You thought Kip was an idiot, Try this one
Mar 24, 2010, 4:14 am
#31
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Eventually comes the time of window breaking.
People like TSORon and Dan_E?
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Mar 25, 2010 at 1:12 am Reason: merge consecutive posts
Mar 24, 2010, 4:36 am
#32
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My goal is to try to get a copy of the entire hearing transcript. Meanwhile, here are a couple of articles from GovExec.com:
TSA Nominee Won't Commit To Collective Bargaining
An interesting part has to do with the conversation about Israeli-style security. From this article, one can conclude that he wasn't the one who raised the subject:
I want to get the transcript because, between this article and the CNN article, one would wonder if the two authors attended the same confirmation hearing.
Here is a pretty good synopsis of the conflict of interest issues.
Of note is that he has agreed to a two-year recusal for any decisions affecting his former company after he is confirmed (if that happens). It's rare for this tohappen to a government employee. Usually, they (as I did) simply sell or divest their potential conflict of interest financial holdings according to their new agency's ethich rules and they are good to go.
But, he's not out of the woods yet:
Film at 11....
Having participated in a few nomination hearing preparation exercises over the years, I can read between the lines and perhaps bring some perspective.
Generally, a nominee receives all sorts of coaching and preparation for a hearing --to a point. Congressional Affairs staffs will generally prepare hearing materials: The written and oral opening statements, potential questions & answers packages, and schedules and itineraries for meeting with key Senate members. The House is secondary at this point because they aren't involved in confirmation hearings. All of this seems to have been done for Harding. He may have also had experience himself while in the Army, either testifying himself or preparing or reviewing packages for his bosses. Based on what I've read, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Agencies are usually very careful about treating the nominee as if he were already the boss. The nominee will never sit in the vacant office during the confirmation process. People prepping him for the hearings generally will go to him, either at one of the agency's contractor facilities or at the nominee's residence.
He will receive orientation briefings good enough for him to answer questions at a top level. But, an agency will make sure that the nominee does not possess inappropriate "insider information" primarily so that, during the hearing, he does not need to answer questions about detailed issues by truthfully stating that he doesn't know. From the CNN article, it appears as if he was given a pretty good look at the strip search machines and was probably exposed to some sacred SSI. From my experience, I'm not sure this was the right thing to do. it would have been much better for him to not have seen a strip search machine and simply answered the question based on his own experiences (if any) with them.
I didn't look far enough down on GovExec this morning. Here is another interesting article: Pentagon Audit Cited TSA Nominee's Firm For Overbilling.
Once again, Film at 11.
TSA Nominee Won't Commit To Collective Bargaining
An interesting part has to do with the conversation about Israeli-style security. From this article, one can conclude that he wasn't the one who raised the subject:
After Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., asked how Harding would move TSA toward an airport security model more similar to the intensive and multilayered security practiced by Israeli authorities, Harding said the answer was "training, training, more training in droves," and that he wanted TSA's workforce to adopt a drilling model like the one used in Israel.
Harding also said raising morale among the workforce would be a high priority if he is confirmed. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he was concerned by discussions he'd had with TSA screeners at Washington-area airports that reflected low morale and high turnover.
Here is a pretty good synopsis of the conflict of interest issues.
Of note is that he has agreed to a two-year recusal for any decisions affecting his former company after he is confirmed (if that happens). It's rare for this tohappen to a government employee. Usually, they (as I did) simply sell or divest their potential conflict of interest financial holdings according to their new agency's ethich rules and they are good to go.
President Obama's pick to head the Transportation Security Administration will recuse himself for two years from handling any matter that involves his former company or contractors he worked with, a White House spokesman said Tuesday.
Congressional aides for lawmakers who will be vetting Harding said they had not received his answers to a questionnaire or an ethics agreement but acknowledged they will be examining whether he has any potential conflicts of interest.
Another issue that could arise with Harding's nomination is whether airport screeners should be given collective bargaining rights. Republican senators opposed Obama's first choice to head TSA, Erroll Southers, over concerns that the nominee would support collective bargaining for agency employees.
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who led opposition to Southers, said in an interview that Harding "looks good on paper." But DeMint said he wants to meet with Harding, adding that it would pose a problem if Harding supports collective bargaining rights for the TSA workforce.
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who led opposition to Southers, said in an interview that Harding "looks good on paper." But DeMint said he wants to meet with Harding, adding that it would pose a problem if Harding supports collective bargaining rights for the TSA workforce.
Having participated in a few nomination hearing preparation exercises over the years, I can read between the lines and perhaps bring some perspective.
Generally, a nominee receives all sorts of coaching and preparation for a hearing --to a point. Congressional Affairs staffs will generally prepare hearing materials: The written and oral opening statements, potential questions & answers packages, and schedules and itineraries for meeting with key Senate members. The House is secondary at this point because they aren't involved in confirmation hearings. All of this seems to have been done for Harding. He may have also had experience himself while in the Army, either testifying himself or preparing or reviewing packages for his bosses. Based on what I've read, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Agencies are usually very careful about treating the nominee as if he were already the boss. The nominee will never sit in the vacant office during the confirmation process. People prepping him for the hearings generally will go to him, either at one of the agency's contractor facilities or at the nominee's residence.
He will receive orientation briefings good enough for him to answer questions at a top level. But, an agency will make sure that the nominee does not possess inappropriate "insider information" primarily so that, during the hearing, he does not need to answer questions about detailed issues by truthfully stating that he doesn't know. From the CNN article, it appears as if he was given a pretty good look at the strip search machines and was probably exposed to some sacred SSI. From my experience, I'm not sure this was the right thing to do. it would have been much better for him to not have seen a strip search machine and simply answered the question based on his own experiences (if any) with them.
I didn't look far enough down on GovExec this morning. Here is another interesting article: Pentagon Audit Cited TSA Nominee's Firm For Overbilling.
The company founded by retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Harding, who has been named to head the Transportation Security Administration, overbilled the government for interrogation work in Iraq and had to pay back about $2 million, according to Senate aides who are vetting him.
Pentagon auditors found that the excessive billing by Harding Security Associates, a defense and intelligence contracting business Harding launched in 2003, ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, aides said.
<snip>
The Senate aides said they did not know why the Harding Security contract was terminated after only a few months' work. They said they understood the company had a dispute with the government over the excessive billing but eventually reached a settlement in which Harding's firm paid back about $2 million.
Pentagon auditors found that the excessive billing by Harding Security Associates, a defense and intelligence contracting business Harding launched in 2003, ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, aides said.
<snip>
The Senate aides said they did not know why the Harding Security contract was terminated after only a few months' work. They said they understood the company had a dispute with the government over the excessive billing but eventually reached a settlement in which Harding's firm paid back about $2 million.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Mar 25, 2010 at 1:12 am Reason: merge consecutive posts
Mar 24, 2010, 5:13 am
#33
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From the CNN article, it appears as if he was given a pretty good look at the strip search machines and was probably exposed to some sacred SSI. From my experience, I'm not sure this was the right thing to do. it would have been much better for him to not have seen a strip search machine and simply answered the question based on his own experiences (if any) with them.
I thought the libs were all about protecting your rights? 
Mar 24, 2010, 8:51 am
#35
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Nominee for TSA Chief Says U.S. Should Follow Israeli Security Model
Reuters reports that Retired Major General Robert Harding, President Obama's nominee to head the TSA, wants to move closer to "an Israeli model where there's more engagement with passengers".
Before the Senate Commerce Committee that is considering his nomination, Harding was noncommital when questioned about the possibility of TSOs becoming unionized, a topic which led to the withdrawal of Errol Southers, President Obama's first pick for the job.
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1269435698.html
Before the Senate Commerce Committee that is considering his nomination, Harding was noncommital when questioned about the possibility of TSOs becoming unionized, a topic which led to the withdrawal of Errol Southers, President Obama's first pick for the job.
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1269435698.html
Mar 24, 2010, 9:20 am
#36
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I'm thinking he was heavily coached about the strip search machine subject. I'll bet there were lots of Q&A's on every aspect of the issue.
Mar 24, 2010, 9:25 am
#37
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It was expected that the nominee for the head of the Tanto "Security" Administration would be a believer in interrogation of innocent civilians since that is also what he and his favorite foreign affiliates were getting paid to do before.
If in a previous era, this nominated clown would make happy his corrupt/corrupting Tammany Hall friends -- like "Boss" Tweed -- with whom he'd have affiliation in a previous "security" role.
If in a previous era, this nominated clown would make happy his corrupt/corrupting Tammany Hall friends -- like "Boss" Tweed -- with whom he'd have affiliation in a previous "security" role.
Mar 24, 2010, 9:32 am
#38
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Being discussed in You thought Kip was an idiot, Try this one.
Mar 24, 2010, 9:37 am
#41
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Mar 24, 2010, 9:55 am
#42
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The fact that Harding has ties and is still potentially in a position to financially benefit from companies providing WBI technology should absolutely disqualify him from holding this position.
There is no doubt in my mind that kickbacks from WBI providers are going into people's pockets at the higher levels of government. That's the main reason for the push to get these child porn devices out there and running in all airports.
Another comment that will be saved for posterity, aggregated with other TSA screener comments from this board, and sent to my Senators and Congressman. Thanks for providing more ammunition to use against your agency in my complaints.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Mar 25, 2010 at 1:13 am Reason: merge consecutive posts
Mar 24, 2010, 10:19 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2006
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With the outcome of recent events, do you think that they honestly care what the nations people think? Good luck on your project but I wouldnt invest too much time in it.
Mar 24, 2010, 10:29 am
#44
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He's an astute observer. He looked (and did not see) buttons labelled 'retain', 'transmit', 'save': ergo, the machines must be configured properly.
Mar 24, 2010, 10:31 am
#45
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Yet another reason why I wouldn't help a TSO if he was choking, in need of immediate medical assistance, and I was the only one around...