Pay Your Bills (Or Something)

Memeorandum has lit up over a Department of Education SWAT raid, reportedly to collect a student loan.  From Reason:

No Really: SWAT Team Raids House at 6 AM and Handcuffs Father of Three Young Kids to Execute a Dept. of Education Search Warrant for Estranged Wife's Defaulted Student Loans

From Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin's site:

Dept. of Education Has SWAT Team Raid Home Over Student Loan Default

And the British Daily Mail:

A little over the top?: SWAT team launch dawn raid on family home to collect unpaid student loans

Links to the original report are no longer working.  However, a subsequent report includes a tiny bit of clarification from the DOE (my emphasis):

A U.S. government official confirmed for News10 Wednesday morning federal agents with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), not local S.W.A.T., served the search warrant. The official would not say specifically why the raid took place.   He did say the search was not related to student loans in default. 

He went on to say OIG is a semi-independent branch of the U.S. Department of Education that executes warrants for criminal offenses such as student aid fraud and embezzlement of federal aid. 

OK, I smell screw-up and cover-up.  However, the current story on offer is that they were after something more serious than a student loan default.  

As to why they came with fifteen officers, well, it would be helpful to know something about the wife's history; at this point I haven't even seen her name.

The local media seems to be pursuing this and maybe, maybe maybe we will learn that this was not as dumb a raid as it appears.

UPDATE:  Matt Welch of Hit&Run runs the DOE 'clarification', but he is also stumped as to what might justify a SWAT team.

FOR THE LEGAL EAGLES:  This memo discusses the legal authority under which the Inspector Generals can exercise police powers.  This background is interesting (naturaly, there is a war on terror conection):

However,  prior  to  enactment  of  section  812 of the Homeland  Security  Act  of 2002  (Pub. L. No.107-296),  the  Inspector General Act did not provide firearms,  arrest, or search warrant authorities for investigators of those offices.

Comments

[Extraneus]

The Bildergergs, TK.

[jimmyk]

Hamilton's transgression is instructive. I believe he was enticed into it by a someone who wanted to use it to blackmail him. Chernow's book doesn't mention any other incident, as I recall.

[Janet]

narciso's 9:41 link is something. Our DoJ has become the enemy...working against the citizens of the United States.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

There is also the DOE "Swat" team raid, along with Sandy Daze's info on the DOE gun purchase.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

What do you think is going on here?

I think many members are not putting the law first. The ends justify the means and all that.

I've got Yemen Sara.

Narciso, thanks for the reminder on that one.

Pagar that one is just too depressing.

[Rick Ballard]

Jane,

It wasn't a discovery. It was a well delimiting and measuring a field that was "discovered" 2-3 years ago. Obama's drilling moratorium delayed production on the field by a year.

Here's a story about a pure political ploy that is going to be portrayed as an effort by Obama to 'stimulate' the corpse of the Obama economy when, in fact, it's an effort to get Republicans to vote against a tax cut.

Would any business hire an additional worker on the basis of a temporary reduction in cost from $1.00 to .98 cents? It's pure cheap politics and as stupid as the maladministration considering it.

[Threadkiller]

Ext, thanks. If that is the reason, it should condem the Republicans that voted against the bill. It certainly paints an ugly picture of Boehner.

Do you think that is it?

[Ranger]

Jane, there was also a story at Hot Air a few days ago about how the HSS never actually was given the statutory authority to grant waivers to Obamacare. They simply created that power for themselves when they wrote the regulations.

[RichatUF]

So of course the Obama Administration is going to go full steam ahead with it and the Reps are going to get sandbagged by it.

Hello all.

[Captain Hate]

I know this is considered unpresidential, in some of Duke and Duke's foyers in the Harvard Club.

But narc, D & D have top men convincing the Fuddle that she doesn't understand a thing about policy.

TOP.MEN.

[Extraneus]

Do you think that is it?

Not sure. My eyes glaze over whenever I read the word Bilderberg.

[narciso]

'Am I the only one, not on Crazy pills' this is the same stunt they've tried twice before, 'Chaitred' doesn't know this.

[Ranger]

But narc, D & D have top men convincing the Fuddle that she doesn't understand a thing about policy.

TOP.MEN.

Posted by: Captain Hate | June 09, 2011 at 09:56 AM

Which really means that she just has very different views on policy than those Republicans who are part of the credentialed moronatocracy.

[Danube of Thought]

Remarkable how the scumbags all put on the same facial expression when they get caught:

[pagar]

In my 09:41 post, I mentioned the USDA rabbit fiasco incorrectly. The attack is not against the US rabbit population, it is against the US taxpayers who own rabbits, Down to as little as a single rabbit.

"I asked if my previous one had retired or moved on, and she gave me the “happy news” that the USDA budget had been increased, and they were able to hire additional inspectors."

http://bobmccarty.com/2011/06/02/magician-provides-update-on-usda-rabbit-police/

[Danube of Thought]

FYI, top middle is Jim McGreevey, lower left is Eric Massa, lower right is John Ensign.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Would any business hire an additional worker on the basis of a temporary reduction in cost from $1.00 to .98 cents? It's pure cheap politics and as stupid as the maladministration considering it.

I've never seen a president in my lifetime who never ever considered the good of the country for anything. The only thing Obama ever considers is how it will benefit him politically.

I do think the right is getting a little more aggressive at pointing out what a lazy disengaged ass he is. It's about time.

[Danube of Thought]

What are we to make of a sport in which one of the contenders for the championship is called The Canucks?

[Rob Crawford]

Pagar, that story reminds me of the Monty Python "Eric the Half a Bee" skit.

"Hello, I would like to buy a license for my pet fish, Eric."

Seriously, "rabbit license"?

[Extraneus]

Jane, Patterico is suggesting that he may have evidence that Weiner was conducting online shenanigans with a minor. At the link, there's another link to a transcript that will give you a look at what the lib babes found so appealing about the worm.

[Threadkiller]

I know, Ext. I always think of a Lego city when I see Bilderberg.

It is still the most bizarre vote combination that I can ever recall. Especially dealing with a war.

Weiner getting the wrinkles out really covered any mention of it.

[Captain Hate]

What are we to make of a sport in which one of the contenders for the championship is called The Canucks?

As a formerly proud Redskins fan (Dan Snyder FTMFGDL), I got no dog in that fight. My gripe is what are we to make of a sport which broadcasts part of its championship series on a cable station too obscure or marginal for many suppliers to carry.

[narciso]

It seems Duke and Duke and/or Conquistador
Coffee, runs everything Capt, the only reason
I would aver from pulling out of Libya, is what happened the last time we didn't finish
the job there,

[Threadkiller]

McClintock says:

"Some say, “we’re already committed; it’s too late for Congress to order a withdrawal without harming America’s reputation or undermining her allies.” If we take that position, then we have just changed the Constitution to read as follows: “The President may attack any country he wants for any reason he wants and the Congress has no choice but to follow.”

The President has crossed a bright Constitutional line and this Congress has a clear moral and Constitutional duty to intervene.

If we fail to do so, we will have destroyed the work of the American founders by fundamentally changing the legislative and executive functions on the most momentous decision our nation can make and take our country down dark and bloody roads the American Founders sought to avoid.

And no one reports it? That is as bold a statement as has ever been spoken on the House floor. Something is really dirty on this one.

[Threadkiller]

Nacr, can't the Prez resolve this by presenting the case for going to war to congress? The effort could continue legally.

[narciso]

I think they have the story backwards myself,
in the sense they intend it.

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/06/08/after-weiner-want-a-better-republic-we-need-better-citizens/#comments

[Threadkiller]

I meant to say "narc". I blame Henry's ipad.

[Jack is Back!]

OT:

New Blog Post by Frederick including his visit to the Rome Sentinel. Trying to catch up due to wifi issues that have kept us offline except for the iPad's 3G. Next up, after the visit to the laundromat, is his visit to Howe Caverns. Thanks for all the encouragement and support during his road trip.

[Extraneus]

NY Post.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Henry are they talking about this in your neck of the woods?

Wisconsin Republicans spoil Democrats’ recall fun.

There is an interesting thing about the Wisconsin recall process. Essentially, if you read the document regulating it you will discover that the designation of a particular date for a recall election assumes that there was no primary; if there is a primary, it occurs on that date, with the general election taking place a month afterward. Also of note… political parties do not have veto power over who can participate in a recall primary. The restrictions are that the candidate be a non-felon voter and resident of Wisconsin who presents a valid petition with at least 400 signatures; said signatures have to be themselves registered voters of the district in which the candidate is running. The kicker? None of these people have to belong to the political party in question.

I hope that you can see where this is going....More

Heh!

[Clarice]

Very interesting catch, Sara.

[Extraneus]

Perv takes a 'hit' from his blackjack dealer

A teary Lisa Weiss swore yesterday she only wanted to chat politics with the lewd lawmaker, but he quickly steered the conversation to his sexual fantasies.

"I was very shocked at the beginning," she told "Inside Edition." "I would want to talk politics. But he would turn it creepy."

Heh. This is the same one from the transcript I linked above.

September 17th 2010

i like this cute new pics of you! when r you coming to vegas to help me beat up the right wing
crazies?

this is my "pull my finger" shot. glad you like. i'm ready for a vegas trip. truth telling
during the day. got a night plan for us?

haha..that was a very loaded questions! i've got all kinds of night plans for us! when are you
coming?

dunno. make me an offer i can't refuse.

to get us in the mood. first we watch back to back episodes of the daily show and colbert
report…then, to really spice things up we go deface all of my neighbor's sharon angle yard
signs…then when we are really hot we go to the bookstore and cover all of the glen beck
books with copies of "the audacity of hope!"…i do this about once a week (you can tell i am a
very exciting girl!)…or if this i not your thing, we can just get drunk and have mad, passionate
sex!

[narciso]

Don't drink and text, is a good rule of thumb,
for these people, I think she's egging him on, but it could just be 'pronoun trouble'

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

You know John Stewart read that on the Daily show last night with some interesting editing. Here is what he left out:

then, to really spice things up we go deface all of my neighbor's sharon angle yard
signs…then when we are really hot we go to the bookstore and cover all of the glen beck
books with copies of "the audacity of hope!"…i do this about once a week (you can tell i am a
very exciting girl!)

[Extraneus]

As a great man once said...

Weiner! Weiner!
Sis boom bah!
Weiner! Weiner!
Rah rah rah!

Woot!

[JackisBack!]

I hope and pray Weiner sticks around. This is becoming more and more Tiger-lite. Also, owning, running and editing The National Enquire must be the easiest job on the planet - the stories like this one just write themselves.

[henry]

TK, it was my iPhone, iPad fun has to wait for tethering to get set up (iPad to iPhone local hotspot to nets through 3G, no broadband at home) then the two devices can team up on my posts.

Sara, the MSM picked it up and are in a huff about it while talk radio points out it is payback for similar activities by the Dems and generally thinks it funny.

JiB, great pix on Frederick's latest post!

[Extraneus]

Patterico: Evidence That Weiner Was Talking Dirty to Underage Girls? Part 2

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I hope and pray Weiner sticks around. This is becoming more and more Tiger-lite.

And think about it. He never actually got any.

Maybe his fetish was all about talking but sheesh, what a waste.

[Captain Hate]

Another Bammy success story:

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio restaurant mentioned last week by President Barack Obama as an indirect beneficiary of the government's Chrysler bailout will go out of business Sunday after a more than 70-year history.

Co-owner Richard Lawrence of New Chet's Restaurant in Toledo says business has fallen victim to the economy and the workplace smoking ban approved by Ohio voters in 2006. He told The Blade newspaper of Toledo on Wednesday that auto industry cutbacks also hurt.

Lawrence says he used to deliver up to $300 in food per week to Chrysler Group LLC's Jeep plant in Toledo, but now that's down to about $100 worth.

Obama visited the plant on Friday and told workers that without them, who would eat at Chet's or patronize other local businesses?

The part of the smoking ban is a complete crock because plenty of other places have thrived.

Btw, regarding the "beauty" of Huma, a fellow moron @ AoS had this perceptive comment:
Half the time she looks cross eyed, and she reminds me of nothing so much as the sad weird girl that sat in the back of class eating paste and making squeaky noises.

[Extraneus]

Patterico: "In an ideal world, I would prefer not to publish Part 3 of this series."

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

she reminds me of nothing so much as the sad weird girl that sat in the back of class eating paste and making squeaky noises.

That is simply priceless.

[narciso]

It's more Brett Favrish, isn't it, you would think they would have learned something, from
all previous instances,

[PD]

I've never seen a president in my lifetime who never ever considered the good of the country for anything.

Huh?

[Clarice]

I really hate reading /learning/hearing about other people's sexual peccadilloes. Ugh. Can't he just resign and spare me more of this?

[Captain Hate]

In fairness to Huma, there are some situations where a person's attractiveness isn't obvious in photographs. When I was in Delhi for my daughter's wedding, we were at a table with a stunningly beautiful woman in terms of the whole package including personality and demeanor. Seeing a picture of her subsequently doesn't really convey the positive feeling you have when you're actually with her.

I'm not saying that's necessarily the case with Huma, because who would you trust between me or the MFM, but it might be.

[Extraneus]

I think Patterico agrees with you, Clarice.

2. Publish. Part. Three. I hate being strung out like this. If he did it, you have no responsibility to protect these girls. If these girls (and their parents) are so willing to spew pro-Weiner PR talking points in response to charges he’s communicating with them, they have no right to privacy. And if the revelations make their lives a little more miserable, so much the better.

Enough is enough.

Comment by East Coast Chris — 6/9/2011 @ 8:16 am

6. East Coast Chris,

It’s a tough decision. For now, I am hoping the Congressman will do the right thing.

Comment by Patterico — 6/9/2011 @ 8:22 am

[Danube of Thought]

I agree, CH. i've never heard anyone say a bad word about her, and I have a hunch that the complete package is lovely. I feel very sorry for her, and hope she leaves this creep in a hurry.

[narciso]

In the 'Shirley you must be joking,' category recall she's the Beauty contestant that went to Berkeley;

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/06/09/when-former-governors-attack-romney-v-granholm-round-ii/

[Janet]

Why wasn't he sexting Huma? or making dirty phone calls to her?
It is a weird marriage when a couple is apart so much by choice.

[Rick Ballard]

Jane,

Why not focus on Mike Aja and the difference between talking and doing? Maybe point out the restaurant going under immediately after another attack on the economy by the jawbone of an ass wielding President.

[narciso]

He's just a wretched human being, Janet, the problem is this sets a new nadir of misconduct, which someone else with no doubt
top.

[Extraneus]

Why wasn't he sexting Huma?

She already knew what he was like in bed?

We need to get to the bottom of this...

(Woot!)

[cathyf]

They simply created that power for themselves when they wrote the regulations.

Whether or not the individual mandate is unconstitutional, the whole waiver thing is simply amazing. How can this possibly pass 14th-amendment muster?!?!? How about if the Department of Labor creates a "13th amendment waiver" for employers who don't want to pay their African-American employees? Do you think people would understand what a waiver is then?

[Captain Hate]

I've often wondered what beauty contest Granholm won because, seeing her on the Sunday gab shows, it obviously wasn't "Miss Congeniality"; maybe "Most Likely to be in a Compromising Position with a Certain Ex President". Anyway I think Mitt should fire back promptly on this because she left Meechigan one step ahead of the lynch mob from her *great* economic policies. It would be a risk free attack and probably wouldn't even rough up his haircut.

[DrJ]

CH, she won the Miss San Carlos beauty pageant. She lived in the US (in CA) since she was four, so she's Canadian by birth only.

[Extraneus]

More Democrats Calling for Weiner to Resign

[Porchlight]

I feel very sorry for her, and hope she leaves this creep in a hurry.

He is certainly a creep, but the reports are that she's actively scheming with him to figure out how to keep him in power. If that's true, then this is the kind of marriage she's chosen and I can't feel sorry for her.

[Rob Crawford]

It’s a tough decision. For now, I am hoping the Congressman will do the right thing.

Comment by Patterico — 6/9/2011 @ 8:22 am

My problem with this is that Patterico is making an accusation of a crime and saying he'll sit on the evidence if (presumably) the criminal resigns from his post.

Patterico's a prosecutor, right? Is that really a good thing for a prosecutor to do?

[Extraneus]

Is there really any doubt about that? A person so compatible with Hillary that they've been together for 15 years? She's been Hillary's numero uno since around 2000.

Hillary. We're talking about someone whom Hillary implicitly trusts, and whose advice she values.

That just makes me want to take a shower.

[Extraneus]

Rep. Weiner Defiant as Odds Stack Against Him

[Captain Hate]

I hope that a-hole takes Schumer down with him.

[MayBee]

All the talk about Huma being like a daughter to the Clintons has me feeling sorry for Chelsea.
On the one hand, at least Chelsea was saved the horror of being betrothed for political purposes.
On the other hand, if I knew my parents had a "daughter", one that was around my mom all the time, one so special my father officiated her wedding, I would get a huge case of "what about me?"-itis.

[Extraneus]

Democrats ready for full-court press to push Weiner into resigning

[Captain Hate]

Further evidence of Tweety's derangement and that more people are noticing it: http://dailycaller.com/2011/06/09/has-chris-matthews-lost-his-mind/

[narciso]

The Corner is doubleteaming in it's 'Duke and Duke' attitude, Lowry and Foster.

[Danube of Thought]

I think there's a chance that Issa's hearings next week on the ATF fiasco will make some pretty big waves. Staggering stupidity and incompetence on the part of ATF and DoJ. And a border patrol agent was killed as a result. (His family will testify.)

[narciso]

Is there any doubt anymore, Captain, Feehery is an emeritus member of Duke and Duke, who
should show pity, rather than amusement.

[Captain Hate]

Lessons from the Master: http://minx.cc/?post=317360

[(Another) Barbara]

I hope that a-hole takes Schumer down with him.

Ha. Schumer is the Rasputin of the Democratic party. He could be poisoned, beaten, shot, garroted and thrown into an icy river, but he'd still appear before the cameras the next day.

Nice thought though, Captain.

[Jim Ryan]

How many 21-year-old women are applying to law school and looking at Huma and Hillary and thinking, "Gotta hitch my star to a pervert. That's what it takes." I'm guessing about 25.

[PD]

Why wasn't he sexting Huma? or making dirty phone calls to her?

Er ... is that how you'd want *your* husband to treat *you*?

[Captain Hate]

Feehery's comments seem to indicate that Tweety's brain slug has migrated.

You're right, DoT; Chuckie Sleaze would emerge from a closed coffin the instant his embalmed corpse heard the sound of cameras running.

[Extraneus]

Is that a trick question, PD?

[MarkO]

From the unindicted co-conspirator who clearly is an objective journalist:

MITCHELL: "They've dealt with this. I think there's going go to be a lot of anger at the media. No one wanted to ask the questions of anyone at the State Department about this. This is really tough for those of us who like Huma a lot."

How dare you? You little people.

[Danube of Thought]

I agree, Porch.

Weiner just issued a fresh statement: not resigning. Wahoo!

[bgates]

at least Chelsea was saved the horror of being betrothed for political purposes

Since both of her in-laws are former members (and one a felon), I can't be sure of that.

He could be poisoned, beaten, shot, garroted and thrown into an icy river, but he'd still appear before the cameras the next day.

Only one way to know for sure.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Why not focus on Mike Aja and the difference between talking and doing?

Rick,

That's exactly what I did, and in the break Dick told me he would put him on the air for an hour to push his business.

Dick couldn't wait to talk Weinergate, so the tornado came second.

I also talked about the restaurant, so you must have read my mind.

[narciso]

Does this circus, never end, (rhetorical question?)

[Captain Hate]

From the unindicted co-conspirator who clearly is an objective journalist:

Trandrea should be thankful nobody thought to link her to the pix

[Extraneus]

So now they're saying "10 weeks pregnant."

Weiner says he has no plans to resign following sexting scandal

[Old Lurker]

DoT I've given up on my hope that Issa hearings will make any splashes. That possibility was a big driver for the midterms...but what has he changed? Either he has not produced any findings, or they have not been reported but either way the tress fell in the forest and nobody heard.

[Old Lurker]

tree

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

At one point I heard Issa had come to some arrangement with Obama OL. I have no idea if that is true.

[Clarice]

bgates:"Only one way to know for sure."ROFL

Why are you guys still here and not phoning, writing, texting Weiner to stay in there and fight?
Gee, Do I have to do everything around here?

[glasater]

I know that "ajo" represents garlic in Spanish -- so am wondering what "Aja" might mean...

[Clarice]

Aja is a man in Sturbridge who voluntarily did much to repair Amy's house on his own time and dime.

[Extraneus]

Palin either slightly ahead for GOP nomination … or way behind

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday afternoon finds Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney statistically tied in the race for the GOP nomination—with 22 percent of likely GOP votes supporting the former Alaska governor and 20 percent choosing the ex-governor of Massachusetts.

That’s in direct contrast to a new Quinnipiac Poll released earlier this morning, which had Romney leading Palin by 10 points.

[Captain Hate]

O/T I've tried to keep my travails finding a job off of here for a variety of reasons; and one is that the last time, almost a year ago, that I thought I'd landed something and mentioned it here it fell through in one of the most gut-wrenching manners that I've ever experienced (I think I only told Jane about it on Facebook; it was an extremely embarrassing kick in the nads and I'm still very upset at how it all went down). Well, last week I had a lunch interview that I thought went really well with a small company that does the type of work that would seem to be ideal. I didn't say anything at the time because of my previous experience but now it appears that things are moving in the right direction and I'll start working on things next week after having some stuff dropped off at chez Hate tonight.

One positive thing about the prior assignment falling through: I can keep my unbroken streak alive of never having taken a cut in pay.

[Captain Hate]

I'm sure Duke & Duke can lend some people to pitch in on this worthwhile effort: http://minx.cc/?post=317366

[Extraneus]

Fingers crossed Captain.

[Janet]

A comment at the WaPo says they don't remember the Post asking for help reading the 2000+ page health care bill.

[Janet]

Congrats Captain...Let us know if you need any character references!

[Jack is Back!]

CH,

You know its not everyday that Catepillar or Eli Lily need a new CEO, so I guess the wait was worth it. Go for it. Do it and keep coming here. I only had two jobs in my life not counting paper routes and sweeping floors and unloading boxcars during college so I can't feel your pain and now your joy but God Bless and hope it all pans out.

[mojo]

Whose police powers did they use before 2002? I'd bet on the US Marshall's Office. Consider this scenario: The US Marshall tells DoE "we will no longer be serving your warrants on loan scofflaws, as we have plenty of dangerous, violent criminals to apprehend. Back of the line."

Next thing you know, DoE is buying shotguns for it's brand-new enforcement arm.

Bad idea. BAD idea.

[Jack is Back!]

Here is a real life illustration of why you never want to pass a temporary tax or law. But then there are probably thousands of these in the Federal government and many more thousands in State and Local governments. LUN

[daddy]

Breaking News,

FOX reporting that many Senior Aides are resigning from Newt Gingrich's Campaign. A very good development IMHO.

[Porchlight]

I know that "ajo" represents garlic in Spanish -- so am wondering what "Aja" might mean...

Steely Dan album?

[Agent J. (formally known as "J"..]

When I worked for the FAA, I was amazed to find that they had a SWAT team. I think if you check, you will find that any Agency that has a Security Department, will have one..it just goes with the power of the government.

I know I was shocked when I found out that ours was located in DC, knowing what we had in KC Regional Office for security, I was somewhat alarmed..I kept repeating "I'm from the Government and I came to help you".

[Extraneus]

Did everyone open the Captain's 2:34, and go through to the actual WaPo call for help?

More than 24,000 e-mail messages sent to and from Sarah Palin during her tenure as Alaska's governor will be released Friday. Join The Post in digging through them. We are looking for 100 organized and diligent readers who will work alongside Post reporters to analyze, contextualize, and research the e-mails. Think of it as spending some time in our newsroom.

How disgusting.