Comments on: Political vetting of HUD contractors

By: Jadagul

Jadagul — Thu, 11 May 2006 03:57:28 +0000

Barry: I know absolutely nothing about Mr. Bessette, but CMC isn’t particularly conservative these days. It used to be pretty conservative, but it’s been drifting more and more liberal; apparently the older faculty members lean right, and the newer lean left. The student body leans fairly left, too—they split 72-26 in favor of Kerry over Bush in 2004.

By: Mark Kleiman

Mark Kleiman — Wed, 10 May 2006 23:07:11 +0000

Mike:
I agree that Bessette was far from the worst. That’s the problem.
But on the other hand I don’t believe for a second that Jeremy Travis would have done it.

By: clb72

clb72 — Wed, 10 May 2006 17:37:24 +0000

It’s funny what gets play- this would seem to rank as just another day in Bushamerica, whereas you’d think the awarding of government defense contracts at Watergate poker-hooker parties might warrant 24-hour news channel stakeouts.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 10 May 2006 15:42:28 +0000

Isn’t Claremont one of those private right-wing universities? ISTR a Claremont Institute, whose opening webpage read like Faux News+National Review+AEI.

By: SamChevre

SamChevre — Wed, 10 May 2006 12:45:24 +0000

I was utterly unsurprised by the story; I could say I was surprised that anyone was surprised. In my experience, the key factor in getting profitable government contracts is good relationships with the politicians–it’s certainly true in my Democratic city.

By: Mike Maltz

Mike Maltz — Wed, 10 May 2006 12:19:14 +0000

Give Joe Bessette credit. He’s one of the few who stood up for Larry Greenfeld, who later was fired as Director of BJS for trying to keep a study’s findings intact, after Bob Novak went after him.