Bush isn't really favoring Halliburton and Bechtel.

[Gio]

A new report by the Center for Public Integrity attempts to prove something that many people simply assume to be true: that the Bush administration has strongly favored cronies and campaign contributors in awarding reconstruction contracts for Iraq and Afghanistan. The CPI devoted six months to research and filed more than 70 Freedom of Information Act requests and appeals to get to the bottom of the story. The conclusion of the report, "Windfalls of War," is that a clear quid pro quo exists between government procurement and campaign contributions to George W. Bush. Charles Lewis, the group's executive director, released a statement arguing that the report reveals "a stench of political favoritism and cronyism surrounding the contracting process in both Iraq and Afghanistan."

There's just one problem: The CPI has no evidence to support its allegations.

Slate Article

[Leader]

Not surprisingly the CPI report has superficial truths, but deep false hoods. So, basically it's typical liberal propaganda.

[Ray]

Tell that to the Marines.

[tw-acs]

I looked at the campaign contribution list and compared taht to the contarct list and there is a connection between the two. What grounds do you have to support a claim that there is not a connection? Please explain how there is a lack of connection.

[Praxus]

Please tell me, who cares?

Cronyism exsisted in every presidency, getting upset over it when it is Republican and not when it is Democrats is hypocritical.

[Ironduke]

Originally posted by Praxus
Please tell me, who cares?

Cronyism exsisted in every presidency, getting upset over it when it is Republican and not when it is Democrats is hypocritical.

You're right, people should be upset with it regardless of who is in power.

These campaign contributions by companies amount to nothing less than bribery. The companies donate a few thousand or a couple million to a candidate's war chest, they of course get the legislation they want in return. The lobbies even right it up and give it to senators and representatives.

[Leader]

Originally posted by tw-acs
I looked at the campaign contribution list and compared taht to the contarct list and there is a connection between the two. What grounds do you have to support a claim that there is not a connection? Please explain how there is a lack of connection.

Originally posted by Ironman420
You're right, people should be upset with it regardless of who is in power.

These campaign contributions by companies amount to nothing less than bribery. The companies donate a few thousand or a couple million to a candidate's war chest, they of course get the legislation they want in return. The lobbies even right it up and give it to senators and representatives.

Can either of you name an American company better capable of the tasks that need doing then Bechtel and Halliburton?

[Ray]

Leader,

In short you are suggesting that the Iraq War is all about giving the sagging US economy a shot in the arm?

I don't think that was the sole reason, even it were one of the reasons if you wish to insist so.

[Leader]

Originally posted by Ray
Leader,

In short you are suggesting that the Iraq War is all about giving the sagging US economy a shot in the arm?

I don't think that was the sole reason, even it were one of the reasons if you wish to insist so.

I don't see where I suggested that a reason for the War was in stimulate that economy.

[Ironduke]

Originally posted by Leader
Can either of you name an American company better capable of the tasks that need doing then Bechtel and Halliburton?

No, I can't. I didn't allege that Bechtel and Halliburton are receiving contracts as political favors, what I said was a general blanket statement about the malaise that plagues this country.

I believe campaign contributions by these large companies amount to nothing less than bribery.

Do you know of any states that don't require car insurance? There are none that I know of.

Now a state passes a law that forces everybody who wants to drive to pay for insurance. One can argue that we do indeed need car insurance to pay for damages that result out of an accident. But look who we are paying. All you need to do is look at the skyline of any major American city, usually the tallest are the ones our money is going to.

Why can't the citizens of a city organize a co-op? Car insurance premiums would be paid to the co-op, any leftover funds would be returned to the co-op members at the end of the year, proportionate to what they paid in.

Why is it that only these multi-billion dollar corporations the only ones who can legally provide insurance?

The answer is because the insurance companies lobbied (aka bribed) public officials to pass these laws.

It's the Fleecing of America™, folks.

[Praxus]

No, I can't. I didn't allege that Bechtel and Halliburton are receiving contracts as political favors, what I said was a general blanket statement about the malaise that plagues this country.

It's better in the US then it is in France, Germany, etc... Where there are even more ties from the Government . A mixed economy always leads to more and more cronyism.

[Ironduke]

Originally posted by Praxus
It's better in the US then it is in France, Germany, etc... Where there are even more ties from the Government . A mixed economy always leads to more and more cronyism.

It may be better than France and Germany, but it could be even better than that.

[Praxus]

True.

I know how I would end most of it but all the Socialist weinies would start bitching at me.

[tw-acs]

Not one of the posts addressed my question. Please show me a list of companies that bidded for contracts. And since majority of the persons posting on this thread agree that Haliburton and bechtel did get favors for contributions what does that say about the credbility of the person that posted this thread?