Close Friend Of Bush At Center Of Coast Guard Contract Fiasco
Close Friend Of Bush At Center Of Coast Guard Contract Fiasco
Donald “Boysie” Bollinger, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Bollinger Shipyards, “has been a friend of George W. Bush for a quarter century.” CQ Today reported in 2004 that “Bollinger has known Bush since 1980″ and has twice served as Bush’s Louisiana campaign chair. In 2004, Bollinger became a Bush “Super Ranger” after “bringing in more than $300,000″ for the campaign.
Bollinger Shipyards is part of an emerging scandal over the costly Coast Guard fleet-building program. Four years ago, the Coast Guard — “in an astonishing abdication of responsibility” — handed off the $17 billion program to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman “to plan, supervise and deliver the new vessels and helicopters.” (The program is now “foundering” as the estimated cost of the program has ballooned to $24 billion. Continuing problems have “delayed the arrival of any new ships or aircraft.”)
Bollinger Shipyards is a business partner of the two military contracting giants, and Bollinger’s company is responsible for some of program’s worst mistakes:
Even before the refurbishing began in 2003, though, Coast Guard engineers expressed doubts that the boats could bear the extra weight the changes would impose. “You could have buckling of the structure of the ship,” Chris Cleary, of the Engineering Logistics Center at the Coast Guard, said he recalls pointing out. But Bollinger Shipyards, a business partner of Northrop and Lockheed, insisted the conversion would succeed. […]
Bollinger, it turned out, had overestimated how much stress the modified boats could handle, a miscalculation it cannot fully explain. “The computer broke for some reason,” said T. R. Hamlin, a senior Bollinger manager. “Whether it was a power surge or something, who knows?” The cursory oversight by the Coast Guard meant the mistake was not caught in time.
“In Iraq, lax government oversight and incompetence or profiteering by contractors have disabled reconstruction efforts,” the New York Times wrote yesterday. “Now the same disease is undermining our coastal defenses.”
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The anti-Midas strikes again.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:24 pm“The computer broke for some reason,†said T. R. Hamlin, a senior Bollinger manager. “Whether it was a power surge or something, who knows?â€
WOW!!! Who knows, indeed! Hope the Corps of Engineers didn’t use the same program when they designed the upgraded levees for New Orleans.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:28 pmThe Bush Crime Family’s Web of Corruption never fails to amaze me with it’s far-reaching tenacles. They’ve got corruption going out in all directions. The crap is hitting the fan for the Bush family. When Jr. suggests that he intends to increase troops, the people will take to the streets. It’s going to be a very low time for anyone associated with this family. Impeach the chimp now before the reputation of the level of corruption reaching to the highest office in this country is tarnished forever! If we fail to do so, it will be a derelection of duty by ALL of our elected officials. His misjudgments, lies, and bad decisions have taken this country down the path of destruction; we cannot give this man who has abused the power given him by the people any further opportunity to do the ultimate damage of TOTALLY destroying this country. He’s already destroyed our international reputation….impeachment NOW!
December 15th, 2006 at 1:31 pmAnti-Midas is quite apropos! Everything this guy touches turns to manure!
December 15th, 2006 at 1:31 pmSuprise, suprise, not…..And we all thought the previous mob was bad..LOL.. Hang on folk’s, we are in for a bumpie ride, better yet, this administration is..Blessings
December 15th, 2006 at 1:32 pm“The computer broke for some reason,†said T. R. Hamlin, a senior Bollinger manager. “Whether it was a power surge or something, who knows?â€
Spare me. Computers do exactly what they’re programmed to do.
A power surge may fry the motherboard or corrupt the hardrive, but it’s not going to miscalculate a stress test.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:36 pmLet me get this straight: 24 billion and no new vessels or aircraft?!? WTF? Tell you what, I’ll give you no new vessels or aircraft for only $24 million… that’s a helluva savings!
December 15th, 2006 at 1:37 pm“The computer broke for some reason.†I wonder if the software was provided by Diebold?
Look, let’s face it, this is all part of the right-wing strategy to destroy government. Their whole matra is that government is the problem, right? Well it sure as hell is when it’s in Republican hands.
Electorally, incompetence is a bad strategy (though not necessarily devastating, if you play your smears right) but ideologically for the right, it’s exactly what they want to achieve. So what if the rest of us suffer for it?
December 15th, 2006 at 1:39 pmThis is presented as gross incompetence, but nothing could be further from the truth. The “incompetence” aspect of this is a smoke screen, a diversion, and a handy excuse in the event that the facts start to come to light.
What is happening is theft. Theft of the tax dollars that we contribute to the treasury. Tax dollars that on the surface republicans complain about due to “philosophical” reasons but in the background stumble, bumble, and fumble all over each other trying to steal as much and as fast as they can. All the while making sure that you and I are paying the taxes while they are not.
Anyone who continues to fall for the “dog ate the computer” excuses that the defense contractors and private security contractors throw out deserves to have their money stolen. The time is now to demand accountability from our representatives, regardless of party affiliation.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:41 pmYeah, blame the computer, not the user.
A power surge? There are devices from waaaaaaaaayyy long time ago that protect vital computer systems from power surges, frequent backups are mandatory in any decent bussiness whose income depends on computers (almost any bussiness as of today), and emergency plans must be in place for these cases.
But hey, the Pentagon doesn’t inspect Bush cronies enterprises isn’t?
This is one of the enterprises responsibles of the security of the USA borders?
December 15th, 2006 at 1:42 pmIss not my fault mommy, the compooter bwoke!
You have got to be kidding me! Don’t they have engineers that can look at specs and make an educated analysis of structural strength and integrity? BEFORE they go to the computers?
December 15th, 2006 at 1:44 pmAnyone who even knows a little bit about engineering knows what a joke statement theis is:
The computer broke or there was a power surge or something and that’s why the engineering was off. Hamlin’s a Senior Manager and that’s his level of understanding of how an engineering mistake happens? I’d like to see Hamlin’s engineering credentials.
Hamlin would have us believe that the ships buckled because bolts weren’t torqued properly because the torque wrench broke, except the ships buckled not because of construction mistakes, but because of engineering mistakes. There’s only one explanation for those engineering mistakes and it ain’t that there was a power surge or something. Greed. Plain and simple.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:45 pm“Bollinger became a Bush “Super Ranger†after “bringing in more than $300,000″ for the campaign.”
Dang! How much did it cost to be a “Power Ranger”?
December 15th, 2006 at 1:46 pmHard to figure out if we’re living in an oligarchy or a kleptocracy, isn’t it.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:56 pmUm, why is Bush about to kiss that guy in the photo?
December 15th, 2006 at 1:57 pmSam, don’t forget plutocracy and theocracy. It’s a “greatest hits” of unamerican “ocracies.”
December 15th, 2006 at 2:00 pmWas it Everett Dirksen who once said, archly, “…a billion here and a billion there and…soon you’re talking real money…”
Today’s Republicans have now officially altered that to: “…a trillion here and a trillion there…”
This one will go down the memory hole quickly if the Dems don’t grab it…
December 15th, 2006 at 2:04 pmThe program is now “foundering†as the estimated cost of the program has ballooned to $24 billion. Continuing problems have “delayed the arrival of any new ships or aircraft.â€
Wow, according to conservatives, private enterprise is the solution to nearly every government problem. Are you saying this corporation couldn’t run things efficiently and, in the end, save taxpayers money while at the same time making a fair profit for their shareholders?? Shocking! Another conservative idea that doesn’t work in practice?? Shocking!
December 15th, 2006 at 2:04 pmHey you guys! Look at this….if I say “the computer broke” we can make an EXTRA 7 BILLION DOLLARS without producing a damn thing!
Who cares if the Coast Guard can’t respond in emergency situations and their boats will sink during a hurricane rescue…LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY WE MADE!!!
/sarc.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:06 pmUm, why is Bush about to kiss that guy in the photo?
Comment by Jeremy Henderson — December 15, 2006 @ 1:57 pm
Looks like he’s performing a Vulcan mind meld.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:07 pmI love this. “The computer broke for some reason” is GOP speak for “the dog ate my homework.” It so perfectly symbolizes the irresposible way in which the frat boys incompetent friends gets to waste away our hard-earned tax payer dollars. Ever heard a hard-core neo-con go on about “smaller government” and lower taxes? Wrap this story around a brick and whack them over the head with it.
The myth of GOP restraint. Ha. Imagine what a little fiscal responsibility and oversight could do for our budget. Now imagine Democrats back power.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:09 pmCaption Contest:
“OOOOhh… yer jes the cutest thing Boysie, ya great big Super Ranger, you… an… an thanks fer all the moola, an..an.. don’ worry about that Coast Guard thingy, Uncle Dickee will straighten it all out…..”
December 15th, 2006 at 2:10 pmGiven the many disastrous decisions Pres Bush’s appointees have made, not to mention the ones himself engineered, someone needs to explain to me how these people are supposed to keep anyone safe.
Although it is not surprising a crony would do this to the Coast Guard, after knowing what other cronies have done in Iraq -which is supposed to be the “forefront in the war on terror”.
Money before country. Profit before security. Such are the times we live in.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:17 pmBollinger is also a big fish on Board of the LRA - The Louisiana Recovery Authority - a board charged with rebuilding the devistated state - and figuring out what to do with bilions of US Federal aid dollars…
http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/brdBollinger.html
December 15th, 2006 at 2:18 pmHa ha ha. Crooks…all of them.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:19 pmALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER –
The US Coast Guard is a division of the Department of Homeland Security. All of these programs report through the Secretary of Homeland Security — not the Pentagon.
And we know how well DHS manages contracts.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:21 pmCaptions Contest:
Bush says (take your pick):
“Hold still while a plant a big one on ya.”
“Just a minute…let me look into your soul.”
“Nothing like a cheekbone massage, eh Boysie?”
“I love you, man!”
“Now listen, and listen close. Tell Hamlin that excuse about the broken computer was simply brilliant!”
“Feel my cold hands!”
Description of the scene:
Having been engaged in conversation with the unidentified gentleman in the background, President Bush abruptly walks up and grabs Mr. Donald “Boysie†Bollinger’s head and declares, “Hey! I’m the President of the United States! You talk to me and ONLY me. Understand?”
December 15th, 2006 at 2:26 pm“Um, why is Bush about to kiss that guy in the photo?”
Because Bush is gay. Didn’t you know?
December 15th, 2006 at 2:26 pmDescription of scene in photo:
Having caused worldwide embarrassment of himself recently by giving the German chancellor an unexpected shoulder massage from behind, making her throw her hands in the air in surprise, President Bush now understands the importance of giving an upper body massage from the front.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:31 pmHe’s doing a heck of a job…at fleecing the American taxpayer.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:31 pm#27 Bluedog,
DUHbya isn’t gay. To be gay one has to be intelligent enough to make the decision. DUHbya just isn’t smart enough to pass the gender test. Barney has been trying to teach him but it doesn’t seem polite, fitting perhaps but not polite, for Duhbya to crawl under the table and start sniffing buts at a State Dinner Party. Just thing about it for awhile.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:35 pmLooks to me like he is preparing to squeeze a big zit.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:36 pmhanded off the $17 billion program to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman “to plan, supervise and deliver the new vessels and helicopters.â€
So… war companies are somehow profiteering? I am shocked. /I dont have to say that that was sarcastic.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:37 pmCaption contest..”Boysie (Veto) you broke my heart, you got caught.” ….Blessings
December 15th, 2006 at 2:37 pm[…] Read more Friends […]
December 15th, 2006 at 2:37 pmNow, seriously, these guys are Defense Contractors. We trust our National Security and the lives of our women and men in uniform.
And they’re telling us they don’t have surge protectors on their computers? Or that they cannot track down a computer malfunction which resulted in cost over-runs in the BILLIONS OF DOLLARS and could have endangered countless lives?
We’re supposed to trust them and give them more contracts in the future? I DON’T THINK SO!!!
December 15th, 2006 at 2:40 pmI hear you Clyde, but keep in mind that W was the subject of a number of articles written by the Gay Student Union when he was at Yale. He was a cheerleader. And, he was evidently enrolled in a program that uses Christianity to “cure” gayness according to one of the “unauthorized” biographies. In addition, there is a woman in Las Vegas who claims to have seen Bush perform an “unnatural act” in a restroom back in the ’80s. Also, just who was that male whore visiting all those nights at the Bush Whitehouse? And, then, there’s that platonic way he always pats Laura on the back. How much Zanax does Laura need to keep that smile pasted on her face, anyway?
December 15th, 2006 at 2:47 pmI’m just sayin….
“An’ don’ fergit, ah lahks ta hold han’s too, ya know……. heh heh………….”
December 15th, 2006 at 2:56 pmThis is classic. Everything Bush has any involvement in turns to pooh.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:57 pmSURPRISE! SURPRISE! One of Bush’s friend got caught doing something illegal. These guys think they can defraud the government at the tax payers expense and nothing should be done about it. I’m sick and tired of the administration letting them go with as little as a slap on the wrist. The justice department is good for going after other people, why don’t they go after this guy. Oh I forget he is a FOW, so he’s untouchable. What is a FOW. Friend of “Dubya” with a real W. They accused Bill Clinton of protecting his friends, yet they do the same thing.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:00 pm(Caption contest)
December 15th, 2006 at 3:00 pm“Gotcher sinusers all plugged up from duh big mess o’ garbage an perlooshun down dere in dat delta, doo ya? Here, sometimes dis’ll help ya, Boysie Boy… ya big lug, you…”
You can see the outline of Bush’s nasty skeleton under his shoulder pad. The dude on the recieving end of that does not look too happy about being grabbed in the face like that. Only Gramma can do that.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:09 pmBluedog,
Far be it from me to doubt your word on the subject, nor do I doubt that DUHbya may be gay. I was just using your comment as a lead-in for one of my clever cheap shots at King George the Dumb. I really don’t care what he “is” I just want him to be “was.” I want him in the past and the tenser the better–rigor here we come.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:12 pmCaption:
Don’t cry little, Boysie, my mom will come to your room tonight, ok?
December 15th, 2006 at 3:13 pmAll the admirals and captains were looking at post retirement employment opportunities with the contractors rather than looking out for the republic. Surprise, surprise, surprise!
December 15th, 2006 at 3:15 pmBluedog, I think you are giving Laura too much credit. She obviously is not as smart as DUHbya. To prove my point just look at their respective spouses.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:17 pmIs that a real photo?? If so, it appears Bush’s touchy feely approach is very mafia-like - as demonstrated by previous photos of him kissy-pooing Pombo, Lieberman and others. Oh wait –
December 15th, 2006 at 3:19 pmDon’t cry little, Boysie, my mom will come to your room tonight, ok?
Comment by Zooey
Just a little puke in the mouth, it was swallowable though.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:24 pmFor Truth, by God, you’re right! The Commander-in-Chief has shoulder pads in his suit jacket! I remember a few years ago when that was part of women’s fashions, to make them look more masculine.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:27 pmBig Corporate, its pockets bulging with taxpayer money from failed projects of no-bid contracts has sent our country into their failed oblivion.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:31 pmThis is just the compounded failure of a corporate system (another enron if you will) that lives off the spoils of the American public.
Th only way to stop this disease is to “cut off the money”. Since Ronnie Regan the republican party has lectured us that goverment could do nothing right. That the worst fear was a “knock on your door” by someone representing the federal goverment.
At this point, it’s time to recognise the corporate america DOES NOT represent the you and me citizen. They are strictly out for themselves. Just ask our president, who would confide in NO ONE.
America has been trampled by a league of corporate thieves that act in secret and steal big time from you and me.
I think he’s looking into his eyes so he can see if their souls are equally black. It worked with Putin.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:32 pmBNF,
Now Bush needs to look more masculine, for Jeffy.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:32 pmLet the consequences go directly to the top. It’s time.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:33 pmIs there any Bush cronies that actually complete their assigned duties and not rip off the American people in the process? Any? Maybe one? Do they take some kind of pledge to do the worst job possible? WTF!
December 15th, 2006 at 3:33 pmOh my God, shoulder pads……………..
December 15th, 2006 at 3:35 pmas if the cod piece wasn’t enough…….
Aside from all my antics,
Swan, you are correct. It’s what things have come to. Corporations now rip us all off with the Government facilitating that process. The good news is, everything has an end.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:35 pmWhen the giants can no bid us to the tune of billions and possible trillions and never see the depths of prison darkness or go home with a six figure fine or less, doesn’t it make it easy to steal? Petty thieves go to jail corporate theives take a slap on the hand and sit by the pool.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:53 pmIf the elected represenatives of “we the people” can not stop the bleeding, well maybe the citizens will have to be heard.
Is anyone at all mad? This is something that should not be made light of. We will all see soon enough. And we will not like it.
Oh my God, shoulder pads……………..
as if the cod piece wasn’t enough…….
Comment by Raven — December 15, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Maybe it’s the chip on his shoulder showing through. ‘Cept he has 2 chips.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:57 pmThe Chimperor is looking for nits to pick. It’s a social thing that our ancestors grew out of.
December 15th, 2006 at 4:18 pmThe computer broke. So what. It’s fixed now isn’t it? Go get the money. You’re the Government. Hell we can lock up people for no reason but we can’t demand money back for a computer error, glitch or whatever they want to call it.
I’m really tired of this administration serving us a shit sandwich. Now they don’t even give us something to drink with it.
December 15th, 2006 at 4:27 pmFor every OTHER business in the world, you have to deliver what was promised or pay back the money…
December 15th, 2006 at 5:17 pmMore Bush croynism. We have not heard too much about it because the Republicans have done well in covering it all up.
I look forward to the oversight that will be provided by the Democrats starting in January. When all is said and done, no Bush will be able to be elected Dog Catcher. No more Bushes.
December 15th, 2006 at 5:22 pmOversight. I hope the 110th congress follows thru with it.
December 15th, 2006 at 5:52 pmThe 12 aging large cutters are a proven design. The oldest in the fleet dates back to the end of WWII. Maybe the plans for those cutters are in a drawer in some Coast Guard office somewhere, and could be dusted off and used as a ready proven design. Just a thought.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:10 pmOver the next two years they are going to find the disease is infected everwhere. This is standard Jr. administration operating procedure. Dump the contracts on incompetent cronies who line thier pockets and produce inferior work if any work at all.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:41 pmThe investigations will be fun but, horrifying at the same time. Before his time is up, people are going to be screaming for his hide.
“The computer broke for some reason.â€
First question: Was the computer plugged in to the electrical outlet?
December 15th, 2006 at 10:59 pmhttp://www.bollingershipyards.com/
December 15th, 2006 at 11:01 pmShould we be surprised at all by all the war profiteer friends of Bush?
December 17th, 2006 at 9:54 pmBoysie you’re doing a heck of a job!
December 18th, 2006 at 10:05 amAnother possible caption: “Wow, I get almost as drunk looking into Bollie’s eyes, as I do (I mean “did) on Bollinger champagne.”
December 18th, 2006 at 11:24 pm