Friday Night Surprise: White House Aide Caught In Shoplifting Scheme
Friday Night Surprise: White House Aide Caught In Shoplifting Scheme
When Claude Allen, the former Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, resigned suddenly a few weeks ago, the White House gave its official explanation for the departure:
President Bush’s domestic policy advisor, Claude A. Allen, has resigned to spend more time with his family, the White House said.
Many were skeptical of the White House’s explanation. It turns out the suspicions were justified: Allen was arrested yesterday and charged in a “retail theft scheme.†From the police report:
The Target Loss Prevention Manger contacted Montgomery County Police and through the police investigation it was learned that Allen had been receiving refunds in an amount exceeding $5,000 during last year. Some of the fraudulent returns were made at Target stores and some at Hecht’s stores. He would buy items, take them out to his car, and return to the store with the receipt. He would select the same items he had just purchased, and then return them for a refund. Allen is known to have conducted approximately 25 of these types of refunds, having the money credited to his credit cards.
Throughout 2005 he obtained refunds for items ranging from clothing, a Bose theater system, stereo equipment, and photo printer to items valued only at $2.50.
If we can’t trust the White House to tell us the truth about a simple personnel matter, how can we trust anything they tell us about more substantive issues.
UPDATE: Allen had the highest salary of any employee in the White House, tied with Karl Rove, Andrew Card, and Stephen Hadley, among others. He was earning $161,000 a year.
UPDATE II: Atrios debunks one early right-wing talking point that Allen was some unknown staffer. In fact, he was the top domestic policy adviser and a former Bush Federal Circuit Court nominee. The Washington Post labeled him the embodiment of “conservative values.”
UPDATE III: The Washington Post reports, “White House spokesman Scott McClellan said last night that if the allegation is true, ‘no one would be more disappointed, shocked and outraged‘ than the president. McClellan said Allen had told White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. and White House counsel Harriet Miers that the matter was a misunderstanding.”
UPDATE IV: Bush is shocked:
“If the allegations are true, Claude Allen did not tell my chief of staff and legal counsel the truth and that’s deeply disappointing,” Bush said.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
Makes sense to me! The whole damn family had been caught in the scheme and were doing time in the local pokey. I assume he arranged for a conjugal cell during his plea bargaining. Does the Empirical Pardon go down that far?
March 10th, 2006 at 7:57 pmEveryone that works for the Bush Regime is a common thief or a nefarious criminal, so I am NOT surprised the guy shop-
March 10th, 2006 at 8:31 pmlifted, but at a Target Store > lol.
Not to mention–how in the hell is this story put off for two months??? If I get arrested for fraud, do I get to have the police not mention it for 2 months?
March 10th, 2006 at 8:31 pmOh give him a break. He was probably just collecting stuff to send to the victims of hurricane Katrina.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:34 pmEven better, Dubbya nominated him to a Circuit Court judgeship:
“The president nominated Allen in 2003 to sit on the Fourth Circuit appeals court, but the nomination was filibustered in part because Maryland’s two senators objected because the post he was to fill is usually held by a Maryland judge. At the time, Allen was a Virginia resident.” (AP story)
Ironic, n’est-ce pas?
March 10th, 2006 at 8:34 pmAnybody else find it interesting that the Police report does not mention anything about Allen working for Bush?
March 10th, 2006 at 8:37 pmSteal an election.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:37 pmSteal from the Indian Tribes (again).
Steal a “tickle me Elmo” from Target.
S.O.S. from Washington…..
A stick fingered Judge? A cover up over a shop lifter?…’yer do’in a heck of a job there GW’
March 10th, 2006 at 8:38 pmThis story is almost hard to believe.
It was no ordinary shoplifting, where people enter a store and conceal items in their clothes or shopping bags. It was a premeditated and clever plan to scam two department stores.
However, for all the planning that went into the scheme, the theft itself is rather petty -who’d steal from Target? And risk job, prison time for $5,000 when his salary is surely into the 6 figures? It simply boggles the mind.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:38 pmI am assuming he is the African American in the photo? The republicans can then just say he could not resist the impulses that his blackness caused him. There’d be some effective damage control.
What I don’t understand is why he would shoplift. I imagine it was simply greed, but he had a position that would have enabled him to move to a nice private sector job that paid well after government service. Apparently he couldn’t delay gratification.
Perhaps I am cynical, but he may have been chosen for the position based solely on his skin color. What were his primary focuses in terms of domestic policy given that he was an assitant? Probably PR campaigns aimed at African Americans…
#1
It appears he was arraigned. There was no plea bargain. Also, the man is innocent until proven guilty (or until he admits guilt through a plea bargain or pleads no contest through a plea bargain). While he appears to have been blatant (and a HORRIBLE shoplifter) he should be afforded a trial in which he is innocent until proven guilty.
That DOES NOT mean that we cannot assume that he his guilty, just saying the man has not pled out. Were he to he would get a miserable deal if, as you said, his whole family was already arrested. That is because they likely have all turned states evidence on him - leaving him with no bargaining power.
What is the penalty for shoplifting in this state? If it was a ‘ring’ I would imagine it’s a felony, but if they could only get him on this one a misdemeanor (assuming value is low)? It’s always nice to have the penal code to figure out these sorts of things.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:39 pmPolicy advisor…hmmm. This partially explains the GOP’s crime spree of the past five years, doesn’t it? Good thing Allen is a social cancervative and a kompassionate kancervative krixtain. Imagine how big a criminal he’d be otherwise.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:40 pm“Anybody else find it interesting that the Police report does not mention anything about Allen working for Bush?”
They would likely not have released the full police report and generally there is simply an ‘occupation’ category. Of course the police reports vary widely with the nature of the crimes. Hopefully smokinggun gets the full report as opposed to the one for public release.
I don’t find it surprising in that his job apparently had nothing to do with his criminal behavior. I don’t think it’d be horribly relevent for a standard police report.
It is, however, relevent for sentencing:) He’ll claim that he had been a model citizen and worked for Bush who trusted him and that he deserves a break. That’s where his occupation plays a role.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:44 pmSpudge,
March 10th, 2006 at 8:45 pmI wonder if Bush will be kind enough to send a letter of support to the judge at the time of his sentencing (assuming he can’t get out of it).
This crew of Thieves never cease to amaze me……….
March 10th, 2006 at 8:50 pmOops!
March 10th, 2006 at 8:54 pmApparently those cushy positions couldn’t fund Allen’s lifestyle.
I think it’s appropriate enough, considering that the pork-driven policies guiding the vaunted fiscal majorities in Congress that can no more stop themselves from going down on K-Street than a crack whore in withdrawal. He just didn’t go about fleecing the public as expertly as our elected bribers and embezzlers.
Allen dear, you need to make an appointment with Mr. DeLay’s office, you small-time n00b.
Can’t wait for the “though-love†talk from conservatives that will certainly not follow Allen’s departure.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:57 pmFiscal conservatives, rather.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:58 pm[…] >> Friday Night Surprise: White House Aide Caught Shoplifting >> Former Bush Aide Charged in Felony Theft >> Honor and Dignity in the White House. Especially Dignity […]
March 10th, 2006 at 9:01 pmFunny how they quit then get arrested. Perhaps we should just place bars around the White House and change it into the new federal prison. No residency changes required.
Jamie
March 10th, 2006 at 9:01 pmhttp://www.intoxination.net
Well we all knew this was a ‘Kleptocracy’, and this is just one more SHINING example of the high level of republican ‘morality’. If they try to cover this minor affair up, just imagine how hard they’re working to cover up all of the Halliburton thefts.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:07 pmHe is also a “Christian” who in his post at HHS lead a witch hunt against Aids Service Organizations, and was instrumental in pushing abstinence only education in sex ed classes. More at Steve Gilliard http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/
March 10th, 2006 at 9:13 pmCleptos steal for the thrill of it. Money isn’t the motivation. My understanding is that there are usually serious guilt issues involved in the disease. (Once dated a clepto but I’m no expert. Maybe someone can help out here?)
Wonder what those guilt issues might be?
March 10th, 2006 at 9:16 pmSome shoplifters are compelled to steal, even if they have plenty of money to purchase the items! It is a pathological condition that causes them to be dishonest, and kind of a thrill for them to pilfer and not get caught! One store I worked at years ago had a member of the DuPont family who stole some items and she had about $5,000 cash on her at the time > she loved the thrill of stealing! Allen is what is called a “Bad Apple” so someone who cannot be trusted!
March 10th, 2006 at 9:16 pm… this reminds me of the whole Winona Ryder thing.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:21 pmGood Lord there are some disturbed people in and around the white house…
March 10th, 2006 at 9:23 pmCould it be guilt about being party to high crimes and misdemeanors?………
Wisco,
Kleptomania is a mood/depression related disorder. It’s often found in people who are bi-polar or manic depressive, as well as those who have an Antisocial Personality Disorder (think sociopathic, psychopathic and dyssocial - like karl rove and abramoff). People with ASPD steal as part of a whole effort to obtain money,sex,power. Abramoff, Rove and Reed (and probably many of the trolls) are prime examples of people with ASPD personalities.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:26 pmDoes the Empirical Pardon go down that far?
Comment by Clyde the Ripper — March 10, 2006 @ 7:57 pm
Haven’t you heard? Congress gave him that authority when it passively allowed him to wage his jihad on oil laden countries. I mean the man couldn’t find the stuff drilling in Texas, so he had to go and invade Iraq to get his hands on it for certain. Bet he feels vindicated for Arbusto and Harken now…
March 10th, 2006 at 9:26 pmBuying things then returning identical items with the other receipt - sounds like he has a job waiting for him at Cuter-Battles.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:28 pmThis is the same guy that worked for good ‘old Jesse Helms a number of years back.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:28 pmSteal an election.
Steal from the Indian Tribes (again).
Steal a “tickle me Elmo†from Target.
S.O.S. from Washington…..
Comment by trueblue — March 10, 2006 @ 8:37 pm
Message still not loud enough… the volume of everyone’s television set is still drowning it out.
This they’ll have to steal the actual television set, during American Idol, for anyone in mainstream to notice…
March 10th, 2006 at 9:29 pmOne word: character.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:30 pmThanks Ryan,
Kinda fits the gal I dated on the bi-polar/ power obsessive side.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:30 pmHowever, for all the planning that went into the scheme, the theft itself is rather petty -who’d steal from Target? And risk job, prison time for $5,000 when his salary is surely into the 6 figures? It simply boggles the mind.
Comment by Gregor Samsa — March 10, 2006 @ 8:38 pm
Shows the psychological state of these folks, I think. Not about the merchandize, but about getting away with such a blatant act. And why not when your boss is setting the example that Peeping Georgie has?
Pilfering company pens just doesn’t hold the same thrill when you work for the Bush Administration… gotta go bigger.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:32 pmI’m speechless.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:40 pmJust be glad that Allen never became a Judge > he would have probably let fellow shoplifters off or given them a slap on the wrist with a wink?! Like other posters have mentioned Kleptomania is a serious mental disease! If being Bi-Polar is one of the causes, then does Bush himself steal since he is Bi-Polar too? Yes as a matter of fact he is stealing our entire treasury, selling our ports, and anything else he can find > lol.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:48 pmAnd this arrest indicates their claim was accurate.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:52 pmSounds exactly like the Bush Administration’s Domestic Policy as I have come to observe over the past 5+ years….
(I don’t visit Target stores anymore, the last time I did, a pre-teen dressed like what’s her name Brittany something tried to hit me up for money to buy a new outfit……..
I walked straight to customer service, spilled the beans, found out it was an employee’s daughter, and was told “Don’ worry about it, Security Knows……..”
Stupid F$%&*()(*#@! corporate television cell phone television (did I say that already?)….
tHERE, I feel better now, thanks folks….
March 10th, 2006 at 9:53 pmImpeach Alito.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:54 pm#33
March 10th, 2006 at 9:57 pm“Pilfering Pens”
so much more eloquent than ’stealing pencils’
love ya………
The Bush Crime Family, sheesh, there’s no way they’ll even be able to take up residence in the US after the system is done with them.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:03 pmAssuming the system actually does what it’s supposed to do and bring justice.
The Bush Crime Family will have to go into hiding, Suddam Spider Hole style. And then we’ll get to smoke them out of their holes, that will be a glorious day.
#40
March 10th, 2006 at 10:14 pmC’mon over to the spread, Silly Little American Boy, I’d like to show you the chainsaw we took from dumbya when we caught him in the draw….
thank you so very much for making my friday night! this is incredible!!
March 10th, 2006 at 10:15 pmYou know this is just the tip of the iceberg with this guy’s behavior.
Anti-condom
March 10th, 2006 at 10:17 pmAnti-abortion,
and black women make up the highest number of AIDS cases in America.
I always thought it was poor, impoverished trailer trash who did this sort of scheme. Not the embodiment of conservative family values.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:17 pm#43
March 10th, 2006 at 10:19 pmfRIDAY nIGHT lIVE!!!!!!!
#10 James
My post number 1 was just reeking with sarcasm directed at the man’s position and the Bush Administration. I meant no harm to the gentleman and wish him well for having suffered the ignominy of being associated with King George the Dumb and the BIG crooks. They don’t shop-lift, they lift the whole damn shop, and have tried to steal the whole damn Country.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:20 pmSounds like Allen will be joining the America’s Most Banana Republicans:
http://www.perrspectives.com/images/banana_repubs)010306.jpg
March 10th, 2006 at 10:26 pm35 jay randal - “Just be glad that Allen never became a Judge > he would have probably let fellow shoplifters off or given them a slap on the wrist with a wink”
oh no, probably more like the anti-gay gay people, the anti-porn perverts, and all the other self-righteous “do-gooders” of the right - he’d come down hard to cover up his own sins…just a guess…
March 10th, 2006 at 10:31 pmAnti-condom anti-abortion anti-queer=wife is sodomized.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:34 pmso an “unknown staffer” was making $161,000/year? that was a well-thought-out talking point.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:35 pmI always thought it was poor, impoverished trailer trash who did this sort of scheme. Not the embodiment of conservative family values.
Comment by Skeptic —
March 10th, 2006 at 10:35 pmFunny. It almost never is.
It’s the ones who can afford it… look @ Ryan’s post…. (Hell. Look @ Wionna Ryder.)
I’m beyond disgusted with this Administration at this point.
Any other Pres. would have been kicked out of the White House by now. I don’t know why this idiot continues to rule.
I kind of feel sorry for him. I mean, if he had stolen billions, like Haliburton, he would have been given more no-bid contracts to continue doing what he was doing.
Since he did not steal enough, he will have to pay the price.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:41 pmOH MY GAWD! This guy is making $161K a year and he is shoplifting??!! LOL What a freak!
March 10th, 2006 at 10:43 pmNo wonder the Wal-Mart water never reached New Orleans.
Well, McHell’s Navy is finally up, with custom, exclusive Photoshopped images from none other than The Dood Abides of DKos and My Left Wing fame. Enjoy.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:50 pmMust be a new WH internship program…..at least the religious right can feel proud that it didn’t involve - s-e-x…so all can be forgiven.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:52 pmSeeing as how Bush had little or no domestic policy, this individual probably had lots of spare time to engage in such nefarious schemes to avoid sheer boredom in his day job.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:57 pmYep.
The Washington Post labeled him the embodiment of “conservative values.â€
March 10th, 2006 at 11:02 pmI wonder why so many of the bush administration have left their job “to spend more time with their families”? Is it a ruse? Or they are privy to knowing what the future will bring and how little time we have left that they want to spend it with family? I fear for our country and our troops. Somebody stop this madness.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:04 pmBeen caught stealing once, when I was five…..
March 10th, 2006 at 11:04 pmClaude Balls. haha!!!
March 10th, 2006 at 11:11 pmWhat are the chances you’ll see this on “Meet the Press” Sunday?
Oh, BTW, (almost)SMILEY FACE on Iraq…!
March 10th, 2006 at 11:13 pmWay to go, MSM!
The Bush Crime Family will have to go into hiding, Suddam Spider Hole style. And then we’ll get to smoke them out of their holes, that will be a glorious day.
Comment by Silly Little American Boy
Hell no, leave them there!
March 10th, 2006 at 11:14 pmI don’t feel too sorry for Mr. Allen (soon to be a convicted felon). He will now qualify for a consulting/commentator job on Fox News where he can join all the other disreputable Republican trash.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:22 pmI was right—the White House has become ‘THE DEN OF INIQUITY’—full of LIARS, THIEVES and COWARDS
March 10th, 2006 at 11:25 pmThis guy was clearly an idiot. This is petty theft. If he had any brains he would have done what a lot of Bush cronies have done. War profiteering. Katrina profiteering. He would have stolen millions. Legally.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:28 pmGeesh…I guess this makes plenty of sense when you come to think about it. I mean his boss goes to India and trades nuclear reactors for mangos. Anyway you look at it, this guy is a step ahead in terms of ROI…LOL
March 10th, 2006 at 11:42 pmThe wheels are coming off this administration: liars, cheats, bullies, incompetents, and thieves.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:44 pmHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Well, Bush and Cheney have been stealing from this country for 6 years, so I’m not surprised to learn an aide is a thief too.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:50 pmI THINK YOU BLOGGERS ARE GREAT, SUCH UNTAPPED TALENT OUT THERE.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:55 pmNice to see shoplifting finally recognized as a Republican family value by Bush Domestic Policy advisors.
March 10th, 2006 at 11:57 pmAllen, #75846, your in cell 666, with #4950697-8-9 Cunningham,Delay,and Abramhoff, ‘Hi Fellas’.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:04 amWell, of course he’s a christian, er.. . no Christian wherever religion goes, there goes corruption. Mix church and state and you get precisely the stinking corruption of the present rightist regime.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:09 amWE COULD ‘CLEAN IT UP’ AND ‘STAY THE COURSE’ ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH AND ALL HIS CRONIES…….LIARS, CHEATS, TAKERS OF THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN………..
WHAT A HISTORY THIS VAINGLORIUS, IGNORANT FOOL OF A MAN IS LEAVING FOR OUR KIDS TO HAVE TO OVERCOME.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:18 amfollow the links - http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/03/10.html#a7479:
Update: Digby found more.
“in the early days of Katrina, the White House Katrina task force was being run by Claude Allen.”
Very odd. In the worst natural disaster in American history the Bush administration’s response was assigned to a shoplifting religious extremist and a crony from the arabian horseshow association while the head of homeland security flew off to give a speech. The president and John McCain laughed and ate cake. This is Republican governance….read on”
March 11th, 2006 at 12:42 amA crook in the Whitehouse, who’da thunk.
This assministration is circling the toilet bowl. We better do something before the smash and grab reaches a frenzied pace.
Dictator Bush said today that it doesn’t matter what the polls say, or the Americans who are the bedrock of this country for that matter, he is going to do what HE wants to do.
Holy shit.
-GSD
March 11th, 2006 at 12:47 amThe Manson Family is running our Goddamn nation.
We’ve fallen and we can’t get up.
-GSD
March 11th, 2006 at 12:48 amFunny how they quit then get arrested. Perhaps we should just place bars around the White House and change it into the new federal prison. No residency changes required.
Jamie
I love this one Jamie, however we should remove the French Chefs and serve up some of good ‘ol prison slop. For their enjoyment of course…
March 11th, 2006 at 12:51 amPosterboy for the right to an up or down vote for lifetime judicial appointment.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:58 amCall it the colbert influence but the white house statement is TRUE, and we only care about the truth. we don’t like facts!!
March 11th, 2006 at 1:00 amHe did resign so he could spend more time with his family. they just forgot to finish the sentence with the fact … before he gets arrested in a retail theft scheme.
you see facts are messy. only deal with the truth it is easier.
Just won more example of why this Bush administration should be dubbed “Crooks R Us”
March 11th, 2006 at 1:06 amAnother interesting Allen tidbit in my posting.
March 11th, 2006 at 1:59 amhttp://hatestheright.blogspot.com/
Misunderstanding..
I had an inmate one time tell me that the five banks he robbed just was a bit of a misunderstand. He just misunderstoond he didn’t have any money in there and They misundestood his request for a loan… and yeah that entire conversation was off the record but he was pleading guilty anyway because “They have all the home movies” and he was so high he didn’t wear a mask.
March 11th, 2006 at 2:08 amFolks, this is not a cleptomaniac.
This is a theft scheme.
This is a con. straight up.
This is how it goes, without buying anything. You wander around the parking lot picking up receipts. You go into the store, put some of the items from the receipt into your cart and return them to the customer service department.
When you ask to have the money put on your credit card and not ask for cash, people are less suspicious.
Until you do it too many times. People are greedy and the store catches on sooner or later. Busted.
This isn’t how cleptos work.
This isn’t a guy stealing something from time to time. This is a concerted effort to steal money from Target. He is a cheap con man.
March 11th, 2006 at 2:51 amIt seems to be alot of work, to steal only $5,000 worth of stuff over a year. And a Target store? Did he think Target was more stupid than say J.C. Penney?
March 11th, 2006 at 3:11 amSpudge,
Con men are a form of kleptomaniacs. In fact it’s why I use the double entendre of CONservatives. See my link above about ASPD.
Most people don’t realize that there’s more than one form of ‘kleptomania’, and that the more serious are indicative of serious psychological disorder.
March 11th, 2006 at 3:20 amGreat! They’ve emptied the insane asylums, and now the patients are running the White House. Explains why GW always has that sappy grin.
March 11th, 2006 at 3:25 amChris Matthews (the Anti-Christ) will probably say that Claude Allen was a victim in all of this just like Cheney was when he mistook a human being for a quail.
Black RepubliKKKans like Claude Allen give black progressives like me a bad name.
March 11th, 2006 at 3:34 am[…] Think Progress - Friday Night Surprise: White House Aide Caught In Shoplifting Scheme […]
March 11th, 2006 at 4:13 amSpudge-Boy post 85 > Allen is a con-man and a Kleptomaniac! Instead of putting small items down his pants, or hiding things under a heavy shirt, he has progressed to the receipt scam operation! “Return merchandise Departments” in stores have to deal with his kind all the time > you have to catch them in the act of getting the items in the store and taking them to the return desk to get cash! It is just a more nefarious form of shoplifting in that they steal money instead of items! Actually this type of stealing costs the stores more loss than those who steal small items! Allen is somebody who probably stole funds from every job he worked at as well > he is a petty crook!
March 11th, 2006 at 4:35 amWhen self-righteous “Christians” like Claude Allen or Ralph Reed get caught they get little sympathy. We don’t like hypocrites.
March 11th, 2006 at 5:34 amYep, great republican ‘moral values’ here. What part of ‘thou shalt not steal’ do these bible thumpers not understand? The sleaze factor of this administration and W. makes even Richard Nixon look like a boy scout.
March 11th, 2006 at 6:02 amThere is much speculation as to Mr. Allen’s mental/emotional state regarding his fraud and shoplifting.
Two points to make here:
1)It was clearly premeditated and well thought out. Talk to any department store security professional, and they will tell you about 100s of similar schemes. There is an entire subclass of prefessional criminals and hustlers who make their living from oerating these scams.
2)This might not be about money. The man has a decent salary and might be yet still be living beyond his means, BUT (just speculating here) I think he is hiding an affair from his wife. This is the reason he keeps the items (perhaps gifts for his lover), and THEN makes sure the money is returned into his credit card account, thus leaving no obvious paper trail. He has to keep it ‘double secret.’
It’s a theory worth looking into.
March 11th, 2006 at 6:04 am#92; “democracy is hypocrisy” Malcolm X.
March 11th, 2006 at 6:05 amThe worst thing in America today is the “Culture of Corruption” in Washington, DC! There has always been corruption in our nation’s capital, but not at the level of the Bush Regime! Halliburton Corp. is a prime example of this ultimate corruption > VP Cheney being its former CEO funnels “No Bid Government Contracts” to them and then they bilk the government out of millions/billions of dollars! It is a high tech swindle that pales what Claude Allen did in petty stealing from Target stores! Dick Cheney does not take part in this as a freebie for his former company > he gets secret kickbacks, probably into Swiss Bank accounts?!
March 11th, 2006 at 6:19 am[…] It turns out he quit because he was about to get busted for “refund fraud” - a “retail theft scheme”. Think Progress has this from the police report: The Target Loss Prevention Manger contacted Montgomery County Police and through the police investigation it was learned that Allen had been receiving refunds in an amount exceeding $5,000 during last year. Some of the fraudulent returns were made at Target stores and some at Hecht’s stores. He would buy items, take them out to his car, and return to the store with the receipt. He would select the same items he had just purchased, and then return them for a refund. Allen is known to have conducted approximately 25 of these types of refunds, having the money credited to his credit cards. […]
March 11th, 2006 at 6:32 amAllen could have made a bundle by shopping at Barnes & Noble. When I worked there a few years ago, the returns policy was so lax that it was quite possible (and I am 95% sure that some people took advantage of this weekly) to enter the store, pick out one of the expensive art books at $50 to $100, take it to checkout and claim that you got the item as a gift (so there is no receipt) and would like to return it for a refund, and it would be done, no questions asked.
What a perfect set-up for someone like Allen (who was “the embodiment of Republican values” to take advantage of someone else’s honor system.
March 11th, 2006 at 6:53 amI love this one Jamie, however we should remove the French Chefs and serve up some of good ‘ol prison slop. For their enjoyment of course…
Comment by ****dad — March 11, 2006 @ 12:51 am
Dad as a veteran trust me; feed them MRE’s, they’d scream for prison gruel after a week. But the constitutional prohabition against cruel and unusual punishment might forbid it.
March 11th, 2006 at 7:40 amYep, great republican ‘moral values’ here. What part of ‘thou shalt not steal’ do these bible thumpers not understand? The sleaze factor of this administration and W. makes even Richard Nixon look like a boy scout.
Comment by Ho Chi Minh — March 11, 2006 @ 6:02 am
My guess is its the bit that is in “Thou shalt not kill” too.
March 11th, 2006 at 7:56 amonce he kept Medicaid funds from an impoverished rape victim who wanted an abortion.—Washington Post
March 11th, 2006 at 8:01 amThese people are monsters.
March 11th, 2006 at 8:03 amI bet he was stealing “Morning After” pills that the pharmacist refused to sell him.
March 11th, 2006 at 8:14 amI’m trying to figure out that photo.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I’ve got it. The one on the right is the thief and crook the one on the left is the former town drunk and drug abuser.
March 11th, 2006 at 8:29 am“Pilfering Pensâ€
so much more eloquent than ’stealing pencils’
love ya………
Comment by Howdy Neighbor — March 10, 2006 @ 9:57 pm
I’m taking a Creative Writing class… Glad you like the alliteration :)
March 11th, 2006 at 8:43 amhttp://www.mtwytlc.com/8_17_049.JPG
March 11th, 2006 at 8:58 amThey weren’t lying when they said:
“President Bush’s domestic policy advisor, Claude A. Allen, has resigned to spend more time with his family, the White House said.”
What they meant is that he wanted to spend more time with his family before getting his ass hauled off to jail.
March 11th, 2006 at 8:59 am‘Stealing for Jesus’….that just doesn’t sound right. ‘Mr Allen, why did you do it?’…’well…my boss steals a lot more that that and he’s not in jail’.
March 11th, 2006 at 9:34 am[…] see Think Progress, Hullabaloo, Brad DeLong, firedoglake, The Left Coaster, and Oliver Willis Permalink | Comments (0) | Send TrackBack | Trackbacks(0) […]
March 11th, 2006 at 9:40 amwatch him lie:
http://www.c-span.org/ search/ basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=Claude+Allen&image1.x=30&image1.y=15&image1=Submit
March 11th, 2006 at 9:49 amit’s always to spend more time with family, isn’t it? Tenet, Hughes, etc. BULLSHIT!
March 11th, 2006 at 10:13 amWSWJSF?
What Store Would Jesus Shoplift From?
-GSD
March 11th, 2006 at 10:27 amHoly shit. It is starting to look like the “Last days of Caligula” in this Whitehouse. Too bad there are no moral or ethical Republicans left to give Bush the “talk” and ask him to leave.
The last guy that tried to talk sense into this Whitehouse was shotgunned in the face by Deadeye Dick Cheney.
-GSD
March 11th, 2006 at 10:30 amproof George Bush doesn’t care about black people…
http://blogdebogs.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 03/ george-bush-doesnt-care-about-black.html
March 11th, 2006 at 11:01 amhe is the embodiment of conservative values: theft and hypocrisy…
March 11th, 2006 at 11:02 amNot to nitpick guys, but I ran a word Find on that Washington Post article and I couldn’t find the words “embodiment”, “conservative”, or “values”, anywhere in the article. Its a nitpick because there were plenty of words to that effect, just not those specific words.
WV - TN - DEM
March 11th, 2006 at 11:03 am[…] ThinkProgress When Claude Allen, the former Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, resigned suddenly a few weeks ago, the White House gave its official explanation for the departure: […]
March 11th, 2006 at 11:51 am“Spending time with the family” is code for “Will be hunting with (hunted by) Cheney on the next shoot.”
March 11th, 2006 at 11:51 amthis is an admission of near-treason, i know, but here goes:
March 11th, 2006 at 12:19 pmnow i better understand why they put stickers on your returns when you enter a wal-mart store…and why, when a guy ahead of me at the return desk, pulled an item from his pocket, the clerk asked why it didn’t have a sticker on it - “Every return item is supposed to have a return sticker on it, sir” …oh, ok…
well, a lot more people have been educated about this little scam - watch the “return” rates pick up…
I’m waiting for bush to say he doesn’t remember meeting him. He might have been at a hannakuh celebration, but a lot of people are. My god. They wanted to give this crook a lifetime federal judge appointment.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:54 pmI thought you folks loved the crooked, rotten and immoral…I’m sure it was just a case of being abused in his childhood or “early toilet training”. Let’s NOT book him on 60 Minutes or Oprah for a nauseating public mea culpa - just throw the book at him - after his trial or plea bargain, whichever comes first.
March 11th, 2006 at 1:28 pmConsidering the leading Democrat for 2008 illegally obtained over 500 FBI files to smear her political opponents, I would argue this is no big deal.
The left-wing hatred for Bush is scary. You would murder Bush and his family if you could.
March 11th, 2006 at 2:06 pmre #122:
We likely can’t throw the “book” at him for any of the following reasons:
1)Scooter says that it’s now ‘classified’.
2)It was shredded by Arthur Andersen.
3)The book was in fact thrown. However, in mid-flight, it was mistaken for a bird and shot to pieces by Dick Cheney.
4)The book has already been tagged into evidence.
5)It could be the “Big Book of GOP Ethics” by J. Abramoff. It’s short, compact, and easily shoplifted.
Either way, we aren’t throwing the ‘book’. A party maybe, a book no.
March 11th, 2006 at 2:07 pm#105 - No Joe, go to the police report picture - I’m surprised TP didn’t post it - “progressives” hate black Repubs MORE than they hate GWB, (ie: Clarence Thomas, Condoleeza Rice, Michael Steele, Walter Williams, etc.)
March 11th, 2006 at 2:11 pmRemember, Gore is a Liar, the smartest woman in America couldn’t remember where any file was at anytime - period. That’s what personal assistants are for.
March 11th, 2006 at 2:13 pmArrested on Theft Charges…
A White House staffer “resigned” recently. The administration gave an explanation. Reporters weren’t buying it and today found out what the deal really was. Claude Allen was Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy….
March 11th, 2006 at 2:15 pmmighty,
March 11th, 2006 at 2:48 pmyou’re pretty talented throwing hatred in both directions. Don’t hurt yourself! And remember, you’re the company you keep!
gee, when i look at the photo that accompanies this piece, it sure looks like joe sixpack 105 got it right…
March 11th, 2006 at 2:55 pm#128 - “And remember, you’re the company you keep!”
March 11th, 2006 at 3:52 pm- Comment by Congress…..
*****You’re damn right - I couldn’t have said it BETTER!!! (That’s why the NSA wants to know who you and your friends are talking to from Al Qaeda!!)
M.A.,
Puhleeeeze! Changing the subject to NSA spying on innocent Americans doesn’t excuse you from the fact that you actually support crooks, cheats, liars, and murderers: all who make up the current state of the White House and its’ GOP cronies.
March 11th, 2006 at 4:09 pmThat’s right, mighty. We talk to Al kayduh. We jerk off to gay porn and clean it up with Israeli flags. Oh, wait, it’s the Bush administration that does that…
March 11th, 2006 at 4:11 pmAre you ready for Iran to double in size, mighty?
March 11th, 2006 at 4:30 pmWill you be able to handle it when Israel attacks Iran and the never ending revolution smothers the Israeli Jews into distinction? Israelis will be run out of town faster than the Shah out of Iran.
I’m not ready for that. But that’s what’s gonna happen. And all the chemicals and nukes in Israel’s possession ain’t gonna stop it. You’re too smart to be defending an incompetent person like Bush. I really don’t think you think things through.
#132 - “That’s right, mighty. We talk to Al kayduh. We jerk off to gay porn and clean it up with Israeli flags.”
- Stupid “Comment” by Congres….
*****Why am I not surprised??????
#133 - “Are you ready for Iran to double in size, mighty?
March 11th, 2006 at 4:58 pmWill you be able to handle it when Israel attacks Iran and the never ending revolution smothers the Israeli Jews into distinction? Israelis will be run out of town faster than the Shah out of Iran.
I’m not ready for that. But that’s what’s gonna happen….”
- Another Stupid “Comment” from Congress…
******You are another FINE example of the “cup half empty” pessimism which permeates the “progrssive pessimists” today. Nice of you to worry about our dear ally, Israel, though. I seem to remember the shock of the world when tiny Israel was supposed to be annihilated in a three prong attack - AND BEAT THE $H*T out of the Arabs. And didn’t everyone just hold their breath when Israel took out the “other” nuclear reactor of theat nut case Saddam back in the early 80’s?? My tip to you - you seem to be sooo negative - don’t buy a lottery ticket or walk under a ladder.
Come on, M.A., answer the question. Do you support criminals like Claude Allen who occupied an Administration that excels at these kind of things?
March 11th, 2006 at 5:31 pmJimBob - I answered the question in a previous post - catch up - or read slowly so it sinks in.
March 11th, 2006 at 5:39 pmI’m pretty postive America has spoken it’s true sentiments about Arabs in the Dubai fiasco. I’m also pretty sure it’s a referendum on you and yours-those who can’t decide if they want to destroy Muslims or do under the table cash deals with them…
March 11th, 2006 at 6:15 pmAll your history and professionalism has blinded you from good old fashioned folk wisdom. You can’t serve 2 masters, mighty.
How many Israelis have died since ‘67? Is it a “Half-full” number?
M.A. Not a good answer, kiddo.
Why on earth would you defend criminals like Claude Allen, Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Dickless Cheney and Bubble Boy who may not even know how stupid he really is?
I guess you have no answer for that. You never do.
How about this, why did Cheney mistake a human being for a freaking bird?
March 11th, 2006 at 6:25 pmJimbo,
March 11th, 2006 at 6:29 pmI believe mighty said something along the lines of “throw the book at him”.
As a therapist who specializes in treating persons of all backgrounds who have shoplifted or committed other acts of theft, I would not be surprised if former Bush aide Claude Allen had shoplifted despite his contention that his alleged fraud was all a misunderstanding. Many people shoplift or steal not out of economic need or greed but in response to life stresses. Many even become addicted to getting “something for nothing.” This is not to say there should be no consequences, but Mr. Allen–and millions of others–may need more than the legal variety. Terrence Daryl Shulman,
March 11th, 2006 at 7:58 pmFounder/Director of The Shulman Center for Theft Addictions and Disorders http://www.theshulmancenter.com
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.com
Author of “Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and Recovery”
Detroit, Michigan USA
Thank you, Congress….do progressives have remedial programs for poor unfortunates like JimBOB.
JimBOb - I do not personally defend the action of any criminal.
That said - I often defend clients accused of a crime. It is my job to defend my client’s constitutional rights - but as with most criminal attorneys, I do not ask if my client “committed the crime”. I want information regarding the DA’s evidence, etc.
March 11th, 2006 at 8:17 pmNews article on the BBC site says Dubaiya is
March 11th, 2006 at 8:28 pm“shocked and sad” about Clod’s arrest for shoplifting scam…… no “awe”?
Part of the difficulty I see in the current executive branch administration is that many/most/nearly all of Dubious’ appointees have been LAWYERS in their earlier careers. No formal training or expertise in the field of the department they have been chosen to direct, only training in how to avoid and/or circumvent the Law.
A notable exception perhaps was Mr. Brownie the horse show organizer.
I guess with his background, work could be found for him mucking out New Orleans.
Washingtonpost had an article about this. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2006/ 03/ 10/ AR2006031002328_2.html
In the last sentence, its said ALlen once kept Medicaid funds from an impoverished rape victim that wanted an abortion. He doesn’t sound at all compassionate and I hope the Judge throws the book at him.
March 11th, 2006 at 8:40 pm[…] Claude Allen, a former top assistant to Presdent Bush, was arrested in a shoplifting scehme in Virginia. Mr. Bush had previously nominated Allen to a federal appellate judgeship. […]
March 11th, 2006 at 11:32 pmAllen is one of many. George & Dick too!
IMPEACH George & Dick! IMPEACH, IMPEACH, IMPEACH, help IMPEACH! by calling your Senators & Representative at:
1-866-220-0044
and tell them to support impeachment; especially the Representative to sign on with John Conyers and the HR635 (and more) INVESTIGATION toward IMPEACHMENT. See all the info you need to know at:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/635
OUT with the Criminal Admin!!
Iraq lies to and manipulating Americans AND Congress; CIA Leak; Prisoner Abuse; Katrina negligence; corruption at the top; likely election rigging; Anthrax-scare involvement?; warrantless SPYING on Americans! Oh yes, bankrupting the Nation… Domestic programs negligence…and more!
Call your Senators & Rep…voice your support for investigating for impeachment! The World, too, will then respect us as WeThePeople, the American People, instead of half-asleep “americans” allowing bush, the oft-times-called “biggest terrorist”, to “get away with it all”!
Again: 1-866-220-0044
As for Allen: a Judge to be? hope he gets help/bigtime therapy…while we do the more important stuff of getting George & Dick OUT! Best for THEM and for US/this country!
ACTION now…and to prepare for when the Dems get into Congress this November. But in the meantime, the investigation should go on NOW, so that time is not lost and George & Dick can be impeached while IN office!!
jyt
March 12th, 2006 at 3:31 amEverything is FREE if you are a Republican.
I’m sure he is STILL “uniquely qualified to be a Federal judge as a man of faith.” I predict the MIddle-Finger-in-Chief will renominate him next week.
FOX in the henhouse, cows in the corn.
Scamming TARGET® (classy!) to prove he is a member of the Master Race. Well, he had to support his Ambien® habit, after all. It ain’t easy being a drug addict.
No wonder Hannity is embarrassed to be a Republican.
It’s a Twilight Zone of superior pervs who get off on scamming and killing innocent families for money. What’s to be embarrassed about?
March 12th, 2006 at 3:53 amI can always be stunned and frequently amazed at the low IQ of those that rely on “Think Progress” as a harbinger of real news. Reagan had several high level staffers and a few cabinet members indicted, and hopefully (and blissfully) we have forgotten all of the Clinton people (including Clinton himself) who were indicted and had legal action taken against them (in Clinton’s case his dis-barment). It would be intellectually inconsistent (and more than just a little dishonest) to equate Allen’s arrest with anything of substance in the Bush administration.
March 12th, 2006 at 8:23 amdonaldleehackle,
I remember when Allen came on TV after it was abundantly clear that Katrina had exposed the Bush administration. He said Bush’s concern and depth of pro action was exemplified by Bush’s:
Hugging bereaved mothers.
and Hugging Church Pastors.
I saw it live when it happened and I told myself he is going to be punished for that bizarre statement.
March 12th, 2006 at 8:49 amFact is, Allen and Bush/Rove are always in propaganda mode. A self-induced schizophrenia to propagate messages. They are detached from reality. Every last one of them. You included.
donaldleehackle,
I’m sorry. I’m still in shock by your bizarre comment. Downplaying Allen’s behavior by highlighting behavior of other criminals in other administrations? Are you kidding?
How many times do you expect to hear that argument in the media as a defense of Bush, donaldleehackle? I think you’re spending too much time alone.
March 12th, 2006 at 9:01 amThe issue now is that all of this, everything from Bush’s reign to the Jerry Springer Show, is all symptomatic of a far bigger problem.
You see, Chivalry is dead, and we have nothing to replace it. We have let it all hang out, but you know what? Letting it all hang out is just messy.
We have this idealogy of openly stating our emotions like a bunch of hysterics because for some unknowable reason we believe anybody actually gives a shit. We have talk shows like Dr Phil, which exist purely to take someone’s private pain and hold it up to the micro-analysis of the public like some sort of medieval freakshow.
We have lost our sense of dignity, and the importance of it. I am not talking just about America here, one of my country’s insurance companies at one point had a huge poster of a naked woman’s posterior sat on a block of butter, and thought it would sell their product. Personally it just put me off of butter for a while.
Look at any woman’s magazine cover, and then contrast it with a porn mag. They use the same basic concepts for what to put on the cover.
Look at Rap. Seriously, look at it. It is devoid of artistic merit, and I am not just saying this because it’s shit, but because of what the shit is about. The best a black man can be is a nigga, and the best a woman, whatever her race, can achieve is being a ho. It is disrespect for disrespect’s sake.
And none of this is the core problem. You see, we could ban this shit, and all that would happen is we would drive it underground, where it would gain greater power. The problem is we have no dream, no direction in which to stear Western Culture. We talk about multi-culturalism but lets face facts, that is a bullshit idealogy. We want our culture, not our race and not our religion, our culture, to reign supreme.
March 12th, 2006 at 9:28 amIt would be intellectually inconsistent (and more than just a little dishonest) to equate Allen’s arrest with anything of substance in the Bush administration.
Comment by donaldleehackle — March 12, 2006 @ 8:23 am
donaldleehackle quit double dipping in the kool-aid.
March 12th, 2006 at 9:59 amBush expressed disappointment because he wasn’t told of this until it hit the news — doesn’t that sound familiar? Cheney didn’t feel it necessary to inform Bush of his shooting a friend on a quail hunt either.
March 12th, 2006 at 10:24 amHe’s like his boss-totally bored with the job and unengaged-especially when all the work they give you involves working with crayola.
March 12th, 2006 at 11:15 amBush tried to excuse Allen’s behavior by saying “something drastic” must have occurred in his life to cause him to do this.
March 12th, 2006 at 12:46 pmHmmm, when Katrina victims were taking merhandise from retail stores after they were flooded, they were condemned for their behavior — did not something drastic happen to them? N.O. residents were desperate, frightened, and increasingly hopeless, yet they are judged more harshly than Bush aide, Allen, who was also a Bush judicial appointee - at least the Senate’s denial prevented an even greater embarrassment for the jerk-in-the-White House.
Marie - NOBODY bashed Katrina victims for taking food, shoes, diapers, etc. We WERE a bit disappointed with the few who took “their” money and ran to the closest Louis Vuitton boutiue and those who hung out at strip clubs. But maybe you’re right - who are WE to judge?????
March 12th, 2006 at 2:39 pmInteresting comments.
March 12th, 2006 at 10:28 pm“Marie - NOBODY bashed Katrina victims for taking food, shoes, diapers, etc. Mighty Liar”
Liar, fool and idiot. You obviously ignore all of the hate speech from your reichwing friends (and yourself) that post nothing but hate speech at the poor and minority americans. Your attacks on them during the katrina affair was unforgiveable. You are a LIAR, A FOOL AND A MORON!
March 12th, 2006 at 10:47 pmI thought you folks loved the crooked, rotten and immoral…
(That’s why the NSA wants to know who you and your friends are talking to from Al Qaeda!!)
Comments by mighty aphrodite
Mighty Hypocrite,
March 13th, 2006 at 6:53 amI thought you were the one who voted for convicted felon and ex-Congressman Randy Cunningham.
So every American who doesn’t agree with Bush must be talking to Al Qaeda, eh? Obviously you are unfamiliar with Thomas Jefferson’s statement that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Of all the stupid statements you have made so far, this latest one must rank near or at the top. Incidentally, correct English would be to say “wants to know WHOM you and you friends are talking to from Al Qaeda.”
Unbelievable. What is really sad about this too is that this will get so much publicity that people might try doing the same thing that may have never thought about it.
March 13th, 2006 at 7:53 amConsidering the leading Democrat for 2008 illegally obtained over 500 FBI files to smear her political opponents, I would argue this is no big deal.
The left-wing hatred for Bush is scary. You would murder Bush and his family if you could.
Comment by Gore is a Liar — March 11, 2006 @ 2:06 pm
The cognitive dissonance here just floored me. Spreading false GOPropaganda from over ten years ago in order to deflect from your current scandals because of your blinding hatred of all things Clinton*? And then to accuse others of hatred simliar to that coursing through your veins - why, it’s almost priceless!
* - News flash: Clinton has not been president for over five years now. Maybe you should focus on the Illegally Installed Drunken Cokeheaded Deserter who’s been murdering America’s youth so he can stuff some oil money into his friend’s pockets.
Marie - NOBODY bashed Katrina victims for taking food, shoes, diapers, etc. We WERE a bit disappointed with the few who took “their†money and ran to the closest Louis Vuitton boutiue and those who hung out at strip clubs. But maybe you’re right - who are WE to judge?????
Comment by mighty aphrodite — March 12, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
So that’s why we saw picutres of blacks getting food from closed stores with captions describing them as looters, and pictures of non-blacks doing the same thing describing them as foraging for food. Does your head actually spin when it spews out that much Repugnicant propaganda? Or have you just abandoned all thois messy moral thingys in your zest to be a “compassionate conservative”?
March 13th, 2006 at 8:58 amLook: This is a huge story not only because the guy was almost a federal judge, but because of the way they hid it.
They’ve got people going after honest Civil Rights Activists like me, while covering this guy’s tracks.
It’s a cancer in our society.
http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 03/ heres-your-black-thief-chief-dunn.html
March 13th, 2006 at 2:33 pm[…] $5,000 during last year.” Who would have thought - the White House harboring criminals? Permalink| […]
March 13th, 2006 at 4:28 pmIf the allegations are true (remember, we have something called “due process” here in the United States), the whole affair is indeed shocking. However, what really sickens me is the mind-numbing rabid commentary on this blog. The reactions here evoke scenes of drone-like zombies responding in unison to a central control beacon in a cheap B-movie flick. Are you people really that intellectually challenged? I’ll bet every last one of you work your fingers to the bone volunteering at homeless shelters or Walter Reed. You people must be pure as the driven snow to so readily judge someone you read a news report about. What a bunch of morons.
March 13th, 2006 at 7:02 pmDear Stunned:
I more than anyone on this board understand the concept of Due Process.
I wish I could taste it once.
http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 02/ king-sues-dunn-under-nh-const-pt1.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/8/112228/7200
March 14th, 2006 at 6:33 pmWhat about the hunting trip??
March 14th, 2006 at 9:58 pmI can’t believe it. The republicans were like rabid dogs during whitewater and Monica-gate, talking about family values and such. But now we have somone who is holier the Holier-than-thou and he is supposed to get so much sympathy. He is an uncle toming opportunist. Any black anything who worked for Jesse Helms is a self-loather at best. I bet his home schooling wife will have to get a job now and put those brats in public school. Oh the degenerates they will meet there. Liars, thiefs and low-lifers, ooops they live with one, don’t they? And for the record, I am a black female so don’t start calling me a racist. I am one of the undesirables the ring-wingers talk about a single parent of one and one on the way. But I also hold two secondary degrees own my own home, and believe in God. I am just not as perfect and Claude the fraud and those in his world ( that just shattered into a “million little pieces” ) couldn’t happen to a nicer “Tom” so much from him taking advice from the grand Tom of them all, Clarence Thomas.
March 20th, 2006 at 3:21 pmJust how clever did Allen think he was being? Did he actually think that nobody ever thought of that one before? Or that no one would ever suspect anything when he keeps pulling the same stunt at the same stores time after time? Store security doesn’t make much, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid! And to think he was so confident that he does it on his credit card, which leaves a paper trail going back for years! For a guy who makes 161K a year, he doesn’t sound so smart to me.
March 30th, 2006 at 8:51 pm