Posted on 06/18/2009 7:17:18 AM PDT by pissant
WASHINGTON - -- He was appointed with fanfare as the public watchdog over the government's multi-billion dollar bailout of the nation's financial system. But now Neil Barofsky is embroiled in a dispute with the Obama administration that delayed one recent inquiry and sparked questions about his ability to freely investigate.
The disagreement stems from a claim by the Treasury Department that Barofsky is not entirely independent of the agency he is assigned to examine ¿ a claim that has prompted a stern letter from a Republican senator warning that agency officials are encroaching on the integrity of an office created to protect taxpayers.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, sent the letter Wednesday to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner demanding information about a "dispute over certain Treasury documents" that he said were being "withheld" from Barofsky's office on a "specious claim of attorney-client privilege."
A White House spokesman declined to comment, referring questions to the Treasury Department. Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams said late Wednesday that the agency would read Grassley's letter and respond to the senator before any public comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Rush is having some fun with this very topic..
Obama is no Clinton, but Damn close. ;-)
Go Walpin!
O was co-author of the law that supposedly protects IGs and such.. and then he fires the ‘senile,incompetent’ ol’ man Walpin.
O o . Hypocrisy, meet your master.
“How can you believe that an “evil, radical marxist” “seems like the cool guy next door”?
Actually, that’s what strikes me even more disquieting about 0bama. Stalin, Saddam and Pol Pot could also come across as very genial, relaxed, likeable guys when they felt like turning on the charm.
Rep. Towns now saying Walpin fired for “misconduct” - serious charge...and different story from administration.
Kevin Johnson is also calling Walpin a racist. Here’s a video of that ( and that Johnson calls himself little Obama and pocket Obama):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvQ4z3GL2tY&feature=player_embedded
And if that’s not bad enough, The WH is now saying it was an act of Political courage to fire Walpin. I have no words.
“A top White House lawyer called the firing of AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin an act of “political courage,” according to House Republican aides who were in a meeting with the lawyer Wednesday. “
read the rest at Washington Examiner
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/White-House-Firing-AmeriCorps-IG-an-act-of-political-courage-48538447.html
I saw Walpin on the Foxnews channel late rerun of Glenn Beck....senile he is NOT!
Of the three firings, Gerald Walpin’s firing is the most serious of them. It involved an investigation where a law was actually broken and he was terminated immediately despite the law saying an IG cannot be fired without a 30 day cooling off period and review.
RNC is a weak and ineffective party. Yes, the firing of IGs is a very serious matter, especially Gerald Walpin.
The IG is suppose to be politically neutrally, regardless of President. The firing has to have Congress’s consent and a 30 day cooling off period and than review.
I guess these Republicans just do not understand the Obamareich. “We are not accountable to Congress or anyone else”, I mean we got, what, 20 Czars by now?.
A flow chart of who is responsible to whom in the new Land of the Czars would be interesting and quickly outdated.
PUBLIC LAW 110-409 [H.R. 928]
OCT. 14, 2008
INSPECTOR GENERAL REFORM ACT OF 2008
http://www.ignet.gov/pande/leg/pl110-409.htm
[*3] SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.
(a) Establishments.Section 3(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting “If an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law, other than transfer or removal.”
FROM WIKIPEDIA ON KEVIN JOHNSON:
Sexual assault and harassment allegations
During the summer of 1995, a 16 year old girl alleged that Johnson had fondled her. Johnson apologized to the girl when confronted by her with that accusation during a phone conversation recorded by Phoenix police though he also stated that what you’re saying happened, I’m not entirely agreeing happened.[21] The Sacramento Bee stated that they had received a copy of a proposed settlement agreement, under which Johnson would have paid the girl’s family $230,000.[22] After conducting an investigation, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute, on the grounds that there was not a reasonable likelihood of conviction.[23]
[edit] High School investigation
On April 16, 2008, rival mayoral candidate Leonard Padilla distributed a 2007 report of similar allegations made against Johnson at St. HOPE Sacramento High School. The allegations were investigated by local police, but no charges were filed, and the alleged victim recanted her story.[24][25] On April 29, 2008, a group of female civic leaders including former Sacramento Mayor Ann Rudin, Sacramento Municipal Utility District board member Genevieve Shiroma, and former State Senator Deborah Ortiz demanded the release of the police report on the matter.[26] The teacher to whom the student initially brought the complaint subsequently resigned over the incident, claiming, St. HOPE sought to intimidate the student through an illegal interrogation and even had the audacity to ask me to change my story.[27] Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel responded, saying I think the allegations at the school were handled in the way that you would want them handled. Immediately they followed all the normal protocols that they were supposed to follow. I think it was pretty clear there was nothing there... We did ask the young lady whether anyone had influenced her her answer was no.[25] The Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said on May 30, 2008, that Johnsons actions, though ill-advised, were not illegal.[28]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Johnson
Let letterman make a joke about johnson and see what happens.
Wish FOX would put the youtube on.
Putin’s got nothing on Obama.
Indeed. It appears the Liberal Messiah is conducting His first purge.
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