No Bid Contracts

It is apparently all the rage, again, to report on “no bid” contracts and to say “no bid” and “Bush” in close proximity as many times as possible. Under a time of status quo, any normal, thinking American would prefer an open bid process. However, we have encountered a national problem that needs a solution.

So, let’s define that problem in decidedly non-political language. We experienced a God/Mother Nature induced disaster of epic proportions that has displaced hundreds of thousands of American citizens and flooded a major city.

Within this frame is it better to award the less than ideal “no bid” contract or is it better to follow SOP under status quo conditions? That would mean sending out an RFP with a deadline of 30-90 days, another 15-30 days of public comment, and then a debate of another 30 days or so to award these contracts.

We could immediately send in help and begin to rebuild and fortify the areas destroyed by two hurricanes or we can take 75 days or more before awarding contracts. I can only imagine how the MSM would react if the Bush administration were to take its advise with respect to “no bid” contracts.

John Roberts

Watching the John Roberts confirmation hearings the past two days has been fairly amusing, especially for a political junkie like me. The proceedings have the distinct look of the Senate Judiciary Committee testifying before Robert. The Republicans are barely able to get in an interrogative sentence between all their effusive praise, and Democrats, after day one, are hardly any better. My favorite image from this grand Senatorial hat tip to pomp and circumstance came late today. Sen. Biden managed to shoe horn a question into a 5 minute diatribe on one issue of concern or another. Roberts reply began explaining that a judge has to look more broadly than the narrow issue at hand in any case he would decide. Biden’s facial expression was one of true admiration for the man correctly answering his question perfectly and in a manner totally unintended by Biden. Almost under his breath, hardly noticeable to anyone not paying close attention, he offered only, “You’re good.”

In a room full of lawyers, Roberts looks like a major leaguer playing against a knothole team.

Ray Nagin

"Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present." Rudy Giuliani

I said, "I need everything."

Now, I will tell you this -- and I give the president some credit on this -- he sent one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done, and his name is [Lt.] Gen. [Russel] Honore.

And he came off the doggone chopper, and he started cussing and people started moving. And he's getting some stuff done.

They ought to give that guy -- if they don't want to give it to me, give him full authority to get the job done, and we can save some people.

That was Ray Nagin, from part of his an interview on WWL Transcript here. Ray Nagin may not be the leader Rudy Giuliani is, but he is much better than he is being protrayed in the press. It looks to me like he has done a great job being the squeeky wheel. The right should lay off, the left ought to not try and use him to bash Bush, and the media, as usual, out to be ashamed of how they portrayed him.