TONIGHT Bill Moyers Journal: The Case of Lurita Doan and the GSA, Rep. Henry Waxman

[L. Coyote]

The Case of Lurita Doan and the GSA
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2008/02/the_curious_case_of_lurita_doa.html

You may have been familiar with the scrutiny of Blackwater¹s mercenary army, or followed the troubles with oversight at the State Department, but chances are you hadn¹t heard of Lurita Doan. She isn¹t exactly a household name. So it might be surprising that, as head of the General Services Administration, Doan oversees $500 billion dollars worth of federal assets.


On the JOURNAL, Rep. Henry Waxman explains how an investigation that started with leaks about possible favoritism in awarding government contracts eventually uncovered documents and testimony that convinced Waxman that Doan had violated the Hatch Act, a law prohibiting federal employees from using government resources for partisan purposes. Waxman was so shocked by what the Committee found that he took the unusual step of asking Doan to resign at the end of the hearings. The Office of Special Counsel, which conducted a separate investigation of Doan, concluded that Doan should be "disciplined to the fullest extent for her serious violation of the Hatch Act and insensitivity to cooperating fully and honestly in the course of our investigation." Yet today Doan still heads the GSA.

Watch Video

What do you think about the Doan case? Do you think there should be another avenue of recourse for the American people to hold political appointees accountable for their behavior?

[proud patriot]

1. thanks for the reminder

[Adsos Letter]

2. I watched those hearings....

one more issue which seems to have disappeared into the background noise... :(

[L. Coyote]

3. VIDEO Rep. Waxman calls for Lurita Doan to resign.

Just posted on DU: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x89709

[L. Coyote]

4. VIDEO: Waxman nails Lurita Doan on contradictions in her testimony

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x34389

[WinkyDink]

5. I remember True Believer Lurita. Another one with a lousy memory.

[L. Coyote]

6. Indeed, there was a significant recall problem.

[Wizard777]

29. When they say, I don't recall. They should be given a bottle to pee in.

They should be told that the DEA assures us that smoking pot causes short term memory loss. We need to find out how much of it you have been smoking. Apparently Alberto Gonzales has smoked all of Amsterdam, Colombia, Mexico, and Humbolt Ca.

[annm4peace]

7. I watched these hearing that were featured on MOyer's show

I thouught Doan was going to be arrested.

* I just don't understand how those who lie to Congress, when under oath, are not arrested.

I also don't understand how those who committee fraud with american tax dollars are not arrested.

Help me out here people.

Are we in a Democracy or a Dictarship.

[L. Coyote]

8. "They think they can get away with anything." Waxman

[lyonn]

9. Apparently they are getting away with it

Moyer's show is so worth watching, one of the few now days.

[L. Coyote]

10. Bruce Braley Questions Lurita Doan

Moyer had a good clip of Braley. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aie_6OABSfQ

[Hidden Stillness]

23. Braley was Fabulous--Got at the Whole Problem

I remember the original House (Waxman) hearings, and the great, very organized and comprehensive questioning by Rep. Braley--anyone who wants to understand quickly and completely what the problem is, what the crime is, should listen to how Braley uncovers it all. The GSA is supposed to be a general, Federal agency that has oversight over all the operations of other Federal agencies and departments, making sure they operate correctly, and monitoring and attacking waste, fraud and abuse. This Lurita Doan put great, unbearable pressure on the actual Inspector General and that whole office, not to go after anyone, not to stop anything that was now going on, and then threatened to cut the budget of the IG's office. The heads of Federal departments were replaced with Republican hack "liasons," who bypassed the entire, actual structure of Government operations, and all of them suddenly started reporting to Karl Rove! The budget of the GSA began to be used for Republicans campaigning for elected office and, as uncovered by Braley, this non-partisan GSA, by law, started to have meetings, on company time, for Republican staff only, where they had a big map of the U.S. and all voting districts, and had long, daily planning sessions as to how to target Democrats, and get Republicans elected! A total violation of law! Anyone who objected, had intense pressure and threat put on them, not to act and not to talk. The Waxman hearings showed this Doan--who was so annoying you just wanted to punch her right in the mouth--to be trained exactly the same way every other Republican coming before a Committee has been, all during this current Administration: laughing, sneering, turning to lawyers for consultaions constantly, not answering anything, not "remembering" anything. Yet again, as always--NOTHING HAPPENED TO HER EITHER.

[me b zola]

32. Thank you for that synopsis

It was very helpful. :hi:

[L. Coyote]

11. Incredible show. Must see. Blackwater oversight now. There is a Watch Video LINK.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2008/02/the_curious_case_of_lurita_doa.html

[L. Coyote]

12. Waxman: "He was absolutely lying." It just gets better and better.

[u2spirit]

25. When watching this my immediate thought was

Charge his sorry ass with perjury. Of course, Krongard was allowed to resign and take his golden parachute.

[L. Coyote]

30. We need a poster of all the "resigned" Bush Junta Operatives. Ohh, and wanted posters!

[BrightKnight]

13. It was an exceptional program even by Moyers' standards. - n/t

[mzmolly]

14. Yes it was. I'm glad SOMEONE is covering this story.

sigh

[DemReadingDU]

15. Thanks, missed it yesterday

I'll watch the video today.

[malaise]

16. Excellent program

We wondered how Lurita Doan is still employed by the Bush criminals.

I also loved the discussion with Kathleen Hall Jamieson. I'm a big fan of hers.

[L. Coyote]

17. "wondered how Lurita Doan is still employed by the Bush criminals."

Simply put, she is still doing their bidding, channeling all that money to Bush Junta supporters.

[Vinca]

18. What is the end result of all of these hearings?

Really. Except for "Cookie," who voluntarily resigned, nothing every happens to any of these criminals. Lurita's the best example of that. I imagine, when the Shrub crime family leaves, she'll be collecting some sort of government pension until her dying days. I appreciate Henry Waxman and I love watching people being raked over the coals, but, in the end, NOTHING EVERY HAPPENS to hold these people accountable.

[L. Coyote]

20. Dick Nixon might disagree that "in the end, NOTHING EVERY HAPPENS to hold these people accountable."

I too am very impatient, but a quick look at the Watergate time line puts this in perspective. It takes time.

[Vinca]

22. Would Nixon have gone down the road if Pelosi was Speaker?

I wonder. Good points, though.

[L. Coyote]

28. Not to mention, Corrupt Bastards were not so endemic in the Republican caucus then.

[scarletwoman]

33. Nixon was a piker compared to these guys. In fact, THESE guys are the ones who did Nixon in.

Nixon didn't go down because of some great triumph of our "democracy". Nixon went down because the folks who are in control now -- the same folks who were working hard in the shadows then -- wanted him gone.

He wasn't really one of them, and he had gotten out of control.

All Watergate proves is that if you lose your usefulness to the Syndicate, they will take you down. Just like Manuel Noriega.

sw

[L. Coyote]

19. Administration Oversight VIDEO Hearing Examines Statements Made by GSA Administrator Doan

SEE THE ENTIRE HEARING:

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1337
Administration Oversight
Hearing Examines Statements Made by GSA Administrator Doan
Table of Contents

Overview

Chairman Waxman's Opening Statement

The Oversight Committee held a hearing on June 13, 2007, to examine statements made by GSA Administrator Lurita Doan that impugn the reputation of federal officials who cooperated with a Committee investigation into Ms. Doan's conduct at the General Services Administration. A preliminary transcript of this hearing is now available.


Video of the hearing:

[Blue_In_AK]

21. Exceptional "Journal"

from beginning to end. Not to be missed.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

24. Another hatchet woman doling out our tax dollars to benefit special interests...

Special interests that are detrimental to the majority. I despise this GOP hack.

[RuleOfNah]

26. "Yet today Doan still heads the GSA"

Apparently Equal Enforcement is off the table.

Are we redressed yet?

[mod mom]

27. DEFINITELY worth watching!

[LuckyLib]

31. My blood pressure went right through the ceiling watching this. Fookin' criminals, all.

Moyers' journal. That, Keith, John Stewart, and Frontline are the only place on the tube to see what the MSM has been hiding from us.

[L. Coyote]

34. Bushco has contributed some very historic footage epitomizing inability to recall.

They are going to be the butts of history jokes for eternity!

[L. Coyote]

35. visibility kick