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Dunning-Kruger What's even worse, is that she might be aware of what she is doing. >Blum's wife, Senator Dianne Feinstein, has received scrutiny due to her hu

by cb18 11y ago

Dunning-Kruger What's even worse, is that she might be aware of what she is doing. >Blum's wife, Senator Dianne Feinstein, has received scrutiny due to her husband's government contracts and extensive business dealings with China and her past votes on trade issues with the country. Blum has denied any wrongdoing, however.[4] Critics have argued that business contracts with the US government awarded to a company (Perini) controlled by Blum may raise a potential conflict-of-interest issue with the voting and policy activities of his wife.[5] URS Corp, which Blum had a substantial stake in, bought EG&G, a leading provider of technical services and management to the U.S. military, from The Carlyle Group in 2002; EG&G subsequently won a $600m defense contract.[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_C._Blum#Controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_C._Blum#Controversy Why isn't there a non-voluntary recusement protocol for government employees?

rayiner 11y ago
I'm no fan of Feinstein, but that sort of thing is the most brainless sort of smear attempt. There's no evidence that Feinstein had anything to do with the awarding of that contract.
- stcredzero 11y ago
  Yeah, it's enough to get people to be aware of the cluelessness at face value. I'm not sure I even want to contemplate the level of cynical deviousness implied by the harm being intentional. Or, as is often said, never attribute to malice what can be explained by cluelessness.
- cb18 11y ago
  It wasn't really meant as a smear, I can see that interpretation though. I agree it would be quite sad for a woman of such advanced age to sell out her country for a few dollars. Any age of course, but at that age it would be extra curious. As I said, it wasn't a smear. Just a presentation of the facts and asking a question. There are plenty of people in Congress and yet we have the member whose husband has an interest in a government contractor that provides technical services, drafting legislation that involves the mandating of technical services. If members of congress don't have the dignity and integrity to recuse themselves in such situations where there are obviously avenues of inquiry even if everything is above board, but really how could it be, people's biases are subtle... So the question is, if members of congress, and other governmental bodies can't recognize these potential biases in themselves and do the right thing and recuse themselves from conflicting matters, why aren't systems in place to make sure they recuse themselves?

by cb18 11y ago

rayiner 11y ago

I'm no fan of Feinstein, but that sort of thing is the most brainless sort of smear attempt. There's no evidence that Feinstein had anything to do with the awarding of that contract.

stcredzero 11y ago
Yeah, it's enough to get people to be aware of the cluelessness at face value. I'm not sure I even want to contemplate the level of cynical deviousness implied by the harm being intentional. Or, as is often said, never attribute to malice what can be explained by cluelessness.
cb18 11y ago
It wasn't really meant as a smear, I can see that interpretation though. I agree it would be quite sad for a woman of such advanced age to sell out her country for a few dollars. Any age of course, but at that age it would be extra curious. As I said, it wasn't a smear. Just a presentation of the facts and asking a question. There are plenty of people in Congress and yet we have the member whose husband has an interest in a government contractor that provides technical services, drafting legislation that involves the mandating of technical services. If members of congress don't have the dignity and integrity to recuse themselves in such situations where there are obviously avenues of inquiry even if everything is above board, but really how could it be, people's biases are subtle... So the question is, if members of congress, and other governmental bodies can't recognize these potential biases in themselves and do the right thing and recuse themselves from conflicting matters, why aren't systems in place to make sure they recuse themselves?