Kempthorne’s farewell address to employees: a 600-slide homage to himself.
By on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Kempthorne’s farewell address to employees: a 600-slide homage to himself.
The Washington Post’s Al Kamen reports that last week, outgoing Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne gave a farewell address to employees. However, it ends up it was little more than an homage to himself: “about 600 slides, each picturing the distinguished secretary, many of them taken at a national park.” One “longtime employee” groaned, “Slide after slide after slide. It was special. That’s all I should say.”
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I wonder if there was slide of him using his $235,000 bathroom???
Wouldn’t that be precious?
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:41 pmBetween his palatial bathroom and his self-aggrandizement, this “it’s all about me” guy must have been a nightmare to work for. I’m sure the employees were relieved at the end of the slide show, knowing that was the parting shot and they wouldn’t have to endure any more of this guy.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:45 pmshades of what’s-his-name in new orleans
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 pmAny poses with the dead wolves?
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm600?? Obviously, not all the turds went into his luxury commode.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 pmA fractal sliver.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 pmYou have to wonder why anyone showed up. Maybe there was a nice spread of food, but career employees could no longer be forced to sit through that display. Then someone would have needed to run around recruiting interns to take up the seats.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:47 pmTo be fair, only 250 of the national park pics showed the secretary operating an oil rig or riding a bulldozer.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pmIsn’t this the same department that had all that sex with oil companies’ employees and snorted cocaine from toaster ovens?
I wonder if there were slides of the orgies.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pmrastaman Says:
shades of what’s-his-name in new orleans
*
bobby jindal.
*
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pmNow I get it! I knew that there was a reason there were so many Dicks in Bush’s Administration.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 pmjoe cantwell Says:
rastaman Says:
shades of what’s-his-name in new orleans
bobby jindal.
NO…WHAT WAS THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO HAD A TAX PAYER FUNDED PHOTO GALLERY IN THE LOBBY OF HIMSELF?
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:51 pmDick Kempthorne – Ego much?
And your first name says it all…DICK.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 pmKempthorne spoke in Portland, OR in early 2007 and the Oregonian kissed his ass. I published my outrage on Indymedia, followed by the original article…
———————–
ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN THE OREGONIAN~~
Interior chief sees technological help
Resources – Dirk Kempthorne worries young people have less connection to nature
Thursday, March 22, 2007
U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Wednesday in Portland that new technology will allow resources such as natural gas to be tapped without disturbing wildlife and can reduce American dependence on imported energy.
He also said today’s younger generation is becoming disconnected from nature and may not care as much about the land as today’s adults.
President Bush’s budget dedicates $22 million to restore nearly 500,000 acres in six targeted areas in the West, he said.
“These areas have seen growing conflict among competing uses of the land,” Kempthorne said, including wildlife habitat, recreation and energy development.
“I am well aware of friction among conservationists, recreationists and energy developers,” he told a meeting of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.
He added that conservation has been the rallying cry for many groups “only equaled by the cry for more energy and less dependence on foreign oil.”
He said the administration’s goal is to deliver energy “in an environmentally sensitive way.”
The goal also is to maintain centuries-old wildlife areas into the future, he said. “It will take a holistic approach to do this,” he said.
The Green River Basin in Wyoming is one of the six targeted areas, he said.
“The basin has world-class energy resources sitting under world-class wildlife resources,” he said.
“The area has enough natural gas to heat 4 million homes,” said Kempthorne, a former Idaho governor and U.S. senator.
“It also has 100,000 deer, 100,000 pronghorn antelope, 40,000 elk.”
He said Bush’s Healthy Lands Initiative would develop basin resources while conserving wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities through restoration projects.
The developer’s footprint, he said, “has been reduced dramatically.”
“From what had been 8-10 acres per well head is now down to half an acre,” he said.
Drilling can be done in several directions from a single well-head, he said, joking that if he had known that as governor of Idaho he could have used the technique to plunder neighboring Wyoming’s natural gas.
He said there are risks and opportunities in conservation.
“The risks are that our children become disconnected with nature and the traditions of hunting, fishing, birdwatching . . .” he said
He said the number of hunting and fishing licenses is declining in most states.
The younger generation, he said, is more organized and computerized. “The closest many children get to nature is a screen-saver fish.” he said.
He urged children to shut off their computers and go outside.
Today’s adults, he said, are the stewards of the land. “We have overlooked developing the next generation of stewards.”
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:53 pmrastaman Says:
joe cantwell Says:
rastaman Says:
shades of what’s-his-name in new orleans
bobby jindal.
NO…WHAT WAS THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO HAD A TAX PAYER FUNDED PHOTO GALLERY IN THE LOBBY OF HIMSELF?
*
ken blackwell.
*8*
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pmJust another self-important conservative doooooshbag.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pmhey, TP, don’t forget about that 234k bathroom remodel:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/05/kempthorne-bathroom/
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 pmA celebration of self.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 pmNo that fear has left the city more reports on the follies of the Bush years will come to light every day. For those of you who are tempted to say “enough” remember that every time one of these stories appears it makes it harder for historians to ignore them. It is important that Bush is remembered for all his errors and frailties not matter how much propaganda the right spews.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 pmUncle Rico!
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 pmSo Bush installs this idiot in 2006. Within a year environmental groups wrote of his reputation for siding with industry interests over the environment. He holds the record for placing the fewest number of plants/animals on the endagered list. Impressive when noting that the previous worst offender was over twenty years ago. A 2007 investigation by the Inspector General found abrasive, if not abusive management practices in his Dept. Senator Ron Wyden, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, attributed the “untold waste of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars” to MacDonald’s actions. Of the department, Representative Nick J. Rahall II, chairman of the House Natural Resources said “The results of this investigation paint a picture of something akin to a secret society residing within the Interior Department that was colluding to undermine the protection of endangered wildlife and covering for one another’s misdeeds.” Which brings us to 2008 and the coke/sex parties with energy companies and the now infamous 250,000 dollar bathroom with monogrammed towels. Somehow this man has managed a long career shouldered on taxpayer dollars and deems himself entitled to his lavish lifestyle. In reality this man deserves a long prison sentence for grifting the American taxpayers his whole life.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 pmThe ecomony is in the tank, the national debt has doubled in the past eight years… was this done on government time? And if so, how many were viewing it?
What did We the People spend for this a$$hat’s farewell to himself?
PEACE
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:06 pmken blackwell.
*8*
i think he’s thinking about the mayor Ray something or other (Nayjen? or something like that).
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:07 pmThe other photo-addict was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Alphonso Jackson. Hint: see “Related Posts” under the TP story (I didn’t remember the guy’s name.).
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 pmBING! PatrioticLiberalChristian GOT IT RIGHT…
ALPHONSO JACKSON….THAT GUY WAS A TAXPAYER FUNDED GRANDE NARCISSIST TOO
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:12 pmThat’s my — former!! — Governor Plastic Man.
**eyes rolling**
Do us a favor, dingleberry — stay in DC.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:12 pmstewarjt Says:
Uncle Rico!
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
EXACTLY.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pmum… why?
why did you remove the content of my post #18, TP?
very curious…
i see now that others have mentioned the 235k bathroom as i did…
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:16 pmoh… second thoughts, maybe?
i see it’s back… cue twilight zone music…
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 pmrastaman Says:
BING! PatrioticLiberalChristian GOT IT RIGHT…
ALPHONSO JACKSON….THAT GUY WAS A TAXPAYER FUNDED GRANDE NARCISSIST TOO
*
damn.
he was my next guess.
!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm#22 Patriot Acting~
Great summary! Here is a USA Today article that I posted to show that Kempthorne was a known louse from way-back…
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
2. Dr. Hussein Matt. May I suggest altering your wording to:
A conservative wasting time and money – on self aggrandizing, vanity, and self delusion ?
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm15 Styvie-
How will paving everything over help our young folk connect with nature ?
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pmHow many Dept. of Interior restroom mirrors were missing after this slideshow was finished?
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pmI lived in Idaho for three years while this joker was governor, and this seems absolutely par for the course.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pmAhem…
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:05 pmDirk Kempthorne…
(…not that there’s much difference between a dirk and a dick when it’s at your back…)
OT
I saw the first press briefing by Gibbs today: you will be pleased to know that the press has learned the lesson regarding their treatment of kid gloves and soft balls for the Bushies — Obama and Gibbs will have to pay the price now. The questions were persistent, challenging and bordering idiotic at times — it would appear there will be no “honeymoon” — everything was challenged, by even those who are generally liberal-minded reporters.
This is going to require constant vigilance, ongoing struggle, and dedicated effort on the part of TP and others to keep the balance.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:13 pmYou know, if the Republicans had actually bother to appoint any halfway competent people in their administration instead of all these “I’m so great” corporate cronies, maybe they wouldn’t be in the situation they’re in now.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:21 pmThere’s something very perverse and f’ed up with their obsessive fascination with themselves.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 pmHoly moly. Think very highly of yourself, do you, Dickie?
*rolling eyes*
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:19 pmFree food or not, I wouldn’t have shown up. I guess obedience has been forced fed them for so long they could not say no. They should have taken a theme from Martin L.King. They should have picketed with signs that said. Free at Last etc.
A true legend in his own mind.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:23 pmWanna bet WE paid for the slides?
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:44 pmThat’s over 1.5 hours at 10 sec a slide. *YAWN*
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