Senator questions firing of 3 inspectors general (Congress, illegal, attorney, Barack Obama)

[Wapasha]

Is 0bama playing politics with inspectors generals? They are politically independent watch dogs for the American people, they are responsible for ensuring that the federal government agencies operate efficiently, effectively and legally.

WASHINGTON - -- He was appointed with fanfare as the public watchdog over the government's multi-billion dollar bailout of the nation's financial system. But now Neil Barofsky is embroiled in a dispute with the Obama administration that delayed one recent inquiry and sparked questions about his ability to freely investigate.

The dispute comes as Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is looking into the abrupt firings within the last week of two other inspectors general, one of whom was fired by the White House and the other by the chair of the International Trade Commission.

Senator questions firing of 3 inspectors general -- chicagotribune.com

[lilypad]

Poor guy just wasn't "licking" hard enough. It is a requirement of the Corruptor in Chief.

[sanrene]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Obama has fired 2 IGs in 2 weeks, leashed another

The sudden push to rid the government of independent watchdogs appears to coincide with Barack Obama’s plans to use government spending to get control over more aspects of American life, such as with stimulus spending, the financial sector, and volunteer organizations

Chicago-style politics. Get rid of those IG who will actually do their job looking into waste, fraud and abuse and put in place flunkies and toadies to look the other way.

Incredible.

Barofsky ruffled feathers in April when his watchdog report showed that the Obama administration had placed insufficient safeguards on Porkulus spending. This later caused Joe Biden to shrug and tell the media, “Some people are being scammed already,” as if it wasn’t the job of the administration to stop it from happening. Barofsky now has a leash around his neck, with the White House insisting that he answers only to Treasury

Answers only to the Treasury? Isn't that illegal?

We are seeing a pattern, no longer just a single data point. IGs work independently to protect taxpayers from corruption and abuse from its own government agencies. A coordinated attack on IGs certainly suggests hostility to that mission, which isn’t the Hope and Change Obama promised on the campaign trail.

[Casper in Dallas]

Originally Posted by Wapasha

Is 0bama playing politics with inspectors generals? They are politically independent watch dogs for the American people, they are responsible for ensuring that the federal government agencies operate efficiently, effectively and legally.

If you may recall Bush did exactly the same thing, Repubs at the time said it was his right, so there is NO issue. Enough said.
Casper

[sanrene]

If you may recall Bush did exactly the same thing

Link?

Repubs at the time said it was his right, so there is NO issue. Enough said.

I think you are confusing IGs (Inspector Generals) with AGs (Attorney Generals) - why does that not surprise me?

AGs can be hired and fired by the president.

IGs are under the jurisdiction of Congress.

[sailordave]

Originally Posted by Casper in Dallas

If you may recall Bush did exactly the same thing, Repubs at the time said it was his right, so there is NO issue. Enough said.
Casper

You couldn't be more wrong. President Bush fired Attorney Generals. President Obama fired Inspector Generals in violation of the law he voted for while a US Senator. According to the law he must give Congess 30 days notice and reason for the firing.

[HappyTexan]

Obama probably wants to bring in his people who won't cause too much of a stir and praise how his plans are working so well that nothing needs to be inspected.

The small pieces of the puzzle don't mean much but if you put them all together a bigger picture emerges of where this country is heading.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by sailordave

You couldn't be more wrong. President Bush fired Attorney Generals. President Obama fired Inspector Generals in violation of the law he voted for while a US Senator. According to the law he must give Congess 30 days notice and reason for the firing.

But this is Obama. He's not Bush and he's not Republican. Obama can do whatever he wants..he's the messiah remember ?

The law only seems to be broken when it's a Republican doing it. Democrats have excuses.

[sanrene]

White House refuses to answer Senate questions on AmeriCorps IG firing | Washington Examiner

White House refuses to answer Senate questions on AmeriCorps IG firing

[sailordave]

Bush and his people gave a reason for the AG firing and the press, minus FOX news, didn't believe him and went after him like pitbulls on a toddler. Obama fires politically independent investigators in violation of the law he voted for and the press (majority of press) are so quiet you can hear the crickets.