Jan 29th, 2012
We picked up on a report last week of Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) substantial investments in companies with a direct stake in the controversial Keystone XL proposal. At the time, I suggested this might be a career-ender and wondered if an internal ethics investigation was imminent (again, paging Rep. Issa (R-CA)whose silence is deafening).
It now seems that the situation is rapidly becoming more serious. Yesterday, PoliticsUSA followed up on the latest developments:
"On Thursday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received a complaint from an environmental group with accusations that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline’s owners (TransCanada) are in violation of SEC Rule 10b(5) – Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive Practices to bolster stock prices.
The complaint sent to the SEC said TransCanada is using “false or misleading statements about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline” and that they “consistently used public statements and information it knows are false in a concerted effort to secure permitting approval of Keystone XL from the U.S. government.” The complaint continues that the fallacious information misleads investors, U.S. and Canadian officials, the media, and the public “in order to bolster its balance sheets and share price,” and who is the point-man pushing the Keystone XL pipeline with lies and misinformation? Speaker of the House John Boehner." EMPHASES THEIRS
This is big. This is not the typically 'legal but questionable' gaming of the system we have grown accustomed to. It is beginning to look like a blatant violation of the law.
"The complaint specifically highlights that TransCanada asserts that the pipeline will create American jobs “at a rate that is 67 times higher than job creation totals given by the company to Canadian officials for the Canadian portion of the pipeline.” The inflated job creation numbers were designed to pressure President Obama to issue an approval permit to build the pipeline and without its construction, TransCanada’s future earnings and share prices will be significantly impacted. Speaker Boehner owns shares in seven different Canadian tar sand companies and it is highly likely that he knows the job numbers are inflated as an investor and stands to profit if the pipeline is built. Boehner went so far as threatening to tie 160 million working Americans’ payroll tax cut extension to approval of the pipeline. Boehner’s extortion threats were the last straw, and inspired a national petition to force him to resign or face expulsion from Congress for ethics violations. However, ethics violations are the least of Boehner’s problems once the SEC finishes their investigation which they confirmed is actively under consideration." EMPHASIS THEIRS
Let's be clear; This isn't about TransCanada affiliated interests investing in Boehner via SuperPACs and campaign donations. This is about Boehner investing in TransCanada affiliated interests while using false statistics to push for government action on their behalf.
It is already past time for the Speaker to publicly address this.
The last thing I want to see is an Eric Cantor Speakership.
But, this man must resign.
Showing posts with label Darrell Issa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darrell Issa. Show all posts
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Boehner's Real Interest In Keystone XL...
Jan 23rd, 2012
It appears that Speaker Boehner's willingness to take hostages in a new fight over the Keystone XL project is quite personal and has nothing to do with "jobs."
PoliticsUSA reports:
"Revelations this past week from his financial disclosure forms that John Boehner invested $10,000 to $50,000 each in seven firms that had a stake in Canada’s oil sands should raise red flags for the House Oversight Committee; especially in light of Boehner’s push to grant a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline ahead of the State Department and EPA studies and reports and the millions big oil spent to hasten its construction."
One wonders whether Darrel Issa is giving the Speaker a pass. After all, it is his job to investigate.
It appears that Speaker Boehner's willingness to take hostages in a new fight over the Keystone XL project is quite personal and has nothing to do with "jobs."
PoliticsUSA reports:
"Revelations this past week from his financial disclosure forms that John Boehner invested $10,000 to $50,000 each in seven firms that had a stake in Canada’s oil sands should raise red flags for the House Oversight Committee; especially in light of Boehner’s push to grant a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline ahead of the State Department and EPA studies and reports and the millions big oil spent to hasten its construction."
One wonders whether Darrel Issa is giving the Speaker a pass. After all, it is his job to investigate.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
rePUBLICan ENEMY #1, part 6
Aug 18th, 2011
It has been some time since Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA) created an appearance of impropriety this appalling. Earlier in the year, I went after him here, here, here, here and here. Nobody seemed to want pay that much attention at the time.
I understand that an already flabbergasted electorate had many other distractions. The potential damage I warned Issa might cause by misusing his new and powerful chairmanship of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform wasn't nearly as interesting as the ceaseless parade of lunatics calling the president a socialist or suggesting that the government had no business mandating an end to segregation.
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| Rep. Darrel Issa with Syria's Bashar Assad |
I understand that an already flabbergasted electorate had many other distractions. The potential damage I warned Issa might cause by misusing his new and powerful chairmanship of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform wasn't nearly as interesting as the ceaseless parade of lunatics calling the president a socialist or suggesting that the government had no business mandating an end to segregation.
Friday, January 7, 2011
rePUBLICan ENEMY #1, part 5
Jan 7th, 2011
PREVIOUS ENTRIES: PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4
Make no mistake, Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA) is still a dishonest, manipulating thug. The far right base of the Republican party has responded to his extremism over the last 2 years by investing in him tremendous support.
With the hope that he not merely continue to articulate their ignorant rage against Barack Obama, but might now do real violence to the administration, they have helped elevate him to the highly coveted position of Chairmen of The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
It now seems that Rep. Issa may be beginning to realize that there is a vast difference between raising money from destructive corporations, racists and neo-fascists and advancing their agenda in government itself. Before the 112th Congress was even sworn in this week, he began stumbling over his past proclamations and walking back his rhetoric. He continued his shifty dance in an interview with John King over at CNN. King is to be commended. He did a bang up job taking Rep. Issa down another notch.
PREVIOUS ENTRIES: PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4
With the hope that he not merely continue to articulate their ignorant rage against Barack Obama, but might now do real violence to the administration, they have helped elevate him to the highly coveted position of Chairmen of The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
It now seems that Rep. Issa may be beginning to realize that there is a vast difference between raising money from destructive corporations, racists and neo-fascists and advancing their agenda in government itself. Before the 112th Congress was even sworn in this week, he began stumbling over his past proclamations and walking back his rhetoric. He continued his shifty dance in an interview with John King over at CNN. King is to be commended. He did a bang up job taking Rep. Issa down another notch.
Rep. Darrell Issa in Washington, D.C.
202-225-3906
Rep. Darrel Issa in Vista, CA.
760-599-5000
Monday, January 3, 2011
rePUBLICan ENEMY #1, part 4
Jan 3rd, 2011
The saga of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) keeps getting better. He has just announced his list of investigative targets. Topping the list is Fannie Mae.
You see, Issa is one of those Republicans who thinks that we should lay the blame for the real estate meltdown at the feet of lower middle class families. How DARE they not understand the arcane language of elaborate, misleading and sometimes even criminal bank documents?
The thing is, he voted to repeal Glass-Steagall in 1999 paving the way for the mess. Then, in 2007, he voted AGAINST stricter regulation of the sub-prime lending market.
Perhaps he could simply point the finger at himself, apologize and fucking resign.
I encourage you to call this low-life motherfucker and tell him that you are now aware that he is a low-life motherfucker. Really.
 |
| Low-life Motherfucker |
You see, Issa is one of those Republicans who thinks that we should lay the blame for the real estate meltdown at the feet of lower middle class families. How DARE they not understand the arcane language of elaborate, misleading and sometimes even criminal bank documents?
The thing is, he voted to repeal Glass-Steagall in 1999 paving the way for the mess. Then, in 2007, he voted AGAINST stricter regulation of the sub-prime lending market.
Perhaps he could simply point the finger at himself, apologize and fucking resign.
I encourage you to call this low-life motherfucker and tell him that you are now aware that he is a low-life motherfucker. Really.
Rep. Darrell Issa in Washington, D.C.
202-225-3906
Rep. Darrel Issa in Vista, CA.
760-599-5000
rePUBLICan ENEMY #1, part 3
Jan 3rd, 2011
Rep. Darrell Issa is embroiled in some very recent allegations of financial impropriety out west. Perhaps even bribery...
"Last summer, Issa went on a property-buying spree. In the span of two months, he bought industrial complexes in Oceanside and Carlsbad and a condo overlooking Oceanside Bay. Even his son picked up a home in Vista.
The Carlsbad complex, however, is at the center of a lawsuit playing out in Los Angeles County Superior Court. A bank lender in Ventura County is accusing a bank of selling Issa the building for at least $3 million less than it should have.
The property is a series of five brand-new buildings near McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. Currently, all but one unit is empty, but they can be rented through Greene Properties, a company that employs Issa’s wife and son. The project was dreamed up by Orange County “new urbanism” developer David Dirienzo, who defaulted on a $36-million construction loan in January 2009.
"Last summer, Issa went on a property-buying spree. In the span of two months, he bought industrial complexes in Oceanside and Carlsbad and a condo overlooking Oceanside Bay. Even his son picked up a home in Vista.
The Carlsbad complex, however, is at the center of a lawsuit playing out in Los Angeles County Superior Court. A bank lender in Ventura County is accusing a bank of selling Issa the building for at least $3 million less than it should have.
The property is a series of five brand-new buildings near McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. Currently, all but one unit is empty, but they can be rented through Greene Properties, a company that employs Issa’s wife and son. The project was dreamed up by Orange County “new urbanism” developer David Dirienzo, who defaulted on a $36-million construction loan in January 2009.
The main lender, East West Bank, put the property up for auction but decided not to sell, instead filing a $12-million “credit bid” to hang onto it. Two weeks later, the bank sold the property to Issa’s company, DEI LLC, for $8.5 million"
Rep. Darrell Issa in Washington, D.C.
202-225-3906
Rep. Darrel Issa in Vista, CA.
760-599-5000
rePUBLICan ENEMY #1, cont...
Jan 3rd, 2011
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)... suspected arsonist. The man arguing that the current administration is one of the "most corrupt" in our history has such a colorful past.
"1982: Issa Suspected, But Never Charged, In Arson Incident At Manufacturing Plant. According to the Los Angeles Times: "A suspected arson fire ripped through [Issa's Ohio] manufacturing plant in 1982. No one was ever charged in the fire, but authorities were troubled by a dramatic escalation in the facility's fire insurance just weeks earlier. Even before the blaze was put out, investigators began peppering Issa and his partner with 'crazy questions' regarding their whereabouts before the fire, Issa recalled." [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis, emphasis added]"
"Prior To Fire, Issa "Boosted" Fire Insurance And Removed A Computer From The Premises. According to the Los Angeles Times: "Weeks before the fire, Issa and [business partner] Hunsinger boosted their fire insurance from $ 100,000 to $ 462,000 on property stored for other companies...At the same time, a separate company that contracted with Quantum to outfit bug zappers increased its insurance to $ 400,000, and, according to an insurance report, one investigator was 'concerned about the coincidence.' Fire investigators also noted that a computer was taken off the site eight days before the fire, 'allegedly to be reprogrammed' by Issa's lawyer, and that business blueprints were put away in a safe--which was 'not previously done before.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis]
760-599-5000"
"1982: Issa Suspected, But Never Charged, In Arson Incident At Manufacturing Plant. According to the Los Angeles Times: "A suspected arson fire ripped through [Issa's Ohio] manufacturing plant in 1982. No one was ever charged in the fire, but authorities were troubled by a dramatic escalation in the facility's fire insurance just weeks earlier. Even before the blaze was put out, investigators began peppering Issa and his partner with 'crazy questions' regarding their whereabouts before the fire, Issa recalled." [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis, emphasis added]"
"Prior To Fire, Issa "Boosted" Fire Insurance And Removed A Computer From The Premises. According to the Los Angeles Times: "Weeks before the fire, Issa and [business partner] Hunsinger boosted their fire insurance from $ 100,000 to $ 462,000 on property stored for other companies...At the same time, a separate company that contracted with Quantum to outfit bug zappers increased its insurance to $ 400,000, and, according to an insurance report, one investigator was 'concerned about the coincidence.' Fire investigators also noted that a computer was taken off the site eight days before the fire, 'allegedly to be reprogrammed' by Issa's lawyer, and that business blueprints were put away in a safe--which was 'not previously done before.'" [Los Angeles Times, 5/23/98, via Nexis]
Rep. Darrell Issa in Washington, D.C.
202-225-3906
Rep. Darrel Issa in Vista, CA.
rePUBLICan ENEMY #1
Jan 3rd, 2011
by F. Grey Parker
The most dangerously irresponsible man in the 112th Congress will very likely be Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). As the incoming Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is his plan to use his new found subpoena power to attempt to grind the basic operations of government to a halt.
His extremism is matched by his dishonesty.
Making the rounds on the Sunday talk shows yesterday, he threw as much red meat to the American right as he could while masquerading as a devoted public servant. On CNN, he portrayed President Obama as having used $800 Billion in TARP money as "walking around money."
On The Murdoch Device (FOX), Rep. Issa made sure to appeal to their "demographic" by affirming his intention to investigate Attorney General Eric Holder over his handling of the phony New Black Panther Party controversy and ACORN. It matters not to him that both stories have been consistently debunked. He's going to spend our money to make sure the Tea Party base knows that he's looking out for whitey.
His record as an apologist for some of the most evil actors over the last 10 years deserves more scrutiny before he is allowed to attempt to sabotage and smear the Executive branch of our government on our dime.
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