Palin endorses Didier: ANOTHER Rossi/Cornyn headache.

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As each moment ticks by, Dino Rossi is further confronted with the idiocy of his failure to announce.

As each moment ticks by, Sen. John Cornyn is further confronted with HIS idiocy in failing to ORDER Rossi to make a decision, one way or the other.

And now... it's again too late for Rossi.

Today, Sarah Palin, feeling her oats no doubt from the outcome in Kentucky where Palin-endorsed Rand Paul blew the establishment GOP candidate to pieces at the polls last Tuesday, endorsed the somewhat ethically challenged Clint Didier today.

I have twice heard Didier speak. I admit that I lean right; but Didier is a 7 foot tall version of Ellen Craswell. And, I believe, he will poll just like she did as well.

But that's not the point here.

The point is... what does this do to Rossi?

Rossi is getting hammered from all sides. As I've pointed out, he's waited too long to enter this but he seems incapable of grasping that. Because of his late entry, he'll have to waste assets, time and cash to get past Didier and the others to make it into the general.

Arrogance can be a terrible tenet of the politician's make up.

Had Rossi jumped in when he should have, at least some of the other candidates would not BE candidates, and Rossi's alleged position as the titular front runner would have been sunk in concrete for the most part.

But he didn't. And now, because of the top two scenario, Rossi is in genuine trouble before he even announces... if he announces.

I'm no Rossi fan. His desire to spend $75 million in taxpayer dollars to keep the Sonics here after the people of Seattle voted against such a move was, I believe, instrumental in him getting spanked in the '08 election. But it showed a side to me... a RINO side to me... that means when it comes to a conservative ideology, Rossi is just a skosh too pliable in abandoning fiscal conservatism under the right circumstance.

Didier, on the others hand, has a snowball's chance in hell of winning in the general should he politically survive to reach it.

What we're facing here is a mess. Another botched opportunity to take out a dullard of a US Senator who has managed to pass 5 bills into law during her 18 year tenure... someone who SHOULD have been low hanging fruit... but instead, because of Rossi's petulance, will most like be the Senator for this state for 6 more horrific years.
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The stupidity of threats against elected officials, (Death threat against Murray.)

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It takes a full-blown idiot to threaten to harm an elected (or any other, for that matter) official because you might disagree with their vote or their position.

We have precisely one place and one place only where we can acceptably "attack" someone duly elected by the people of this country, and that's at the ballot box.

God knows that I can't stand that woman's politics. But nothing she has done is worthy of death threats (or any kind of threat, come to think of it) in return. Don't like her positions? Then this November, use the opportunity our Constitution provides and vote her butt out.

But no threats. No violence.

I have sworn an oath to protect this Nation and the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Threaten any elected official, and that makes you a domestic enemy of mine and millions of others.

Our situation sucks. But threatening, assaulting, burning, shooting, or any other injury by those who see their way as the ONLY way will just make it worse.

Correcting the course of the ship of state cannot and will not be done through violence. The Constitution is the thing, you see, and while I understand that many out there believe our president and our federal government use it as some variation of toilet paper, that does NOT excuse the use of violence as a part of your disagreement with those policies.

Let's pull our hotels out of our alphas people... and knock this stuff off.
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Fleet General Patty Murray and her multi-million dollar waste of unwanted toy boats.

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THIS is OUR senator?



Make it STOP. Vote for anyone but Murray, though Benton would be the best choice.

The idiocy of senate democrats knows no bounds: Sen. Harry Reid commits hari kiri on the Senate floor.

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In assisting the candidate who will be replacing him in the Senate come this November, one has to wonder: how much more can Reid do to fire himself?

Providing the GOP with a campaign that writes itself, we have this latest jewel:



Is it any wonder with morons like Reid, Dick "the troops are Nazis" Durbin and Patty Vacuous Murray that our Senate and government are in such a shambles?

Idiocy like Reid's can't be bought or learned. He was born with it. And now, he'll be leaving office with it.
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Interesting results from Rasmussen on Senate Poll: Benton leads announced Republicans.

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Both the Didier and Widner camps have to be disheartened at the results of today's Rasmussen Poll here in Washington State, where recently announced State Senator Don Benton leads all announced Republicans in the race to unseat Patty Murray:

Washington Survey of 500 Likely Voters

February 11, 2010

2010 Washington Senate
Dino Rossi (R)	48%
Patty Murray (D)	46%
Some Other Candidate	1%
Not Sure	5%

2010 Washington Senate
Don Benton (R)	38%
Patty Murray (D)	50%
Some Other Candidate	3%
Not Sure	9%

2010 Washington Senate
Clint Didier (R)	34%
Patty Murray (D)	49%
Some Other Candidate	4%
Not Sure	13%

2010 Washington Senate
Chris Widener (R)	33%
Patty Murray (D)	48%
Some Other Candidate	5%
Not Sure	14%

Likewise, continued leads in the polls have to be of interest to Dino Rossi as well.

Meanwhile, Scott Brown's consulting crew, now on board with Benton, must be thrilled; since Brown was 33 behind when he announced.

Election 2010: Washington Senate

Washington Senate: Murray Leads All Republican Challengers But Rossi

Monday, February 15, 2010

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Democratic Senator Patty Murray holds double-digit leads on three of the top Republicans who hope to unseat her in this year’s Senate race in Washington State.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds Murray, who is expected to seek a fourth six-year term this fall, leads Republican state Senator Don Benton 50% to 38%.

Against former professional football player Clint Didier, now a private businessman active in the Tea Party movement, Murray has a 15-point lead, 49% to 34%.

The incumbent posts a 48% to 33% lead over businessman and motivational speaker Chris Widener.

In the three contests, anywhere from three (3%) to five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate and nine (9%) to 14% are undecided. An incumbent at this stage of the contest who earns less than 50% is considered potentially vulnerable.

The potential vulnerability is highlighted when Murray is matched against Dino Rossi, the unsuccessful GOP candidate in the state’s last two gubernatorial contests. Certainly the best-known of the Republicans, Rossi attracts 48% of the vote in a match-up with Murray while the incumbent earns 46%. One percent (1%) like another candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided.

More here:

Yes, it's early yet, but both Didier and Widner have been campaigning for some time and both have yet to show anything approaching Benton's fund raising skill.

Meanwhile, Obama is doing everything HE can to aid the GOP in Washington by trashing government at every level with Patty Murray as a willing accomplice.

Will we see the granny-in-tennis shoes snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as she continues to march, lemming-like, over the Obama cliff?

Evan Bayh wouldn't go there. Will Murray?
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So.... rumor has it that State Senator Don Benton (R-17) has been approached to run against Murray for the US Senate.

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I'm hearing from more than one source that Benton has been approached to run against Murray this November.

It's an intriguing thought. Murray is ripe for the picking: completely in the fringe left, tax and spend/Obama socialism mold; tying her to Obama, who is turning out to have political leprosy, would be a child-like task in its simplicity.

Benton brings experience and some major league fund raising skills to the table. None of the other candidates are close to catching fire, or putting the kind of bank roll together that taking out Murray will require.

What say you email him and let him know your thoughts? Try don@donbenton.com. I know I will.
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Man, it's like the tide coming in: MORE Columbian Stupidity?

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Jeers to the idiots at the Columbian for reveling in the agony of collapsed home prices, where they focus all of their giddiness on the buyer while forgetting the agony of the seller. But who's ever said that this rag has situational awareness of a vision that reflects this community?

And are we to be surprised by this all-too-typically one-sided view? This rag even uses this same editorial to continue to reward their leftist masters for making it easier to waste billions of our dollars for the same reason they stupidly cheer the pain of those likely forced to sell their homes in a down market:

Because it's not their money.

One wonders how this rag will feel when they're finally forced into Chapter 7, and they're broken up and liquidated like a ship on the shores of that ecological hell-hole; Alang, India, where even the mightiest are reduced to rubble.

Will they be thrilled about those buying up THEIR assets for next to nothing?

But this is yet another of the Columbian's many stupidities... and a microcosm of the mindset that enables them to saddle US with 4, 6 or who knows how many billions in taxes and fees for a project THEY want but THEY will not have to pay for:

The moronic, wasteful, unnecessary and unneeded waste of billions known as the I-5 Bridge/Loot rail project.

Which, of course, brings us to part two of this paper's steaming pile of a column this morning, the fact that they got on their knee pads in front of that cow, Murray, who has, as they put it,

"for improving the chances of securing federal funding to extend Portland's light-rail system into Vancouver."

Only a completely out-of-touch-with-reality-rag would congratulate yet another leftist's efforts to waste billions on something her constituents DON'T WANT, but on something her handlers have told her she must provide.

This is a sickening reversal for those sane enough to see through the smokescreens and lies of loot rail supporters and the tens of billions they intend to waste and suck out of our economy before they're through.... just like they did in Seattle.

Good God, but our paper is criminally obscene in their efforts to brush aside the will of the people when that will, as it so frequently does, clashes with the agenda of the few sitting around a table, saving us from ourselves under the illusion of "democracy" as they control more and more of our lives... and our wallets. And why are they doing it?

Because it's not their money.

Sickening.

So... is a minor part of my faith in my government to be restored? FBI investigates lobbying firm that is generous donor to Dicks, Murray

On November 30 last year, The Seattle Times did an article concerning corruption via campaign contributions with a focus on Congressman For Life Norm Dicks, D-WA-04

$478,000 donated in Rep. Dicks' name

Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton, was named as an honoree in charitable contributions totaling $478,000 in the first six months of 2008. Some say these so-called honorary contributions are one more way for companies and campaign donors to curry favor with members of Congress. Dicks says there's nothing improper about the contributions and that companies don't automatically gain favor with him for donating to charities he supports.

Given the crimes concerning our elections within the past several years, any hope was dimming for even something approaching investigation into this type of blatant corruption.

Well, apparently, a very busy FBI has found time for following up the information provided by the Times and have launched an investigation into Dicks and our own Senior Senator, Patty Murray.

Other articles concerning corruption involving our own esteemed Congressman, Brian Baird, have been detailed in the Times as well.

Will this investigation include Mr. Baird, still giddy over his earmarks as he carried the water of the Downtown Mafia like Gunga Din?

I want these people investigated. AND IF THEY ARE GUILTY, I WANT THEM PROSECUTED.

Americans generally and Washingtonians particularly have increasing doubt in our elective system and security. While our Secretary of State for the past 8 years, Sam Reed, has done nothing to address these concerns here locally, this step could be the first in a long journey to having an election system as close to secure and honest as possible, unlike this joke on democracy we have now.

Politics & Government

Originally published March 23, 2009 at 12:00 AM | Page modified March 23, 2009 at 7:58 AM

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FBI investigates lobbying firm that is generous donor to Dicks, Murray

Questions have been raised about whether some PMA-related campaign contributions were actually given by the people listed as donors. For example, thousands of dollars in contributions to Dicks, Washington Sen. Patty Murray and other lawmakers came from a sommelier and a golf-club employee who were identified as PMA officials on some campaign-finance reports.

By David Heath

Seattle Times staff reporter

Database | Search which lawmakers sponsored earmarks for PMA clients
Favor Factory | Database of lawmakers, earmarks, and campaign giving

Congressman Norm Dicks has never been shy about accepting campaign donations from favor seekers.
Now the FBI is investigating one of Dicks' most generous donors — the powerhouse lobbying firm PMA Group.
Questions have been raised about whether some PMA-related campaign contributions were actually given by the people listed as donors. For example, thousands of dollars in contributions to Dicks, Washington Sen. Patty Murray and other lawmakers came from a sommelier and a golf-club employee who were identified as PMA officials on some campaign-finance reports. The investigation has prompted some lawmakers to distance themselves from the PMA-related contributions. Murray said she has donated $3,500 of her questionable contributions to Food Lifeline, a local charity. Other lawmakers have talked about doing something similar.
Dicks is waiting to see if the FBI finds any criminal wrongdoing before making a decision on his contributions. "If any of those contributions are judged improper, it'd be his intention to give them back," said Dicks' spokesperson George Behan.
The FBI raided PMA's office suite in Arlington, Va., last November, part of an investigation into possible improper campaign donations, according to media reports.
The firm's founder Paul Magliochetti, who recently retired, is a former aide of the House subcommittee on defense spending, which decides which earmarks get inserted in the defense bill. Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha is the current chairman and a long time member.

More:
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It isn't often that I do it, but here goes: Thank you Sen. Patty Murray.

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It isn't often that I've had anything good to say about Washington's senior Senator. But she rose to the occasion and effectively bitch-slapped the Obama Administration's unbelievable effort to force private insurance to pay for the injuries veterans sustained on active duty.

Here, I would typically rail against the idiocy of such a policy. I would point out that if I were LTG Shinseki, I would immediately resign in the face of such a despicable policy.

But that is not the point of this Post. The point of this post is this:

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance, but was told by lawmakers that it would be "dead on arrival" if sent to Congress.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray used that blunt terminology, telling Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. She made the remarks during a Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing about the 2010 budget. post.

Thank you, Senator. Thank you for standing up for us.
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Once again the Pravda Columbian engages in epic fail as they provide cover for Brian Baird: In our view, Feb. 15: Only ‘Less Bad’

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Fortunately, I'm on a diet, and the Pravda Columbian's sickening, self-serving pap, written as if the author was a paid democrat staffer, caused an immediate loss of appetite.

As we all know, in this cycle, this newspaper ONLY endorsed democrats for ANY open seat, from President on down to state representative. That means that they have endorsed Baird, again, even though he has epic-failed on the two largest issues facing us here now locally, (This moronic, unneeded and massively wasteful bridge-replacement and the organized criminal enterprise known as the megacasino) entirely because of his party affiliation... which exceeds any other criteria in the Pravda Columbian's editorial cubicles.

And now, our congressional delegation has sold us out. And now, our representatives have voted "yes" on a bill that, THAT THEY COULDN'T have EVEN READ.

So, what does our criminally negligent, in-the-leftists-pocket, crusading newspaper DO about that?

Nothing.

They have worked extremely hard to allow Mr. Baird to excuse, to ooze, to try and justify his malfeasance. I can't wait for Sen. Murray and Cantwell to join with him in that,

I STILL need to know, and you've made no effort to ask, how is it that either Baird, Cantwell or Murray could POSSIBLY vote for ANY bill they haven't READ! (Although, Michele Malkin has taken a swipe at our worthless cow of a senator's lies in that regard)

"On Friday, not even our members of Congress were given adequate review. "We’ve been hammering this bill around for three weeks," Baird said, "but still, the compromise bill should have had further study."

THEN WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR IT??????????

I've read the articles and reviewed the blast email Baird sent out... and his failure to stand up for us and demand adequate time to review the bill and research the outcomes remains unexplained.

Our Congressman and our senators voted for one one of the largest, if not THE largest, spending bills in our country's history, and they didn't READ IT FIRST?

For that violation of our trust, there is absolutely no excuse. And your failure to hold them accountable goes to your not-even-clever efforts to front for the people you've supported for election.

You people flipped out over Mielke voting "no" on a million dollar grant of what you sickeningly referred to as "free money." Baird, Murray and Cantwell vote "yes" ON A BILL THEY HAVEN'T EVEN READ, WHEN THAT BILL WILL COST US AROUND $1.2 TRILLION... AND NOT A PEEP IN HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE! "Double standard" PALES in comparison!

There's no reason to postpone any decision about the basic idiocy of voting in to law a bill that hasn't been analyzed, PARTICULARLY when the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that this bill is not only NOT needed, but will have a HARMFUL effect on the recovery.

This sorry, underhanded effort to excuse the absolutely unjustifiable votes of Baird, Murray and Cantwell, represents yet another symptom of the demise of this newspaper, a newspaper that violates every known journalistic tenet concerning facts and fairness, every day.

It's no wonder they're facing such an abysmal future.



In our view, Feb 15: Only 'Less Bad'
Massive federal stimulus bill nothing to celebrate

Sunday, February 15 | 1:00 a.m.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was approved by Congress on Friday reminds Brian Baird of a popular saying he heard in Spain. "The saying is ‘menos mal,’ which translates literally to ‘less bad,’" the Congressman from Vancouver said in a telephone interview Friday. "The stimulus package only makes the recession less bad."

In other words, it’s nothing to celebrate. Whether it’s something to lament probably won’t be known for another year or even longer. All that Americans really know today is that this unprecedented spending of $787 billion in public money is only intended to be a painkiller. If only it didn’t cost so much to make something go away.

But the regional perspective provides a more optimistic view. Our state could benefit significantly from the stimulus bill. As Kathie Durbin reported in Friday’s Columbian, the compromise bill is expected to deliver $500 million to the state for highways, roads and bridges; $175 million for new transit projects and an estimated $2 billion to speed the cleanup of the Hanford nuclear reservation. Also, Washington likely will receive $2 billion for Medicaid funding for the next two years; $3.25 billion in borrowing authority for the Bonneville Power Administration to expand the Pacific Northwest power grid; $175 million for transit projects; $64 million for worker training; and millions more in numerous other areas.

The impact of the stimulus package could result in $2 billion to help our state solve its projected revenue shortfall. Still, the result will only be "menos mal." In the next few months, that deficit for 2010-1011 could be $8 billion.

More, if you can avoid gaging.

I guess "Change we can believe in" doesn't include Congressional corruption (earmarks)

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The definition of "earmark" from the Office of Management and Budget is this:

Earmarks vs. Unrequested Funding. At the broadest level, unrequested funding is any additional funding provided by the Congress -- in either bill or report language -- for activities/projects/programs not requested by the Administration. Earmarks are a subset of unrequested funding. The distinction between earmarks and unrequested funding is programmatic control or lack thereof of in the allocation process.

The definition of "earmark" from me is this:

Corruption.

The Seattle Times has spent some time and effort on this issue. Locally, both our own Congressman Brian Baird and our own Senator, Patty Murray, have been involved in this peculiarly arcane practice, a practice that is easily "solved" as far as how to address this issue is concerned.... but more on that later.

The latest iteration and expose' is one of the most despicable. Three of the most obviously corrupt Senators, (2 democrats, Clinton and Schumer; 1 Republican, Spector) have taken this to a new level of sickening proportions: they have forced the military to purchase a less-effective personal decontamination substance and system than another available process that the military actually wants; a system less effective because it is a non-chemical agent neutralizing form of charcol as opposed to a chemical-agent neutralizing lotion.

Here's the Times' description:

On the chance that troops may be exposed to a chemical attack, they are issued protective gear, including gas masks, injectable antidotes and decontamination kits. Just a few droplets of nerve agents such as Sarin, Soman or VX can be lethal, so a decontaminant can save a soldier's life.

The Pentagon has relied on M291 kits since 1990. The wallet-sized pouch contains pads with charcoallike powder that when rubbed on the skin absorbs the chemical agents.

Soldiers in Canada used a similar powder, but in the late 1980s government researchers there were worried about it. The powder was messy, difficult to apply and fouled gas masks. Worst of all, researchers feared that any deadly agents absorbed by the powder would release toxic gases inside a soldier's mask, said Garfield Purdon, a lead scientist on the research.

So Purdon's team at Canada's defense department developed a new product called Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion, or RSDL. The lotion, wiped on the skin with pads, not only absorbs the chemical agents but neutralizes them as well, offering soldiers greater protection.

Canada issued the new lotion to soldiers fighting in the 1991 Gulf War. Its military later licensed the lotion to E-Z-EM, a New York company, on the condition that it make the product in Canada.

Shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Defense Department said it was evaluating RSDL for use. At the urging of the Army Surgeon General, the Food and Drug Administration in 2003 approved the lotion.

"If used in time, this lotion can help prevent the serious burns and deaths that result from exposure to chemical-warfare agents," FDA Commissioner Dr. Mark McClellan announced. "FDA worked with the U.S. Army to expedite review of this product to make it available to our men and women in uniform as quickly as possible."

The decision of these three, to, effectively, put their own interests ahead of the needs of our soldiers disqualifies them from holding elective office... and it certainly disqualifies Clinton from the position of Secretary of State.

Oh.... did I mention how much they were paid?

Well, let's see.... Clinton sold out for only $7,000; Spector was quite a bit more expensive, he took in $47,000... Schumer wasn't listed. Maybe he did all this because he was asked to.

That said: the fix is relatively easy: 1. Make the "bundling" of campaign contributions illegal, both for the "bundler(the donor)" and the "bundlee (The candidate)" (Bundling" is another form of money laundering. That's where, for example, a single rich donor can spread large amounts of money around various campaigns by using other surrogates to make the actual donations using that persons money. Here locally, look up David Barnett and Rod VanMechelen among others, bundling 10's of thousands for a Congressman by the name of Pombo back in the 06 election)

2. Make it illegal for any employee or owner of any company receiving any kind of earmark to make campaign contributions for any federal race, including presidential, but certainly races for the senate and the house. (and by any employee or owner, I mean the employee or owner, his or her family members, shell companies, other companies they may have an interest in of any kind.)

In the alternative, insure a full disclosure in the "earmark" of any bill itself of how much the corrupt politician demanding the earmark has received from the "earmark's" beneficiary.

Corruption must be rooted out and done away with. Much of where we are today as a country, financially, is a result of this kind of corruption.

This would not stop the practice of "earmarking," but it would certainly slow it down.

And for "Change we can believe in," Mr. Obama must pledge to this country that he will veto any bill from anyone that contains earmarks.

I know that will be extremely difficult for him, since he rapidly became addicted to the practice the second he set foot in the senate.

But unless he genuinely fights to end the practice, then that will be yet ANOTHER of the many indications that the "Change" mantra was a sham.

But any thinking person already knew that.... right?

Kudos to Times' reporters Christine Willmsen and David Heath. This is journalism, a practice our own Columbian should follow more often. For related reading, check out the Times' series The Favor Factory 2008.

Originally published Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM
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Earmark helps businesses, not troops

Seattle Times special report After being lobbied by companies making a decontamination powder, powerful U.S. senators Charles Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Arlen Specter forced the military to keep buying what it considers inferior chemical-warfare protection for the troops.

By Christine Willmsen and David Heath
Seattle Times staff reporters

Since 1990, U.S. troops have used a skin-decontamination kit containing a dark powder that absorbs dangerous chemicals. The Defense Department has approved a more effective lotion, but earmarks ensured the old kits were still stocked.

The Favor Factory Read the whole series

Trail of earmarks
1990: U.S. military issues troops a kit with powder to absorb chemical-warfare agents from the skin. The product is known as M291.

1991: Canadian soldiers are issued a new lotion, RSDL, that removes chemical agents.

2003: The Pentagon discovers the lotion used in Canada is up to seven times more effective than the powder used by U.S. soldiers.

2005: The Pentagon tells Congress it plans to replace the powder with the lotion within two years.

2005: Rohm and Haas, which makes a key ingredient in the powder, begins lobbying Congress for earmarks for its exclusive product. The Defense Department buys a large stockpile.

2006: Sens. Clinton, Schumer and others put a $2 million earmark in the 2007 defense bill, requiring the military to buy additional M291 kits.

March 2007: After years of scientific testing, the Pentagon switches to the lotion, with no plans to buy more M291. But Sens. Clinton, Specter and others put a $5.6 million earmark for M291 powder in the 2008 defense bill, forcing the military to buy the inferior product.

November 2007: Senators add explicit language to the defense bill to force the military to buy the key ingredient from Rohm and Haas, even though the military has switched to the lotion.
Source: Seattle Times reporting.

Scientists have discovered a lotion that can save the lives of U.S. soldiers exposed to chemical weapons — a product vastly superior to the standard-issue decontamination powder.

Naturally, the Defense Department wants to scrap the powder and switch to the more-effective lotion.

But there's a problem: After being lobbied by the companies making the powder, several members of Congress pushed through two earmarks worth $7.6 million that forced the military for the past two years to keep buying the inferior product.

The product, known as M291, is made from a resin sold exclusively by a Pennsylvania chemical company, which is then processed into powder by a New York company, then assembled into individual kits at a facility in Arkansas.

Among the lawmakers who championed the earmarks are Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.; Arlen Specter, R-Pa.; and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

More: