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Green – the Color of Rotten Corruption
Townhall.com ^ | February 27, 2012 | Bob Beauprez

Posted on 02/27/2012 5:37:40 AM PST by Kaslin

As if it were his private stash of fun-money, Barack Obama set aside $80 billion of the Stimulus boondoggle to artificially pump up the green-energy industry through a DOE administered program of grants and loans.  When three of the companies that received funding, Solyndra, Beacon Power, and Ener1, each declared bankruptcy in rapid succession, a rotten stench started to waft from the DOE and the White House.

It quickly became apparent that there were numerous close connections between many of these heavily government funded businesses and Obama campaign supporters and operatives.    While the cronyism and corruption appeared extensive, until recently no one had quantified the total extent of the cronyism and corruption that existed. 

Thanks to some extensive research by the Washington Post, the magnitude of the scandal is now better defined.  Here’s what the WaPo found:

Within weeks of Obama’s inaugural in 2009 and with the $800 billion Stimulus already passed, the green-energy community was euphoric that the new administration would soon be passing out billions like candy at a Fourth of July parade.  Wagle participated in a seminar in San Francisco in February to coach and encourage green businesses to line up at the federal trough.  In spite of the economic woes already in full swing, Wagle explained that, “The recession has actually accelerated green policies” by creating an excuse for the Stimulus – the Mother Lode for funding virtually anything that was some shade of green.  Wagle invoked Rahm Emanuel’s dictum that “a crisis is a horrible thing to waste,” and explained that Obama was going to take full advantage of the economic pain engulfing the nation to fund green technologies. 

Holly Kaufman, CEO of San Francisco based Environment and Enterprise Strategies, also participated in the Green-Biz conference with Wagle.   Reminding the attendees that George W. Bush was gone and with green-loving Democrats now in control of Congress and the White House, Kaufman said they should now “get used to success” – a quote she attributed to her good friend Nancy Pelosi. After what green-enthusiasts believe were eight years of famine, the money spigot was about to be opened full throttle according to Kaufman.

The White House pretends that it is merely coincidental that many of their political appointees were closely connected to companies that were the beneficiaries of millions and billions.  These are “all professionals with expertise in clean-energy science, finance or both – but none of them play a decisional role in DOE awards and none of them are in positions of regulating the industry,” according to White House spokesman Eric Schultz.

But a former employee at the Office of Management and Budget, David Gold, told the Washington Post that explanation doesn’t hold up.  “To believe those quiet conversations don’t happen in the hallways…is naïve,” Gold said.  “When you’re putting this kind of pressure on an organization to make decisions on very big dollars, there’s increased likelihood that political connections will influence things.”  

The one hour presentation that included Wagle and Kaufman at the 2009 San Francisco Green-Biz conference was rich with jokes and jabs over the departure of the Bush Administration.  Kaufman was elated that unlike Bush, the Obama Administration was “committed to science and transparency.”  That might be what it’s called in San Francisco or in Obama’s hometown of Chicago.  But, in most of the rest of the country – after three years of this stuff – we recognize it for what it is….old fashioned greed, cronyism and corruption. 

Our hope is that the various congressional committees and government agencies investigating the DOE green loan scandal will doggedly do their job.  After the waste of billions, the taxpayers at least deserve to know the truth of just how corrupt our government has become. 


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cronyism; doe; green; solyndra

1 posted on 02/27/2012 5:37:44 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Do these clowns really think they’re making the world a better place for people?


2 posted on 02/27/2012 5:44:47 AM PST by RoadTest (There is one god, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.)
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To: RoadTest

My lib-in-law genuinely believes that the government policies pursuing “green energy” are for the betterment of our country and society.

She’ll not even acknowledge, respond, or comment when you point out the corruption and cronyism that has taken place under 0bama and under the guise of “green energy”.

This just goes to prove my assertion that the sheeperals have only one goal in mind - to feel good about themselves.
When you point out that the policies they support are actually highly destructive, they treat it as a personal attack on their own character.


3 posted on 02/27/2012 5:49:12 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin; Mrs. B.S. Roberts

Is there an individual out there with a properly functioning brain who will admit to being surprised over these exploding revelations.
If you admit to being surprised...PLEASE seek help ASAP.


4 posted on 02/27/2012 5:50:23 AM PST by CaptainAmiigaf ( NY Times: We print the news as it fits our views.)
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To: MrB

You wonder where reality fits into their world view.


5 posted on 02/27/2012 5:57:14 AM PST by RoadTest (There is one god, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.)
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To: MrB

You wonder where reality fits into their world view.


6 posted on 02/27/2012 5:57:14 AM PST by RoadTest (There is one god, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.)
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To: RoadTest

Sowell commented on this in his book “Intellectuals”.

They actively refuse to examine any issue beyond the point where THEIR own personal goal is reached, and that is feeling good about themselves as either superior, or merely “good”.

In a spiritual examination, this is due to THE pernicious lie, told in Gen 3, “you will be as gods, knowing good and evil”. Today, this translates into “people are basically good, you’re a good person, and you can define morality for yourself”.

Indeed, 0bama even answered the question “what is sin” in this way. “Being out of alignment with my values.” If those “aligned values” are of your own definition, you’re only accountable to yourself, and can set the bar for your own righteousness just below that point of how you want to act anyway.


7 posted on 02/27/2012 6:18:53 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin
Kaufman was elated that unlike Bush, the Obama Administration was “committed to science and transparency.”

The only thing that has been "transparent" about all this green payola is their motives.

8 posted on 02/27/2012 6:21:31 AM PST by Carry_Okie (The RNC would prefer Obama to a conservative nominee.)
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To: MrB
“people are basically good, you’re a good person, and you can define morality for yourself”.

There are organized mainstream religions that preach this.

9 posted on 02/27/2012 6:31:35 AM PST by HIDEK6
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To: CaptainAmiigaf
Free Republic postings have provided details for many months, the main problem problem is the MSMerde who are almost all GREEN and run cover and cheer lead for the Greenies. The latest scandal, about Peter H. Gleick lies and theft is almost non existent in the MSM.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=hts&oq=&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS315US315&q=Where+Obama+treads%2c+failure+follows
But, perhaps, the major culprits are the “Alternative-to-Obama” candidates, who have not tried to enlighten the population throughout their almost two dozen TV debates and hundreds of press releases.
10 posted on 02/27/2012 6:58:17 AM PST by BilLies ( It's Black History Month..Don't forget the 330,000 White Northerners who died 1861-5 to Free Slaves)
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To: BilLies

Also see:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/global-warmings-desperate-caper/


11 posted on 02/27/2012 7:02:24 AM PST by BilLies ( It's Black History Month..Don't forget the 330,000 White Northerners who died 1861-5 to Free Slaves)
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To: MrB

You’re right and I not only have that book but have read it cover to cover (minus the references at the end).


12 posted on 02/27/2012 2:37:05 PM PST by RoadTest (There is one god, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.)
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To: RoadTest

No.
They paying off friends and allies and laundering money back into Democrat campaign funds.


13 posted on 02/27/2012 2:58:51 PM PST by Little Ray (FOR the best Conservative in the Primary; AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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