So, Greece was going to give us cruise ships for free?

[VolcanoJen]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-09-30-carnival-katrina_x.htm

Just heard this story on CNN...

Two senators on Thursday asked federal officials to explain their decision to sign a $236 million deal with Carnival Cruise Lines for Hurricane Katrina housing, saying Greece was ready to provide two ships for free.

In a letter, Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okl., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to explain why Federal Emergency Management Agency officials chose Carnival and turned down the Greek offer.

Apparently, FEMA responded that "The Carnival deal had already been signed." :eyes:

[jobycom]

1. Ever see Brewster's Millions?

I think Bush has been told he has to bankrupt all of America by 2008, and so he never takes freebies when he can spend out money.

[ComerPerro]

14. LMAO

He has to spend all the money he can by 2008, or he gets nothing.

[VolcanoJen]

16. Joby, you're scaring me.

I actually think you might be onto something here! :scared: :)

[HEyHEY]

2. Opa!

:eyes:

Man o man

[ewagner]

3. So tell me again

just exactly WHY no-bid contracts are good....

They signed with Carnival but had no idea what else was available because they didn't have to look around before they signed on the dotted line....

I swear....Repubs think the US treasury is their own, private piggybank.

[VolcanoJen]

8. It just pisses me off so much!!

First of all, the Carnival contract was a sweetheart deal for the cruise line. They overcharged to the max.

Second, the ships are apparently bobbing in the water half-empty. But we, the taxpayers, are still a couple of hundred million in the hole.

Third... so unsign the contract, FEMA! Why couldn't they just tell Carnival, "Hey, we signed it yesterday, but the Greeks offered us free ships today. We're cancelling the contract, and if you bitch about it, we'll make you look more un-American than Democrats."

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[neweurope]

22. In Europe no-bid contracts are forbidden... is it different in the US?

In Europe it is even forbidden to have bids nationwide. Which is NOT so good... because for instance Polish workers who only pay one fifth for their rent etc. are cheaper of course than German workers...

------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Benhurst]

4. Carnival is a big Republican Party supporter.

Payback time, big time. :hurts:

[tompayne1]

6. can we still get the greek ships?

I want a free vacation this year. just kidding.

[LynneSin]

13. Um, actually - no they're not. They're split in the middle

Micky Arison is the CEO and he's got both parties on his list.

The main PAC of the Cruise industry, International Council of Cruise Lines is around 40%/60% in favor of the republicans.

I wouldn't exactly call this guy a major "Republican Supporter". He probably gives to whomever can benefit him with favors

All data is from Open Secrets

[Benhurst]

21. I wouldn't exactly call a 60/40 split a split "in the middle." I would

call it strong tilt to the Republicans, while covering their asses just in case something goes wrong. But not to worry. The game is fixed.

[babylonsister]

5. Unbelievable!! A foreign country would

provide aid in the form of ships for free, but an American company won't? I am speechless... Yeah, FEMA is sure being managed efficiently. :banghead:

Edit for spelling

[htuttle]

7. It's probably just as well they didn't send the ships from Greece

If they had, FEMA would have just burned them anyway.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Break contract, give Carnival 1million for inconvenience, save 235 million

Duh.

[VolcanoJen]

11. And the odds of that happening?

C'mon, now. These are Republicans we're talking about. :-)

[davidinalameda]

10. does Kathy Lee Gifford still do Carnival commercials

I bet she had her evil little hand in this deal

[VolcanoJen]

12. Brownie, you made a heckuva deal!

I'll bet you're right about that evil Gifford. :-)

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. And the outrages just keep on coming.

Hey Freeps, you'd fry the Clinton Administration for less than this. Why do you allow your corrupt CEO pres. to continue to rob the U.S. Treasury blind? Those measly $300 tax cuts meant that much to you? Morans!

[bigscott]

17. As long as it is not Royal Carribean

I don't want to have to share my Christmas cruise with refugees:silly: :grouphug:

[me b zola]

19. Well,

I'd bet they don't want to have to try to put their lives back together surrounded by oafs. :silly:

[VolcanoJen]

23. Heh heh!

:silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:

[me b zola]

25. Maybe there wasn't a press briefing today

...and snotty had too find a different venue to insult the people of New Orleans. :shrug:

[Bethany Rockafella]

20. I take it you rather be served by refugees right?

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Just another in a long list...

Aid was turned away from Canada, Israel, Iran, Indonesia, and several other countries....it has really hurt us as a nation.

[Trillo]

24. Crony Corporatist WELFARE.

Corporatists love for citizens to believe corporations love competition, but secretly, corporatists do everything imaginable to undermine competition, which in capitalism, is the only force which counters greed and lowers prices of delivered goods.

From article:

Butch Kinerney, a spokesman for FEMA, said the agency signed an initial deal with Carnival by Sept. 3 — before the Greek offer.

Government does everything possible to help corporations, meaning the problem isn't just corporations, but corporatism.

Free Market? Only for the poor selling their labor.