Former White House advisor blames Hurricane Katrina
By on Aug 4th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Former White House advisor blames Hurricane Katrina
for shoplifting incidents. “Former White House adviser Claude Allen tearfully pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge Friday, telling a Montgomery County judge that he lost his bearings after working 14-hour days and getting little sleep in the “tumultuous time” after Hurricane Katrina.” TPMmuckraker has the details.
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Well, at least he didn’t blame 9/11!
August 4th, 2006 at 6:31 pmBull he should use Libby’s defense he has memory loss. Rummy and Warner have that illness. But this guy is sad and guilty. Don’t worry as a friend of Bush he’ll get appointed to another top job making alot of money as the rest. All you have to do is lie, cheat and steal and let’s face it he has all three requirements to work for the GOP.
August 4th, 2006 at 6:33 pmOh, how awful for him! Of course, I’ve worked many, many 14+ hour days in my 20-year-long career. Somehow, I’ve never found the need to shoplift or commit other crimes after one of those long days.
August 4th, 2006 at 6:34 pmthose who shoplifted in NO after Katrina got 5 YEARS. He deserves the same, but we all know he most likely won’t get any jailtime
August 4th, 2006 at 6:36 pmFor Claude Allen blaming his shoplifting on the hurricanes is like Winona Ryder blaming her shoplifting on a future acting role in a movie
August 4th, 2006 at 6:38 pmWhat’s the over/under on the time it takes this guy to land another job working for a Republicrook?
August 4th, 2006 at 6:41 pmIs this the same guy who tried to blame his shoplifting on his brother or is that someone else? I guess when you’re caught with your pants down, you’ve got to come up with something. What an idiot.
August 4th, 2006 at 6:43 pmhe lost his bearings after working 14-hour days and getting little sleep – - One word, Claude: Ambien.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:01 pm“accoutability”
“personal resonsibility”
“highest ethical standards”
…like KR.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:11 pm“When the media got wind that Bush was taking Koizumi to the Civil Rights Museum, they lost interest and peeled off. Even George Bush, a man not exactly renowned for his staunch support of and interest in the plight of African Americans, thought enough about Dr. King’s legacy to take Japan’s Prime Minister to the site where civil rights had suffered its most devastating blow. Yet the bulk of the media thronged to Graceland, a tourist trap that was the scene of the death of a red neck right winger who only acted like a black man.†– Passion of the Zeitgeist.
Because, you know, it would be racist to not believe Claude Allen’s story of “the Sandman made me do it.”
August 4th, 2006 at 7:19 pmThe corporate and political culture of liars, cheats and thieves is all that is left on the wingnut right and left. That is how power is gained and sustained. The amoral followers of this faith are against any form of real decency and their voting record for militarization that has accomplished nothing but bringing death and suffering to foreign lands and now our own are the people that need to be swept out of office. The DoD has been a pathetic failure on a budget that exceeds $500B/yr for the last 6 years.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:31 pmApparently many blacks were equally affected by the hurricane. Perhaps they can all use the Katrina as a defense.
For us poor white guys it’s back to the twinkies made me do it defense of Dan White, and of course for all races there’s the phase of the moon defense.
Folks the laughs just keep on coming. They’ll be in power for about 2 more years, get comfortable and enjoy the show — unless you’re of draft age.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:35 pmThe Secret State of America is a culture of death and decay that is visible all around the world. I am voting to clean out everyone. Those that get into office I will be extremely vigilant of and doubt their every word. The proof is in the actions they take to restore this country to decency. An amendment needs to be made to limit total time in the house and the senate to no more than 8 and 12 years respectively.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:36 pmAll I can picture is Flip Wilson as “Geraldine,” saying, “The devil made me do it!”
August 4th, 2006 at 7:42 pmThe congress, senate and administration are made up of nothing but Duke Cunningham clones that pimp for money for worthless project at the DoD and Corporate Welfare while taking money on the side and partying their brains out. laughing at the sheeple that actually believe that they may be doing something for America’s interest and show some form of empathy for others and regard for the sovereign rights of other nations. The Secret State of America has been a predatory nation bent on expanding empire through bribes or force for the last 110 years. Edward Bernays was right when he stated that the people, for the most part, think with their spinal cords.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:43 pm#15 badmoonman
You are quick — I had a similar thought.
Republicans cannot accept blame – somehow they are always the victim.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:55 pmWasn’t Bill Clinton around?
Too bad we haven’t heard from Squeegebo lately. He/she/it loved to rag on the less fortunate in New Orleans. I sure would like to hear “it’s” take on THIS story…
August 4th, 2006 at 8:06 pmThe irony here of course, is that the looters in New Orleans who were caught, even though those taking basic supplies and staples, probably fared far worse in the world of juris prudence.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:22 pmWow ….
What is up with these GOP excuses ??? !!!!
Katherine Harris is called on her cell phone by a reporter and asked about hiding a subpeona from her staff ( resulting in some of them resigning when they ultimately found out about her hiding it … ).
She says the cell phone’s reception is really bad. She gives the reporter the name of someone else to talk to about it ….
Rumsfeld is asked by the Senate ( the GOP controlled Senate ) to talk about the Iraq war. Thousands of troops killed, several hundred billion dollar price tag, Iraqi civil war imminent ( or in progress ) …
“I’m too busy … ”
And now this.
Wow.
What Bullsh#t.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:22 pm[...] [From Think Progress] [...]
August 4th, 2006 at 8:30 pm#20 Triumph: Break out the hip waders it’s piling up fast. Where did I put that can of BS spray that I got from Spencer’s? The GOP Bullshit is piling up so fast that you need wings to stay above it.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:33 pmThe judge gave Allen two years’ criminal probation, 40 hours of community service, and $1350 in fines. If he stays out of trouble for the length of his probation, the conviction will be removed from his criminal record.…from TPM….
OK, ordinary folks like you and me; do you think WE’D get that sentence? Justice is blind, indeed…
August 4th, 2006 at 8:37 pm#9 Siexon
When caught with my pants down I have always found it difficult to come up with anything.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:37 pmClyde,
August 4th, 2006 at 8:40 pmI’m sorry, I have a dirty mind…. but please read what you just wrote…:))))
I was just joking. I’m sorry if I offended you….
August 4th, 2006 at 8:51 pmDamn, trueblue, I don’t know about Clyde, but I’m really offended. You should apologize.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:53 pmI worked 18 hour days at CBS during pilot season in the late eighties, and I never stole anything from anywhere.
Nice try, Claude.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:59 pmI’m truly sorry I have offended you, Zooey.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:04 pmPlease accept my apologies.
#29 – Damn, trueblue, that’s works every time! :-D
August 4th, 2006 at 9:08 pmSH*T!!!
I thought I was working YOU!
I thought YOU thought I was serious, then apologize, then I could turn the tables on you!!!!!!
You TRULY are the master!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:09 pmI bow to you…..
I can be such a bitch sometimes…
August 4th, 2006 at 9:10 pmyou should have seen me pounding my thighs saying, “No! No! No!”
I can never be as good as you, Zooey. I must accept this fact…
August 4th, 2006 at 9:12 pmtrueblue, raising boys is MUCH different than raising a sweet little mini-blue. I learned to be on my toes every minute, on the alert for creepy crawlies, smelly things, and boys trying to sneak up on me in the dark. I works around here, too. Always stay one step ahead. :)
August 4th, 2006 at 9:14 pmI can never be as good as you, Zooey. I must accept this fact…
Comment by trueblue
We’re good in different ways, my dear. You would totally snow me in other areas. Remember that!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:17 pmI must admit, she hasn’t given my one ounce of trouble.
You win.
Tomorrow, we’re going to Martha’s Vineyard, and one of the things we’re going to do is get temporary tatoo’s! She’s a TOTAL weenie with needles, so I know that will never be a real issue. The temp tatoo is about as wild as we get here on *yawn* Cape Cod.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:19 pmWe’re good in different ways, my dear. You would totally snow me in other areas.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:20 pmSomehow, I doubt that,Zooey!
Somewhat related:
Interesting::
That’s kinda interesting, I guess.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:21 pmthe shoplifting that was forced upon this young man is directly related to, and caused by, the lack of moral character in the white house during the previous administration.
the shoplifting was bill clinton’s fault.
thank you.
move along now; nothing to see here…
August 4th, 2006 at 9:24 pmNot really Chase, but thanks for playing. Your Cato institute buddies have about as much credibility as Mr. Allen here.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:24 pmhi, everyone!
i’m baccccckkkk…. just wrote a cool column on how my summer is going; i hope that i said some stuff more outrageous than michelle :( she is looking crazier than me and i am getting mad about that!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Chase, did you know that Mr. Michaels, who is quoted in the article, is largely viewed within his own department at UVa as being a hired gun to write op-ed pieces? Now, that’s kinda interesting, isn’t it?
August 4th, 2006 at 9:29 pmThe temp tatoo is about as wild as we get here on *yawn* Cape Cod.
Comment by trueblue
Sounds like fun! I always wanted a girl…oh well…I’ll be seeing my only niece next weekend and we’ll have fun. Maybe a walk through downtown Moscow, that’s 5 minutes right there, and a stop in the actual tattoo place to look around. The fun part will be telling my sister I took her daughter into a tattoo parlor — she’ll be horrified!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:33 pmZooey,
We really need to start or petition for some kind of open thread at night.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:35 pmAfter the hard issues of the day, it is so nice to just talk to fellow bloggers.
Don’t you think?
Don’t you think?
Comment by trueblue
I agree. katy and I have discussed it and she sent Judd an email. She finally heard back, and it was basically blah, blah, blah, we’ll have the occasional ThinkFastPM, blah, blah, blah. They’ll have to give in sooner or later, because we’ll just keep on hijacking threads. ;)
August 4th, 2006 at 9:37 pmtrueblue,
Did you like my Yenta alter-ego? I’m still working on it.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:40 pmevening ladies… lurking a bit… heard my name…
maybe if a BUNCH of us write to judd, pretty please, can we?
huh? please, juddy? :(
whatya think?
August 4th, 2006 at 9:42 pmGood work, Zooey!
Your job as an aunt is to do just those sorts of things!
(That makes you the “cool” aunt!)
Did I ever tell you; her room was painted pink BEFORE I knew she was a girl. And when we found out for sure, we “high-fived” each other! However, she’s never owned a doll. HATED Barbies. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Video Games. Heck, she was 8lbs/8oz when she was born, so she was never petite! But I love her like crazy….
August 4th, 2006 at 9:43 pmi completely disagree with the open-thread idea. this site has standards that must be upheld at all times. there is no room for joking and irony and satire. we must be in constant fear of global warming, republican senators, and tin-hat conspiracy theorists…
nay, this site will retain its sterling reputation for sober discussions of the day’s burning issues, without satarical silliness, and conspiratorial rantings…
thank you. if we change our position on the subject, you may hear from us–ehhh, maybe not—we’ll see.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:44 pmzooey – i looked for yenta last evening, i think, couldn’t find her…
i meant to say – the pouty face is my daughter’s favorite ploy…
August 4th, 2006 at 9:44 pmusually works too, dammit…
thank you. if we change our position on the subject, you may hear from us–ehhh, maybe not—we’ll see.
Comment by close-minded
Evening, j.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:45 pmYenta, and Katy,
Good evening!
I don’t want to speak ill of Judd………….
However……….
he can be a bit too intense. I rebelled when he wanted us to talk about the conspiracy of Quana (is that how it’s spelled?) but put in the very viable theory re:9-11. I felt bad, but the rebel in me thought, “Don’t tell me what to write!”
August 4th, 2006 at 9:49 pmWe need a nightly,… I don’t know how to put it… “cool-down”, or such.
I hope they reinstate the PM round up.
Ever check out the evening open threads over on Eschaton? Several hundred posts long.
What’s nice is that if they had them over here, I have the sense that usually there would only be a few of us on them. Heck, we might even have a reasonable discussion on any given topic. Scary thought, huh Judd?
August 4th, 2006 at 9:50 pmkaty,
I was teasing trueblue and Juan C last night on the Pat Robertson thread, starting around the 100 mile marker (it felt that way once I got there, anyway).
Actually I hadn’t realized the irony of creating Yenta on a Pat Robertson thread until now.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:51 pmActually I hadn’t realized the irony of creating Yenta on a Pat Robertson thread until now.
Comment by Zooey —
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Neither did I!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:53 pmThat’s funny!
Heck, we might even have a reasonable discussion on any given topic. Scary thought, huh Judd?
Comment by DrSinker
Good point, Doc. Right now, I think we stick to snark because we know we really shouldn’t be hijacking a thread. A true open thread would free us up for real conversation.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:54 pmcrooks and liars usually has at least one open thread daily…
the 9/11 thread bit judd in the ass… that was disappointing…
August 4th, 2006 at 9:55 pmwell, as it happens… the conversation gets light and breezy and my puppy is begging for her walk… later…
i will look for yenta there… i didn’t even open that one up…
when does maher get back???!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:58 pmHeck, she was 8lbs/8oz when she was born, so she was never petite! But I love her like crazy….
Comment by trueblue
She sounds great, true. Zoo Jr weighed in at 9lbs/8oz. He was a cute little Buddha baby. He never liked Babies either. I’m glad he’s off to college in the fall, because I’ll save a lot of money on food and shoes. ;)
August 4th, 2006 at 9:59 pmAny of you spot the CNN poll where the country is split evenly (or close) as to how Bush is handling the crisis in the Middle East?
Sometimes I see those polls and realize there’s clearly a good percentage of Americans who simply aren’t paying attention.
August 4th, 2006 at 9:59 pmGood point, Doc. Right now, I think we stick to snark because we know we really shouldn’t be hijacking a thread. A true open thread would free us up for real conversation.
Comment by Zooey
I feel bad, too… but then there needs to be a time that we can simply talk to each other! Not every moment needs to be SO damned intense.
We need to get back to the Humanity, ‘ya know?
I need to go watch “Most Haunted” with MiniBlue, because she’s a 16 y.o. girl, and they’re all into that stuff, I think!!!!
August 4th, 2006 at 9:59 pmUgh! (Travel Channel)
#25… ahahha. OK that means I’m tired, time for bed!
August 4th, 2006 at 10:01 pmSometimes I see those polls and realize there’s clearly a good percentage of Americans who simply aren’t paying attention.
Comment by DrSinker
DING DING DING!!! We have a winner! I’ve been thinking for a while that that is exactly the problem. Americans are simply not paying attention. I’m constantly amazed that so many people haven’t the slightest idea what’s going on in this country!
August 4th, 2006 at 10:03 pmI need to go watch “Most Haunted†with MiniBlue, because she’s a 16 y.o. girl, and they’re all into that stuff, I think!!!!
Ugh! (Travel Channel)
Comment by trueblue
Girls are weird! Present company included. ;)
August 4th, 2006 at 10:07 pmI gotta go, too, Zoo Jr wants pancakes for dinner, and I consider that an easy out. He’s such a strange child. I’m pretty sure he gets it from me…
Zooey,
I’m with you. However, I think the sad reality is that many of our citizens simply don’t have the time to pay attention. Overworked and underpaid…
August 4th, 2006 at 10:08 pmhmmm, my previous post did not make it past our crack security. they must have thought that it was not an official edict. but, to z and tblue, there are standards that must be followed to the letter. an open thread, a willy-nilly, higgeldy-piggeldy sort of romp is just not how we do things at georgetown.
for example, when we post, you may not know this, but we are wearing neckties and blue and white saddle-shoes [school colors].
no, open-threads imply open-thinking, and once that happens, our relationship with our sponsors and our ‘friends’ may be compromised. i want a career with these people…
nay, we will ban those disagree–and you two are mighty close–to the dustpin of cyberspace, never to return to darken our pretty gray and white site with nasty talk of dead babies and blood-drinking neoconservative fascists! we will none of it!!!
tahtah
August 4th, 2006 at 10:10 pmhi, z!
it is hard out here for band pimp! miss playing with words and characters and with the bush crime family on a more regular basis, but, such is life.
j a m es
August 4th, 2006 at 10:12 pmI think the problem is not that Americans are becoming too lazy to read the news. I think the real problem is that there is an attitude of entitlement in our country. We see Hummer commercials on TV and for some reason we believe that we deserve a 60 thousand dollar car that gets 10 miles to the gallon while it destroys the earth. God winked at our country and gave us the right to take 30% of the resources to preserve our ‘American Dream’.
August 4th, 2006 at 10:14 pmWe are becoming spoiled children that get upset when someone takes their tinker toy out of the sand box. When oil hits 4$ a gallon there are millions of americans that are going to have a hard time getting their minds around the fact that we are just like every other nation and the American Dream was created by GMC.
he’s off to college in the fall, because I’ll save a lot of money on food and shoes. ;)
Comment by Zooey — August 4, 2006 @ 9:59 pm
hoo boy! that’s what you think!… just wait! :-)
August 4th, 2006 at 10:47 pmremembering back, my boy was a bit cheaper than my girl, but i am still amazed at the stuff they need and the costs involved… he he…
let me know when you need advice on that!
ThinkProgress “Unplugged” on a Friday night.
Out of my own sense of entiltement and laziness, I will have to just agree with Colorado Jyms instead of thinking up my own stuff. I like what the said there.
August 4th, 2006 at 10:49 pmWell he blamed it on stress mostly related to the Hurricane, hell lots of people even died over it.
August 4th, 2006 at 10:53 pmAnother member of the Conservative Party pleads guilty to a crime. Claude Allen, the former domestic policy advisor for Bush, pleaded guilty to theft, at a Target store of all things. He said the stress was getting to him. I’ll give it to him that he had a conscience. Having a brain or a conscience is what causes conservatives to go crazy or do stupid things.
Comment by For Truth — August 4, 2006 @ 4:34 pm
Here, I just recycled.
August 4th, 2006 at 10:56 pmwhich was produced by Clinton´s magic sax
August 4th, 2006 at 11:05 pmi just read through the papers link at tpm… the earliest date of his “shopping spree” was in october… 2 monts after the katrina catastrphe…
August 4th, 2006 at 11:09 pmwhat was he thinking? or completely thoughtless…
it was not only the ‘evil liberals’ that knew this was going to happen, patrick buchanan, a true conservative and not a kooky neoconservative, said this in March 2003
August 4th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
Seixon, what are you always commenting in here for. Why don’t you spend your energies talking about Norway?
-GSD
August 5th, 2006 at 12:06 amIn Peggy Noonan’s September 3, 2005 column in The Wall Street Journal, she advocated shooting New Orleans looters on sight. I would like to hear what she thinks this guy’s penalty should be, 1000 miles from the hurricane, making $85,000 a year working in the White House.
That’s what I thought.
Heads. On. Pikes.
August 5th, 2006 at 12:16 amI also agree with what Colorado Jyms said. I appreciate For Truth recycling. E_five’s got an excellent point. Green olives and pepperoni, mmmmmm. ;)
Goodnight all. All ya’ll are great.
August 5th, 2006 at 12:24 amTomorrow’s another day — let’s try not to spend it here!
After reading this, I’m laughing (or crying) so hard that I just pissed my pants!
August 5th, 2006 at 12:43 amAllen is a massive liar, and con-artist, so his excuse is just a story to try to get sympathy, and to try to justify his shoplifting crimes! Shame on Claude!
August 5th, 2006 at 1:43 amThe bitch made me do it.
August 5th, 2006 at 9:42 am#24, 25, 26, 27 trueblue, zooey
Ocham’s Razor advises us to “Never posit a plurality without necessity.”
Translated: first impressions are generally the right ones.
Apologies not necessary.
You do have dirty minds—I like you.
August 5th, 2006 at 11:42 amYou do have dirty minds—I like you.
Comment by Clyde the Ripper
Dirty minds are the only thing saving us, these days! You are a national treasure, Clyde, in case you didn’t know it.
I was just pulling trueblue’s leg. ;)
August 5th, 2006 at 12:02 pm‘Katrina made me do it.’?!? Hey, then it’s not shoplifting, it’s LOOTING!
August 5th, 2006 at 10:02 pmThis MORON makes well over $100,000 a year, minipulates the Judge on
emotions and has the NERVE to make the excuse overwork drove him
to criminal activity. HE’S RIGHT UP BY THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY AS A
PUBLIC SERVANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
WHAT A BUNCH OF CROOKS & CORRUPT PUBLIC SERVANTS
FIRE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM
WASHINGTON D.C. HAS THE HIGHEST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
August 6th, 2006 at 1:21 amACCORDING TO STATISTICS THAN ANY OTHER STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
CORRUPT JUDGE SHOULD HAVE MADE A EXAMPLE OF HIM……..
INSTEAD LET THE CROOK GO VIRITUALLY FREE, SAME WITH
JEFFERSON, BOEHNER, DELAY, NEY AND ALL THE REST OF
CROOKS……. GEE….. EVEN PREZ BUSH HAS COMMITTED
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY REPEATED…. OH NO WE WOULD’NT
WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WOULD WE
C
August 6th, 2006 at 1:25 amO
R
R
U
P
T
!
#76 Actually, it is a sign of how successful the Norwegian socialism is working that a neo-con has to come to TP and worry about the US.
August 6th, 2006 at 9:32 pm