
The letter, authored by Norman Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for ethics, concluded: "It was for these reasons that Mr. Walpin was removed."

Hours before, Sen. Claire McCaskill, Missouri Democrat, criticized Obama for failing to specify why he fired Walpin.

"The White House has failed to follow the proper procedure in notifying Congress as to the removal of the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service," McCaskill said in a statement. "The legislation which was passed last year requires that the president give a reason for the removal. 'Loss of confidence' is not a sufficient reason. I'm hopeful the White House will provide a more substantive rationale, in writing, as quickly as possible."

Obama voted for the legislation requiring specific notification to Congress of the reasons to dismiss an inspector general. Any move to fire an inspector general requires 30-days notice. Obama voted for the law to strengthen the independence of inspectors general.

Walpin led a 2008 investigation into allegations of misused taxpayer funds distributed by AmeriCorps to the St. HOPE Academy of Sacramento, founded in 1989 by Obama supporter and former NBA player Kevin Johnson. Walpin said Johnson, now mayor of Sacramento, misused roughly $850,000 in AmeriCorps funds. His referral to the U.S. Attorney's Office did not result in the filing of criminal charges. But St. HOPE officials agreed, via a settlement, to repay half of its AmeriCorps grants.

On Tuesday, Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican, sought all White House information Walpin's firing. That followed a request from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, that AmeriCorps provide "any and all records, e-mail, memoranda, documents, communications, or other information" related to Walpin's firing. Issa and Grassley are minority members of congressional oversight panels.

Republicans also have asked what role, if any, First Lady Michelle Obama played in Walpin's firing. The White House denies she had any voice in Walpin's future with the agency.

Republicans began to question Michelle Obama's role after press reports indicated she was taking a strong interest in AmeriCorps activities and when her former chief of staff, Jackie Norris, became a "senior adviser" to the Corporation for National and Community Service, also known as AmeriCorps.

74 comments:

Sean said...

And, before the inevitable cries of "what about Bush firing the US attorneys?" - remember that the US attorneys serve at the president's pleasure and presidents routinely hire their own for these posts. The inspector generals do not server at presidents pleasure. They are intended to be above it all and not answer to the white house.

Look it up if you don't believe it.

Sean said...

Who else will they take down with the "he was confused" story.

Joanna said...

His Board of Directors found him wacky so, maybe they had to remove the man ASAP.30 days may have been too much for Americorps to handle. What a great President he is!!!

Sean said...

Wow, Jo - you're really turning up the heat on me with that argument. Here, have some more KoolAid to cool yourself off.

Doug said...

Hi Sean,
do you not see the irony in minimizing another's viewpoint for what you perceive as being deficient while at the same time offering them the Kool Aid line?
Did you get that from Fox News as well?

Pat said...

LOL...I want koolaid

juliet said...

Well I for one am really hot over here and was actually looking for cherry kool-aid in the rip off store for imported products. With out success I thought to settle for a picture of Koolaid. That led to a search on the Internet for the original Kool-aid TV ads to entertain everyone with who also maybe feeling the summer heat. We will have to settle with Ronald MacDonald. You see how my mind works. Jo you make a good point. "Confused story"...kinda like this interpretation of events.

juliet said...

Wow I did find a 1970 KoolAid ad. I posted it to the blog.

Dave said...

Our president is turning out to be as crooked as the day is long. Is he above the law? No. BHO is the law. He can make the law, break the law and abuse the law... and will continue to do so. Whatever happens now is on the shoulders of those millions of blind Americans that voted for him. Corruption and scandal runs rampant in Washington. Stay tuned folks, there is much more to be exposed.

Pat said...

Dave, you're sounding a Bit like The "mat bros" now. JUST WAIT

Pat said...

Yes Doug, you should be ashamed of yourself. And now Dave says we're blind. Oh my God! I can't see!

Sean said...

The inspector general is not part of the daily operations of any program or organization. The IG is their to provide oversite, investigate issues of misuse, corruption, waste, etc. BO made a great big show out of supporting and protecting whistleblowers and yet here is is, throwing this man under the bus.

The idea that the board of directors could have an IG removed is like a pack of wolves deciding to have the sheepdog removed.

juliet said...

Wasn't he working from home and disruptive at meetings etc.

Sean said...

well, that's the way BO is trying to paint it, yes. But, really don't you think it is at all "interesting" that he is investigating Kevin Johnson (one of BO's friends) and now Johnson is off the hook and Walpin is being portrait as a dottering old fool?

Don't you think BO should be subject to the laws of the land (he help MAKE this law, for crying out loud).

Walpin was investigating the St. Hope academy. They received hundreds of thousands from Americorp. "KJ" used this money to pad salaries of his staff - including having them wash his car! While under subpoena, they erased his emails and he was storing financial records in his basement. Aren't you the least bit curious about this?

Doug said...

Sean,
the IG is not a whistle blower. An IG's prime directive is oversight of operations to help ensure good stewardship of taxpayer/corporate dollars. It's what they are paid to do.
A whistle blower is an individual that through personal initiative chooses to publicly expose what they see as corrupt, dangerous or illegal practice in either the private or public business realm. This often comes with considerable personal risk. Whistle blowers do not typically get paid.
If it is/was the position of the Obama administration or a Board of Directors that an IG/AG was derelict in their duties, then their taking the steps to see to the derelicts removal cannot reasonably be interpreted as throwing the man under the bus.
Rather, their removal is one of the unpleasant tasks of chief executives. Shit canning the incompetent subordinate that in the executives opinion has proven himself unwilling or unable to do his job.
You and others may choose to paint this as another sign of the coming of the beast but the fact is right or wrong the IG/AG is subordinate to the chief executive.
If enough of the electorate decide that they don't like the decisions this chief executive is making then they are free to fire him in three years or so.
Then we will all have a new boss.
They will be much the same as the old boss.

Sean said...

yes, Doug, I know he's not technically a "whistle blower". However, his role is much the same - keep things on the up and up.

You can read more about this in the Wall Street Journal:

... last year Congress passed the Inspectors General Reform Act, which requires the President to give Congress 30 days notice, plus a reason, before firing an inspector general. A co-sponsor of that bill was none other than Senator Obama. Having failed to pressure Mr. Walpin into resigning (which in itself might violate the law), the Administration was forced to say he'd be terminated in 30 days, and to tell Congress its reasons.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124511811033017539.html

Ric Larson said...

Sean, you and Dave are so right on target again!

Becki said...

Sean...I so hope you and Dave are getting involved at the local level. The Republican Party needs revival at this level. This blog aside, everyone I talk to is extremely concerned about our future under this administration.

BHO is clueless and incompetent, but the media is in love. This IS a load of crap!

Dave said...

Well said Becki. It is so wrong for us as American citizens to simply look the other way and plug our noses when something stinks to high heaven.

juliet said...

Calling them "naysayers," "fear-mongers" and peddlers of "Trojan horse" falsehoods, Obama warned interest groups, lobbyists and others against using "fear tactics to paint any effort to achieve reform as an attempt to socialize medicine."

"There are those who will try and scuttle this opportunity no matter what," Obama said.

juliet said...

Dave your claim that OBama hates the USA is really extreme and with out any merit. Honestly get with some facts and figures man, how come you don't say the same about our last "Glorious Leader" who drove America in an SUV to what it is today. Does anyone know what sort of AmeriCorp Grant projects from the last Administration are going on in their communities and what they cost? Buying community voters by introducing thin programs to get money to community leaders.

Sean said...

Juliet, what opportunity was he referring to?

And, remember, the democrats are in the pockets of some of the largest and most powerful special interest groups - teachers, autoworkers, teamsters, George Soros and his lot. Funny how when they say "special interest" they don't apply this label to their own.

Pat said...

Becki, you really should go back to talking about your tattoo

DRL said...

Sean,
It is funny (ironic, not ha ha) how the liberals on this blog are in lock step (pun intended) with President Hussein (the one who is still alive).
Remember when I posted along time ago about how Obama and Hitler were one in the same politically. They are both socialists, and the followers of both worship (figuratively) the ground they walk and walked on.
We are now seeing the same thing from American liberals as we saw form German's who supported Hitler and Japanese who followed Hirohito.

DRL said...

Oh and Sean, remember to keep your posts small. For some reason the Caraway girls have a hard time reading anything with more than 15 words in them. Pat said that all she saw was bla bla bla, and her sister Robert said he couldn't read mine because they were too long. So, keep it short with small words.

DRL said...

Oh, yea, I almost forgot. No conservative thought George Bush was a "glorious leader". With the exception of the war on terrorism, I think he was way to liberal. He spent like a democrat.

Oh, and President Hussein (the one who is alive) doesn't even think there is a "War on Terror".

Doug said...

Sean,
I don't necessarily dispute what you are saying but I would not at this time typify the UAW as a powerful special interest group.
They, like most of organized labor these days are focused mainly on just having a job.
I also find it somewhat disconcerting that the present administration is in the process of putting into place strong regulatory oversight procedures to monitor and control banking, finance & credit markets. While this is being done under the guise of consumer protection the reality is that if implemented these measures will lead to an ever more present and powerful central government.
Now I don't dispute that some regulation is necessary. Lord knows the events of the last year illustrate that, but this my dear friends is a slippery slope.

DRL said...

Sean, thank you for fallowing this stuff, because I don't as I should.

Sean, Ric, Dave Mat, Juls and Becki (whoever I missed), you all rock. I appreciate that you all can say when we are wrong (unlike the liberals) and stand up for what is right, regardless of the attacks form the left.

I also appreciate that when we disagree with each other, it is kept to a logical discussion. Example: Sean and I are as opposite as possible as for as our theology. But, we can talk about it without any problem.

Doug said...

DRL,
speaking only for myself I took exception with your analogy because of the baggage associated with the name. We have been through this ad nauseum so get over it already.
I will also thank you to not associate me with a lock step mentality and of worshipping the ground that anyone walks on excepting my two daughters.
And even that has its days.

Pat said...

DRL, What do you have against the "Caraway" girls???

Sean said...

Doug - I agree with you.Much of the whold Left vs Right thing has become a distraction. Keep the masses fighting with each other so the feds can do whatever they want. It is rather like Good Cop / Bad Cop. We each have our own idea of which side is which, but in the end they are all taking us over the cliff. Remeber, even the good cop wants to lock you ass up in jail (or in this case, in debt/dependance/beurocracy)

juliet said...

"and her sister Robert said he couldn't read mine" Hahahaha hey are you calling RAC a girl. RAC do you still have those steel reinforced shoes you wore as a kid. Drl/Sean about those long posts...there is a general office correspondence rule to keep things to a half page and no more that a page if you want it read. Short and to the point.

Joanna said...

Once again, we're lowering ourselves to these people who are sometimes paranoid and distorted. Maybe underlying psychological problems are at play here.
drl,You said you'd apologize on the blog but,I guess my response wasn't what you expected for "Being A jerk". Uh,to be expected!once again.

Sean said...

Jo - I fervently hope that we (righties) are wrong and you (lefties) are right. Because the alternative would be bad for everyone.

On the other hand, if it is unreasonable for us to be (what did you say?) paranoid about BO, then what do you call the irational exhuberance, misplaced confidence, and total unwillingness to even look beyond the razzle dazzle show that he's putting on. You are like a deer in the headlights.

Pat said...

Sean, I don't know you, but I gotta tell you, I'm tired of listening to you whine! That's all you do. Have you ever tried to do anything? Help? make a difference? ....just sayin.

Sean said...

Pat - wow - that really hurts...

Do you feel compelled to listen? If not, then just don't. No skin off my nose.

Pat said...

Sorry I hurt your feelings Sean.

rac said...

Don't have the shoes any more Juliet but not to worry, my 10 year old could kick DRL's ass.

Sean said...

I was being sarcastic

DRL said...

Pat, I was just getting under your brother skin. He does it well, so I thought I would try. Oh, it worked. Just having only circle fun, is all. Not meaning to upset anyone.

DRL said...

Pat, When is speaking the truth 'whining'?

Pat said...

drl, I was talking to your brother sean. It's a Given that YOU whine. Maybe it runs in the family. "mommy,I don't want to go to school. mommy, I hate these socks. mommy, I don't like this cereal, mommy I don't like our president and no one is patriotic like me". booo hoooo hooo. Shut up and get your ass to school boy!

Sean said...

Can't deal with the debate, then attack the other debater. Right, Pat?

DRL said...

Pat, we are just having a good debate, quit your nagging. And I hate to say what would have happened in our house if you wined at all. So, stay out of that. You don't know a thing about our lives.
Instead of personal attacks, stick to the issue.

Pat said...

Oh poor Sean. I'm not "attacking" anyone baby. just writing my views. Like you said, don't listen if you can't take it.

juliet said...

Drl you sure seem to have a different perspective on what makes a good debate.

Sean said...

So, Pat, you have a lot of postings to this topic, but nothing about the actual topic.

Do you have anything to say on the firing of IG Walpin?

Sean said...

You seem to only have views on the other members of this blog, nothing on the actual politics and policies we often debate.

Pat said...

No Sean. I have no comments on IG Walpin. First, cause I don't know what the fuck you're talkin about and second because I don't give a shit. In the whole scheme of life, I'm just trying to live and make a better life for me and my kids. Is that in any way on your agenda?

Sean said...

for someone who doesn't "give a shit" you sure are spending a lot of time giving shit to other people.

I know, I know - there I go - whining again.

Pat said...

Sean, all I can say to that is what my 15 yr old says to me....WHATEVER

Pat said...

BTW drl. You said I made "personal attacks" I don't do that and please show me where, if you think so. oh and "whining" is not spelled "wining". Whine is what YOU do...wine is what I drink when I cook. See the difference?

mat said...

Pat,When you said Becki should stick to posts about her tatoos I think that was personal and had nothing to do with the topic.Do you want more examples?

mat said...

And to rac who thinks his ten year old can kick Drls ass.Is that the same one who could think of something better to say to me than Stupid?You should be so proud.Certainly skills that will serve them well later in life.Hows that for being personal? Pretty good huh? I guess the fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree. I feel sad for you guys and will pray for you.

Pat said...

oh here we go again with the "I'll pray for you". Save it mat, for yourself, Hey, but thanks anyway.

juliet said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
juliet said...

Looks like the kid got that right. Matt attacking a 10 year old in a strained social situation. Really now.

Joanna said...

mat,Leave that kid alone.He didn't grow up with the Dean's Circle bunch. His experiences are far different then ours were."Pink Floyd", "Leave us kids alone" ...with our parents.

mat said...

I'm not picking on the kids I'm picking on the parents Dumbasses.Go back and read the post.Robert is proud of his kids ability to out diss us conservatives.I met his kids in Vegas and they were very respectfull and well spoken.Kudos to him for doing a good job raising them. Pat shame on you for involving them in this conversation.I will pray for you.Joanna Pink Floyd is a band and anything they said is just a song(fiction)sad!I still love you.The rest of you guys I will pray for you to see the light.Peace.

Pat said...

mat, I'm So sorry I pissed you off. get over it darlin.

Joanna said...

Mat,You've cut me down on numerous occasions.Yet,I have old photo's of you and I miss how you were back in the day. You were carefree and Happy.Now you sound so sour. Sticking up for people that you know don't need sticking up for.
Remember Lincoln Orrukem? I admire him more than a heck of a lot of people here.He's just so down to Earth.I told him"Link,I can't wait to visit Palau again!He said "Hey Jo,It's like Barrigada" We need more peace here.Lincoln would so be happy that us folk got along as with my Father!!!

Pat said...

Hey mat. You're talking about my nephew, ya know blood? Stop saying you're going to pray for me. As if you ever do! it's sacrilegious to say you're praying for someone and you never do. Besides, I need more prayers than your phony heart could ever give me. That's it mat. now leave me alone and go pretend like you're praying for someone else.

mat said...

Hey Pat,I'm sorry that you feel that my prayers do no good.Thats how they work.They(prayers)don't help you win the lottery.I know because I try every wednesday and saturday.They are intended to give you the strength and faith to keep on keepin on.If I tell you I pray for you I do.God listens and reacts accordingly.I am no one special but I do speak with my maker and I can tell you this because I have faith.You are empowered to make your life better.ONLY you.Not the president or anybody else.Once you let go and let God the rest all falls into place.Don't sweat the small stuff.And again I didn't pick on your nephew I picked on Robert for saying that he(your nephew) could take us(conservatives).Lets not involve our young ones in this.And to Joanna,I am still the same warm and fuzzy guy that you knew back then.If you remember we didn't talk about politics then so it's not fair to say I've changed.And I never "Cut you down" as you say just responded to your posts.I don't like that some of us on the blog can say whatever they want and the other side can't.Yea I remember Linc and shame on you for thinking I wouldn't.Linc is my brother the same as Sam and Dean.If he were here right now we would be drinkin beer like no tomorrow.I used to work at this korean restaurant on Marine drive when you guys lived at Kut n Kurl and Shells of Micronesia.I was the porter or night maintenance guy and I used to take out the trash.I used to park my car by the dumpster and when I would empty the trash behind the bar I would grab a bottle of wine(Mateuse)and put it in the trash bag and when I went outside to the dumpster I would take the bottle of wine out and put it in my trunk.I would get off work and go down to Shells and give Linc the wine and he would walk across the street and sit on the beach in East Agana and drink the wine.We'd leave him there sometimes till the morning because well,He was a big Palauan and had been drinking wine all night.Stupid Korean owner never could figure out why his liquor count was off!Hahaaha.Don't hate Jo!I know you know!

DRL said...

I can not believe that the liberals on this blog don't see the personal attacks. It is only a narcissist that cant see what they say negative. I know I have gone too far at times and apologized for it. I will in the future if need be. I am a big enough man to admit fault. My faith is a large part of that.
I will try to list some of the personal attacks.
My faith
My spelling
My grammar
My intelligence
My need for pain medication
My need for depression medication
My political affiliation
My stance on the military
My honor of veterans.

DRL said...

Why the attack on Mat for the remark that RAC made against me about his child taking me. It was, if you read what he wrote, a personal attack against me using his own child. Please before you attack Mat, read what RAC wrote.

The funny thing is no liberal that commented on it, read what RAC wrote, or knew he started it. Mat was just responding to what was asked.

DRL said...

Pat and any liberal that does not wish to be prayed for. Mat gave a great explanation of prayer. Let me go just a bit deeper into prayer.

As humans, we wish bad on bad people. As Christians, we know that everyone deserves death and Hell. We have all sinned, and none is good. Okay, It will be hard for many to understand this. Christians, believe what Christ said. It is not the will of God that any should parish. So I pray that Osama Bin Laden is saved before he dies.
Prayer is intercessory on someone who cant pray. You who are not saved, will be prayed over, whether you like it or not. It is the commitment of Christians, remembering that we once were destine to Hell, and only are saved by Grace.
Don't get upset or attack us for praying for you.

DRL said...

Pat, I really don't think you are sorry that you upset Mat. Although, you didn't.

Pat said...

Fine! whatever! pray for me. Hell, it can't hurt. Now will you leave me alone?

DRL said...

Pat, by your own admission, you have been giving people "shit", tell you what, you leave us alone, and we will leave you alone. With the exception of praying for you. That I will not stop.

DRL said...

But you know, like Ric said, I would rather just have fun. Joanna was the last one to say, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen". With Mat, it doesn't mater how hot it is, if there is food involved, so bad analogy. But, listen to Joanna, she knows.

mat said...

Preach it DRL if thers fire,I'm there and will try to find some way to burn some flesh.Stay tuned for updates on "Sagan Boka" or "a place to eat".

DRL said...

Mat, my mouth is watering. I may just have to make the 592 miles to your house this summer. Here piggy piggy piggy.
Ric, you coming?

mat said...

Or I could drive to your house.With the Monte Carlo.Yea Ric ya coming?The rib express baby!

DRL said...

Mat, a wise man said a long time ago. "If a battle of a thousand miles is made, what one thing should you be sure of"? The answer is, "The journey is that of the other side". That means, the journey is mine.

I spelt "journey" wrong twice, Steve Perry would be mad at me.