« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Senators Press for Answers on GSA Chief
Move over, Al Gonzales, there's a new campaign for the resignation of a Bush appointee.
General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan shocked the world last month when she gave a performance at a House hearing that was enough to make even Gonzales cringe.
In January, Karl Rove's deputy, Scott Jennings, arrived at the GSA to give a briefing on Republican political prospects. After the presentation, Doan reportedly asked aloud what the GSA could do with its considerable taxpayer-funded assets "to help our candidates." When asked about the briefing at the hearing, Doan pleaded a fuzzy memory.
Ever since the briefing was revealed, Democrats have been vainly trying to get answers from the White House about this and other presentations. So today, 25 senators wrote the White House, demanding answers. You can read the letter here. "The Executive Branch is not an extension of the Republican National Committee," it reads, "nor of any political party. Those who treat it as such must be held accountable."
Also today, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) called for Doan's resignation -- because of the presentation... and a host of other reasons enumerated below the fold.
Any guesses on how long it is before Doan joins that"pretty small number" of administration figures in whom Bush has to express confidence?
From Wyden's press release:
Other alleged ethics or legal violations include:-- Doan’s overruling and removal of several career GSA contract negotiators who questioned the GSA’s awarding of a contract to Sun Microsystems. Another contract negotiator was brought in, approved the contract and received a location transfer, which previously had been denied. Critics charge that Sun gives private customers lower prices than taxpayers and they that estimate the awarding of the contract cost taxpayers more than $5 million in wasteful spending.
-- Doan’s attacks on the GSA’s Office of the Inspector General, which has included drastic budget cuts and her referring to the IG’s investigators as terrorizing her. Individual Offices of the Inspector General independently investigate waste, abuse and fraud in federal agencies.
-- Doan’s participation in a January 26, 2007, political briefing for GSA employees on how the GSA could promote Republican congressional candidates in 2008. Speakers allegedly included Doan and J. Scott Jennings, the White House deputy political affairs director. The federal Hatch Act of 1939 prevents federal government and agency employees from using their jobs for political purposes.
-- A $20,000 no-bid contract Doan awarded to a close personal friend for a 24-page report on diversity even though the GSA has its own communications and public relations staff. By law, the contract should have been competitively bid.
Comments (57)
Peter Duffy wrote on April 23, 2007 1:29 PM:Sun is setting on Lurita.
Bertrand wrote on April 23, 2007 1:33 PM:Security code: collar
Anonymous wrote on April 23, 2007 1:35 PM:Least we forget that Jennings sent the political presentation to Doan's staff at GSA from his gwb43.com e-mail address...
fred dodsworth wrote on April 23, 2007 1:37 PM:Unfortunately, this is simply more business as usual for the new and depraved executive branch. Shortly the chimp in the White House will express his confidence in Lurid Lorita and business will go on as it has for the past six, too long, years.
code word west, but meant waste
RW wrote on April 23, 2007 1:39 PM:I think the Dem's in Congress have figured out what unitary actually means; the govt was an extension of the RNC a political party, in that is what was meant as 'elections have consquences'. It was the same reasoning that all authoritarian govt's and parties have, until it all comes crashing down, be it bloodless or not.
SkippyFlipjack wrote on April 23, 2007 1:42 PM:Security code: "the post-my-security-code game has jumped the shark"
that was a long one to type in
United, I stand alone against collectivism wrote on April 23, 2007 1:44 PM:Couldn't happen to a nicer dissembler. Repubwench!
Security code: catchagreasyrepublican
powkat wrote on April 23, 2007 1:45 PM:Isn't she another little fundie fembot?
Melissa Kasnitz wrote on April 23, 2007 1:47 PM:Help -- where is a list of the Senators who signed. I'm having trouble with the signatures, and I want to follow up. I'm pretty sure I see Dianne Feinstein there, but I can't make out Barbara Boxer. Hard to imagine DiFi is there and Boxer is not, so it may just be a question of handwriting.
az5762 wrote on April 23, 2007 1:48 PM:Is it bad that I think she's hot? And I'm queer.
mbbsdphil wrote on April 23, 2007 1:49 PM:Ms. Doan's behavior is not unique, it exemplifies this administration's appointees' routine behavior.
me wrote on April 23, 2007 1:52 PM:Guilty.
Security Code: Violation of Hatch Act
RandyR wrote on April 23, 2007 1:53 PM:I watched the hearing and I would say that Ms.Doan acted completely out of disrespect for Congress. She repeatedly refused to respond to questions saying that "it was being investigated". She refused to acknowledge that Congress has the right to investigate. She very much had the air of being the president's friend and therefore untouchable.
This lady was definately not ready for prime time.
security code: public As in not fit to be in public.
jeffgee wrote on April 23, 2007 2:01 PM:Another creature from Rove's Black Lagoon.
gchaucer2 wrote on April 23, 2007 2:08 PM:She should be axed for being so stupid as to repeatedly refer to the Congressional panel as "you guys."
Anonymous wrote on April 23, 2007 2:11 PM:Boxer's sig is second page six down in the second column
C.W.S. wrote on April 23, 2007 2:12 PM:Boxer's signature is to the right of Feinstein's and a row or two down, I think. Doan gave a pretty embarassing and intellectualy dishonest performance before Waxman's committee - Vassar College, her alma mater couldn't be very proud.
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on April 23, 2007 2:19 PM:I'm having trouble keeping up with all of these GOP scandals. I'm still looking into Doan's old firm, New Technology Management,Inc. (NTMI)and now she might be out the door?
NTMI was certified 8(a) until 2003 under an SBA business development program, according to an old version of its website. I checked some of NTMI's contracts and sometimes Doan claimed 8(a) certification and sometimes she didn't until 2004.
I am trying to learn more about the SBA 8(a) certification program to verify that Doan did indeed follow the government contracting rules when she was a business owner.
As an aside, the current president of NTMI, John Larmer II, was a vice president of Soza & Company, a big DC IT consulting firm that was owned by someone actually named Soza and then sold to one of Ross Perot's companies in 2002 or therabouts.
Larmer as V.P. of Soza had a very interesting relationship between '99 and '00 with a publicly traded voting machine company, Global Election Systems which was sold to Diebold after the 2000 election. Larmer became a GES director while he was a Soza v.p.
Larmer and Soza did some business with the state of Ohio through a company named Catnaz in 2002.
nofltwlt wrote on April 23, 2007 2:23 PM:Note to Paul: Do you have any photos of Scott Jennings? His name keeps popping up and I'd like to know more about him.
Doan was pretty convincing; she and other members of the administration violated the Hatch Act. So, can we please just charge them with a criminal violation to get the ball rolling for the imprisonment of most of this administration?
nofltwlt wrote on April 23, 2007 2:24 PM:See if you can guess who I am.
Ooooh I'm a victim, I'm a victim.
Anonymous wrote on April 23, 2007 2:25 PM:No way is Doan going to step down. Bush and Rove have adopted a bunker mentality and plan on using every dirty trick and land mine to to stave off the Democrats. They figure if they give up on Gonzales or Doan or anyone, the Democrats will simply refocus on another target. The longer each "pillbox" in front of the main White House bunker lasts, the longer it is before the final assault begins.
Oh, and to answer the last sentence in the Senators' letter to the White House. Don't be naive, the entire executive branch is and has been an adjunct of the RNC ever since Bush starting occupying the White House. Don't expect that situation to change for 637 days, 22 hours and 34 minutes (more or less).
Anonymous wrote on April 23, 2007 2:31 PM:Where is Hillary's signature? Or, does she disagree with the 25 signatories?
JRoyale wrote on April 23, 2007 2:32 PM:"I think. Doan gave a pretty embarassing and intellectualy dishonest performance before Waxman's committee"
Actually, considering she's guilty as sin of violating the Hatch Act and who knows how many other laws, I think she did the best that one could expect without using the 5th amendment.
I mean, it's kinda hard to win a bridge hand when you're dealt
♠234 ♥2345 ♦2345 ♣2345
(I hope those card symbols don't get mangled by the internet.)
Anonymous wrote on April 23, 2007 2:37 PM:She's a liar and a criminal. Par for the course amongst the loyal Bushies.
parrot wrote on April 23, 2007 2:44 PM:JRoyale,
Pass 2NT Pass ???
Not a problem--you can figure out your partner has all the Kings and Queens. Wonder who has an Ace or two? So far, there has been no indication that that rank is even in this deck...
JRoyale wrote on April 23, 2007 3:07 PM:parrot,
Yeah, well I guess Doan would be a natural dummy.
codeword: sheep
Ian wrote on April 23, 2007 3:17 PM:I keep looking for the story that holds the Bush administration scandals agaist other administrations. Except for Nixon, has any other modern Presidency had this variety and severity? Are we reaching back to Teapot Dome to find anything that comes close?
Anonymous wrote on April 23, 2007 3:18 PM:I watched Doan's testimony and was gobsmacked at her bratty argumentative attitude. Particularly in the way that she constantly interrupted Congressional representatives.
I would love to see her subjected to similar questioning in the Senate, but unfortunately Lieberman will make certain that will never happen.
voicesraised wrote on April 23, 2007 3:18 PM:Jroyale,
Doubled and redoubled. But what I want to know is, who's the dummy?
voicesraised wrote on April 23, 2007 3:19 PM:Jroyale,
Doubled and redoubled. But what I want to know is, who's the dummy?
apeman wrote on April 23, 2007 3:19 PM:Yeah, but what kind of cookies were served?
codeword: memory
Rebel wrote on April 23, 2007 3:31 PM:It's now clear the decider will become the pardoner next year. You just know he can out do both his daddy and Clinton on pardoning felons.
You can also expect the easing of voting regulations for convicted felons to accomodate the Republican party.
yam wrote on April 23, 2007 3:41 PM:Sweet Lurita in a Headlock, is this good news!
I love her "they have me so paranoid" comment about the water glass during her hearing. That paranoia my dear, is known something known as "accountablilty" to those of us here in Realityville. You know, how you tend to drive the speed limit after getting pulled over for speeding. I know it's an odd feeling, but you'll get used to it after a while...
Ninbus wrote on April 23, 2007 3:48 PM:I think my favorite part of the Lurida Doan testimony was when one of the Republican shills was commenting on how her grandmother used to sell pralines on the wharf in New Orleans. Get it? She's an Affirmative Action beneficiary but, like Clarence T., I'll bet my last beignet that she's now agin' it.
She and Fredo are either total morons or they've been extremely well coached by lawyers who've advised them to keep up the "I can't recall" mantra.
freepatriot wrote on April 23, 2007 3:51 PM:9-11 changed everything
abu gonzo doesn't have to resign despite the fact that he is a complete liar
paul wolfowitz doesn't have to resign despite the fact that he arranged a sweetheart promotion for his mistress
lorita doan doesn't have to resign despite multiple violations of the Hatch Act
george bush is a war presnit, and he don't have to listen to anybody
9-11 changed everything
kinda like the Riechstag fire, in that way, don't ya think ???
Richard L. Adlof wrote on April 23, 2007 4:16 PM:The Chimp-in-Charge won't pardon all these folk. He can spell his name when using a pen without practising a dozen times or so . . . He'd have to start signing ten months ago to get all the pardons done.
Additionally, I remain firmly convinced that the boy king believes that his poo-age smells like posies . . . To pardon is too admitt that he smells like SH*T.
Doan is done.
Alana wrote on April 23, 2007 4:24 PM:Yeah these people won't do the right thing as they are long on sleaze and low on integrity.
I watched Ms.Doan,incensed when someone brought up the internship of her daughter; sounding all outraged that she got it through Doan's political influence/rolleyes/ What a clueless tool she is.
Why does the Republican party hate America?
bordersmuggler wrote on April 23, 2007 4:25 PM:freepatriot
Reichstag fire? Perhaps Bill Murray should be questioned about this.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/50651/#more
vox clamantis in red state wrote on April 23, 2007 5:02 PM:Why must this nation wait another 21 months for this nightmare to end?
Nestor wrote on April 23, 2007 5:05 PM:The surge has so far produced nothing but more death and upheaval.
Bring the boys home Gen. Petraeus and bring some order and sanity to this nest of wiggednuttery called wassington.
If the congress can pull loose a few more threads like this, the whole blanket the neocon deathcult has thrown over the executive branch will fall apart. Then we'll see mass exodus from public to private life... just before the warrents are issued.
bjobotts wrote on April 23, 2007 5:37 PM:Wondered when congress would get around to Doan. When will the Democratic majority learn that we don't just want her job, we want her imprisoned. She's another corrupt reward your buddies and screw the taxpayer appointee who has wasted millions that might have went to social programs where it was most needed. Don't reward her by letting her continue to live her luxurious style. She has robbed us. Make her pay.
Karen Johnson wrote on April 23, 2007 5:52 PM:freepatriot: Exactly like "the Riechstag fire"!
What other 'false flag' operations might they have used?
John wrote on April 23, 2007 5:52 PM:For my birthday, my daughter gave me a "two years left of Bush" calendar. The picture for April 07 is of W and Laura on stage with confetti floating about. I suspect the pic is from the 2000 Repug convention. W has his arm around Kay Bayley Hutchinson, and the person standing behind him looks just like Lurita Doan.
Can anyone confirm that this slug was on the stage when W was nominated and if so, why? What's her background. How'd she get admitted to Crony College?
pre ameriKKKan wrote on April 23, 2007 6:01 PM:there's so much corruption, even the MSM has to pay attention. it's leaking out like pus from an open, dripping sore, can't stop it now.
Black2 wrote on April 23, 2007 6:10 PM:Wow, this is unbelievable. Apparently, the current administration has failed in upholding the grand ethics and moral traditions of the Clinton administration. I'm especially upset about the apparent use of gov't and agency employees for political purposes. Hopefully, when Hillary is elected (not selected) in 2008 she can restore some honor and dignity, sans political chicanery, to the White House. Uhmmm, yeah right.
It's amazing how people put so much trust and faith in gov't, no matter the (R) or (D). Both parties are in it for the power/money and could give two doo-doo's about any of us. It's a wonder why many clamor for even more gov't.
liberal wrote on April 23, 2007 6:44 PM:Black2 wrote, " Both parties are in it for the power/money and could give two doo-doo's about any of us."
Sure, in some absolute sense, the Dems are corrupted, don't stand on principle, etc.
But we're making _comparisons_ here.
"It's a wonder why many clamor for even more gov't."
Depends on your definition of "more".
BTW, there's a wonderful place with very little government named "Somalia"---I hear it's a libertarian paradise.
DiFi Fan wrote on April 23, 2007 6:56 PM:Lurita's neckline in that photo is a tad too low for proper business attire, if you ask me.
MsJOanne wrote on April 23, 2007 7:15 PM:Face it. There's a slug lying under every GOP rock and if you just take the time (HELLO NEWS MEDIA?!?!?) to look. Everyone associated with this administration is corrupt and political.
Face it...we're screwed as a nation because most people in this country can't manage to watch the news let alone discern it. American THINKING has gone out of vogue.
psyopswatcher wrote on April 23, 2007 7:56 PM:How many other agencies had Jennings' political presentation shown in the work place?
I understand they were teleconferenced but I'm not convinced it was made for GSA's benefit alone.
Is Doan's GSA just the tip of that ugly iceberg?
VAB wrote on April 23, 2007 9:31 PM:It is time for a special prosecutor.
moondancer wrote on April 23, 2007 11:30 PM:thanks VAB. I thought i was the only one with that thought. I think I could get indictments on perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction just from front page reporting.
Born2Raise3NoTrump wrote on April 24, 2007 12:06 AM:Beautiful, subtle bridge analogy: Only a Bushie would try to play that illegal 15-card hand.
truth fairy wrote on April 24, 2007 7:55 AM:if this is a bush appointee then we all know the i.q. of this latest glove puppet
Lana Tyler wrote on April 24, 2007 8:10 AM:Nixon had the decency to resign....GWB has Mr. Piggy aka known as Rasputin Rove orchestrating all the moves on the board and a play book Machiovelli would envy....however like reruns you know what is going to happen!
Cranky wrote on April 24, 2007 9:07 AM:this mornings LATimes is reporting "But the Office of Special Counsel is preparing to jump into one of the most sensitive and potentially explosive issues in Washington, launching a broad investigation into key elements of the White House political operations that for more than six years have been headed by chief strategist Karl Rove.
The new investigation, which will examine the firing of at least one U.S. attorney, missing White House e-mails, and White House efforts to keep presidential appointees attuned to Republican political priorities, could create a substantial new problem for the Bush White House.".....That presentation listed recent polls and the outlook for battleground House and Senate races in 2008. After the presentation, GSA Administrator Lorita Doan encouraged agency managers to "support our candidates," according to half a dozen witnesses. Doan said she could not recall making such comments.
blueman1 wrote on April 24, 2007 10:12 AM:http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-probe24apr24,1,658910.story?page=1&cset=true&ctrack=1&coll=la-headlines-politics
I listened to some of this woman's testimony on capital hill and all I could do was shake my head. This woman is a perfect example of what is wrong with the bush administration. An executive pick for her loyalty to party and not for any skill in the job she was to do. The list is long one. Many of the bush appointees are inept and stunningly corrupt. Money and power seem to be what drives them. The country be damned. Thermonuclear BS artists.
osage wrote on April 24, 2007 10:57 AM:Republicans Never Comply (RNC) to the rules when no one is forcing them to. And that is especially true for Bush Republicans. The term that most accurately describes Bush Republicans is CRIMINAL CONSPIRATORS. They are not political hacks or dirty tricksters, they are common, ordinary CRIMINALS hiding behind presidential power. Of course the necessary element is a CRIMINAL PRESIDENT, which only Bush Republicans still deny. When is the last time that state legislators called for a president's impeachment? When is the last time national citizen's groups systematically called for a president's impeachment? American has never had a president more corruptible or criminal than George W. Bush and every day more and more Americans are standing up to demand his impeachment. It's just a matter of time before he will no longer be able to deny to himself how much the vast majority of Americans believe him to be a CRIMINAL. You can't fool all of the people all of the time and Lady Justice isn't blind to the CRIMINAL actions of a president.