Where's Tom?

By: jsrutstein
Published On: 11/14/2007 8:10:05 PM

Tom Davis is the Ranking Minority Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.  Today was a big day for the committee.  The State Department's Inspector General was there to answer allegations that he didn't do an adequate job in ferreting out alleged misdeeds by State Department officials and contractors, including the infamous Blackwater company.  The Republican staff put out an impressive-looking report under Tom Davis' name, trying its best to put a positive spin on the Inspector General's performance and put a negative spin on Democratic Chairman Waxman's allegations.  So, where was Tom Davis today?  The Republican defense of the Inspector General was led by Christopher Shays who has previously threatened to retire if the Republicans don't give him the Ranking Minority Member slot in the next Congress.  In addition to the mysterious absence of Tom Davis, we had the spectacle of Mr. Shays having to eat his words in defense of the Inspector General.  The Inspector General testified that his brother was not connected to Blackwater.  Oops!  It turns out his brother was on Blackwater's Advisory Board.  Mr. Shays is not happy and says the Inspector General should be mad at his brother for misleading him.

Comments



Now the Krongard Brothers Are Pointing Fingers At Each Other (PM - 11/14/2007 10:19:32 PM)
http://www.tpmmuckra...

Howard "Cookie" Krongard might have just perjured himself before the House Oversight Committee.

Earlier today, the State Department inspector general repeatedly told the panel that he was unaware his brother, A.B. "Buzzy" Krongard, had joined the advisory board of State Department security contractor Blackwater. Krongard said he had a single phone conversation with his brother about the issue, in October, in which Buzzy didn't tell Cookie he was joining the board.

Only Buzzy says that's not true.

In an exclusive interview with TPMmuckraker, Buzzy Krongard says that in that phone conversation, he specifically told Cookie Krongard he had agreed to join Blackwater's advisory board. "I had told my brother I was going on the advisory board," Buzzy Krongard says. "My brother says that is not the case. I stand by what I told my brother."

Sounds like Tom Davis' staff did some fine investigative work.

Bwwa-ha-ha



'tis the season for bwo ho ho (jsrutstein - 11/14/2007 10:35:23 PM)
more from that great interview with Buzzy

"Asked if Blackwater knew who his brother was when Erik Prince offered him a position on the advisory board, Buzzy replies, 'You think I had to tell them? That they didn't know?' He says it shouldn't be an issue. 'If [Cookie Krongard]'s got integrity, it's not gonna matter one way or other,' he says. 'If he doesn't have integrity it's not gonna matter.'"



Tom emerges to vote on the floor. How'd he do? (jsrutstein - 11/15/2007 7:12:36 AM)
Last night, the House passed a bill linking $50 billion in spending on the war that the President requested with a withdrawal plan that must begin within 30 days and end by Dec. 15, 2008.  Two Republicans voted for the bill who had previously not signed on to such a bill.

Was Tom Davis among them?

After all, with possible retirement from public life staring him in the face, he might be free enough to begin to separate himself from Bush, the way his retiring mentor, whom Tom hoped to succeed but now appears never will, Sen. John Warner has done (a bit anyway).

But no, Tom yet again sides with one of the least popular Presidents in history. 

The Dem side of the ballot for VA-11 next year is filling up.  Any of these people would be much better than Tom Davis.



Not Through With Buzz (jsrutstein - 11/17/2007 8:57:11 AM)
Yesterday, Chairman Waxman announced the following:

"Yesterday, in response to a letter from the Committee, Buzzy Krongard called the Committee staff and said that contrary to Howard Krongard's testimony, he did tell his brother about his relationship with Blackwater.

The information from Buzzy Krongard raises serious questions about the veracity of Howard Krongard's testimony before the Committee. To help answer these questions, I expect the Committee to hold a hearing immediately after the Thanksgiving recess at which Howard Krongard and Buzzy Krongard will be invited to testify."

Will our own Tom turkey return from his Thanksgiving vacation to show up at the hearing?

I love the bwa ha holidays!