The "most transparent administration in history" is at it again.
In yet another example of "we're above the scrutiny of the people" and "let them eat cake" mentality, the O-man's State Department, and it's leader, Hillary "the smartest woman in the world" Clinton have screwed up yet again.
Not in foreign diplomacy, this time, although there are plenty of examples of that as well.
Rather in diplomacy with the American people, who at last check, weren't faring all that well under this administrations policies.
See, while the O-man is forcing the issue on healthcare, piling on national debt and deficit for programs most voters don't want, and totally ignoring the jobless numbers in his domestic programming, SWWBP (She Who Would Be President) has gone off on a spending spree of extravagant scope.
Apparently, Hillary has decided to do a little economic stimulus of her own.
And since her department needed a few "personal touches", she decided that some new crystal stemware would be an appropriate splurge.
To you other guys in the audience that are more prone to watch NASCAR than Queer Eye, crystal stemware is wine glasses and stuff like people use for Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner.
I'll give you the fact that the State Department has more than typical demand for these types of things, what with all those hoity toity state dinners for big campaign contributors and foreign dignitaries (occasionally one and the same).
But we're not talking fifty or a hundred pieces of your basic Pottery Barn stuff here.
Oh no.
In the middle of some of the most challenging economic times in our lifetimes, with many people jobless for months, SWWBP goes out and blows $5.4 million to buy fine crystal stemware for American embassies.
Let me say that again: FIVE MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR FREAKING GLASSWARE.
I'm thinking there are a bunch of American families that are getting good at making do at drinking out of jelly jars until things get better for them economically.
And they're not drinking fine wine, either.
But here's the real slap in the face to the American people.
The O-man's administration has seen fit to spend FIVE MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS for freaking glassware and absolutely none of those dollars will be going to American companies.
None.
ZILCH.
ZERO.
It's all going overseas, to help bolster the economy and employment numbers of Sweden.
Now I've got no bias against Sweden.
In fact, they're welcome to export as many blondes as they like to the good old USA.
But really.
America has no one who makes fine crystal?
Perhaps SWWBP should remember from whence she came.
Right in her own New York state back yard is one of the most prestigious crystal stemware manufacturers in the United States.
Corning, New York is home to Steuben Crystal, a well known manufacturer of high quality, lead free, crystal.
A firm that has served the needs of the United States government many times since its founding in 1903.
Located in one of the highest unemployment areas in the State of New York.
Located in one of the highest unemployment areas in the State of New York.
Steuben didn't even get a chance to bid on the contract, because it was awarded on a no-bid basis.
The exact same kind of no-bid contract that the O-man said was evil and would be ended when he became President.
Under the no-bid contract, some of the crystal is custom-crafted to include the seal of the United States, although Swedes will do all of the manufacturing.
Now, Federal contracting rules require any American firms that subcontract work to use an American firm (located here) or in rare cases, get a waiver that must be approved at the highest levels of the Department involved.
But SWWBP's chosen subcontractor never bothered.
Their claim is that the US had no Crystal makers that could manufacturer the stemware without lead.
Steuben says they were never approached or asked, but could and would certainly like to do the work, as they have done for various government agencies many times.
And, they continue to produce a spectrum of crystal products without lead.
With the economy, at its worst ever, this is not the time to be spending $5.4 MILLION ON FREAKING GLASSES!
Especially when the people who will ultimately have to pay the bill for this crap will not have the opportunity to make it, and maybe recover a bit of their own money.
Your administration is transparent, O-man.
It's transparently obvious that you and your cabinet members have absolutely no respect for the people of this country.
And hopefully, when the voters toss out all the incumbents come election time, their message to you will be crystal clear.
"Is the patience of the American people that long suffering? Is there no outrage left in the country?" ---- Andrew Greeley
“A civilized society that can no longer feel outrage, can no longer be civilized.” ---- Karl Kraus
