Computer Probe Is Widening

LA Times ^ | 05/03/02 | DAN MORAIN and NANCY VOGEL

[gubamyster]

SACRAMENTO -- California Highway Patrol officers moved in Thursday to halt shredding at the state's information technology department, and Gov. Gray Davis suspended the agency's chief amid a widening investigation of the state's multimillion-dollar computer contract with Oracle Corp.

As those developments were unfolding in the Capitol, Davis' director of e-government, Arun Baheti, quit.

His resignation came one day after he acknowledged to Davis aides that he had personally accepted a $25,000 Oracle check for the governor's reelection committee, which reported receiving the money two weeks after the state signed the $95-million computer software deal.

MORE...

[eureka!]

Looks like rain all over the state...

[tracer]

Sounds like it could become quite painful..... 8~)

[KC Burke]

Am I correct in assuming the media will give him a pass rather than a feeding-frenzy on this out there?

[eureka!]

"Am I correct in assuming the media will give him a pass rather than a feeding-frenzy on this out there?"

Yes, you are. *sigh* Nonetheless, it is getting some coverage and for those that read it, it plants seeds that may sprout. At a minimum, it may help depress 'Rats from voting.

[Cicero]

If Gray Davis were a Republican, you can bet this headline would be very different. Not "Computer Probe is Widening," but some kind of giant headline containing the governor's name, and coupled with such phrases as "suspected fraud," "rake-off," "kickback," or "scandal."

The constant coupling in media headlines a few months back of the two words "Bush" and "Enron" will give you the idea how this sort of media propaganda works.

This article is very dry, very low-key, almost intentionally dull. Nevertheless, it's dynamite, and at least they printed it. Even in this low-key style it should go a considerable way to undermine Davis's already tattered reputation among LA Times readers.

I feel his pain.

[Xenalyte]

I hate it when the probe widens.

[chiefqc]

Hope you voters in Calif. know that this space monkey, gray out davis, is a crook and a slimeball.

Hope you don't get stuck with him again, if you do you will not have enough money left, after paying for his blunders, to buy food to eat.

[Commiewatcher]

An out of office Davis and a broke Larry Ellison - we can dream can't we?

[ElkGroveDan]

This is too convenient. The government employee took the check (that alone is outrageous) and he didn't go running in and say "Hey boss look what I got!

This thing stinks to high-hell.

[ElkGroveDan]

If Gray Davis were a Republican, you can bet this headline would be very different. Not "Computer Probe is Widening," but some kind of giant headline containing the governor's name, and coupled with such phrases as "suspected fraud," "rake-off," "kickback," or "scandal."

Good point. It would probably be called Oracle-gate. What say we, Freepers? Lets start that one. Be sure to use it in our posted headlines ORACLEGATE!!!!! Shout it from the rooftops!

[paul51]

I'm shocked our political leaders could be involved in something like this.

Unfortunately, it's business as usual because too many voters are too ignorant to know or care.

[oc-flyfish]

Damn straight! I can't stand Ellison over his national id stance and Gray Davis... some things are better left unsaid...

Hopefully Simon's campaign nails him on this!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I love a good soaking rain.

This is so much fun, sort of like dancing in the rain.

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[tubebender]

There is a thread running covering the SF Chomical's version of this that states that former 1st district State Senator Barry Keene was asked to resign for signing the contract. The AP story in our local paper is short on details as usual when covering the 'RATS.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"I hate it when the probe widens."

Youch!

[BornOnTheFourth]

Actually, the headline in the SacBee this am is "Oracle-pact scandal grows." Find it here (opens a new window)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Oracle and dopeheads, its like deja vu all over again.

[John Jorsett]

I don't see a 'pass' being given, at least not yet. Contrarily, things seem to be intensifying. This story is being covered today in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury, Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times, and the Contra Costa Times.

[Redcloak]

Hmmm... Should we be referring to this as Davis' Waterloo Enron?