Uh oh...MORE trouble for "The Architect"...Rove e-mails in new inquiry

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

November 5, 2005
Spending Inquiry for Top Official on Broadcasting
By STEPHEN LABATON

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/05/politics/05broadcast.html

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 - Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, the head of the federal agency that oversees most government broadcasts to foreign countries, including the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, is the subject of an inquiry into accusations of misuse of federal money and the use of phantom or unqualified employees, officials involved in that examination said on Friday.

Mr. Tomlinson was ousted from the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on Thursday after its inspector general concluded an investigation that was critical of him. That examination looked at his efforts as chairman of the corporation to seek more conservative programs on public radio and television.

But Mr. Tomlinson remains an important official as the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The board, whose members include the secretary of state, plays a central role in public diplomacy. It supervises the government's foreign broadcasting operations, including Radio Martí, Radio Sawa and al-Hurra; transmits programs in 61 languages; and says it has more than 100 million listeners each week.

In recent weeks, State Department investigators have seized records and e-mail from the Broadcasting Board of Governors, officials said. They have shared some material with the inspector general at the corporation, including e-mail traffic between Mr. Tomlinson and White House officials including Karl Rove, a senior adviser to President Bush and a close friend of Mr. Tomlinson. Mr. Rove and Mr. Tomlinson became friends in the 1990's when they served on the Board for International Broadcasting, the predecessor agency to the board of governors. Mr. Rove played an important role in Mr. Tomlinson's appointment as chairman of the broadcasting board. The content of the e-mail between the two officials has not been made public but could become available when the corporation's inspector general sends his report to members of Congress this month.

[goclark]

1. Bingo, Bingo! nt

[The White Tree]

2. That'll teach him to mess with Bill Moyers

Mr. Tomlinson was ousted from the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on Thursday after its inspector general concluded an investigation that was critical of him. That examination looked at his efforts as chairman of the corporation to seek more conservative programs on public radio and television.

All in all it's just another brick in the wall

and I can't wait til the wall comes tumbling down.

[Vanje]

3. Sweet

"The content of the e-mail between the two officials has not been made public but could become available when the corporation's inspector general sends his report to members of Congress this month."

[pacalo]

4. The jerk hired two Repug lobbyists to monitor Bill Moyers' program

(& others) for political content without telling the CPB board. Sounds like a Rove directive to me.

[Frustratedlady]

5. Can someone refresh my memory

on Bill Moyers? I remember something happened, but CRS does not permit me to remember details.

Is there no end to their manipulation?

[No Exit]

6. OOOH! Fatso Rove's e-mails! Can't wait to see THAT stuff!

Will they be as interesting as Abramoff's e-mails about his porkface friend DeLay? You bet they will!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. The Republicans are buying flocks and flocks of carrier pigeons

Handling and training sessions will be held directly after all the "refresher" ethics courses.