Interior Blocks Blogs (and Abramoff Got State Dept official fired)

[The Straight Story]

Interior Blocks Blogs

The Interior Department's jihad against inappropriate Web-surfing by its employees continues apace. Federal Times reports that the department has blocked access to blogs, because, a spokesman says, some of them include sexually explicit language, libelous or defamatory commentary, and outrageous language. Conservative blog that more right-leaning sites than left-leaning were blocked, at least at first.

But you Interior folks can still get Fedblog, right? Right? (Note to self: Cut down on outrageous language.)

http://www.govexec.com/fedblog/#1907

Scrolling down from that one:

Abramoff Got State Department Official Fired

More evidence of Jack Abramoff's lever-pulling in yesterday's Los Angeles Times. Newly released e-mails show that Abramoff convinced former White House political director Ken Mehlman to help get State Department official Allen Stayman removed from his job. Prior to working at State, Stayman headed the Office of Insular Affairs at the Interior Department, where he pushed for labor changes in the Marianas Islands. Abramoff's firm represented the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, which strongly opposed those efforts.

[Gabi Hayes]

1. the second story involves Ken Mehlman, who is believed to be the

one who got Stayman fired for Abraamoff.

the price: two U2 concert tickets/$133 apiece

this should be getting some publicity fairly soon; I heard it on Al Franken, though maybe it was Sam Seder

[Gabi Hayes]

2. from Henry Waxman, and that report released a few weeks ago:

''There is a lot that we don’t yet know about the assistance that Ms. Ralston provided Mr. Abramoff from inside the White House. But there are also many unanswered questions about the assistance that higher-ranking White House officials appeared to provide Mr. Abramoff. Some of the most important interactions between the White House and the Abramoff team appear to involve Ken Mehlman, the former White House political director, not Ms. Ralston.


The bipartisan report released by the Government Reform Committee documented 485 lobbying contacts between Mr. Abramoff and his associates and White House officials, including 186 contacts that occurred over meals, many at exclusive restaurants in Washington. Ms. Ralston accounts for just a small fraction of these lobbying contacts and meals. According to the documents released by the Committee, she was involved in just 69 of the lobbying contacts (less than 15%) and just 14 of the meals (less than 10%). The vast majority of lobbying contacts and meals with White House officials documented in the report were with White House officials other than Ms. Ralston.

It is ludicrous for the White House to say it considers the review of Committee report “complete” when it has not provided answers to any of the most important questions involving Mr. Mehlman and other senior White House officials.''





From five questions for Mehlman



''4. Did Mr. Mehlman play a role in terminating the employment of State Department official Allen Stayman?



According to the documents, the Abramoff team urged White House officials, including Ken Mehlman, to intervene to remove from office a State Department employee, Allen Stayman, who had previously opposed their efforts in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In an e-mail exchange on January 29, 2001, Tony Rudy informed Kevin Ring: “We need to get the background material on stayman to ken mehlman,” adding “He said he would kill him.” When Mr. Ring responded, 'What???” Rudy said, 'Mehlman said he would get him fired.' ”

[Gabi Hayes]

3. from MSNBC

Abramoff urged White House officials, including Rove and Mehlman, to intervene to remove a State Department employee, Allen Stayman, who advocated labor reforms and opposed their efforts in the Marianas.

Todd Boulanger, who worked for Abramoff wrote, "It will be a great day when Stayman is whacked."

Tony Rudy, a former aide to Tom DeLay, who also worked for Abramoff, said in an e-mail exchange released by the committee, "Mehlman said he would get him fired." Stayman was eventually let go from his State Department post.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15066329/

[Gabi Hayes]

4. thread on Mehlman/sex slavery

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2404308