Coming soon to a shredder near you
By Steve Benen Thursday Dec 13, 2007 8:05pmI'm sure there's an innocent explanation for this -- I just can't think of what it might be.
Federal spending on paper shredding has increased more than 600 percent since George W. Bush took office. This chart, generated by usaspending.gov, the U.S. government's brand spanking new database of federal expenditures, shows spending on "contracts for paper shredding services" going back to 2000. Click here for the full, heartbreaking breakdown.
In 2000, the feds spent $452,807 to make unpleasant truths go away; by 2006, the "Cheney Effect" had bumped that number up to $2.9 million. And by halfway through 2007, the feds almost matched that number, with $2.7 million and counting. Pretty much says it all.
It does, indeed.
Good grief...
And you know if this were a Democratic administration the right would be freaking out over it. "GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY!!!"
But no...
What a load of shit.
Also Frist.
FINALLY - My day in the sun.
Don't blame Cheney and Bush, they're just doing what their now beefed up legal teams are telling them to do.
Shredder @ 2:
LOL... that was good
Holding hands, the Democrats jumped in the shredder.
Perhaps the bushies just wanted to have some confetti at hand when winning the war of terra.
mudshark @ 4:
What about me? I cut paper too!
watch out scissy
The 9/11 effect, eh?
Scissors @ 7:
Sorry scissors. It's all about volume
Did Chaney, perhaps, have a man-sized shredder made?
I've been digging in the archives looking for the thread on shredders being delivered to the VP's residence......I think it was about a year or 18 months ago........at any rate.....these guys really are sinister.What can be done..if theres no evidence?
mudshark @ 12:
think about it.
BennyP @ 11:
for shredding men?
miss_kitty @ 10:
No it's not! It's about cutting.
E-mails deleted off of RNC server, probably printed out and then shredded later to dispose of any evidence. Also wouldn't want to have any of their "secret" materials landing in the wrong hands, i.e. reporters that actually do their job.
BennyP @ 11:
Yes, for the Dems in office, if they don't bend over.
More than 10 million e-mails deleted. Imagine if those e-mails had been documents, instead. What do you suppose the volume of shredding would be? Nixon and Reagan are laughing their asses off in hell.
I bet the bastards didn't even recycle, they're so damn paranoid.
Stereo @ 15:
Maybe OUTSIDE the administration, but they have too much evidence to destroy at CheneyBushCo.
joe cantwell @ 13:
WHAT???C&L shredded the thread???...
just kiddin......no one is that good........there has to be something.
miss_kitty @ 19:
Wonder when my day in the sun comes?
mudshark @ 12:
Here. I found it, using two words: shred truck
Shredding with Dick
*For the administration to consider making into an article*
Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (Ret.) has Announced His Candidacy for Senate!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=l8qfFOJZDbg
mudshark @ 20:
http://www.savage-productions.com/SavageBirthdayGallery.html
mud?
I remember the shredder showing up at Cheney's, it was covered in the washington post.
That being said....Ialso recall that the defense for all this shredding is based on a bill during the clinton years promoting a paperless government, meaning More IT based records and less hardcopies..less trees...
OMG..ITS Clenis's fault?!
Looks like the G W Bush Presidential Library is gonna have lots of empty shelves.
Tom @ 26:
plenty of room for coloring books and underwear catalogs.
joe cantwell @ 27:
And all the bills Bush pushed for approval through a lame-duck Congress.
A possible accounting for the increase may be due to security concerns after 9/11 in that papers that wouldn't normally be shredded had their status changed to be shredded. Not disclaiming that it's convenient for any possible wrong-doing, but it may not be all cloak and daggers.
This is weak. I joined the Army in 99 and was in personnel. About 2001, we started getting tighter regulations on recycling and since they were sending army documents out to be recycled, everything with a soldier's name had to be shredded first, before it was sent to the recycling plant. I think it's safe to assume that every building in the Army, and the entire federal gov't for that matter, got big shredders like we did. It would get expensive and cause a big budget increase don't you think. Look I absolutely hate these guys who stole the white house, but not everything is connected. This is one of those stories that gives guys like David Hazinski reason to bitch.
During Iran-contra, G. Gordon Liddy was asked if Reagan knew about Ollie North's activities in the White House basement. Liddy replied, "Why would they give Ollie North a shredder in his office unless they thought he'd use it to shred official documents?"
My God! The only thing left to shred will be the dollar! Ooopps! Too late!
joe cantwell @ 24:
um...well.....I guess that says it all....
Now, I'm not gonna' render this thread pointless by making cliche comparisons so early in the going, but I'd like to ask a question:
What kind of government wants to cover its ass so badly as to actually go to these lengths? Does history give us any examples? One, in particular, comes to my mind. I smell criminality (I come from a very bad background, and brothers and sisters, when I tell you I smell a crime being committed, put your hand over your wallet and get out of Dodge).
A dialog:
Q: What would cause someone to go to these lengths to destroy paperwork?
A: Fear.
Q: Fear of what?
A: Fear of prosecution.
Q: Could it be something other than fear of prosecution?
A: Well, they already have the power and the protocol to classify information so that anything, no matter how sensitive, can be viewed only by one's successor, if that level of security is warranted. So, I can't imagine why they would be going to these lengths if they didn't feel jail time was hanging over their heads.
Q: So why would they shred docs? Couldn't Bush simply claim Executive Privilege?
A: EP can't be used to cover a crime. This is called crime under the color of law. Nixon tried to pull that shit.
Q: What about pardons for everyone involved?
A: I don't know. I think Bush could do it, but he can't do it too early or he'll be impeached with the evidence intact. That would make one hell of a Presidential Library.
There's also the problem of knowing everyone who needs the protection of a pardon. In a widespread criminal enterprise it's almost impossible to know who did what and/or when they did it (the BA's penchant for incompetence would make it that much more difficult). If you don't pardon everyone and somebody goes to trial, you will be exposed and remembered and reviled as a schmuck. If you pardon a thousand political appointees and their minions, you will be remembered and reviled as a schmuck. The key right now, is to keep shredding, and hope everybody's afraid to challenge you.
Q: What if he only pardons himself and his inner circle?
A: That fits his pattern - the soldiers get left behind. If he does this, there would be no recourse for domestic crimes. International crimes would be different - a U.S. pardon wouldn't help - especially if we have an extradition treaty with an indicting country. However, he could move to a country that does not have or will not honor such treaties - Paraguay, for example.
Q: So what's left? How do we stop the evidence from being shredded?
A: We impeach.
Q: You think the Democrats will move to impeach?
A: Of course not. They are feckless wannabees. They don't want to do all of the work it would take to unravel what Bush has done. They're going for the gold - they want the same power for themselves. Refill the Treasury, and loot it.
Q: What can we do?
A: Have another beer and keep typing.
mudshark @ 33:
so true.
ScottVA @ 29:
I know privacy and the protection of personal information is becoming a serious issue. With identity theft on the rise, businesses and individuals alike are taking great pains to destroy anything that would make it easy for criminals to do their work.
I'll bet if you looked at a graph of overall shredder sales in the private sector, you'd see an equally dramatic spike these last few years. Probably even steeper, as we all know that it usually takes a lot to get government to practice prudent risk management of any sort.
I love the 'WARNING' on the Home page of this Government Spending website, at the bottom:
WARNING: This is a United States Federal Government computer system that is "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY." This system is subject to monitoring. Therefore, no expectation of privacy is to be assumed. Individuals found performing unauthorized activities are subject to disciplinary action including criminal prosecution. Click here for more information.
miss_kitty @ 22:
thank you miss kitty............industrial sized shredders.....these guys aren't messing around.....I hope theres one honest person left in that admin.Just one......who had the presence on mind to save something.
Reaganista corruption boomerang comes back to wreck havoc on dead trees
"I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation for this..."
Let me look through these scaps and see if i can piece it back together.
They are wasting money. The useless corrupt congress won't do anything with the documents. It is doubtful whether they or the moronic American public knows how to read anyway. Perhaps they could be burned to help warm the globe faster to hasten their murder of humanity.
Hey there's a lot of crimes to cover up, of course shredding is up 1000000000% with the worst of the Republican criminals in power.
On the bright side, hopefully they're recycling.
Unfortunately the best we can hope for is not an honest man or woman in politics, but a stupid one, thankfully bush is in charge and we have a plethora of chances. Just look.
These assholes make nixon look like a saint.
Down the memory hlole.
I'm with Scott, Mike, and Wuzupdawk on this one. Privacy issues have become more sensitive for everyone. And, since the report gives the information in $$, it doesn't say a thing about the actual amount of paper being shredded. Just like everything else in America, wherever there is a need, there is an American there waiting to fill it. If the government is involved, it just means the pockets are deep, and they can charge through the nose. The coordination necessary for a concerted shredding operation of a magnitude that would cause such increases is beyond the capabilities of this administration.
Anyone else look at the #2 contractor in 2000?
"FLORIDA PAPER SHREDDING & RECY: $50,000"
Wha???