How long for the new prez's honeymoon?

Any guesses on when the new prez's followers will float back down to earth?

I wonder who oversees them?  the Pentagon?  You got some good questions nomo but can't help but think alot of people were lining their pockets especially on the cost-plus contracts....

Original Post by akgal:

I wonder who oversees them?  the Pentagon?  You got some good questions nomo but can't help but think alot of people were lining their pockets especially on the cost-plus contracts....

during wwii, laws were passed to prevent war profiteering -- people went to jail for defrauding the government or for making more than the allowed amount of profit on a military contract

the Bush administration seemed to go out of its way to make sure there was LOTS of war profiteering and no oversight

government contracts are normally audited (overseen) by the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, or by the inspector general of the agency that administered the contract (or all three)

I'm a little bit invested in this issue. It can't be denied that there were a lot of excesses in the contracting arena early in the Iraq war. They relaxed on oversight in the name of expediency. Of course encouraged by a certain secretary of defense and Vice-President. At this time, most of the cost-plus contracts are expiring and they're being replaced with firm fixed price contracts. Govt. managers are making a concerted effort to control costs.  I know I probably wouldn't be able to bring myself to work where I'm currently at for what they're paying the contractors here. My current position is quality assurance on a govt. contract.

Could we have done all this with fewer contractors and more military. My humble opinion is yes. We also could've done it much more efficiently. But, hopefully we're on the downhill side.   

I must admit, this president has some opportunities to make some things happen that can greatly benefit both himself and the nation if he plays his cards right.

There's the opportunity to bring the wars to a close and bring the troops home with honor.

As soon as the banks remember that they're in business to loan money rather than put all their capital in risky derivatives I think the financial sector will turn around. To be followed shortly by the rest of the economy.

I think those are the easier ones, education, health care, the environment and Israel's relations with her neighbors will be contested for a while to come.