Army Assistant Secretary Parker Is Fired

Newsday ^ | March 6, 2002 | JOHN HEILPRIN -- Associated Press Writer

[Willie Green]

WASHINGTON -- The assistant secretary of the Army, former Mississippi Rep. Mike Parker, was fired Wednesday after he criticized the Bush administration's proposed spending cuts for Army Corps of Engineers' water projects, members of Congress said.

The Defense Department issued a brief statement saying Parker had resigned.

"The department appreciates Mr. Parker's contributions and wishes him the best in his future endeavors," it said. The statement made no mention of the reason for Parker's departure.

[theophilusscribe]

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[CholeraJoe]

Rep. Sonny Callahan, R-Miss.,

Ring any bells?

[eureka!]

LOL WG. You are funny. A single layoff. Not an "IBM To Cut Workforce By 50,000" article as per usual. ;^)

As to the firing/resignation, W requires loyalty...

[Dog]

I have heard that name before...

[paddles]

"After being in the administration and dealing with them, I still don't have warm and fuzzy feelings for them."

What sort of a mindless, disloyal idiot would say something like this about people who gave him a damn job after he'd gotten his ass beat in an election? Morons like this shouldn't be placed in a position of high public trust.

Good riddance, don't let the door hit you in the ass, and say "hi" to everyone in Tupelo, dipstick.

[eno_]

It's a lot more than loyalty. Have you EVER heard of a bureaucrat getting fired for defending pork? Corp of Engineers water projects are among the most sacred forms of pork in all of DC. Once again, Dubya outperforms!

[CA Conservative]

As to the firing/resignation, W requires loyalty...

How right you are! If this guy wanted to disagree with the administration's budget choices, he could have done so internally - but once the decision was made, he should have supported the president's choice. If this story is accurate, I say hoorah for GWB!

[eureka!]

Good point. I believe W wants his tax relief to work within a budget and I believe he is chopping at the pork. Incrementalism works both ways. Yes, there is spending for education et seq but if he does not, he will be crucified. It will continue to be an interesting presidency to follow....

[anniegetyourgun]

This former DEM/lib served at the pleasure of the President. Apparently the President chooses not to have him in the ranks. That's why I hired this President - to make such decisions.

[El Gato]

Now if someone would just ask SecState Powell to resign when he disagrees publicly with the President.

[Willie Green]

W requires loyalty...

So did Hitler... but that's beside the point.

I'm more concerned about the exact nature of this dispute.

The Corps of Engineers has certainly overstepped its bounds in recent years.

OTOH, it is also responsible for construction, operation and maintenance of much of the infrastructure that makes our inland waterways navigable. A crucial role that is vital to our nation's commerce.

[RightWhale]

Corp of Engineers water projects

Including wetlands.

[Patriot1946]

"At a hearing before the Senate Budget Committee last week, Parker said the cuts would require the Corps to cancel $190 million in already contracted projects providing 4,500 jobs." This is one of the oldest scams in the books. The contractors still get paid but the work doesn't get done. Then they will be contracted for the work again and get paid again. And of course all the studies that were done on the project will have to be done over too. This is called stuffing the pockets of government contractors and California is famous for it. Insiders get these contracts, you know, the ones who make the biggest donations to candidates and parties.

[Askel5]

The assistant secretary of the Army, former Mississippi Rep. Mike Parker, was fired Wednesday after he criticized the Bush administration's proposed spending cuts for Army Corps of Engineers' water projects

[MamaLucci]

If only it were so easy to fire Mary Frances Berry.
I'd settle for an indictment in her case, though. :)

[anniegetyourgun]

I am so with you on that!

[Khurkris]

Roger That!.....Dr. Alan Keyes for SecState. That is the man I want to negotiate for USA.

[billorites]

Rep. Sonny Callahan, R-Miss.

"Hey Sonny, it's Bill!"

"Yeah, Bill Clinton. Wassup?"

"Betcha can't guess what I'm doing right now Sonny."

"Nah, guess again!"

"Here's a hint: Think 'dredging', yeah dredging!"

[Temple Owl]

Go Dubya! Go! Now fire the entire Department of Education and close it down.