The Awl

House Republican Mocks Democrats Over Republican Emasculation

Alex Balk — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:15:46 +0000

Here is Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) doing a one minute stand-up routine for the cameras of C-SPAN. His material may not be top notch, but you've got to give him points on delivery. Also, he is not entirely wrong.

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Our Mysterious Chief Information Officer, Vivek Kundra

Choire Sicha — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:10:44 +0000

I wasn't really paying attention to the U.S. CIO, Vivek Kundra, who handles, um, I dunno, the IRS blogs and stuff? Oh wait... he is the one building the government a website that costs $18 million. Is it made of Internet platinum, and does it shoot rainbows? And so now folks are wondering who he is and does he know what he's talking about at all.

John Dvorak writes:

But, to be honest about it, and despite the possible fraudulent bios and non-existent degrees, the kicker for me was that even if he was squeaky clean he has no business being the USA CIO controlling billions and billions of dollars in government contracts.

He hasn't done anything to warrant this appointment. There are no great policy papers. There are no books. There is no invention. There is nothing but vague tech positions in city and state governments. How does this make him a "techno-whiz" as he was portrayed by the New York Times? It took him six years to get a simple undergrad degree in psychology! Was it just because he uses Facebook and likes Twitter?

So what have we got so far from this person? Well, for starters we are looking at the Recovery.gov website that will cost the taxpayers around $18 million.

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Rampaging Fowl Continue Crusade Against People

Alex Balk — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:20:57 +0000

As part of our ongoing mission to document the avian war on humanity, we bring you this story about two British joggers attacked by vicious buzzards in separate incidents. An "expert" claims that the birds "did not want to eat any of their victims," but HOW DOES HE KNOW FOR SURE? Be careful out there, everybody.

Previously: San Francisco blackbird attacks passersby

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Albany: Deadlines, Etc.

Alex Balk — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:01:18 +0000

Meanwhile, up in Albany: State Supreme Justice Thomas McNarama told state senators to resolve the recent craziness by 1 P.M., or he would do it for them, warning that "I have no problem providing an answer to this question from a judicial standpoint. As a matter of public policy, you guys should work this out." Sen. Hiram Monserrate, one of two Democrats who helped trigger the Senate coup, announced that he would return to the party's caucus, although Pedro Espada, Jr.-a.k.a. "the other one"-claims that Monserrate still supports Espada's disputed leadership role. Governor Paterson "will convene an unprecedented meeting of all the chamber's purported leaders" at 3 if they blow the deadline. And the New York Observer offers up what might be the least traffic-baity photogallery in Internet history. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: 31 of the Senate Dems have agreed to a new organization chart-Espada is the lone holdout-which essentially cuts off Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's balls. Sen. John Sampson is the new "conference leader." More surely to follow.

The Awl

House Republican Mocks Democrats Over Republican Emasculation

Our Mysterious Chief Information Officer, Vivek Kundra

Rampaging Fowl Continue Crusade Against People

Albany: Deadlines, Etc.

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