Some interesting notes from yesterday’s hearings:
Rep. Brian Bilbray (R., Calif.) had perhaps the most compelling questions for the witnesses (even though they ducked and dodged them all). For instance, why on earth did the administration approve a $535 million loan guarantee for to fund the construction of a new manufacturing facility in California — a state with significant financial problems, 12 percent unemployment, an abundant supply of empty warehouses (a result of businesses “fleeing” the state, Bilbray said), and some of the strictest regulations and permitting requirements in the country?
This was just “absurd,” he said, and raises questions about the competence of the agencies who ultimately approved the loan. Bilbray outlined the litany of permits and regulations a new facility in California would have to comply with, especially since the building site was located on “virgin farm land” and fell within a “non-attainment” zone as classified by the EPA. Because the resulting costs would be quite high, why build a whole new facility, as opposed to renting or retrofitting an existing facility? Or open a new plant in another state? Bilbray asked. Fair questions, but neither witness claimed to know anything about that aspect of the loan decision.
The country’s in the very best of hands.
“Fast and Furious” is this administration’s Watergate, except it’s much worse. Solyndra is this administration’s Enron, except it’s much worse. But they won’t be treated that way by most of the press.
[Update a few minutes later]
Actually, I should give props to ABC, who has been covering Solyndra pretty aggressively. They are reporting that Treasury is opening up an investigation. I wonder how sincere it will be? I would think that Geithner would like to avoid being the fall guy here.
[Update early afternoon]
Maybe Chu will be the fall guy. I wouldn’t miss him. Of course, there’s almost no one in this administration that I would miss, unless I thought they’d be replaced by someone worse. But I think it’s going to be a lot harder for the president to get his leftist nominees through now than it was in early 2009.
[Late afternoon update]
“Questions will be asked.”
What fools these people are.
Solyndra is this administration’s Enron, except it’s much worse.
Indeed, because unlike with the actual Enron Enron, the administration here actually had something to do with it in the first place, rather than happening to be in the White House when the wrongdoing was uncovered.
Apropos of nothing, there’s a commenter over at Hit & Run who keeps labeling the scandal, “Solyndra Green.” I love that.
Where is the special prosecutor? We got one for Valerie Blame and no one even died. We have Fast and Furious, Solargate and the LightSquared broadband scandals, ALL with White House connections. We would be stupid to count on Holder to do his job.
I think Patrick Fitzgerald put an end to anyone wanting to use a special prosecutor. I never understood why anyone cared about Valerie Plame and her lifestyle of the rich and famous. But if it was such a big deal, why did nothing happen to Dick Armitage? I get Scooter Libby being an idiot, and Bush was right to let him sit in the corner for awhile, and then get him out. Between Fitzgerald and Ken Starr, 2 perjury charges don’t seem adequate for the supposed crimes committed.
Would you be happy with a perjury charge for Fast and Furious? Sure, it would be better than a reassignment at pay, but someone needs to be put away for a long time for that gross abuse of power. And yeah, Holder won’t investigate himself. Maybe Congress will continue to take it on.
A bank loans its own money. The corrupt government doesn’t. Get the government out of the economy to the greatest extent possible.
I’m ready for the Fair Tax. …and no more subsidizing of political activity.
The OMB comment talks about the “optics” of what will happen. I HATE that word. It carries the implication that you can lie, cheat, steal and kill, just so long as it looks good in the press.
Has the word “morality” become so overused by hypocrites that it has lost all meaning in Washington? That would explain a lot.
Leland is right, special prosecutes don’t have a good track record recently. How to solve the problem of Holder investigating himself, is a hard problem to solve.