Plumbing Politics

It’s finally raining. That means no pictures but I finally have time to write a blog (or two.) I started off this morning with Richard Adam’s blog at The Guardian where this story caught my eye.

LightSquared and Solyndra: double trouble for Obama

”One of the consequences of Republicans winning control of the House of Representatives was always going to be embarrassing probes by congressional committees. Now the results are starting to come out.”

That sparked a memory so I started digging into the intertubes. The first thing I found was easy (of course). From back in June of 2010:

Darrell Issa has eye on subpoena team

”Rep. Darrell Issa, the conservative firebrand whose specialty is lobbing corruption allegations at the Obama White House, is making plans to hire dozens of subpoena-wielding investigators if Republicans win the House this fall. ”

In other words, anybody that follows politics knows that investigations are coming. This isn’t about governing. This is about using government to engage in politics. I used to be naive about these things. That doesn’t mean you have to be. Anyone that was around when Clinton was President remembers how this game is played. Investigate. Anything. Something is bound to pay off. If nothing else, you’ll keep the White House busy and distracted.

Next stop was to find out where the story broke. I mean the Solyndra story of course. The LightSquared story started back in George W. Bush’s presidency. According to Examiner.com, the story broke on the Mark Levin radio show. I’m not going to link Examiner.com because it throws a couple of pop ups at you and because I just don’t like them. Feel free to Google it if you’d like. On to Mark Levin (at Wikipedia).

”Mark Reed Levin (born September 21, 1957) is a lawyer, author and the host of American syndicated radio show “The Mark Levin Show” who served in the Reagan administration. He is president of the Landmark Legal Foundation, has authored bestselling books and contributes commentary to various media outlets such as National Review Online where he is a currently credited author.”

”Levin began his broadcast career as a guest on conservative talk radio programs. For many years he was a frequent contributor of legal opinions to The Rush Limbaugh Show, ...”

”He was also a contributor to The Sean Hannity Show...”

I have no idea what will become of all this. I have no idea if there has been any wrongdoing on anybody’s part. I just know politics are at play.

I’ll leave you with one other piece of the puzzle. It never gets much attention because it isn’t exciting, but the Obama Administration has a reputation as being clean. The Republicans love to scream about how much money it has spent but -- so far -- there hasn’t been scandal.

You don’t have to take my word for it. I was reminded of it when I read something a friend sent me.

Never-Wrong Pundit Picks Obama to Win in 2012

”Lichtman developed his 13 Keys in 1981. They test the performance of the party that holds the presidency. If six or more of the 13 keys go against the party in power, then the opposing party wins.”

”9. Scandal: The incumbent administration is untainted by major scandal. “This administration has been squeaky clean. There’s nothing on scandal,” says Lichtman. Another Obama win.”

How often have you ever heard “squeaky clean” in reference to a politician?

Don Brown
September 21, 2011