Sex, government make for oily mess

In light of a scathing inspector general report showing that officials with the federal Minerals Management Service had sex with and accepted gifts from oil industry representatives, some in Congress, including Sen. Bill Nelson, say the agency is unfit to administer any new areas the government opens to drilling.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Nelson, D-Fla., calls for an investigation of the oil industry's influence and for canning the director of the MMS, Randall Luthi, and other agency officials.

"As MMS is handling your new five-year plan to lease more public lands to oil companies, and as Congress prepares to debate whether to allow oil companies to expand their ability to drill offshore, we must have confidence in the agency that oversees the industry's access to such lands," Nelson wrote.

"And we must have complete trust in that agency, because it handles billions of dollars of taxpayer resources. We have no reason at this point to think MMS is up to the task."

Republicans, however, say Democratic attempts to use troubles at the MMS to put more offshore drilling on hold are ridiculous.

"We're going to grind out national energy policy to a halt until illegal activity at that agency has gone to trial and been resolved?" said Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow, the third-ranking House Republican.

Added Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo.: "You don't penalize the American people by saying, 'The traffic cop stopped working, so come take all the traffic lights down.' "

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Comments

[Bush/McCain Protecting Big Oil Corruption]

The Bush Administration refuses to prosecute Bush/McCain officials.

The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to prosecute the employees for their ethics-law violations and shady deals. The highest-ranking official named in the Inspector General’s reports, Lucy Denett, is accused of illegally arranging a million-dollar contract for two of her good friends and former employees. The Justice Department refuses to explain why they have dropped that case. Could it be related to the fact that she is the wife of an official at the White House Office of Management and Budget?

WHAT! Republicans, Oil Industry, sex, payoffs, and political corruption?

Why; I never heard of such a thing!

… the only thing missing is $20 and a public restroom.

Drill here drill now!

:)

They took Drill Baby Drill to heart and were drilling each other. How do I get a job at the Interior Department? If Bill Clinton can do it and get away with it, why can't I? Besides, it is the Interior Department, and they were just getting familiar with their interiors. Good for them rocking dudes.

"DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW" ... said the ho oil company lobbyist to the republican... then they talked about policy.

This is a perfect example of the great cutting edge, creative leadership that exemplifies Bill Nelson's political career. After someone else does the heavy lifting, and the expose is published - he jumps in and wants to take credit. What a dope. And while I's at it, thanks Bill for burdening the state with your wacky idea of Citizens - the socialist insurance company. Is this what you and Obama are going to do with the rest of private enterprise? The Interior Department is a good example of what happens when you let the crooked Federal Bureaucracy run anything Bill. You just don't get it, do you?

I hate getting up oily in the morning.

4:45 - get it straight - nelson allowed florida-only spin offs of large insurance companies... gallagher consolidated the windstorm and jua to create citizens...

[Donald Lance]

Who is to say that the people involved were Republicans? Being in this dept., I bet they were more of the liberal-leaning types you find hugging trees and eating granola. Nobody knows their party affiliation. You all are just throwing stones.
5:07, Bill "The Human Fencepost" Nelson's decision was the problem - not the JUA.

[Gator(R)]

4:06 - By what stretch are these McCain officials?

Pretty pathetic behavior on a many of the individuals involved part. Will be interesting to hear how many did what, the article I read lumped all the transgressions together.

To the drill here now folks:

May we drill in your back and front yards?

And may we drill directly through your bedroom floor?

[Jason Straight]

We will only drill in those counties that vote for Sarah Palin ..The Gold Coast will not have them so the oil spills will only wipe out the tourist industry in the Gulf ..It will be great for SE Florida..

[Sherry]

It is going to take not 1 but 2 kick butt Mavericks to get us out of the mess we are in. That is what we have in the McCain/Palin Ticket. No nonsense, not afraid to do the right thing, not afraid to cross any line to get the job done and done right, not afraid to go against the grain if that is what it takes! Our economy is in a sorry state of affairs directly related to the high cost of fuel which affects everything from loss of jobs to a record loss of homes not to mention the rise in cost of all consumer goods. We have become so dependant on foreign oil that we have neglected to fully utilize such natural sources of energy such wind power & solar power. Along with modern technology such as plug in cars, hybrid cars, v2g technology ,and regenerative braking technology. We still seem to be floundering as a nation as to devising the best plan utilize all that is available to us and lift ourselves out of this mess we are in. We need to take our closest look at which candidates put our economy and energy crisis at the forefront of their agenda. The Manhattan Project of 2009 by Jeff Wilson pretty much says it all...

www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com

[Becky]

Sarah Palin is George W. Bush in a dress. Think about it. Texas/Alaska, Cowboy/Cowgirl, Governor/Governor, No foreign travel or experience/ditto, fundamentalist leanings, tendency to be rash and rid themselves of anyone who disagrees... Two bodies, one person. Think about it.

One way to have zero percent crime is to prosecute no one. Worst. President. Ever.

Think about it. With Bush and the oil industry involved, the odds of someone getting screwed goes up exponentially.

BN throws stones and should look in his own backyard!

oil and sex... sounds like fun...

4:45 No, you get it straight,because I was there and an integral part of it. Gallagher tried to combine the Wind Pool with the RCPJUA, but was foiled in his effort. When Gallagher left office as Insurance Commissioner the JUA was still an association underwritten by the insurance companies. One of the first things that Nelson did after he bacame Insurance Commissioner was to seek an IRS letter exempting the JUA from federal income taxes. As a part of his positioning, he then agreed that the State of Florida would become the underwriter (socialize) for the JUA. Subsequently Nelson combined the JUA and the Wind Pool and it became Citizens. At the time that Gallager was elected as CFO the damage had been done.

Perhaps this group happened to be in mixed company when grandpa McBush issued his famous, "drill here, drill now" request. So they did----each other.