Solyndra

[nathanm]

Mitchell mislead them on the health of the organization.

Mitchell isn't the issue, Kaiser is. GK stated that he had mentioned Solyndra as an example of a US solar firm that was selling to China (I don't believe this was even at one of the WH meetings at issue). That is not the same as lobbying the administration on behalf of Solyndra, and is not the accusation made by the Republicans.

It appears at this point that GK told Mitchell he wasn't comfortable lobbying on behalf of Solyndra and that if Solyndra wanted lobbying to happen, they should use their own lobbyists. I guess we'll see what the full info dump brings.

[Gaspar]

Wow!  For an administration that claims not to know anything this is a bit odd.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/solyndra-department-of-energy-pushed-hard-for-company-not-to-announce-layoffs-until-after-2010-mid-term-elections/2011/11/15/gIQA2AriON_story.html?wprss=rss_whitehouse

Oct. 30, 2010, advisers to Solyndra's primary investor, Argonaut Equity, explain that the Energy Department had strongly urged the company to put off the layoff announcement until Nov. 3. the day after the midterm elections.

"DOE continues to be cooperative and have indicated that they will fund the November draw on our loan (app. $40 million) but have not committed to December yet," a Solyndra investor adviser wrote Oct. 30. "They did push very hard for us to hold our announcement of the consolidation to employees and vendors to Nov. 3rd – oddly they didn't give a reason for that date."

[Teatownclown]

Mitchell isn't the issue, Kaiser is. GK stated that he had mentioned Solyndra as an example of a US solar firm that was selling to China (I don't believe this was even at one of the WH meetings at issue). That is not the same as lobbying the administration on behalf of Solyndra, and is not the accusation made by the Republicans.

It appears at this point that GK told Mitchell he wasn't comfortable lobbying on behalf of Solyndra and that if Solyndra wanted lobbying to happen, they should use their own lobbyists. I guess we'll see what the full info dump brings.

I'm thinking wonder boy Mitchell may be history....

[Teatownclown]

Wow!  For an administration that claims not to know anything this is a bit odd.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/solyndra-department-of-energy-pushed-hard-for-company-not-to-announce-layoffs-until-after-2010-mid-term-elections/2011/11/15/gIQA2AriON_story.html?wprss=rss_whitehouse

Oct. 30, 2010, advisers to Solyndra's primary investor, Argonaut Equity, explain that the Energy Department had strongly urged the company to put off the layoff announcement until Nov. 3. the day after the midterm elections.

"DOE continues to be cooperative and have indicated that they will fund the November draw on our loan (app. $40 million) but have not committed to December yet," a Solyndra investor adviser wrote Oct. 30. "They did push very hard for us to hold our announcement of the consolidation to employees and vendors to Nov. 3rd – oddly they didn't give a reason for that date."

Who cares. This stuff is minuscule compared to say Haliburton/Cheney/Bush/Death....

Besides, there are bigger fish to fry....like Cain,Newt, RomneyCare etc.

Keep digging....it's a good diversion for you.

[Gaspar]

I'm thinking wonder boy Mitchell may be history....

Oh, I agree, but someone will have to take the big hit and that will either be Chu or Kaiser, because the ball will not be allowed to bounce any higher than that.  I doubt it will be Chu because that would signal the collapse of all of the other failing green projects, so the target remains our own George Kaiser.  Last week's document dump was a partial.  We still lack the link that shows who signed off on the restructuring of the loan, and the reasoning behind it.  If a case can be made that the restructuring agreement was made under the veil of inaccurate information from Argonaut or Kaiser than the Administration will have their out.

The other option is that the restructuring agreement was made with full disclosure which would show favoritism for a donor over the public, and indicate corruption on the part of the administration.  I have no doubt that this is what the case is, but President Obama will not allow himself to be taken down this way, so the blame will be shifted to Kaiser.

[we vs us]

Oh, I agree, but someone will have to take the big hit and that will either be Chu or Kaiser, because the ball will not be allowed to bounce any higher than that.  I doubt it will be Chu because that would signal the collapse of all of the other failing green projects, so the target remains our own George Kaiser.  Last week's document dump was a partial.  We still lack the link that shows who signed off on the restructuring of the loan, and the reasoning behind it.  If a case can be made that the restructuring agreement was made under the veil of inaccurate information from Argonaut or Kaiser than the Administration will have their out.

The other option is that the restructuring agreement was made with full disclosure which would show favoritism for a donor over the public, and indicate corruption on the part of the administration.  I have no doubt that this is what the case is, but President Obama will not allow himself to be taken down this way, so the blame will be shifted to Kaiser.

I know that it's exciting -- like Christmas morning-exciting -- to have a possible scandal at the White House to obsess over, but honestly there's no there there.  And there hasn't been any there there since the beginning.  It was a bad business bet made at a time when any investment in the country was to be applauded and aided by the Administration.  That it was towards building a green energy infrastructure was so much the better.  There's a fine line between government making the private business process easier and forcing it along.  So far, even though there's plainly lots of "making it easier,"  there's not much evidence of "forcing it along."  And there's even been a lot of private emails backing up the "making it easier" end of things. 

In other words, while you're getting that long overdue thrill up your leg (and honestly, why not?  anything to take the Devil President down, right?), you're backing a losing horse. 

[Conan71]

I know that it's exciting -- like Christmas morning-exciting -- to have a possible scandal at the White House to obsess over, but honestly there's no there there.  And there hasn't been any there there since the beginning.  It was a bad business bet made at a time when any investment in the country was to be applauded and aided by the Administration.  That it was towards building a green energy infrastructure was so much the better.  There's a fine line between government making the private business process easier and forcing it along.  So far, even though there's plainly lots of "making it easier,"  there's not much evidence of "forcing it along."  And there's even been a lot of private emails backing up the "making it easier" end of things. 

In other words, while you're getting that long overdue thrill up your leg (and honestly, why not?  anything to take the Devil President down, right?), you're backing a losing horse. 

Careful Wevus you are coming dangerously close to PARTISAN HACK status

[nathanm]

The more I learn about the program of which this loan was a part, the more I find this supposed scandal more and more laughable.

[Conan71]

The more I learn about the program of which this loan was a part, the more I find this supposed scandal more and more laughable.

So you find the pissing away of a few billion from the Treasury to Obama supporters laughable?  I'm having a hard time seeing the humor in it, just like all the other corruption and quid pro quo I'm seeing out of Dims and Repugs.

[nathanm]

So you find the pissing away of a few billion from the Treasury to Obama supporters laughable?  I'm having a hard time seeing the humor in it, just like all the other corruption and quid pro quo I'm seeing out of Dims and Repugs.

The program is essentially a government-run VC fund. (seems like a pretty good way to fund things that are needed but that the private sector isn't interested in funding, although I don't have enough information yet to fully form an opinion) They're presently running well below expected losses despite Solyndra going tits up. I've seen nothing other than baseless allegations by the Republicans of any impropriety. Aside from the emails which those privy to the entire set say are deliberately misleading, that is.

[Teatownclown]

So you find the pissing away of a few billion from the Treasury to Obama supporters laughable?  I'm having a hard time seeing the humor in it, just like all the other corruption and quid pro quo I'm seeing out of Dims and Repugs.

Well well....a 91%er!

Anyone here part of the %9 who approve of Congress? (those must be the %20 satisfied Government employees).....

[heironymouspasparagus]

So you find the pissing away of a few billion from the Treasury to Obama supporters laughable?  I'm having a hard time seeing the humor in it, just like all the other corruption and quid pro quo I'm seeing out of Dims and Repugs.

How do you feel about pissing away $55 billion to Dick Cheney's supporters? 

Let me see.... 500 million.  55 billion.  Yep, just about the same there...

[Conan71]

How do you feel about pissing away $55 billion to Dick Cheney's supporters? 

Let me see.... 500 million.  55 billion.  Yep, just about the same there...

The green jobs scam goes well beyond $500 mil and you know that.  You are also aware that the Obama Administration continues the tradition of no-bid contracts to Halliburton aren't you?

[Gaspar]

The green jobs scam goes well beyond $500 mil and you know that.  You are also aware that the Obama Administration continues the tradition of no-bid contracts to Halliburton aren't you?

As did Clinton. 

You know why?

[Conan71]

As did Clinton. 

You know why?

Only ones who can do certain tasks.  Pure and simple.