Comments on: Feinstein Slams New Spy Sats

By: Diana Mellen

Diana Mellen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:53:26 +0000

From the website Bohemian.com, Jan 24–30 2007 subject Dianne Feinstein the folllowing information. “In her annual public disclosure Feinstein records income from large investment in Perini and URS. Her husband Blum co-owns ASTA Air Cargo, which has military contracts in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2005 gave her and Blum’s income at 40 million today at 100 million. Blum is described as a global investment financier. He has s controlling share of Perini. After 9/11 the earnings of Perini increased from 7 million in 2000 to 444 million for military construction work. May 2006 the Army Corps of Engineers for work in the Middle East a contract 1.725 billion. This is a six page report but I think you can see where this is going.

By: Roland

Roland — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:28:01 +0000

I think this is a good investment on the part of good intel. Exact knowledge of where the enemy was like the Al-quida are a very inportant tool agaisnt insurgency and it also help strenghthen our defenses of what other roughue nation are doing like North Koria on Nuclear weapon test and ballistic messile movement and test.

By: Dave Long

Dave Long — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:21:37 +0000

Too bad welfare programs and bank handouts do not get this scrutiny.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:55:26 +0000

such as who Phoenix? Did anyone ever stop and consider that these programs are constantly over budget and behind schedule not because of the contractors, but because of unreal expectations by the customers and constant bureaucratic oversight?

By: Phoenix

Phoenix — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:27:26 +0000

WDIK and DD: There are other companies just as capable and far less costly than LOCKMART and Boeing. Time for NRO to open up and seek out the alternatives.

By: Captain3292

Captain3292 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:05:00 +0000

This is a pure political Feinstein dance. There isn’t any thing in it for her so she is looking for another avenue that will increase her wealth.

None of the elected Congressmen or Senators have an understanding of the technical aspects of any DOD or intel program. They are put on these committees as party rewards and seniority. It’s a pecking order and the hens are in control. Unfortunately the US citizens will be the one to suffer.

By: What Do I Know

What Do I Know — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:58:26 +0000

DD– You’re right but also a little off.

There were competing programs that would have subbed some of the work to companies in California. (you’re correct, you can’t build a satellite system without some money going to California)

But some of those competing programs would have had the majority of dollars go to Colorado and/or Maryland.

I thought this crowd was a little more sophisticated than making comments about Feinstein’s toilet-related acumen. I think some folks comments are dead on but others have devolved to ad hominem attacks. (Again, I’m in no way a Dem but if we’re going to talk about technology and national security then we should focus on the facts.)

Observant made a good point. The person who knows the requirements, at least from a military standpoint, is GEN Cartwright. You should look around and see what Cartwright’s said about requirements.

By: DensityDuck

DensityDuck — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:52:47 +0000

observant: Exactly.

WDIK: There are no satellite-building companies outside of California large enough to handle this sort of thing; you’ve got Lockheed in Sunnyvale, and Hughes(*) down in Redondo Beach. Feinstein can porkulate without harming her state.

(*) Yes, I know, but come on here, it’s the old Hughes building with “BOEING” painted on the side

By: Phoenix

Phoenix — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:10:21 +0000

The worst of this is not that it is elegant and the politicos want to debate it but that it will take at least five years to sort out while the huge companies do studies diluting funds resulting in reduced capabilities that should fly in less than three years. Oh how we want more bureacracy, non-competitive awards, and scrutiny from oversight committees!

By: Carl Rizor

Carl Rizor — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:11:55 +0000

Feinstein does not know which side of toilet paper to wipe her butt with, and she is on this committee!

By: observant

observant — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:26:25 +0000

It’s very simple:
Who has cleared detailed knowledge of ongoing operational needs?
That’s the person who knows the needs.
Second hand, less cleared, just don’t know.

By: LeLe

LeLe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:33:37 +0000

I have a problem with people who talk on a subject that they have no knowledge of. I have worked with the products of these systems. They are and have been adequate, not the best. I can not tell you how many times I need a better view and just could not get it. Anything that we can do to give a better product and keep people safe I am for. I for one am not ready for another 9/11. Does the government care what you are doing? Yes, but not the way some of the people who posted to this think. If you have taken an action that has brought attention to yourself standup be an adult and accept what comes next. Do you really think that the government is going to single you out if you have not caused a red flag to go up and how stupid do you think the government is to waste the money watching you when we could be actually stopping shipments of explosives, drugs and possibly NBC items that are going to cause mass destruction.

Most of you have made good arguments, keep up that support. We have to much at stake. I love this country and my family and have sworn to support and DEFEND, even the individuals who would spit in my face. God bless all of you.

By: What Do I Know

What Do I Know — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:02:30 +0000

Um..maybe I missing something here but how could Feinstein be accused of pork and contract steering if she’s trying to kill an IMINT program that would be built in her own state? (Practically in the backyard of her hometown)

Not a lefty– but I think facts shouldn’t be clouded by partisanship.

By: man yere

man yere — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:50:22 +0000

If you have any proof of steering contracts by anyone please spill the beans. I would like to hear.

By: Jack Sides

Jack Sides — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:30:04 +0000

I was one of the original members of what is now NRO. I am certainly glad that the very few prople we had to deal with in Congress were not
feinstein type dunderheads.

By: Davis

Davis — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:26:22 +0000

Don’t forget that Senator Bond has the same position as Sen. Feinstein i don’t think he is a rocket scientist either.

By: Average Joe

Average Joe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:08:38 +0000

I agree with FB. She is only interested in having more money to divert to her husbands contracts, and the rest to S.F. pork projects and social programs. She and her twin Nancy P. seem to be hell bent on destroying our nation one way or another.

By: Hitch Hiker

Hitch Hiker — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:20:35 +0000

One doesn’t have to know anything about imagery in this debate. You just have to live in CA and be familiar with Diane baby over the years. She’s a politician not a rocket scientist so we give her a technical committee chair. Makes sense to me.

By: CRC

CRC — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:53:06 +0000

Having been an imagery analyst with NGA and knowing the basic design concepts of the new sat system and the history of the old ones, it is VITAL the new ones be built. There are even more advanced and expensive systems yet the proposed units are the best for the buck. Quantity being a quality of its own applies ok with tanks but not with imagery satellites.

By: katooutdoors

katooutdoors — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:31:29 +0000

Finestein needs to retire along with some of the other ancient relics.